Chief of Nigerian Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai has given the Theatre Commander, Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, 40 days within which to capture Abubakar Shekau, the so-called and self-styled leader of Boko Haram terrorists group, dead or alive.
The Army chief directed the Theatre Commander to deploy all arsenal at his disposal to smoke out Shekau wherever he is hiding in Nigeria.
A statement yesterday, Friday, from the Army Headquarters in Abuja appealed to Nigerians to assist the army by volunteering information that would lead to the accomplishment of this task.
The three paragraph statement was issued by the Director of the Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman. [myad]
There is nothing new under the sun, goes a popular saying. In fact, the more things seem to change, the more they appear the same. From time immemorial, some people have spoken evil of leadership, cast aspersions on them, and generally portrayed themselves as scum of the earth. No matter how a country loves its leader, there will naturally be those that the Good Book calls “filthy dreamers” who “despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.”
That is why as spokesman to President Muhammadu Buhari, I never respond to such people. Their type would always be around.
President Buhari has been indisposed since the beginning of the year. It is human, and presidents, despite their elevated status, remain human. If there is anybody who considers himself 100 percent healthy, or who bears what William Shakespeare calls “a charmed life,” let that person stand up to be identified. All mortals are doomed to sickness, they can recover, and they can die. That is the truth that has been internalized by millions of people praying for the recovery of our President. And that is where the shallowness, vacuousness, and hollowness of people who wish the President dead, and carry unfounded rumors, is on stark display. Filthy dreamers. They speak evil of dignities, and despise dominion. But we forgive them, for they know not what they do. When President Buhari returns (as God would make him do) where would they hide their faces? In shame.
Now, I started by saying we would always have scumbags around. It is inevitable. They are the descendants of Shimei, the son of Gera, whom I want to introduce to you now.
Who is Shimei? Well, I met him on the pages of the Good Book, and he bears striking similitude to some people in our country today. The evil wishers, the hate monger, and those who spend their days conjecturing tragedy for leadership.
Absalom, the son of King David, had led an insurrection against his father. And the king of Israel fled, with some of his supporters in tow. As David got to a place called Bahurim, the Holy Bible records that Shimei, the son of Gera, a man of the family of Saul, came out, and started cursing the fleeing king. You don’t kick a man that is down, goes a saying, but Shimei not only cursed David, he also threw dust and stones at him. It was a show of shame.
David had succeeded Saul as king of Israel. And Shimei was from the family of Saul (read, People’s Democratic Party, PDP). Shimei hadn’t forgotten the bloody nose the family of Saul got, when the kingship was taken away from them, and given to David. So when the latter got into a time of travail, no pity at all from people still smarting from bloody noses.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), inspired by Muhammadu Buhari, halted the 60-year pipe dream of PDP at the polls in 2015. Has the latter forgotten? No, they won’t forget till forever. But so much is the animus, the antipathy towards the President that they wish him dead. While millions of Nigerians are praying, some elements are rejoicing, and imagining evil. But they forget: man is not God, and Jehovah always has the final say. The descendants of Shimei need to learn vital lessons from their forebear.
As the base fellow assaulted the fleeing king, Abishai, one of David’s mighty men, said:”Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.”(2 Samuel, 16:9). But David restrained him, saying if God had not permitted Shimei, he could not have done what he was doing.
President Buhari has tolerated people who have called him all sorts of names in the past two years. If he didn’t move against them directly, he could have allowed many Abishais to move against them, “and take off their heads.” But not our President, a reformed democrat, a pious man, who has resolved to leave the people suffused by hatred unto God. And will they get their just desserts one day? As night follows the day, they will. If not from man, they will get it from God. Their forefather, Shimei did. He reaped what he sowed.
After some time, the rebellion led by Absalom was crushed by loyal troops, and David regained the throne. As he headed back into the city, who came to meet the king, with one thousand of his relatives, pleading for mercy? Shimei. The Yorubas say the same mouth that the snail used to abuse the gods, is what it uses to lick the dusts of the earth. Shimei had suddenly become gentle. And humble, too. He fell down before David, and said:”I have sinned. Have mercy on me. Don’t remember what I did against you on the day you went out of Jerusalem.”
Heh, on a certain day, some people would come to prostrate, begging for mercy, asking President Buhari to forgive and forget. What will the President do? What did David do? Abishai said again to King David:”Let me bring down the head of this man, who cursed, and threw stones at you?”
