President Muhammadu Buhari has asked Nigerians to ignore politicians that are desperate for power through the use of blackmails.
“We should jointly pray against the tragic incidents of kidnapping and banditry and the desperate quest for political power expressed through blackmail against the existence of our country as a united entity.”
In a message of Sallah today, May 12, to Muslims across the globe, signed by him, the President wished that the Eid festival would bring with it peace, safety, security, brotherhood and love amongst all.
“Unity and solidarity among all citizens, Muslims and Christians are imperative especially at a time when our country is faced with multiple challenges which are surmountable only when we come together as one.
“It is important that we remember how we share, through our faiths, common bonds that should serve to unite us and not allow ourselves to succumb to those who seek to divide us, using our two great religions, for their own selfish advantages.
“We must resist the temptation to retreat into our communities. I urge our political and religious leaders as well as traditional rulers to encourage our citizens to turn towards one another in love and compassion.”
President is delighted to note that Christians used to breaking fast and extending goodwill and gifts to Muslim faithfuls during the Ramadan.
“This model also shone through with Muslim groups joining Christian festivities. These are practices that promote brotherhood and forgiveness.”
The President advised Nigerians also to continue to observe all COVID-19 prevention measures and celebrate responsibly during the holidays.
Delta State Police Command has cautioned police officers to stay away from the South-South and South-East region as unknown gunmen believed to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) continue to wreak havoc on police facilities in the region,
In a wireless message sent to officers, the command asked officers to desist from taking up escort duties to specific states in the South-South and South-East region till the region’s security situation improves.
“SECURITY GENERAL X ATTACK ON POLICEMEN / SNATCHING OF RIFLES BY IPOB X SEQUEL TO THE INCESSANT ATTACKS ON POLICEMEN / SNATCHING OF ARMS AND AMMUNITION BY THE PROSCRIBED IPOB / ESN ELEMENTS IN THE EASTERN STATES OF ABIA X ANAMBRA X EBONY! X ENUGU X IMO STATE X AND RIVERS STATE X COMPOL DOPS DIRECTS X YOU WARN PERSONNEL YOURS X THAT ESCORT OF THEIR PRINCIPALS TO THE SIX (6) EASTERN STATES IS SUSPENDED FORTHWITH UNTIL SECURITY SITUATION IMPROVES X ENSURE: * CT COMPLIANCE PLEASE XXXX,” the wireless message read.
The directive follows incessant attacks on Police and other government facilities in the South-South and South-East region by unknown gunmen. Some police officers have been killed in the last few weeks across the regions with police stations, divisional headquarters attacked, guns and ammunition snatched.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has resolved not to henceforth, make it’s security tactics in tackling the security challenges in the country public.
This is even as President Muhammadu Buhari, today, May 11, approved new security measures specifically for the South East and South South geo-political zones of the country.
The acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, who spoke to newsmen today, alongside the National Security Adviser (NSA), rtd Major General Babagana Monguno, Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, after a security meeting with President Buhari, said that the meeting stressed the need to address the security challenges in the country, particularly those that have arisen in the last few months.
General Monguno said that the President gave marching orders to security chiefs to deal decisively with the emerging problems physically.
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has said that new moon of Shawwal was not sighted today and therefore, Ramadan Fast will continue tomorrow while Eid-el Fitr festival holds on Thursday, May 13, 2021.
In a statement in Abuja today, May 11, by the Deputy Secretary-General of the group, Professor Salisu Shehu.said that the crescent has not been sighted to end Ramadan fast.
“The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) – under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni – wishes to inform the Nigerian Muslim Ummah that there was no proven report of the sighting of the crescent of Shawwal, 1442 AH on the 29th of Ramadan, 1442 AH.
“Ramadan fast will therefore continue tomorrow Wednesday, 12th May 2021 as the 30th day of Ramadan.
“Consequently, Thursday 13th May, 2021 is hereby declared as 1st of Shawwal, 1442 AH and the day of Eid-il-fitr.
“The Council prays that Almighty Allah accept our fasting and other virtuous acts in Ramadan and grant us all peaceful and blissful Eid celebrations.
“Wassalamu alaikum wa-Rahmatullah.”
Saudi Arabia had earlier said that it also did not sight the new moon today and therefore, the Ramadan fast will continue tomorrow, to complete 30 days.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has announced the arrest of six kidnap kingpins responsible for abductions and kidnappings both in Gwagwalada and Kwali Council areas.
