IN last week’s column, I adopted an objective attitude towards the Jos crisis and described Christians who have slaughtered innocent Muslims – and Muslims who have slaughtered innocent Christians – as religious renegades who are just as evil as each other. Here are some of the responses I received from readers:

Yet again, Nigeria is being highlighted in international media outlets for negative reasons. While we were struggling to cope with the humiliating global coverage of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s attempted suicide bombing in America and endless embarrassing news items about President Yar’Adua’s prolonged absence in Saudi Arabia, religious riots erupted in Jos and are further damaging the country’s image.

LAST week, I wrote that I’d heard that a significant percentage of Northerners are bitterly opposed to the idea of Dr Goodluck Jonathan becoming Head of State if Yar’Adua cannot continue. I described such elements as shameless tribalists.

EVER since Mr President took off to Saudi Arabia to take care of his health, words like “rudderless” have frequently been used to describe the country he left behind.

This morning, a South African broadcaster (who shall remain nameless) told me that when she heard that our President had signed the supplementary budget in Saudi Arabia, she was extremely skeptical and wondered whether he was really in a fit state to understand the contents or pick up a pen!