Nigeria is set to establish a match-making data base for international business interconnectivity and stress-free investments.
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BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE
He was alleged to have shot himself in the head with his service pistol inside his private residence in Upper Sokponba area of Benin City, on Wednesday.
In order to execute his suicide bid unhindered, Osakue allegedly sent a woman and a little boy living with him on an errand and killed himself before they returned.
He was said to have suffered partial stroke few years ago and was gradually recovering when he allegedly took his life.
It was learnt that the paralysis arising from the stroke affected Osakue’s social and emotional being which may have caused depression and the resultant suicide. He did not however leave suicide-note behind.
The deceased’s residence, which had no number in an unnamed street, Off Avan Street, Off Ekhator Street, Upper Sokponba Road, Benin City , was desolate when journalists visited, yesterday.
A metallic ash Lexus Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) marked Ondo, NND-131HV was parked in front of the new bungalow.
A neighbour said she heard gunshots inside the ACP residence about 5pm on the fateful day, adding that thereafter, silence engulfed the entire building until his wife later broke the silence with a sorrowful scream.
She disclosed that operatives of Ugbekun Police Division later stormed the residence.
The ACP family members could not be reached for comment but information obtained at the Edo State Police Command headquarters in Benin-City revealed that Osakue was posted from Ondo State police command recently.
Confirming the incident, Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Haliru Gwandu, said that it was a case of suicide.
He explained that the pistol the late police officer used to commit the act was signed for in Ondo State Police Command from where he was recently posted to Edo Police Command.
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By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South-South and Egufe Yafugborhi
PAN-NIGER Delta Forum, the umbrella group of monarchs, leaders and stakeholders of the ethnic nationalities of coastal states of the Niger Delta region, PANDEF, yesterday, said the group has a clear mandate from all stakeholders and agitating groups in the region to dialogue with the Federal Government.
PANDEF stated this in a statement by a member of the Central Working Committee, CWC, Dr. Alfred Mulade, in reaction to a recent declaration by the Presidency that it was searching for credible leaders of the region, apparently dismissing the legitimacy of the forum, which met with President Muhammadu Buhari, November 1, 2016 in Abuja.
It stated categorically that it was its intervention, some months ago, that led to the cessation of hostilities by militants in the region and consequential noticeable improvement in oil production from low ebb of 900 bpd to 2.2 million bpd.
Noting the prevailing peaceful atmosphere and improvement in crude oil production, the group wondered why “the Federal Government has not demonstrated any commitment to the dialogue process by the setting up of its Dialogue Team.”
PANDEF also took a swipe at the federal government for allegedly being swift in making policy decisions and taking actions that have harmful effects on the people of the region like the allocation of N29 billion in the 2017 budget to fight militancy, whereas the causes of the unrest remain untouched.
The statement read: “The attention of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has again been drawn to some uncomplimentary remarks credited to the Senior Special Adviser to President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, to the effect that the Presidency was yet to have credible leaders from the Niger Delta region to dialogue with.
“This statement, coming from the Presidency at such a time when it has become very clear that the militancy and destruction of oil and gas facilities has abated, owing to the timely intervention of PANDEF, the umbrella body of monarchs, leaders and credible stakeholders of the ethnic nationalities of the coastal states of the Niger Delta region.
“This intervention, which has positively led to the cessation of hostilities by the armed agitators, in deference to the appeal by the leaders, has actually led to improvements in the crude oil production, which was, hitherto, at its low ebb of about 900,000bpd to the appreciable benchmark of 2.2 million bpd.
“This achievement recorded in the upsurge of crude production could not have been possible without the unification of all credible stakeholders under the aegis of PANDEF. This explains the quality and diversity of the composition of the PANDEF delegation to President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, on November 1, 2016, at Abuja, where the position paper of the region containing 16 – point dialogue issues was presented to Mr. President, with a firm commitment to dialogue as a way of resolving the lingering challenges in the Niger Delta region.”
Continuing, it said: “In the meeting with Mr. President, and at other responsible fora, PANDEF has consistently advocated for the need for dialogue, and the urgent setting up of a Dialogue Team by the Federal Government to demonstrate credible commitment in resolving the crisis in the region, for dialogue with PANDEF, which bears clear mandate from all stakeholders and agitating groups in the region.
“Two months down the road, since the PANDEF visit to Mr. President, and which consolidates the prevailing peaceful atmosphere enjoyed in the region, with improvements in crude production, the Federal Government has not demonstrated any commitment to the dialogue process by the setting up of its team.
“Curiously too, is the fact that, one of the items among the 16 – point dialogue issues – the reopening of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State, which the government announced that has been given positive consideration has not seen the light of the day, in spite of the fact that hopes have been raised, and expectations have been heightened.”
“It is instructive to place on record that the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, is an iconic project of that touches the heart of the region. That the functionality of this institution will engender sense of belonging, participation in speeding up the process of healing old wounds occasioned by age-long deprivations cannot be over flogged. Keeping it closed, without any practical sign of activities geared towards its resumption betrays lack of commitment and goodwill towards the deprived oil rich region.”
“To make matters worse, the government is reported to have earmarked a whooping N29 billion of oil revenue to fight militancy in the Niger Delta region. This, of course, will further exacerbate the crises in the region, where PANDEF has been working assiduously to ensure permanent peace.
“How on earth would government begin to think this kind of huge expenditure following the dwindling economic conditions just to fight militancy, when the causative factors, sufficiently articulated and presented to Mr. President, by PANDEF, remain ignored?
The post N-DELTA LEADERS TO FG: We’ve clear mandate of region’s stakeholders, militants appeared first on Vanguard News.
The new UN Secretary-General António Guterres has announced the appointment of Mr Fabrizio Hochschild of Chile as Assistant Secretary-General for Strategic Coordination in the Executive Office.
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Burundi minister of of water and environment, Mr Emmanuel Niyonkuru has been assassinated, continuing the cycle of violence in the tiny African country. The country’s police confirmed the death of the 54 year-old cabinet member of the government of President Pierre Nkurunziza. He was appointed minister after a long time in banking in August 2015. At least 500 …
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A joint memorial service and side-by-side burial are being planned for mother-and-daughter Hollywood stars Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher
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SAMPLE 1: “Oyedepo said the issue of school fees paid by students of the university was a Godly agenda to meet the demands of raising Godly children in an environment conducive for learning.”(Oyedepo Cautions Critics of Fees Charged by his Varsity, The Nation, Sunday, November 6, 2016)
The raison d’etre for the choice of this excerpt for analysis is the phrase “conducive for learning.” Of particular interest is the relationship between the adjective conducive and the particle for following it directly. It has been noted repeatedly in this place that idioms are stretches of language whose syntactic structure and lexical composition are not amenable to any form of variation: the ordering of words and the words themselves are inflexible. Any attempt to vary them will result is distortions of varying degrees of stylistic and discoursive seriousness.
The point we are leading readers to is that the particle for does not collocate with the word conducive. The particle that collocates invariably with that adjective is to.
In each of the following sentences, the particle for is wrongly attached to the word conducive: (1) The authorities are working hard to create an environment that is totally conducive for learning. (2) This hotel is certainly not conducive for sound sleep. (3) I don’t think this environment is conducive for the workshop we are planning to have. (4) In spite of the colossal sum of money spent on the campuses, few of them are conducive for teaching and learning. (5) The school I have in mind is such that will be so conducive for learning that nobody would think of travelling abroad to receive education. (6) With all sorts of people around, this place is not conducive for the kind of discussion we want to have.
The problem with each of these sentences is the inclusion of the particle for where to is the appropriate one. The sentences are corrected as follows: (1) (b) The authorities are working hard to create an environment that is totally conducive to learning. (2) (b) This hotel is certainly not conducive to sound sleep. (3) (b) I don’t think this environment is conducive to the workshop we are planning to have. (4) (b) In spite of the colossal sum of money spent on the campuses, few of them are conduciveto teaching and learning. (5) (b) The school I have in mind is such that will be so conducive to learning that nobody would think of travelling abroad to receive education. (6) (b) With all sorts of people around, this place is not conducive to the kind of discussion we want to have.
There are other serious challenges with the usage of idioms by some Nigerians. A few of such issues are raised and addressed as follows.
