THE scriptures tell us that King David, the man after God’s heart, committed murder, and took the wife of the victim of his murder. God sent his prophet to rebuke the King and he effectively delivered God’s message to the King, which led to the full repentance of the King and deliverance of Israel from the problems and challenges of laboring under a cursed King.

SINCE the late Musa YarAdua passed away, the voices against zoning have been swarming the political conclave with fierce and indeed frightening venom, bubbling to the surface of our ugly sectarian tendencies, dragging the polity along their dangerous tracts.

IF, as widely expected across political circles, Governor Liyel imoke, seeks for and wins a second term in 2012, he would have been in the full swing of a charmed political career at age 50.

IN a democracy, the will of the people is the fundamental source of all power. The government is only an instrument created to serve the people. And as such, the governing power is primarily answerable to the citizens.

IF Patrick understood the foregoing, he would not have wasted time on quoting my earlier positive comments about him, even when in my subsequent pieces, I made it clear that at that time, I mistook him for an objective writer, not knowing he was actually an overzealous Ngige man.

President Goodluck Jonathan that the present federal legislators should be given a wild card to come back in 2011. Did he actually say so? I doubt! It would mean he is not paying sufficient attention to the work of the legislature. Members of the National Assembly have dramatically failed such that just a few should come close to the chambers after June 6 2011. A few deserve another opportunity: the Chukwumerijes, Momoras, Ozamgbachis, etc. But most should bid farewell to the ‘hallowed’ chambers and reengage their old lives as contractors and hustlers.

At that time, Patrick would not be allowed to make adverse comments, truthful or not, about a Governor. Such was the state of affairs on the 17th of January, 1800, when Napoleon Bonaparte ordered the suppression of 60 of the 63 newspapers published in France. By the end of the year, only two survived, none of them radically critical. “Three hostile newspapers,” he said, “are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets.”

AS immoral as the Nigerian ruling elite are, I have for long wondered why men of God are not publicly berating them for their transgressions and urging them to repent of their evil ways. I was therefore very impressed with the priest, Rev. Father George Ehusani.

REACTIVATION of Enugu coal mines: Long before now, much of the economy of Eastern Nigeria was driven by the coal mines at Enugu which not only energized the Oji River Power Station for the energy needs of the area, but also provided employment outlets for the people. Scores of industries at Aba , Nnewi and Onitsha axis, for instance, flourished on account of coal mining.

WE are pleased for the opportunity to interact with you, our dear President. At a time when you are daily confronted with telling challenges of state, and the relentless competition for your time by issues of nation-building, we regard your kind consent for an audience with us, as a special honour to the people of the South-East as a whole.

The President has to apply the techniques of a patient driver. He has to be alert; learn to slow down and not tailgate. This is logical, because it will give him the ample time to get around ‘rickety’ and slow moving vehicle as well as be able to observe road signs, potholes, open car doors and cars coming towards him . Dr. Goodluck has to be wary of some passengers in his vehicle, they may be obstructive; he has to also strictly observe lane end signs; give big trucks some rooms and shouldn’t try to beat trains- they can’t stop.

I HAVE high regard and respect for Chidi Amuta as a renowned journalist with a track record of accomplishments. That is why every Thursday I don’t miss reading his column on the back page of Thisday newspapers. Before now, I have been following his write-ups in The Guardian, the defunct Post Express and The Nation. Truly, he is a fearless, well-grounded writer and analyst, especially on topical national issues.

SECONDLY, the promise of a free and fair election must be strongly backed by concrete and clearly-independent actions. The exercise of presidential powers, when influenced significantly by political godfathers, casts a dark shadow on promises, and can only heighten the degree of distrust by the electorate in particular, and by all Nigerians in general, of the Federal Government.

Orji and other South-East governors should be encouraged to step up the war against kidnapping and armed robbery, even as suggestions are made on further strategies that could be introduced. Heaping blames on the governors, especially as they were recently directed at Orji, is nothing short of misplaced aggression also suggesting that his accusers are myopic and a deliberate disregard to the governor’s numerous efforts at addressing and combating kidnapping in Abia State.

I was in the audience when the governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, delivered the 45th anniversary lecture of the Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos on June 29. It was on 2011 and how to deliver credible elections.