But David said to Shimei:”Thou shall not surely die.” And the king swore unto him.
But did Shimei live happily ever after? Old sins, they say, have long shadows. Before David died, he instructed Solomon his son, who succeeded him, not to forget to deal with Shimei. At least, David had kept his part of the bargain not to kill Shimei.
What did Solomon do? He restricted Shimei to Jerusalem, adding that any day he went out of the city would be his last on earth. Days, weeks, and months went by. Shimei remained gentle. But on a certain day, two servants belonging to him ran away to Gath, another city. Shimei saddled his horses, and led his men to bring back the servants. He had received mercy from David, but he couldn’t show mercy to the servants. Mercy begets mercy.
The story was told to Solomon. Shimei has left Jerusalem. He went to Gath, contrary to your instructions. It was time for judgment. Solomon commanded that what Abishai had long wanted to do should be done to Shimei. And his head was brought down.
Will the descendants of Shimei repent, turn a new leaf, and become human? Will they recognize their own mortality? He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still. He that is overtaken by hate, let him remain hateful still. Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be.
Let the descendants of Shimei who have ears to hear please hear. There is recompense for evil, and there is also recompense for good.
Adesina is Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Buhari
The Founder and General Overseer of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry, in Warri, Delta State, Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin, has undertaken to marry off all the single ladies to men in his church, promising that as soon as the process of match-making is completed, he would conduct mass wedding for them.
The Pastor, who during the church service, asked single ladies to form a queue with a view to choosing men of their choice in the church, said: “we cannot allow women to be like this forever. I want to marry for these people. Look at your back. I give you people from now till month end to screen your wives. Nobody should go and meet for night ooo!”
He had earlier called out the single men and women in his church and asked them to select their partners from among themselves. During the selection, long queues emerged behind the men who came out as single ladies, scrambling for their hands in marriage.
In a video already gone viral, the man of God had summoned a lady and asked if she was married and when she replied in the negative, the pastor ordered her to choose any man she likes in the auditorium.
The woman is then seen searching through the congregation to see a man of her choice.
When the lady could not find any man, the man of God concluded that there was a demonic mark upon her preventing her prospective husband from locating her, and demanded from her how many men have slept with her.
He said, “Chop and go. How many men don chop you?”
The pastor eventually summoned all single men to file out and spinsters to line up behind the men of their choice.
Saying, “If anybody wants to marry anyone here come and touch the person – any person you like.” [myad]
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has revealed the multi-million naira social media project aimed at discredit the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, destabilize the polity and make the country ungovernable for the President.
”The campaign to discredit the government is a multi-million naira project and the people behind this string of hate speech, disinformation and fake news are not about to stop. In fact, they will become more vicious in the days, weeks and months ahead,” he said.
The Minister made these known at an extra-ordinary meeting of the National Council on Information (NCI), being held in Jos, the Plateau State capital, with theme: ”Hate Speeches, Disinformation, Fake News and National Unity.”.
Lai Mohammed said that the barrel of hate speeches going on is are being fuelled by the push for separatism as well as the rising cases of ethnic and religious disharmony, even as he warned that similar hate speeches and incitement to violence led genocide that left at least 800,000 people dead in Rwanda in 1994.
According to the minister, the worsening cases of hate speech in the country began from the period before the last general elections, adding that the then Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari, was the target of a vicious campaign.
”Never in the history of electioneering campaign in Nigeria has such a quantum of hate speech been directed at any candidate. This did not stop even when he won the election and became President.
“For instance, the President had hardly left Nigeria for his vacation in London on 19 January 2017, during which he said he would have routine medical check-up, when these hate and fake news campaigners circulated the news that he has died.
“Between then and now, they have repeated similar fakes news times without number.” [myad]
Two men are dragging a woman with one of them claiming that the woman is his wife while the other man, who allegedly impregnated her, claimed that she did not tell him that she was married.
The husband of the woman, James Olanga had reported a 40 year old Abubakar Sadiq, at Karmo Police Station in the Federal Capital Territory on July 17, accusing him of not only sleeping with his wife but impregnating her.
James Olanga told the police that Abubakar Sadiq intentionally committed adultery with his wife and impregnated her, alleging further that Abubakar deceived his wife by buying her clothes.
However, Abubakar claimed that the woman did not tell him that she was married, saying that the two of them met as adults and got involved in the love affair and that he did not deceive her.
