Nigeria, March 9 -- You wouldn't be wrong if you say that governance at the level of the Presidency is effectively on holiday. What seems to matter at moment are issues that bother on the second term ambition of the president. The passionate pursuit has not only shrunk the governance space, it has charged the political atmosphere beyond measure. As the jostle for the next phase of politicking intensifies exasperation and desperation seem to be in a duel. With the elections getting close by the day, the turf game is moving from rhetoric to action.

In Nigeria, the nature of the game is akin to the Darwinian situation where only the fittest survive. Developments in recent weeks are a pointer to an emerging trend that may define the road to...