Killing Of Cows In Ekiti: Herdsmen Ask Buhari To Call Fayose To Order Before It’s Too Late

October 22, 2016

Herdsmen under the umbrella of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigerian (MACBAN) have called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the federal government to call Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State to order over the killing of their cows before they resort to retaliation.

A statement by its spokesman, Baba Othman Ngelzarma, recalled that Fayose on Thursday inaugurated a vigilante group, known as Ekiti Grazing Enforcement Marshals (EGEM), popularly called ‘Anti-malu’ “in furtherance of his threat to banish our members from Ekiti State.”

The statement said that governor Fayose unleashed the marshals “against our members whose herds of cattle had gone to a stream at Agon Bridge on Federal Polytechnic road between the time of 2:00 – 2:30 PM to quench their thirst on Friday 21st October 2016.

“We have been reliably alerted an impeccable source in Ado- Ekiti that the Anti-maul vigilante group shot five cows and carted away with the meat but the herdsman was able to flee with the rest of his cattle.

“We are hereby constrained to implore the federal government through its security agencies to wade into this unprovoked and primitive aggression against our members, before this macabre incident develops into unquenchable inferno involving our members and Ekiti State government.

“No Cattle strayed into anybody’s farmland around that area in question. As such, the actions of the Anti-malu vigilante are not ant only provoking, but capable of creating uncontrollable scenarios whose ramification may go well beyond Ekiti State.

“As far as we know, Ekiti State is not an island of its own , but a State within the federal Republic of Nigeria and while the Governor is permitted to carry out actions geared towards protecting the interest of Ekiti State, such actions should follow the rule of law.

“We deplore this act of brigandage and call on Governor Ayodele Fayose to offer an unreserved apology to MACBAN, and equally set machinery in motion with a view to compensate our members who lost five cows in this primitive adventure.

“That the brutality of the Ekiti Grazing enforcement marshals (popularly known as Anti- malu) on herdsmen is even outside the time stipulated by that law (if the law exists at all).

“The federal government should therefore look into the actions and activities of this committee because we cannot fold our hands while the only means of survival of our members is taken away and destroyed.

“MACBAN has instructed victims of this aggression and its members nationwide to exercise maximum restrain while we work towards resolving this unfortunate incident through mature and civilized manners.

“MACBAN further sympathized with the government of Kaduna State, Sokapu and entire Kaduna South inhabitants over the recent incident that had claimed so many lives as a result of a discord between our members and communities surrounding Godogodo environ.

“We see this act as an absolute brutality exhibited by the perpetrators and condemnable in all its ramifications. We call on the security to do all it could to fish out and bring these criminals to book.”

Meanwhile, The Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Sokoto State Chapter, Alhaji Muhammadu Magaji, has warned its members not to graze their livestock on farm lands. [myad]

God Disappointed Me, Ex Nollywood Actress, Hilda Dokubo Curses

Greenbarge Reporters

October 22, 2016

Popular former Nollywood actress, Hilda Dokubo has said that she was disappointed in God for taking the life of her father who devoted his life in serving Him, at the time she was at tender age.

Dokubo, who served as a Special Adviser on Youth Affairs to former Rivers State Governor, Peter Odili, and now a Pastor was in Lagos where she ministered as a Pastor at the Fresh Oil InternatiAIn her sermon, she sadi: “I was born with a silver spoon, but death turned me poverty-stricken after my father died when I was just nine. I turned away from God at that point, because I felt disappointed that despite how much my father loved and served God, he still died.”

“After my dad died, my mother completely lost her mind. If she were living in the US, I’m sure she would have been diagnosed as a mental case. You know, in Nigeria, we don’t consider people mad until they have started eating from dustbins. I rebelled against God at that point, and I stopped going to church at the age of nine.

“However, I was a very brilliant girl, and I got admission into the university at the age of 16. I became rascally and did what girls like that do. I slept with a man, and I became pregnant. It wasn’t the Holy-Spirit that impregnated me. My mom was devastated and disappointed in me because of that. I was also angry with her because ‘her God’ killed my father, and we stopped speaking to each other.

