Xmas and the Demonization of Christ – By Chief Bobson Gbinije

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Jesus Christ is the authentic Messiah and unblemished signet on the escutcheon of all Christians. He is the generalissimo of the cosmogony and the dymistifer of the tetragramation. Although the exact date of his birth remain scripturally hazy. But the commemoration of the birth of the great son of the living God, the Prince of Peace is fundamentally obligatory and critically crucial for all Christians. The total veneration of the messianic quintessence on December 25, January 6th by some and 1st October by others is in recognition of the Bethlehemic Zeitgeists and the spiritual élan of all Christians and non-Christians alike.

But the bacchanalian orgies, unthinkable licentiousness, Dionysian exuberance, moral depravity, hideous consumerism and sexual escapades which has characterized Charismas celebrations for ages, glaringly shows that, there is the complete demonization of Christianity and Christ. Hence, the Indian and Hindu statesman Mohandas Gandhi said “I have never been able to reconcile myself to the debaucheries of the Charismas season. They have appeared to me to be so inconsistent with the life and teaching of Jesus Christ.” Yet, Jesus Christ remains the reason for the Chritmas season.

Some hypocritical but wealthy Christians carry their teratoid Christmas theatrics so far that they go as far as Bethlehem or Jerusalem to celebrate their Christmas and back it up with a pilgrimage later. Jesus lived a humble and self-effacing life. He told a Samaritan woman who centered her worship at Gerizim, a mountain north in Jerusalem: “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you people worship the father”.

Nevertheless, the hour is coming and it is now, when the true worshiper will worship the father with spirit and truth, for indeed the father is looking for such like ones to worship him” (John 4:21-23).a Christianity and Christmas are completely sunken in the ways of secular humanism and wickedness. They incarnate satanic idiosyncrasies that have completely demonized Christ and all what he stood for. Christians can no more vouch for their faith and have no moral locus standi to parade themselves as soldiers of the cross. What a shame!

Under gruesome Catechization by Pontius Pilate Jesus Christ firmly asserted that “my kingdom is no part of this world, if my kingdoms were part of this world, my attendants would have fought that I should not be delivered up to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from this source”, but so called Christians proclaim the heavenly kingdom and still embody all the rat race of demonic sortilege, spiritual wickedness, pride, envy, greed, oppression, treachery and covetousness.

Christians in position of authority and leadership do not know what it is to serve and be servants of the people, like Christ demonstrated. They are cocooned in the shameful oubliette of corruption and graft. Christians in the churches, business places, politics, professions and evangelical mission have successfully philistanised and demonized Christ and his teachings. The ethos of Christmas is lost in the thicket of hypocrisy. There is utter christlessness in man. Hence, the essayist William James (1842-1910) position that”, Man, biologically considered that whatever else he may be into the bargain, is the most formidable of all the beast of prey, and, indeed the only one that preys systematically on its own kind.” What a shame that God’s own creation man has become a treacherous and degenerate beast to man and his creator.

Jesus Christ is the first born of all creation and the only begotten son of the causeless cause of causes, Jehovah God. He is the second greatest authority in the universe. This son of God was sent by His father, God Almighty to give life as a sacrificial ransom for mankind thus opening the way to eternal life for Adam’s offspring that will exercise faith in God. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ is the legality of the indemnity. After the crucifixation of Jesus Christ, He ascended into Heaven and is now restored to heavenly glory and rules as king with authority to destroy all the wicked and to fulfill God’s original plan on earth. Does He not deserve true honour?

In Hebrew the word Jesus means “Jehovah is salvation”, whilst Christ called, Mashiach or Messiah means the “Anointed one”. Jesus Christ the anointed one is not just a vague sham. He is a historical, spiritual and vibrant personality who existed amongst men and carried out palpably tangible acts for all to see. There is no personality and no name that transcends the totality of the universe than the name of Jesus Christ. He is Worthy of honour and commemoration. He is truly really deserving of praises and adoration. He is indeed the height of pulchritude and the finest thing that ever happened to mankind. He deserves all the glory.

But, are men really giving Him all the glory? Has He not been consigned to the cesspit of nothingness by our depraved conduct, through the apotheosization of money, the worshiping of power, certificates and titles? Do we still appreciate his sacrifice and abnegation for us? How do our debaucherous proclivities during Christmas tell on his integrity? Is Christmas a season for Godlessness and Christlessness? Are our Christian leaders now the contemporary antichrist and apostles? Will the Gospel of Jesus Christ survive given the dwarfishness of our evangelical zeal? And will mankind survive the libidinous holocaust?

Finally, mankind is luxuriating in the St. Vitus Dance and treading on the epicenter of a precipitous precipice. We are running against time. We must make a great dramatic turn around. We are living in perilous times and we need no ghost to tell us to turn to Jesus Christ. We cannot through our base conduct during Christians and after Christmas demonise Christ for darkness cannot overwhelm light. He has done His bit the rest is left for us to be Christ-complaint. As we celebrate Christmas, let us spare a thought for the less privileged amongst us and refocus on the need to serve God and truly honour Jesus Christ. Let us rekindle the spirit of solicitude Rei socialize (concern for the social order). Happy Xmas.

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CHIEF BOBSON GBINIJE

MANDATE AGAINST POVERTY (MAP)

WARRI. 08023250378.

