Corruption Has Taken Over Churches, Cardinal Anthony Okogie Concurs

July 18, 2017

Retired Catholic Archbishop of Lagos and former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Cardinal Anthony Okogie has agreed with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo’s postulation that corruption has taken over the churches with a question: “what are the leaders doing to curb corruption?”

Cardinal Okogie, who fielded questions from PUNCH, said: “Acting President Yemi Osinbajo is right. Corruption has taken over the churches. What are the church leaders doing to curb corruption?

The retired priest, who was obviously reacting to the General Overseer of the Redeemed Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye’s concept of planting church branches everywhere, regretted that the churches are not making any significant meaning in the life of the people.

“Seeing many churches, left right and centre without (them) making an impact, is my biggest regret.

“I disagree with the concept of building many branches by the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye. Churches don’t make a person holy.

“There are many churches in Lagos and that’s the cause of traffic. The other day, Mathew Ashimolowo made some outrageous demands on tithing and offerings.

“Before it was speaking in tongues they used to deceive people, but today it is miracles. It is also annoying when pastors don’t go to hinterland to evangelise.

“They will rather go to where there are many churches already. According to Lagos law, no two churches should be on the same street.

“When you see things these Pentecostal leaders do, I ask, do they really believe in God? Have they no conscience?”[myad]

Those Who Left PDP Will Come Back Begging, Ex President Jonathan Predicts

Greenbarge Reporters

July 18, 2017

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has predicted that those who left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in its hours of crisis will soon be trooping back by the time it is rebuilt.

Said he: “we may not even need to go on a voyage of discovery to discover people. But they, themselves will come back because a strong party acts like a magnet. It will attract all the people that are interested.”

The former President, who spoke at the expanded National Caucus of the party held last (Monday) night at Wadata House, Abuja, said that the recent judgment by the Supreme Court had given strength to the party and advised members and supporters to do all they can to build the party.

“PDP is a party that Nigerians still believe in,” Jonathan said, assuring that many people who stepped aside from the party as a result of its leadership crisis would return.

“The first thing we need to do is to rebuild the party because when the party is strong, everything will be added to that.

“Whether you have individual or group interest, as a politician, you must serve. These are very basic things, but first and foremost, we must strengthen the party.

“Let us cooperate with the Caretaker Committee and make sure that PDP is very cohesive. And when that happens, people who stepped aside may step back.”

That was even as Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, said only a miracle would stop PDP from regaining power in 2019, adding that the meeting was convened to chart the way forward for the party.

“We call this caucus before the meeting of other organs. You are our party leaders. Immediately judgment was delivered, I said no victor nor vanquished, and we mean it. It does not mean taking what belong to people and giving to a few people.”[myad]

Residents Of Abuja Community, Ravaged By Flood, Count Losses, As Minister Visits Them

Greenbarge Reporters

July 18, 2017

Residents of Dei Dei, a suburb of Abuja, the Nation’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are still mourning the death of their neighbours and counting their losses in recent a flood disaster.
This was even as the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello paid a visit to the area today, Tuesday, to sympathise with the victims.
It would be recalled that a sudden midnight flood wiped off a family of three, comprising 30 year old Malama Rahmatu Abubakar, her four year old, son Yusuf and 26 year old junior sister, Maryam Nuhu. The rain water was said to have submerged the house in which they slept.
The husband of the woman, Malam Abubakar, was said to have been away on a business trip when the flood came to wipe out his household.
Many houses and properties were also said to have been lost in the incident.
The minister, who was accompanied by the Bwari Area Council Chairman, Musa Dikko, the Etsu of Bwari as well as the Director of FCT NEMA, Abbas Idris said that illegal structures and refuse dumps that obstruct the natural pathway of water in the FCT would be removed to stem future flood disaster in the Territory.
“We have spoken to the community; we have also informed them that water will naturally always find its way and we are now just in the middle of July. We still have a lot of rain coming and we have advised them on what they need to do. From what I have received of their feedback, I think they have understood the need for all those that are residing on the direct natural water course, there is a need for them to move and then of course to clean the surrounding area, so that when water comes back as it will definitely do, it will have a natural way of flowing.”
Also the Bwari Council Chairman, Hon. Musa Dikko, gave assurance that the Council is planning a relief intervention for the affected persons and will put measures in places to stop the indiscriminate construction of shanties on water ways. [myad]

