Hamburg University Hospital, Germany today reported that, the researcher who was flown into the country late August, was the first patient to be flown to Germany for Ebola treatment since the outbreak of the disease. The patient recovered several days ago but was discharged on Friday.
Sunday, 5 October 2014
Senegalese Researcher Who Contracted Ebola, Makes Full Recovery In Germany
Hamburg University Hospital, Germany today reported that, the researcher who was flown into the country late August, was the first patient to be flown to Germany for Ebola treatment since the outbreak of the disease. The patient recovered several days ago but was discharged on Friday.
KSB Said, She Helped The Likes Of 2Baba, Essence, Paul Play Diaro and Others To Grow In The Music Industry.
'Every night I pass through Opebi road and see young girls (sex workers), I feel sad and it is worrisome that they keep increasing every year. This constituency is the seat of power for the entire state. I am going to the Assembly and it will be transformation galore,' she said.
About her contribution to the growth of the entertainment industry, KSB said; 'During my time with Kennis Music in the past 16 years, I touched the lives of many youth who have become big today. Some I never knew, but I saw something in them. Today, 2Face, Paul Play Dairo, Remedies, Essence are all success stories because we believed in them. Imagine what we can do through governance?', she said.
BRAVO!! GALANT AIRMEN ... ADIEU HEROES OF NIGERIA : How Beheaded Air Force Pilot killed 63 Boko Haram members ... Olufamous
Hedima, who was showered with praises by thousands of Nigerians on Saturday, reportedly kept a dignified composure in the face of death in the hands of Abubakar Shekau and his heartless boys.
Hedima's colleagues on different social media on Saturday said the gallant man, who was born in 1975, crashed the aircraft into an area where Boko Haram militants were and killed at least 63 of the insurgents. On the Facebook page of the Nigerian Army Support Group, his friends wrote:
"It is with deep regret that we announce the death of a true Nigerian hero, Wing Commander Chimda Hedima. This man was a hero of the highest order.
"On September 11, 2014, a company of Nigerian Army soldiers attempted to overrun a Boko Haram position in Borno. Due to the low altitude, the plane suffered significant damage from the terrorists' gunfire.
"Wing Commander Hedima and his partner realised that they were going to crash..."They, instead of hurriedly parachuting to safety within Nigerian controlled territory, chose to embark on a mission to destroy as many terrorists and their weapons as possible. They parachuted out at the last minute but not before ensuring that their plane slammed into a column of terrorists in which 63 Boko Haram members were killed as a result of their bravery.
"Wing Commander Hedima was captured. On September 12, he was killed.
"He chose Nigeria, he chose all of us. We cannot forget him. Please share his story. His name should be known by everyone.
"Rest in peace Commander, we are grateful. May you find eternal peace."
Before reporting the beheading of Hedima, French news agency, Agence France-Presse, had reported that it was in possession of a Boko Haram video that showed that Abubakar Shekau, a leader of the sect, was still alive.
This came a few days after the military's Director of Information, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said Shekau had been killed early September in Kodunga, Borno State. The military had also shown photographs that it claimed showed the corpse of Shekau.
But Shekau, in the video, described as propaganda the claim by the Defence Headquarters that he had been killed. While claiming responsibility for shooting down an Air Force jet, the video also showed the beheading of the pilot.
His brother, Parry Hedima, wrote on his Facebook page that Hedima's shoes were too big to fill. He said, "There is a big shoe to fill. Lord I need your feet."
One of Hedima's friends, Musa Salmanu, also described him as a hero. May his soul rest in peace!
Still On SCOAN,“I Saw The Tragedy Coming In A Vision”- TB JOSHUA Claims
The victims, mainly South Africans, died when a six-storey guesthouse belonging to the church caved in on September 12.
The embattled clergyman, who said he knew something tragic was to befall his ministry, noted that he prepared his parishioners on how to handle the tragedy.
In a statement posted on the SCOAN's official Facebook page, TB Joshua warned his critics against accusing him of failing to foresee the disaster that befell his ministry.
"For those who are outside the Lord, they would not know. When you are outside God, you will not know what I am talking. When you are outside the light, you cannot understand what I am talking.
"For the three weeks before the incident, if you heard my message and sat down, you would know I was giving you a vision and prophetic word on how to handle the situation at hand. Trials and tests are for our belief. I go by the directives of God," TB Joshua claimed.
Accusing his critics of being "used by Satan," the televangelist said they were just out to "disturb" the faith of his local and international members with "negative words."
According to him, all the "Satanic agents" criticising him over the circumstances surrounding the incident, would soon "suffer for it."
Since none of his critics is unable to help him raise the victims from death, TB Joshua argued that they should stop rubbishing his ministry or risk paying dearly for it.
Those who could not stop what happened (building collapse), he said, should be "careful of their tongues" as "anybody can go for it.
"I have been on this journey for 27 years. Do you think God can close His eyes and rubbish everything here? They are asking God to bring more evidence of whether He is the one who called me. Warn everyone to be very careful. This issue at hand is a delicate issue.
"People are using this to gain money and friends. This is a warning. Whatever people want to write let them write; they will be the ones to read it. I said our God would get back to them. He has started somewhere. He is coming. If your brother is involved, unless he can resurrect the people who died, he will join them. If you can resurrect the people who died, you can go free.
"The servants, the people who sent them; the people who heard the stories all around and those who want to use it for themselves and to disturb my spirit, you may likely join them. Be careful. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Let us be very careful with our tongues,"he warned.
Urging those questioning his calling not to sway his followers, he added that they should extend love and affection to the victims and relations of those involved in the tragedy.
The prophet insisted that the 115 victims were martyrs, adding that their relations would see the continuation of the work of God "they died and suffered for.
" Your responsibility is to the victims and the relations of the victims and martyrs of faith. If you say you are born again, wherever the victims and their relations are, wherever the relations of the martyrs of faith are, look for them. Let them know you are praying for them. What you eat; let them eat it.
"What you wear; let them wear. What you have on your table, let them have it on their tables, too. Share what you have with them – YOURlove, prayer, affection and strength. Share it with them at this time. This is what we call 'born again' – my pain is your pain. Your joy is my joy.
"The multitude of people who claim to be with T.B. Joshua in prayer – if the same people turn to the families of the victims and martyrs of faith, don't you think life would be better for them than before? Join them; look for them, as many other things they are doing now," TB Joshua added.
Nigeria @ 54, A Nation Of Cowards By Bayo Oluwasanmi ...
Where are we? Where do we go from here? Chaos or country? These are the recognized queries that concerned elder statesmen, mature Nigerians, as well as our communities should persistently pose to themselves.
Our best, our heroes had been discarded to symbolize a radical change of tactics. Men long regarded as political clowns, thieves, and even murderers had becomes governors, senators and reps. They got elected by mixed brew of bigotry, violence, rigging, half-truths, and whole lies.
Political opponents and dissidents have been murdered and their killers would never be brought to justice. We wept at funeral services for the dead and for democracy. Nigerians are worse off today than they were 53 years ago. Nigerians have been subjected to lash of brutality and coarse degradation.