Activist Hails INEC Over Deregistration Of 28 Parties

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. .Calls For Two Party System

An Aba based activist, Barr. Olusegun Bamgbose has described the deregistration of 28 political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a step in the right direction.

He further called for the delisting of more parties for the nation to adopt a two party system.

In a chat with newsmen in Aba, Bamgbose said the present multiparty system has generated ethnicity in party formation and membership, describing such as unhealthy to the development and growth of politics in Nigeria.

“ACN that is just coming up from the South West is dominated by the Yoruba; we have APGA for the Igbos and CPC for the Northerners. These parties have ethnic colourations. The National outlook is not there and such doesn’t make for a good political arrangement if we are to move forward politically. As long as we continue to have multiparty system, the unity of the country will always be in jeopardy because of the ethnic colouration of our political parties.”

Bamgbose who is also the National Coordinator of Concerned Advocates for Good Governance (CAGG), called on the National Assembly to use the opportunity of the on-going constitutional amendment to review and address the issue of multiparty system in order to cut cost involved in running elections as a result of multiparty system in operation in Nigeria.

The human right activist commended INEC for de-listing the 28 parties whom he describes as inactive.

“INEC should be commended for delisting the parties, they have been inactive. Some of them have failed to present candidates for even for local government elections. Their continued existence was a complete and continued wastage of resources,” he said.

He advocated for a two party system, describing it as fit for Nigeria. “If adopted,two party system will help to limit the choice of voters to candidates with good manifestos and also, will help to reduce the huge resources spent in the organization of elections in Nigeria.The much celebrated June 12 annulled election that saw MKO Abiola emerged the winner did not come just like that. It came because the choice of voters was limited to two candidates. Majority went for MKO of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate against Bashir Tofa of National Republican Convention(NRC),not because he from Yoruba, but because he as an idea the people believed can help to grow the economy of Nigeria and also improved the lives of Nigerians.” he posited

 

PDP carpets Aregbesola again over N17.8b contract

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The South-West chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged Nigerians to ask the governor of Osun state, Mr Rauf Aregbesola why his government has been incoherent in its defence of allegations of giving N17.8billion contract to a bankrupt company.

The party, in a statement issued by its Zonal Publicity Secretary, Hon. Kayode Babade, said it was insisting on anti-corruption agencies looking into the contract given to SAMMYA Nigeria Ltd “a company that had its accounts ganisheed just last year by the FCT High Court over unpaid debts owed WEMA bank.”

The PDP said Nigerians should note the contradictory reactions from Aregbesola’s government on the allegations with his spokesman confirming the judgement while his finance commissioner said it was a mere “dispute over bank charges.”

According to the PDP, the incoherence of the state government in its defence of the matter showed clearly the level of “guilt” of the government which it said “borrowed the N17.8billion from the Infrastructure Bank and handed it over to SAMMYA.”

“The commissioner said it was a bank charges dispute with WEMA bank, but we are talking about a court judgement that is readily available to virtually all Nigerians. The issues are very clear. The court garnisheed the company’s accounts in November 2011 after it could not pay the N23million judgement debt slammed on it in February 2011.

“The Osun state government should come out clearly stating in clear terms why the contract did not go through competitive bidding and due process as well as listing previous jobs successfully executed and completed by the company. We see the government’s highly abusive and indecorous statements as mere red herrings which won’t work,” the party said.

SAMMYA Nigeria Limited, owned by one Sammy Adigun, an in-law to Governor Aregbesola had owed Wema Bank Plc a sum of N23, 348,491.43, as a result of which a Federal High Court, Abuja on November 2, 2011 via SUIT NO: – FCT/HC/CV/968/2007 Garnishee the Accounts of the company in 10 Banks.

The judgment debt plus interest in the judgment delivered by Justice M. A. Nasir on November 2, 2011 amounted to N25, 099,628.28.

The PDP insisted that Nigerians, especially the anti-corruption agencies must ask questions as to how a company that was declared bankrupt late last year could be awarded a N17.8 billion contract 10 months after.
the Its stated head office at 13, Williams Street, Gbagada, Shomolu, Lagos does not exist.

 

Bola Tinubu’s “Alfa Beta” Earns N6billion Monthly from Lagos State Gov’t

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Lagos state government has refused to make available the details of the contracts they signed with Bola Tinubu’s Tax firm Alfa Beta. This company, according official records takes home monthly, the sum of 6billion Naira from Lagos state government’s coffer.

Relying on the Freedom of Information [FoI] act as passed by the National Assembly – and requested for the contract documents from the Lagos state government but the state government responded saying that the FoI act is only for federal records and does not affect states.

For this reason, a group of concerned citizens of Lagos turn the garnet to bring Bola Tinubu to court – to declare open his contractual arrangement with the government of Lagos State.

Please see below for the attached documents –

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DR. ADEGBOLA DOMINIC,

SANTA MARIA HOSPITAL,

10, SANTA MARIA STREET,

EGAN-IGANDO,

LAGOS.

 

Tel: 08125840416, 08033251594

Email: adegboladominic@yahoo.com

 

1st November, 2012

 

The Inspector General of Police,

Nigeria Police Force,

Force Headquarters,

Louis Edet House,

Abuja.

 

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State,

State Police Headquarters,

Oduduwa Street,

Ikeja,

Lagos State.