How We Were Brainwashed Into Boko Haram Group, Leaders Who Surrendered Narrate

Greenbarge Reporters

July 18, 2017

Leaders of the Boko Haram insurgents, who surrendered to the Nigerian troops, have narrated how they were misinformed about Islam and brainwashed to join the group.
They admitted that they were erroneously misinformed and brainwashed about Islam and the Nigerian military and the society generally.
A statement today, Tuesday by the Director of the Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman said that the leaders, made up of an Ameer from Kafa hideout and along Ajigin-Talala-Mungusum axis of Konto Fanami and three other members surrendered themselves to 120 Task Force Battalion at Goniri in Yobe State yesterday, Monday, July 17.
The Army spokesman said that the terrorists on interrogation confirmed that they abandoned the terrorism because of incessant hardship and realizing that they were misled by their terrorist group leaders.
“On Monday 17th July 2017, four Boko Haram terrorists willingly deserted their hideouts and surrendered themselves to 120 Task Force Battalion at Goniri. Among them was a high-profile terrorist, Konto Fanami, the Ameer of Kafa hideout of the Boko Haram terrorists group that operates along Ajigin-Talala-Mungusum axis.
“During preliminary interrogation, they confirmed that they abandoned the terrorism because of incessant hardship and realizing that they were misled by their terrorist group leaders.”
Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman said: “the remorseful terrorists regretted their involvement in terrorism and marvelled at the courtesies and humane treatment accorded them by the military on surrendering.”
He advised the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists to follow suit and renounce the devilish creed as adequate arrangement has been made to receive all those that voluntarily renounce terrorism, assuring them that they will be treated humanely. [myad]

It Is Very Complex Dealing With Violent Extremism, Osinbajo Confesses

Greenbarge Reporters

July 17, 2017

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has admitted that it is very complex dealing with violent extremism on daily basis.

Professor Osinbajo, who spoke today, Monday, at two different events said: “with respect to violent extremism I am pleased you are taking it on. It is a very complex problem of those of us who have to deal with it on a daily basis.”

The acting President had received in audience, a delegation of the World Leadership Alliance a.k.a Club de Madrid which included two former African Presidents: Festus Mogae of Botswana and Cassa Muttem of Mauritus, and another delegation of the Malala Fund, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa.

Osinbajo stressed the need for countries in Africa to develop counter-narratives, adding: “we are faced with emotive narratives and its now about getting people to understand through counter-narratives that there is a different way to get things done.”

The Acting President observed that while there is a connection between terrorism on the one hand and poverty and ignorance on the other, the challenge that terrorism poses on a global scale is much deeper considering cases of terrorism and hatred even in advanced societies where ignorance and poverty are not rampant.

‘We have to change the mindset and delegitimise the false ideas and notions of hatred and violence.

“Getting people to enroll in school is the easier part of the problem. The bigger one is to ensure that we don’t promote the mindset that girls are in anyway inferior and all that.”

The Club de Madrid, whose membership includes former President Olusegun Obasanjo, had presented him a report of a workshop it had conducted in Nigeria earlier this year on the issue of alternative narratives to counter violent extremism.

Former President Mogae, who presented the report, told Acting President Osinbajo that the objective of the World Leadership Alliance is to promote democracy by organising workshop that included all stakeholders. The workshop which would have the Offfice of the National Security Adviser in attendance, would address the issue of violent extremism.

During the courtesy visit by the Malala Fund, led by the UN Messenger of Peace, Ms. Malala Yousafzai, the Acting President told Malala: “your story is an inspiration for not only young women around the world but for us all.

“Your ability to articulate issues and the courage to face down hatred and terrorism is widely acknowledged.”

