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Top Nigerian Activist, Idah David Onyilokwu Speaks on the State of the Nation

By Mike Odeh James

Inroduction :

One of Nigeria’s famous activist, Mr .Idah in a chat with our Correspendent explains his actions, activities and perspectives as regards Nigerian politics and economy

Can you tell us about yourself and your activities ?

I am a Director, Special Representative and Envoy at the Africa Region Headquarter of one of the United Nations’ leading Human Rights governing bodies, the INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, IHRC, in Nairobi Kenya.

I am charged with the speedier provision of gainful sustainable employment of Africa’s youth across the entire continent comprising at least 54 countries under a UN partnership programme; INTEGRAL QUINTESSENCE – INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS AFRICA PAGEANT, IQ-IHRAP – which was commissioned 12th January 2022 in Abuja, Nigeria.

What are your personal interests in the unravelling political season

in the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

My personal interests in the current political season in Nigeria border across three major aspects:

The fact that I am first, a Nigerian

The fact that political leadership is a huge component of the level of success we are aiming for at IQ-IHRAP, and,

The success of an apt political leadership in Nigeria would be a huge leverage for our envisaged success across the rest of Africa shortly

Amongst the three above major considerations, you would notice that the two secondary items pertain to our work at IQ-IHRAP looking to succeed exceedingly across the entire continent of Africa and how critical Nigeria’s future is to such an ambition.

Now. As a Nigerian, I, like the vast majority of Nigerians never knew that a people and their government could ever go through the sort of experiences we were put through in the out-going nearly one decade! From my personal introduction, you would realise that I am not only an international diplomat, I am a high-ranking international human rights activist possessing a continental reckoning as one of Africa’s best thinkers as a solution-provider in the pertinent fields of human capital development and governance consultancy – I am a governance expert.

Now therefore, I must speak from both the historical and development perspectives of the experience I refer to – in order to better converge my thoughts on the pertinent personal interests I have in our current unravelling political season.

Historically, Nigeria was contending with the problems of local terrorism, insurgency, secession and a sudden spike in transnational criminalities like kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery,.

Chief amongst these gruelling national insecurities were the secessionists in the far north-eastern flank and in the South East. The secessionism in the North-Eastern flank had become a more unravelling destructive national phenomenon towards the end of the Olusegun Obasanjo’s government and recorded its greater menace during the Goodluck Jonathan Regime translating as one of the chief reasons why that Government failed in its attempt at the elections to win another term of office!

The entirety of our populace were actually convinced that the sole or major objective of the insurgents and secessionists in the North Eastern flank of Nigeria was the deepening of the Islamic religion by condemning and eradicating modern western-style education!

Chief amongst the itinerary of achieving such a new developmental paradigm were the banning of education of the girl-child (this was the reason why nearly 300 girls in a certain secondary school at Chibok in Maiduguri were targeted and abducted from their school in one single day during the GEJ Government – most of whom are still in captivity till this day – others married away to the soldiers of fortune who had kidnapped them – several others killed being used as bomb mules in suicide bombings which were rather rampant at the time! Nigerians believed that the sole objective of the secessionist and insurgents in the North Eastern flank being, – to bring an end to Western Education remained the reason why they were called BOKO HARAM (Boko – meaning western BOOK-based education; HARAM – meaning forbidden)!

Against the background of the above prior thoughts, the vast majority of people everywhere across the world believed that sooner than later, BOKO HARAM would realise the folly in their objective of waging war and would dissipate and fizzle out because they had come at such a time when the entire world had matched on developmentally beyond the point when anyone with sound reasoning would be asking whether or not, western education was relevant or compelling to the future of humanity! It was seen largely as laughable that any serious social agitation would target to eliminate Western education of its entire people!

Little did we and the rest of the entire world know that we had seen nothing yet!

With the coming onboard of the present national government into power, it would appear that every dynamic of the secessionism in the North Eastern flank changed drastically leading to the reawakening of similar previously dormant and latent potentials across other major parts of Nigeria!

