Nigeria, Feb. 13 -- Many years ago, when my son was completing paperwork for a job with the Lagos State government, he was required to fill out a form that included his State of Origin. He paused.

It had been marked a compulsory field, and he wanted to know if not filling it would affect his chances. I said it would. He replied that he wouldn't fill it, even if it meant losing the job. It didn't make sense to him that his chances might come down solely not to his competence, merit, or the fact that he was born in Lagos where he has resided all his life - but to the state where he is from.

He didn't fill it and didn't get the job, though I cannot remember if there were other reasons. Nigeria is the only country I know where a citizen or ...