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!

 

 

More Details: Kidnap of Ngozi Okonjo Iweala’s Mother, the MEND [JRC] Connection

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The rude shock to the federal government of Nigeria over the sudden abduction of the mother of the Federal Minister of Finance and the pseudo prime minister of Nigeria in the person of Ngozi Okonjo Iweala – on the afternoon of Sunday December 9, 2012 may have been carried by a more organized group of criminals and/or militants. This is according to information available to 247ureports.com indicating that the Joint Revolutionary Council [JRC]’s 72 hour ultimatum to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebelemi Jonathan on Thursday December 6, 2012 may have resulted to the abduction of the Finance Minister’s mother.

On Thursday December 6, 2012, the JRC released a press statement to select media houses – of which – the content of the statement stated that the JRC is called for the President to sack the Federal Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison Madueke within 72 hours. The statement which was signed by Cynthia White read

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Note from JRC –

This is a simple request to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to remove Diezani Allison-Madueke as Minister of Petroleum in the next 72 hours. She is a bad report.

 

 Mr President, pls remove her NOW!

 

 Cynthia Whyte

 Spokesperson, JRC

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The ultimatum given on Thursday December 6, 2012 interestingly expired on Sunday December 9, 2012 on the same day abduction occurred.

According to a high ranking security agent involved in the investigation of the abduction in Delta State – who to 247ureports.com on the condition of anonymity indicated that the interrogation of the few suspects arrested immediately following the newsbreak of the abduction suggests that the abductors of the Minister’s mother were not natives of the area – that the abductors are arrived the area two weeks before the day of abduction. The security agent indicated that the abductors had arrived the area two earlier to monitor the movements of the Minister mother – and to case the security set up around her and her home.

The security agent pointed to the amount of ransom money demanded [$1billion]as “simply ridiculous” – indicating that the demanded amount may be sure sign that the abduction was not the handiwork of normal abductors. “They may be from a more organized group”.

However a statement by the minister’s spokesman Paul Nwabuikwu said; “at this point, it is difficult to say whether those behind this action are the same people who have made threats against the Coordinating Minister in the recent past or other elements with hostile motives. No possibility can be ruled out at this point.”

Findings from independent investigation conducted by 247ureports.com suggests the lingering agitation between the ex-militants of the Niger Delta and the Office of the Niger Delta Amnesty headed by Mr. Kingsley Kuku – may have play a role in the abduction. As gathered, the ‘phase three’ of the amnesty program for ex-agitators of the Niger Delta had been at loggerheads over their unpaid allowances. Some of the former agitators who were promised to be taken to Obruba for slotting, registration and training – are yet to be called up as promised. Many within the group of former agitators are promised to return to their old ways of earning a living should the Amnesty Office continue to refuse them the Amnesty program approved on their behalf.

In the words of one of the former agitators, General Kingsley Odiri [aka Agas] who contacted 247ureports.com, “this is to debunk what Vincent and Odogwu said, that the phase three ex-agitator has been paid, please no one has been paid yet, we are yet to go to Obruba for our slotting, so do not listen to them”.

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It is recalled – according to an earlier report that Professor Kanene Okonjo, 82 years old, the queen mother of Ogwashi uku was abducted at about 1:47PM by a gang of armed men who seized her at the gate of the palace at Ogbe-ofu and took her away, when the husband travelled out of the town. The kidnappers numbering about 10 were lurking around the palace until the woman and her maid came down to serve workers at the gate soft drinks. Eye witness account said as soon as the woman came down from the main building, towards the gate, the criminals also moved in from the gate to grab and push her into a waiting Golf Volkswagen car.

In the eyewitness words, “The abductors when they walked into the compound were heavily armed. They were about ten. They bailed up the men fixing the interlocking tiles and asked them to lay face down. Immediately they saw her (the King’s wife who was coming towards the gate with her maid to serve the workers soft drinks) they bundled her into a waiting vehicle the Golf car while another car was parked outside”.

One of the kidnappers, bracing all odds, went upstairs to collect the woman’s handbag. The eyewitness said another maid who sighted the kidnapper upstairs hid herself in the Kitchen.