We have been given discount education. Jobs are harder and costlier to create than anything else. Slum housing for the poor is on the rise. Despite the comfortable revenue from oil, no visible programs are in place to fight poverty, disease, hunger, crime, and violence.
Of the good things in life, Nigerians have ten times the bad things of life. The legal structures have in practice proved to be neither structures nor law. Legislation on important laws are evaded. The statutes on books have substantially nullified the application of law, and its enforcement is a mockery of law. Our demands for a better life have become tiresome and unwanted for the ruling class. The daily life of Nigerians is still lived in the basement of the richest nation in Africa.
When the story of $9.3 million arms smuggling and currency trafficking involving President Jonathan, his spiritual father Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, and his National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki broke out, Nigerians with conscience fell silent.
I'm stunned by the timidity of people we consider as moral pillars of our nation. The evils of the well-credentialed political eunuchs ruling us are well documented. Their terror politics, their continuous lies, and their relentless persecution of the poor have become their signature trademarks.
These political eunuchs are not the only enemies of our people. Even so, I'm miffed by the expanded silence of the clergy. The stated enemies of poor Nigerians are the clerics, the self-appointed religious leaders with clout who refused to speak up. As far as I know, only Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, Pastor Tunde Bakare and very few others came out in defense of the poor. The rest have been ostentatiously silent.
They disguised their status as the people's real enemies and forever pussyfooting around the misrule that is so evident in our nation. What bothers me most about this is that it is tantamount to surrender. One thing I understand about the ministry of Jesus it is that he spoke truth to power, regardless of how it was going to affect his survival.
While the crowds and the marginalized loved him, he was a thorn in the flesh of all the stakeholders in the power game – the Romans, the Zealots and the Pharisees. He refused to play their game. Indeed, he was not interested in their game as he made clear at every opportunity. Because he didn't need their approval, he had no reason to fear being a thorn in their flesh. He was crucified for telling the truth and refusing to capitulate to the powers and principalities.
Right to the end, Pilate kept asking Jesus to renounce his truth to save his life. But he knew some things are more important than life, and if he played their game, he would lose the game. He would have become like them – a slave to his own survival.
If his life and death teach us anything especially the clerics, it is that true freedom comes from transcending the primacy of our own sniveling little woes. I believe it is asking a lot to expect the clerics to be like Jesus. As a nation that desperately needs to retrieve its vision, we need our clerics to show some bravery and truth if indeed they were called to carry the cross.
We live in an era in NIGERIA in which as William Butler Yeats once put it, "the best lack all the conviction while the worst are full of passionate intensity." Many refused to raise any alarm against the unprecedented injustice and corruption championed by the government because they're friends of the oppressors of the people. And others buried their heads in the sand for fear of being labelled anti-Jonathan and "unpatriotic" by Aso Rock.
Anyone with half a brain knows that NIGERIA is marching into oblivion. Political correctness is the reluctance to speak the truth for fear of causing offense. It is a euphemism form for cowardice. Nigeria is a nation of cowards. This is slowly and surely destroying our nation.
Moral courage is the willingness to speak out and do what is right in the face of forces that would lead a person to act in some other way. It is the willingness to overcome fear and stand up for our core values. "The world is a dangerous place not because of those who do evil," Albert Einstein warns, "but because of those who look on and do nothing."
Where is the moral character, moral courage, moral virtue, moral wisdom, moral perception, moral sensitivity, moral imagination, moral integrity, and ethical competence of our elders and leaders of this nation? Truth twisting and other deplorable practices characterized our elders that should speak truth to power. Where are the brave leaders in our communities?
Members of the National Assembly lack courage. As cowards, they are known for posturing, strutting, pretending to stand for something. Our elected reps are far more interested in their own welfare than in serving Nigerians. Their actions and decisions speak the language of power, not the language of love, faith, and commitment. They are only interested in one thing: their own survival. Cowardice always does.
Moral courage comes from love – love of something greater than oneself, and faith in something greater than one's own survival. There is a lesson to be learned from the American Civil Rights Movement. The protesters and marchers of civil disobedience were armed only with their own determination and belief in God of justice, stood up to police dogs, insults, lynch mobs and hoses.
They prayed for assistance to the God who led the Jews through the wilderness to the Promised Land. They sang the Gospel songs of endurance that their ancestors had sung in bondage, and the Spirituals that guided them along the Underground Railroad. As they were subjected to every imaginable indignity, humiliation, imprisonment, and in some cases, even death, they held in their hearts and minds of the figure of a savior who suffered and died at the hands of evil and injustice, and triumphed still.
The way things are in NIGERIA right now, Nigerians are obviously and hopelessly doomed. The solution cannot be left to the politicians. They have demonstrated again and again that they're not capable, competent, intelligent, patriotic, and honest to confront a very difficult set of emerging Nigerian realities. They have proven to be gutless frauds and certified crooks managing our resources.
Where are we going?
The national government has manifested a faltering and fluctuating interest in the lives of Nigerians. The national government is absorbed in endless controversy, confused in direction, and venal opportunism. The national government is in such turmoil it has tragically lost its golden opportunity to turn Nigeria around. All the cooked up achievement of the government is a fable not a fact.
Now, our task is to organize our strength into compelling power so that government cannot elude our demands. It's time to do away with childish fantasy. The Nigerian situation demands our best prophetic interpretation and our most creative proposals for action. Looking at the still smoldering embers of problems that we face, deep resources of empathy and compassion should be a natural part of us. Stumbling and groping through the wilderness finally must be replaced by a planned, organized and orderly march.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., had poor Nigerians in mind many years ago while speaking at a staff retreat for the Southern Christian Leadership Council when he called on America to pay attention to the nation's poorest people. He said, "Something is wrong with the economic system of our nation. There must be a better distribution of wealth…"
Sparked by the army of able-body Nigerians roaming the streets, inspired by the insecure Nigerians who are faced with fear-filled violence every day, it's no secret that something is wrong with NIGERIA. Like King, I say boldly and loudly something is definitely wrong with Nigeria and there must be a better distribution of wealth.
Those who should be the conscience of the nation recluse into the self-defeating way of isolation and despair. There is no better time than now for the elders of this nation – Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa – who are not beholding to any political party but have the wisdom, integrity, compassion, and empathy to come together under a civil rights movement and fight on behalf of the people.
The groans of Nigerians are not heard, our needs are unfelt and unmet. The alternative for us is to state our case in the public square. The economic high way to power has few entry lanes for the poor. The government has successfully and illegally excluded the poor from our commonwealth.
The Labor Union in the last two decades despite its potential strength has been an inarticulate giant with an unsteady gait subjected to abuse, corruption, and confusion in its responses to Nigerian workers. The Labor Union is at best, tottering and perishing.
