The Desperate Rush

On Monday, 20 July 2001, at a remembrance lecture and book lunch in honor of the late Lt. Col. Francis Adekunle Fajuyi in Ibadan, Nigeria, Major General Robert Adeyinka Adebayo(RTD) of blessed memory has summarized the situation in Nigeria in the following words: ''In our country, the system has produced despots that foist totalitarianism regimes on us and allows mediocrity to triumph over merit, hence our continued backwardness as a nation.''

Those who possess the political power today must have started taking stock of the legacies they are about to leave behind, particularly the huge debt burden at the center and the states. 

Another legacy to be left behind are thousands of lives that have been lost for economic and security reasons, in addition to those who remain unaccounted for under this administration. 

The leaders in their second and final lap are anxious to throw in the towel, while the ones still having a term to go are working vigorously to cover their tracks a bit longer. 

The desperation to conduct the National Population Census, the huge amount set aside for the Kano/Marahadi rail project, the rush to commence the Nigeria Air flight operations and the imminent airport concession among others in the twilight of this administration speaks volumes. 

 Wielding the Big Stick 

Several grievous and heinous crimes have been traced to commercial motorcyclists a.k.a Okada riders, who are mostly foot soldiers, supporters, admirers and well wishers of the ruling political parties in a number of states. 

For peace to reign and for the safety of innocent Nigerians to be guaranteed, leaders must wield the big stick on their followers with criminal tendencies. 

However, sadly, lawlessness, crime and all forms of criminality are now a lingering culture and tradition in several communities, including Molusi, Onafuwa Solanke, Oyegbami, Oshodi, Kehinde Aderibigbe, Olorunsogo, Molete, Aluko, Felele and Scout Camp communities. Indeed, the overbearing indicators are that the government at all levels are complicit.