ONE permanent feature that has remained with most Nigerian workers is the pay-day ordeal. Except the few who get something by the side, for most workers, the pay-day – supposedly the day of reward for the worker’s efforts in the past one month – instead of being his happiest day turns out the saddest.

IT was described in official circles as a visit to deepen trade relations between Nigeria and South Africa. Nigeria’s largely unutilised Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geffrey Onyema, said the state visit of President Jacob Zuma of South Africa was also meant to calm the tension that “may exist at another level”. After all,

The start-up of wealth is in developing a wealth consciousness; whatever you manifest in life hinges on your level of consciousness. This implies that wealth begins from the state of the mind and materializes as the state of life. The start-up of poverty is in possessing a poverty consciousness and it is the poverty consciousness that keeps people perpetually poor and not just the condition of poverty. Therefore, to break free from the condition of poverty, you begin by raising the level of your consciousness.

Religion in Nigeria produces zealots who spew gender inequality and discrimination masquerading as religious doctrine.The pursuit of power at any cost is the hallmark of many religious organisations. The Bishop of the Wusasa Diocese of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Kaduna State, Reverend Ali Lamido, recently bemoaned a situation whereby the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, “turned government houses into ATMs”.

Last week a patient called me in distress. “My Doctor”, he yelled over the Lagos traffic. “I need to see you. I’m begging you; you must get rid of this pain TODAY!”