Some Nigerians habitually attach the particle at to the word detriment in confusion with the usage of the word expense. It is proper to allow the particle at to collocate with expense, but it is certainly wrong to attach that particle to detriment. The following sentences involving the use of the word detriment are erroneous precisely because the particle at is attached to that noun in each of them: (1) He spends many hours reading during the night at the detriment of his health. (2) Huge sums of money are stashed away in foreign banks at the detriment of the Nigerian economy. (3) Many youths take drugs at the detriment of their health. (4) Some workers were sacked at the detriment of the company. (5) Dangerous fumes are being released at the detriment of our health. (6) Justice is both delayed and denied at the detriment of the society.
Of course the particle to should replace at in the context in which the word detriment appears. In addition, in each of the sentences, the word expense could conveniently replace detriment: (1) (b) He spends many hours reading during the night to the detriment of his health. Or: (1) (c) He spends many hours reading during the night at the expense of his health. (2) (b) Huge sums of money are stashed away in foreign banks to the detriment of the Nigerian economy. Or: (2) (c) Huge sums of money are stashed away in foreign banks at the expense of the Nigerian economy. (3) (b) Many youths take drugs to the detriment of their health. Or: (3) (c) Many youths take drugs at the expense of their health. (4) (b) Some workers were sacked to the detriment of the company. Or: (4) (c) Some workers were sacked at the expense of the company. (5) (b) Dangerous fumes are being released to the detriment of our health. Or: (5) (c) Dangerous fumes are being released at the expense of our health.
Next we consider the word alongside, a word that does not take any particle but to which some Nigerians attach the particle with. The confusion, we suspect, must have come from the observed usage of the word along which takes the particle with. Although the two expressions are similar in meaning, they differ in their usage, particularly with respect to the use of particles.
The following sentences are defective because they each contain the particle with in collocation with the word alongside: (1) The politician was murdered alongside with his Personal Assistant. (2) I was given a heavy responsibility alongside with my other assignments. (3) The car moved alongside with another car which later blocked its way. (4) The less known musician was singing alongside with the prominent one. (5) In any major city in the world, slums exist alongside with eyebrow areas. (6) Private schools are run alongside with government – owned schools.
As we have indicated, the error in each of these sentences is to be found in the inclusion of the particle with. We must dispense with that particle so that our sentences now read: (1) (b) The politician was murdered alongside his Personal Assistant. (2) (b) I was given a heavy responsibility alongside my other assignments. (3) (b) The car moved alongside another car which later blocked its way. (4) (b) The less known musician was singing alongside the prominent one. (5) In any major city in the world, slums exist alongside eyebrow areas. (6) Private schools are run alongside government – owned schools.
We can now focus attention on the expression along with: (1) The politician was murdered along with his Personal Assistant. (2) The minor ailment was treated along with cancer. (3) The hens were delivered along with the eggs. (4) She was sentenced along with other criminals. (5) The phone was stolen along with its charger. (6) The visitor came into the room along with his luggage. To repeat, the word along takes the particle with, but the word alongside does not.
Next, we examine the usage of the verb behoves. This verb does not take any particle, but Nigerians wrongly attach the particle on to it. Some Nigerians would write: (1) It behoves on the rich to help the poor. (2) As the rainy season is approaching, it behoves on the community to construct a new drainage system. (3) It behoves on all communication service providers to inform their customers whenever there is a network problem. (4) It behoves on teachers to serve as models of excellence and discipline. (5) It behoves on the commercial drivers to keep their vehicles in a proper condition. (6) It behoves on journalists to report events accurately.
The particle on should be dropped immediately after the verb behove in each of those sentences: (1) (b) It behoves the rich to help the poor. (2) (b) As the rainy season is approaching, it behoves the community to construct a new drainage system. (3) (b) It behoves all communication service providers to inform their customers whenever there is a network problem. (4) (b) It behoves teachers to serve as models of excellence and discipline. (5) (b) It behoves the commercial drivers to keep their vehicles in a proper condition. (6) (b) It behoves journalists to report events accurately.
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Prudence Tiamiyu/New York António Guterres assumed office on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, as the ninth UN Secretary-General after Ban Ki-moon’s exit following the completion of a 10 year- tenure on Saturday, Dec. 31. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Guterres, in his maiden message as the UN Secretary-General, entitled: “Appeal for Peace”, urged …
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"Today, we are happy to head up a political compromise," said Marcel Utembi, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference.
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Honourable Kayode Amusan, a former member of the House of Representatives and governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State in 2015, speaks with BOLA BADMUS on various issues of national interest.
It is almost two years since President Muhammadu Buhari took over power and Nigerians have expressed different opinions about his administration. Can we have your view on it?
First and foremost, when Buhari came on board as the president, there was need to give him some time to see how he will move the nation forward and having spent close to two years in office, I think there is need to assess his performance. We are getting to almost the end of the second year and I think for somebody to have come on board as the president of a nation for 365 days times almost two years, he should have impacted immensely on that nation. As far as I am concerned, I am yet to feel or see the impact. Rather, we are being fed with the information on a daily basis that the last administration has bastardised the economy of the nation instead of doing the needful.
Do you also agree that the economy was bastardised?
Let us agree that Nigeria’s economy was bastardised. But with good economic managers, I am optimistic that we will excel and not be where we are today as a failed nation. But we have seen a situation in this country where the economy has been so bastardised than what we are presently experiencing and somebody came on board as the president and revived the economy and equally redeemed Nigeria’s image before the international community.
Who was that?
Let’s take the example of former President Olusegun Obasanjo who came on board in 1999. What was the position of the economy when he came on board? When OBJ assumed power, there were less than $4 billion in foreign reserves and over $60 billion as IMF debt. But before Obasanjo was sworn into office, he knew what he was going there to do and had his blueprint and road map ready. And when he took over, he kept up with his promises. Those things he knew he could not do with the system, he went out of the country to seek the help of the United Nations. He consulted with World Bank and they gave him support by giving him some Nigerians that were working there to come and assist him in repositioning the economy.
So, from the external reserve of less than $4 billion, it was taken to almost $46 billion before he left, while an IMF debt of over $6 billion then cleared either through repayment or debt forgiveness. There was no debt anymore and that is the type of leadership expected of anybody that is coming to rule us.
I expected President Buhari, by virtue of his repeated attempt at the presidency for four consecutive times to have had a formidable road map to redevelop Nigeria. Once he knew he was going to contest again, he should have been reviewing his blueprint after every election and therefore he will update himself with what the sitting president has done well and the ones he has not done well so that he can improve on whatever is on ground. But since President Buhari started his campaign and won the election, I have not seen any of his blueprint or road map.
However, the situation in which we find ourselves today as far as I am concerned is uncalled for. Probably I am thinking as a businessman since I am not an economist. I stand to be corrected. But what I am saying in essence is that I don’t see this economy being too difficult to manage with good hands. Let me touch on some of the reasons we fell into a recession. I am of the opinion that the issue of blocking domiciliary account was one of the problems which caused a lot of panic in the system. Most of the foreign currencies that we were trading with in the system were moved out of the country.
Secondly, the 41 items/products banned halfway and banned from accessing Forex from banks, their importers were left with going to the black market and source for funds to import raw materials, is also another problem. The third is the issue of Niger Delta crisis. When this administration came on board, they said there was corruption in the amnesty programme. Tell me any sector of the economy where there is no corruption, including the Presidency. What is expected of this administration is to separate the amnesty programme from corruption by introducing biometrics to know the actual number of those entitled to the programme, build up on the programme and then prosecute the corrupt officials.
During the last administration, our production capacity was about 2.2 million barrels per day. But today, where are we? That is about 800,000 barrels per day. So, that is to say we have a shortfall of 1.4 million barrels per day. If we are selling at an average price of $50 per barrel, that means we are losing about $700, 000 daily. If such amount is added to our revenue, shall we be talking of borrowing to fund our national budget? That’s the more reason I believe this recession is man-made caused by trial and error approach.
The government has listed fight against corruption as an area where it has achieved a lot. Can you give us your view on that?
Well, I will enjoin others to commend Buhari in the area of eradicating corruption. But I see the efforts as one-sided as if only the opposition parties have corrupt politicians. I perceive this as a means of silencing the opposition. To fight corruption genuinely, it must be done across board. Nobody should be shielded because he or she is from the ruling party. It’s not to say that I am supporting corruption. When I was in parliament, I picked the EFCC Act and amended it to capital punishment, but not even a single member supported the idea. And because I did not get any support, I had to drop the idea. Whatever that is needed to minimise or wipe away corruption, I will lend my support totally.