 

Dear Sir,

 

DEMAND TO CONSTITUTE A UNIT/PANEL OF THE POLICE FORCE

TO RE-OPEN THE CASE, COMMENCE OR TAKE OVER AND

CONCLUDE THE INVESTIGATION OF THE CRIMINAL

ALLEGATIONS MADE AGAINST MR. BOLA AHMED TINUBU

THE FORMER GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE, THE SUBJECT

MATTER OF THE CASE OF CHIEF GANI FAWEHINMI AND

INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE

 

I am a citizen of Nigeria and indigene of Lagos State with the requisite locus standi to make the request as indicated above and stated hereunder.

 

You would recall that sometime in 1999 when Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu was the Governor of Lagos State, Criminal Complaints were made against him in a letter dated 21st September, 1999 by Chief Gani Fawehinmi to investigate the said criminal allegations of falsification of statement/declaration and documents/certificates.

 

You would also recall that The Supreme Court held that although you could investigate the Governor who then enjoyed immunity under Section 308 of the Constitution, 1999, you could not prosecute him in view of the express Constitutional Governor’s Immunity provisions of Section 308 – That `no Civil or Criminal proceedings shall be instituted or continued against a person to whom this Section applies during his period of Office`.

 

Sir, Mr., now Asiwaju, Bola Ahmed Tinubu  left office as Governor since 2007, no longer enjoying the said immunity, but since then nothing in respect of those serious criminal allegations has been done, allegations which are more serious than those for which a former Speaker  of the House of Representatives Salisu Buhari was investigated, prosecuted and convicted.

 

And Sir, since the demise of Chief Gani Fawehinmi, your office seems to have fallen asleep over the matter but Sir, these are very serious criminal allegations which ought not to be swept under the carpet.

 

As a Citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is my duty to, and I hereby, request that you shall constitute a unit of the force to re-open the case, commence or take over conclude the investigations into the said criminal allegations against Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu and if need be commence the prosecution of the said Bola  Ahmed Tinubu.

 

Sir, this request of mine is hinged mainly on your duties, responsibilities and obligations as provided for under the Constitution and Section 4 of the Police Act Cap 359, 1990 Laws of the Federation which provides as follows:

 

4.         The police shall be employed for the prevention and detection of crime, the

apprehension of offenders, the preservation of law and order, the protection of

life and property and the due enforcement of all laws and regulations with which

they are directly charged, and shall perform such military duties within or without

Nigeria as may be required by them or under the authority of this or any other

Act”.

 

You shall therefore be violently violating the specific provisions of the Constitution and the Police Act if you fail, refuse or neglect to grant my humble request.

 

A copy of this request is being sent to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who also serves as the Chairman of the Nigeria Police Council as well as the minister for Police Affairs.

 

Please TAKE NOTICE that if my request is not granted within 14days from the date of receipt of my request letter, I shall be initiating proceedings in Court to have you compelled to grant my request by applying for Mandamus to issue against you.

 

Sir, the learned Author of deSmith’s Judicial Review of Administration Action writes at page 540: “Mandamus” lies to secure the performance of a public duty, in the performance of which the applicant has a sufficient legal interest. The application must show that he has demand performance of the duty and that performance has been refused by the authority obliged to discharge it”.

 

Counting on your co-operation.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

 

Dr. Adegbola Dominic

cc.

 

  1. The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,

Aso Rock Presidential Villa,

Abuja.

 

  1. The Minister for Police Affairs,

The Ministry,

  1. Abuja.

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DR. ADEGBOLA DOMINIC,

SANTA MARIA HOSPITAL,

10, SANTA MARIA STREET,

EGAN-IGANDO,

LAGOS.

 

Tel: 08125840416, 08033251594

Email: adegboladominic@yahoo.com

 

24th October, 2012

The Commissioner for Finance, Lagos State,

Ministry of Finance,

The Secretariat,

Alausa, Ikeja,

Lagos.

 

The Board of Lagos State Internal Revenue Service,

Ikeja,

Lagos.

 

The Auditor General,

Office of  the State Auditor – General,

Secretariat,

Alausa – Ikeja.

 

The Special Adviser, Taxation & Revenue,

Office of the Governor of Lagos State,

Governor’s Office,

Alausa, Ikeja,

Lagos.

 

The Attorney General of Lagos State,

Ministry of Justice,

The Secretariat,

Alausa, Ikeja,

Lagos.

 

Dear Sir,

 

APPLICATION FOR ACCESS TO, AND REQUEST TO YOU TO MAKE

AVAILABLE TO ME, ALL THE INFORMATION, CTC’S OF THE FILES,

RECORDS, CONTRACT DOCUMENTS ETC. IN YOUR CUSTODY OR

POSSESSION RESPECT OF THE CONTRACT/AGREEMENT ENTERED

THE GOVERNMENT OF LAGOS STATE AND, THE COMPANY, ALPHA

BETA CONSULTING LIMITED MANDATING THE COMPANY TO

COLLECT ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT ALL TAXES AND

INTERNALLY GENERATED REVENUE (IGR)  DUE, PAYABLE AND

PAID TO THE GOVERNMENT AND ITS AGENCIES AND ALL THE

COMMISSIONS DUE, PAYABLE AND PAID BY THE GOVERNMENT

TO THE COMPANY AND RECEIVED BY THE COMPANY SINCE

THE DATE OF THE CONTRACT/AGREEMENT PURSUANT TO

SECTIONS 2, 3(3)M, O, 5, 6, 7, 9 & 10 OF THE PROVISIONS OF

THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2011 OR AS REPLICATED/

DOMESTICATED IN LAGOS STATE OF NIGERIA

 

  1. WHEREAS as the Commissioner for Finance, Lagos State, your office is responsible for the management and disbursement of the finances of Lagos State, as well as being the Supervisory Commissioner over the Board of Internal Revenue Services of Lagos State.