“One day, a man came to me and said he needed a barge. I didn’t know what it was, and he told me it was used to store oil. I then recalled that I had once seen a barge in the compound opposite ours. I went to the neighbo. I went to the neighbour and told him I needed the barge. He asked me what I needed it for, but I told him not to worry. I told them to put the barge in front of my mother’s house. At that point, the man who told me he needed the barge came back, and dropped sacks of money containing N2 million with my mom because I was in school at that time. Two weeks later, he returned with N500,000, and I was dumbfounded. Before then, I had never seen N100,000 together, but there I was as a millionaire at 17, not knowing what to do with the money. I would have become a prostitute, but I became restless and challenged destiny. Your life cannot change for the better if you don’t challenge destiny. Even God challenged destiny.” [myad]

2016 Muslim Pilgrimage: All’s Well That Ends Well (EDITORIAL)

Greenbarge Reporters

October 22, 2016

The 2016 Muslim pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia has come and gone with obvious success story trailing it. As a matter of fact, the hajj operations were adjudged as not only an improvement on the operations in the previous years, but the best in recent time. This was in spite of the initial hiccups, caused by the Saudi authorities’ rejection of wrist-bands, designed by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for Nigerian pilgrims, as part of identifying them in the Holy land.

The airlift of over 62,000 intending pilgrims which began on August 8 from Sokoto airport with 445 Zamfara intending pilgrims airlifted to Madinnah, came to an end on October 9, with the airlift of the last batch of 543 Kano/Kebbi pilgrims from Jeddah airport by Max Air on flight number VM2118.
The 2016 operations and the situations in the Holy land were in complete contrast to the ones in 2015 which witnessed disasters, accidents and mass deaths. It was indeed, in 2015 that crane fell on pilgrims around the Holy Mosque in Makkah, killing some of them. It was in the same year, September 24 that thousands of pilgrims died at Jamrah during a fatal stampede. No fewer than 317 Nigerians, including prominent Scholars, Diplomats, Journalists and several others were among those who lost their lives. It was the year in which the worst hajj coordination and management was witnessed, especially, by the Saudi Arabian authorities.
However, in 2016, the operations, from the point of departure, especially from Nigeria, to the Holy land and the return journey were so smooth and quiet as if nothing was happening. Those who have no business with the operations never heard about how the operations were going on.
Many things have been attributed to the success and smooth operations that were recorded in the 2016 exercise, one of which was the early preparations; education and sensitization of the officials, the intending pilgrims and proper coordination with the Embassy for the issuance of visas.
There were also gradual reduction in the time spent by the officials who screened the pilgrims at the King Abdulazeez International Airport in Jeddah, strict adherence to controlling influx, into Jeddah airport, by pilgrims who were not scheduled to be airlifted at particular time, enforcement of penalty for pilgrims who did not show up for their scheduled flights, compelling airliners to accommodate and feed pilgrims due to delay in flights caused by them, compelling the air carriers to adhere to the flight schedules, allowing the airliners to carry out the weighing of pilgrims’ luggage right in their accommodation in Makkah and the cooperation of Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).
There was also a greater synergy amongst the operational staff of the State Pilgrims Welfare Boards and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) even as the command and control unit in the aviation department did wonderful job by providing up to date information on pilgrims airlift as well as interfacing with airliners and State Pilgrims Welfare Board officials.

Pilgrims also acknowledged that the authorities took good care of their needs in terms of accommodation in the right places, transportation, enlightenment and many others.
All these and more, made the 2016 pilgrimage and hajj operations a success story.
It is good to know that hajj operations have now been made an all-year round exercise, whereby even preparations for the 2017 operations began in Saudi Arabia immediately after the last flight departed to Nigeria. Indeed, this is how it should be, so that those things that are likely to obstruct smooth operations are addressed in good time.
One of such things is the issue of excess hand luggage which most Nigerian pilgrims have stubbornly held on to. The officials concern, especially, at the state level, should continue to educate their contingents, especially, the first-timers, on this issue. The pilgrims should be made to understand that hajj is not the same thing as shopping, though there is this belief in many quarters that pilgrims should bring all sorts of gifts to the loved ones, the people in the neighbourhood and many others, as they are returning. This has become a kind of symbol with which pilgrims are acknowledged by family members, friends and well-wishers, which is not supposed to be so.
There is also the need for proper coordination in the area of information dissemination on the flights schedules and other matters about the operations generally. Hajj operations would not run smoothly if information and the channels through which it is disseminated are not properly managed.

It is heartwarming that the executive chairman of NAHCON, Barrister Mukhtar Abdullahi Mohammed took time off during the hajj to confer with his Indonesian counterpart to seek for ways towards working together for the overall benefit of the two countries. As a matter of fact, hajj operations are becoming so sophisticated that information sharing amongst the Islamic countries can no longer be played down. Therefore, interaction with Indonesia, which is one of the countries with highest number of pilgrims every year, is in the right direction.