I therefore propose that a highly respected Nigerian with integrity, proven record of siding with the poor, with no political affiliation, and with clean hands should lead a civil rights movement to fight for a Bill of Rights for The Disadvantaged. The name that readily comes to mind is Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, the retired Catholic Bishop of Lagos Diocese. Other members, with untarnished reputation from the three major ethnic groups should be handpicked by Cardinal Okogie. This group will not defer to any government or the National Assembly.
The primary aim of the movement should be to rid NIGERIA of its toxic and comical culture of gross corruption and crushing poverty. The movement would exert pressure on the insensitive rulers by mobilizing and leading the army of the poor in protests, sit-ins, sit-outs, and other civil disobedience strategies that have shown concrete and lasting results in other nations.
Through the army of the poor, the leaders of the movement would force the tragically deaf-toned federal government and the National Assembly to spend our resources on the poor, the exploited Nigerians and our communities, especially desperate young Nigerians whose broken lives are crying out for new, humane possibilities in the midst of the wealthiest nation in Africa.
The proposed Okogie led Civil Rights Movement should be open to a newer, deeper, less-travelled directions in confronting the systemic social, political, and economic problems that terrorize every poor Nigerian. Such a movement would pay attention to the cries of the poor people and organize a spirit-based, pro-democracy activism, thoughtful social analysis of issues, and crusade for our best possibilities. Members of the movement should be justice-obsessed and prophetic spokespersons for the poor.
Leaders of the proposed movement should speak with unflinching honesty and undeniable authenticity. They should rise up from their stool of indifference, retreat from their flight into unreality, and force the federal government to open its checkbooks to the aid of suffering Nigerians.
I challenge them to be what Dr. King call "creative dissenters who will call our beloved nation to a higher destiny, to a new plateau of compassion, to a more noble of expression of humanness."
The proposed Okogie led Civil Rights Movement will fight for the following Bill of Rights for the Disadvantaged:
Right to adequate housing.
Right to adequate income.
Right to quality and accessible education.
Right of every Nigerian to a slice of the national pie that will provide enough money for basic necessities for one's family.
Right to safety and security of life and property.
Right to quality and accessible health care.
Right to guaranteed pension and payment as at due.
Right to provision of infrastructures – uninterrupted supply of treated water, electricity, road, etc.
Fight the unjustified opulence, the ill-gotten gain, and the excessive materialism of the ruling class.
Fight the triple evils of corruption, poverty, and insecurity.
I read somewhere that "the promises you don't keep become the ones that define you." Indeed, the same holds true for a nation. It is a nation's broken promises, the contract it makes with its citizens and fails to keep that define it. No nation in my opinion, exemplifies this than Nigeria – a nation of broken promises.
Preaching at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, King said: "I choose to identify with the underprivileged. I choose to identify with the poor. I choose to give my life for the hungry … This is the way I'm going. If it means suffering a little bit, I'm going that way. If it means sacrificing, I'm going that way, because I heard a voice say 'Do something for others.'" Nigerians of conscience, "Do something for others."
Let's transform this reluctant nation into its best possible self!
byoul@ aol.com
Source: Sahara Reporter
Saturday, 4 October 2014
Happy Independence Day Nigeria: Full Text Of President Goodluck Jonathan’s 54th Independence Anniversary Speech
2014 INDEPENDENCE DAY BROADCAST BY PRESIDENT JONATHAN
2014 Independence Day Broadcast by
His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR
Wednesday 1st October, 2014
Fellow Nigerians:
1. Today marks the 54th anniversary of our country's independence as a sovereign nation. This is also the tenth month of our journey into a new century, having marked the centenary of our nation in January this year.
2. The first one hundred years were marked by triumphs and tribulations, benefits and burdens, opportunities and challenges. We made some far reaching advances in building a strong, united and prosperous nation. We also overcame the forces of disunity that culminated in a debilitating civil war. We have also renewed our faith in one another, and in our country. We have proven that we are truly a resilient nation.
3. In my address to the nation last year, I did emphasize that we were in a sober moment in our country. We are still in that mood in spite of the many accomplishments of our administration. Our sombreness has to do with the crises of nationhood occasioned by the activities of terrorist elements who have done the unimaginable to challenge our unity as a people.
4. On an occasion like this, it is important that we remember all the precious souls that have been lost in the unprecedented war of terror unleashed on some parts of our country by these individuals who want to compel us to live our lives their way. They will not succeed!
5. In their mission, they have maimed and raped. They have killed men, women and children, rendering many children orphans and several women widows.
6. They have made violence their ideology and are bent on destroying our country. Dear countrymen and women, we will not allow them.
7. Night after night, day after day, our security forces continue to engage the terrorists in battle. My gratitude goes out to our armed forces whose will has been greatly challenged by this insurgency more than any other time, since the civil war.
8. Yet, they have remained undaunted and unwearied in the face of constant challenge and mortal danger. Driven by patriotic zeal, they are turning the tide by their prowess and determination. As Commander-in-Chief, I will continue to do all it takes to enable them to keep on inflicting devastating blows at the heart of terror. Fellow Nigerians, it is our collective duty as patriots to avail our men and women in uniform of all the support they need to fight and win this war.
9. This Administration is committed to making Nigeria safe for all Nigerians, irrespective of our places of birth, how we worship God and our political persuasion. To all those waging war against our country, I ask that you lay down your arms and embrace peace.
10. To those who have genuine grievances, I affirm that Nigeria will listen to you, if you bring your grievances to the table of dialogue. To the good people of Nigeria, let me restate that our task of building a better and greater country must not waver.
11. While we continue to deploy our resources in the fight against the terrorists, we do recognize the great toll the conflict is taking on our people.
12. This is why, to assist the afflicted, we have launched the Victims Support Fund, an independent multi-sectoral charity, which will aggressively solicit resources to augment Government's statutory intervention, in bringing succour to the injured, the displaced and the bereaved.
13. In partnership with Nigerian business leaders and international partners, we have also introduced the Safe Schools Initiative which is aimed at promoting safe environments for education nationwide, starting with the North East region.
14. The Presidential Initiative for the North East, a comprehensive programme to fast-track the economic restoration of this region, which has been the epicentre of terrorist activity, has been set up.
15. Our overall objective is to do all we possibly can, to sustain in the North-East, the momentum of economic advancement, which is on-going in other parts of the country, despite the machinations of the terrorists and their sponsors.
16. It should now be clear to anyone who was ever in doubt that these terrorists do not mean well for anyone, of whatever religion or dispensation. Their persistent choice of the weakest and most vulnerable in society, for gruesome attack, provides an insight into their abnormal mind-set.
17. I urge every Nigerian to put aside political, sectional or other parochial considerations, and support whole-heartedly the efforts of the government and the military, in checking this evil.
18. We are grateful to the international community, and especially our neighbours who are working closely with us in confronting this challenge, for their increased partnership and solidarity. Our steady progress in weakening the insurgency has certainly justified our cooperation.
19. Fellow Nigerians, in my independence anniversary address last year, I informed you that we had taken cognizance of the suggestion over the years by well-meaning Nigerians on the need to focus attention on rebuilding and strengthening the ligaments of our union. It was in that regard that we announced the convening of a National Dialogue on the future of our beloved country.