On the issue of plea-bargaining, I have condemned it because it encourages people to be more corrupt. For example, an individual stole N1 billion and you are asking him to bring N100 million to get bail and from that moment, he will use the money left to fight the government, paying the judges, lawyers, prosecutors and all others to defeat the government in the court. Is that the way to fight corruption? Has anybody been jailed?
During Obasanjo era, he didn’t spare his own party members, his party members were sent to prisons, some people even died during that time. By my analysis and assessment, the current anti-corruption drive is a child’s play. He is only chasing members of the opposition parties.
If you are to advise Buhari, what would you tell him?
He should look inwards and not concentrate his anti- corruption war only on the opposition. Then we will know he is serious about corruption war.
You are a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the party is in crisis currently when people believe the crisis ought to have been over. So, what is the problem?
The crisis is persisting because of external forces. Though PDP has its own problem like any other party, external forces are fueling the crisis. Let’s use Ondo election as a case study. We all witnessed what happened and how some PDP members were used to frustrate and even campaign against their party.
The strategy is simple. All the ruling party needs to do is to fish out some elements within the opposition who have corruption or extradition case and commission them to play a hatchet game.
Do you agree with insinuation that Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, the PDP factional chairman, is part of the external forces?
Absolutely, those are the forces I am referring to. With the support of APC, they can achieve whatever right or wrong and that is exactly what is happening.
How will the party get out of this mess?
I won’t tell you that one here. We also need to keep our own strategy to ourselves as well because the moment you voice it out, it will no longer be achievable.
Is there any possibility that the party can get out of the crisis?
The probability is there if they can flush out all the bad elements within the party. But one thing is that these external forces would strangulate any party that poses a threat. They wouldn’t allow any other party to see the light of the day because they know already that they are failing and if any party today gets their acts together, there is no hope for the ruling party other than to vote them out come 2019 election due to their inability to manage the economy resulting in recession and hunger in the system.
Ahead of 2019, some politicians are toying with the idea of forming a third force to upstage the APC from power. What are the chances they will pull it through?
I don’t think they have one per cent chance to succeed. This is a mega party strategy which was used to defeat the then party in power and you think they will be so foolish to allow another mega party to defeat them? I don’t know the trick or magic that will be used to register the mega party.
But names of some key members of APC are being touted to be nursing the idea, they include former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, APC national leader, Senator Bola Tinubu and others.
All these people that they are touting their names, have you read their responses that they are not involved?
But are we to believe what they are saying?
Who else do you believe if you don’t believe them? When the person that is directly involved had spoken, why won’t you believe? But left to me, in a forum that I was where they were discussing the issue of mega party, I told them to forget it. It will not see the light of the day because if I used a strategy to remove somebody from office, another person is now coming up to use same strategy to remove me, do you think it will be possible? That is why I am saying I don’t know the magic that will register the mega party.
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RESIDENTS of Andero community, Tanke area of Ilorin metropolis, the Kwara State capital, were thrown into fear and apprehension a few days before Christmas as news broke of the murder of an aged couple within the vicinity, thus spreading anxiety among several other communities in the state.
Till date, palpable shock and sorrow still pervade the whole of Andero community as residents have continued to keep indoors, with the streets deserted and the absence of the usual bubbly atmosphere characterised by kids running around as they play and young adults chatting away. It is a scenario much unlike the celebration and merriment known for both the Christmas and New Year festivities.
Sunday Tribune recalled that the elderly couple from the South-Eastern part of the country were reportedly murdered in the area several days ago, while their corpses were thrown inside a well located in their fenced building by the attackers.
Attempts by Sunday Tribune to speak with one or two adults around the area sitting in front of their houses became a Herculean task as the tragic event had suddenly made them to become wary of strangers. None wanted to be quoted or identified by name.
When Sunday Tribune eventually succeeded, none of them could fathom the reason behind the murder. They stated that an incident of such magnitude had never occurred in the community.
In what was described as probably a premonition of the fate suffered by the couple at the hands of their attackers, one of the neighbours said the elderly man was reluctant to pack into the building after its completion about 16 years ago.
The couple were described as easygoing personalities, while the man in particular – popularly called Baba Ibo – was said to be a jovial person who always carried a smile among residents of the area.
One of the residents of the area, Aduke Israel (not real names), said the incident still remained a mystery to members of the community.
“The sad event is still a shock to us because they were very nice people. It’s only God that knows what’s hidden to humans. The house was the only one attacked that night.
“There was a guard. Actually, it was when the attack on their building became regular that they engaged the service of the guard. Thieves usually came during the day when they would have left the house for work or an outing. So, the security guard would leave in the evening after they might have returned from their outing. It’s the woman that usually arrived home earlier than the man who usually came home at about 9 p.m. It’s the new Camry car they just bought that the attackers took away after killing them,” the woman said.
Also speaking, another resident of the community, Madam Olanrewaju Felicia (not real names), said her family encouraged the late couple to move into the area after they had completed their building but refused to pack in for being the only house in the area then.
“He was very friendly. Whenever he passed in front of our building any time he went out, he would hoot, saying ‘hello, how’re you.’ It’s only God that knows what we don’t. For me, he was so nice. The wife was also gentle. She was a retired school teacher. She retired not long ago. She would park their vehicle in front of our building when she returned in the evening and take it inside their building when her husband returned in the night. We’ve never experienced anything like this before.
“We have just opened our door today. Whenever we ruminate over the matter, we are left confused and dazed. We didn’t hear any sound of gunshot from their building that night; nothing. Killing and throwing people inside a well could only be done by heartless people. You can imagine! It’s was not auto accident for one to say the couple died at same time.
Asked if the man was also a retiree like his wife, Madam Felicia said:”That I don’t really know. It was when we packed into our building, close about 16 years ago, that they decided to move inside their own house too. There were no houses around here then.
“One day, the man just came to inspect his house and the environment and saw our building with ordinary mosquito net on the windows. We had not erectedour fence then. He came knocking our door early that morning. He saw me and asked for my husband. It’s just like he had known my husband for ages.
“They greeted heartily and embraced each other. That’s when he said he had completed his building before ours but refused to move in because there was no building around. He asked rhetorically how we’ve been living all alone here and my husband responded that there was no problem and he should decide to move in too.
“And since they moved in, it has been a peaceful relationship. We don’t know where this kind of calamity emanated from. Nothing like this sort had ever happened around here before, except occasional stealing of items by thieves. So, whether he worked before and retired I don’t know. I don’t really know his job. But the wife, who retired as a school teacher, had a shop at Tanke.”
Meanwhile, following ongoing security investigations on the murder, the state police command has said that it has arrested and detained a security guard manning the home of the couple. This is just as the Sunday Tribune had gathered more facts on the incident.
Findings from a police source investigating the murder said that the security guard was detained because he could not offer satisfactory explanation on how the occupants of the house he was employed to guard were murdered without his knowledge.
“Can you imagine the guard claiming he did not know that the couple were dead inside the house when he supposedly resumed duty in the morning? He said he could not see that there were a lot of disruptions to the arrangement of the home. More importantly, investigators want to know how he gained entry to the house when the owners were supposed to have been inside throughout the night.
“What he claimed was that he had an extra key allegedly given to him by the old man, but how come that upon resuming for duty in the morning, he could not go inside to announce his presence?” the police source said.
The police source also shed light on some aspects of earlier media report of the incident, saying the couple were not shot but clobbered to death by their assailants who later covered their faces with clothes, tied their hands separately before tying the two together after which they were dumped inside the well.
“It was apparently a well-planned job because they came with a key with which they locked the well which showed that they knew what they were coming to do. As a matter of fact, if not because one of us who went to the scene had an experience of a similar incident in another state, it would have taken a longer time to discover that the corpses were inside the well. It was the guy who insisted we check the well after we saw traces of blood but could not find the bodies, and lo and behold, they were inside,” the source said.
It was gathered that the late couple had four children, two sons and two daughters, who had reportedly left the residence after their respective marriages.
The post Bound together in death •The tragic end of an easygoing elderly couple appeared first on Tribune.
