EUPHORIA has its place, as Libyanswould find out soon. When a man rules a country absolutely for 42 years it is not easy to do without him whether he was booted out of office, he died or was killed.

Dr Bernard Harris, the first Africa-Americanastronaut to walk on outer planet who visited Nigeria and other African Countries recently to encourage our children and stakeholders in the sector on the need to revamp the continent’s passion for science and technology has served as an example to Africans at home and in diaspora to think on what they can offer their country.

Between political stability and economic prosperity, one must come first!

The two are not mutually exclusive.

In Nigeria’s case, the puzzle is whether we should pursue economic prosperity with a long term view of enthroning political stability; or vice versa!

In those pleasant days when Nigerian schools still taught kids anything worthwhile, Romeo and Juliet, was every secondary school student’s favourite love story –irrespective of gender. The name given to the nation’s latest attempt to re-introduce fiscal discipline should induce in those old enough to remember when budgets were sacrosanct the quip, “What’s in a name?”

Prof. Akpan Ekpo, Director General, West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), owned by the Central Banks of Anglophone West Africa (Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Gambia and Liberia)