THE Mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio, recently unveiled a policy document: “the progressive agenda to combat income inequality”, a sort of road map to “make sure the voice of every American is heard­­—not just those at the very top” and to “uplift working people and help working parents, and champion a tax system that rewards work instead of just wealth”.

I WRITE this as someone who does not know President Jonathan personally. I have never met the man. Neither have I ever spoken to him electronically. All I know about him is what I read in the papers, or what I have seen of him on television. Nevertheless, he has been my president for the last five years.

Bush and Iraqi war? This suggestion brings back memories of the first and second U.S. wars in Iraq. Presidents George Herbert Walker Bush and George Walker Bush, the father and son duo of presidents of the United States at different times, launched blistering and expensive wars in Iraq.

A FORTNIGHT ago, I was in Lagos and with my travelling companions, we were heading for Ibadan. We were low on fuel, but the fuel stations were mini theatres of war. As we passed them, we could see low intensive combats going on. There was of course the option of the black market. But it was selling for N210 per litre in comparison with the official N87. The other problem is that at this parallel market, you could be sold adulterated fuel. We concluded that Ibadan was a saner place to buy fuel.

Clearly, however, the retired General certainly does not need an early confrontation with the public or indeed Labour who will as usual insist that subsidy should only be removed after sufficient local refineries can meet domestic consumption! In the event however, that refineries (depending on size) have between 18-36 months gestation, this may suggest that subsidy may not be wished away very soon!