ON Wednesday, September 28, 2011 in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, a public lecture was held to mark the 2011 Igbo Day celebrations, officially hosted by the Ebonyi State Government.

I FORGOT completely that the returning and repulsive month called November, is around the corner again. The agony of a nation descending into a deeper crisis, and the death of Kingsley Baridilo Kpea, the Ogoni-born petroleum engineer and Comrade who died recently in an Indian hospital, are troubling me, to forget the nauseating month November.

I now come to the challenges of peace-building. Many people, I believe, consider Nigeria as a theatre of absurd conflicts and interminable crises. They may be justified in holding this view; with the Jos crisis festering for years, with post-election violence and suicide – bombings, it is difficult to think otherwise.

You either like him or hate him for his views, but he is not structured in the mindset of those who specialize in begging the issue. Blunt but fair, caustic and bold, the Chief Servant of Niger State has not stopped impressing his audience with his characteristic style of saying it the way it is no matter whose ox is gored.

I LAUGHED my heart out as I read the above titled piece published by Dr. Okey Ndibe. He writes: “Last week, Mr. Obienyem wrote and distributed a piece titled{sic} ‘Anambra: May God Help Okey Ndibe!’” in response to his piece. In his usual offensive language devoid of civility, he was at the crest of his curve pouring vituperations on the Governor.

THE current global economic melt-down may prove a major blessing to Nigeria . As a profligate nation, the compulsory tightening of our belts may in the long run, change our attitudes and redirect our steps to a more realistic path to national growth.

BESIDES the obvious misrepresentation of facts, the Tribune’s editorial of September 29, 2011 appears ill-motivated and therefore in bad taste. Its tone was unnecessarily harsh; the choice of words incredibly impolite and inappropriate. And it was indeed unprofessional for the editorial writers to substitute cold analysis for name-calling and cheap insults.

HE may go the way of the national publicity secretary of CPC, Mr. Rotimi Fasakin, who has been summoned by the court to prove alleged statement he made against the judiciary recently. Aguiyi alleged that Igbeke approached the court with fabricated certified through copy of the primary result to get a favourable judgment.

AS a teacher and research writer, I strongly believe in superior arguments backed with facts, stripped of emotion and sentiment. I am not used to writing frivolities or doing hatchet jobs for people. Before I write on any issue, be it local, national or international, I always get my facts right to avoid libel, defamation of character and being unprofessional.

NIGERIANS cherish a society that works. Its successive rulership professes visions that articulate fantastic dreams and hopeless hopes. Every October 1, in particular, in the past three decades has become a ritual for its rulers to want to be associated with what they referred to as the “goals of the founding fathers” but their very despicable conduct betrays the very essence for which Nigeria was founded.

AS we rode from Ikoyi towards Third Mainland Bridge, a friend remarked that this area looks like Washington, DC. Yes, it looks like the area outside of Washington, DC, leading into Crystal City, Virginia. But then, it is all about looks. Nigerians are obsessed with copying Americans and Europeans. Abuja, I was told, was planned to look like Washington, DC. And the Nigerian constitution is modeled after the constitution of the United States of America.

I was not born rich,and, in my youth, I never imagined I would be where I am today ….In my early days in school, I had no shoes, no school bags… My dear good people of Nigeria…I want all of you to know that I am one of you and I will never let you down.

This is yet the most celebrated speech made by Steve Jobs. It was the 114th Commencement Address to graduating students of Stanford University on June 12, 2005.

I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I’ve ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That’s it. No big deal. Just three stories!

It was exactly seven years ago. I remember because I was pregnant. It was the first service of the year and the Man of God had asked that anyone who wanted the Lord to do something for them in particular should come forward speak their faith. Not usually given to such public displays I was surprised to see myself got up and made my way forward.

UPON gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria made the liberation and restoration of the dignity of Africa as the centerpiece of her foreign policy and played a leading role in the fight against the apartheid regime and others.