Within the first year or so of the coming into power of the current government, the wave of the predominantly North Eastern based Boko Haram uprising began to pale away in the wake of the appearance of high level well-co-ordinated, deliberate trans-national insecurities! There was an obvious and rather glaring explosion in the rates of terrorism and criminalities – the latter of which transformed from the regular petty local gang-based affairs – while still not sparing the regular common-man victims, to small scale military-like operations targeting leaders of thought, captains of industry excluding only one section of the social divide in Nigeria – these attacks did not target northerners but concentrated vigorously on especially the South Easterners and South Westerners.

As a result of the impact of this loop-sided victimisation of Nigerians of the Southern region, the South-Eastern based Independent Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, commenced with a more vehement response through their umpteenth agitation to secede from Nigeria.

A similar previously lesser unknown but often mooted Oduduwa Nation agitation also for the first more noticeable time, erupted in the South West led by a certain Mr Sunday Igboho – calling for a Yoruba state to secede similarly, from Nigeria!

With the commencement or continuation as well as the gradual intensification of anti-national hostilities, came the more disturbing transformation of Nigeria’s terror profile from a mere religious anti-western-style order to ‘conquistador’-quests!

The battle ground that Nigeria had become saw the swelling of the actors to include the more menacing ISWAP bolstering the BOKO HARAM ranks although they were often portrayed as counter-acting or counter-balancing or opposing forces! One thing of a fact that emerged and which bothered the average Nigerian the most however was the ROLE or FUNCTION of the Nigerian Federal Government in all these!

With long-standing retired military leaders like Gen. T Y Danjuma GCON coming out openly to warn Nigerians to take up arms wheresoever they could find arms to defend their selves against invading forces from without led and aided by the Armed Forces of Nigeria, every Nigerian was bewildered as to what precisely had become of the country.

Then spuriously too, sundry Islamic, Northern dignitaries – leaders of thought and opinion captains in their own rights began to make categorical statements centred on the fact that the Islamic Northern enclaves in Nigeria were actually claiming their rights and titles to the WHOLE OF NIGERIA – which rights and titles have been acquired when, in colonial or pre-colonial times, their ancestors had achieved a TOTAL conquest of Nigeria as a whole! These notable Northern and Islamic leaders made such openly disturbing and felonious claims without any attempt by any authority of State challenging them whatsoever!

Soon thereafter, several voices began to emerge to warn the minority ethnic nationalities in the Middlebelt and other northern regions of the looming plans to militarily exterminate them!

Additional voices emerged also that claimed that the entirety of the regions of the South-East and South West had already been covered by secret military camps of well equipped murderous troops co-ordinated by actual Nigerian soldiers simply waiting for the critical signals – just to strike and systematically exterminate the entire populations of non-northerners within those targeted areas!

To add credence to all these and to bolster the dismay and despondency of most Nigerians in the face of all these remained the action and inactions of the Nigerian Government!

The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria simply appeared to disappeared in the midst of all these mis-fortunes and ill-winds blowing right across the entire landscape! The Government transpired as the more corruption riddled one ever in the history of the country! The leading public officials who ordinarily ought to be saddled with the responsibilities of assuring and assuaging Nigerians have long long since been labelled as crass liars defamed and discarded by Nigerians and the entire world a long time ago!

They gained global notoriety during the events of the disturbing youth-driven nationwide protests of 2020 which ended with the massacre of the youths in the hands of the Nigerian military at the Lekki toll gate plaza in Lagos in the month of October of that year – 19 days after the marking of national independence!

While the worldwide circulating media footage from that sorrowful and harrowing episode as carried by global media platforms such as the BBC, CNN and others showed that Nigerian soldiers arrived the scene, opened fire on unarmed peaceful protesters and killing them, the officials of government responsible for public image and perception management decided to go the inglorious paths of denying graphically evidenced events by disputing and disparaging the youths!

The Government went on in its ill-advised path to condemn the world press for not taking sides with it against its own people only for the Public Commission of Enquiry set up by the very same Government of Lagos State on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, to investigate the events of the youth protests and the ‘allegations’ of the killing of Nigerian youths by the Nigerian Military, to come up with its own more damning final official report which admitted wholesomely to the facts that indeed a great number of youths were not only gunned down and killed at the Lekki Toll Gate Plaza on the night of 20-10-2020, they were killed by the same very Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – and most of the bodies of the slain youths were removed from the scene of the massacre by the Armed Forces to hide evidence of their dastardly crimes no matter that they deprived the families of those murdered the honour of more respectfully burying their children!

