SHEHU Musa Yar’Adua’s personality, even from his days as the Governor of Katsina State, coalesced as blithely tepid, if not altogether innately colourless.

IS religion evil? Wait, don’t crucify me yet. Read below and make up your mind. Even Jesus Christ had a sham trial before Pontus Pilate before he was crucified. I contend that religious wars have killed more people than AIDS, malaria, famine, holocaust all put together.

As an information manager, the information minister saw the need to synergise and work closely with the security agencies, hence she was able to dazzle the world with her depth of knowledge. She immediately took charge and told the world that Abdulmatallab’s father had as a matter of fact reported the uncomfortable behaviour of his son to the US Embassy in Abuja as well as to the Nigerian security agencies.

Nigeria needs a new foundation; as crazy and as difficult as this idea sounds, without a new foundation, the Nigeria of our dreams will never materialise

I have a long connection to Nigeria. Not only was I, an Ambassador there, I have travelled to and from Nigeria for a number of years and have a deep and abiding vital emotional attachment to the Nigerian people, their magnificence, their courage, artistic brilliance, their irony, sense of humour in the face of challenges, etc.

THE Nigerian National Assembly (NASS) has in the past 10 years demonstrated gross incompetence.
I postulate that the above statement is not only fact but also true. This discussion is not intended to argue this. However, we will make an attempt to substantiate it.

As far as I am concerned they are all a bunch of media executioners. They have not even bothered with the first golden rule of journalism and law —let the other party be heard. None of our engaging and erudite columnists has spoken to Farouk; and failing that none had put on their thinking caps to ask themselves if Farouk’s right — namely the right to be presumed innocent of the charges — were being violated.

IT bears repeating. Ajaokuta was embarked upon as a strategic industry, a job creator and a foreign exchange SAVER and EARNER. Hence NIOMCO has 1,500 workers while Ajaokuta boasts of 15,000 workers. Ajaokuta was created to inwardly access Technology Transfer.

KAINJI Power Station has to be enlarged as soon as possible to generate more horsepower to the Ajaokuta Iron and Steel Complex. If more Hydro Electric Power Stations are built on the River Niger, it will encourage industrial expansion in Nigeria in general and Kogi, Kwara, Benue, Niger States in particular.

I commiserate with the President’s immediate family and fellow Nigerians in general. Kidney and Heart conditions are not very good combinations for anyone. The President is in dire need of our prayers. While we carry out this humanitarian obligation, it is pertinent to objectively examine the scenarios to determine whether calls for Umaru Yar’Adua’s resignation were timely or ill advised.