Present at the meeting where Ministers of Education; Mallam Adamu Adamu, Women Affairs; Aisha Alhassan and Minister of State for Budget & National Planning Zainab Ahmed.

Earlier, the Acting President also received the President of the International Civil Aviation Organization, Dr. O.B Aliu, whom the Aviation Minister of State Hadi Sirika described at the meeting as “the first black man to lead the ICAO.” (Aliu, a Nigerian, was the country’s representative before he was named to the head of the ICAO.)

Aliu led a delegation from ICAO to pay a courtesy call on the Acting President while attending a conference of the organization in Abuja on Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles, UAV.

Speaking at the meeting Professor Osinbajo noted that the aviation industry is going to play a significant role in the economic development of Nigeria and the Federal Government is making effort to bring down the cost of aviation services in the country.

He said, government is working to bring down the cost of aviation fuel adding that “we believe that aviation cost will go down and that more people will participate, more people will use the services of the airlines and people will use the airports as well.”

While commending ICAO for the excellent and hard work being done in the global industry, the Acting President expressed the delight that Nigeria will be hosting the International World Aviation Forum coming up in Abuja later in the year.

Earlier, the President of ICAO, Dr. O. B. Aliu, expressed his appreciation for the warm reception he and his delegation had received since their arrival in the country and praised the government for the high security ratings Nigeria has earned in the area of aviation security.

He also pledged ICAO’s continued support for Nigeria’s aviation industry especially through strengthening the National College of Aviation Technology. [myad]

WAEC To Hold Exam For Private Candidates Twice A Year From 2018 – Official

Greenbarge Reporters

July 17, 2017

Head of National Office (HNO) of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), Olu Adenipekun, has announced that the council would begin conducting THE Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private candidates twice a year, starting from next year.

Adenipekun, who spoke when he announced the results of the May/June 2017 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Lagos today, Monday, said that the decision to conduct two separate examinations for private candidates yearly was taken at 65^th Annual Council Meeting of WAEC member countries in Abuja in March.

“One of the major highlights of the outcomes of the meeting was the approval granted to member countries to conduct the WASSCE for private candidates, twice in a year. I am happy to inform you that the Nigeria National Office of the Council has concluded arrangements to commence the conduct of the additional diet of the WASSCE for private candidates from January/February, 2018.”

Announcing the results, the WAEC officials said that 59.22 per cent of the 1,559,192 candidates who wrote the May/June 2017 examination made credits in five subjects, including English and Mathematics, adding that the performance of students this year was a significant improvement compared to last year, which was 52.97 per cent and 2015, which was 38.68 per cent.

“There has been a significant improvement and it is our hope that this will continue and not just be a fluke. We hope schools will take advantage of this to prepare students better for the examination.”

“The results of 214,952 candidates, representing 13.79 per cent of the total candidature for the examination are being withheld in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice. The cases are being investigated and reports of the investigations will be presented to the appropriate committee of the Council in due course for consideration. The committee’s decisions will be communicated to the affected candidates through their schools,” he said.

Adenipekun said WAEC was able to achieve its Project 60 target of releasing the result 60 days after the examination ended thanks to improved ICT facilities and training of its workers. He added that the Council would work towards even earlier releases in future.

“We came up with Project 60, a self-imposed time limit for candidates to wait for release of result after the examination. We are hoping to be able to release the result even faster. We are looking at 45 days next time.” [myad]

Osinbajo Welcomes Malala To Aso Rock

Greenbarge Reporters

July 17, 2017

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, in a handshake with Pakistani Human Rights Activist, Malala Yousafzai, when Malala Fund Team paid courtesy visit at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, today, Monday, Photo by Sunday Aghaeze. [myad]

We’re Determined To Get To Bottom Of $2.1 Billion Arms Procurement Scandal – Presidency

Greenbarge Reporters

July 17, 2017

The Presidency has vowed to pursue to the end the current probe of arm procurement scandal running into $2.1 billion against the former National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki in spite of the lies the former NSA has been spinning all over the place.