Now with the above select and very minute account from the entire overwhelming catalogue of mis-development or compelling under-development of the Nigeria in the out-going 8 years, I must state that the historical commendation of Nigeria was indeed a worrisome enough outcome to warrant the sort of unprecedented interests in Nigeria’s unfolding current political season.

On the other hand, developmentally – we would say that Nigeria had never had it so good!

Now do not get me wrong from the outset: we are unable to – which is also to say, we hardly speak wrong of events in development terms – we more certainly eschew the knowledge of good o bad in development tenses. We do concede to the fact that whatsoever is termed wrong at a particular time or era soon enough turns around as right before long: time is the controller of precedence and for every seeming disadvantage, advantages loom large – whether or not we see them or not and whether or not after seeing them we agree with them or not – remain entire other discussions for another time!

Now, pertaining to the picture of dire circumstances we have found ourselves as a people – look at the outcome! It took all the above precedence – no matter how anyone chooses to weigh them, for Nigeria as a nation to turn out with the phenomenon of a Peter Obi!

What do I mean?

I will NOT say anything in this interview concerning Mr Peter OBI – the person – because I do not know him and at this material time, I do not need to know him so closely to be able to say what I have to say here. I will not say anything concerning his character as a person: I will strictly confine my opinions to the circumstances surrounding his emergence as a frontal presidential prospect and the projection of Nigeria into the future by the trajectory he appears to be commending from the perspectives of what the people of Nigeria (one amongst whom, I certainly am – like the vast majority of every one else), see of him and his bearing!

Permit me to also add even more categorically that I am no politician and I will not therefore be obliged to make politically correct statements here. I prefer to remain whom I naturally am within the context that connect me with the subject matter herein: I am a technocrat – a thinker who must at all times commend to the people the only right, true and worthier routes to go for the good of everyone at all times! I am a worker guided by the book and I will always live by the book – so to speak.

Now having said the above, pay close attention: I have always held that the worst make the worse look better … therefore, the worst can hardly give us our bests! The worst can at best, leave us with our bad! As they say, in the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king! This does not mean that the best ought never to be sought at all costs

In line with the above persuasion, Mr Peter OBI is a phenomenon indeed because it would appear that the entirety of our current surrounding circumstances ignited Mr Peter OBI’s star qualities coupled with the undoing of the two major political parties – which obvious undoing happen not to be our subject herein at this material time. Mr Peter OBI is the product of our long-standing self-deception – the deception that we have started and continued indeed with a world-class standard democracy! That was and is still a big lie – our democracy since the inception of the fourth republic has turned out only the worse of our leaders progressively beginning from the Obasanjo Government and dove-tailing progressively to this critical point in time.

This is therefore to state yet quite categorically again that my indictment of Government herein did not and was not intended to be of only our current government; the fact that most of our misfortunes have come to a head cumulatively during the tenure of this Government is actually the outcome of a natural process by which every natural concourse in development are probed.

All standard and applicable acts of development result in improvements and greater ease of achievement with time progressively while conversely, all mediocre activities result in greater difficulties, failures and downturns that must ultimately end in implosions upon which outcome, a new beginning must commence and be embraced by all at usually great costs!

Now having said all the above, what ought therefore is my position at this point in time – my working pivot – going forward?

I will say without fear or favour that my guiding working principle is CAUTION – the keenest possible protection of the fragile nationality and patriotism of the Nigerian people both at home and everywhere across the world!

Any further continuing failure of Nigeria constitutes a monumental drawback for every African across this entire world! You have absolutely no idea of the extents to which the entire African race worldwide consider Nigeria – not withstanding how badly Nigeria has been painted already! The special pride of place Nigeria holds in the hearts and minds of the world owe absolutely nothing to the conduct or deliberate doing of the Government of Nigeria – it has been most directly observed that the Nigerian people are indeed the victims of their governments overtime!

Juust imagine what Nigerian musicians and filmmakers have achieved WITHOUT any reasonable and deliberate input of government! Our people have earned a near total revamp of their global image across this entire world as an intelligent, sophisticated and a determined people leaving our governments in especially recent times, to emerge as the people’s actual scourge – a shame actually – but the question remains, is the government aware of this? Perhaps- yes!

