Once upon a time, before the era of coups and counter coups in pre-oil Nigeria, there were four financially independent regions, namely: Northern Region, Western Region, Mid-Western Region, and Eastern Region. They all maximised their unique comparative advantages for the development of their respective societies and for the overall development of the national economy. It was a situation of “live and let live”.

FIFTY SIX years after independence, we are more polarised than ever along ethnic and religious lines, a fantastically corrupt nation desiring to change and eliminate corruption, yet discovering that we want corruption back, in spite of the abundance of human natural, and mineral resources God has blessed us with.

Just today (Wednesday the 28th of September, 2016) the World Economic Forum released its Global Competitiveness Report and whereas a number of African nations like Kenya (of whom we are very quick to compare ourselves positively) improved in the Global Competitiveness Index rankings, Nigeria slipped three places and is now ranked 127 out of 138 nations.

AMONG other perspectives, society is said to be a construct of conflicting interests and influences. The combination of such divergent energies invariably powers the locomotive that takes society in the direction and destination, which its leaders and inhabitants and even ‘well-wishers’ are willing and prepared to steer it.

NUMEROUS narratives and buck passing predating the official pronouncement of the economy entering recession have been so entertaining, warped and quite unrealistic.

South-East geopolitical zone is no doubt, aggregately robbed in terms of federal presence; social amenities, basic infrastructures and political appointments since the end of the last civil war.

ONITSHA—IT was a harvest of talents and display of dexterity at the special thanksgiving music festival organized by the staff and students of Archbishop Valerian Okeke Music Academy, AVOMA, penultimate Sunday at the Bishop Shanahan Hall of the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity cum Catholic Archdiocesan Secretariat, Onitsha, Anambra State.

IN recent times, the Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki and Alhaji Aliko Dankote have called for the sale of National Assets to finance our budget deficit and stimulate economic recovery. This call has also being endorsed by the National Economic Council comprising of the Vice President and the 36 State governors at their recently concluded economic council meeting.

IT is no longer news that the economy of Nigeria is officially in recession. Did we envisage or prepare for this? I will say yes, given the ‘profligacy’ of the past sixteen or so years and the futile attempts made by Dr. Okonjo Iweala and others in the Goodluck Jonathan government, including the present emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, to remove fuel subsidy and save for the rainy day that we are now experiencing.

However what is happening in the ruling party today transcends partisan politics and should be a concern to us all. At the very least we can learn some very hard lessons from it.