As Nigeria steps into the New Year, saying farewell to 2016, described as a year like no other, clerics offer messages of hope for 2017, tasking government and citizens on playing their roles to ensure a sustainable economy and a developed nation.
CAN calls for courage, faith, determination
President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend (Dr) Samson Ayokunle, speaking with TribuneChurch on the organisation’s message for Nigerians in 2017 called for courage, determination and faith.
According to him, “courage helped Joseph to surmount the challenges when Mary was with child. Courage was also displayed when the disciples faced the storm with Jesus, as there was calm after the storm. We need to be determined as Nigerians that we will be better than where we are coming from. As we begin 2017, we declare that the storm will cease as we go along. Let us focus on Jesus Christ, who is the Lord above all things. We also need to have faith, expressed through prayer. We should also do our best to God and we believe that 2017 will be a successful year for us.”
PFN prays for divine wisdom for leaders, followers
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, under the leadership of Reverend (Dr) Felix Omobude, based its 2017 message for Nigeria on the second stanza of the national anthem, calling for godly wisdom for leaders and followers, divine direction for youths, and for truth, love, justice and honesty to resonate in the hearts of all citizen, so that the country can experience peace and development in 2017.
We must be patriotic —Methodist Prelate
Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Most Reverend (Dr) Samuel Uche, in his 2017 message, called for sober reflection and reiterated the need for citizens to embrace patriotism.
“First of all, we must believe in God, be patriotic and be prepared to make sacrifices and love one another. We must be prepared to place our country above self. Those in positions of authority should treat the welfare of the people as a matter of priority. Whether in secular or religious circles, persons in positions of authority must see themselves as shepherds and, as such, take it as a duty to care for those in their care,” he stated.
God will do a new thing for Nigeria in 2017 —Archbishop Ademowo
Diocesan Bishop of Lagos and Dean Emeritus, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Reverend (Dr) Ephraim Adebola Ademowo, in his message, called for Nigerians to be steadfast in faith, prayerful in hope and always trust in God’s unending love.
In his New Year message made available to TribuneChurch and entitled, “The Glorious Year,” Ademowo stated that “The good news is that the Almighty God, who knows no impossibility, said in Isaiah 43: 19, that He would do a new thing for His children this year. However for something new to happen, the old must give way. We must let go of our old ways of living if we want to experience a glorious beginning this year. Our old ways of thinking and doing things, especially our ungodly behaviour, must give way.
“This past year, our dear country has weathered all kinds of storms and has survived, including the storms of wanton destruction of lives and properties, kidnapping, rise in crime due to the increasing rate of unemployment, insurgency and economic depression. God is always on our side and there is light at the end of tunnel if we all rise to do what is right and proper as a people and as a nation.
“Let me make this call to our leaders on sound economic framework for Nigeria. Every Nigerian should have a guarantee of adequate and affordable food, healthcare, housing, education, transport telephone and internet access. But as plans to expand local capacity for crude oil processing progresses, government’s economic planners must key into the world’s unstoppable zooming into the age of production and consumption of alternative energies, gas, solar and wind. These energy sources are cleaner and cheaper. While gas is available in more plentiful supply than fossil oil, solar and wind energy are renewable and inexhaustible. Keying into this trend is a realistic, killer economic ace for Nigeria,” Ademowo stated.
CAC President tells Nigerians to have hope in God
The president of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) worldwide, Pastor Abraham Akinosun, in his New Year message called on Nigerians to have hope and forget the struggle and difficulty that came with the past year.
“We should first of all place our hope in Jesus Christ who never fails. We should desist from placing hope on things of the world which can never last.”
While commending the recent discovery of crude oil in the North-East, he called for government to take meaningful steps to diversify the economy in the face of the projection that crude oil will lose value in the years to come.
“Nigeria should make use of its abundant resources to develop the energy sector so that industries can produce at full capacity. There should also be focus on ensuring the development of agro-allied and petro-chemical industries. The Niger Delta militants should understand that in the future, according to economists, oil will not be high in demand as now. So, they should allow peace to reign so that Nigeria can develop. I also urge government to take drastic steps on improving agriculture to ensure quality food production,” Pastor Akinosun stated.
While commending the military for a job well done with regards to the raid on Sambisa forest, he called on the Federal Government and the military to ensure that the fight against insurgency is won, once and for all.
It will be a year of new beginnings —Most Revd Abidoye
The Spiritual Father of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church Worldwide, Ayo Ni O, Most Reverend Samuel Abidoye, in a release made available to TribuneChurch, expressed optimism that 2017 would usher in development.
According to him, “I am optimistic that 2017 will be a better year economically, socially and in our commitment to serving God. It is going to be a year of new beginnings for all Nigerians as the economy is bound to recover from recession and socioeconomic development would take place. Nigerians are hardworking people and I know that we shall use the abundant resources given to us by God wisely to restore the country to normalcy and put it on the path of economic growth and development again.
“I wish to commend the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for its determination to face the nation’s woes. I also commend the war against corruption by the Federal Government and urge that there should be no sacred cows; the fight against corruption should be total. However, the hardship currently facing many citizens requires the government to adopt workable approach to see to its end,” he stated.
We shall see the Nigeria of our dreams in 2017 —Bishop Okonkwo
Bishop Mike Okonkwo of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), in his New Year message called on Nigerians “not to lose hope in spite of the daunting socio-economic challenges. Rather than lose hope, I urge every Nigerian to stand in prayers for this nation, because I am a firm believer that prayers can change situations and circumstances, no matter how complex they may look.
“There is no doubt we have all gone through some very trying times last year especially with regard to our economy, but the grace of God has kept us intact as a nation. I also salute the dogged resilience of Nigerians who are always ready to weather every storm that comes their way. We cannot afford to throw up our hands in despair, so I encourage every Nigerian to continue to contribute his or her quota to the peace, prosperity and development of this great nation.
“I encourage everyone to remain steadfast in faith knowing that God’s will for this great nation can never be aborted. I am a firm believer that 2017 would be better for us all. Indeed, the earth shall yield her increase for us. We shall all see the Nigeria of our dreams.”
We will testify in 2017 —Pastor Adefarasin
In his New Year message, the head Pastor of the House on the Rock Church, Lagos State, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, said that, “God wants to give everyone a fresh start in their business, health, family, job, academics, marriage, relationship and we will all testify to the goodness and glory of God in 2017.”
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”The quality of your life is a result of the quality of obedience you give God; this is the time to be close to God.
The post 2017: Obey God and defeat recession appeared first on News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Gov. Abdu’aziz Yari of Zamfara has signed the 2017 Appropriation Bill in to law, assuring constituents of improved performance.
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A cleric has blamed what he described as the current socioeconomic crisis bedeviling the nation to the inability of individual homes to train and pilot the family in the right direction.
Pastor Kole Olaleye stated this as a guest speaker during the 2016 annual retreat organised by Jesus Discipleship Ministry, Challenge, Ibadan, Oyo State, tagged, “The marriage and the king and the priests of God.”
While lamenting the inability of the church to correct the social evils in the society, the cleric said that it was unfortunate that successive leaders had destroyed the economy of the country, adding that the church of God needed urgent attention.
He said that the home is the bedrock of any society, noting that if the home impacted positively on individuals, the church would have little to do, adding that this was the main reason God is much interested in individual’s home.
“Marriage came into being at the instance of God. God is the author of marriage. Marriage is a very sensitive matter and it is only God that has the key to it. It is only God that knows the configuration of women,” he stated.
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have again and again declared, without any fear of tenable contradiction, that man is the sole creative and purposeful dynamic and nature. He is the innovator of any economy and at any stage or human advancement. He is the producer, distributor, exchanger, and consumer of all goods. In the Church, in the Mosque, in politics, in the State, in the family and in society generally, he is the alpha and omega of all activities. In all social, political, economic and religious activities, he alone has the capacity to make or break, either by the words of his mouth or by his actions. From this brief observation, it goes without saying that the better educated a person is, other things being equal, the better equipped he is constructively to direct the general course of society for the benefit and best interest of the entire people.
I have said a lot on the politico-economic basis of our advocacy for free education at all levels, and I do not want to add more at this stage. In this connection, I would like to call the attention of me. Speaker and Honourable members to the adresses which I delivered to the State Houses of Assembly of Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, and Bendel States.
