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.

NIGERIAN governments should be ashamed of their attitude towards the future of the country. This attitude is not entirely surprising since governments are fully interested only in the present as it affects them and their cronies.