I woke up this week with a strange feeling. This feeling comes once a while, particularly when there is premonition of trouble. It is a gripping feeling accentuated by some eeriness. Something in me tells me we need to engage one another in communal prayers for our dear fatherland. It takes only a very patriotic heart to discern what this feeling actually portends. It is usually said among my people that if a sacrifice is being offered to the gods and there is no vulture in the skies, then it means something tragic had happened in the land of the fairies.

It is never my intention to sound alarmist. What I try to do here is to provoke a national consciousness to the intricate problems facing our nation in order to fashion out workable solutions for them. It will be strange for anybody to claim that all is well with our nation with the myriads of unresolved socio-political problems threatening it. For students of history, Nigeria is passing through its most debilitating times in the 50 years of independence. And it seems this year of golden jubilee has suddenly brought these problems to the fore.

On several occasions in the past, I had called on Nigerians to pray for the continued existence of our dear country as one, united, indivisible nation. Indeed, there is no moment I write in this column without remembering Nigeria. I do this consciously or unconsciously because I am passionate about everything Nigeria. I still recall my reaction to the suggestion of a friend some years ago that I should relocate to the United States or Britain. His reason then was that Nigeria was not worth dying for. He was very serious about his position and tried to convince me with reasonable arguments why he was right. I am sure that he would not, in his wildest dreams, broach such an unpatriotic idea to me again. Apart from trying to change his mind-set about Nigeria I also gave him hope that one day all would be well.

Over 18 years after this encounter, my position has not changed. No matter how bad the conditions of life may be I will never be tempted to lose hope. Even when former President Olusegun Obasanjo deliberately plotted to destroy me I was not shaken a hoot. So many people who had encountered the man have lived to lick their wounds. I survived Obasanjo's highhandedness because my belief in Nigeria is not borne out of sheer materialism. It is a deep-rooted belief that is driven by an inner sense of patriotism. I do not care what I am made to go through in my political career provided it will advance the cause of democracy and liberate our suffering people from internal oppression and suppression.

I have read scary reports in both local and international media about ongoing threats to national peace and security in Nigeria, especially the recent Jos ethno-religious crisis, and the revelation by an American that Nigeria would break up in 15 years. I must confess I am not afraid one bit about these reports. My only concern is the wrong signals they generate. Nigeria is not worse than many countries of the world that daily live under the threat of self-annihilation. I do not need to mention Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq, Pakistan, or even Democratic Republic of Congo, because there is no way any of them can compare to Nigeria in terms of peace and security, even though the elements of what caused the strife in those countries exist in Nigeria.

My argument is simple: Nigeria may have its own peculiar problems but these problems can be resolved with maturity and the understanding of our people. The Nigeria Civil War of 1967-1970 was fought for the simple reason of ego and self-aggrandizement. If our leaders had shown a little tolerance and restraint the issues at the heart of the disagreement would have been resolved amicably. There is no doubt that efforts were made, but probably they were not sufficient to smoothen out the rough edges.

I regret to state that the issues that caused the war still stare us in the face. Injustice, insensitivity, insecurity, greed and avarice are all still part of our national life. No nation can survive where the leadership shows no responsibility for its actions. There is, at present, unnecessary hullabaloo over President Musa Yar'Adua's health. I have decided to call it 'unnecessary' because some persons make a mountain out of a molehill over a matter that is very clear and simple. Why are we dissipating our energy over the issue when the constitution is very clear on what should be done? Different interpretations have been given to the relevant sections of the constitution by sections of the society - each wanting to promote its own interest instead of the interest of the nation. Even the judiciary is not left out of the imbroglio. A federal high court sitting in Abuja, in a matter of two weeks, had already delivered two different judgments on the matter - with each ruling evoking more confusion. The prevarication by the national assembly has not helped issues at all. The national assembly has found it hard to take a judicious position on the matter. The same situation is obtainable at the federal executive council.

I am pained that Mr. President should be in this state of invalidity. I have always wished him well in all his endeavours. My attitude to politics is predicated on the principle of fairness. I do not pray against my political opponents. Even though we belong to different political parties I see the president basically as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not that of the PDP. It is unfortunate that PDP has always created the impression that the president is its private property. And that is why I am pissed off each time the party adopts a different position from the consensus on critical national issues. For instance, the party has taken the national assembly to task for asking the president to apply formally for leave. The reaction of the party smacked of excessiveness, arrogance and impudence.

I read a most disgusting and worrisome report in a national daily last Sunday of surreptitious scheming by some unnamed politicians to lure the military into politics. This is putting it mildly. If I am to interpret it the way it is generally known it means that some politicians are wooing the military to overthrow the government. It is unfortunate that some politicians should ever nurse the callous idea of toppling the government even when they are aware of the treasonable consequences of their action.