20. We have successfully delivered on that promise as we established the 2014 National Conference headed by Justice Legbo Kutigi. After months of deliberations, which did not come without its challenges, the conference concluded its assignment and has handed its Report to me.
21. I have made a firm commitment that we would act on the recommendations of the conference. This, I have started by setting up the Ministerial Committee headed by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation to work out the modalities for implementing the Report. Every promise I make, God willing, I will see to its fulfilment. I assure you, we shall implement the report.
22. One major lesson which the 2014 National Conference has taught us as a country is that, a multi-ethnic country like ours, must learn to embrace painstaking dialogue until consensus is established.
23. To me, the National Conference is the greatest centenary gift to our country that we must cherish and sustain.
24. Fellow Nigerians, our 54 year-journey as a nation has not been easy. There have been tough periods, but the Nigerian spirit and the unflagging resilience of our people have seen us through. We will continue to march forward to greater heights.
25. We have been able to sustain a big, strong and influential country with a robust economy. We are currently in our sixteenth year of uninterrupted democratic rule, daily improving on the consolidation of our democratic process.
26. Our Administration has made a commitment to ensure that we build and sustain a democratic infrastructure anchored on free and fair elections. International and local observers have attested to the positive evolution of electoral credibility and we cannot afford to relent.
27. We will continue to ensure that the will of the electorate prevails so that political leaders would be reminded at all times that there is a day of reckoning when they have to go back to the people at the polls. Election days must not be days of violence and death. We must remain vigilant to ensure that our electoral process is characterised by peace, security and transparency.
28. I enjoin the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), all security agencies, politicians and the electorate to work conscientiously and peacefully, together, to consolidate on the gains of the recent elections. Free and fair elections have come to stay; nothing else will be acceptable to our people.
29. My dear countrymen and women, occasions such as this present an opportunity to thank God for our country and to report to you, on our journey so far.
30. Our power sector reform is on course with the ultimate objective of generating enough electricity to power our homes, industries and businesses. We are making giant strides in the Agricultural Sector which we are re-positioning to diversify our economy. We will continue to upgrade our infrastructure to make life easier for all and create an enabling environment for enterprise to flourish.
31. Over the last four years, the implementation of the Nigerian Content Act in the Oil and Gas Sector has ensured major increase in the participation of indigenous Oil and Gas companies in the industry. Several critical infrastructure projects have been commissioned and commenced. The level of indigenous asset ownership has greatly increased and utilisation of Nigerian-owned and built assets such as marine vessels and rigs is being progressively enforced.
32. There has been maximised local value addition by encouraging the manufacture of equipment components and parts within the country. There has also been massive growth in indigenous participation in the provision of goods and services to the upstream sector from 10% to 60% within the last four years.
33. Today, following the rebasing of our economy, every international monitoring and ratings agency now acknowledges Nigeria as the largest economy in Africa, with a Gross Domestic Product of five hundred and ten billion dollars ($510 billion) which also places us as the 26th largest economy in the world. This is progress.
34. Earlier in the year, we launched the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) and the National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP) with the stated objective of fast tracking inclusive growth, job creation, enterprise development and industrialisation.
35. The success of these policies is already evident in the increased value addition in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors.
36. In line with our objective of encouraging the production of made-in-Nigeria vehicles and making Nigeria a regional hub for the automobile industry, a number of foreign auto manufacturers have established plants in Nigeria, complementing the laudable efforts of our local vehicle manufacturers who have also demonstrated great innovation and competitiveness.
37. We have also launched a special support programme for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises with an initial intervention fund of two hundred and twenty billion naira (N220 b). This is in addition to the Presidential Job Creation Board which I inaugurated recently with the charge to create three million jobs annually.
38. In demonstration of our Administration's commitment to addressing Nigeria's housing deficit, we have commenced the new mortgage re-finance programme with the establishment of the Nigerian Mortgage Re-finance Company. It is expected that, in addition to creating additional housing units across the country, this initiative also represents a huge job creation opportunity.
39. We have recorded notable success in the social sector. Nigeria has been globally acknowledged for reducing extreme hunger by more than half, with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) formally presenting the country with an award for achieving the Millennium Development Goal on Hunger three years ahead of the 2015 target date set for the Millennium Development Goals.
40. This progress is as a result of the deliberate policy of government to increase capacity in our agricultural sector of which the first step was to address and eliminate the graft in our fertilizer procurement system and ensure that the product gets directly to the farmer. We are expanding our irrigation infrastructure to ensure that our farmers have sufficient water supply for dry season farming.
41. A benefit of these combined actions is that our national food import bill has declined from 1.1 trillion naira (6.9 billion dollars) in 2009 to 684.7 billion naira (4.35 billion dollars) by December 2013, and continues to decline.
42. Modern hybrid schools are being provided for less privileged children across the country, resulting in significant increase in the national school enrolment figure
43. In order to further enhance access to education at the tertiary level, fourteen new Federal Universities have been established; and, to encourage persons of exceptional abilities, our Administration has also introduced a Presidential Scholarship Scheme based strictly on excellence and merit.
44. On infrastructure, we are building roads, bridges, and new rail lines to make it easier to traverse Nigeria and increase the integration of our people and our ability to do business with each other. In this regard, we have commenced the process of building the Second Niger Bridge. The Loko-Oweto Bridge over River Benue in Nasarawa and Benue States, will significantly reduce travel time by road between Northern and Southern Nigeria. The on-going dredging of the River Niger up to Baro in Niger State is opening up large parts of the Nigerian hinterland to maritime activity.
45. The Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro-electric power projects are on course, and the Kashimbilla dam which we started a few years ago, is nearing completion. The successful privatisation of our power sector will in the long run enhance industrial growth. Policies such as this and others have raised Nigeria to the enviable status of being the number one recipient of Foreign Direct Investment in Africa in the past year.
46. The result of this infrastructure drive is that two and a half million jobs have been created over the past two years. This is a record, which we are committed to improve upon to continue to provide jobs for our youth.
47. An unprecedented number of Airports across the country, are not only being reconstructed at the same time, but being re-equipped and reassessed with emphasis on maintaining global standards.
48. Fellow Nigerians, the goals we set to achieve for our country involve expanding the frontiers of economic freedom. Let us therefore unite with one heart and one mind. All our people must have access to the good things of life. All our people must be empowered to pursue the gift of life with happiness. This is our country; we must build it for our common posterity.
49. As we move into an election year, desperate moves to overheat the polity are becoming a regular occurrence. Our political leaders in particular must know that the contest for power should not translate to the destruction of the polity.
50. The contest for the leadership of our country must yield good governance, and not ungovernable spaces. The love of country should rank higher than our individual ambitions.
51. We must remain committed to a united and indivisible Nigeria within democratic parameters. The protection of individual rights, liberty, equality before the law, freedom of thought, and a progressive pursuit of a sound economy must be our goal.
