IT always starts as a joke, grows into a yoke and finally the authorities jostle with the idea until it throws the country into a frenzy. Whether with the military or civilians, speculations about tenure elongation have unfortunately become part of our national life, a major distraction that holds the country hostage until either the promoters of the ideas are tired or defeated.

FLOOD, erosion, desert encroachment are among the commonest environmental disasters that Nigeria faces. The Ecological Fund was created in 1981 to be used to intervene in these areas.

Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand. – A verse from the national anthem used 1960-1978.

IT is obvious that our governments think governance is theatrics. The ceaseless disputations over payment of the minimum wage show a set of people who think more of their offices, their comfort than what would benefit others.

THE power of the press (media) is over-stated as the demise of the 168-year-old News of the World, one of the world’s most famous newspapers, has proven. The paper closed because it was obvious that the scandal would result in business losses.

WE can count. One of the things we number well is promises. This may have something to do with the expectations politicians who made them would soon forget. President Goodluck Jonathan may have a different intention in saying he did not have a number of items in the agenda of his administration.

THE French have vast interests in Nigeria.
The range stretches from aviation, manufacturing, trading to oil and gas. The French proposal to assist Nigeria with her internal security can be seen in the context of protecting French investments in Nigeria and the ECOWAS region, but a more profound analysis would include strengthening of French influence in the sub-region — which it currently dominates — by capturing its most prized component, Nigeria.

WE are giving ghosts too much credit if we insist they are workers. We may be taking the applauds to bizarre ends if we, in addition, claim those eerie characters worked for the federal government. There are no figures about how much they earned during their frightening service since we are not sure in what grade levels they served and what entitlements those positions commanded.

WHAT determines where President Goodluck Jonathan is found? Who decides who the President of the biggest black nation on earth meets? What considerations seal decisions on the President’s public conduct? We are concerned and we want to state our abhorrence to the continuous diminishing of the Presidency by the people the President meets and the miniscule circumstances of those engagements.

THE Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, is one of numerous government agencies that have chosen to promote poor services at high costs. It also thinks it has no reason explaining its insensitivity to the public it is meant to serve.