Many Jurists among them, Salmond and Keeton – have given us the definition of a State. But the one that appears to me most explicit, and distinguishes a State more clearly from other human associations is Keeton’s, and it runs as follows:
A State is an association of human beings, whose members are at least considerable, occupying a defined territory, and united with the appearance of permanence for political ends, for the achievement of which certain governmental institutions have been evolved.
From this definition it can be deduced that a State must possess three attributes, namely:
The objectives of a State can be restated briefly. A State must protect its citizens and defend its territory against external foes. It must also maintain internal order by guaranteeing the exercise by the people of their fundamental human rights, and promoting their welfare and social well-being. The State must have governmental institutions for the purpose of achieving these paramount objectives. In the face of all these, it is grossly unethical and immoral for any Government to employ its institutions for the purpose of fulfilling the objectives of a State for a small section of the community, while the vast majority of the people are neglected or ignored.
I must confess that in this address, I have only dealt sketchily with the theoretical basis of our advocacy for free education at all levels. But since the debate on the subject is continuous – though our opponents appear to be less vocal on the issue than ever before – I hope to come to the attack again in due course.
You will remember that in my address to the Oyo State House of Assembly I said inter alia as follows:
…It is imperative that all the relevant arguments should be mustered and directed, with unrelenting and una bating persistence, at the “densely-compacted intellect” of the Federal Government to the end that it may awaken to the very urgent need for promoting the immediate introduction of free education at all levels …
This is what I have striven to do in all my speeches since Wednesday last week, and this is what I have pledged myself to do henceforth until victory is achieved, and education at all levels which is a fundamental right is translated into an opportunity which is made available to every Nigerian citizen, what-ever his birth, and wherever he may live in Nigeria. I want all the members of the Unity Party of Nigeria, and all right thinking people throughout the country to do the same.
There is only one other matter of topical interest with which I would like to deal before resuming my seat. The matter relates to the extent of the powers of the Federal Government in ‘respect of education. Subsections (2), (4) (a), and (5) of Section 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic provide as follows: rite National Assembly shall have power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Federation or any part thereof with respect to any matter included in the Exclusive Legislative List set out in Part I of the Second Schedule to this Cons ti tu tion.
In addition and without prejudice to the powers con-ferred by subsection (2) of this section, the National Assembly shall have power to make laws with respect to the following matters, that is to say … any matter in the. Concurrent Legislative List set out in the first column of Part II of the Second Schedule to this Constitution to the extent prescribed in the second column opposite thereto; If any Law enacted by the House of Assembly of a State is inconsistent with any law validly made by the National Assembly, the law made by the National As-sembly shall prevail, and that other Law shall to the extent of the inconsistency be void.
There are two quick comments I would like to make on these provisions. First, the extent of the powers of the National Assembly in respect to matters in the Concurrent List is prescribed. Beyond the prescribed extent the National Assembly cannot go. Hence, secondly, the question of inconsistency between a Law enacted by a House of Assembly and an Act of the National Assembly cannot arise, unless the latter law is validly made.
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A pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Ogun province, Pastor Bola Orekoya, has urged Christians to live a life full of thanksgiving to God at all times.
The cleric, who advised Christians to stop complaining but appreciate God always, pointed out that God gives abundant rewards beyond the expectations of those who thanked Him always.
He stated this in his sermon during the thanksgiving service as part of activities celebrating the 50th birthday of the Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle and his twin brother, Taiwo, held at the All Saints Anglican Church, Ilaro, Ogun State.
He advised Christians to live lives full of service and sacrifice for the development of humanity.
Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, in his address, enjoined traditional rulers and clerics to continue to pray for the peace and development of the state.
He enjoined citizens of the state to maintain peace assuring that 2017 would usher more joy and good things into the state.
Senator Amosun congratulated Oba Olugbenle and his twin brother, praying that God would spare their lives to celebrate more birthdays in good health and success.
The thanksgiving service witnessed the presence of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo; representatives of Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona; federal and state government representatives, Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Suraj Adekunbi, Bishop Michael Oluwarohunbi of Yewa Anglican Diocese, Ogun State, Pastor J.I. Olusona of the RCCG Ogun Province 7, among others.
Earlier last week, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor E.A. Adeboye, dedicated a worship centre and the private palace of Oba Olugbenle as part of activities marking the 50th birthday celebration.
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BISHOP of Ilesa Diocese, Osun State (Anglican Communion), Right Reverend (Dr) Olubayo Sowale, has said that the economic recession facing Nigerians would become history in the New Year if people can seek God with prayer and dedication to the ways of the Lord.
Bishop Sowale stated this last week at the Bishop’s Court, when he marked his 65th birthday anniversary with friends and well-wishers who came from within and outside the diocese to celebrate with him.
According to the cleric, the recession was brought about as a result of sins.
While commending President Muhammadu Buhari on the exploits of the military at Sambisa Forest, he also lauded the Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, on his intervention programme and on supporting agriculture.
He urged Aregbesola to be proactive in the development of the youth in the New Year, stating that any government which failed to develop its youths would end up not being developed.
Bishop Sowale also said that people should emulate the humility and love Jesus has for mankind.
He charged members of the diocese to love one another in celebration of the season.
Speaking on how the diocese has improved the quality of education among the youth, he said that the establishment of the Bishop Falope Memorial Secondary School was in line with that vision to develop the society.
On his 65th birthday, the cleric who expressed gratitude to God stated that with the grace of God, he would remain committed to the good ways of God together with his family and household.
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2016 will be remembered for along time as a year that recorded judicial activism and pragmatism due to the landmark cases which the judiciary handled. SUNDAY EJIKE examines some of the activities in the judicial system and some of the notable judgments delivered in the last one year.
The happenings in the nation’s judiciary in the last 356 days appeared to have lent credence to the saying that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man.
But the common man was not the only one to have the Nigerian judiciary as his bastion of hope in the outgone year, even the supposed big and mighty ran to the third estate of the realm whenever they felt their rights were violated by agencies of the Federal Government, especially the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of Security Services (DSS) and other security agencies.
It was during the last year under review that “the big and powerful” former public office holders who have allegedly soiled their hands and succeeded in making themselves “untouchable” in the immediate past administration were arraigned in courts for one corrupt offence or the other.
There were several judgments said to be landmark in nature, perhaps because of the calibre of people involved, that were handed down in the last one year.
In the same vein, there was an “unprecedented” mode of investigation adopted by the DSS to prove the allegations of corruption and judicial misconduct against some Justices of the Supreme Court and Judges of the Federal High Court. What the DSS termed sting operation was used to reportedly intercept the billions of Nairas and hard currencies in the houses of the judicial officers.
Beginning from January 2016, when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, after more than one week of being detained in their custody till the last day of the year, processes that will lead to justice being served on several Nigerian yesterday men and women, were started.
The PDP spokesman, picked by operatives of the EFCC on January 5, 2016, is standing trial for allegedly collecting about N400m from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) from the money alleged to be part of the $2.1 billion arms procurement fund.
Metuh had, before his arrest, agreed that he collected an undisclosed sum of money from former President Goodluck Jonathan, in order to carry out some assignments as the spokesperson for the then ruling PDP,protesting his trial before Abang. He alleged bias, but the trial judge told him that he had a case to answer, as a prima facie case had been established against him by the Federal Government. The court also dismissed the enforcement of fundamental right suit filed by Metuh.
The trial of the former PDP spokesman is still on-going, even as he is still being tried before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Maitama for allegedly destroying the evidence he gave before the EFCC.
As the trial on the two cases continues before the two courts, they are expected to probably reach a decisive end in the New Year.
Also in relation to the $2.1 billion arms deal, the Federal Government, which filed two different criminal charges against Dasuki along with his co-defendants in two different High Courts of the FCT in October, has consolidated the criminal charges following a complaint by the former NSA that putting him on trial in two different courts on the same issues would be prejudice and cause double jeopardy.
That position came shortly after the ECOWAS Court ordered the immediate release of Dasuki from detention and
Dasuki had been put on trial before Justice Baba Yusuf, while another charge was filed against him before Justice Peter Affem both of the FCT High Court on the same issue and subject.