52. I cannot end this address without commenting on the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) which was sadly brought into our country recently. My directives to the Federal Ministry of Health saw the ministry leading the charge in curtailing the spread of this deadly scourge and managing its impact. This is how it should be: swift, effective and comprehensive action in defence of citizens.
53. It must be pointed out that the Ebola battle is still raging elsewhere in our sub-region. I therefore enjoin all our citizens to continue to adhere strictly to all the guidelines that have been given by our health officials to keep Ebola out of our country.
54. I appreciate and welcome the spirit of collaboration, unity and partnership with which we confronted the threat of the Ebola Virus Disease. I thank all Nigerians for working together to prevent what could have become a major epidemic. I particularly thank the medical personnel, some of whom made the ultimate sacrifice.
55. This is the spirit which we must demonstrate at all times as we face up to our challenges as a nation: one people, united by a common resolve, in the pursuit of one common national interest.
56. As we look forward to another year in our national life, I am more than confident that our tomorrow will be better than our yesterday and today. Nigeria has got the human and material resources to excel and we shall lead the way in that journey to our manifest destiny.
57. Fellow countrymen, brothers and sisters, in all our plans, and in all our words and our actions, we must stand together in love and unity, as one people under God.
58. We are one people from the womb of one Nigeria. We are b
2014 Independence Day Broadcast by
His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR
Wednesday 1st October, 2014
Fellow Nigerians:
1. Today marks the 54th anniversary of our country's independence as a sovereign nation. This is also the tenth month of our journey into a new century, having marked the centenary of our nation in January this year.
2. The first one hundred years were marked by triumphs and tribulations, benefits and burdens, opportunities and challenges. We made some far reaching advances in building a strong, united and prosperous nation. We also overcame the forces of disunity that culminated in a debilitating civil war. We have also renewed our faith in one another, and in our country. We have proven that we are truly a resilient nation.
3. In my address to the nation last year, I did emphasize that we were in a sober moment in our country. We are still in that mood in spite of the many accomplishments of our administration. Our sombreness has to do with the crises of nationhood occasioned by the activities of terrorist elements who have done the unimaginable to challenge our unity as a people.
4. On an occasion like this, it is important that we remember all the precious souls that have been lost in the unprecedented war of terror unleashed on some parts of our country by these individuals who want to compel us to live our lives their way. They will not succeed!
5. In their mission, they have maimed and raped. They have killed men, women and children, rendering many children orphans and several women widows.
6. They have made violence their ideology and are bent on destroying our country. Dear countrymen and women, we will not allow them.
7. Night after night, day after day, our security forces continue to engage the terrorists in battle. My gratitude goes out to our armed forces whose will has been greatly challenged by this insurgency more than any other time, since the civil war.
8. Yet, they have remained undaunted and unwearied in the face of constant challenge and mortal danger. Driven by patriotic zeal, they are turning the tide by their prowess and determination. As Commander-in-Chief, I will continue to do all it takes to enable them to keep on inflicting devastating blows at the heart of terror. Fellow Nigerians, it is our collective duty as patriots to avail our men and women in uniform of all the support they need to fight and win this war.
9. This Administration is committed to making Nigeria safe for all Nigerians, irrespective of our places of birth, how we worship God and our political persuasion. To all those waging war against our country, I ask that you lay down your arms and embrace peace.
10. To those who have genuine grievances, I affirm that Nigeria will listen to you, if you bring your grievances to the table of dialogue. To the good people of Nigeria, let me restate that our task of building a better and greater country must not waver.
11. While we continue to deploy our resources in the fight against the terrorists, we do recognize the great toll the conflict is taking on our people.
12. This is why, to assist the afflicted, we have launched the Victims Support Fund, an independent multi-sectoral charity, which will aggressively solicit resources to augment Government's statutory intervention, in bringing succour to the injured, the displaced and the bereaved.
13. In partnership with Nigerian business leaders and international partners, we have also introduced the Safe Schools Initiative which is aimed at promoting safe environments for education nationwide, starting with the North East region.
14. The Presidential Initiative for the North East, a comprehensive programme to fast-track the economic restoration of this region, which has been the epicentre of terrorist activity, has been set up.
15. Our overall objective is to do all we possibly can, to sustain in the North-East, the momentum of economic advancement, which is on-going in other parts of the country, despite the machinations of the terrorists and their sponsors.
16. It should now be clear to anyone who was ever in doubt that these terrorists do not mean well for anyone, of whatever religion or dispensation. Their persistent choice of the weakest and most vulnerable in society, for gruesome attack, provides an insight into their abnormal mind-set.
17. I urge every Nigerian to put aside political, sectional or other parochial considerations, and support whole-heartedly the efforts of the government and the military, in checking this evil.
18. We are grateful to the international community, and especially our neighbours who are working closely with us in confronting this challenge, for their increased partnership and solidarity. Our steady progress in weakening the insurgency has certainly justified our cooperation.
19. Fellow Nigerians, in my independence anniversary address last year, I informed you that we had taken cognizance of the suggestion over the years by well-meaning Nigerians on the need to focus attention on rebuilding and strengthening the ligaments of our union. It was in that regard that we announced the convening of a National Dialogue on the future of our beloved country.
20. We have successfully delivered on that promise as we established the 2014 National Conference headed by Justice Legbo Kutigi. After months of deliberations, which did not come without its challenges, the conference concluded its assignment and has handed its Report to me.
21. I have made a firm commitment that we would act on the recommendations of the conference. This, I have started by setting up the Ministerial Committee headed by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation to work out the modalities for implementing the Report. Every promise I make, God willing, I will see to its fulfilment. I assure you, we shall implement the report.
22. One major lesson which the 2014 National Conference has taught us as a country is that, a multi-ethnic country like ours, must learn to embrace painstaking dialogue until consensus is established.
23. To me, the National Conference is the greatest centenary gift to our country that we must cherish and sustain.
24. Fellow Nigerians, our 54 year-journey as a nation has not been easy. There have been tough periods, but the Nigerian spirit and the unflagging resilience of our people have seen us through. We will continue to march forward to greater heights.
25. We have been able to sustain a big, strong and influential country with a robust economy. We are currently in our sixteenth year of uninterrupted democratic rule, daily improving on the consolidation of our democratic process.
26. Our Administration has made a commitment to ensure that we build and sustain a democratic infrastructure anchored on free and fair elections. International and local observers have attested to the positive evolution of electoral credibility and we cannot afford to relent.
27. We will continue to ensure that the will of the electorate prevails so that political leaders would be reminded at all times that there is a day of reckoning when they have to go back to the people at the polls. Election days must not be days of violence and death. We must remain vigilant to ensure that our electoral process is characterised by peace, security and transparency.
28. I enjoin the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), all security agencies, politicians and the electorate to work conscientiously and peacefully, together, to consolidate on the gains of the recent elections. Free and fair elections have come to stay; nothing else will be acceptable to our people.