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PhotoNews: Disengaged staff of NIMC shut down National Assembly over their sack

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Former Staff of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) protesting over disengagement of over 4000 workers of the commission  without benefit  at the National Assembly Abuja on Tuesday .

PhotoNews: Obi Donates Coaster Buses to Three Universities

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Gov. Peter Obi yesterday donated three Coaster buses to Anambra State University, Uli; Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; and University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He said the gesture was part of the policy of his Governemnt to support the provision of infrastructure in our various schools of learning in other to serve our people better. He noted that apart from Anambra State University owned by the State, the other two have Anambra as their catchment areas and as such serve the people of Anambra State.

Speaking further, Obi, who lamented the fallen standard of education, appealed to students to take their studies seriously in other to be useful to themselves and to the State. Condemning the prevalence of cultism, he said that anybody intent on being successful in life must avoid such organisations and shun all manner of societal vices.

Obi who is presentlty touring all secondary schools in the State with grant of 20 Million Naira to each of them for their rehabilitation, called on wealthy individuals and corporate organisations to support the efforts of the Government in revamping the education sector.

Speaking on behalf of the recipients of the buses, Prof. Boniface Egboka, the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University thanked Obi for the gesture, recalling that he had made such interventions a routine affair. He thanked him for the attention he pays to education and for the resources he is committing into the sector.

While Prof Egboka received the bus for UNIZI, Prof. Fidelis Okafor received for Anambra State University and Prof. Anene Muoneke for UNN

Iran claims it shot down US ScanEagle drones in the past

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ScanEagle drone

 

TEHRAN — Iran has in the past shot down more spy US ScanEagle drones, a model of which it claimed to have captured recently, media reports said Tuesday, quoting a senior military official.

“We had already shot down this type of drone, (copies of which) are being produced in the country,” said Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards’ aerospace division.

The Guards claimed last week to have captured a US-operated ScanEagle drone, a short-range unmanned aircraft, in Iranian airspace but gave no details about how it was captured, nor where or when.

State television showed images of what it said was the drone: a grey, unmarked vehicle suspended in a hangar seemingly intact.

The United States denied losing such a drone recently.

Hajizadeh did not say when Iran had downed the ScanEagles — used by US and allied forces in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as Australia, Canada, Poland and the United Arab Emirates, according to Boeing background information.

ISNA news agency quoted him as saying: “We have got our hands on copies of this drone which had already crashed or we captured them.”

Hajizadeh said the recent capture of the drone, however, did not provide Iran with new technology, adding that “we are currently producing its copies.”

A Guards spokesman said last week data had been extracted from the drone, which had led to Iran finding “what the Americans were looking for”.

“The drone was gathering intelligence on military (objectives) as well as the energy sector, particularly oil transitions at terminals,” Brigadier General Ramezan Sharif said.

A year ago, Iran displayed a bigger and vastly more sophisticated US drone, a bat-winged stealth RQ-170 Sentinel, it said it had captured by hacking its guidance system and said it would reverse-engineer the drone to make its own.

Hajizadeh also said Iran had now “fully deciphered” all data saved on the RQ-170. He did not elaborate further.

The ScanEagle that Iran says it now possesses is a much cheaper, simpler drone than the RQ-170. It is principally designed to feed back video images over a radio link to operators up to 100 kilometres (60 miles) away.

Federal Government Responsible for Failing Education Sector , Says ANPP

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The All Nigeria Peoples Party [ANPP] received with interest the news that the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities [SSANU], Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions [NASU] and the National Association of Academic Technologists [NAAT] will commence a 7-day warning strike today, because of the Federal Governments’ refusal to implement the 2009 agreements between them and Government; and the non-inclusion of funds for the payment of the Earned Allowances in the 2013 budget, as well as the findings of the report of a committee of NEEDS Assessment in the universities. Considering that the nation’s education sector is fast dwindling before our very eyes as a result of lack of adequate infrastructure and qualified manpower, and insufficient motivation for staff, we consider it outrageous that the Federal Government would still dilly-dally on issues concerning this critical sector.

Recently, the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigeria [CVC] reported that Nigerians spend an average of 500 million dollars annually on European and American universities. We are worried that this PDP government seems not to care that people are losing faith in Nigerian universities, the breeding ground of the country’s future leaders. We are also worried that the government appears ignorant of the effect of this on the image of the country in the comity of nations. We are most worried that it is blind to the effect strikes, academic disruptions, and unstable school calendar have on security and social equilibrium of the nation.