Then again, the question is also, can any government be aware of such a reputation of itself – seeing as it were, how governments especially across Africa are composed of persons who rather than embrace morality and truth – would rather grand-stand, debate and deny obvious truths – nobody ever resigns from governments in Africa no matter how obvious or deliberate their wrong doings are proven to have been! This could be a discussion for another day.

So, like I said, caution! – my watchword is caution. It would be against the backdrop of this term, CAUTION, that I wish to very carefully and in strictly technical terms, scrutinise our current mutual political transition especially as it revolves around Mr Peter OBI.

I am unable to divorce my position from the above indictment already of the mediocre party democracy we have long since adopted in the fourth republic!

Political parties cannot and are NOT supposed to be funded by politicians! Should such a rule obtain anywhere, the outcome could NEVER be democracy – the funding of any political party by its members only sets up a bludgeoning dictatorship worst than any previous military rule which we all wish we have left behind for good!

The positions within the political parties ought to be accessible to all citizens with the requisite reputation, commendation and work-rate commensurate thereabout to such offices from top to bottom! The political parties in Nigeria have so obviously degenerated into fiefdoms or personal properties of either some individuals or of one or few groups of the powerful! The one who pays the piper determines the tune!

This is so obviously the sad fate of both of Nigeria’s two leading political parties which circumstances have thrown up Mr Peter OBI as the shining light and star personage of the unfolding show of shame and recrimination that the two bewildered parties have so obviously become!

So, your question now must so obviously be – is Mr Peter OBI the best Nigeria can have right at this moment? My answer from all the above is equally quite obvious already: NO – Mr Peter OBI is only the best that the mediocre political party method in Nigeria can bring about but he is NOT the best that Nigeria can offer itself!

But – hold it right there! – I am not saying Mr Peter OBI cannot work or will not work! Far from it. What I am saying is that with the realisation of salient truths as have been mentioned here so far, our watchword becomes more emphatically functional:

CAUTION!!!

With Mr Peter OBI already in the frontal concourse of the Presidential race – we cannot afford to met any injustice to him whatsoever! We ought to never condemn ourselves as a people in all our great numbers, to even contemplate any injustice to that man – he would, before the Almighty, become a judge over us and condemn us if he so choses to – should we dare to! We only owe him and ourselves the staggering responsibility of being the more cautious as a people – which ordinarily is one of nature’s hardest things for any people to do corporately!

Now then, what exactly do I mean by being CAUTIOUS? Cautious of what, in what way and of what?

Now, while it is natural to always and consistently hope for the best, let us for once think and speak in reverse since we are intending to be cautious. We have already thought of the best in the past and this is where we have gotten to with that kind of thought! Now, perhaps we should prepare for the worse and see about mitigating whatever we assume in this thought to constitute our likely or impending danger! The Yoruba say, ‘as we do not know what death is, let us look at sleep!’

The questions to ask ourselves will therefore pertain to what bad qualities we have observed in all the governments we have elected so to speak, before now. We will thereafter be better positioned to address such observed ills as they may pertain to Mr Peter OBI and his impending government – God willing.

My personal observation and questions imminent are as follows:

Massive Carpet Crossing Chaos: The envisaged victory of the Labour Party will indeed be a huge miracle and one of the surer sign of this would be the massive manner in which it would result in a massive carpet crossing by long serving and newly elected public officials.

Now the questions surrounding this possibility remains will such occurrences not jeopardize the smooth off-take of a such a new government headed by an equally new president and his vice? There can be no arguing the high likelihood o a great number of elected and appointed public officials jostling so as to fill in the relevant offices of Government which ought necessarily to be filled by persons from the Labour Party or as the President may deem fit in his own rights

Interference in Government and governance by close cronies: As observed of the current Buhari Government, the influence of close relatives and cronies in government and governance can no longer be waved away; the ethics of public leadership have waned in recent history giving room for close relatives and cronies of the President and the Vice President to speedily position themselves in vantage positions – most of which they turn around to use in unethical conducts, side businesses and other informal clout enabling conduct all in the shadow of Mr President’s office or the narrow corridors of the Presidency.