29. My dear countrymen and women, occasions such as this present an opportunity to thank God for our country and to report to you, on our journey so far.
30. Our power sector reform is on course with the ultimate objective of generating enough electricity to power our homes, industries and businesses. We are making giant strides in the Agricultural Sector which we are re-positioning to diversify our economy. We will continue to upgrade our infrastructure to make life easier for all and create an enabling environment for enterprise to flourish.
31. Over the last four years, the implementation of the Nigerian Content Act in the Oil and Gas Sector has ensured major increase in the participation of indigenous Oil and Gas companies in the industry. Several critical infrastructure projects have been commissioned and commenced. The level of indigenous asset ownership has greatly increased and utilisation of Nigerian-owned and built assets such as marine vessels and rigs is being progressively enforced.
32. There has been maximised local value addition by encouraging the manufacture of equipment components and parts within the country. There has also been massive growth in indigenous participation in the provision of goods and services to the upstream sector from 10% to 60% within the last four years.
33. Today, following the rebasing of our economy, every international monitoring and ratings agency now acknowledges Nigeria as the largest economy in Africa, with a Gross Domestic Product of five hundred and ten billion dollars ($510 billion) which also places us as the 26th largest economy in the world. This is progress.
34. Earlier in the year, we launched the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) and the National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP) with the stated objective of fast tracking inclusive growth, job creation, enterprise development and industrialisation.
35. The success of these policies is already evident in the increased value addition in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors.
36. In line with our objective of encouraging the production of made-in-Nigeria vehicles and making Nigeria a regional hub for the automobile industry, a number of foreign auto manufacturers have established plants in Nigeria, complementing the laudable efforts of our local vehicle manufacturers who have also demonstrated great innovation and competitiveness.
37. We have also launched a special support programme for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises with an initial intervention fund of two hundred and twenty billion naira (N220 b). This is in addition to the Presidential Job Creation Board which I inaugurated recently with the charge to create three million jobs annually.
38. In demonstration of our Administration's commitment to addressing Nigeria's housing deficit, we have commenced the new mortgage re-finance programme with the establishment of the Nigerian Mortgage Re-finance Company. It is expected that, in addition to creating additional housing units across the country, this initiative also represents a huge job creation opportunity.
39. We have recorded notable success in the social sector. Nigeria has been globally acknowledged for reducing extreme hunger by more than half, with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) formally presenting the country with an award for achieving the Millennium Development Goal on Hunger three years ahead of the 2015 target date set for the Millennium Development Goals.
40. This progress is as a result of the deliberate policy of government to increase capacity in our agricultural sector of which the first step was to address and eliminate the graft in our fertilizer procurement system and ensure that the product gets directly to the farmer. We are expanding our irrigation infrastructure to ensure that our farmers have sufficient water supply for dry season farming.
41. A benefit of these combined actions is that our national food import bill has declined from 1.1 trillion naira (6.9 billion dollars) in 2009 to 684.7 billion naira (4.35 billion dollars) by December 2013, and continues to decline.
42. Modern hybrid schools are being provided for less privileged children across the country, resulting in significant increase in the national school enrolment figure
43. In order to further enhance access to education at the tertiary level, fourteen new Federal Universities have been established; and, to encourage persons of exceptional abilities, our Administration has also introduced a Presidential Scholarship Scheme based strictly on excellence and merit.
44. On infrastructure, we are building roads, bridges, and new rail lines to make it easier to traverse Nigeria and increase the integration of our people and our ability to do business with each other. In this regard, we have commenced the process of building the Second Niger Bridge. The Loko-Oweto Bridge over River Benue in Nasarawa and Benue States, will significantly reduce travel time by road between Northern and Southern Nigeria. The on-going dredging of the River Niger up to Baro in Niger State is opening up large parts of the Nigerian hinterland to maritime activity.
45. The Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro-electric power projects are on course, and the Kashimbilla dam which we started a few years ago, is nearing completion. The successful privatisation of our power sector will in the long run enhance industrial growth. Policies such as this and others have raised Nigeria to the enviable status of being the number one recipient of Foreign Direct Investment in Africa in the past year.
46. The result of this infrastructure drive is that two and a half million jobs have been created over the past two years. This is a record, which we are committed to improve upon to continue to provide jobs for our youth.
47. An unprecedented number of Airports across the country, are not only being reconstructed at the same time, but being re-equipped and reassessed with emphasis on maintaining global standards.
48. Fellow Nigerians, the goals we set to achieve for our country involve expanding the frontiers of economic freedom. Let us therefore unite with one heart and one mind. All our people must have access to the good things of life. All our people must be empowered to pursue the gift of life with happiness. This is our country; we must build it for our common posterity.
49. As we move into an election year, desperate moves to overheat the polity are becoming a regular occurrence. Our political leaders in particular must know that the contest for power should not translate to the destruction of the polity.
50. The contest for the leadership of our country must yield good governance, and not ungovernable spaces. The love of country should rank higher than our individual ambitions.
51. We must remain committed to a united and indivisible Nigeria within democratic parameters. The protection of individual rights, liberty, equality before the law, freedom of thought, and a progressive pursuit of a sound economy must be our goal.
52. I cannot end this address without commenting on the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) which was sadly brought into our country recently. My directives to the Federal Ministry of Health saw the ministry leading the charge in curtailing the spread of this deadly scourge and managing its impact. This is how it should be: swift, effective and comprehensive action in defence of citizens.
53. It must be pointed out that the Ebola battle is still raging elsewhere in our sub-region. I therefore enjoin all our citizens to continue to adhere strictly to all the guidelines that have been given by our health officials to keep Ebola out of our country.
54. I appreciate and welcome the spirit of collaboration, unity and partnership with which we confronted the threat of the Ebola Virus Disease. I thank all Nigerians for working together to prevent what could have become a major epidemic. I particularly thank the medical personnel, some of whom made the ultimate sacrifice.
55. This is the spirit which we must demonstrate at all times as we face up to our challenges as a nation: one people, united by a common resolve, in the pursuit of one common national interest.
56. As we look forward to another year in our national life, I am more than confident that our tomorrow will be better than our yesterday and today. Nigeria has got the human and material resources to excel and we shall lead the way in that journey to our manifest destiny.
57. Fellow countrymen, brothers and sisters, in all our plans, and in all our words and our actions, we must stand together in love and unity, as one people under God.
58. We are one people from the womb of one Nigeria. We are b
Friday, 3 October 2014
Funny But True: 20 Commandments Ladies Should Read
2. Thou shall not do revenge relationship a.k.a let me show my boyfriend I can flirt too. Ladies, that is inflicting more injuries on yourself
3. Thou shall not depend on any man for your daily needs. It has brought more pains than joy to some ladies. Ladies, please!
4. Thou shall never fight over a man. Such men usually don't have regard for ladies. Ladies, you can ask around if you are in doubt!
5. Thou shall not remain in a violent relationship. You are supposed to be his sweetheart not a punching bag. If he's looking for whom to punch, refer him to Mike Tyson. Ladies, abi?