The presidency, in reaction to claims by Dasuki that the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan cleared the Northeast of Boko Haram terrorists to make elections possible in 2015, said that such claim is another “unfortunate attempt by inglorious Nigerians to rewrite the history of our country in such a way as to cover the sins of the past.”

In a statement today, Monday, President Buhari’s spokesperson, Malam Garba Shehu said that Jonathan only increased the monster of terrorism, saying: “the truth, as a matter of fact, is that the monster of terrorism got bigger and more daring due to the incompetence and misgovernance of the last administration and no amount lies and fiction can change that.

“As a public relations goon for the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, the author did not surprise anyone by dismissing the acclaimed successes of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in the fight against Boko Haram, claiming that this government simply took the glory for the achievements of the previous government in the war against terrorism.”

Garba Shehu said that as of the time elections held in March 2015, a number of local government areas in the Northeast were completely under the control of Boko Haram “to the extent that elections in those areas had to be moved to safe areas.

“The residents of areas such as Gwoza, Banki, Kukawa, Monguno, Bulumba, Baga, Gamboru Ngala, Dikwa, Mafa, etc., were able to vote, not in their hometowns but in refugee camps in other parts of Borno State, under special arrangements made by INEC.”

He said that since Buhari came into power, many of those residents had returned to their homes “and Boko Haram eradicated from their areas. In many of these areas, institutions such as schools, police stations, markets and courts have been reestablished or in the process of being re-established.

“Despite Mr. Dasuki’s attempt to rewrite history, Nigerians could not have forgotten the embarrassing stories of failed weapons that plagued our country’s military during the previous administration, when unserviceable weapons, expired ammunition and fake armored vehicles caused untold grief to our valiant armed forces on the battlefield, with arms exploding willy nilly and guns failing to fire.

“It is for trespasses like these that the Buhari administration is determined to get to the bottom of the $2.1 billion arms procurement scandal and ensure that no single one of the culprits go scot free.” [myad]

CBN Again Pumps $195 Million Into Forex

Greenbarge Reporters

July 17, 2017

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has once more pumped$195 million into Foreign Exchange Market in continuation of its FOREX supply drive in the inter-bank transaction.
Figures released by the Bank show that it offered a total sum of $100 million to the wholesale segment, while the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) segment received the sum of $50 million.
The invisibles segment, comprising tuition fees, medical payments and Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), among others got $45 million.
According to the Acting Director of the apex Bank, Isaac Okorafor, the CBN is happy with the state of the Forex market.
He stressed that CBN would continue to intervene in order to sustain the liquidity in the market and guarantee the international value of the naira.
He said that the apex Bank is determined to achieve its objective of rates convergence, hence the unrelenting injection of intervention funds into the foreign exchange market.
Okorafor expressed optimism that the Naira will sustain its run against the dollar and other major currencies around the world, considering the level of transparency in the market.
He advised stakeholders to abide by the guidelines to ensure transparency in the market.
It will be recalled that the CBN, last week, intervened in the various segments of the Forex market with the sum of $396.8 million.
Meanwhile, the naira continued to maintain its stability in the FOREX market, exchanging at an average of N364/$1 in the BDC segment of the market today, Monday, July 17. [myad]

How To Stem Government Of Mediocre, Ineptitude In Kogi State – By Hussain Obaro

Greenbarge Reporters

July 17, 2017

Although there is nothing fundamentally wrong for an elected leader like your Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello, to have a few friends or family members around as political appointees, so far as such an action do not relegate competence and the need to put the right pegs in their corresponding holes. But when the desire to appoint friends and allies into appointive positions overrides the imperative to have in place technocrats needed to aide governance and enhance a smooth delivery of dividends of democracy to the masses, then anarchy is sure and failure is certain.

If things continue the way they currently are in kogi state, posterity will remember you and your administration as one during which mediocrity, gross ineptitude and crass incompetence was the order of the day. One of your greatest undoing as the present occupant of Lugard House was appointing political and administrative novices into top government positions. This has so far manifested negatively and affected the quality of service delivery and general performance of your government.