There is no doubt that those calling for forceful change of government are never-do-wells who feel they will fare better under a military administration. Indirectly, they want to get through the barrel of the gun what they couldn't achieve through the ballot box.

Nevertheless, it is gratifying to know that the top military brass is at the alert and has shunned the overture. What the political desperadoes, however, did not put into consideration in their wicked escapade is that Nigeria's military has gone through self-renewal through consistent training and retraining. The military of the 1970's and 1980's are remarkably different from the military of the 2000's. I am glad that Nigeria's military is fully aware of the global demands from the military and has taken measures to push itself up to such a level as not to be left behind.

Let me sound a note of warning to those lobbying the military to meddle into politics that they will reap whatever they sew. Experience has shown that a civilian administration is better than a military government in all ramifications. The United States, Britain and other developed economies have practised democracy for upwards of 200 years and still counting. The role of the military is quite distinct from that of the civilians. Each plays a complementary role in national development without undue interference from the other. Nobody should toy with the modest gains we have made since the rebirth of democracy in 1999.

It is ironical that Nigeria that is at the forefront of the defence of democracy in Africa should tolerate a military intervention. Certainly, any moves to remove the civilians from governance will be stoutly resisted by Nigerians and the international community. What we need at present is not a military interregnum, but credible elections in 2011 to elect leaders that will build a strong and egalitarian nation in which every Nigerian will live in peace and happiness.

The greatest threat to peace and security in Nigeria is election malpractice. It is electoral fraud that undoubtedly produces corrupt and insensitive leaders who manipulate the system to further their selfish agenda, leaving the people impoverished and imperilled. Some commentators may dispute my position. But taking a closer look at Nigeria's political development since independence will reveal the negative role election rigging has played in the crisis that had rocked the polity.

The logjam in the ongoing review of the constitution by the national assembly is something to worry about. I had stated in this column that no credible review could come from the present national legislators because of their desire for re-election. For this reason, they will do everything possible to frustrate the exercise. How many months are left before the 2011 elections roll off the ground? Already Anambra State is setting the ball rolling as it elects a new governor today. This election will be a precursor to what is to come next year. Getting it right will send the right signal to those who want to manipulate the 2011 elections that there time is up. I am confident that INEC will get it right this time round.

I wish to comment further on the precarious state of security across the country. It is quite disturbing. The recent Jos crisis has exposed the ill-preparedness of our security agencies to provide adequate security. The crisis could not have happened in the first place if the security apparatuses had taken steps to nip them in the bud. My fear is that the security operatives may not be able to contain any crisis of superlative dimension. This is food for thought for them.

Why should Jos boil again less than a year after the last carnage that spilled over to Bauchi and other neighbouring states? The Boko Haram and Kala Kato riots that led to the death of hundreds of innocent Nigerians also occurred without intelligence report capturing it before it actually occurred. What is then actually wrong with our intelligence agencies? Government must take immediate and drastic measures to stop these unprovoked attacks on hapless citizens.

The danger in allowing the crisis to escalate is that it will dissuade international investors from coming to Nigeria, while those already here will be forced to pull out. We cannot afford to toy with our national integrity and life when we can do something to defend it. I am worried by another report I read in a national newspaper where some repentant militants were alleged to have threatened to storm Abuja to cause mayhem. Why should this kind of threat ensue from the same militants that had laid down their arms? If they still have the capacity to take up in arms after they had allegedly surrendered their weapons it then means that the whole amnesty exercise was a sham. I know the security agencies may play down the threat as an empty boast. But I advise them to take it very seriously and take steps to forestall any breakdown of law and order at this critical time of our national life.

I wish to state quite sincerely that Nigeria cannot afford any further loss of innocent lives and valuable properties to nonsensical adventures by some miscreants and misfits. The perpetrators of the recent Jos crisis must be made to pay for their sin. It is very promising that the Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, had assured the nation that the sponsors and perpetrators of the senseless crisis would be fished out and dealt with in accordance with the laws of our land. Carrying out this directive clinically will go a long way in boosting the morale of many Nigerians who have since lost hope in the capability of the government to secure lives and properties.

This brings me to the recent murder of Dipo Dina - a former governorship candidate of the Action Congress in Ogun State. Dina was brutally cut down last week in hazy circumstances. That such an enterprising young man should die the way he did tells a story about insecurity in Nigeria. What is this world turning into? His death has, as expected, sparked off controversies as who was behind it. It is not the intention of this article to delve into the cause of his death or who did it. What I do here is to draw the attention of all the relevant authorities to the need to provide adequate security for the people. No life is more important than the other. The life of a poor Nigerian is as important as that of a rich Nigerian. We need to beef up security all across the country because nobody knows who the next victim may be.

As I pray to God to be merciful unto us, I ask our people to be vigilant and take their destiny in their hands. They must stand up today and defend democracy by ensuring that only those who have their interest at heart are elected to run the affairs of our dear nation.