THE beginning of a New Year has become very instructive in understanding the Jonathan presidency. Last year as Nigerians were coming to terms with expenses incurred during the Christmas/New Year festivities, President Goodluck Jonathan imposed a punishing increase of prices of petroleum products on the country.

It was intended for publication last October. Incidentally, there was a glut in political activities at the time hence this piece went into voicemail. Even if it is coming after the Town Hall meetings orchestrated nationwide by the House of Representatives last November, as they say in local parlance, nothing spoil. William Shakespeare puts it more succinctly, “love’s night is noon”.

MRS. Obioma Imoke is 50 years old and I wish her well, just as I wish all the fellow citizens who marked their golden anniversary on earth that same day. Mrs. Imoke is the wife of the governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, formerly a senator. The whole world knows about her birthday because half of the eighteen local governments in her state bought full-page adverts in a national daily on Saturday, 5 January 2013, to congratulate her.

Britain’s blue chip index fell on Monday for the first time this year, balking at technical resistance levels having reached its highest close for nearly two years in the previous session.

THE next presidential election in Nigeria is in 2015, more than two full years away but already the seat of government in Abuja is flooded with campaign posters of incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan, in a pitch for four more years. The presidency has washed its hands off the posters but said it would not order their removal. Very correct response, as that would amount to abridgment of the right of the campaigners.