If half of the time and energy and financial resources being spent on attacking, insulting, abusing, intimidating, threatening and harassing members of the public who opposes your approach to governance were used in contributing positively and meaningfully by appointees of the state government who’s major achievements since the inception of this administration has been unnecessarily making more enemies for you on a daily basis, then kogi state would have surpassed Lagos state in terms of human and infrastructural development.

Going on the social network to banter words, throw jabs, calling people to threaten the life out of them and using the security agencies to assault, arrest and unlawfully detain members of the public who merely differ in the line of thought with your government has been the modus operandi and negative approach of your retinue of political appointees which is unfortunately denting the image, reputation and public perception of this administration.

Your Excellency, the recent needless outburst and reaction of the state attorney general to a comment made by some members of the national assembly on the recall process of senator Dino Melaye was unnecessary, reckless and unfortunate. Wasting a huge sum of over twelve million naira of the lean financial resources of the state in sponsoring newspaper advertorials merely to react to a senator’s comment, when such could either be made through a press briefing or simply ignored, was the height of financial indiscipline and immaturity on the part of your government.

Sadly, apart from creating unnecessary political enemies and fights for on your behalf and portraying the state government as one devoid of common sense and ample competence to deliver the much expected and craved dividends of democracy to kogites, your media team haven’t been able to bridge the wide communication gap that exists between your government and the people of the state.

The strength of any a politician lies in his capacity to select his battles wisely, this is because there is no permanent friend or enemy in politics. The hallmark of great leaders and successful politicians is that they are careful not to fight every political fight they are challenged into; their greatness lies in their bravery to ignore the small fights so as to remain focus and more prepared for the big ones. Even in real warfare, a great warrior isn’t the man who fights every war, but the one who fights and wins the big wars.

Your administration scored a political own-goal and made a major mistake by engaging senator Dino Melaye in a fight. No matter what, you should have resisted the temptation to pick a quarrel with a man who against all odds and pressure from his constituent, turned his back on his brother and kinsman, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke to fully support and worked towards the actualization and the successful inauguration of your government. It is said that “when the chips are down, you will know who your true friends are” senator Dino proved to be one of such friends, even at a time when some of your own kinsmen turned their back.

The circumstances that brought you in as the executive governor of the state had already created more enemies for you than friends, the clever thing for you to have done was strive to keep the very few friends of yours while putting measures in place to win more. Your feud with the state chapter of APC was ill advised, unnecessary and a deep self inflicted injury which has created a bad blood and an avoidable enmity within the APC family in the state.

Even though you are yet to declare whether you will seek another term of office at the 2019 gubernatorial election, the body language of your lieutenants is already pointing to that direction. The truth is that there’s no way you can win a reelection with your current approach to governance and by engaging everybody in a fight and political war. The need for you to rejig your cabinet and lay off unproductive appointees who have had nothing positive to add to your government aside fighting and duplicating enemies for your government is inevitable at this point in time to pave the way for the inclusion of technocrats and progressive minded personalities that can contribute meaningfully.

Your Excellency, if you are really interested in securing a reelection, then it’s high time you should swallow your pride and reach out to all aggrieved within the APC in a genuine reconciliatory move. Regardless of what some of your aides wants you to believe, by the virtue of the position he currently occupies and his exploit in the APC in the state and beyond, senator Dino Melaye remains a factor to reckon with, so is the Audu/Faleke group and indeed all the members of the state chapter of the party. At this juncture, employing the services of royal fathers and notable elders across the state to help initiate and facilitate a reconciliatory process wouldn’t be a bad idea and is the right thing to do. Failure to do these means you should kiss Lugard House goodbye in 2020. Long live Your Excellency, long live Kogi State, and Long live the federal republic of Nigeria.

Hussain Obaro wrote in from Lokoja, Kogi State and can be reached on oseniobaro@yahoo.com [myad]

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