THE planned merger of three or four parties is a major development in the nation’s current political disposition. Whether it lives up to its billing as the most significant development since 1999, or it falls flat on its face in the next few weeks will be determined by many issues and challenges.

CHRIS HUHNE, 58, was until last week a member of Parliament representing the Eastleigh constituency in Hampshire, England. But after more than seven years in the parliament, the leading Liberal Democrat resigned his seat after admitting to swapping speeding points with his former wife, Vicky Pryce, in order not to lose his driving license in 2003.

Expatriate workers in the Nigerian oil and gas sector are the highest paid in Africa and 11 most paid in the world, with an average annual salary of N22.246 million ($140,800), according to a global oil and gas salary survey.

HAKEEM Baba-Ahmed reviewed the meeting of Eminent National Leaders of Thought arranged by the National Summit Group.

EVER before the current effort to further panel beat the 1999 constitution (as amended), the issue of local governments’ administration in Nigeria had generated febrile debates.

THOSE of us who doubted the seriousness of the merger bid by some opposition political parties may now have a rethink: they have announced a merger. In fact, they have pronounced a name for their new unified platform: All Progressives Congress (APC).

The recognition of the abysmal depth of corruption in public office is probably shared by all discerning citizens of this country; consequently, some well-meaning Nigerians have prescribed the death penalty for anyone convicted of treasury looting! The obvious provocation of the recent slap-on-the-wrist punishment to a civil servant for stealing over N27bn of Police Pension Fund may have prompted the call for more severe penalty!

JESUS’ teaching reveals that God has made a sovereign decision not to know the heirs of salvation beforehand. He knows few will be saved but refuses to know who will be saved.

The two chorus teams, those singing the hymn called by ex-Minister, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, and those rendering, off-key, the tune in support of President Jonathan, would like unwary Nigerians to believe that their verbal media slugfest is a contest between “good” and “evil”. It is nothing of the sort.

I read with bewilderment Dr. Reuben Abati’s article titled ‘The Hypocrisy of Yesterday’s Men” (3rd Feb.2013) which was published in almost every newspapers in the land.