The chairman also talked about improving the Information Technology system in the management of the operations. Indeed, the whole world is fast turning into a single entity with the massive use of information technology, so much that the managers of hajj in Nigeria have to move fast to buy into it. The government should encourage them to do so, in order that the country is not left behind as time goes on.
All said, we in Greenbarge Reporters highly commend all the stakeholders: the NAHCON, headed by Barrister Mukhtar; state Pilgrims Welfare Boards, the airliners and carriers; the information officers, the health care givers and welfare officers in the relevant bodies, as well as the Saudi Arabian Hajj Authorities for all the efforts, the know-how and hard work they put up that ensured the success and smooth conduct of this year’s pilgrimage.

It is hoped that measures would be taken to improve in all sections of the operation in the 2017 operations. [myad]

Passenger Train Crashes In Cameroon, Kills 70

Greenbarge Reporters

October 22, 2016

An overloaded passenger train traveling between Cameroon’s two largest cities derailed and overturned on Friday, killing at least 70 people and injuring nearly 600 others.

Rail officials said the train had been carrying 1,300 passengers, instead of the usual 600. The collapse of a bridge along the main highway between the capital and Douala had prompted more people to undertake the journey by rail.

A passenger, Joel Bineli told Reuters news agency that he saw three dismembered bodies on the tracks at the accident site.

“There was a loud noise. I looked back and the wagons behind us left the rails and started rolling over and over. There was a lot of smoke.”

He said that prior to the train’s departure from Yaounde, a railway employee said that eight additional wagons had been added to the normally nine-wagon train in order to accommodate extra passengers.

The route is one of the busiest in the country with trains to Chad and the Central African Republic also using the axis, which has a poor safety record.

The President of the Republic of Cameroon, Paul Biya, who is travelling abroad, has already sent a condolence message to the victims.

He wrote in his official Facebook page: “My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the Camrail train derailment in Eseka. Over 70 passengers died and 600 wounded in the accident.”

Also, Transport Minister, Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo’o said that the Friday’s accident took place near the central town of Eseka – 120km west of the capital Yaounde – as the train travelled to the economic hub of Douala.

“The cause of the accident is not yet clear,” said the minister, via state broadcaster CRTV, adding that several of the injured were in a very serious condition.

“Intervention and security teams have been mobilised,” the rail company Camrail said.

In 2014, Cameroon began building its first highway between the two towns, but the work is not due to be completed until 2018. [myad]