Information reaching us at Greenbarge Reporters said that the police arrested the suspects at different locations after intelligence gathering.
A senior operative involved in the anti-kidnapping operation said that the dens for keeping hostages pending payment of ransom were also discovered.
“After undertaking surveillance and intelligence gathering, the special anti-kidnapping squad of the police command successfully arrested six suspects who were behind major kidnapping and abduction at Tungan Maji in Gwagwalada and Kwaita in Kwalli axis.
“They were arrested at different locations after tracing the hideouts where they normally kept their hostages. We are still trailing other suspects.”
President Muhammadu Buhari has visited th father of the former minister of women affairs in his first cabinet, Hajiya Aisha Jummai Al-Hassan, who died recently in Cairo, Egypt.
The President, who was represented by a delegation led by the Minister of State, Works and Housing, Engineer Abubakar Aliyu, told late Aisha’s father, Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim that the nation has lost a woman leader.
Abubakar Igrahim is Sarkin Ayyukan Muri, who received the President’s delegate along with the Emir of Muri, Alhaji Abbas Tafida and the Taraba State Governor, Architect Darius Ishaku
Buhari said: “we lost a great leader with an indomitable spirit with people, especially the womenfolk at her heart. The late Aisha Alhassan was strong, bold and people-oriented.”
President Buhari prayed to Allah to repose her soul, saying that Aisha’s death had left a huge void in Nigerian politics.
A brother of the deceased and former Senator, Abdulaziz Ibrahim who spoke on behalf of the family thanked the President for making their sister a minister and assured that they will continue to be with him.
The Emir on his part described death as inevitable. He prayed for the deceased and thanked the President for his support to the people of the state.
He advised him to remain calm and steadfast and act decisively to deal with the enemies of the state who he blamed for the security challenges facing the nation.
Governor Ishaku described the late Minister as one of the closest persons to him: “Once she is committed to something, she remains consistent. She was a great mobilizer. She served well as minister and did not speak lies.”
The Governor expressed the appreciation of his administration to the President for the confidence he has in him. “We appreciate Mr. President. He cares about us,” said the Governor and expressed his happiness that he did not disappoint the President by bringing back peace to the Mambilla plateau. “Mambilla is peaceful today,” he said, hoping that the solidarity and friendship between the state and the centre will continue.
Other members of the delegation were Barrister Mohammed Hassan Abdullahi, Minister of State, Science and Technology and the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.
The Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry Enugu, Father Ejike Mbaka has shut down the church over the crisis brewing between him and Bishop of Enugu Catholic Diocese, Callistus Onaga.
Father Mbaka, in a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists said that the ministry would be shutdown till June 10, 2021.
Although there were insinuations that the development followed a suspension placed on the Adoration Ministry by the bishop, Mbaka, in the statement, explained that he took the decision because he was embarking on a private prayer ‘retreat for penance and atonement.’
The private prayer for penance and atonement might have been informed by the ‘seven-day fasting and prayer for atonement and reparation’ declared by Onaga in the Enugu Catholic Diocese after Mbaka’s supporters, mostly worshippers at the Adoration Ministry, attacked the Bishop’s Court and the Bishop’s official residence. The attacks had occurred after it was rumoured that Mbaka was abducted and detained in the facility, on May 5.
The irate worshippers had destroyed valuables and property in the residence and also desecrated the holy altar at the diocesan cathedral, and only Mbaka’s timely reappearance stopped them from wreaking more havoc.
Although Mbaka, as a priest of the Catholic Church, is subject to the authority of the bishop and the overall hierarchy of the Catholic Church, he runs the Adoration Ministry as a private worship centre.
Also, from all indications, members of the Adoration Ministry, most often referred to as ‘Adorers,’ only recognise Mbaka’s authority and are not likely to submit to the dictates of the bishop and other authorities of the Catholic Church.
Parts of the statement entitled ‘Notice to all adorers,’ which announced the shutdown of the Adoration Ministry read, “Our Spiritual Director, Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka, wishes to inform his beloved adorers that he has embarked on a private prayer retreat that will end on 10th June 2021.
“Consequently, no ministry activities shall be held in the ministry ground pending his return.
“He directs that members of the ministry are to observe this period of his retreat as they used to do during the usual January breaks of the ministry, by praying at their homes, being charitable and fasting according to their ability.”
The shutdown of the Adoration Ministry appears to be the culmination of events which commenced after Mbaka criticised President Muhammadu Buhari for failing to guarantee security in the country.
