On many occasions, as a columnist and concerned Nigerian, I feel depressedwhile discussing the hydra-headed, mostly man-made, problems of contemporary Nigeria. In fact, the more I think about the country and its unending recycling of failed members of the ruling elite into positions of power, authority and influence, the more I am convinced that Nigerian leaders do not believe in the Nigerian project.

Consequently, if measures are not taken expeditiously to cut down drastically the cost of governance, Nigeria would be bankrupt. That said, between 2008 and 2010, the most serious security challenge the country confronted was kidnapping by Niger Delta militants.

Since the creation of the colonial amalgam called Nigeria by the British colonial power in 1914, the country has gone through periods of relative peace and prosperity and periods of turmoil, anguish and violence.

When Maryam Babangida, the late spouse of former military dictator, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, launched the programme called Better Life for Rural Women in the 1980s, many naïve Nigerians, particularly women, thought that the scheme would bring a new lease of life to rural women who were usually neglected by the three tiers of government.

Inadequate supply of power is the most critical factor crippling our drive towards economic development. It is asphyxiating the real or manufacturing sector of the economy, as many companies – small, medium, and large – have either closed down completely or moved their factories to countries with more reliable electricity, such as South Africa and Ghana.

In this connection, I believe that the hidden forces behind Boko Haram, if they still have flickers of humanity in their being, should begin a process of critical self-examination. Whatever the hidden agenda they might have, the crucial question they must address is: is it worth all the killings, maiming, and destruction?

That Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of defunct Republic of Biafra has died is no longer news. That he was born into great wealth and privilege, attended elitist schools both in Nigeria and Britain, was the first Nigerian university graduate to join the Nigerian army and…

By speaking in vague generalities about spending N250 billion annually on fuel subsidies, the federal government is creating the impression that it has something to hide, perhaps to protect big-time oil marketers that have been patronising top government officials and the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

That said, I am not sure that Jonathan and members of his cabinet have read let alone absorbed the principles of effective leadership documented in the memoir, considering the mediocre handling of our national affairs since May 29, 2011.

The word ‘giant,’ according to Chambers 20th Century Dictionary, is “anything much above the usual size of its kind.” This is why we describe an extremely tall and huge person as a giant.

For instance, ASUU can encourage its branches to closely monitor income and expenditure in each university. At regular intervals, each branch shall request from the relevant authorities detailed account of government subventions and grants and internally-generated revenue (IGR).

The number of brilliant people motivated by the pure love of knowledge to teach in universities has reduced considerably, one of the reasons being that the university system is steadily losing its mystique as a centre for academic excellence.

A few days ago, I was discussing with a colleague who is a Professor at the University of Lagos. Along the line, he told me that some of the things I wrote concerning our union, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and its proclivity to indefinite strikes made his stomach churn.

Several weeks ago when the movement called Occupy Wall Street began in the United States of America, it is not surprising that people in different parts of the world have adopted the same format to protest the widening existential gap between the rich and the poor in various countries.

The level of corruption in Nigeria particularly since 1985 is so mind-boggling that dwelling on it for a considerable length of time can make one mad. But why is the epidemic of official corruption on the rise despite the existence of the EFCC, ICPC, Code of Conduct Bureau and increased religious consciousness across the entire socio-economic strata nationwide?