However, Dasuki, sensing danger in the abuse of judicial process, applied that the two charges at the two high courts be consolidated since they were on the same issues and alleged contravention of the same laws. Dasuki, who is standing trial on allegation of alleged misappropriation of fund along with four others before Justice Yusuf, had insisted that the charges against him by the complainant on the same issue constituted a gross abuse of court process. But while the case lasted, the former NSA, continued to remain in detention. Thus, in October 2016, the Community Court of the Economic Community of West African States declared the arrest and continued detention of Dasuki unlawful, arbitrary and a violation of his right to liberty.
The court ordered that he be immediately released from the custody of the DSS, whose operatives re-arrested him shortly after he was released from prison on bail with respect to his ongoing trial.
The court said it was wrong for the Federal Government to continue to detain him over undisclosed offences after he had been granted bail by three different courts before which he had been arraigned.
The court, in a unanimous judgment of a three-man panel read by Justice Friday Chijioke Nwoke, also awarded N15m damages against the Federal Government.
It ordered government to release Dasuki immediately and also his properties that were confiscated by state’s agents.
The court, which held that the Nigerian State was unable to justify its continued detention of Dasuki, also faulted the search of his houses in Abuja and Sokoto without valid search warrant.
The judgment was on a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed earlier this year by Dasuki.
It is worthy of note that Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a Federal High Court in Abuja withdrew from Dasuki’s matter brought before him because of the issues he had with the DSS, which he alleged were after him because of his ruling granting bail to the former NSA.
In the last one year, a number of top military top shots and political office holders began facing trial in various courts over their alleged involvement in the spending of the $2.1 billion earmarked for the purpose of arms to fight the Boko Haram insurgents in the Northeastern part of Nigeria.
Earlier in December 2016, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, in a judgment, ordered the Federal Government to release the leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria also known as the Shi’ite sect, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, and his wife, Zeenat, from the custody into an accommodation that must be provided within 45 days by government.
The sect leader and his wife, arrested by the Army on December 14, 2015, had been in the custody of the Department of State Service since December 15, 2015.
Justice Kolawole, delivering a joint judgment in the two rights enforcement suits filed by the two applicants, ordered that the government should provide a befitting accommodation for the applicants, their family members and followers who used to live with them before they were arrested.
The judge ordered that the accommodation must be provided in Zaria, Kaduna State, or in other part of the state or alternatively any other part of northern Nigeria within the 45 days period.
The judge awarded N25m each, totalling N50m, to the Shi’ite leader and his wife, for the violation of their rights by being held in unlawful custody since December 14, 2015.
The Shi’ite leader and his wife were arrested following the violent encounter between members of his sect and soldiers in the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, in Zaria, Kaduna State in December 2014.
Also in the year under review, the Code of Conduct Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, found the erstwhile Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, guilty of the allegation that he falsely declared his assets in 2007.
The tribunal, in a judgement delivered by its chairman, Justice Danladi Umar, said it was satisfied that Orubebe shielded his ownership of Plot 2057 Asokoro District, Abuja.
The tribunal maintained that there was merit in the one-count amended charge the federal government preferred against the former Minister, held that the said property should be forfeited to the government.
Earlier in June, a lawyer, Mr. Nnamdi Nwokocha-Ahaaiwe, withdrew his suit seeking an order of a Federal High Court in Abuja to declare President Muhammadu Buhari as not qualified to contest the last year’s presidential election which was won by him (Buhari).
The plaintiff had, among other prayers, asked the court to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Buhari after winning the last year’s poll on the basis that the President did not possess the requisite Primary Six School Certificate or the West Africa School Certificate to run for the office.
But Justice Adeniyi Ademola struck out the case in a short ruling following the plaintiff’s notice of discontinuance of the case filed on June 27.
In a similar development a Federal High Court struck out President Buhari’s suit against High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, owners of AIT and Ray Power FM over the allefed dafeamtory broadcast against him during the 2016 presidential election campaign.
The suit was struck out due to lack of diligent prosecution.
In the course of the year, the Supreme Court’ decided appeals from the decisions of States Government Electoral Petition Tribunals.
Precisely, on February 3, the Supreme Court upheld the election of Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party as governor of Abia State.
The court gave the ruling validating the April 11 governorship election late night and reversed the decision of the Court of Appeal, which nullified Mr. Ikpeazu’s election on December 31, 2015.
The Supreme Court ruled that Mr. Ikpeazu of the PDP won the lawfully cast votes in the April 11, 2015 election.
In the same vein, the apex court upheld the election of Udom Emmanuel of the PDP as governor of the oil-rich Akwa Ibom State.
The court gave the ruling validating the April 11 governorship election, having reversed the decision of the Court of Appeal, which nullified Udom’s election.
The Supreme Court ruled that Udom of the PDP, won the lawfully cast votes in the April 11, 2015 election.
Similarly, it affirmed the election of Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State.
The court upheld the decision of the appeal court, saying that the appeal before the court lacked merit and later gave reasons for the judgement on November 18, 2016.
The seven-man panel of the apex court led by Justice Tanko Muhammad, in a unanimous decision dismissed the appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress’ candidate in the last governorship election in Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva on ground that it was lacking in merit.
The same applied to the case of the governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in which the apex court affirmed the judgment on the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal, which earlier affirmed the election of the governor.
According to the court, the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in last year’s governorship election in Kogi State, James Abiodun Faleke, could not be declared the winner of the poll because the law did not support the request.
The apex court, among others, said that Falake, whose joint ticket with the governorship candidate of the party, late Prince Abubakar Audu, had garnered 240,873 votes before Audu died, cannot benefit the votes or take the place of Audu, because he did not meet the condition precedent.
In the reasons advanced for the judgment delivered by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the court held that Falake, who did not obtain nomination form and did not participate in the primary election of the party, could not, under any circumstances, replace the late Audu.
Besides, Justice Kekere-Ekun, said that before the sudden death of Audu, after the November 21 governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had already declared the election inconclusive and that since the election had not been completed and the final result was not issued by the electoral body, Faleke, as a running mate, cannot claim victory in the election.
In the course of the year, the National Judicial Council (NJC), which has the responsibility of sanctioning erring judicial officers, wielded its big stick when it sacked several judges over allegations of corruption and judicial misconduct.
Some of judges recommended by the NJC for dismissal included Justice Mohammed Yunusa of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos over allegation of official misconduct.
The council also dismissed an Osun State judge, Justice Olamide Oloyede, for writing a petition to the Osun State House of Assembly against the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola.
Justice Yunusa was dismissed for granting an injunction stopping the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from probing Stella Oduah, who is accused of massive embezzlement of public funds and numerous acts of fraud in contracts.
Justice Oloyede, a female judge in Osun State, was also sacked by the NJC.
In 2015, Ms. Oloyede caused a scandal when, as a serving judge, she petitioned the Osun State House of Assembly urging them to impeach Governor Rauf Aregbesola whom she accused of corruption.
In October, the Council sacked three judges found to have abused their office by accepting gratifications from litigants before their courts.
The judges suspended from office with immediate effect were the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal Ilorin Division, Justice Mohammed Ladan Tsamiya, Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike and Justice Kabiru M. Auta of the High Court of Justice, Kano State.
The Council recommended compulsory retirement of the three judicial officers after due consideration of petitions against them.
Also in the year ended and for the first time in the history of the country, judges were arrested by the DSS in a sting operation and some of the Judges arrested by operatives of the DSS were put on trial by the Federal Government.
They include a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, who is standing trial before Justice John and Justice Adeniyi Ademola with his wife who was arraigned before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja over allegation of corruption.
Also in this year, there was a change of batton in the leadership of the nation’s judiciary the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed bowed out, having attained a mandatory retirement age of 70 years and Justice Walter Onnoghen stepped in as acting CJN.
Also in the year under review, there were appointments into the office of Justice of the Supreme Court following the death of late Justice Niki Tobi and retirements of some justices of the apex court.
The appointments of the justices by the president, on the recommendation of the NJC brought the number of justices of the apex court to 17.
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In 2016 Nigeria, everyone tried to be crowd-correct. Everybody told sorry stories of a scary year. The national prayer was “may we never see its kind again.” But that wasn’t my testimony. I won’t call God a liar to be Nigeria-compliant about 2016. It was a great year of manifestation for me and my household. Our celebrations have been unending. Am I saying 2016 wasn’t an economic doom? Far from it. But the just lived by faith. It was a boom for me; great accomplishments, lifetime testimonies, peace that surpasseth and above all, rewarding deeper fellowship with my Creator.