The two combatants, who are living in the same compound in Karmo, have dragged themselves to Grade 1 Area Court, Karmo, where the court granted Abubakar bail in the sum of N30,000.
According to the police who slammed Abubakar with a four-count charge bordering on abduction, adultery and enticing married woman, the offences contravened Sections 272, 387, 388 and 389 of the Penal Code.
The trial Judge, who granted Abubakar bail demanded for surety in the like sum and that such surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction. He should also produce utility bill with his name on it.
Spokesman to President Donald Trump of the United States of America, Sean Spicer has thrown in the towel in apparent protect over the appointment of Anthony Scaramucci as his new communications director.
The resignation of Spicer, today, Friday, came on the heels of mounting pressure on President Trump from a special investigation into Russia’s meddling in the 2016 US presidential elections.
According to sources, Trump asked Spicer not to resign, but he stood his ground, saying, however, that he believed the appointment of a communication director was a major mistake.
The new director of communications, Scaramucci, who founded the global investment firm, SkyBridge Capital, is a Fox News Channel contributor.
He is known for his spirited on-air defense of President Trump, but he also enjoys good relationships with journalists from an array of outlets, including those the President has labeled “fake news.” [myad]
The 1992 set of the Association of Mass Communications Students of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State have advised the Mass Communications students of the institution to find ways of making themselves media entrepreneurs instead of looking for white-collar jobs. Officials and members of the set, known as AMACOS ’92, gave this advise today, Tuesday when they visited their Alma mater, known as Ogun State Polytechnic to mentor the students of the department. Members of the association taught the students practical aspects of public relations, advertising, print journalism, broadcast journalism and blogging to mark their 25 years post-graduation anniversary from the institution. The programme, which had as theme: “Classroom Experience and Post-Classroom Reality,” was held at the auditorium of the Mass Communications Department. It had in attendance, the Rector of MAPOLY, Professor Oludele Itiola; the Director of the School of Communications and Information Technology, Dr. Goke Raufu; the Head of Department, Kolawole Amos and the Sub-Dean, Lekan Oketokun. An alumnus and Founder, Rave FM 93.7, Osogbo, Osun State, Femi Adefila, who spoke on: “How to become a successful media entrepreneur,” told the students that the days of white-collar jobs were gone, advising them to develop the mentality of job creators. Adefila urged them to have the “can-do spirit” because, according to him, nothing is impossible. “You must be pregnant with ideas and deliver it. You should dream big and always think out of the box. At times, there may not even be any box,” he stated. Another alumnus and Editor, Nigerian Tribune, Debo Abdulai, who spoke on: “How a journalist can remain relevant in today’s newspaper world,” noted that for a journalist to stand out, he or she must be creative and constantly seek knowledge by reading wide. Abdulai also listed adaptability, carving a niche for oneself, taking initiatives, integrity and nurturing relationship as some of the ingredients that would make the students relevant in the media practice after leaving school. He noted that the media industry, especially print journalism, in the country was striking, as circulation had dropped, identifying online media as the biggest threat. “Your success as a journalist isn’t just dependent on the right skills and experience, it is dependent on you showing initiative. How you show initiative plays an active role in your career and it determines how far you will go in your career,” he said. The Publisher, The Eagle Online, Dotun Oladipo, who spoke on online publishing, allayed the fears that online journalism might kill newspapers, arguing that newspapers would continue to survive despite the penetration of online media. Oladipo challenge the students to start making money from their smart phones even while in school. The Vice-Chairman of AMACOS ’92, Adekunle Adeshina, speaking on public relations, urged the students to dare to be different in whatever they were involved in. “Walk with confidence and engage in self improvement,” Adeshina said. The “hairman of the set, Adekunle Adams, said the association in the past had donated equipment worth over N2 million to the department. The ex-students equally donated a giant generator to the department on Tuesday. Adams expressed the support of the set for the transformation of MAPOLY to a university of technology. Appreciating the former students, the Rector, who was represented by Raufu, said the Department of Mass Communication was the flagship of the institution.[myad]