Formation of Cabals of any kind: Everyone would know, as a student of social trends, how so easily bad habits and qualities are copied and duplicated! The gravest antecedence of the Buhari Government that may very easily rare its head in the impending Peter OBI Government in Nigeria remains the likelihood of cabals both at the Presidency or at specific sectors or economic segments for the purposes of control, influence and other selfish, unethical yet not easily detectable profiteering!

The likelihood of greater and more anxious Rule of Force by insurgents from the South Eastern region: Mr Peter OBI cannot be deterred from his run for the Presidency not-withstanding the fact he comes from a region that is home to long standing insurgents – because none of the three major tribes in Nigeria are without reasonable levels of insurgent and secessionist fervours already! The case of this is further compounded by the historical fact that Mr Peter OBI hails directly from the same South Eastern State that championed the 1969 – 72 civil war in Nigeria! No matter the facts that the Government of Nigeria and the victorious Nigerian Army back in 1972 declared a NO VICTOR – NO VANQUISHED at the end of the war, we have all lived in and witnessed the very obvious bias the South Easterners have been subjected to since that war – to such extents that every calculation had denied South Easterners any proximity to the Nigerian Presidency till now! Mr Peter OBI is therefore the first and only South Easterner gunning for the Nigerian Presidential Palace so directly and without recourse to any local superficial arrangements other than the power of the ballot, to see him to success – possibly. All the other instances when South Easterners have achieved the closest to the high offices of the land, they had gotten to such offices largely on the basis of negotiated consideration and only in accordance to the whims and caprices of the other two larger and looming ethnic majorities! This is not withstanding that Presidential succession order is proclaimed to reflect the provisions o the Nigerian national constitution wherein every Nigerian is assured of their equal rights to all privileges, positions and opportunities including their rights to contest for and WIN the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

The inexperience of new public officials in public governance policies and programmes formation, formulation and their execution: Mr Peter OBI has built what could most easily be described as a new cult following amongst Nigerians given his long standing high acceptance levels across several and still rising considerations! Such a high standard and ever growing expectation from the people and members of the new government create a huge pressure occasioned by the eagerness with which the people wish to taste relief and every other easing-off of their long standing discomforts, pains and hardship across so many facets of national life and socio-economic considerations – too numerous to mention here at this material time!

These pressures are quite capable of causing long lasting and very costly errors by a new government!

UN grants NIWOSEC Consultative status

… Centre can attend UN sessions, make written and oral statements at international Conferences – Dr. Enhindero

By Matthew Denis

Jubilations as the United Nations has granted a Special Consultative Status to a Nigeria based Non Governmental Organization -The Nigerian Workforce Strategy and Enlightenment Centre (NIWOSEC).

This is the highest status granted by UN to any NGO or Civil Society Organizations.

The Lead Strategist of NIWOSEC, Dr David Kayode Ehindero made disclosure during a special session with NIWOSEC Management, Staff and stakeholders yesterday, 29th December, 2022 at ilorin, Kwara state Capital.

He said “the letter of the new status was conveyed through an official letter communicated to the organization, signed by Wook- Jin Chang, the Chief, NGO Branch from the Office of Intergovernmental Support and Coordination for Sustainable Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs dated 27 December, 2022.

Dr Ehindero read the contents of the letter which read ” I am pleased to inform you that on the 7th December, 2022, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) adopted the recommendation of the committee on Non- Governmental Organizations (NGO) to grant special consultative status to your organization, The Nigerian Workforce Strategy and Enlightenment Centre. Please accept our heart felt congratulations”

The Lead Strategist described the new status as “God answered prayers and rewards of hardwork”.

He congratulated the Management and Staff for achieving the great feats.
The Diplomatic Council enjoys special consultative status with the UN.

“The Council is granted by the United Nations the highest status that can be achieved for a non-governmental organisation (NGO): the special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. This status entitles the Diplomatic Council to attend UN sessions and make written and oral statements at international UN conferences and events.

“The Diplomatic Council has opportunities to globally support interests of economic diplomacy, express its views and influence the work of the Economic and Social Council: a flourishing economy that brings prosperity to mankind is one of the best peace guarantors worldwide.

“Diplomatic Council members can apply to become Diplomatic Council UN delegates and attend UN sessions in New York, Geneva and Vienna. By offering this unique opportunity, the Diplomatic Council opens to its members access to one of the most exclusive, global contact networks with regard to economic and social issues.”

