TODAY is Christmas. It may just happen on millions of Nigerians who have survived one of the worst years of their lives. From security challenges to the pangs of the retracting economy, there are hardly resour-ces to make Christmas merry. While Christmas used to be awaited with anticipations of the joys of the season, 2014 has been a year of unequalled challenges in the race for survival. Survivors still bear the marks of a year of excruciating moments of doubts about governments or their purpose.

FIVE years ago, the high cost of governments was a hot issue. The principal concern was the jumbo pay the National Assembly instituted for its privileged 469 members. Once the debate extended to other areas of government, it died. The Presidential Advisory Council, PAC, suggested reduction in the number of Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

ELECTIONS have been confirmed for February 2015, less than two months away since the first series would hold on February 14. We expected politicians would have deemed it important to start engaging the people in discussions about their future, about the competence they are providing as leaders and their expectations from those they lead.

FOCUS has been on the terrorists that have been attacking the North East, but a new set of terrorists have emerged, though ignored, they are cutting off whatever ameliorations are planned for victims of terror. The new terrorists disrupt aids meant for victims of terror. They are not new to their game, they only change garbs.

THE increasing cruelties our society harbours have moved to insistent assaults on children by guardians, who descend on their wards with the most puerile excuses.Gory media images of children dismembered, beaten to death, with shrivelled fingers, or reduced to skeletons are becoming common.