6. Thou shall not give IT to him. If he wants IT that desperately, he should put a ring on it. Funny enough, men can wait if they see your worth it. True!
7. Be bold when men toast you. Stop cutting flowers or drawing circles with your leg. Enjoy the 'toasting'. Don't forget to pay attention to the pick up lines. Some pick up lines can crack your ribs.
8. If you are not sure of your man especially if the relationship is still new, never take your girlfriend to his house or give her his number or BB pin. Odikwa very risky!
9. As soon as you can, let your man show his face to your people. Your sister or brother or mother. This is very key.
10. Material possessions are good but never let them be the number one factor in choosing a man.
11. Do not forget the golden rule. Always sit like a woman. Some men act like babies when a woman is not properly seated. You know what I mean!
12. Never think you can trap a man with good sex. Fou fou fou… foul! It is an aberration.
13. Be good to men but be firm. Yes firm but don't scare them away.
14. Men are not in short supply. Don't let them deceive you. Don't believe anything in the contrary. Don't be stampeded into a relationship.
15. If your purpose for financing a man is to keep him, that could be a big mistake. Finance for the right reasons.
16. Men are not the same. Don't listen to "men are the same jare!" It's a lie! How many men have you met out of about six billion people on earth? You see am nau, abi?
17. Adventures can be sweet. However, never embark on a long trip to meet a man without informing someone. Never!
18. Guys have a way of saying "don't let anybody know about us yet." If the relationship is up to three months and counting,somebody should know about it jor! Better things, they no dey hide am.
19. They say good girls love bad boys. And as a good girl, you are looking for a bad boy to love? OYO for you! Let bad girls love bad boys and good girls love good boys. Nobody should use your head to catch a bullet.
20. Enjoy being single. It does not last forever.
Ondo State Governor Mimiko"Forced"Into PDP Inside Aso Rock Villa
At a well attended event held at the State House, in Abuja, Mimiko read a prepapred speech saying he was returning to the PDP alongside members of the House of Assembly, Federal lawmakers from the state and members of the State Executive Council and some LP state executive members.
He declared that his decision to return formally follows repeated consultation with major stakeholders of both the LP and PDP in his state.
"It is in the light of the foregoing that I, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, following extensive consultations across the land, today formally announce the decision of members of National Assembly from the LP in Ondo State, members of the LP in the Ondo State House of Assembly, members of the State Executive Council and indeed all those who share our aspirations, to join the PDP.
"This decision arose after a period of consultation with major stakeholders in Ondo State, which include the aforementioned as well as traditional and religious leaders, market men and women, artisans, trade unions and community as well as party leaders".
The Governor claimed that his earlier plans to join the PDP was tormenting but was later hinged on the overall interest of the people.
"I must confess that it surely was tempting and perhaps more fulfilling to continue as a national leader in our smaller, calmer and quite promising ocean represented by the Labour Party.
"But this decision to return to the PDP, we have taken in the overall interest of our people and our nation, and its democracy which for those who are perceptive enough to notice, is now mortally endangered by a constellation of forces which must be confronted."
With his defection, Mimiko is expected to lead the presidential campaign for the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan in the South West region.
The Vice President, Namadi Sabo, Senate President, David Mark, Senator Bode Olajumoke and other PDP bigwigs were present at the official declaration of the governor.
Governing Council Boss Fires At Oritsejafor
Speaking on Wednesday at a lecture on a youth-based forum titled, 'The Platform Nigeria,' organised by Pastor Poju Oyemade of the Covenant Christian Centre in Lagos, Prof. Odinkalu, condemned the large number of security operatives attached to the CAN president, Punch reports.
Expatiating more on the topic of the lecture: "Saying no to the right to impunity" which was televised live onChannels Television, thehuman rights crusader questioned why the clergyman would be allowed to parade himself around with such security presence which he alleged oppressed motorists.
He revealed that he was driving on the road one day when I saw a large number of policemen and civil defence (Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps) in a convoy. He said he initially thought it was a governor or President that was passing by because the security operatives pushed his vehicle aside.
"I was surprised to discover that it was the president of CAN and I even tweeted about it the other day"he said
Prof. Odinkalu, who described as unfortunate that the motorists were being oppressed by those in power and those who ought to be protecting the masses, and blamed the country's style of politics and the nonchalant attitude of the citizens for Nigeria's decay. He also hinted that Nigeria would be better if the people shunned ethnicity.
"Today almost every state government would want Alhaji Aliko Dangote to invest and pay tax to it. However, the moment Dangote says he wants to run as a senator, they will ask him if he is an indigene. This should not be so. I am happy that Lagos is different in this regard,"Prof. Odinkalu said.
According to him, the country's culture encourages impunity and corruption, and urged Nigerians to avoid worshiping political office holders.
"Why do you call them Excellency or honourable? Call them governor, call them senator. It is called public service. If there is no public, there will be no service,"he said.
Speaking on terrorism, he lamented the fact that several towns were taken over by insurgents and blasted the Federal Government for failing to send a delegation to visit prominent Islamic cleric, like Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, whose three sons were extra-judicially killed by Nigerian soldiers.
When Pastor Oritsejafor was contacted for comment, he said he has no response to Odinkalu, saying:"Please I don't know what you're talking about, I have nothing to say."
Meanwhile, the CAN President who was recently indicted in a $9.3 million smuggled cash that was confiscated by the South African authorities on Monday September 29, 2014, made a denial while speaking at the National Executive Council meeting of the association held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.
Council of Islamic Ideology rules that the very existence of women is against Allah's will ... Nigeria Watch
Founded as a constitutional body responsible for giving legal advice on Islamic issues to the Pakistani government and parliament, the CII recommends laws conforming to the Qur'an and Sunnah to parliament and provincial assemblies. At its most recent meeting, which it just concluded, the CII ruled the very existence of women contradicts the Sharia.
CII chairman Maulana Muhammad Khan Shirani noted that women by existing defied the laws of nature and suggested that to protect Islam and the Sharia, women should be forced to stop existing as soon as possible. At its previous 191st meeting, the CII had ruled that laws relating to a minimum marriage age were un-Islamic.
Sheikh Shirani said: "We can divide all women in the world into two distinct categories, those who are haram and those who are makrooh. Now the difference between haram and makrooh is that the former is categorically forbidden while the latter is really really disliked.
"Any woman that exercises her will is haram, absolutely haram and is conspiring against Islam and the Ummah, whereas those women who are totally subservient can reach the status of being makrooh. Such is the generosity of our ideology and such is the endeavour of Muslim men like us who are the true torchbearers of gender equality."
At their meeting, CII council members deliberated over various historic references related to women and concluded that each woman is a source of fitna and a perpetual enemy of Islam. They also decided that by restricting them to their subordinate, bordering on slave status, the momineen and the Mujahideen can ensure that Islam continues to be the religion of peace, prosperity and gender equality.
