GOVERNMENT must have planned for the backlash of the hike in the price of petrol. However, its responses so far show a low appreciation of the economic status of Nigerians, the few exceptions being those who live off inexhaustible government largesse at the expense of others.

GOVERNMENT still under estimates the anger of Nigerians on the new price of petrol. The responses have remained the same, they have failed to address the questions Nigerians are asking about the new price of petrol, a critical product for the Nigerian economy.

PEOPLE anxious to praise President Goodluck Jonathan’s steps in tackling the recalcitrant security situations round the country have rated a mere increase in security operations in 15 local government areas to state of emergency. Nothing can be further from the truth.

SUBSIDY on petroleum products will define 2012. It does not matter if it is removed today or tomorrow. Or even if it is not removed. Fears persist that government has found a niche in its pendulous position on subsidy.

DOES anyone still remember that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, is on strike? The strike is almost a month old. All public universities are shut. Nobody is talking to ASUU, nor is ASUU shifting.

Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted, the indifference of those who should have known better, the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most that has made it possible for evil to triumph. – Emperor Haile Selassie, born Tafari Makonnen (1891-1974, ruler of Ethiopia for 44 years)

NIGERIANS came into 2011 thinking mainly about elections – 2012 is offering more, elections in some States and mostly fear of bombs and economic hardship. These combinations promise a year everyone would approach with trepidation.

IMAGINE a city so incensed with the ineptitude of its police that it fires the entire lot? That was what Veracruz, a city in Mexico did, when it thought its police was not working. It sacked its 800 policemen and the 300 administrative staff.

The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. – Section 14 (2b) of the 1999 Constitution

THE Federal Government has no apologies for borrowing at home and abroad to finance the 2012 budget which it calls “the Budget of Fiscal Consolidation”. Only those who coined the phrase can explain it. The level of borrowing to fund the budget and the fact that 72 per cent of the budget would be spent on recurrent expenditure qualifies it for the tag of “Budget of Consumption”.