NIGERIA’S birthday is the year 1914 after the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Provinces by the British imperial administrator, Lord Luggard. The intention was to facilitate easy rule of the country by Britain. In fact, the easy administration of the two countries was through native authorities led by the Emirs in the North, Obas in the West and in the absence of Emirs or Obas in the East, by “Warrant Chiefs”.

The US can replicate the rain forest, the Savannah, the Sahel and the desert. The US educational system is rich and varied , with the capability of providing educational or training experiences responsive to virtually any Third World development need.’’ — Former US Ambassador to Nigeria, Donald Easum on The US As A Partner In African Development, to USA Africa, Vol.2, No28, November, 1987.

When he took over office, Yar’ Adua, whose father was once the Minister of Lagos Affairs in the First Republic, cooled the heated relationship between Abuja and Lagos by not only releasing the seized local government funds but also allowing its continued payment till date.

The handlers of Information Minister Professor Akunyili, it appears, have steered her away from the “Good People, Great Nation” fixation. The result is that Dora has got back her groove, recognised her constituency and finally figured there is no dressing up the reputation of a country that is not pretty.

He carried out an education revolution in the state by phasing out the afternoon arm of public schools and building the largest number of public schools in the country’s economic capital while making education free. Also his administration carried out one of the largest job-creating schemes in the country’s history, especially of teachers.

I’ve fancied my best friend’s hubby for a long time and some times have erotic dreams with him doing all sorts of things to me. We’re all neighbours and are always popping in to see each other, My husband and my friend work with the same bank, though in different departments.

We sent all our children to reputable schools both for their secondary and post-secondary education and my 35-year-old son said he picks up taking drugs from one of his schools abroad. It was a very frightening period for us as he battled drugs addiction without any success.

“On the domestic front, we also recall the rapid accumulation of local debts particularly through bond issuance by almost N2000bn within four years, without recourse for NASS approval. There is practically nothing to show for these loans, and it seems that these loans were incurred specifically for non-tangible purposes with dubious and immeasurable yardsticks!

Various sectors of the economy are on strike or about to start one; people are hungry and angry. How does this government propose to lead Nigeria out of this state of unrelieving pain? It says one thing today and another tomorrow, ambles forward an inch and engages the reverse gear for a mile, almost in the same breath.

“Needless to tell you that Nigeria is not here. Although we are automatic qualifiers for the World Cup as host, this is a competition that has become our birthright in Africa only for coach Alphonsus Dike and his hapless squad to get us knocked out by Benin.

When people from the Niger Delta and other Nigerians raised their voices in protest, government sources were quoted by Vanguard of Thursday, July 23, 2009 as saying: “Those who do not want the project to be sited in the North should have a rethink because there is absolutely nothing they can do to change government’s decision”.

Hi readers! Even though I hadn’t shown any emotions when my aunt Adeline said that I needed to marry, and fast, I was amused. There she was, thinking that there was something amiss in my life because I’m not married, and there was her daughter, Bess, who would like to leave her alcoholic husband, but can’t! Of the two of us, who’s better off? I think I am. I’m living my life the way I want to and I’m satisfied with it.

What Chinua Achebe was describing as the fate of Nigeria was not pre-colonial or colonial or post-colonial politics but the transitional politics where all want to be the next post-colonial sovereigns.

There are also people who tell so many lies about their life that they eventually become a source of ridicule but my attitude has always been to believe anything I am told as long as it does not directly affect me adversely; I don’t have the energy to start sorting out stories that are at best irrelevant. I however get concerned that people often get left behind by other people’s expectations and live out a story that is not their own.

Humanity is still intimidated by fears it inherited from prehistoric humans, as well as fears that are products of the technological advancement of civilization, including the fear of nuclear annihilation. Collective fear engenders herd instinct, and tends to encourage aggressively towards strangers. As I suggested a moment ago, fear stimulates cruel impulses, and hence promotes superstitious beliefs which appear to justify cruelty.