Between God And Husband – 3

Greenbarge Reporters

October 22, 2016

My conversation with Kenny made me realize he didn’t value me as his wife and so I made a decision to give him space. I called my mum and told her I was coming home for a week. I was able to convince her Kenny supported my decision and I packed my bags. I was going to go home for a week. The next morning I told Kenny about my trip,
”I listened to everything you said and I have decided we probably need to give each other some space. I am taking a break and travelling to my parent’s house”. I said
Kenny shook his head, ”you should be ashamed of yourself Lola. In fact when they call women to stand up, you should hide your face in shame. So you cannot take care of your home, you can’t satisfy your husband and now rather than deal with your problems you are running?
”Kenny, I refuse to be insulted. I sat quietly while you heaped insults on me yesterday but that doesn’t mean I will continue to take it. You said my presence is causing you sorrow and now I am giving you space. I will take the time apart to pray for us”
”I don’t freaking need your prayers madam. In fact, God will not answer that prayer because he has told you everything you need to do in the Bible. Stop praying for me and start satisfying me”.
”Ehen, so the other day, when I bought sexy lingerie and waited for you at home, did you not leave me hanging? You are confused and don’t know what you want”.
”You want to go? Fine! Get the hell out but you just might not meet this marriage when you come back”.
”Like I said, I will take the time apart to pray, God will sustain our home” I told him emphatically.
He just shook his head and closed his eyes on the bed, effectively ending the conversation. I packed my bags and headed straight to the airport.
Late in the night that day, while I sat in my parent’s sitting room, my mum was trying to get stories out of me.
”So why didn’t Kenny take a break with you madam?”
”Mum, he is busy with work, that’s the same thing I told dad before”.
”That doesn’t mean he should not spend a weekend with us. We have not seen him since the wedding.”
”Isn’t that why I am here? At least once you see one of us you have seen two of us. After all the two have become one.” I said laughing.
”Okay , no problem. I tried to call him earlier that we have seen his wife but he was not picking his call”.
”I am sure he will probably call you back tomorrow. He is probably resting early now that I am not home”.
”Okay, but Omolola how is marriage life? I hope you are being submissive and taking care of your husband well enough”.
”Mummy, did he complain to you? I am trying my best”.
”Why are you getting defensive? Is everything okay? I hope this delay in pregnancy isn’t putting you under pressure?”
”No, it’s not mum, we are fine with it. Everything is okay.”
”There is no cause for alarm yet. It’s not even up to a year yet. I waited 3 years before I was able to get pregnant with your elder brother and then you so everything will be fine.”
”I know mum…”
The hard knock on the door startled us.
”Mum are you expecting anyone so late? Its 11pm already and dad has gone to bed”.
”No I am not but it could be that our neighbours need something, go and open the door”.
As I got close to the door to open it, I was suddenly knocked off my feet by the force of it being jacked open. My eyes went wide open as I saw them, three in number with their weapons held up high. I closed my eyes shut and began to pray.
”Okay so pray very well beautiful girl, you just might need it” the voice said. My eyes were still squeezed shut so I could not identify which of them spoke. As soon as I felt a hand pull me by my hair, my eyes flipped open and I was dragged into the living room to meet my mum who was already in tears and shaking.
Five days later, I woke up once again with screams as has been the practice since that horrible night. My dad was immediately by my side soothing me as the tears rolled down my face.
”It’s okay Omolola. You’re fine and safe. Daddy is here.”
”Daddy, I am afraid. Kenny has not come”.
”I know he hasn’t. I will still call him again. Just try and get stronger first okay?”
”He hasn’t picked my calls dad. Since you told him, he has not picked my calls once”.
As my dad eventually left me alone in the bedroom with my thoughts, I recalled that evil night as clear as the day. I remember my dad being dragged from the bedroom and asked to give them money. I remember the exhaustive search for money which proved abortive as my dad and mum only had a total of about N50,000 at home. I remember adding the N20,000 I had in my bag and the man telling me I was insulting him with change. As soon as I apologized, he looked at me and really looked at me and I knew what he was going to do before he even did it. I could see it vividly in his eyes. I begged,
”Please, I am married. I beg you”
”So what are you doing in daddy’s house fine girl, your husband is not servicing you well abi? I will help his matter. He needs help”.
I begged, my dad and mum begged and his only response was because of their begging, he won’t make them watch. I fought as hard as I could and for every struggle there was a slap and a punch. He finally had to get the other man to hold me down. I fought every step of the way. I was numb. The physical pain was welcome, I could deal with that. I couldn’t deal with the heaviness that crushed my heart. All through as he kept thrusting faster than I could ever imagine, I thought of Kenny and how much pain this was going to cause him. I remember him warning me not to make this trip. He kept going on and on for about thirty minutes before he finally let go. Funny how he had the decency to use a condom. I had no strength left. I was broken. For the first time in my christian walk, I questioned God. I asked him questions. His silence was deafening.
It has been five days since my nightmare, five days since my dad informed Kenny, three days since I got back home from the hospital and he still hasn’t showed up. I have no more will left to even call him anymore.
After a whole month of daily calls to Kenny with no response, I finally gave up. I knew my marriage was over. I had gone through the full cycle from tears to pain in my heart to anger to being just blank. I have finally resigned myself to fate. Even the strength to pray had left me. I have tried interpreting Kenny’s silence in different ways but my conclusion was that he just didn’t love me enough to fight for us. I sent him different text messages and not once did he humour me and respond. I just could not understand why a man will be silent after hearing his wife was raped.
