I must confess that since he assumed full presidential powers with the 2011 presidential election, President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan read what could easily pass as his most charismatic and inspiring presidential speeches on Monday July 23rd 2012 at the opening ceremony of a maritime sector presidential Retreat which he hosted at the heavily fortified Aso Rock presidential palace in Abuja.

Poverty is an insidious disease that incapacitates, depresses, and ultimately kills scores of people world-wide. Those afflicted can be old or young, black or white or brown, rich or poor, skinny or obese. Daily more than 50,000 people needlessly die from poverty. Nearly a billion persons unnecessarily suffer, some of them in the midst of plenty.

Following the orgy of violence in Jos in September 2001 various explanations were pondered for the cold-hearted bloodletting that disrobed the city of the garment of innocence it once wore. Of all those, two in my opinion, stood out: politicians were blamed for abdicating their duty and for inciting the people against each other; and the media were accused of inflaming the tense situation. Being a journalist and student of conflict reporting/resolution I shall expound the second issue more.