Mbaka, who was among Buhari’s strongest supporters in the 2015 and 2019 elections when he described the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate as the country’s messiah, in a recent sermon, said God was angry with the president over his inability to address high level of insecurity in the country.
Reacting, the Presidency tried to cast doubts on Mbaka’s integrity, accusing the cleric of being angry with Buhari because the president refused to give him contacts in return for his support during the 2015 election.
Mbaka also attracted the anger of the Nigerian government and the leadership of the Catholic Church after he expressed support for the leader of the secessionist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu.
He later revealed, after his supporters alleged that he was abducted when he was invited to a meeting with the Enugu Catholic bishop, Onaga, that the leadership of the Catholic Church in Enugu planned to keep him away from the public for 30 days, and then send him away to Rome over his comments on Buhari and Kanu.
The temporary closure of the Adoration Ministry is coming about 48 hours after Mbaka apologized for the conduct of his members. He also dismissed the widely held view among members of the Catholic Church that he was not obedient to the leadership of the church.
Authorities of Catholic Church had, on several occasions, warned Mbaka to desist from getting involved in politics. But the priest had continued to wade into politics with highly controversial sermons and prophecies.
“I do not disobey the church, who am I? How can someone who has been serving the church for nearly 26 years come out and begin to fight the same church? Everything in my life is for the church,” Mbaka said while apologising in a sermon on May 9.
The leadership of the Enugu Catholic Diocese has been engaged in a long running ‘battle’ with Mbaka as the church tries to keep the controversial priest in line.
In 2016, Mbaka was transferred out of the Christ the King Parish, GRA, Enugu, where he served for over a decade and had established the Adoration Ministry, to a new post, Our Lady Parish, in Emene, Enugu.
Although the transfer of priests was a normal practice in the Catholic Church, Mbaka and his supporters kicked against the development.
Mbaka said the transfer was a calculated move to make him suffer.
At the time, it was also insinuated that the transfer was aimed at ‘killing’ the Adoration Ministry by removing Mbaka from its location, but the worship centre continued to thrive after the priest moved the Adoration Ground to a new place at Emene, in Enugu.
The world was suddenly jolted by the spread of an unknown virus later coded the Coronavirus. It was a moment of despair, confusion and a total shift in lifestyle.
Social distancing, nose masking and hand washing became the new normal. Everything became virtual as Lockdown was enforced.
It was a period of total chaos as the deadly yet invisible virus spread very fast. It moved from invisibility to invincibility as scientists in the organized world headed for the kill.
While the time ticked and lives were lost each second, waiting for the answer became a common ground in prayer for all sects. And for once, both the religious people and the atheists came into alignment that there was a cosmic force ready to annihilate mankind.
But the crowned virus was not the Almighty, so it had no such powers to effect a total extinction of the entire human race but it sure recreated the lifestyles of man.
The chaotic situation brought about a “new normal” and ushered in the change we never yearned earnestly for.
Though the casualty was huge and is probably still raging, albeit in lesser numbers now, the ultimate result is that life still can go on in a totally different way and the past may never return.
It’s an indescribable moment of change!
Nigeria has been through the Civil War, recording millions of casualties and setbacks, with widening distrust and disunity amongst the ethnic groups that make up it’s structure.
Fifty one years after the war, the issues that led to the war have been multiplied beyond description. Obviously, the war was never a means to an end of injustice, marginalization and inequity. It was simply a tool for further division under a thinly held fabric waiting to break.
Fifty two years after, the drums of War are beating again. Those who ought to secure the people are now being severed by provocateurs labeled unknown Gunmen, bandits, secessionists, dangerous herdsmen and Boko Haram.
The Police have been marked for elimination and the war rages even though there are no clear rival groups. It is Anarchy and the authorities are overwhelmed.
The End SARS protest was the test run of the weakening of the Police Force and it worked.
This chaos may actually not be the end of a corporate Nigeria but it will set the tone for the change we may not have asked for, but the one we definitely need!
Whatever let the change come for we earnestly yearn for a better Nigeria.
Obiaruko Christie Ndukwe wrote in fromPort Harcourt, Nigeria
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has banned Eid prayer to mark the end of 30-day Ramadan Fasting in open field.
The minister, after a meeting with a delegation of the FCT League of Imams Initiative led by its Chairman, Imam (Dr.) Tajudeen M.B Adigun, asked Muslims to observe the prayer in neighborhood Mosque, and that worshipers must not be more than 50.