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has struck a deal with a visiting delegation of investors from the Hebei Province of the People’s Republic of China. The Minister, who received the visitors in his office in Abuja today, got a commitment from them that they would invest in the Territory. that what they saw made a deep impression on the delegation. He had impressive words for Abuja’s pleasant environment and good planning, while observing that Nigeria has indeed laid a good foundation for an economically viable city. The Chinese investors said that they are eager to partner with Abuja in many mutually beneficial fields. “There are obviously many complementary features, potentials and space for cooperation between Abuja and Hebei Province.” The Deputy Governor of Hebei, China and leader of the delegation, Wang Xiaodong, said that theirs is one of the biggest economic regions among the 31 provinces and municipalities in China. According to the Deputy Governor, Hebei has an area of 188,000sq km and 74million population with a GDP of $500million by its 2016 estimates. He said that Hebel is located in an area contiguous to Beijing, the Chinese capital and is fully industrialized with a developed commuter transport system. He said that iron and steel potentials is estimated at 200m tons coming out as one of the leading steel producers in the world, even as annual output of cement is 120b million tons. According to the delegation said that flat glass output in the province is estimated at 100 million tons, coupled with its advanced development in agriculture and agro allied processing. “We have an advanced investment in agriculture. Production of fruits, cotton, meat, oil, milk and dairy production play very prominent roles in our economic life ranking us from the 2nd to the 5th in China respectively.” Mr. Xiaodong expressed optimism in Nigeria. The delegation, made up of 20 high profile players like Zhao Dianlong, President of the Chinese Construction firm, CCECC and Huang Xianghua, Deputy President of China Fortune ltd, the best company in city planning in China with assets valued at over 200bn RMB. Others were Zhu Hong, Deputy President, Shijiazhuang Junlebao Dairy Co. Ltd a top level firm in the world in cow breeding and dairy processing as well as Li Manchang, MD Baoding Shuofeng Ltd, a leading producer of cotton in the world. The FCT minister had stressed the need for the Chinese investors to take advantage of the fertile ground which Abuja provides for foreign direct investment. He said that the city is strategically located and has conducive atmosphere, security and attractive incentives. “The green fields in phases four and five of the Federal Capital Territory are very well suited for investment in agriculture and agro-processing. We have a centralized airport and our railways would soon be fully developed in the next couple of years. Abuja is, therefore, a good place to set up factories for agricultural machinery and spare parts. These can be transported either by rail, when it is ready or by air through FCT cargo terminal.”[myad]
The minister of budget and national planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma has given details of how the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is steering the country away from the economic recession. The minister told members of the National Economic Council (NEC) at their meeting today, Thursday, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja that the country is already getting out of recession even though oil prices are still sliding. He said that the non-oil sector is growing even as recoveries are being recorded in manufacturing, agriculture and services. According to him, efforts that have been made to achieve peace in Niger Delta region are already yielding fruits. “ERGP key objectives and the execution priorities will get country back to growth.” Udo Udoma stressed the overriding need for Nigeria to return the budget cycle to the January – December calendar year. He said that the 2018–2020 MTEF is anchored on the ERGP even as he said that the current Global Economic outlook posited that the country is expecting growth, though there are still some challenges that may impact negatively on growth from now till 2020. Such challenges, he said, are the policy changes in the United States, and Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU), the climate change issue and oil price fluctuations. Other highlights of the NEC meeting are as follow: A.PRESENTATION ON REFORMING NIGERIA AT THE SUBNATIONAL LEVEL BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF INDUSTRY, TRADE AND INVESTMENT ·The Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment made a presentation to Council on Reforming Nigeria at the Sub-national level, emphasizing the need to bring Enabling Business Environment Reforms to all tiers of Government and indeed to all Nigeria. ·He informed Council that there is a strong correlation between Ease of Doing Businesses Ranking and Economic prosperity. ·According to the Minister, the Businesses Enabling Environment Agenda being coordinated by the Presidential Enabling Businesses Council is at the heart of Government Agenda, whose mandate is to: -Removed critical bottlenecks and bureaucratic constraints to doing businesses in Nigeria, aimed at moving the country upwards in global businesses ranking. -Areas of focus in removing the bottlenecks include; starting a business, entry and exit of people, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, paying taxes, trading across borders and the ease of getting construction permits. ·Council was also informed that the 4th subnational Doing Business rankings for Nigeria is scheduled for 2018, with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd having taken place in 2008, 2010 and 2014 respectively. Appropriate templates are already being drawn up to prepare States for the exercise. ·Council was informed that some States such as Kaduna, Ogun, Cross River and Anambra have already commenced work to improve the ease of doing business in their respective domains. · Council was also informed