 

  1. and WHEREAS as the Board of Lagos State Internal Revenue Services, your Board is the Board charged with the collection all taxes and internally Generated Revenue of Lagos State,

 

  1. and WHEREAS as the Auditor General of Lagos State, your office audits the Public Accounts of the State and of all officers by accessing all the books, records, returns and other documents relating to those accounts,

 

  1. and WHEREAS as the Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Taxation and Revenue, your office is in charge of monitoring all the taxes and revenue accruing to the state,

 

  1. and WHEREAS as the Attorney General of Lagos State, you are the Chief Law Officer and Commissioner for Justice of the Government of Lagos State whose office prepares and vets all contractual agreements/documents of the Lagos State Government and its agencies, and has custody and possession of same.

 

and WHEREAS by virtue of the special positions, functions and responsibilities of your offices as stated in 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 above, you know, and deemed to know or ought to know all about the taxes and revenue accruing to the Government of Lagos State as well as have in your custody and possession all the contractual agreements entered in respect of taxes and revenue matters of the state, and have in your possession and custody copies of these contractual agreements.

 

  1. AND WHEREAS as a citizen of Nigeria and indigene of Lagos State it has come to my knowledge that the Government of Lagos State has entered into a contractual agreement with the Company, Alpha Beta Consulting Ltd. Whereupon the Company has the mandate of the Government of Lagos State since 1999 to collect and been collecting on behalf of the Government of Lagos State all the taxes and Internally Generated Revenue which have accrued and been paid to the State whereafter the Company is entitled to and being paid the Commission (of 15% (Fifteen Per Centum) therefrom since the year 1999.

 

  1. AND WHEREAS sometime in 2011 by virtue of a statement issued by Mr. Bola Sodipo, Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Taxation and Revenue, the existence of a Contractual Agreement with the Company as tax and revenue collector on behalf of the Government was confirmed; but added that the Government of Lagos State would terminate the services of the Company by February, 2012,

 

  1. and WHEREAS the Government of Lagos State now boasts of an IGR or about N40 billion every month translating into a commission of N6 Billion due to and being paid to the Company every month, which sum I consider unfavourable and outrageous to me as a tax payer and Citizen of Lagos State.

 

I, Dr. Adegbola Dominic wish to know how the taxes, revenue, finances of the State accrue, are managed, disbursed etc. In Lagos State and do hereby apply, to you, by yourselves, agents, servants etc. to access and request to be made available to me by you, all information, CTC’s of Files, records, Contract Agreements/Documents, in respect of the said Contract/Agreement entered into between the Government of Lagos State and, the Company, Alpha Beta Consulting Limited, mandating the Company to assess and collect on behalf of the Government all Taxes and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) due, payable and paid by the Government and its agencies and all the commissions  due, payable and paid by the government to the Company and received by the Company since the announcement of the Contract/Agreement for my perusal and scrutiny pursuant to Section 2, 3(3)m, o, 5, 6, 7, 9, & 10 of the Provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2011 (F.O.I) as Replicated/Domesticated in Lagos State of Nigeria. My request is basically to let me know the monthly returns of the taxes and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) generated, accrued, collected and paid to the Government and commissions received from Government or its agencies by the Company since inception of the contract.

 

Sir, under Section 5 of the F.O.I, the above information, records, file, agreements/documents etc. shall be made available to me within 7 days after the application is received by you and I am ready and undertake to pay all appropriate fees in your duplications and transcriptions of the said documents to meet my request.

 

Counting on your fullest co-operation.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

 

Dr. Adegbola Dominic

Iran decodes data of CIA drone

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Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said yesterday it had decoded all of the data from an advanced CIA spy drone captured last year.

 

The Guard’s aerospace chief, General Ami Ali Hajizadeh, told state-run TV that that the RQ-170 Sentinel craft had not carried out missions over nuclear facilities before it went down in December 2011 near the eastern border with Afghanistan.

 

Tehran had previously said it recovered information from the top-secret stealth aircraft, but yesterday’s announcement suggests technicians may have broken encryptions.

 

“All data from the drone have been completely decoded. We know where it travelled step by step,” Gen Hajizadeh said. “After decoding, our experts discovered that this drone had not carried out even a single nuclear mission over Iran.”

 

Gen Hajizadeh said Iran had captured the drone and decoded its data without any assistance, including from its allies China and Russia. Iran has said it would reverse-engineer the drone and build its own version. Last week, the guard claimed it captured another US drone after it entered Iranian airspace over the Arabian Gulf, showing an image of what it said was a Boeing-designed ScanEagle drone on state TV.

 

The Islamic republic has been trumpeting its possession of the drones in an attempt to embarrass Washington over its alleged surveillance of Iran’s disputed nuclear programme.

