By Azu Ishiekwene

A leader like Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand doesn’t come in tens. Not even in twos. And so, it was such a bright day on October 26, 2017, when she took office as New Zealand’s Prime Minister.

By Our Correspondent

I spent well over three weeks in my hometown this holiday season. Throughout that stay, my consciousness played games with me: my heart entreated me to stay put, while my mind urged me to bolt as quickly as I could. If I followed my mind I would have bade goodbye to my village just 4 days after arrival! But I stayed put for over three weeks of deep reflections and valuable introspection.

By Bolanle Bolawole

Few days ago, I stumbled upon, and began to read once more, the epochal, historical, and profound 1776 American Declaration of Independence. The abuse and violation of rights; and the disdain in which the American colonies were held by the British Crown, beggars belief! The blunt and arrogant refusal of Britain to lessen the burden of the colonies imitated Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, who disdainfully told suppliant Israelis begging him to lessen their suffering: My father scourged you with horsewhip (but) I will scourge you with scorpions! In the final analysis, Rehoboam lost a chunk of the kingdom; the British Crown was not as lucky as it lost the American colonies completely. Crowns everywhere usually exhibit an arrogance that eventually leads to their annihilation: in France with the Bourbon kings leading to the 1789 French revolution and in Ethiopia leading to the deposition and disgrace of Emperor Haile Selassie on 12 September, 1974.

By Paul Ejime

The call, the other day, by President Muhammadu Buhari on foreign ambassadors posted to Nigeria to desist from interfering in the country’s forthcoming election is both timely and imperative. The president spoke while receiving Letters of Credence from the Ambassadors of Switzerland, Sweden, Republic of Ireland, Kingdom of Thailand, Republic of Senegal and Republic of South Sudan. He reiterated his call to foreign government representatives in Nigeria not to interfere in the country’s internal affairs, especially the electoral process.

By Bola Bolawole

I must have read a story with the same or similar heading above sometime in the past but reading it or something similar again this week, I took more interest in it in view of the ongoing “japa” phenomenon that is emptying Nigeria not only of its vibrant youths but also of its professionals, especially those in the medical field. Titled “An Epidemic: Nigerian Men Killing Their Nurse Wives in the US” and written by Abiodun Ladepo, a resident of Los Angeles, California, USA, the stories are as chilling as they are unfortunate. Please read: “‘Yes, I have killed the woman that messed up my life; the woman that has destroyed me. I am at Shalom West. My name is David and I am all yours’. Those were David Ochola’s words during his 911 (U.S. Emergency Number) call to authorities after shooting dead his 28-year-old wife, Priscilla Ochola, in Hennepin, Minnesota. The 50-years old husband was tired of being ‘disrespected’ by his wife, a Registered Nurse (RN) whom he had brought from Nigeria and sponsored through nursing school only to have her make much more than him in salary – a situation which led to Mrs. Ochola ‘coming and going as she chose without regard for her husband’. The couple had two children – a four-year-old boy and a three-year-old girl.

"APC/PDP (Tinubu/Atiku) Are Twin Horsemen Of The Apocalypse"......Dele Farotimi.

By Jude Ogechi Eze

In the buildup to his crucifixion on Mount Calvary, a lot of women were weeping and sympathizing with Jesus Christ as he bore the excruciating weight of the cross under constant military beatings. But when he lifted his eyes and saw them, what he told stunned even the indifferent bystanders. He said: "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep rather for yourselves and for your children." (Lk. 23:28).