Last week, the Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory [FCT] opposed additional N9billion expenditure on Vice President Namadi Sambo’s official residence which is being built. If additional money could be demanded for one man’s house, why can’t additional money be added for the upgrading of the country’s education infrastructure and the welfare of its staff, which affects millions of our youths and touches the fundamental nucleus of the nation’s development?

The ANPP calls on the Federal Government to go back to the negotiating table with the University staff, and not only fulfill the promises it made to them in 2009, but effect more creative engagement strategies with these University personnel in order to forestall future strikes for the benefit of our children and the good of the land. As a party we believe that a government can only earn the confidence of the people it governs when it is seen to have its priorities right and is sincere in prudent administration of the people’s scarce resources.

Signed:

Hon Emma Eneukwu

National Publicity Secretary

ANPP

11-12-12

Oshiomhole was my classmate, Varsity Don tells Tribunal

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A University lecturer, Professor Philip Agbebaku has told the Edo Election Petitions Tribunal that Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State was his classmate at the Blessed Martin Secondary Model School, Jattu, Uzairue, Etsako West Local Government Area from 1963-1965.

Prof Agbebaku who was a witness for the 1st defendant, Governor Adams Oshiomhole told the tribunal at its resumed hearing, yesterday, that the Edo Governor was known as Adams Aliu when he was in school.

The witness told the tribunal that the Governor was then known and addressed as Adams Aliu but was not surprised that the Governor is now known as Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, saying that people add to or subtract from their names as they grow old, saying that he (witness) was also formerly known as Sunday Phillip Agbebaku, but later dropped the name ‘Sunday’ from his credentials, saying this did not detract from his credentials.

Under cross-examination from the Petitioner’s counsel, Chief Efe Akpofure (SAN), on whether the results obtained by the Governor from Ruskin College, Oxford, the United Kingdom was equivalent to a Secondary school certificate, Prof Agbebaku said the courses listed in the certificate were in fact higher than secondary school subjects and were university courses, saying “my Lord, Industrial Relations, Industrial Sociology and Industrial Economics are all University Courses and are far, far higher than Senior Secondary School certificate subjects and cannot be taught in a school lower than the equivalent of a university.”

Speaking further, the witness who is an expert in International Relations told the Tribunal that the power to evaluate the equivalents of results or certificates was vested in a section of the Ministry of Education, adding that his academic qualifications as a Professor of note enables him to rate the equivalent of certificates.

He told the tribunal that whatever the Petitioner, Maj-Gen. Chareles Airhiavbere told the tribunal was his personal opinion. He pointed out Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole as the Adams Aliu who was his classmate at Blessed Martins Secondary Model School, Jattu, Uzairue.

On the insinuation by Counsel to Airhiavbere, Chief Efe Akpofure (SAN) that the witness testified for the 1st petitioner, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, because he wants his wife Prof Blessing Agbebaku to be confirmed as Vice Chancellor of the Ambrose Alli University, the witness said his wife as Professor of Law was lecturer to some of the lawyers at the Tribunal, and is eminently qualified to be the Vice Chancellor of any University in the World.

Sitting in the matter has been adjourned till January 10, 2013.

President Jonathan Commends U.S. For Role in Global Peace

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President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has commended the United States of America for its role in global peace and security.

 

President Jonathan was speaking to General Carter Ham, Commander of the United States’ Africa Command, AFRICOM, who paid a courtesy call to State House, Tuesday, as part of activities during a visit to present a paper at the National Defence College, Abuja.

 

‘We appreciate the commitment of the United States to assist in ensuring that the world is safe and secure,’ he stated.

 

The President said Nigeria was facing various security challenges, such as Boko Haram, policing the nation’s extensive maritime borders, crude oil theft and kidnapping, and called on the USA to support the Government’s efforts to find lasting solutions to these problems.

 

President Jonathan also briefed Gen. Ham on his visit to Mali and the efforts by ECOWAS to resolve the conflict in that country, adding that the situation could still be contained if the right steps are taken quickly.