 

Gen Hajizadeh said Iran had previously acquired a ScanEagle drone and produced a copy of that, but did not provide evidence to back up the claim.

 

Last month, Tehran claimed that a US drone violated its airspace. The Pentagon said an unmanned Predator aircraft came under fire at least twice while flying over international waters but was not hit.

 

Meanwhile, UN nuclear inspectors will press Iran this week for a long-sought green light to visit a key military site, although suspected clean-up work may make it difficult to find evidence of any illicit atomic bomb research there.

 

Thursday’s talks in Tehran could provide clues as to whether the Islamic state may now be more willing to start addressing growing international concerns over its disputed atomic activity following US President Barack Obama’s re-election last month.

 

The stakes are high: Israel – widely believed to be the Middle East’s only nuclear-armed power – has threatened military action if diplomacy fails to prevent its arch-foe from acquiring doomsday weaponry. Iran says it would hit back hard if attacked.

 

But Western diplomats are not optimistic about the chances of a breakthrough in the new discussions in the Iranian capital, after a series of meetings between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) this year failed to make headway.

 

The Vienna-based UN nuclear watchdog wants Iran to allow its inspectors to visit sites, interview officials and study documents as part of an IAEA investigation – largely stymied by Iranian stonewalling for four years – into possible military dimensions to the country’s nuclear programme.

 

Press Release: NOA Peace Forum Wants Traditional Institutions As Part of National Security System

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The two-day National Forum on Security Challenges and Peace Building in Nigeria Organized by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Katsina State has ended with a call for traditional institutions to be constitutionally recognized and empowered to paly ore active roles in organizing communities for more efficient security network across the nation..

The forum which attracted a cream of traditional rulers from across the country also had the representation of the Governments of Zamfara and Sokoto States as well as the Inspector General of Police. Also present were Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairmen in Katsina State.

In his address at the forum, the Director General of NOA, Mr. Mike Omeri said the forum became necessary to foster cross cultural harmony among the traditional rulers in Nigeria; support communities, leaders and network of organization in promoting dialogue and pluralism in the nation; identify families that have members from different faiths an promote their examples; among others.

“Our citizens must constantly bear in mind and embrace the spirit of acceptance and accommodation of the divergent views. We must act with patriotism and refrain from making acerbic, emotional and inciting comments on sensitive political, religious and cultural issues; which often evoke emotions, anger and generate violent reactions. All Nigeria patriots must close ranks and save our society by embracing the values of peace, dialogue, patience and tolerance of one’s culture, custom, ethics and religion”, he said.

Governor Shehu Shema of Katsina urged Nigerians to work together in building peace in the nation. Representing Governor Shema, the Katsina State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Gide Batagarawa said the State Government, as a measure of ensuring peace and equity in the State, does not regard non-indigenes as non-indigenes but as “indigenous Nigerians living in in Katsina”. He said this had guaranteed justice and equity in the State which, according to him, were prerequisites for peace and urged other States to follow the Katsina example.

Speaking on “The Role of Religious Leaders and Traditional Rulers in the Quest for National Security and Peace”, the Emir of Dass, Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu expressed dismay that traditional institutions were not integrated into the various security committees at the Federal, State and Local Government levels. This inclusion added to a constitutional role for traditional rulers, he observed, was expedient as traditional rulers know everyone resident in their domains and no activities can be carried out within the community without their knowledge, making it easy to supervise community policing.

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, represented by the Katsina State Commissioner of Police, Abdullahi Magaji reminded Nigerians of their constitutional responsibility to always remain security conscious in order to assist the police. He specifically charged landlords and property owners to exercise extra caution in determining who they rent their properties to in order to avoid habouring criminals rather than exposing them to security agencies.

Present at the peace forum were the Governor of Sokoto State, represented by the State’s Commissioner for Information, Alh. Nasir Bako; Governor of Zamfara State, represented by the State’s Commissioner for Commerce, Hassan Zule; the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Usman, represented by the Kauran Katsina, Alh. Nuhu Adbulkadir; the Chief Imam of Abuja National Mosque, Ustaz Abubakar Mohammed; members of both the Muslim and Christian Community; and Local Government Chairmen of Katsina State.

–

Paul Odenyi

Chief Press Secretary

 

Uduaghan Approves N1.2 Billion for Pension Arrears

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Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Governor of Delta State (left) receiving a present from the Chairman, State pensioners, Mr. Mathias Ubiebi during the pensioners courtesy call on the Governor in Asaba. Pix: Bripin Enarusai

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has approved the sum of N1.2 billion for the payment of pension’s arrears in the state.

Besides, he has directed that the payment of the arrears be commenced this December, 2012.

Dr Uduaghan, who disclosed this yesterday in Asaba when the executive of the State Union of Pensioners paid him a courtesy call, said the amount approved would cover the 6% and 15% increases in the pensioners’ emoluments.

He attributed the delay in the payment of arrears to the discrepancies in the actual numbers of pensioners and assured them that everything would be done to make them comfortable.

In particular, he explained that the arrears were not paid before now because the government had to conduct a screening exercise to ascertain the actual figure of pensioners, adding that it was already working out modalities for the payment.

“We will pay you the arrears; we are working out the modalities for the payment. The N1.2 billion have been approved since August 2011, we will begin the payment this month,” he said.

