The joyful news of the rescue of the miners trapped under the earth in Chile for months should be a good news for everyone everywhere. But not in Nigeria. This great news has turned into a sad fable about failure of the state in Nigeria.

The teachers are on a field day on industrial actions on issues that are really none of their business. Students posit as if character and learning have become obsolete values in the making of a student and embrace the negative values of violence, cheating and immorality to the detriment of their persons and the society.

ONE debilitating strand that can be threaded out of the Nigerian situation is what can be described as the lack of commitment to one another and to the nation. If you like, you can equate this phenomenon to lack of patriotism.

HISTORY sometimes has a curious sense of humour. It has a funny way of playing some corny jokes on the human race, as it strives to repeat itself, perhaps to drum it into mankind’s thick skull that only its first cousin, time, and its grand self can determine the fortune or the misfortune of man on the planet.

To the surprise of many Nigerians, particularly in the South West, the emergence of Obasanjo was not envisaged and was not acceptable. Rather, most people in the zone preferred Chief Olu Falae who contested under the coalition of Alliance for Democracy (AD)/All Peoples Party (APP) as presidential candidate.

ASIDE from the request for extension of time for the 2011 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, the greatest debate in Nigeria’s political circle today is that of zoning or power rotation

ONE could not have possibly imagined the height of contempt which some of the nation’s political leaders have for the minorities of the South-South region, until the presidency of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

A vote against discriminatory practices in the name of Osu caste in south east Nigeria.

Osu caste system is an obnoxious practice among the Igbo in south east Nigeria which has refused to go away despite the impact of Christianity, education and civilization, and the human rights culture.

The professions have always been the modeler of excellence in the public sphere. The legal profession has played a key role in promoting the ideals of rule of law and justice. The medical profession has not just saved lives. It has also promoted the virtues of physical and emotional care.

These are hard times in Ogun State. The string of illegalities that had rocked the state to a level of condemnation and political irresponsibility has not abated. The latest is the political manipulation of Ogun West for governorship candidate.

THE Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) is no doubt a respected and professional body that commands attention and honour in this country. This is because of what it stands for and its members constructive engagements on national issues. Past leaders of the body have proved that they have what it takes to put our leaders on their toes in the area of good governance.

IT was the lot of the United States (US) Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton last week to render a similar soul-wrenching apology as her husband, Bill Clinton did 13 years ago on behalf of ‘God’s Own Country’. In 1997, the humanist Clinton stood before the world and profusely apologised for White America’s use of Black Americans as guinea pigs during experiments on syphilis.

THE behaviour of our political leaders in the management of Nigeria’s perennial problems has continuously placed the country at the lowest rung of the world developmental assessment chart and which for long had reduced Nigeria to the status of a “developing country”.

The greatest affront however, is that they are trying to force Atiku Abubakar, the only true democrat in the group, indeed the greatest fighter for and defender of democracy in modern day Nigeria, to surrender to them in this presidential race.

MANY state governments, notably the Mid-western State under General Samuel Ogbemudia donated chairs, desks, and money.