Abuja Stands Still for Tinubu/Shettima, as TSN Inaugurates Officers

…Group optimistic of Tinubu/Shettima’s emergence

By Femi Adi

Ahead of the forthcoming 2023 Presidential Elections, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja stood still for the All Progressives Congress Presidential Flagbearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate Senator Kashim Shettima, as Group under aegis of TINUBU/SHETTIMA NETWORK (TSN) its members today inaugurated National Officers and State Coordinators

In his speech delivered by the National Chairman of Tinubu/Shettima Network, Engineer (Dr.) Kailani Muhammad during the inauguration ceremony held at Barcelona Hotel, Wuse, Abuja, the chairman disclosed that the event was a milestone in the Tinubu/Shettima ticket.
He said that the event had jumpstarted the implementation of the organization’s strategies and synergies toward achieving significant paradigm shift from the clutches of political stagnation in the country to the dynamics of political re-invention in tandem with the 21st century global trend.

According to him, TSN is a rebirth of the Voters Guard and Awareness, which through the years 2003, 2007, 2011 and eventually, in 2015 and 2019 ensured success for President Muhammadu Buhari with about 12 million votes.

He further said, even though the journey was rough and tough the landscape loaded with landmines, the group was able to weather the storm and the minimal effort and inputs yielded positive results at the end of it all.

While explaining that “TSN structure presently is deeply grass rooted in all the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, Senatorial Districts, Local Government Councils and Wards across the country, Dr. Kailani Muhammad assured the gathering and Nigerians in general that the group is strategically positioned for a vibrant result – oriented outcome, more than we recorded in 2015 and 2019. Stressing,”By the special grace of God Almighty, our efforts will not be in vain.

“We shall put in every effort and ensure that all hands are on deck to register election success and ensure that Senator Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima are sworn in as President and Commander Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and Vice President respectively come 2023, Insha Allah.”

The National Chairman however, reminded Nigerians that the Abiola/ Tofa episode has manifested once again in the TINUBU/SHETTIMA ticket as an alternative for sustainable leadership and government .

He therefore posited that Nigeria and the citizens cannot afford to miss it this time around because, time is not on our side.

“Nigerians should understand that, the manifestation of this ticket has given us hope, such that very soon, in the near future, there is going to be a Christian –Christian ticket. Once we arrive at that stage, we can be assured that the time of religious distrust in Nigeria is gone forever and that those political jobseekers that feed on religious politics will become jobless.

“Unfortunately, it is becoming obvious that the same negative mindsets that jeopardized the Abiola Tofa election are out again, with clandestine purposes and waving religious sentiment jargons in our faces, with devious intent to dissuade and discourage us from acknowledging the positive aspects that come with the TINUBU/SHETTIMA ticket.”

Speaking on leadership qualities , he described Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s aspiration as appealing and a well grounded to leader ,who has built a network of friends across the country, with a name recognition and his antecedents as politician is synonymous with success.

He equally averred that” Over time Tinubu has supported men and women to stardom and knows very well how to identify talents, people that are result-driven who can work with him and achieve his policies for the good of the nation.

“Asiwaju Tinubu has the capacity to lead the country. His manifesto is a bumper package, rich in deliverables; with short term, medium term and long-term plans,thus he urged electorate to vote Tinubu/Shettima of the APC to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari who has done well.

Muslim dominate kaduna churches at Christmas service and present marvelous gifts

Large number of Muslim youth and Top Islamic scholars visited some kaduna churches this morning with the aims of attending this year Christmas service and to shares many Gift’s items to sthrenthening Christian and Muslims relationship in the northern part of country.

According to the general overseer of Christ evangelical and life intervention ministry pastor yohanna buru, every year hundreds of Muslims from 19 northern states of Nigeria usually joined them towards the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at his church to promote peace and unity .

Buru said, the Different sects of Muslims organizations which include member of Tijjaniya , shiiat Muslim under Islamic movement of Nigeria , and other Sunni Muslim that used joined them ,and the sole purpose is to strengthening peaceful coexistence and religious tolerance in the country.

The Muslim group also presented a gift to the church as a sign of peace, love and better understanding.

“They came with many gifts and awards which they share to the Christians to sthrenthening Christian and Muslims relationship)

The Christian cleric said this year Christmas celebration came amids of high inflation,Insecurity challenges, and raising cost of foodstuff ,poverty, unemployment bedevilling peace stability in the country.

