Short & Sharp

The remedy for Niger Delta It is not pleasant that the oil that is precious to us is destroyed by a strange group of militants called the Avengers. While I may be tempted to call for their heads, I want to tell the government one thing. We should look into the Niger Delta problem once […]

The remedy for Niger Delta
It is not pleasant that the oil that is precious to us is destroyed by a strange group of militants called the Avengers. While I may be tempted to call for their heads, I want to tell the government one thing. We should look into the Niger Delta problem once and for all. The oil makes farming and fishing, both major occupations of the people, impossible. This should be supplemented by massive development in that area and provision of alternative means of livelihood. Dishing out money to individuals is of course not the solution, but the creation of a framework for development that is feasible and can be seen by everyone. Let the government not treat this simply as a Boko Haram-type problem. It is not, please, and we are all tired of trouble.
Mahmud Abubakar Musa, Kebbi State.

The crisis in PDP
The present crises rocking the PDP continues to make it unfit for being the major opposition party in the country. It needs to get its act right and become worthy of being called an opposition party to the ruling party. After all, it plans to win, right? Slim as that may be. The APC on the other hand should stop comparing itself with the PDP because it’s not worth a pinch of salt right now. Instead, it (APC) should focus on work, work and work and never feel top comfortable.
Yinka Davies, Ilorin.

Let the Abuja-Kaduna rail be maintained
Well, it certainly isn’t news that in Nigeria we are good at starting up something good without thinking of how to maintain it. Finally, the Abuja-Kaduna rail line seems to be almost ready for use. This will certainly make things better for a lot of people who travel to the capital on a daily and weekly basis. There’s also the issue of less risk. The pot-holed route has already taken many lives and we will be happy to see the rail line work perfectly. But there’s the matter of maintenance. Nigerians have little respect for anything that appears to be owned by government, and past governments have shown they know little about fashioning out plans for maintaining what they have built. We only hope for the best now.
Priscilla Markus, Sabon Tasha, Kaduna.

Rising rape cases
There must be a solution for the rising rape cases in the country. This rise shows a clear disrespect for the mothers of tomorrow. What happens if your mother, sister, cousin is a victim? What if we later have more women who have suffered from this? Will they be stable and able to look upon life with hope and leave the past behind? Perhaps we are not doing enough to deter this crime. I am not calling for a death sentence, but the punishment rendered should make any man or boy shiver in fear when he even sees a half-naked female on the street. Yes, half-naked. Gone are the days when this is used as an excuse. Let’s admit it, men rape even a fully covered woman or girl when they get the chance. What happens if everyone says “the devil made me do it” and is let loose?
Imam Abdulrahman, Sokoto.