The outspoken founder of Adoration Ministries, Enugu, Father Ejike Camillus Anthony Ebenezer Mbaka, has begged God to forgive the Churches in Nigeria for jumping fully into the politics of “who wins the 2023 Presidential election” only to mess up the Altar.
Addressing a large crowd of Christians in an open space in Enugu today, March 30, Mbaka knelt before a raised altar, with head bowed, saying: “God, forgive us, forgive the Church, we have gotten it wrong this time.
“I apologize on behalf of the whole men of God, the whole pastors, the whole priests and the whole Bishops. I’m not worthy to apologize for Bishops, but I’m apologizing.
“Let the mercy of God descend, because, what we did within the political moment….a lot of indescribable political brouhaha and political jingoisms and atrocities (were committed).
“We manifested and buried the power of sacrament beneath political forces, political hocks and vultures; they want to vulturize the Church.
“We turned the Churches into campaign centres, turned the churches into places of politicking.
“We messed up the Altar, we defiled the Altar. How do we want power to move from Altar that has been defiled? We cannot continue with such iniquities.
“I pray that God will forgive us forgive us Oh Lord, forgive Your Church, forgive Christianity in Nigeria.’”
Mbaka, who spoke in both English and Igbo languages, regretted: “we have gotten it wrong this time. Amen.
“Just let it be like this. If you want to misunderstand me, that is your business.”
President Muhammadu Buhari seems to be saying to Plateau State Governor, Simon Bako Lalong today, March 30, at the Presidential villa, Abuja: “See life, imagine you, a governor, being defeated for a Senate Seat.” The governor simply laughs it off.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has set in motion, machinery to give the Presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, legal “bloody nose” with the appointment of five Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) to defend the 2023 Presidential election. The legal team of the electoral body will be led by Abubakar Balarabe Mahmud (SAN) and made up of Stephen Adehi, Pinheiro Oluwakemi Adekunle, Miannaya Essien and Abdullahi Aliyu, all of them Senior Advocates of Nigeria) SANs Other legal experts are Garba Hassan, Esq, Patricia Obi Esq and Musa Attah Esq. INEC had on March 1, 2023, declared the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the winner of the 25 February 2023 presidential election. Tinubu had polled a total of 8,794,726 votes and also scored over 25 per cent of the votes cast in 30 states, more than the 24 states constitutionally required. The Chairman of the electoral body, Professor Mahmood Yakubu who announced the final results in Abuja said that the candidate of the PDD, Atiku Abubakar came second with a total of 6,984,520 votes while the LP candidate, Peter Obi came third in the election with a total of 6,101,533 votes even as Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP came fourth with 1,496,687 votes. However, Atiku and Obi have challenged the declaration of INEC claiming that they each, defeated Tinunu in the election. The development saw the presidential candidates file petitions at the Presidential election tribunal challenging the declaration of Tinubu. Obi, in his petition claimed that Tinubu “was not duly elected by the majority of the lawful votes cast at the time of the election.” The former Governor of Anambra State alleged that there was rigging in 11 states and that he would demonstrate this in the declaration of results based on the uploaded results. Source: Naija News.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has, on behalf of his wife, wrote a personal letter to the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his 71st birthday.
In the letter he personally signed, Professor Osinbajo wrote: “Dolly and I rejoice with you, the family, friends and associates on this occasion of your 71st birthday.
We thank the Almighty God for his grace and enablement upon your life that has made possible your many years of service and contributions to Lagos State, our nation and our great party.
This occasion of your 71st birthday is unique, as it occurs as you prepare to take on your most significant assignment yet as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
All we can offer you in this solemn period is a prayer. That the Lord will help you in this assignment and give you good health, strength and wisdom to serve our people and our nation excellently.
The Federal Government has set aside the sum of N24.20 Billion for the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to provide internet in 20 selected airports in Nigeria and higher institutions of learning and also some markets to support micro, small and medium enterprises.