that a National Steering Committee has already been constituted to ensure synergy across all stakeholders to ensure the coordinated delivery of the reform objectives. Council decision Council urged that the Ministry should work with an already existing Committee being chaired by the Honourable Minister of State for Budget and National Planning in this regard. B.PRESENTATION BY THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR BUDGET AND NATIONAL PLANNING ON NEC RESOLUTION IMPLEMENTATION MONITORING 2016/2017 REPORT: Background: Ø The NEC Retreat which held in march 2016 adopted 71 Resolutions across 6 thematic areas Ø The NEC directed the Implementation Monitoring Committee (IMS) lea by the HMS BNP to monitor the implementation of the 71 resolutions. Ø The 6 thematic areas are: o Agriculture o Solid minerals o Investments, Industrialization and enabling Monetary policy. o Infrastructure and services. o Investing in our people. o Survival of States and Beyond. The monitoring activities began in the 1st quarter of 2017. Today the Monitoring Committee Chairperson, HMSBNP presented the monitoring report to Council Among others, the objectives/purpose of the monitoring was to: ·Determine the level of implementation of Resolutions. ·Determine the extent to which Federal and State Governments have invested towards achieving the Objectives of the resolution of the Council. ·Determine progress made against planned activities and also asses what was planed and what was achieved during project implementation. ·Identify lessons learnt and provide an opportunity for peer review of knowledge sharing on good policies during project implementation. Highlights of the exerciser include that: o IMC monitored 27 States. o 33 States submitted work plans. o Almost all the States implemented Resolution 4 and 10, crop production partnership and opening rural feeder roads respectively. o Intervention funded and partnership projects between States, FG or development partners were successful. o State based Enterprises (SBES) complained of foreign exchange distortions, irregular power supply and uncertain cash plans as major factors inhibiting performance Recommendations (i)Challenges of rural banking (farmers and vendors etc) CBN and participant banks should be tasked to find innovative, efficient and sustainable means of handling BVN registration and other non traditional banking services to the informal groups are as part of its financial inclusion strategies. (ii) Work plan – there is need to complete and update the workplan of States to reflect projects and programmes implemented by State for effective planning, result tracking and performance evaluation. (iii)Peer Review – there is need for increased cooperation among States to achieved economics of scale and maximize comparative advantage. (iv) There is need for the continuous monitoring exercise and feedback mechanism for improved performance and policy dialogue. (v)There is need for State/Regional peer reviews. Council decision Council commended the HMSBNP for the report and urged the States to liaise strongly with the Federal Government in the task of National Planning and Development. ABIA STATE GOVERNOR WILL SHARE BRIEFS EXPERIENCES ON THE ABOVE D. EXCESS CRUDE ACCOUNT AND RELATED MATTERS 1.Accountant General of the Federation briefed Council on the balances in the following accounts as at 19th July, 2017: (i) Excess Crude Account (ECA) – USD 2.303 billion (ii)Ecological Fund Account – N27.466 billion (iii)Stabilization Account – N2.553 billion (iv)Development of Natural Resources Account – N77.922 billion 2.PRESENTATION BY GOVERNOR OF GOMBE STATE · Gombe State Governor presented a report to the Council on Forensic Audit of Revenue Accrued from Revenue Generating Agencies (RGAs) into Federation Account (FA), Excess Crude Account (ECA) and Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) · The Acting President welcomed the Interim Report and noted that Council will await the outcome of the final report and then discuss the Report. D. COMMITTEE ON ECOLOGICAL FUND SUBMITS FINAL REPORT- RECOMMENDS ROBUST GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE, STRINGENT DISBURSEMENT CRITERIA. ·The El-Rufai led AD-Hoc committee of the Council on Ecological fund set up by the NEC April, 2017 today submitted its report to Council, recommending among other things, a robust governance structure and a stringent disbursement criteria to sanitize the management of the fund. RECOMMENDATIONS The committee made the following recommendations: That disbursement of the fund should be based on the following criteria; ·Physical visitation by the Ecological office team and on the spot assessment and verification of the ecological disaster. ·Technical evaluation of the disaster by experts. ·Community involvement. ·Prior to the disaster, there must be evidence of Advocacy. ·Evidence of existing prompt, Emergency response mechanism in place before the disaster. ·Monitoring and Evaluation framework must be build into the application of Ecological fund as a road map for measuring performance of the fund. ·A feedback team that will review the reports of the disbursement must be in place. ·Adequate publicity of Ecological disaster to create awareness and consciousness in the citizenry to avoid future occurrence is necessary. ·Evidence of cost estimate must be attached to application. ·Adequate justification for the project must be given. ·Due process in vendor engagement must be followed. ·At all times 50% of the FG share or N20 billion must be reserved for emergencies at the discretion of Mr