The year also helped the elect to showcase the limitless capacity of Jehovah El-Shaddai, the God that is more than all global need. But it was a testimony that must be and has been told with caution in the midst of national anger. I’m sure many also enjoyed divine visitations like I did but kept the testimonies in their closet to avoid being tagged insensitive. It was a balancing act I had to do on many occasions, especially when seniors in faith, rambled through how they were savagely affected by the ills of the land, without a word of praise to God.
The national anthem was “o ga o, a ku ilu yi o” (This is indescribable tough time in this country). If you weren’t determined not to be ungrateful to your Maker and Great Provider, you would be lost in the accompanying long-winding lamentation and before you knew it, you would have become a wailing wailer.
But are the wailers acting Bob Marley for their love for vain noise? Humanly speaking, 2016 was a song with undecodable lyrics. Yoruba will call it (a o morin tan lu si gbedu) (a confounding situation). You don’t need to start defining the socio-economic situation for anyone, including kids. Family finances told stories. But not all families and stories.
In a recent conversation with a childhood friend who now lives in America, he derided his fellow countrymen and women as being overzealously religious, using it pejoratively to explain blacks’ poverty. He isn’t an atheist but buying into America’s “you are your capacity”. But hasn’t God recently proved Himself to those with the so-called capacity in their political space, confounding the wise with a really “foolish thing” in form of a man?
Nigerians have many vices but laziness would not be an acceptable universal description. Because we love life, we are forever seeking means of meeting our desire. We may not be too developmental but hopeful is a common adjective with us. That is why millions are hopeful that the new year, incidentally starting today, will bring better tidings than the one just ending, though everything empirical says otherwise.
I see hope too, but of a different kind. Not in Aso Rock, budget, Buhari, his kitchen or toilet cabinet, economy or its managers, OPEC or IMF, Made-in-Nigeria or Change-Begin-With-Them campaigns, Ofada rice or Tokunbo ban, CBN dollar projection and all warts.
I say with all emphasis that nothing will work in Nigeria as long as leaders remain wicked. The wicked are under God’s curse. When God curses a man, who is that man of God who can remove it? Religious leaders praying for these wicked leaders should tell them the truth. They have to return to God in genuine repentance before He can return to them to help. Man’s limitation is already manifesting in this government considered to be of better intentions than predecessors. Yes, God is plenteous in mercy but you can’t continue in sin and expect grace to abound. Grace is elastic for the wicked and God won’t compel a man to come unto His righteousness, though He stands at the door of our hearts knocking and wishing we would all open for Him to come in and sup with us.
I’m close to agreeing with Reuben Abati that Aso Rock is a demon habitation but what about supposed men of God who mill around the possessed ones? God says it shall be ill with the wicked and the people will only rejoice when the righteousness is in power. Where are the righteous in power in Nigeria today? No amount of prayer will alter God’s pronouncements. When Ephraim kept rejecting His grace, He decreed him desolate. That was exactly his lot and generations.
The temptation to tag nearly all our leaders Ephraim’s offspring is strong. Give them gold and they return it as useless brass. And these are men and women of supposed great accomplishments in their private lives. That is why those trumpeted accomplishments should be well investigated before handing them national fortune. Beyond the tainted bazaar-like security screening, it is time to involve genuine men of God in spiritual probe of those to be elected and appointed to manage our commonwealth. But with the church completely joining itself with idol of politics, isn’t the job now much more complicated?
But individuals can help themselves in 2017 by reasoning with God in obedience and willingness, to eat the good of the land. There is still good in the land regardless of so-called recession. There was depression in Samaria, leading to women who are naturally more caring, eating their children. But within hours, God of wonders proved Himself and shamed doubters. It is not unlikely many would see this as religious escapism, but many don’t receive from God because they want to continue in the old and receive the new. No, all things must become new, to receive the new. If we have leaders who have signed pacts with the devil, we can take our destiny away from their destructive path, by returning completely to God. Does Gibbers sound like the pulpit this morning? Pray, is there a better way to start an expected happy year?
The post I see hope… appeared first on Tribune.
The dawn of a New Year provides individuals and organisations an occasion to review their activities and make projections for the ensuing year. This is the secret behind the success of many persons and groups. Failure to observe this is also responsible for the failing of many. Those who don’t embark on self-appraisal with a view to making amends where necessary remain stagnant for a while before the inevitable decline sets in. Those who assess themselves get better because they do new things that give them different results.
Nigerians are a religious lot. Consequently, when there are issues that demand taking the bull by the horns, our leaders wax religious and seek refuge in eliciting hope in the citizenry through the deployment of sweet words. But they forget that hope is not a strategy. It is when a strategy is in place that there can be hope for a change. But the irony of the Nigerian situation is that we have turned hope into a strategy. No situation has ever changed as a consequence of a people merely hoping for a change. All the changes the world has ever known happened because some people took decisive steps.
One area in which Nigeria needs to take action is with respect to carving a National Dream. I am fully persuaded that the divisive tendencies that seem to be our lot as a nation are a reaction to the lack of a dream to which we all can aspire. The agitation for the resuscitation of Biafra, the Southern Kaduna crisis, the threats by Niger Delta militants etc are not because of our ethnic or religious differences, they are a result of the absence of a National Dream. There is nothing that pulls the people to the nation; there is no national agenda that is greater than their tribal or religious affiliation. Since nature abhors vacuum, where there is no dream, there will be hallucination. So, they choose to give vent to something in their community that has been able to arrest their attention. This is why integration has become quite difficult in the country. The antidote to regional or religious agitation is a definite and definitive Nigerian Dream.
I have searched the archives but I have yet to find a document containing the Nigerian vision or dream. In Nigeria, there is no national vision. There is nothing known as ‘the Nigerian Dream.’ What this presupposes is that there is no specific goal that all Nigerians are working towards, no concerted effort to take the country to a pre-determined future, no definite activity to inculcate in the people certain beliefs that will engender the right kind of attitudes which will fast track our development as a country. I am aware that each government that we have had in the recent past came with specific things that it wanted to achieve; Obasanjo harped on economic reform, Yar’Adua’s focus was observing the rule of law, Jonathan was particular about transformation and President Muhammadu Buhari is telling us that change begins with us, but those are not qualified to be regarded as the national vision or goal; they are mere tags by which each of the leaders wanted to be identified. What will Nigerians be identified by that will have a positive effect on the country?
Whatever else President Buhari achieves, without working towards national integration, which is a consequence of carving a national dream, it will not amount to much. The hindrance to the manifestation of Nigeria’s greatness is the absence of a Nigerian Dream. So, he should get himself a conspicuous place in Nigeria’s history by ensuring the articulation of a Nigerian Dream before he leaves office. The best time to start is now.
The Nigerian Dream must be anchored on answers to the following questions among others; What do we want to be known for? What do we want as the hallmark of our nationhood? What values do we want to ingrain in our citizenry? It is when answers are provided to these questions and no effort is spared to make every Nigerian key into the answers that our journey to greatness will begin.
My golden bae
I am a very private person, hence I keep my personal issues off this column but I have to break that self-imposed restriction today. Reason? It’s my wife’s 50th birthday today.
Odunayo and I started as friends, we became lovers, got married and now we have become siblings. Ours is not a marriage made in heaven but it is a relationship focused on either party bringing the best out of the other. So, over the past 28 years that we have been married, she has not loved me in sickness but has loved me out of sickness. She has not loved me in poverty but has loved me out of poverty. I have become better as a consequence of our relationship.
That, to me, is the essence of any relationship.
My prayer for you, Odunayo, is that God will add life to your years as He adds years to your life. May He make you the joy of many generations.
Arike, I will love and cherish you till the day after forever. That is a promise you can take to the bank.
Happy birthday, my love.
The post Thinking about the Nigerian Dream appeared first on Tribune.
At least 35 people were killed when a gunman opened fire on revelers celebrating the new year in one of Istanbul’s most popular nightclubs
The post 35 dead in New Year’s attack in Istanbul appeared first on News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The Senior Pastor of Charis Family International Church, Pastor Tunde Jaiyebo, has called on Christians to maximise their God-given grace to boost their gifts and talents so they can make the best out of their different endeavours.