 

He congratulated President Barrack Obama on his re-election, and commended the smooth US elections.

 

Earlier, Gen. Carter Ham, Commander of AFRICOM, had said he seized the opportunity to present a paper at the National Defence College to hold talks with security agencies on ways to strengthen the partnership between Nigerian and American forces.

 

He said the USA was ready to cooperate with Nigeria in areas such as maritime security, communications, development of civil-military capabilities, and resolving the conflict in Mali.

 

Gen. Ham commended Nigeria’s Defence College for the harmonious working relationship between military personnel and civilians with participants from neighboring countries on security issues.

Oshiomhole warns landlords over new tax

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Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has warned that any landlord who increases rent of their property as part of the land use charge will have the building confiscated by government and turned into a public school.

The Governor who gave the warning while speaking a at town hall meeting with stakeholders in the tax sector to sensitise the people the recently passed law on the Land Use Charge 2012 said it will not be a burden for the tenants but a levy on owners of large expanse of land especially in the Government Reservation Areas.

“If a landlord passes this burden to the tenants, they are taking unmitigated risk. The government will take the land of the landlord who increases their rent and bulldozers will go in to action and turn the land to a school,” he noted.

According to him, “nobody who is economically disabled will be made to pay the land use charge, it will not put additional burden on the poor and it will not be used in any way to oppress the poor and a good section of the middle class.”

While noting that the law is not for tenants, Comrade Oshiomhole maintained that the government will not devise policies against the poor because the poor need support.

“But those who are rich must be made to pay for the land because the most important resource in Edo State is the land which nobody brought from heaven. You will see how families are squeezed in old traditional homes, face-me, I face-you, in that same street, you have another man who occupies ten thousand square metres, from the beginning of the street to another. The truth must be told that before God we are all equal. If one man could take so much land, and the rest of the people live in a small 50 by 50 land, as he acquired the land, he will pay for it.”

The Governor noted that those targeted by the Land Use Charge Law are instigating some people to protest against the law, saying “those are benefitting from a system that impoverishes the poor will do everything possible to maintain their status”, noting that “those who do not wish the state well are doing everything possible to turn the truth on its head.”

“From the governor down, everybody must be under the law. I have the support of the only person who has what others do not have, that is the paramount traditional ruler who can say he owns the land, by reasons of our traditional law. That is the Oba of Benin, Omo n’Oba Uku Akpolokpolo, Happily he has been very supportive and those who are resisting this tax are collecting royalties on land from farmers who they have rendered tenants. Government-owned land that was reserved for them to use they have sub-let it to Yoruba farmers to use to make as much as forty million naira a year, collecting rent from the actual farmers while they are doing their practice in the city,” Comrade Oshiomhole added.

While assuring the poor that they will not be affected by the new law, Oshiomhole said “this government will never, ever under excuse implement evolve policies that will affect those we classify as poor.”

This law which I have signed, which we will implement ruthlessly, all our poor people living in high density areas of the state, all poor people will not pay. This tax is for people living in parts of the GRA. I want to assure you that all our rural areas, nobody there will pay tax, but, if you have a big house in the village in excess of 100 by 100, like myself, I will pay, but taxes will not be imposed on family houses. Market women are my people, I know where majority of them live, this law is not about them”, he noted.

The Governor insisted: “My mission in government is not only to build roads, to build schools, to build hospitals, to restore infrastructure it is also to ensure that there is justice. That the rich respects the rights of those who are not so rich. We must respect everybody’s age, but every elderly man must look at the child with pity and love and not wickedness.”

Comrade Oshiomhole disclosed that the reason Nigeria is not making progress is because for too long, the poor has been subsidizing the rich, adding that, the land use charge will be implemented ruthlessly in the state.

“On assumption office, I did promise that there are enough resources in the state and if managed prudently and order our priority right, we will be able to build a new Edo which our grand children will be proud of,” he added.

The governor appealed to students not to allow themselves to be corrupted by some rich persons to lead others fight.

In their various comments at the forum, some respondents commended the governor for taking a bold action which will make the rich pay taxes, while and a civil rights activist, Rev. David Ugolor appealed to the governor to invest in government owned media to enable them compete favourably with the private owned media in the state.

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