President. Council Decision Council commended the El-Rufal Committee for the painstaking job and noted that the Federal Government will consider the recommendations. E.HIGHLIGHT OF THE 2018 – 2020 MTEF BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER, MINISTRY OF BUDGET AND NATIONAL PLANNING ·The Honourable Minister informed Council of the overriding need to return the budget cycle to the January – December calendar year. ·That the 2018 – 2020 MTEF is anchored on the ERGP ·The current Global Economic outlook posited that the country is expecting growth, though there are still some challenges that may impact negatively on growth from now till 2020. ·He listed policy changes in the US and Britain’s exit from EU, the climate change issue, oil price fluctuations as some of the uncertainties. ·Assured that the country is already getting out of recession even as oil prices are still sliding. The non-oil sector is growing. ·Recoveries being recorded in Manufacturing, Agriculture and Services. ·Efforts aimed at achieving peace in Niger Delta yielding fruits. ·ERGP key objectives and the execution priorities will get country back to growth. F.PRESENTATION ON ISSUES OF RIGHT OF WAY/MULTIPLE TAXATION BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATION ·Honourable Minister of Communication presented a Memo to Council on need for harmonization of the Right of way charges in respect of telecommunication and related public utility infrastructure on Local Governments, States and Federal Highways. ·Memo spelt out roles/responsibilities of LGCs, States and telecommunication operators in the management of Right of Way (ROW) issues. ·He informed Council that most States are still charging different and higher rates, despite NEC’s resolution that mandate States to adopt and implement Federal Ministry of Works guidelines for grant of Right of Way to ICT service on Highways. ·Current practice in Nigeria where various telecommunication operators design, survey, dig, deploy and manage their individual fibers networks amounts to duplication of efforts, multiple earthworks and treaches as well as increased administrative and licensing costs. ·The Memo invited all stakeholders to consider, adopt and approve the use of shared duct strategy, managed by a designated Agency in all tiers of government for the deployment of public utility infrastructure for effective and efficient service delivery and accelerated socio economic development of the country, particularly the transformation of our various cities, towns and villages to a smart status. Council Decision Council asked the Ministry of Communication to liaise with the States and relevant stakeholders for the smooth implementation of the Right of Way project.[myad]
The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) is worried about the poor funding of the police force in the task of fighting insecurity in many parts of the country. The governors expressed fear that the way things are going, the government might find it difficult to continue to fund the police force. Chairman of the Forum who doubles as governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, told news men shortly after the meeting of the governors with the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, that the solution to the poor funding lied with the Trust Fund Bill that is currently before the National Assembly for consideration. “So, they are having so many difficulties in funding which we are agreed that with the way things are going, through the budgeting process, we cannot continue to fund police. “The Inspector General of Police made us to know that there is a kind of trust fund bill which is before the National Assembly, and asked for our support and the members of the national assembly, especially the House of Representatives. “On our own part, we have put a committee in place. It is headed by the governors of Kwara, Imo, Delta, Ekiti, Bauchi and Sokoto to lead the committee so that they can be able to interface with the committee of Police and take the matter before the Acting President for further action. It is important for our nation. “And as well there is the issue of kind of state police which is being discussed and we are coming up with so many options which we are expecting the committee to do and find safe way of policing Nigeria.”[myad]
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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has struck a deal with a visiting delegation of investors from the Hebei Province of the People’s Republic of China.
The minister of budget and national planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma has given details of how the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is steering the country away from the economic recession.
The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) is worried about the poor funding of the police force in the task of fighting insecurity in many parts of the country.
Buhari And Descendants Of Shimei, By Femi Adesina
There is nothing new under the sun, goes a popular saying. In fact, the more things seem to change, the more they appear the same. From time immemorial, some people have spoken evil of leadership, cast aspersions on them, and generally portrayed themselves as scum of the earth. No matter how a country loves its leader, there will naturally be those that the Good Book calls “filthy dreamers” who “despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.”
That is why as spokesman to President Muhammadu Buhari, I never respond to such people. Their type would always be around.