He also charged the Pensioners to help government sort out the fake names that were responsible for the bloated and bogus figures.

“We have conducted screening exercises in the state. In the first exercise about 5,000 pensioners were captured while in the second exercise, we got about 9,700 pensioners but only 7,000 were physically sighted”, he stated.

According to him, the total number of pensioners in the state was yet to be ascertained and that the capturing exercise was a continuous process.

Dr Uduaghan assured pensioners that his administration would regularly pay their monthly pension without any delay.

He continued “We suspect that something is wrong with the accounting system of the payment and have called on the Accountant-General and Head of Service to investigate the issue”.

In a brief remark, the chairman of the Union, Comrade Mathias Ubiebi said they visited the Governor to appeal for the payment of the 6% and 15% increases by the state government.

“We came to see you to appeal that our arrears be paid. We are aware that the increase has been approved but don’t know what is delaying the payment”, he stated.

 

Gov Sule Lamido’s Son Arrested in Kano for Money Laundering

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Information reaching 247ureports.com through security sources in Kano indicate that one of the sons of the Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, was arrested at minutes after midnight at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. The arrest was made as he prepared to board an Egypt Air flight to Cairo. The name of the son given as Aminu Lamido.

Aminu Lamido had declared $10,000 in his possession to the Nigerian customs at the airport but inquiries by  operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)  at the airport revealed that he  was carrying more than the $10,000 he disclosed.

Aminu was arrested following the discovery. He is slated to be arraigned to Kano by the EFCC authorities in Kano. The arraignment is anticipated to be on Tuesday December 18, 2012 or an earlier date.

The father to Aminu – the governor of Jigawa State is said to be in preps to challenge President Jonathan in the upcoming 2015 presidential polls.

Stay tuned

The Monotonous Churches In Nigeria – By Godday Odidi

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The recent private jet acquisition by the firebrand Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor of the Word Bible Church has continued to generate dust in the political and religious circle in the country. There is nothing wrong for the said pastor to acquire a benefiting private jet for the gospel of Christ which the economic situation of Nigeria has make people to see private jets acquisition by pastors as sin and ostentatious lifestyles in the kingdom of God. Though the sign of end time syndrome is fast approaching in our today’s’ churches in Nigeria. The major problem of today’s churches is the ability for the Pentecostal, Sabbath, Orthodox and Jehovah witness to amalgamate as one body in Christ.

In Matthew 24: 5, the Bible says that many shall come in my name, saying I am Christ; and shall deceive many. The Holy Bible states that many pastors will come in form of good servants of God not genuinely pursuing heavenly desires. For Pastor Ayo to celebrate 40 years in the pulpit is an indication of a great servant of God in today’s modern-day churches in Nigeria. No church in Nigeria that does not need money to run its daily expenses in order to meet up the demands of church members. Setting up a church today in Nigeria is not an easy task, it requires money, dedication and time to grow spirit filled congregation, though government in Nigeria does not impose taxes on churches unlike in the Western and other African countries where taxation is skyrocketing in all ramifications. In abroad, churches are seen as business making venture and nothing else. The much criticism about the purchase of private jet by Pastor Ayo by one so-called grammarian Edo-state born former House of Representatives member, Hon. Patrick. O and others indicated that they are shortsighted in the gospel of Jesus of Christ.

One of the major issue confronting today’s churches is that the congregation or followers of the gospel are only interested with pastors that are spiritually and economically doing well and nothing else which prompted many pastors to involve in infamous and villainous activities to acquire powers from the satanic kingdom with no qualms. The like of Pastor Ayo has duly served their masters well which he was tutored by the late Bishop Benson Idahosa of the Church of God Mission International. Pastor Ayo is one the highly respected ministers of God in Nigeria that commands respect internationally. Papa Ayo is not the first pastor to acquire private jet or fleet of cars in Nigeria but the likes of David Oyedepo of Winners Chapel, Pastor Enoch Adeboye of RCCG and others.

Apart from pastors acquiring private jets, some have massively invested in the education sector by setting up Universities, Colleges of Education and Polytechnics but some are beyond the reach of the poor. Not just education only but also investing in building hotels, media, banks and others. Some church pastors have used their businesses to create 40 percent employment to Nigerian youth in recent times. Though most Nigerian churches have spiritually deviated from the true gospel of Christ while few still maintaining the real call of God in spite of economic challenges and bad leaders of the country. Churches are meant to project the true gospel of Christ and nothing else. Every Dick and Harry wants to be a general overseer overnight without a father or mentor. Some pastors only interested in acquiring theological certificates without former education to develop in 21st knowledge. We now have more enlightening congregation with progressive mindsets. Most of these high-flying and famous pastors where products of good education they acquired before the conviction of the call of God in their lives. The likes of Dr D. K Olukoya of MFM, Pastor Williams Kumuyi of Deeper Life Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare of Latter Rain Assembly, Rev Kingsley Albert of Flames Family Church, Bishop Matthew Omodiagbe of Liberation Word Ministries International, Pastor Jonah Isreal of Word Feast Ministry, Dr Acho Nwoke of Kings City International, Pastor Chris Oyalkilome of Christ Embassy, Rev Felix Ogadeji of All Believers Assembly, Pastor T. B Joshua of Synagogue Church of All Nations Pastor Success Haruna, Pastor Kingsley Uche and just mention but a few. Most of these pastors deserved to buy any expensive automobiles or jets if the need arises because they have seen the four walls of university of suffering while some went into ministry for material acquisition and fake or digital prophecies to milk out money from their unfortunate victims. Most Nigerians have misinterpreted the gospel of Christ by condemning pastors of their sumptuous living styles considering that they once lived a hopeless life with no future until God intervened in their situation. Every good pastor that God has divine call of God has one story to tell about his or her encounter with Christ. Raising a congregation of worshippers is not meant for sluggish pastors but for those that have the divine call of God with no qualms.

