here is no dull moment in Nigeria. And this is a reason the country's socio-political happenings captivate and enchant one. About a fortnight ago, religious extremism, intolerance and extra-judicial killings in some Sharia States made the headlines and, before the dust could settle, another bombshell exploded whose fragments are hurting the Banking sector. Prior to the banking tsunami, Hilary Clinton visited Nigeria and in line with Barack Obama's earlier castigation of corrupt African leaders, the US Secretary of State, in clear terms, harped on the corruption profile of Nigeria and the willingness to assist in Electoral reforms in the country.

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The constructive engagements of Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora calling attention of the world and Nigerian people to the current ineffective, clueless and visionless political class have become the butt of some politicians in high places, especially the Senate president, David Mark. In an unfortunate remark during a recent Diaspora Day event in Abuja, David Mark highlighted a personal deficiency of his understanding of what makes a nation to progress.

For a man saddled with the position of Senate President to insist that those who do not have a positive comment on Nigeria should seek another country underscores the narrow vision of a member of the pseudo pillars of Nigeria's current democracy. How could any decent Nigerian embark on a journey of hypocrisy and grandstanding by feeding the world tissue of lies in form of propaganda? Why would a retired army general, now politician, spill such infantile and pedestrian comment? This becomes salient when viewed against the background that he was in the military clique that brought the country to such a pathetic state of affairs.

Was David Mark's alleged election to represent Oturkpo in the national assembly not one of the frauds contested by his opponent? Only in Nigeria do shameless politicians without scruples open their mouth anyhow not expecting to be challenged by facts.

The bitter truth must be told to these General parasites that are attempting to burn the residues of order and conscience left in the nation. Where was David Mark in the Babaginda years? Was he not dubbed one of the IBB boys? What effects did the years of his boss in office have on the current political apathy and corruption which the country is steeped in? Did the military governments, of which he was an active participant, promote a democratic ethos worth extolling? Is David Mark not one of the retired billionaire generals in the country? What are the sources of his wealth? And for a false 'patriot' as Mark, where are his investments in Nigeria? How about the series of golf courses owned by Mark in Ireland? I guess the innate brute force which his type used in cowing Nigerians in the past is taking the better part of his senses.

Nigeria, as currently constituted, does not only belong to the David Marks and group of charlatans masquerading as politicians. Nigeria belongs to all those, whose nativity, parental roots and interests are within that geographic delimitation. It does not belong to the fraudsters, who used the military as a camouflage, and now politics, to pauperize the people and collapse the infrastructure.

Those who consistently point to bad governance, in form of lack of security to lives and property and basic infrastructural facilities, are the true patriots and conscience of a nation that is under the grip of selfish and evil political elite. The David Marks of Nigeria need to improve on the health care system of Nigeria; they need to consume themselves with installing a democratic institution that will jettison mediocrity and extol true service and compassion. What we do not need are Machiavellian politicians bent in having an automatic return ticket to the national assembly in 2011, and who are dedicated to maintaining a salary structure that is not in harmony with the laws of production economics.

Apart from the rudderless political class, Nigerians are now seeing the nudity of the so-called juggernauts in the business sector. The newly appointed director of the CBN Malam Lamido Sanusi took a decisive step last week by terminating the appointments of five Managing Directors/CEOs of major banks in Nigeria. Although this scenario is still unfolding, one cannot but ask the then Professor Soludo-led CBN on why it is now, with the change of leadership at the apex bank, we are getting to know loans granted to some 'powerful' Nigerians are high-risk ones and non-performing?

We wait to have further information on this revelation sending jitters into the banking sector. One had wondered on the role of the multitudinous banks in Nigeria to stimulating the economy. It is revealing to note that some individuals named so far in obtaining loans are those whose antecedents in crime are well known. Their use of fronting individuals and companies should not have escaped these indicted CEOs and MDs.

Increasingly we are being made aware that ethics in all sectors of Nigerian life are lacking. No part of our system is immune from this cancer that is virulently destroying the psyche of our people. The value system in our national life stinks and needs to be deodorized quickly. Efforts must be concentrated in arresting our rapid decline into nothingness in the comity of nations. Burying our head in the sand will only exacerbate our problem.

Constructive criticisms and exposure of the shenanigans running our affairs must continue unabated, irrespective of what the David Marks spout. If our criticisms are too hot for the David Marks, then they are the ones that should permanently relocate outside the current Nigerian geography.