This was announced today, March 29, by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami at a news briefing shortly after the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential villa, Abuja.
He said that the first memo, approved by FEC, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, is the award of a contract for the provision of broadband in some selected domestic and international airports.
According to the minister, 20 of the domestic and international airports are going to be covered in the first phase of the project.
“In each geopolitical zone, you have around three airports. Like in the southwest, you have two in Lagos, you have in Ondo. For Southeast you have Imo, you have Anambra, you have Enugu. “For South-South. For example, you have like Port Harcourt, Akwa Ibom. For North-Central you have like Abuja, Ilorin. “For Northwest you have Kano, Sokoto and Kebbi. For Northeast you have like Yola, Maiduguri and Gombe.
“So all these airports are going to be covered and the federal government of Nigeria will provide broadband for free for passengers that are coming through the airports and particularly in Abuja, sometimes you will discover you will land and there is no any internet for free to even allow you to communicate.
“So, we have set our team in order. We have developed the sustainability model, so that even after the deployment, the maintenance will be very effective.”
Professor Pantami said that in the same memo also, there is going to be a provision of broadband to 43 higher institutions of learning at federal and state levels.
He said that some of them are universities for federal government, some states, some polytechnics and many more.
“You may recall that last year, the federal executive council approved a similar memo for the provision of unlimited internet in 18 universities (17 universities and one college of education).
“So this one is the second phase of the project and in the first memo approved today, we have 20 airports, both domestic and international and in addition, we also have 43 institutions of learning.
So if you add you will discover 63 institutions are going to benefit, accommodating higher institutions and local and domestic airports and the price for this is N18.95 billion.
“The second memo is very similar to the first one; it’s the provision of broadband to some selected markets.”
The minister recalled that last year, the Federal Executive Council approved the implementation of that by providing broadband to 20 markets in Nigeria, where there are a minimum of three markets per geopolitical zone.
“This one is to complement the earlier approval, where six markets are also going to benefit from this, in addition to six higher institutions of learning; two federal universities, one state university and polytechnics and this one the price is N5.25 billion.
“So both memos, you will discover that they will provide broadband to these institutions at the price of approximately N24.20 billion and the project is going to be implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission.
“The duration for the project is four months minimum and maximum of five months and there is a budgetary provision for that.
“Also, the fund to sponsore the implementation has been secured by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR.”
Professor Pantami said that for universities, the bitter and better lessons learnt during the COVID-19, had made the government not to go back to that, saying: “we want to ensure that students and staff benefit from unlimited internet. “For airports, we know the difficulty when you land without any connectivity. So it will even at least make our airports more lively, if there is at least internet connectivity that is for free.
“Thirdly for market, it’s to support innovation-driven enterprises that are being championed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where we try to give global visibility to our innovators, to our micro, small and medium enterprises, so that their market is not going to be narrowed and restricted only to our local communities.
“So besides the internet, we have been giving them domain name for free and also supporting them to establish website so that they will be able to have global visibility and also it will support Nigeria, even in the process of transition to cashless policy.
“When internet is free and it’s effective in our markets, it will support online activities, online payments, among many others.”
The Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed that some disgruntled elements in the country are already planning to disrupt the country’s democracy after a successful elections but warned that it’s operatives are also working hard to frustrate such elements. In a statement today, March 29 by its spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunanya, the DSS said that it had identified some key players in the plot for an Interim Government in Nigeria. “The Service considers the plot, being pursued by these entrenched interests, as not only an aberration but a mischievous way to set aside the constitution and undermine civil rule as well as plunge the country into an avoidable crisis. “The illegality is totally unacceptable in a democracy and to the peace loving Nigerians. This is even more so that the machination is taking place after the peaceful conduct of the elections in most parts of the country.” The secret service said that the planners, in their many meetings of the Interim Government, have weighed various options, which include, among others, “to sponsor endless violent mass protests in major cities to warrant a declaration of State of Emergency. “Another is to obtain frivolous court injunctions to forestall the inauguration of new executive administrations and legislative houses at the Federal and State levels.” The DSS said that it supports the President and Commander-in-Chief in his avowed commitment to a hitch-free handover and will assiduously work in this direction. It also declared support for the Presidential Transition Council and such other related bodies in the States. It vowed to collaborate with them and sister security and law enforcement agencies to ensure seamless inaugurations come 29th May, 2023. “Consequently, the Service strongly warns those organising to thwart democracy in the country to retract from their devious schemes and orchestrations. “Stakeholders, notably judicial authorities, media and the Civil Society, are enjoined to be watchful and cautious to avoid being used as instruments to subvert peace and stability of the nation. “While its monitoring continues, the DSS will not hesitate to take decisive and necessary legal steps against these misguided elements to frustrate their obnoxious intentions.”
Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Dr. Solomon Arase has made it clear that the best way to stamp out corruption in the police is to make the conditions under which the officers operate conducive. Speaking to newsmen today, March 29, in Abuja, Dr. Arase insisted that the issue of corruption should be tackled by identifying the source. “When you tackle issues that are likely to increase the tendencies to be corrupt, you deal with it. “How are you taking care of their welfare? How are you ensuring that when they retire, they have a decent house to go to? “How are you taking care of their children? Can we organise scholarship schemes for them? “Can we ensure that when we deploy them, they have the necessary work equipment? “When you respect people who work for you…even your dog’s, when they see you, they will wag thier tails. “So we must take the interest of the Nigerian police officers into consideration. And we’ll douse the issue of corruption. “Also, members of the public should not corrupt them.” Dr. Arase assured that the PSC would ensure that it put the local and international expertise in their properly disposal. He also assured of creating strong training for the officers in various areas, especially the alternative dispute resolution. “The issue of discipline will be taken seriously. I will not want a situation where civil situations arise. So any officer who steps out of the line, there will be consequences. “But at the same time, they are my colleagues and children. So I’m going to make sure that I sharpen their skills. “I will ensure that they start having confidence in themselves. With more training, the trust gap between members of the public and the police will be bridged. That is what I want to do. “That members of the public will collaborate with the police force; see them as part of the larger society. “Every policeman was a civilian and will return to civilian life after retirement as I have, since I retired some seven years ago. “The benefits that are derivable from good conduct as a police officer, they will continue to reap it when they retire. So that is what I will emphasise. *What specific steps will you take to improve the relationship between the commission and the police?* If you look at the calibre of people you have in the commission, then you also look at the professional skills of the police management team, there is no way that there won’t be occasional issues. What I think we should do is that each of the parties should not learn to take everything. There must be negotiation, empathy and respect for each of our roles. I will expect that the commission allows the IGP to exercise his operational control over the police. And that the IG himself will respect the constitutional powers of the Police Service Commission. So, there must be mutual respect between both parties. I don’t foresee any crisis at all.
The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has called it quits. This is as the party’s Deputy National Chairman, (North), Umar Iliya Damagum, took over immediately. Damagum will assume office as the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, pending the determination of the case in court. A High Court in Makurdi, the Benue state capital, had, yesterday, March 27, restrained Dr. Ayu from parading himself as chairman of the party pending the determination of the substantive suit which has been adjourned to April 17, 2023 for hearing. A member of the PDP from Benue, Terhide Utaan, who is the plaintiff before Justice W. I Kpochi, obtained the order restraining Ayu from parading himself as national chairman of the party. Addressing journalists in Makurdi after obtaining the court order, Dr. Ayu said that following the suspension of Ayu by his Igyorov Ward Exco on Sunday, it would be wrong for him to keep up with the office of national chairman and further disunite the party. He had earlier been suspended for anti-party activities in the wake of the party’s loss in the presidential election. But in a Monday statement by his media aide, Simon Imobo-Tswam, Ayu argued that the ward lacked the powers to suspend him. Ayu’s political rival in the PDP and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike on Monday, said he is elated that Benue State ward exco passed a vote of no confidence in him. “I am not from Benue State, but I am happy, and now that Benue State has done it, we would now come out and say we are in support of it.” Prior to this development, there had been intense calls for Ayu to step aside for a Southerner to take over as the Chairman of the party. Source: Vanguard.