One CII official said that international standards of gender equality should not be used if they contradict Islam or the constitution of Pakistan that had incorporated Islam and had given sovereignty to Allah. Among other things, the official advised the Pakistani government to shun Western concepts of gender equality.
He added: "We don't believe in western ideals and nothing that contradicts Islam should ever be paid heed. In any case by giving women the higher status of being makrooh, it's us Muslims who have paved the way for true, Sharia compliant feminism."
ON THE SMUGGLED $9.3Million ... LOOK WHO'S TALKING AND HEAR WHAT HE'S SAYING : Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor opens up on $9.3m arms deal ... Nigerian Eye
President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, yesterday for the first time spoke on the controversial $9.3m cash allegedly smuggled into South Africa by two Nigerians and an Israeli using his private jet. The money which has been confiscated by a South African court was meant for the purchase of arms for the Nigerian Intelligence Services.
This is just as the #BringBackOurGirls# campaign group, has said it will soon drag the CAN president and the Federal Government to court over the money.
Following the use of his aircraft to convey the money which was not declared in South Africa until immigration officials discovered it, the CAN president was linked to the arms deal with critics condemning his role in the arms deal.
Explaining his own side of the story yesterday, at an emergency meeting of the expanded National Executive Council, NEC, of CAN in Abuja, Pastor Oritsejafor denied any involvement or knowledge of the deal to buy arms in South Africa, noting that enemies of Christians were fuelling the division of CAN.
He said: "The media has been awash in the past few days about an unfortunate incident involving the movement of funds from Nigeria to South Africa. In the unfortunate news reports, attempts have been made to link me directly with the transaction. So far I have refrained from making any direct public statement pending the time that I would have briefed the leaders of the church and explained my position on the issues to them.
"I believe that the primary institution that I owe any explanation to is the church. Permit me to thank everyone who stood by me these past days by ways of prayers, as well as strongly defending me even though I have not undertaken any public defence of myself.
"I am particularly appreciative of the valuable support of the Catholic Church in refuting a distorted news item by mischievous elements in the media. I wish to assure you that I will not do anything to tarnish the image of Jesus Christ or compromise the divine standard of the Church.
The aircraft is mine — CAN president
"At the risk of being seen to be defending myself, I wish to confirm to the distinguished leaders of the church that the Bombardier Challenger 601 aircraft in question is mine.
"The aircraft was presented to me as a gift by members of our congregation and ministry partners world wide at the 40th anniversary of my call into the ministry. May I be permitted to stress that the aircraft was not given to me by the President of Nigeria, neither was it a settlement for any political favour or patronage.
"With the benefit of hindsight, the President of the country was a guest in our church during the anniversary celebration when the Jet was presented to me and this has been construed to imply that it was a gift from the President of the country.
"The President of Nigeria has nothing to do with the gift of the aircraft. By the way, I still wonder why all those saying this, still cannot come out to show proof so that the matter can be put to rest once and for all. Let me say that this might be an issue of the court in the near future.
"In order to ameliorate the cost of maintenance of the aircraft, I sought and got permit to allow the aircraft fly in and out of Nigeria.
"Based on this, I leased the aircraft on August 2, 2014 to a company to run it. It was the leasee that entered into an agreement with the people who carried out the transfer of funds. Having leased the aircraft to the Green Coast Produce Company Limited, any transaction undertaken with the aircraft can no longer be attached to me.
War against the Church
"In as much as I am shocked and distressed by the incident, I wish to appeal to Christians in Nigeria to remember that a war has been waged against the Nigerian Church. This war is being fought on many fronts and this unfortunate incident is another dimension in the assault against the Church.
"It is clear that those who manipulated this conspiracy desire to create a schism in the Church. The media hype and the deliberate distortion of information that followed it confirmed that forces that desperately desire to cause division and disunity in the Church are at work. Even the devil knows that a house that is divided cannot stand.
"As Christians, we need unity in the Church now more than ever. We are witnessing inhuman attacks by religious extremists against Christians in the northern part of the country while Christian infrastructure is being destroyed in hundreds.
"If we permit the enemy to divide us, our chances of corporate survival shall be severely threatened.
"Distinguished leaders of the Church, please permit me to state clearly before God and before all of you here present today, I am not a party to the movement of $9.3 million from Nigeria to South Africa to purchase arms and ammunition. I am not part of the deal. I know nothing about it.
"Let me make a passionate appeal to our heads of blocks, heads of denominations and Christian leaders at different levels and spheres of influence to please use your good offices to caution and control your subordinates and followers from making public statements that will further polarise the Church and strengthen the arms of the enemies of the church.
"If I offend you or you offend me, instead of talking to media, let us talk to each other within the house of God."
Source: Nigerian Eye
Why I filed for a divorce- Ini Edo ... Premium Times
There had been reports in the media that the actress and her husband were divorcing because of infidelity on her part.
Ms. Edo denied the reports, stating that she never cheated and that she filed for a divorce due to issues that could not be resolved.
"There is a conscious and malicious attempt at tarnishing my image," she said.
Ms. Edo and Philip Ehiagwina, who lives in the United States, got married in November, 2008 and called it quits five weeks ago.
The actress has deleted her estranged husband's name from all her social media accounts except her Twitter handle, which remains @ini4phil; Phil for her husband.
The former couple did not have children together.
Source: Premium Times
Liars, I'm Not Dead But Alive, Shekau Drops New Video While Defence Headquarters Faults Shekau's New Video
The Defence Headquarters has faulted a recent video purportedly released by the dreaded Boko Haram where its leader Abubakar Shekau appeared, claiming to still be alive and well.
In a statement released on the official website of the Nigerian military on Thursday, the Defence Headquarters maintained that the person 'claiming' to be Shekau in the sect's videos was killed in the battle of Konduga in September.
It was stated that the resemblance between the insurgent who was killed and the sect's leader could not be contradicted adding that his corpse was further confirmed by people who knew him.
"As far as we are concerned, the individual who was appearing in video and claiming to be the leader of the terrorist group was killed in the Kondunga battle in September.
"The resemblance of the corpse and that of the eccentric character was incontrovertible. His identity was equally corroborated by people who knew him before we announced his death.
"So, while waiting to see the new video before any further statement, our message to them is that justice will be served to whoever bears that name or designation and whoever engages in act."
The statement also stated that the recent video did not indicate when it was shot neither did it display any screen time and date.
"From immediate observation and what some online news outlets claimed to have seen, the video did not indicate when it was shot neither did it show any proof of life or currency such as screen time or date. The video also did not make any reference to anything that has happened since the impostor's reported death."
The DHQ observed that "It is also noteworthy that the air plane said to be mentioned in the video had been missing before he was killed. It should not surprise anybody if the terrorists decide to manipulate pictures, clone another Shekau or upload a pre-recorded video all in a bid to prove that he is invincible."
The statement also said "The Defence Headquarters is studying the claims made in the video purportedly released by the terrorists showing their leader Abubakar Shekau as dismissing his death."
The military insisted that justice would be served on anybody that took on the name Shekau and engages in acts of terrorism.
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