If those crusading for a separate state are doing so because of the failures of previous governments to serve the needs of Nigerians adequately, that is not a good enough reason to seek secession. The grievance is shared across Nigeria. Moreover, the idea of a separate nation based on religious and ethnic calculations is unworkable.

The government-appointed Commission was wound up last month and directed to compile its report by 30 November. The report is expected to be published on 15 December. The Commission faced a lot of huddles deliberately thrown on its way including a campaign mounted by government figures to discredit it.

Joseph Kabila is doing everything to remain in power in DR Congo. He knows that he cannot hold on to power solely by force, hence he is in a mad pursuit to establish any form of legitimacy to justify holding on to the presidency. His options are increasingly limited and in the end, his schemes are likely to fail.

Sam was highly regarded for his sharp intellect and rigor. Among the young and old, men, women, children, he was a welcome presence wherever he journeyed. He was warm and kind, going out of his way to assist; he made people feel good; and he loved laughter.

The tendency of attributing to Islam everything a Muslim does harbours a major fallacy, which simply presumes that all Muslims are devoted to ‘their creed’ and that whatever they do is necessarily guided by what ‘their religion’ sanctions. In fact, however, the bulk of those identified with Islam, like other people everywhere, attend to their worldly things largely motivated by the mundane logics of desire and power.