In African traditional religion, evil in the form of calamities and misfortunes, is almost always traced to supernatural causes. It is considered as punishment from the spiritual realm for committing what the Igbo call nso ala or abomination.

I had not meant to write of my experiences in the past couple of weeks but by some weird coincidence I got permission to do so by a most unlikely source; the lead actor in what was a tragic-comedy of sorts. Last year had come with its share of difficulties but it seemed to be ending on a great note as most of the issues that made it hard were all resolving themselves just as December was rolling away.

Any peace without justice is violence postponed. Since nobody was brought to justice for the crimes committed last year, the criminals were embolden to repeat their atrocities this year with more sadistic brutishness

It was the first time President Shagari would be known to have publicly visited the National Assembly in Abuja.
The letter handed over to Senator Mark echoed the resolution adopted by the Senate the day before urging President Yar‘Adua to comply with constitutional provisions requiring him to handover to his deputy while on holiday or medical vacation.

*Death came swiftly and suddenly to Otunba Dipo Dina, and it must have been a surprise even to him, as the news of his ghastly murder is to many Nigerians. That was the way it happened to Funsho Williams, and we are no wiser as to those who were responsible till this day. That kind of horror would, in fact, summon a long list today. There is no need to mention more names. That would only recall the sorrow of the black catalogue of irreparable loss.

Thank God we made it. Wow! We crossed over. What a relief. I am sure that with all my explanations you know it is all about times and seasons.

DEMOCRACY is supposed to be based on the will of the people. The Nigerian constitution like many others declare that sovereignty belongs to the people from whom all power flow. But in practice, the power of the people in most countries, including in Europe, begin and end with their vote.

I called the Eagles camp to discuss the match with Zambia with them. I congratulated them for their victory but immediately registered my observations and asked why were they so negative in their approach. They made more passes back than going forward.

ALHAJJ Issa Hayatou has been President of CAF since March 1988 almost 22 years ago. Some of today’s players in Angola had not been born then. Hayatou was his country’s 400m and 800m and member of the national basketball team of Cameroon at the 1st All Africa Games in Brazzaville. He was President of Cameroun Football Federation when he assumed the CAF presidency.

Jos (Jesus our Saviour to many) is a fine city with an agreeable climate and a melting pot of many cultures and various traditions. Jos in the past, was a place Nigerians would like to spend their retirement days in peace and tranquility.

IN last week’s column, I adopted an objective attitude towards the Jos crisis and described Christians who have slaughtered innocent Muslims – and Muslims who have slaughtered innocent Christians – as religious renegades who are just as evil as each other. Here are some of the responses I received from readers:

IT used to be politically correct to bash Obasanjo, particularly in the media. The three-time Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces was peculiar in his response to criticism, and even social/reputation battery. He did not, like others before him, court his critics with nice words and ‘invitations to chop’.

These Christians go to Jerusalem, must also undergo the Hajj but at the slightest opportunity are serious worshipers of Ogun, Shango and Amadioha! Their forefathers took the Yoruba Vodoo to Brazil, the Benin Oromokpo to Cuba and the Ibo Igba Ndu Vodoo to Haiti. All these characters have been mobilized to pray for the GOC to wake up. This no time to put the distressed family…..

”On August 22,1791, Boukman, presided together with an African born Priestess and conducted a ceremony for slaves of Saint Dominique .

THE Father of the Nation, former President Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo is livid. He is angry because some children of the nation accused him of imposing a chronically ill man, President Umaru Yar’Adua on the country.