As always my mum walked into my bedroom that Friday afternoon once again to ask what happened between my husband and I. She had soon figured out something was wrong but I always refused to tell her.
”Lola, you know what? Your father and I have tried. You have stayed in our house for over a month and we have been caring. You can’t keep saying there is nothing wrong when I have been married for thirty five years and I know more than you”
”Mum, please I don’t have the strength to argue”.
”Okay then, your father and I have decided you can’t live here anymore. We will not harbour a married woman in our home. Since you and your husband don’t respect us enough to seek for advice. Please go back to him or wherever you want but you cannot stay under my roof”.
Still shocked at what she was saying, ”Mum?”
”Daughter!!! Yes?”
I finally relented. I didn’t even have a plan B.” Mum, Kenny and I have serious problems. Our marriage is not even up to a year and we don’t even know how to move forward”.
”Okay tell me everything”.
So I sat for over an hour and told my mum every single detail from my wedding night to the day I left Kenny’s house. Surprisingly, my mum did not interrupt or blow up at me. I expected her to start screaming but her calmness amazed me.
”Heeeeeeee Omolola, O ti ba ye je ( you have spoilt the world)” She said in Yoruba language when I was finally done.
”Mummy haba, what did I do wrong? How can Kenny just abandon me here? His love is fleeting mum, it can’t even stand the test of time”. I said with deep anger and disappointment.
”hmmmmm, first of all, you are changing your church. The kind of pastor’s wife that will give you such advise is not who you should be listening to. Why didn’t you call me? Why did you go to an outsider?”
”Mum, you are the one that said I should keep our matters private”.
”Not when it is crumbling my dear, we all need help once in a while”.
”Okay mum, what do we do now? Do you think there is any chance for Kenny and I”.
”Of course, your father and I have had greater battles that we have overcome. Marriage is filled with battles; we fight, win, conquer and fight another day. We never give up. It only ends the day you stop fighting for it. Lola, you keep fighting till you conquer. There is no end. You made some terrible decisions and took some wrong steps”.
”Mum, what about Kenny? He took a lot of wrong steps too”.
”Yes, I will face Kenny but I need to talk to you first. I told you not to kill yourself over not having a child yet. It will come. You shouldn’t have fasted and deprived your husband without his full consent. Moreso, you should have given him his marital rights between 6pm when you break your fast and midnight when the next day starts. You shouldn’t have run from your home without his consent and come hide here. To tell you the truth, it will take God for Kenny to be able to sleep with you again. Both of you, your actions have spoilt a lot of things. This matter should not have generated to this level. First thing tomorrow morning, I am going back to Abuja with you, we are going to see your husband”
True to her word, by 11 am on Saturday, which was the next day, we had arrived my house. As soon as I saw Kenny’s car parked in the compound, my heart started beating fast. I wished he was not home even though mum had called earlier and told him she was coming to see him. He opened the door as soon as we were approaching and I assumed he had seen us through the window and prostrated, greeting my mum in yoruba language. Kenny totally ignored me and my mum just smiled at us. I left them in the sitting room and went into the room. Everything was just as I left it and my investigation as to whether somebody else had been living with him came up empty. I heard my mum call me from the living room and I quickly dropped my bag and went back to join them.
”Mummy, Lola does not want to be married. In less than a year of marriage she has shown blatant disregard and disrespect both for me and this home and I am sick of it. Does she think if it was another man, he won’t have started womanizing by now? I stayed faithful even when she refused to be faithful to our marriage vows”. Kenny said with so much anger.
”Please don’t threaten us with tales of unfaithfulness. So you want an award because you didn’t cheat? I said.
”Keep your mouth shut Lola, just shut up” my mum shouted while Kenny just shook his head. I instantly felt remorseful.
I listened as my mum and Kenny started talking. I truly listened to his hurts and pains as he opened up to my mum and for the first time I understood the gravity of where we were. By the time they started talking about the rape incident, Kenny shed tears. He just kept quiet while tears fell from his eyes and I was broken for both of us.
”Mummy, I warned Lola, I warned her not to go. I haven’t been able to get that image out of my head ever since Daddy told me. Where do we start from? She refused to sleep with me all in the name of prayers and freely gave it to a thief?”
”Kenny, don’t say she freely gave it. We all still feel the pains of that night most especially your wife. The pain she is still in as a result of that incident is great. She needs a lot of time to heal”. My mum said.
”I warned her, I warned her mummy” Kenny insisted.
My mum began to talk to Kenny about us communicating better, about understanding each other and being quick to forgive. She spoke and fear gripped my heart as I looked at Kenny’s face.
After so much advise from mum, Kenny began to calm down.
”Both of you need to pray, be patient and communicate” mum said again.
”Mummy, truth be told, I am not sure if this marriage still exists. I don’t even know where to start with Lola” Kenny said.
”You both start with forgiving each other and then take it one step at a time. You start with conversations, heart to heart ones, share your pains and fears and with time the intimacy will come and with time you will heal”.
”Okay mummy, thank you ma.” Kenny said.
About an hour later, mum left our home in a cab, headed to the airport for her flight back home. She refused to stay the night despite all our pleas. As soon as she left, I turned to Kenny to apologize.
”Baby, I am sorry”.I said to Kenny as he went back to sit on the sofa and I sat beside him.
He turned to me and said ”I pray to God to give me the enabling spirit to take that bad rape incident off my mind, Omololami, I am sorry too, I am sorry I wasn’t with you during this painful period. Truth is, I don’t even know if we can fix this, but first and foremost, we are both going to change our place of worship. We shall pray fervently for God to lead us through this hard time”.
”We will babe,” I said with renewed confidence, ”we will, one day at a time”. To God be the glory.

