AS 2015 begins, people have high expectations. They dream their New Year ambitions. It is an annual ritual that helps brush aside failures of the faded year. The beginning of every year affords deep reflection on the past and the future. Some call these New Year resolutions.

NIGERIANS are getting to the reality that every part of the country wants to free space and whatever resources it can for itself. The arguments are not about who settlers are and who are the indigenes, they are about the fact that Nigerians are now grappling with issues of citizenship. It is an issue that deserves handling with uttermost sensibility and sensitivity.

CORPORATE Nigeria, a group that impetuously springs to life for a presidential election, contributed over N21 billion at President Goodluck Jonathan’s recent fund raising. In the 2003 and 2007 elections, Corporate Nigeria raised billions of Naira for Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru Musa Yar’dua. In October 2010, it raised money for Jonathan before he became a candidate! According to Section 221 of the Constitution, “No association, other than a political party, shall canvass for votes for any candidate at any election or contribute to the funds of any political party or to the election expenses of any candidate at an election.” Corporate Nigeria is not a political party. Could donors at the event be Peoples Democratic Party members, in which case their action could qualify them as acting for a political party? It is unlikely. The secrecy on identity of donors says so.

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.