Islamic Scholar, Christian Pastor Disagree over Punishment for Blasphemy

May 22, 2022

A Sokoto-based Islamic scholar, Prof. Mansur Ibrahim Sokoto, has argued that the biblical punishment for blasphemy is the death penalty.

In a video obtained by PRNigeria, the scholar quoted the Book of Matthew chapter 12: 31-32 wherein the punishment for those who talk against the holy ghost lies.

According to him, the biblical verse states that “’Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32:Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit (Ghost)will not be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.'”

He cited other verses from religious scriptures and said that the biblical stance on blasphemy is consistent with the stance of Islamic books on blasphemers, where death is the punishment for such crimes.

Reacting to the claim, the Senior Special Assistant to the President of the Christian Association Of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Bayo Oladeji said there was a dispensation in the Bible which means there were times when some laws existed and there are times some laws do not exist.

Speaking to PRNigeria, Pastor Bayo said: “The Islamic scholar may be wrong because the verse he quoted was referring to when the people of Moses were going to the promised land. They were in Egypt where somebody committed blasphemy and put him somewhere.

“They ran to Moses and he waited for God’s command. God commanded that he should be stoned to death by the whole people of the camp.

“We are called Christians because we follow the teachings and directives of Jesus Christ through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. There is no record of Jesus ordering the stoning of a blasphemer and there is nowhere in the New Testament where such order or sentence was carried out. In the Bible, rejecting Jesus Christ as the Son of God is a blasphemy yet no reasonable and genuine Christian will call for the death of those who disagree. Why? Because it is not our responsibility to judge those who blaspheme or insult our God.”

By PRNigeria

People Are Sick In Nigeria; It Has Grown From Corruption To Sickness – Peter Obi

Editorial staff

May 22, 2022

“What people are acquiring now is no longer greed. It’s become a sickness. People are sick here. People have to reduce their greed. People are acquiring what they don’t need. 80 billion nairas is a budget of a state. That’s no longer greed, it’s sickness.”

These are the words of a frontline Presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi, who spoke on “The Discourse,” a public affairs show on Classic FM, advising Nigerian youths striving to make incursions into Nigerian politics to ensure that they select the right people that would help them build a better future.

“One of the main reasons why Nigeria is not progressing economically is that people think our problem can be solved by politics. The engine of solving this problem is the economy. The economy must work. The engine of productivity is the young people.

“The reason why it’s worse now is that we young people in their productive age doing nothing at the time the system is supposed to support them; at the time they have all the energy. The greatest employer of labour is the Micro Small Enterprises. That’s where the dominant young people are. They need to be supported with ideas and grants. They need to be properly directed. Government needs s to give them hope.”

According to Peter Obi, for Nigeria to become an economically productive nation, the first thing government needs to do is to invest in education, human infrastructure and capacity development.

“The more educated the people, the better it on the economy, which in the long run helps our development as a nation. You don’t do physical infrastructure before human infrastructure. Human capital is too low in Nigeria.

“You need to pull people, people, out of poverty. That’s what the Asian countries did. India pulled 250 million people out of poverty in 5 years.”

Obi, who is the former governor of Anambra State, said he embarked on comparative studies of economies of 31 countries to figure out where Nigeria went wrong, regretting that corruption, reckless spending and “sick leadership” have been the bane of Nigeria’s progress.

Promotion Galore For 226 Immigration, Correctional Service, Civil Defence Officers

Editorial staff

May 22, 2022

Secretary of Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), Mrs. Aisha Rufai, has unveiled series of promotions of the top management officers in the three para-military services.

In a statement today, May 23, Aisha said that the promotion affected 226 officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

According to her, the promotion result was approved by the board on May 19, with emphasis on merit and other considerations such as Federal Character Principle.

She said that 66 NCoS senior officers were promoted, including 23 officers as Assistant Controller General (ACG) and 43 to the rank of Controller of Corrections (CC).

She said that NIS recorded a total of 98 officers: four officers to the rank of Deputy Comptroller General of Immigration (DCGI), 24 to the rank of Assistant Comptroller General of Immigration (ACGI) and 70 to the rank of Comptroller of Immigration (CIS).

Sccording to the secretary, a total of 62 NSCDC officers were promoted with five officers to the rank of Deputy Commandant General of Corps (DCG), 22 officers to the rank of Assistant Commandant General of Corps (ACG) and 35 officers to the rank of Commandant of Corps (CC).