CONCLUDED. [myad]

Poverty Made Me To Sell My 2-Month-Old Baby For N.45 Million

Greenbarge Reporters

October 22, 2016

A mother of two-month-old baby, Comfort Effiong has confessed that she sold the baby to a 51 year old Rose Edward for N450,000 because there was no one to take care of her and the baby.
“I sold the baby because of help. I don’t have anybody to help me. My father is late and my mother is sick and I don’t have anybody to help me.”
Comfort made the confession to the police today, Saturday, in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, where she was paraded, along with the buyer, before news men.

This was even as the buyer, Rose, also confessed that she bought the baby because she needed a baby of her own.

The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Murtala Mani, speaking through the state police Command’s spokesperson, ASP Cordelia Nwanwe, assured the people of the state that the command would not relent in its effort to curb crime.
He asked members of the public who wish to adopt children to follow due process. [myad]

Business At London Stock Exchange

Greenbarge Reporters

October 21, 2016

From left to right: Nikhil Rathi, Chief Executive Officer, London Stock Exchange (LSE); Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, Director General, National Pension Commission (PENCOM); Greg Hands, UK Minister for International Trade; Kemi Adeosun, Honourable Minister of Finance, Federal Republic of Nigeria; Oscar N. Onyema, OON, Chief Executive Officer, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Executive Director, Capital Markets Division, NSE at the Opening Bell Ceremony of the London Stock Exchange to kick off the 3^rdLondon and Lagos Capital Markets in Partnership Conference organized by the Nigerian Stock Exchange and London Stock Exchange in London…today, Friday. [myad]

What Does It Profit Aisha To Gain The World…By Yusuf Ozi-Usman

Yusuf Ozi-Usman

October 21, 2016

Let us not pretend, as we have been doing all along, about the religious and therefore, spiritual implication of what Aisha, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, has lately allowed herself to be led into.
Her unfortunate open protest, either on her own or on behalf of others, against her husband, who has been struggling to correct all the economic, administrative, social and systemic dislocation caused to the polity by the previous governments, has thrown the family she has built over the years into disarray.
So much has the family been helped to be divided on the basis of things of this world, by those who have after all been waiting for such opportunity, that one is not sure who is where now.
Even though, President Buhari has acknowledged that irrespective of what happens, he still loves his wife (Aisha), but the reality is that, based on the way Aisha has been going about the whole thing, the relationship, or put appropriately, the love that is supposed to flow so as for the President to have some form of comfort, appears to have been diminished.
This is where the issue of religion comes in. While, to the best of my knowledge, Christianity preaches the importance of submissiveness of women to their husbands, Islam speaks elaborately on the duties of women to their husbands.
Islam, into which Aisha was born and grew, and the religion she married into and is practicing, places emphasis on wife safeguarding the interests of her husband. The Holy Qur’an specifically asks woman to protect the property of her husband and keep his secrets at all times and in all circumstances.

The Holy Qur’an says: “…So the righteous women are obedient to Allah and submissive to their husbands, and guard, in the husband’s absence, what Allah would have them guard i.e., their chastity and the prestige and property of the husband…”

Every woman must obey the legitimate commands of her husband. Appeasement of husband is a great virtue while the displeasure of the husband carries heavy prosecution. The Holy Prophet of Islam has said: “If I were to command humans to prostrate before anyone other than Allah, I would have commanded the women to bow down before their husbands.”
He added: “If a woman dies in a state that her husband is happy with her, she would enter the Paradise”

The same Prophet also said: “When the husband calls his wife for some work, she should immediately attend his call even if she may be sitting by the side of her hearth.” This means that the wife should give top priority to attend to her husband.

Another Hadith says: “If a husband says to his wife to transform a yellow mountain into a black one or turn a black mountain into a white one, she should obey his orders.” This Hadith means that the woman should try to perform the hardest of the hard job assigned by her husband.

The Prophet went further to say again: “Allah’s Angels curse the woman throughout the night whose husband calls her to bed but she refuses and the husband goes to sleep in anger.”

Those women, who are unaware of this feature of their role, may find difficulty in fulfilling the task. It is a job for the woman who is aware that the job requires a degree of sagacity, style, and ingenuity. For a woman to be a successful wife, she should win over her husband’s heart and be a source of comfort to him.

Imam Rida stated: ‘The greatest gain for a man is a faithful woman who, when she sees him, becomes happy and protects his property and her own honor in his absence.”

