What a coincidence it has turned out to be. Just last week under the new addendum to my columns “CHIP SHOTS”, I made reference to the fact that the President of Nigeria had ten aircraft in his fleet; more than any other President in the world. Bearing in mind that our country is ranked 39th in the world in terms of GDP, and one of the poorest on earth, when we take into account that 70 per cent of our people live below the global poverty line, Nigeria’s Presidential Airlines should enter into the Guinness Book of Records for presidential impunity.

A mother of five, three of whom are undergraduates, Mrs.Chineze Ajoku, believes that children are more likely to turn out right if given some measure of freedom while growing up. The Head of Youth Department of the Roses Ministry, a faith-based non-profit organization, spoke exclusively to Vista Woman during a recent annual youth seminar put together by the Roses Ministry in Lagos. A graduate of English Language with a Diploma in Secretarial Administration, Mrs.Chimezie Ajoku is the MD/CEO of Cinet Bridal in Lagos.

We can’t look to the world to restore our worth; we’re here to restore our worth to the world. The world outside us can reflect our glory, but it cannot create it. It cannot crown us. Only God can crown us, and he already has.” ¯ Marianne Williamson

In a typical Nigerian State, whatever the Governor says is law. “His Excellency has said” is sufficient to get everyone from Deputy Governor to the lowest paid civil servant in the State to perform a particular act no matter how irrational the act may be. The same is true of the President at the national level. This aspect of sycophancy used to occur more among public officers who are anxious to either retain their positions or to attract more favours.

I stole that line from Sound Sultan –remember his hit track 2010? It underscored the many failed promises of our leaders. Remember our nation was to undergo a major transformation and everything was supposed function well —albeit miraculously!

It is that time of the year again where festivities are in full swing. The air is filled with expectations of celebration from all over the country; young children eagerly awaiting new outfits, presents and the aged who look forward to receiving their family who will spend quality time with them and pamper them with gifts and love.

AS regular readers of this page will know, I rarely find anything good to say about the state of our nation. And, sure, there are people who accuse me of being unpatriotic. But this viewpoint is not the norm, in my experience. Most of the Nigerians with whom I’ve communicated in the past few years have encouraged me to keep criticising our leaders and complaining about multiple systems failures that have not only lumbered us with security problems and a high unemployment rate but deprived us of benefits such as round-the-clock electricity, a well-managed oil industry and decent hospitals, schools, roads, etc.

IN the recently concluded campaign for re-election, Barack Obama posted more than 250 videos on Youtube. He was not using Youtube to broadcast his material. Rather, he would link these videos in emails that followed.

Even if one is not a religious fanatic, one is bound to be captivated by the simplicity of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan at the recent Annual Convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). At the Redemption Camp (Lagos/Ibadan Expressway), the President was reported to have asked Nigerians to continue in their prayers for the country and his administration, asking also for the advice of people at anytime he is making mistakes.

WHEN I learnt that Imo State’s Governor, Anayo Rochas Okorocha intended to set up what was described as “the Fourth Tier” I was excited. My excitement was based on my long held belief that the current local government system has failed to take either governance or development to the grassroots. For a very long time, I have campaigned for the scrapping of the local government system and the establishment of governments based on kindred-defined communities covered by the various town unions.