Happy Independence Anniversary. Maybe I should have said that last week, but then there were many things I should have said last week that I didn’t.

Could it be that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, is being economical with the truth? One must confess that the people are not fully let into the true state of affairs concerning the health of the nation’s wealth.

The lady must have been a natural southpaw the way she lashed out at her fellow legislator, who was, fortunately a real gentleman.

We are at the mercy of the politicians who rule us as masters rule slaves. They do not have any consideration for our needs and desires. They do not care to honour even their word to us. They care less still for the pride of the nation, or her progress. They hold us in utter contempt.

The entire country —or almost the whole country— has been startled by the sudden decision— well, at least, it seemed unexpected —of a sizeable chunk of the pecking order of the Peoples Democratic Party to break away and form another—if not a different — political group.

The pages of newspapers have been rustling, in the past few days, about what is so cheaply described as the “jumbo” remuneration of our legislators. It has been reported that they each make over two million naira or more a month, with all sorts of allowances. No one seems really sure because it appears that the salaries and details of other items of remuneration paid to our law-makers are the best-kept secrets outside Fort Knox.

This country today is awash with ill-feelings. The land crawls with bad faith. Anguish and bitterness compete for space, and our vision is blurred by bad faith in high places.

Notice was given earlier in the week that President Goodluck Jonathan would soon announce his interest in contesting the presidential ticket in 2015.

I applaud the efforts of the House of Representatives whose ad hoc committee’s recommendation on the review of the 1999 Constitution has found their approval on the floor of the house. It was a fair appraisal of the yearnings of the people for a better future for the country. However, I find one aspect of the recommendation most appalling.

Mr. Bisi Lawrence of the Passing Scene column in the Vanguard newspaper is an elder statesman in the pen profession and over the years, he had endeared himself to many of his fans who read him regularly. I want to count myself lucky to be one of his great fans who had benefitted from his well of experience for his sober offerings on Saturday Vanguard.