She called on the newly promoted officers to continue to contribute their quota towards achieving their mandates and ensuring internal security in the country.

The Secretary said that although the Federal Fire Service (FFS) is a member of the board,but the promotion list included no officer of the FFS, assuring that their promotion wis underway.

NCC Advises On Automatic Updates Of Antiviruses To Avoid Vulnerabilities

Editorial staff

May 22, 2022

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has advised telecom consumers and other Information and Communications Technology (ICT) end users on the need to always enable automatic update features for AVAST and AVG antiviruses to prevent potential cyber vulnerabilities.
This was contained in a new advisory, released by the Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT), the cybersecurity centre for the telecom sector established by the Commission to keep Nigerians safe in the cyber space.
The advisory noted that cyber vulnerability in AVAST and AVG Antiviruses can lead to attacks on millions of devices with high impact in terms of consequences to the ICT user.

The threat types as a result of this vulnerability are Bypass Authentication, Remote Code Execution and Unauthorised Access while consequences range from Privilege Escalation, Bypass Security Products, Overwrite System Components and corrupting the Operating System.
According to CSIRT, researchers at SentinelOne security firm have discovered two potentially damaging vulnerabilities in AVAST and AVG antivirus products that allow attackers to escalate privileges enabling them to disable security products, overwrite system components, corrupt the operating system, or perform malicious operations unimpeded.
“Two vulnerabilities identified as CVE-2022-26522 and CVE-2022-26523 targeted the “Anti Rootkit” driver of Avast antivirus (also used by AVG) allowing an attacker with limited privileges on the targeted system to execute code in system mode (kernel mode) and take complete control of the device. Moreover, the vulnerabilities allow complete take-over of a device, even without privileges, due to the ability to execute code in kernel mode,” the CSIRT said in the advisory.
However, the cybersecurity centre offered a tripartite measures that should be taken by Internet/ICT users to prevent being vulnerable to the cyber threats. They include enabling automatic update feature for AVAST and AVG antiviruses, upgrading AVAST and AVG antiviruses to version 22.1.2504, as well as carrying out regular patch management.

APC Primary: We’re Waiting For Buhari To Tell Us Who To Vote For – Gov. Zulum

Editorial staff

May 22, 2022

“President Muhammadu Buhari is also very important in this political equation. We are still waiting for him to say what he wants us to do.”

The Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, who spoke in response to the statement of one of the Presidential aspirants of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Rotimi Amaechi, who visited him in Maiduguri today, May 23, said: “to me, power belongs to God. It is my prayer that Nigeria should get a good President.

“My prayer is for Almighty Allah to give us a good candidate that can take this nation to a greater height, a candidate that can deliver dividends of democracy to the good people of Nigeria.”

Governor Zulum stated that Amaechi’s advice to delegates to vote with conscience is very important, adding: “the people of Borno State will use their conscience to vote for a candidate that deserves to be voted for.”

Amaechi, who is the immediate past minister of Transportation, said that of all the aspirants gunning for the position of President in the 2023 elections, he is the better candidate.

He advised delegates of the APC to put their conscience first and vote a candidate that is true to his word, a true Nigerian candidate, stating that he is that true Nigerian candidate,who is detribalised and is known to perform in whatever task he takes on.

Amaechi who also visited the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar El-Kanemi said, “one of the reasons why you have high level of insecurity is the fact that our past leaders had visited us with poverty. Politicians will be chasing you with money, but when you step out on that day (of the primary election), carry your conscience in your hand. Vote for me, because when you vote for me, you have transferred that responsibility, to partner with others to change the country. Trust me. Don’t share the votes. Step out that day, vote for me and see the difference I will make.”

This was even as

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, called on the Governor and delegates of the APC in Borno State to vote for former Amaechi, to emerge as the party’s flag bearer for the 2023 presidential elections.

Buratai who is now Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin Republic, said Amaechi is one Nigerian that can change things for good in the country, if given the opportunity to serve as President.

Buratai narrated how Amaechi, as Governor of Rivers State, fought militancy, kidnapping and others forms of criminality, restoring sanity to the State within few months of assuming office.

