Short & Sharp

On rise of rape cases
The rise in the incidence of rape across the country is alarming. There is always a newspaper headline about a baby or minor being defiled by an adult and sometimes even elderly men, a clear indication of the decay in our society. The federal and state governments need to enforce heavier penalties for such criminal acts. Perhaps long years in prison and hard labour should be introduced to strike fear into the hearts of such people who are usually male. There is first the psychological trauma which may lead the victim to devalue sex and become a prostitute or run away from it altogether or the danger of contacting a dreadful disease such as HIV and more. Whether we admit it or not, rape is like murder, where another human being takes away something very precious and pure from another.
Daniel John, Victoria Island, Lagos. 

To mourn or not to mourn with Paris
It has been a hot debate, particularly on social media, whether or not Paris deserves Nigerians to mourn and show support. Well, a sad event is a sad event and that is all it is. Weighing if Nigeria got the same sympathy does not really matter. If in this life one only gives because he is given, then a lot of love that is shown would never be at all. Nigeria has been battling with Boko Haram and religious and ethnic crises for many years. We have seen bloodshed and so understand what it means to experience it. So we are willing to give our sympathy. For anyone who doesn’t wish to, it’s a free world, but others should not be made to feel guilty for it, whether it being hypocritical or not, love is supreme.
Yahaya Fidelis, Barnawa, Kaduna State.

Buhari, please introduce war against corruption
In the 80s, during the military regime of president Buhari, there was what was called War Against Indiscipline (WAI). The intention of the program was to instil morality, social order, civic responsibility and promote nationalism in Nigeria, among others. I’ll like to advise President Buhari to introduce a war against corruption in that sense. Graft is one of the biggest challenges Nigeria is facing today, leading to social, political and economic disasters, not to mention under-development and so many others. If this war is introduced, some of its objectives should include expelling any public official found mismanaging government funds. Also, all public office-holders must abide by the ethics of their profession. Finally, tribalism, sectionalism and selfishness should be avoided. I pray for the peace, unity and well-being of Nigeria.
Ibrahim Salisu Na’inna, Abuja.

PDP and its dire need to reposition
The All Progressives Congress (APC) recently told the PDP National Caucus to quit what it termed to be infantile whining. And the APC is right! I completely support Lai Mohammed for saying that it is time for the former ruling party to take a long, hard look at itself in the mirror and change everything that is ugly about the party, instead of wasting its energy and time on irrelevancies. The PDP doesn’t understand that despite being the architect of its own fall from power, via winning elections with the aid of slush funds, brigandage, deceit and rigging, those days are gone forever. They must return to the drawing board to fashion out decent and empirical ways of re-packaging and selling itself to Nigerians. And that’s the best advice they can get.
Hameed Oyewole, Lekki, Lagos State.