Steve Nwosu

Several years before he realised his life-time ambition of becoming Nigeria's Head of State, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida had become a recurring decimal in the country's military politics. In the process he had clobbered together an intimidating cult of loyalists - both within and outside the military - that defied all opposition to eventually keep the gap-toothed General on the saddle for eight years. Eight years after he was forced to 'step aside', Babangida has continued to be linked with determining whoever occupies the Aso Rock Villa which he first occupied. Now, as he prepares to celebrate his 60th birthday come Friday, August 17, the permutation is that he could be making a return under a new era that would allow him another eight years in power.

Dele Sobowale, Vanguard
RALPH Waldo Emerson, an American poet, essayist and philosopher, was born in Boston and died in Concord. But between birth and death, he had given to the world a body of philosophical sayings which have passed the test of time. At death, he was acknowledged as the sage of Concord. Few men in history have had a better grasp of the limitations of human beings which many of us still fail to accept.

Patrick Omorodion, Vanguard
WHEN Libyan strongman, Colonel Muamar Gaddafi (if he were a Nigerian president, he would have become a Field Marshall by now) labelled Nigeria a big for  nothing country many years ago, most of us, especially the military apologists, didn’t take it lightly. He was castigated and called all sorts of names to the extent that  some of these apologists were celebrated when he was almost killed by the missiles from another war monger, President Ronald Reagan of the United States.