Both Pentecostal and Orthodox churches have abysmally failed to identify their major father in Christ which the churches in the North have suffered great satanic molestation and attacks by Boko Haram members over the years. Over 40 percent of churches have been burnt down while over 100 000 Christians killed abruptly. Federal government has failed to protect churches in the North. To run a small Local Assembly in Nigeria requires huge financial support from members of the church and others. Pastoral intimidation is more pronounced in today’s churches due to flex muscles and inferiority complex among some questionable pastors. Every pastor is called with a vision but some want to act on notable ministers’ callings without identifying their own port of call into the gospel of Christ. Some pastors are only interested in big titles like Rev, Dr, and Arcbishop. And other intimidating titles that cannot get them to heaven. Some pastors have decided to use their wives to intimidate the positions of assistant pastors in the church due to selfish reason while such congregation find difficult to grow true gospel of Christ. It is time for PFN and CAN to identify true churches and pastors in Nigeria to avoid fakery congregation now.

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By Godday Odidi. Public Affairs Analyst. 08058124798. 20 Oro Street. Ajegunle

 

Does Nigeria Need a New Police Force? – Prof Soludo [ThisDay Newspapers]

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Over the last 20 years, every new Inspector General of Police (IG) has launched one special ‘operation’ or the other to signal his zero tolerance to crime. Over the same period, the size of the police force has more than tripled, its budget ballooned, and yet the state of insecurity worsens. Nigeria is ranked the “kidnap-for-ransom capital of the world”, accounting for 25% of global kidnappings. The global peace index ranks Nigeria the 6th most dangerous African country to live in; KPMG ranks Nigeria the most fraudulent country in Africa; while the Economist Intelligence Unit ranks Nigeria the ‘worst place to be born’ in 2013. The US Fund for Peace has, for three consecutive years, ranked Nigeria as the 14th failed state in the world (out of a total of 178 countries). Insecurity of life and property is at the heart of these worsening indices.
Anyone who ignores these indices in the quest for investment and Nigeria’s economic transformation misses the point. Foreign investors certainly do not ignore them. The economies of most states in the South-east and South-south zones have literally stalled and their medium-term prospects look bleak. Most of the investing elite are on the run (from insecurity especially kidnapping) and are in exile in Abuja and Lagos (this is topic for another day). In the North-east and parts of North-west, the Boko Haram insurgency has dealt a huge blow to the economies. Armed robbery is pervasive. Banks and businesses pay heavily for security. Ordinary citizens are worse-off for the crisis.
Under the constitution, policing Nigeria is the exclusive preserve of the Federal Government. But policing in Nigeria is broken. Numerous substitutes have emerged: state governments and communities have various vigilante groups; numerous private security guards (registered and unregistered), and thousands of other ‘private arrangements’ for security. In South Africa, there are about two million private security operatives. In Nigeria, there is no data.
I have always been a friend and strong supporter of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF). As Governor of the Central Bank, I had occasions to reflect and sympathise with our police. I had obliged IG Ehindero’s request to address the Bankers Committee, at which he told the pathetic story of the force and requested financial assistance from the bankers. The Bankers Committee bought about 25 armoured personnel carriers for the police. I recall that one of the foreign banks then visited my office to register its objection to being forced to contribute to Nigeria’s policing which, according to the bank, was the ‘primary duty of government’. We, at the CBN, sent several police officers attached to us to Israel and UK for training. I also recall the emergency security meeting about November 2006 and chaired by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in his office. All service chiefs were in attendance and most people took turns to berate the IG over the ‘increasing insecurity’ especially the threat to Abuja. I reckoned that the emergency meeting was called ostensibly because Abuja was threatened. Poor Ehindero: no one wanted to listen to his explanations. In my intervention, I raised a rhetorical question that, in my view, remains unanswered till date: “Can the Federal Government adequately fund and centrally control the effective policing of Nigeria?”
I commend the efforts of the current IG whose dedication and professionalism are evident. But it is not about him. The system is dysfunctional and beyond any IG. There have been several ‘committees’ and ‘reports’ on how to ‘reform’ the police. Each has a litany of the ‘problems’ or reasons for poor performance as well as recommendations for ‘solutions’. My view is that several of these, including the Osayande’s committee report, merely address the symptoms and sketch at the margins, and end up asking Nigeria to do more of the same. I spoke to three former IGs and several people in the security industry, and can appreciate the complexity of the problems. One major conclusion is that the system, as currently designed, has not and cannot offer Nigeria security. As one former IG put it, “the system no longer works and needs to change”. Another former IG assured me that “even if the entire federal budget is allocated to the police, we would still not have security under current arrangements”.
