RiverNaija

Oil is a curse. Natural gas, copper, and diamonds are also bad for a country’s health. Hence, an insight that is as powerful as it is counterintuitive: Poor but resource-rich countries tend to be underdeveloped not despite their hydrocarbon and mineral riches but because of their resource wealth. One way or another, oil — or gold or zinc — makes you poor. This fact is hard to believe, and exceptions such as Norway and the United States are often used to argue that oil and prosperity can indeed go together. The rarity of such exceptions, however, not only confirms the rule, but also serves to clarify what it takes to avoid the misery-inducing consequences of wealth based on natural resources: democracy, transparency, and effective public institutions that are responsive to citizens. These are important preconditions for the more technical aspects of the recipe, including the need to maintain macroeconomic stability, prudently manage public finances, invest part of the windfall abroad, ...

This world is like a big football stadium. A throng of people come either as spectators, players, or referees. At the stadium, contests are conducted and games are played. Some players play fair; some play foul. Some play wicked, some play well. Some play wise; some play foolish. All players came because of a game that had a time-limit. Whichever way we play, and how long we tarry, the game will end. This is the truth and nothing but the truth. Sometimes, humans need to sit back and think about this. Is life worth all the hassles and hustles? The answer should spell true, or deny it. This is nothing but the truth. Truth is immortal. Truth lives forever. You can suppress it but not eternally; you can deny but can’t avoid it.You can cage the truth if you want to; but you cannot break it even if you tried. Don’t think you are super-dominant when you suppress the truth; don’t sleep with both eyes closed when you repress it. Truth does not cry for justice; and it does not beg for help. Wh...