| FROM THE EDITOR** |
 Almost a year ago, the cover story in the February 9, 2009 edition of the magazine was titled: Why Jos May Boil Again. It was a follow-up on the November 2008 religious riots that devastated Jos, capital of Plateau State. An estimated 1000 lives and properties worth several hundreds of million of naira were destroyed. Those who fell victim by way of loss of relatives and properties are still counting their losses. In the aftermath of the mayhem, both the state and federal governments set up probe panels to unravel the cause of the riots. While one of the panels has submitted its report, the other is still sitting. The setting up of the panels created quite a furore. A lot of politics and intrigues were at play. In fact, Governor Jonah Jang sued the federal government on the propriety of whether it has the right to empanel an inquiry on the riots. Because of the bitterness and the anger that came in the wake of the 2008 riots, the magazine reported in the above-mentioned edition that unless urgent steps were taken, the genie of religious riots might be unbottled again. That genie escaped again on Sunday, January 17, 2010, and Jos, reputed for peace and tourism, has since then been on the boil, leaving a trail of death and destruction. This latest riot, coming in the wake of last year’s Islamic fundamentalists rampage in Bauchi State and the last Christmas day attempted bombing of an American airliner by a Nigerian, is a fresh blow to the nation’s image. Tajudeen Sulaiman, senior assistant editor, who covered the November 2008 riots in Jos, was on the spot again for the magazine, and escaped death by the skin of his teeth. His story is the special report in this edition. You may call it a trilogy and that description will be apt. We are referring to the last three cover stories, including this week’s on the Yar’Adua presidency. Having argued in the first (Edition 2), the Editorial, why the ailing president should step aside, and advanced reasons in the second (Edition 3), why he wont go, this week’s cover is on the woman holding the levers of power in Aso Rock, Turai Yar’Adua. Dayo Aiyetan, senior associate editor and Head of the Abuja bureau, wrote the story of perhaps, Nigeria’s most powerful first lady yet. Do have a lovely week.
AYODELE AKINKUOTU
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