Typical of most public policy discourse in Nigeria, the issue of fixing the broken policing framework has been reduced to a question of state police versus the status quo. Those who oppose state police do not argue that the current system works well, but that Nigeria is not yet ‘ready’ for state policy because it is feared that state governors will ‘abuse’ it. According to this argument, local police was abused under the native authority. The corollary of this argument is that the federal police are not ‘abused’. Sounds funny, doesn’t it? I can cite two dozen examples of crude abuses of the police by the Federal Government. I recall the fight between Jim Nwobodo (then governor of old Anambra) and the Commissioner of Police – one Bishop Eyitene or so. Certainly, it was not the ordinary people of Anambra State who kidnapped a sitting governor, Dr. Chris Ngige, or supervised the burning down of the state. Recall the reasons given by Chinua Achebe for rejecting a national honour the first time. Everyone knows that the first step in running for elections, especially for the office of state governor, is to plead with Abuja to remain “neutral”– ostensibly in terms of the deployment of the army and police who could make a decisive difference to facilitate or forestall rigging. Let us be honest about it. That a particular president restrains from abusing the force does not mean that there is anything stopping him from doing so if he wishes.
I find the argument that Nigeria is not ready for state policing funny. Implicit in the argument is the sense of a possible time frame and pre-conditions for readiness, but they don’t spell them out. When will Nigeria be ready? Well, many Nigerians still doubt whether we are ripe for independence or democracy. To complete the satire, perhaps we should invite back the colonial masters since our leaders at all levels have serially ‘abused’ the powers to govern since independence. Perhaps we should go the whole hog: stop giving states any allocation from the Federation Account. Or, tell me in how many states that such allocations are ‘not abused’. Some even go to the extreme by resorting to a scare tactic—that state police will lead to the break-up of Nigeria—without any proof.
Nigeria is a country of extremes. The Gobir Panel set up by Aguiyi Ironsi observed that the local police (under the Native Authority) were abused by traditional rulers, political parties and governments in power in Northern and Western Nigeria, and thus recommended its closure. Instead of the hard work of seeking ways of strengthening the system and stopping the abuse, we took the easy way out: the centralisation of police and prisons. Today, states enact laws but depend on the federal police to enforce and prosecute offenders. State governors are chief security officers of their states but without the legal instrument to ensure security of life and property. Deployment of police personnel is at the discretion of Abuja.
State governors fund the police in ad hoc manner by buying vehicles and equipment. A state could train some police officers only for them to be redeployed the next day to another state. If extreme insecurity is the number one threat to economic activity and wellbeing of a state, the governor is literally helpless. How can we hold governors accountable to create jobs and prosperity if they are not responsible for security in their states? I recall the state of anarchy in Anambra State when Mbadinuju took over as governor. Nothing else could have happened without the restoration of security. In the absence of state police, he deployed the ‘informal force’ popularly called the ‘Bakassi Boys’. It was said then in Anambra that you could drop your wallet on the road and it would be there when you come back to pick it. Of course, there were some ‘abuses’. Instead of building upon it and correcting the lapses, we demonised and disbanded them. Societies don’t develop that way.
The fundamental issue is whether Nigeria wants a federal structure and prepared to allow the evolution of the requisite institutions to make it prosper or continue with a federation in name and unitary system in practice. Let me be clear: state police may not be the silver bullet but the arguments against it are patently silly. In a multi-ethnic, multi-religious federal system such as Nigeria, it is difficult to see how effective policing can happen without competition, multi-stakeholder ownership, and collaboration. No institution comes ready-made and matured. Every institution is work in progress, and only matures with experimentation. Democracy as we know it today in the US and the Western world was not always like this. It has evolved over time, sometimes requiring drastic overhaul based on experiences and ‘abuses’. The only way to perfect institutions is to try them.
The proposal for ‘more funding’ or ‘financial autonomy’ is pedestrian. Yes, the police needs all the money it can get. But it is not just about money. Literally every agency of government believes it is so important to deserve ‘financial autonomy’. Some even propose special taxes on corporations akin to the education tax fund. I am of the opinion that Nigerian companies are already being over-taxed. Under the current structure, even if they pay more money to government for security, they will still not have one. Policing is under the exclusive list: you cannot ask the states to fund a federal agency that they don’t control. Of course, we know that the Nigeria Police Council (as a merely advisory body) is literally dead.
Let us get serious and stop being in denial. Those organising to defend the status quo are taking Nigeria backwards. We must use the opportunity of the constitutional amendment to think boldly and outside of the box. A new system design, consistent with a federal structure, is needed. Competition in policing by various tiers of government will create and broaden ownership, unleash innovation, and peer learning across states might ensure greater national effectiveness. Local knowledge is critical for effective policing, and the current centralised national monopoly seems to be a road to nowhere.
We need to come together, and armed with lessons of experience under the two failed experiments so far (Native Authority police and centralised national command), craft a new police system, with all the internal controls. For a start, policing should be in the concurrent list of the constitution, and left as an optional tool for states that need it. The coordination and supervisory relationships between state and federal police should be spelt out. If we don’t trust the executive branch, perhaps we should start with a stringent joint institutional oversight by the executive and legislative branches. For starters, why should the IG not be confirmed by the Senate and only removable by two-thirds of Senate, and similarly for state commissioners? There is room for creative thinking, but playing the ostrich is not an option!

 

 

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