Nigeria, April 17 -- "I will not respond to Kashim Shettima because he is disrespectful. I am older than him and I have more experience in governance than he does, so I will not respond to him. It is not part of our tradition in the North to disrespect elders. You cannot look at someone who is senior to you in both age and accomplishments and start taunting him. That is not our tradition, so I won't engage with him." - Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Wazirin Adamawa, 13th April.

My dear Waziri,

You know I love you very much and have expressed admiration for your efforts from time to time over the last 36 years, since I have known you.

You will recall that we first met under the auspices of the now defunct September Club in 1989.

You at...