A High Court sitting in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, has ordered the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyorchia Ayu, to stop parading himself as the chairman of the party.
The Judge, Justice W. I Kpochi, sacked Ayu today, March 27, pending the determination of the substantive suit which has been adjourned to April 17, 2023, for hearing.
A member of the PDP in Benue State, Terhide Utaan, who is the plaintiff in the suit, obtained the order restraining Ayu from parading himself as the PDP chairman.
Speaking with journalists in Makurdi after obtaining the court order, the plaintiff said following the suspension of Ayu by his Igyorov Ward Exco on Sunday, it is wrong for him to keep up with the office of national chairman and further disunite the party.
The Executive Committee in Igyorov Ward, Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, on Sunday, suspended Ayu for alleged anti-party activities.
The committee said the former Senate President’s anti-party activities, alongside his allies, contributed to the party’s loss in his ward and local government in the March 18 governorship election in the state.
They also accused Ayu of not paying his annual dues as enshrined by the party’s constitution, noting that most of his closest allies worked for the All Progressive Congress (APC) which resulted in the abysmal performance of the PDP in Igyorov Ward.
Reacting via a statement by his media aide, Simon Imobo-Tswam, the PDP chairman said that members of the committee, who suspended him are “illiterates.”
Ayu described his suspension as “an exercise in futility as it derives its strength majorly from gross illiteracy, ignorance, gambling and desperation”.
He stressed that only the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) has the power to suspend him, saying the suspension letter was written by an illiterate and given to the coerced members of the committee to sign in Makurdi.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said it would continue to consult stakeholders on issues affecting telecommunication services deployments and developments, in line with its culture of inclusiveness, collaboration and partnership as predicated in its strategic focus.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission (EVC), Professor Garba Danbatta, represented by the Commission’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, gave the assurance while receiving a delegation of Food Basket Foundation International (FBFI), led by its Chief Executive Officer, Funmi Akinyele, at Headquarters of the NCC in Abuja today, March 27.
He stressed that the Commission is committed to strengthening its regulation of the telecommunication sector, particularly providing the solid infrastructure and general industry regulations.
Muoka said that the Commission is not responsible for the content of the social media as there are other government agencies that are responsible for that.
He said however, that the Commission has engaged in several aspects of protection of the users of the Internet, such as initiatives towards Child Online Protection, COP, deployment of the Computer Security Incident Response Team, NCC-CSIRT, set up to monitor cyber-attacks in the Nigerian cyberspace, in addition to the activities of the Commission’s department of New Media and Information Security set up to address issued of cybersecurity.
“We have tried not to be a closed organization. We give lots of premiums to consultations and collaborations, especially in the areas that will ensure that the consumers and stakeholders understand what is going on and to make input that enriches the quality of regulations, as well as being able to access information they may require to safeguard themselves and the society,” he noted.
Muoka also invited the group to join the NCC in carrying out enlightenment campaigns to educate telecom consumers on their roles and responsibilities in order to use the Internet and telecommunication platform safely to counter misuse and abuse.
This was even as Akinyele commended the Commission’s regulatory excellence, even as she highlighted the NCC’s efforts in ensuring that there are regulations, frameworks and guidelines to guard the telecoms sector and online civic space
She however, expressed concerns about the state of the social media with uncontrolled content.
She said that the visit to the regulator was to explore areas of collaboration in its programme to protect the digital civic space by combating misinformation and disinformation while mitigating risks to the digital civic space to ensure electoral integrity before, during and after the 2023 General Elections.
This initiative, she explained, comes under one of FBFI’s projects, dubbed, Safeguarding Digital Civic Space for Electoral Integrity (SDSEI).
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