It’s been ten years since the AlQaeda terrorist attack on the United States of America. The attack which was executed with an eye for maximum devastation took place on September 11, 2001, hence the reference to 9/11, the shorthand formula by which it is now generally known.

It’s been two week’s since theterror attack on the United Nation’s building in Abuja that left over 20 people dead and many more with serious injuries. During these two weeks the extremist group, Boko Haram, has been front page news.

It’s all ending not with the promised bang but a whimper. After 42 years of what started as a patriotic attempt to return power to the people of Libya from the ruling monarchy of King Mohammed Idris, Muhammar Gaddafi, the one who bore the rank of a colonel but exercised powers beyond those of a Field Marshall was chased away with a $1.4 million price placed on his head- dead or alive. For Gaddafi, it was a case of pride before a fall.

On being told that the generally condemnatory disposition with which many Nigerians received President Goodluck Jonathan’s plan to sponsor an executive member bill limiting governors and the president to a single term of six years effectively killed the presidential initiative, presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati, responded that the President’s plan was still on course and nothing has killed it.

The images are not typical of the sorts associated with any part of the ‘civilised’ world. When you saw such pictures you thought of Africa, Asia, the restive parts of the Middle East or such other parts we’ve been told belong in the ‘developing’ or ‘third’ world. If you were told any such image was coming out of any part of the West you’ll call for some form of reality check.