President Buhari has been indisposed since the beginning of the year. It is human, and presidents, despite their elevated status, remain human. If there is anybody who considers himself 100 percent healthy, or who bears what William Shakespeare calls “a charmed life,” let that person stand up to be identified. All mortals are doomed to sickness, they can recover, and they can die. That is the truth that has been internalized by millions of people praying for the recovery of our President. And that is where the shallowness, vacuousness, and hollowness of people who wish the President dead, and carry unfounded rumors, is on stark display. Filthy dreamers. They speak evil of dignities, and despise dominion. But we forgive them, for they know not what they do. When President Buhari returns (as God would make him do) where would they hide their faces? In shame.
Now, I started by saying we would always have scumbags around. It is inevitable. They are the descendants of Shimei, the son of Gera, whom I want to introduce to you now.
Who is Shimei? Well, I met him on the pages of the Good Book, and he bears striking similitude to some people in our country today. The evil wishers, the hate monger, and those who spend their days conjecturing tragedy for leadership.
Absalom, the son of King David, had led an insurrection against his father. And the king of Israel fled, with some of his supporters in tow. As David got to a place called Bahurim, the Holy Bible records that Shimei, the son of Gera, a man of the family of Saul, came out, and started cursing the fleeing king. You don’t kick a man that is down, goes a saying, but Shimei not only cursed David, he also threw dust and stones at him. It was a show of shame.
David had succeeded Saul as king of Israel. And Shimei was from the family of Saul (read, People’s Democratic Party, PDP). Shimei hadn’t forgotten the bloody nose the family of Saul got, when the kingship was taken away from them, and given to David. So when the latter got into a time of travail, no pity at all from people still smarting from bloody noses.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), inspired by Muhammadu Buhari, halted the 60-year pipe dream of PDP at the polls in 2015. Has the latter forgotten? No, they won’t forget till forever. But so much is the animus, the antipathy towards the President that they wish him dead. While millions of Nigerians are praying, some elements are rejoicing, and imagining evil. But they forget: man is not God, and Jehovah always has the final say. The descendants of Shimei need to learn vital lessons from their forebear.
As the base fellow assaulted the fleeing king, Abishai, one of David’s mighty men, said:”Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.”(2 Samuel, 16:9). But David restrained him, saying if God had not permitted Shimei, he could not have done what he was doing.
President Buhari has tolerated people who have called him all sorts of names in the past two years. If he didn’t move against them directly, he could have allowed many Abishais to move against them, “and take off their heads.” But not our President, a reformed democrat, a pious man, who has resolved to leave the people suffused by hatred unto God. And will they get their just desserts one day? As night follows the day, they will. If not from man, they will get it from God. Their forefather, Shimei did. He reaped what he sowed.
After some time, the rebellion led by Absalom was crushed by loyal troops, and David regained the throne. As he headed back into the city, who came to meet the king, with one thousand of his relatives, pleading for mercy? Shimei. The Yorubas say the same mouth that the snail used to abuse the gods, is what it uses to lick the dusts of the earth. Shimei had suddenly become gentle. And humble, too. He fell down before David, and said:”I have sinned. Have mercy on me. Don’t remember what I did against you on the day you went out of Jerusalem.”
Heh, on a certain day, some people would come to prostrate, begging for mercy, asking President Buhari to forgive and forget. What will the President do? What did David do? Abishai said again to King David:”Let me bring down the head of this man, who cursed, and threw stones at you?”
But David said to Shimei:”Thou shall not surely die.” And the king swore unto him.
But did Shimei live happily ever after? Old sins, they say, have long shadows. Before David died, he instructed Solomon his son, who succeeded him, not to forget to deal with Shimei. At least, David had kept his part of the bargain not to kill Shimei.
What did Solomon do? He restricted Shimei to Jerusalem, adding that any day he went out of the city would be his last on earth. Days, weeks, and months went by. Shimei remained gentle. But on a certain day, two servants belonging to him ran away to Gath, another city. Shimei saddled his horses, and led his men to bring back the servants. He had received mercy from David, but he couldn’t show mercy to the servants. Mercy begets mercy.
The story was told to Solomon. Shimei has left Jerusalem. He went to Gath, contrary to your instructions. It was time for judgment. Solomon commanded that what Abishai had long wanted to do should be done to Shimei. And his head was brought down.
Will the descendants of Shimei repent, turn a new leaf, and become human? Will they recognize their own mortality? He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still. He that is overtaken by hate, let him remain hateful still. Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be.
Let the descendants of Shimei who have ears to hear please hear. There is recompense for evil, and there is also recompense for good.
Adesina is Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Buhari