He said this when speaking on the theme: “Recipients of Great Grace,” at this year’s Charis Day celebration held at the Charis Church headquarters, Cultural Centre road, Mokola, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Challenging the congregation on knowing and understanding their identity in God, he said: “if you don’t understand what you’re carrying, you’re not better than anyone not carrying anything.”
Giving insight into how Christians can stir up their gifts, Pastor Jaiyebo said “knowledge, prayer, training, action and intelligent pursuit are key factors.
“If you’re no longer praying, you’re on thin ice. The efficacy of a gift is based on spiritual input. Grace empowers us to build and that life is all about building; building a career, building a ministry, building a family, building finances and others.”
Teaching on how ‘grace’ works, the cleric said grace “summarises our identity as believers,” while also explaining that “once grace is inside your system, nothing contrary can work.”
He emphasised that if a Christian is tested, such who works by understanding of God’s endowment in him or her should “test positive to grace.”
“Grace is multidimensional which can multiply as it is in levels and stages and it is measurable according to Ephesians 1:3, while it also gives us access to God and His resources,” he stated.
Pastor Jaiyebo said that for grace to work optimally, individuals also need to seek to know more and have quest for scriptural knowledge.
as he said “grace is provoked by knowledge.
He said “believers are not only gifted but they are gifts to the world. Every good gift is wrapped and many times what others are seeing is the wrapping of our lives.”
He mentioned four things an individual’s gifts will produce as “ease, speed, accuracy and outstanding results.”
For a carrier of grace, the preacher said such person should work on his gifts and talents which are God’s endowment to be nutured for great exploits.
Pastor Jaiyebo cautioned that grace is not for decoration or mere appellation, while also warning those who believe the grace of God permits them to do whatever they like that “grace is not a license to idleness or sin.”
“Grace places a demand on believers to get something done. If we are recipients of great grace, then we must do great things, since God will release His grace for you in your areas of gifts will be the consequence,” Pastor Jaiyebo said.
He however, warned that there is no need for competition, especially for those who may wonder why they are not excelling in particular areas where others do, saying individuals are differently endowed in line of grace, saying “the grace I carry is not the grace you carry.
Also, he said someone’s grace does not make him superior to the other person, rather, it is the difference in offices occupied that is honoured.
“In the kingdom, there is no superiority but there is difference, it is the difference we honour,” Pastor Jaiyebo said.
Refering to the “fivefold ministerial gifts” he stated that they are gifts to the church for perfecting of the members and even though they are not superior to other believers, they are different and special gifts.
Stressing further on this, he said the ministerial gifts could be grouped in two categories, hat is, “mobile carriers and stationary carriers of grace.”
He said the apostles, evangelists, teachers and prophets are mobile carriers as they often teach from place to place, but the pastor is a stationary carrier.
Pastor Jaiyebo said every believer should maximise the adventage derivable from encounters they have with the carriers of the special mobile grace, “we must seize the opportunity,” he said, adding that “our responsibility towards them to include recognising and maximizing their influence.
He said people should also obey their instructions, never rationalise their instructions, give them special attention and never look at carriers of special grace naturally, while he also cautioned that “believers should be careful about criticisms of men of God because once they start doing that, they will begin to lose their value to us.”
The post How to maximise your God-given gifts —Pastor Jaiyebo appeared first on Tribune.
35 persons have been reportedly dead while several others have been injured in a New Year’s Eve attack on one of Istanbul’s biggest and most well known night clubs, local media reported early Sunday.
State-run news agency Anadolu said an armed man had forced his way into the Club Reina on the banks of the Bosporus and opened fire.
The exact circumstances remained unclear, and it was also unclear if the attacker remained at large.
Television footage from CNN Turk showed ambulances and police cars racing to the scene in central Istanbul.
The police presence had been strengthened in the city for New Year’s Eve, with security services controlling entry to the Istiklal Caddesi avenue, a popular nightlife strip, and conducting bag searches.
The post 35 dead, several injured in attack on Istanbul night club appeared first on Vanguard News.
By CHRIS OMOTOSHO- REVIEW
I have always descried poem as an expression of feelings from imaginative minds. Thus, a poet will do well when he/she relies on the immediate environment for inspiration for the conveyance of his/her feelings in the vehicle of poetry. This may explain why the renowned Poet, Niyi Osundare, submitted that African Literature, irrespective of its form, should be “endogenous”. A read of The Soyinka in Me is a reflection of this. The poems in the collection are a chronicle of experiences within and around the Poet such that span for years.
Of much importance and that which would readily raise “dust” and create a sort of suspense is the title of the collection –The Soyinka in Me. The “on the surface” understanding of this is that Soyinka must have been a source of inspiration or a Mentor to Dada Olanipkeun. A flip through the work confirms this. The first and the last poems in the collection, “Kongi, Eniogun” at 82 and “Kongi in you”, respectively are a tribute to and eulogy of the African WS, Wole Soyinka. Of special interest here is “Kongi in You”.
Reading through the poems in this collection, anyone familiar with the works of Soyinka would readily agree that Dada Olanipekun, the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, has indeed been stung by Wole Soyinka. The striking point of similarity is the theme of poems that are Africanized and or Nigerianized as one would find in almost all the works of Soyinka. Soyinka is a writer who is concerned about his immediate society. His works are a comment on the happenings around him.
From Dance of the Forest, to the to The Road, to Kongi’s Harvest, to Death and the King’s Horsemen to Lion and the Jewel, to The Man Died, Ake, Isara, The Interpreters, Idanre, King Baabu, Alapata Apata, InterInventions, amongst others one would see a treatment of socio-political issues that have direct bearing on the African cum Nigerian society. What then should one expect from someone who has been “stung” by Soyinka than to respond to the societal issues in his poems; so as not to make himself irrelevant like that man in an African proverb that left his house burning in pursuance of a fleeing rat from the inferno? Such a man can be likened according to Achebe, to any writer that fails to respond to issues around him through his works.
Dada Olanipekun did not fall into the category of such a writer. He has succeeded, in the 40 page book that treats 27 different poems, to address and respond to the socio-political issues in his immediate society and Africa, celebrates nature and eulogizes both the dead and living heroes. The tone of lamentation and helplessness in “Saratu” shows the pitiable state of mind of the parents of Chibok girls whose children are yet to be seen, two years after their abduction, simply because the Nigerian state, unfortunately, failed to protect and defend the vulnerable. Poems like “Lagos”, “Nigeria”, “The Last One Naira”, “Seasons of Siege” and “Abuja” treat the themes of hopelessness, suffering, deprivation, marginalization and neglect, as we have in Nigeria.
Soyinka is not a pronounce Feminist but his love and soft spot for women and celebration of womanhood in his works cannot go unnoticed. One of the contributory factors that led to the tragic end of Elesin Oba in Death and the King’s Horseman was the time Elesin Oba spent with the young maiden in his attempt to leave a “seed” behind after his demise. Thus sleeping with the young woman would afford him the opportunity of emptying himself to her. One wish he didn’t do, maybe he would have taken the glory that was bestowed on his son Olumide. Sidi was celebrated in Lion and the Jewel and Iyalode square up with Elesin Oba in Death… and almost became the heroine in the play. These, amongst others, are the respect Soyinka gave to the womenfolk. It is not a surprise therefore for Dada Olanipekun to have taken this from Soyinka. Thus, women and their beauty, virtue and chastity are celebrated in poems like “The Love on Red”, “Momudatu” and “Iyawo”
Is Dada Olanipekun a Romantist? Difficult question to answer! My understanding of the theory of Romanticism, as celebration of nature, made some crop of poems in this collection to qualify them as Romantic Poems like “God is weeping”, “Confession”, “I am not black I am Chocolate”, “I am Water”, “It rained” and “Here Goes the Day”. Those poems celebrate nature in its beauty. There is tone of lamentation and a quest for the reversal of unnecessary bloodshed and waste of lives in the poems “Uganda” and “A friend”. The ancient town of Abeokuta is celebrated in Ode simply titled, “Abeokuta I” & “Abeokuta II”.
Dada Olanipekun has expressed himself to us, to the world, to the generations yet unborn through this 40 page collection of poems that address every facet of life with inspirations from his immediate environment.
The post Walking the poetic lane of Soyinka appeared first on Vanguard News.
Dr Ejiro Imuere This is a topic so many have shied away from addressing. But this topic is what we expected many online "re...