Indeed, in Islam, taking care of one’s husband has an important position. It has been equated to the role of Jihad (holy war in the path of Allah).

Imam Ali stated: ‘The Jihad of a woman is to take care of her husband well.”

Considering that Jihad is the struggle and holy war in the path of Allah, including the struggle for advancement and honor of Islam, defending the Islamic territories and execution of social justice, it is one of the highest acts of worship. The value of fulfilling the duties of a proper spouse is also reflected upon when considering Jihad.

The Prophet of Islam stated: “Any woman who dies while her husband is pleased with her, enters Paradise. If a woman does not perform her duty as a spouse, she has not done her duty to Allah.”

All these boil down to the purpose for which God created us, for He said, “I did not create human being and jinn except for them to worship Me.” And therefore, for an Muslim woman, observing and practicing those that are prescribed in the Holy Qur’an and Hadith is part of such worship.

The Islam, in another section, describes women as ‘all naked” by the nature of their creation, even as it enjoins them to lower their gaze in the midst of men that are not their husbands; to keep their chastity and expose their beauty only for the sight of their husbands.
Islam, therefore, looks at women who are doing something to the contrary as hypocrites, rebels and pretenders.
From the very first time Aisha Buhari appeared on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and spoke against her husband, exposing his supposed weak points, which of course, she should have covered to gain Allah’s pleasure, she had completely veered off the course.

One was at pains to explain why she would go to Belgium and had the temerity to defy God by shaking hands with a man who was not her husband. She has forgotten the Islamic view on special contact either by sight, touch, or by feeling of a Muslim woman with a man that is not her husband. In one word, such contact is considered as ‘adultery.’ That is to say that there is adultery of sight, of touch and of feeling, which is what even some people jokingly refer to as ‘touchery’, ‘lookry’ and so on.

It is becoming clearer that Aisha is being brainwashed by the enemies of Islam to derail her technically from the path of Allah, just so that she would be seen as being modern or ‘independent or not belonging to the kitchen, the living room and the other room.’ And where would such sense of freedom or equality or haughtiness take her?

As a matter of fact, a Muslim woman, like Aisha, ought to be strong enough and with untainted pride, to display her religious culture anywhere, because, what she possesses, even if she is President of the country, leads ultimately to how she relate with God and carry out His command without question.

Or is Aisha ashamed that her husband said that she belongs to his kitchen, the living room and the other room? Is she being carried away by the condemnations of her husband for saying what he said by those who know nothing about her religion or those who know but are playing politics with it? Or those who just want to ridicule her husband through her?

And by going haywire in Belgium, what lesson would she want her children, especially, daughters to learn?

The voice of those of us that are calling on Aisha Buhari to retrace her steps and stop dancing to the music of condemnation of her husband by the ‘majority’ across the ‘civilized’ but polluted world may be tiny and unimpressive, but that is the voice of wisdom.

Even if she spends 1,200 years on this earth and possesses all the wealth and power and in this world, one day, just one day, she will return to Allah and answer for how she serves Him; which is the purpose she was created in the first place.

May she be well-guided. [myad]