The former COAS, who was then Brigade Commander of the Nigerian Army in Rivers State, said he saw in Amaechi the resilience and determination to do things right, urging the Governor and delegates to give him all their votes and see for themselves the change that will occur when Amaechi gets the ticket and eventually becomes President.

“Your Excellency, we will not share any votes. Give hundred percent of your votes to Rt Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, and I will tell you the reasons why. Here with us is the man of the moment who is ready to serve, and has shown the determination in his exploits and his experience over the years, as Speaker, as a Governor and as Minister. He has led his peers Governors twice. He has also led his colleagues in parliament as Chairman, Conference of Speakers twice.

“He has that experience and very importantly he has remained loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari. On two occasions in 2015 and 2019 as campaign Director General he delivered President Muhammadu Buhari. You know the history of Borno, we have always gone along with the winning team. Do not follow any other person apart from Amaechi who is here. We must align ourselves with Amaechi, we must be with the man of the moment.”

2023: Third Force, NLC, TUC, Others, To Present A Single Presidential Candidate

Editorial staff

May 22, 2022

A political group, headed by Professor Pat Utomi, known as National Consultative Front (third force) has planned to team up with Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Falana led TPAM and others to adopt Labour Party as the third force’ grand coalition mega party for the 2023 Presidential election.

The team, which also includes Professor Attahiru Jega, Utomi, Dansadau and others have programmed to lead an electoral coalition of seven allied parties for a single presidential ticket.

A statement today, May 23, by the communications executive of the national secretariat of the National Consultative Front, (NCFront), Ms Bilikis Bello, said that allied parties would adopt the single line of candidates across all 2023 elections.

The statement said that after about fifteen months of painstaking engagements with like-minded allied political parties, the National Consultative Front (NCFront) the umbrella body of the third force movement and political alternatives to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Nigeria, announced that it has finally adopted the Labour Party as the mega party for third force stakeholders and allies for the 2023 elections.

“This historic adoption of the Labour Party was made possible by the new rapprochement between the leadership of the Labour Movement and the hierarchy of the Labour Party, emergent solidarity jointly spearheaded by President of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and the TUC President, Comrade Quadri Olaleye both of whom have since personally revalidated their membership of the Labour Party by formally registering with the party last week.

“The formal endorsement of the Labour Party by the ‘3rd Force’ Movement is also coming on the heels of the success of the recent meetings and activities of the separate political commissions of the NLC and the TUC with their Allies like the Femi Falana led The Political Alternative Movement (TPAM) in the Civil society, towards repositioning the Labour Party as the people’s alternative platform for rescuing Nigeria ahead of the 2023 general elections.

“With the adoption of the Labour Party as our 3rd Force Mega Party penultimate week, the NCFront has since commenced the fusion of its structures of over 20 million members and supporters nationwide into the Labour Party. Consequently, our teeming members all over Nigeria and in Diaspora have been directed to register immediately as members of the Labour Party at all designated registration centres, both online and physically at the Ward Levels, to be able to take part in the ongoing electoral programmes of the Party for the 2023 elections.

“We also wish to state clearly that the NCfront is also particularly enthused by the non-partisan strategic nature of the Labour Party, as a People’s centred, Pan Nigerian political platform that can inclusively serve the interests of all Nigerians irrespective of their ethnic, religious and social inclinations; in uniting the country towards a momentous development that can accommodate and serve the diversities of Nigeria.

“Therefore, with the novel synergy between the Labour Party and the NCFront, the convening platform of the 3rd Force Movement, which is also today the largest political mass movement in the country, Nigerians can rest assured that the glorious future we all desire for our dear country, is now achievable by 2023, especially with the brewing implosion hovering over the ruling cartel of APC and PDP, which will soon burst into unpreventable disintegration after their party primaries.

“However, taking inspiration from the consummation of NCFront/Labour Party novel fusion, Leaders of the ‘3rd Force’ Movement across party lines, including Prof Attahiru Jega of the People’s Redemption Party, PRP, Prof Pat Utomi of the Labour Party and Senator Saidu Dansadau of the National Rescue Movement, NRM, among others have been mandated by the Leadership of the 3rd Force Movement and like-minded allied political Parties to drive a Mega Electoral Alliance of the 3rd Force Movement towards the adoption of a single line of candidates among seven allied Parties involved in the ‘3rd Force’ alliance talks for the 2023 Elections.”

