A curious story in one of the news dailies a few days ago said that former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair advised our President Goodluck Jonathan to disregard the voice of Nigerian opposition and other citizens who complain over his policies.

It’s been a week since Saudi authorities deported nearly 170 pilgrims, aside many more that had earlier been kept in camps, back to the country for no other reason than that they were women. For that is what the whole episode boils down to: The unequal treatment of people on account of their sex.

Let me put the National Sports Commission on notice, albeit unofficially that Akwa Ibom State is poised to bid to host the 2014 National Sports Festival.

A colleague of mine who taught in South Africa informed me that President Nelson Mandela had regular meetings with the heads of departments of political science. Mandela’s practice would, therefore, appear as a validation of Colonel Sir William F. Butler’s recollection of the following opinion of Charles Gordon:

Since he became the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has ruffled a few feathers. He has attracted controversy the way sugar attracts ants over some of CBN’s policies. The most recent controversy concerns the currency restructuring exercise codenamed “Project CURE”.

THE recent announcement by President Goodluck Jonathan that Lagos, the former capital of the country, will be given a special status is a welcome development, though belated. Better late than never, they say and I always concur.

“Flooding is yet to be over. A type of flood, called black flood, which is caused by the arrival of flood waters from upstream of the River Niger is likely to hit communities close to the river banks between October and early November.” Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe.

They were expecting a visiting Head of State from another kingdom. The streets were lined with people. School children were everywhere, holding and waving flags. The roads were completely cleared of all vehicles.

Tonight at midnight, Nigeria will clock 52! How time flies! A person of fifty-two is almost considered an elder in the society, not only because of the number of years he/she has clocked, but because of the presumed wisdom and experience he/she must have acquired to live a worthwhile life according to the person’s ability. When he/she speaks, both the older and younger people around listen, because he/she is worth listening to. Some are mentors to guide younger people into a well-adjusted adult life.

“Each person matters; no human life is redundant. Every individual must be given the opportunity to live a life in which his or her basic needs are provided for and in which, so far as it is reasonably possible, their full potential is realised”- Cardinal Basil Hume