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.