According to the statement, an inclusive Consensus Technical Committee is set up to screen Presidential Candidates and other candidates of ‘3rd Force’ allied Parties towards the adoption of a single line of candidates across all 2023 elections, is expected to be set up next month after the conclusion of all party primaries. Furthermore, the ‘3rd Force’ Mega Electoral Pact for the 2023 elections is proposed around agreement on Labour Charter of Demand, EndSar Youths Demands and Constitutional Referendum for Nigeria, among others to be agreed as terms of the Alliance for the 2023 elections,” the statement added.

Biafra: Count Ebonyi Out, Gov. Umahi Insists

Editorial staff

May 22, 2022

Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has emphasized that the state will never be part of Biafran Republic even if agitators for the separatist country achieve their aim.

The Governor, one of the Presidential aspirants on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke while playing host to members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), at the Government House in Abakiliki, the state capital.

Governor Umahi, who doubles as the Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, made it clear that Ebonyi has never been part of Biafra and will never be even if the nation is becomes a reality.

“Even if there were to be Biafra, Ebonyi will not be part of Biafra. I have said it before and I will continue to say it,. .

In January this year, at a reception organized for him by his political associates after declaring his presidential bid, the Governor had stated that his state will not be part of the agitation for a sovereign nation for the Igbos as it was not part of Biafra.

“First and foremost, I have been saying it, if anybody tells you about Biafra, tell them Ebonyi State will never be part of Biafra. We are not Biafra.

“We have been so oppressed and now we are finding our feet and you want us to go back. We will not. We will not. Let me make it clear for all to hear. Ebonyi State will not be part of any Biafran agitation,” the governor had declared.

2023: Ayodele Asks Bakare, Yahaya, Wike, Bala, Fayose, Anyim, To Forget Presidency

Editorial staff

May 22, 2022

The Leader Of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has has asked Pastor Tunde Bakare, Governor Ben Ayade, Governor Dave Umahi, former minister of education, Emeka Nwajiuba, Ken Nnamani, Governor Yahaya Bello, Ahmed Sani Yerima of the All Progressives Congess (APC), not to waste their time and money to campaign for the 2023 Presidency because they can’t make it.

Others whom he asked to forget the Presidency are Pius Anyim, Governor Nyesom Wike, Governor Bala Mohammed, Governor Emmanuel Udom, Ayodele Fayose, Dele Momodu, Charles Okwudili of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

In a statement made during an interview session at his prayer mountain, Primate Ayodele said that many other Presidential aspirants will not become the next president of Nigeria, advising them to withdraw instead of wasting their money unnecessarily.

“In APC, The former minister of science and technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Governor Ben Ayade, Governor Dave Umahi, former minister of education, Emeka Nwajiuba, Ken Nnamani, Governor Yahaya Bello, Ahmed Sani Yerima, Dimeji Bankole, Timpire Sylva, should stop wasting their money, they are going nowhere in the presidential race.”

“In PDP, Pius Anyim, Governor Nyesom Wike, Governor Bala Mohammed, Governor Emmanuel Udom, Ayodele Fayose, Dele Momodu, Charles Okwudili, should just bury their presidential ambition, it’s not going to yield positive results for them in 2023.”

When asked about the current political situation in Kano, Ayodele said that Kwankwaso’s party, NNPP will have about 70% of the state’s political structure in 2023.

“In Kano, Kwakwaso will make a big statement in the state in 2023, though he will not become the next president of the country neither will NNPP capture a very large part of the country but in Kano, NNPP will have about 70% while the remaining will be shared between APC and PDP.’’

“If a governorship aspirants comes out from Kwankwaso’s party, the election victory will be between NNPP and PDP and that’s if the PDP has a strong candidate.’’

“If Governor Ganduje becomes the running mate of any candidate in the APC, it will lead to total loss for such person. Ganduje is part of Nigeria’s cabal but his era has ended, he should take care of his health very well, I see danger ahead of him.”

Those Killing In Anambra Are Testing My Resolve, Gov Soludo Fumes

Editorial staff

May 22, 2022

Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has said that those who have been going about killing innocent people in his state, especially th e killing of a member of the State House of Assembly, Hon Okey Okoye, are testing his resolve.

