ROMANIAN witches who have long thirsted for government recognition are getting the type of deal they never imagined – they are to pay tax from this month. The law says so.

OUR democracy is unique. The practices are peculiar. When it is election time, the preparations assume a crescendo determined to crush anything that stands on the way of those who want results.

A FEDERAL High Court decision that annulled amendments to the 1999 Constitution may be the initial descent to constitutional anarchy, unless parties to the dispute abide by a judicial ruling on processes for amending the Constitution.

IT is ironical the cantonment in Abuja where a blast killed and injured people in a pre-New Year revel is named Mogadishu after the capital of Somalia, which has had no central government since General Mahammad Siad Barre was over- thrown in 1991.

THE election in Delta State tomorrow is a test for politicians as Nigerians look forward to the elections in April. There is no doubt the Court of Appeal found grounds to annul the governorship election of 14 April 2007.

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan is a modest man. This reflected in his 2010 achievements. He, however, went off the mark when he awarded his administration pass marks on these results.

ON Christmas eve, riots broke out in Jos, after blasts that have so far claimed 84 lives. Every month last year, there were killings in Jos or surrounding villages. Every such incident in Jos is religious, a clash between the two major religions and attempts at reprisals by the losing side in a former encounter.

ANOTHER year is 24 hours away and people are full of expectations as they look forward to fulfilment of their dreams. It is an annual ritual that keeps the failures of the past year at bay. The beginning of every year affords people deep reflections on the past as they plan.

JUSTICE moves slowly for the poor. It took seven years for suspects in the murder of Dr. Harry Marshal, Deputy National Chairman of the All Nigerian Peoples Party to be freed.

IT is the season of budgets. The federal government, states and local government councils are going through the ritual, for that is what the annual event has become. It is the time to reel out figures government will spend on itself.

EVERY Nigerian policeman, for uncountable reasons, believes he is a victim of the society he serves. A police refrain for years is that each society deserves the police it gets. Nigeria cannot be an exception.

EACH time a national icon like Chief Anthony Eromosele Enahoro passes on, the country descends into convoluted mourning to impress the uninitiated that Nigeria cares about its past, present or future. Nigeria remains uncaring even about issues that affect its existence.

TOMORROW is Christmas. It may just happen on millions of Nigerians who have survived one of the worst years of their lives. While Christmas used to be awaited with anticipations of the joys of the season, 2010 has been a year of unequalled challenges in the race for survival.

IT is interesting that Nigeria was one of the earliest voices that asked President Laurent Gbagbo to concede victory to Alassane Qattara after the contentious election in Cote d’Ivoire.

WEEKS ago, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at a forum promised to assist women vying for political offices next year. Between official promises of giving them automatic tickets (even for seats that are already occupied) and the moderated version that they will be provided funds to contest against others, there is no decision on the matter. PDP keeps vacillating on its position on primaries.