Fani Kayode Returns To EFCC Trap

Greenbarge Reporters

October 21, 2016

The former Nigeria Aviation minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has returned again to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He was re-arrested today, Friday, when he emerged from trial before a Federal High Court in Lagos.
Fani-Kayode, who is also former Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organization, is standing trial at the Federal High Court in Lagos alongside a former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman, and Danjuma Yusuf.
Also charged with them is a company, Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited.
They were arraigned on a 17-count charge bordering on unlawful retention, unlawful use and unlawful payment of money to the tune of about N4.9 billion. They each pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted bail.
Today, after the Prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, opened the case and had wrapped up the witness’ evidence for the day.
The court then adjourned the case to November 14 and 15 for continuation of trial.
However, shortly after the accused left the courtroom, two officers of the EFCC, dressed in white Kaftans, flanked his sides and requested that he followed them to the commission.
Immediately, the court’s gate was barricaded by a Toyota Hiace bus and Fani-Kayode was arrested and taken away by the EFCC.
Fani-Kayode had in a statement on Thursday said the EFCC was going to arrest him on Friday.
He said inside sources in the EFCC told him that the idea is to keep him away for a fairly long time.
Meanwhile, when the case was mentioned today, Oyedepo had opened the case for the prosecution and called his first witness, a Media Consultant, Idowu Olusegun.
Leading him in evidence, the witness, a media Consultant for Paste Posters Company Limited, told the court that N30 million was paid in cash to him.
Olusegun said that the money was paid by the office of the Director of Media and Publicity, PDPPCO.
According to him, he had reached an agreement with the organisation, whose office is situate at 14B, Samora Micheal Avenue, Asokoro, FCT, for the sum of N24 million for media consultancy services.
He said that a further negotiation was reached in which N50 would be paid for each size of A2 posters, while N20 would be paid for each size of A4 flyers.
Olusegun told the court that after the printing job for the posters and flyers was done, he was invited to the office of the organisation and given N30 million in cash.
He told the court that he had demanded to know why payments was made in cash and was informed by one Mr. Oke that cash was the approved means of payment.
He said that Oke had been the person communicating with him throughout the pendency of his engagement to do the media jobs.
The witness also told the court that apart from the N30 million paid to him, there is also an outstanding payment of N24 million, which was not paid to his company.
After his testimony, and based on agreements of counsels, the court fixed November 14 and 15 for continuation of trial.
Meanwhile, a mild drama unfolded in the court during trial when the trial judge, Justice Sule Hassan, ordered the seizure of the mobile phone of Fani-Kayode.
The accused had held his phones and suddenly it rang out loud and the judge asked: “Who is doing that?”
Hassan ordered the court’s registrar to seize the phone. Similarly, the trial judge also issued a warning to the counsel representing the accused when he sighted him sipping bottle water during proceedings.
The judge warned the counsel to seek the permission of the court whenever his client was pressed to drink water.
According to Hassan, the court is not a market place and as such there must be order and sanity.
In the charge, the accused were alleged to have committed the offences between January and March 2015.
In counts one to seven, they were alleged to have unlawfully retained over N3.8 billion, which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act of stealing and corruption.
In counts eight to 14, the accused were alleged to have unlawfully used over N970 million, which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of an unlawful act of corruption.
Meanwhile in counts 15 to 17, Fani-Kayode and Olubode Oke, who is said to be at large, were alleged to have made cash payments of about N30 million in excess of the amount allowed by law without going through a financial institution.
Besides, Fani-Kayode was alleged to have made payments to Paste Poster Co of 125, Lewis Street, Lagos in excess of amounts allowed by law.
All offences were said to have contravened the provisions of sections 15 (3) (4), 16 (2) (b) and 16 (5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act. 2012. [myad]

Bribe-Taking Judges On Mission To Destroy Me By All Means, Amaechi Cries Out

Greenbarge Reporters

October 21, 2016

Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has accused a Supreme Court Justice who was one of those arrested recently by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) for allegedly receiving bribe, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta of joining those who are out to destroy him.
We are aware of a well timed, heavily funded plot to “take out” Amaechi politically, and it appears that Justice Ngwuta and Justice Inyang Okoro (of the Supreme Court, who had also made similar made-up allegations against Amaechi), have wittingly or unwittingly been conscripted into this devious politics of “destroy Amaechi by all means.”
In a statement by his media office, the Transport minister said that Justice Ngwuta’s allegation as it concerns him is nothing but pure fiction, a dubious diversionary tale concocted to muddle the very serious issues of his arrest and investigation by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Amaechi said that did not and has never tried to lobby, induce or make the Justice Ngwuta to influence the outcome of any matter before the Supreme Court or any other court.
“The Hon. Justice Ngwuta’s narrative as it concerns Amaechi is simply not true, an unadulterated fallacy design to deceive and distract from the real issues of DSS investigation of acts of corruption against him.
“It’s indeed very sad and most unfortunate that the Hon. Justice Ngwuta had decided to drag the name of the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), into his fabricated allegations. Again, We make bold to state that Amaechi did not and has never lobbied, approached or attempted to make the CJN or any other Justice of the apex court to influence the Supreme Court judgment on the Rivers State and Ekiti State Governorship Elections petition appeals or any other matter before the apex court or any other court.
“Within a space of 48 hours, we have observed a carefully planned and coordinated political attempt to drag Amaechi into the DSS arrest and investigation of judges in Nigeria.
“The aim of the plot is two-fold: to smear and politically destroy the image and reputation of Amaechi, and deceitfully portray him as the person behind the arrest of judges. This is indeed most ridiculous and callous.
Amaechi stressed that he is not and cannot be behind the arrest and investigation of the Justice Ngwuta, pleading that the embattled judge should leave alone and face the issues he has with the DSS.
The minister said that he is already talking with his lawyers and will explore lawful channels to seek redress for this gross defamation against his character and person. [myad]

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