In a post on his verified Facebook account, the Governor said: “no human being should ever have to experience death in that way. For no just reason, rampaging criminals have elected to desecrate our land with the blood of the innocent.”

Vowing that the killers will never go unpunished, Professor Soludo said: “this is a test of our resolve, and we are more emboldened than cowed that this criminality must be stamped out of our land. The party is over, and every community must brace up to join forces with government in this war to reclaim our homeland.

“Okey and Cyril will never die in vain. May God console their young families, the people of Isuofia and ndị Anambra. May their souls and all others who have lost their lives in the hands of these criminals continue to rest in peace.”

The governor had earlier announced a have placed a ten million N10,000,000 bounty on the heads of the killers for anyone with useful information on the killers.

Hon. Okechukwu Okoye, popularly known as Okey dị Okay, who represents Aguata II constituency, and his aide, Cyril Chiegboka were last weekend, kidnapped and later murdered and beheaded.

How My Neighbour’s Wife Begged Me To Sleep With Her, Herbalist Confesses

Editorial staff

May 22, 2022

A herbalist at Malaka village in Owode-Obafemi Local Government Area of Ogun State, Lamidi Ifaloba has confessed that he made love to a housewife, Shadiat Sikiru Olaleye because she begged him to do so, and he had no choice than to comply.

According to him, Shadiat lured him to bed on a day her husband chased her out of their apartment during a quarrel and she rushed to his house around 1 am.

The herbalist, who is claiming the paternity of a male child the housewife had, against the claim by her husband, said: “Actually, his wife ran to my house in the night and accused her husband of beating her over a disagreement.

“The weather was actually cold that night and I asked her to stay till next morning while I was busy fixing some things. But she told me that she suspected her husband’s sperm was not fertile enough to get her pregnant.

“As I tried to step out of the room, she pulled me to herself and asked me to make love to her, saying that she wanted to test her fertility.

“I was shocked and didn’t want to raise the alarm because I didn’t want the neighbours to know about what was going on between us, since I had once been falsely accused by some residents of doing something similar. So I made love to her that night.”

However, Shadiat’s husband, of the same Malaka village in Owode-Obafemi Local Government Area, Sikiru Olaleye, said that he was shocked to learn that the baby he thought was his was actually fathered by the herbalist who lives in the neighbourhood.

Olaleye, a 42, said: “I had never seen anything like this before except in a movie. It happened that my wife Shadiat and I had a disagreement and she left for her hometown in Iwo, Osun State, with our son.

“I visited her hometown and tried in vain to persuade her parents to reconcile us. I even gave Shadiat’s parents N12,000 for her transportation back to my house, but she refused.

“So, I gave up on the possibility of her returning to my home and took solace in the belief that when the time is ripe, my son would come back to me since I had tried my possible best to make her return home.

“It was a shock when some people in our neighbourhood started mocking me that my son belongs to a herbalist in the nearby village called Malaka.

“His name is Lamidi Ifaloba, a herbalist whom my wife patronised and he actually made some fertility concoctions for my wife when she could not get pregnant for about six years.

“Ignorant of what was going on, I even took the baby to him for spiritual guidance on his (baby’s) future; a custom known in Yoruba culture as akosejaye, three days after my wife was delivered of the baby.

“Ifaloba would later reveal to one of my brothers in the community, Ismaila Jinadu popularly called Erosion, that he is the father of Korede, my three-year-old son.

“I was shocked and devastated and I could not pull myself together for a long time, especially when I learnt that a lot of people in the community already knew about the matter.

“I learnt that Ifaloba claimed to have named the boy Junior and even boasted that the matter would unsettle the community.”

Asked whether there was a quarrel between him and his wife on the day she left home, Olaleye said: “We did not have any quarrel on the day she left my house. I only returned from work and found that she had left with all her belongings.

“Even our neighbours did not know when she moved all her belongings out of our apartment.”

Olaleye said that his wife could not have accused him of being impotent or use that as an excuse to engage in extra-marital affairs with Ifaloba which resulted in the controversial pregnancy and child.

He said: “I have had three children from my previous marriage to another woman and my first child currently attends Abeokuta Grammar School.

“I am no longer interested in taking back my wife, but I want to have custody of my son, hence I am crying out to the public to dissuade Ifaloba from taking what truly belongs to me after his escapades with my wife. He cannot take my wife and also take my son.”

Source: The Nation.

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