The Minister reminded Muslims that the nation had just gone through a first wave of the pandemic and that the second wave is threatening to cause more fatalities.
“It is imperative to prevent a possible third wave as is being witnessed in some countries across the world.
He said that based on presentations made by officials of the Health and Human Services Secretariat of the FCTA and the Implementation Guidelines for Phased Restriction of Movement issued by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 on Monday. 10th May 2021, the following guidelines there will be no Eid prayers at the National Eid prayer ground along the Umaru Musa Yar’adua Expressway (Airport Road)
He stressed that all worshippers should hold Eid prayers outdoors within the premises of their neighborhood Juma’at mosques, adding that indoor worshipers should be limited to less than 50 percent of installed capacity
“Religious authorities are advised to regulate the flow of people entering and exiting places of worship.
“All non-pharmaceutical intervention protocols of facial coverings, physical distancing and hand washing are to be observed
“All other Eid celebrations and activities should be confined to homes as all public parks, recreation and entertainment centers are to be closed.”
This was even as the Chairman of the FCT League of Imams Initiative, Dr. Tajudeen Mohammed Bello reminded Muslims about the importance of listening to experts in the field of medical sciences, saying: “in Islam, you also abide with the commands of leadership.
“Based on this and what we are convinced of, we urge Muslim Ummah to also respect this stand of the Administration of the FCT by observing our Eid prayers within our localities.”
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has warned those who are clamouring for war that no one can gain from war and advised them to desist from actions that could lead to war.
Oba Ogunwusi, who received in audience in his palace today, May 10, the new Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 11 – Osogbo, Olasupo Ajani, advised Nigerians to build a better nation where there would be peace and job opportunities for the youths.
The Oonifurther counseled citizens to always respect the security personnel who risk their lives to protect them.
This was even as Olasupo Ajani commended the traditional ruler for his spirit of patriotism.
The AIG who recalled that he once served in Ile-Ife, appealed to Nigerians to continue to support the police for a crime-free society.
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The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has said that new moon of Shawwal was not sighted today and therefore, Ramadan Fast will continue tomorrow while Eid-el Fitr festival holds on Thursday, May 13, 2021.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has announced the arrest of six kidnap kingpins responsible for abductions and kidnappings both in Gwagwalada and Kwali Council areas.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has warned those who are clamouring for war that no one can gain from war and advised them to desist from actions that could lead to war.
When Chaos Becomes Springboard For The Change Nigeria Needs, By Obiaruko Ndukwe
The world was suddenly jolted by the spread of an unknown virus later coded the Coronavirus. It was a moment of despair, confusion and a total shift in lifestyle.
Social distancing, nose masking and hand washing became the new normal. Everything became virtual as Lockdown was enforced.
It was a period of total chaos as the deadly yet invisible virus spread very fast. It moved from invisibility to invincibility as scientists in the organized world headed for the kill.
While the time ticked and lives were lost each second, waiting for the answer became a common ground in prayer for all sects. And for once, both the religious people and the atheists came into alignment that there was a cosmic force ready to annihilate mankind.
But the crowned virus was not the Almighty, so it had no such powers to effect a total extinction of the entire human race but it sure recreated the lifestyles of man.
The chaotic situation brought about a “new normal” and ushered in the change we never yearned earnestly for.
Though the casualty was huge and is probably still raging, albeit in lesser numbers now, the ultimate result is that life still can go on in a totally different way and the past may never return.
It’s an indescribable moment of change!
Nigeria has been through the Civil War, recording millions of casualties and setbacks, with widening distrust and disunity amongst the ethnic groups that make up it’s structure.
Fifty one years after the war, the issues that led to the war have been multiplied beyond description. Obviously, the war was never a means to an end of injustice, marginalization and inequity. It was simply a tool for further division under a thinly held fabric waiting to break.
Fifty two years after, the drums of War are beating again. Those who ought to secure the people are now being severed by provocateurs labeled unknown Gunmen, bandits, secessionists, dangerous herdsmen and Boko Haram.
The Police have been marked for elimination and the war rages even though there are no clear rival groups. It is Anarchy and the authorities are overwhelmed.
The End SARS protest was the test run of the weakening of the Police Force and it worked.
This chaos may actually not be the end of a corporate Nigeria but it will set the tone for the change we may not have asked for, but the one we definitely need!
Whatever let the change come for we earnestly yearn for a better Nigeria.
Obiaruko Christie Ndukwe wrote in from Port Harcourt, Nigeria