There is a fundamental difference between God-given dreams and God-given visions. Dreams are revelations we receive from God while we sleep. Visions, on the other hand, are revelations we receive while awake

Collectively, Igbo politicians, especially since the return to civilian rule in 1999 have failed in this regard. Nothing emblematises the decadent political leadership in Igboland today, and therewith the decline of South East as a liveable human space, more than the horrifying decay of Aba, once a flourishing centre of commerce. Presently, Aba is one of the most neglected urban centres in Nigeria, a paradigm example of arrested development, a glorified refuse dump. Former governor Orji Uzor Kalu and incumbent governor Theodore Orji deserve imprisonment for the deplorable state of Enyimba city. I grew up in Aba, when it was one of the most hospitable places in Igboland. Now, after fifteen years of mediocre governance, the city is a grotesque shadow of its former self. In my home state, Imo, the quality of work done by Rochas Okorocha’s agbata ekee administration is decidedly sub-standard; it is as if good governance has gone holiday. Hence, Igbo youths should rise up now and demand responsible leadership from politicians, instead of accepting crumbs from them euphemistically misnamed “empowerment.”

Last week, I said that that there are no permanent enemies or friends, just permanent interests. I believe that to be true. So I pose a question: what is one’s enemies’ enemy called? A friend? Does that then make one’s friend’s enemy, now an enemy? So, it was a surprise that Iran considered joining forces with the US to fight the insurgents in parts of Iran and Syria The Sunni radical of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is making sworn enemies strange bedfellows.

The Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) who are clamouring for a second term for President Goodluck Jonathan may have excelled in their mobilization of many Nigerians to applaud their goal. Their South-South rally in Port Harcourt the other Saturday reportedly received the blessing of over four million citizens of the zone who demand that Jonathan should contest the 2015 Presidential elections. Their earlier shows in the South-East and South-West rallies were similarly impressive. They therefore appear to have put the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a joyous mood ahead of 2015. In fairness to the party, no one can afford to despair considering the kind of figures that are being reeled out from the TAN rallies.

An Australian hostage negotiator, Dr. Stephen Davies made some startling statements last week, and it was widely reported by the on-line news magazine, Sahara Reporters. There was a certain inordinate glee in its reports, being as some of its critics now aver, that the folks at Sahara Reporters like to throw sand in the eyes of the Jonathan administration. To be fair, it is the professional duty of Sahara Reporters to throw sand in the eyes of the administration whenever it could, particularly where the administration is belligerent and hard of hearing on matters of grave national concern.