From the responses we got from our readers, it was obvious that many Nigerians were not at all impressed that the present administration are considering tenure elongation, in whatever form or nature. They feel, and rightly so, that that’s the least of our priorities.

‘Madam Helen, I agree totally with you that even discussing tenure of government is an unholy distraction in our country at this point in time. What are our leaders thinking of? Also, like you, I had a lot of faith in many of those who’ve just come on board to rule us.

A friend of mine who’s very pro-Nigeria has been recommended a bed-rest of one week by a health specialist, after a four-day visit to Benin City last week.

She’s from Edo State, but lives and works in Europe. She was in the country on a three-week vacation , and after a few days in Lagos, she badly wanted to visit her home state capital.

Lagos has always been a trailblazer in many things. Maybe it has to do with the city being the seat of government for the nation for many decades, and even now, it remains the nation’s foremost commercial city, and the most cosmopolitan, catering for all ethnic groups and all religions. From time to time, since Lagos State was created, it has had what we call ‘action governors’, and enacted laws that are people-friendly.

No matter how mature we are or think we are, most of us hate being told ‘I told you so!’ In the past two weeks I’ve been told this several times by friends, and even two readers who sent text messages to me, along these lines.

One keeps learning every day. It was from the reaction of one of the readers who wrote in on the above subject that I learnt that a bill has to be passed by our lawmakers that would enable people to sue the government on the state of our roads, before that action can be successfully taken.

Dear young men,” said this pastor who was ministering at an interactive session at a young men’s convention in a Pentecostal church, “God created man for leadership. As Christ is the head of the church, so is man the spiritual head of his own home. So, for the married amongst you here this afternoon, if you’ve never thought yourself the spiritual head of your family, it’s time to think of yourself as being one, and also equip yourself to assume that role. For the bachelor, start preparing yourself for that role. A man is responsible for the sustained spiritual growth of members of his family, and God will hold him accountable.”

She still finds it hard to believe that the lives of innocent Youth Corps members could be terminated simply because of the outcome of a general election. Dr. Lady Gloria Chuma-Ibe, Director for Exhibitions & Museum at the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization- CBAAC in Lagos, strongly fears that this sudden loss of value for human life could degenerate into an uncontrollable national crisis if not addressed.

Long ago in our early school years, when teachers had a good knowledge of their subjects before they delivered their lessons, it was constantly drummed into our heads that ‘ignorance is a disease’. Thus, we were encouraged to take much interest in everything and read widely so that we wouldn’t have the disease. Many children complied then, so, at siesta in the boarding school, you would find most pupils secretly reading novels, foreign magazines and journals which were educative.

A former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State and a Life Bencher, indefatigable Mrs.Hairat Aderinsola Balogun, OON, is always a delight to listen to. She was called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn in the U.K. at 21, and she’s made giant strides since then in her beloved profession. Little wonder, she is set to formally present her latest book, ”To Serve in Truth & Justice,” barely a few months after presenting ”Women in the Law,” a historical research book about women lawyers in the country. Vista Woman had a chat with her about this new book, her law memoirs, which will be presented to the public this week in Lagos at the Metropolitan Club.

Look, Helen, I hate to discourage you in this, but a write-up on this won’t yield any positive results here in Nigeria,” observed a relation when we were discussing the news item from South Africa about a court order to repair a bad road.

“Why not?”