Buru added that last year, over one thousands Muslims attended the Christmas service ,and they came with their different gifts to share with their Christian brothers to strengthens interreligious tolerance

Buru further called on Islamic and Christian Clergies to embark on ceaseless prayers toward the conduct of peaceful elections comes 2023

He called on Nigerians to equally pray for Nigerian Army ,para military toward defeating insecurity challenges bedevilling peaceful coexistence

Report revealed that Muslim youth in a corporate dress visited other churches which include unguwan rimi church, Zaria etc

Responding one of the Islamic scholar sheick salisu abdullahi giwa who lead a delegations of over 10 buses loaded with Muslims from katsina, Kano, Zanfara says That lead a delegations of Muslims from Kano to kaduna says, they are here to join their brothers, the Christians towards celebrating the birth of Jesus.

He said, they decided to attend this church service today because today is Christmas Day, a day that the birth of Jesus Christ is being celebrated over the globe and they feel that they6 also have concern to share with them the feelings of the day Jesus Christ was born.

Mohammed said that as Muslims they considered Christians as their fellow brothers and sisters in humanity, stressing that they were at the church service to join them in celebrating and sharing the joy of this day with them.

He then appealed to all Muslim’s and Christians to remember that they are all the children of eve and Adams

Adding that, both of them have holy books sent from one God which teaches them and guide them how to live in peace and harmony with any one irrespective of his tribe, culture, ethnicity.

Another imam base in kaduna, alaramma Ibrahim Musa from hayin kogi kaduna expressed happiness on how Muslim and Christian are promoting good relationship

Adding that they are here to award the pastor for the peace promotion he has-been doing for many years in the state

He wish Christian all over the world merry Christmas and new year

Many Muslims youth group from 23 local government visits churches to strengthen relationship

Mohammed zakariya who is the leader of (Nigeria youth for peace initiative) also lead a team of Muslim to unguwar rimi church, after attending the church service, they shared trees for the church
Many economic tree’s were shared to poster peace and unity

Frank Writes US, World Bank, IMF, Alleges Plot To Assassinate Emefiele

A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Thursday, raised the alarm over alleged plot to assassinate the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele.

Frank in a statement in Abuja called on the international community especially the United States of America, United Kingdom, European Union, World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to intervene to save Emefiele’s life and job.

Emefiele has been in the news of late following allegations that the Department of State Services (DSS) have plans to arrest and charge him for terrorism financing in order to forcefully and illegally remove him as the governor of the apex bank.

The DSS is Nigeria’s foremost secret police organization.

Frank who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and Middle East, however urged the DSS to purge itself of partisanship by following due process if it has any evidence linking Emefiele to the said charge.

He insisted that the DSS have farmed out their men to allegedly harass, intimidate and arrest Emefiele on his way back into the country after an official assignment abroad.

He said: “I have it on good authority that some members of the present administration led by the APC in collaboration with some
security agencies are planning to assassinate Governor Emefiele.

“To me, it’s a plot to destabilise next year’s general elections. I plead with the the nation’s security agencies and their cohorts to halt this devious plan in the interest of the country.

“It is interesting to note that this same government through its security agencies like the DSS defended the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, over his alleged past extremist views and support for Al-Qaeda and Boko Haram, even when the minister owned up to the past Islamic messages.

“Also, one of the Vice Presidential candidates who has been seen dining with Boko Haram leaders, including taking pictures with them has not been questioned or arrested by the DSS.

“It is worthy of note that the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had revealed in the past that six top Nigerians were part of those funding terrorism in Nigeria.

“The DSS has done nothing to bring these persons to justice, yet the agency is allegedly being swift in weaving a charge of terrorism financing against Emefiele.

“It is crystal clear that this plot is not far from the politics of 2023. Therefore, we appeal to the international community to wade in and call the people who want to execute this gross illegality against the CBN Governor to order.

“My guess is that some people are not comfortable with Emefiele’s policies, especially that of Naira notes’ redesign as it appears to thwart their plans for vote buying during the upcoming general elections.

“We, the citizens of this country,
will resist any form of intimidation as power must return back to the people, come 2023.
This is the time to work the talk on corruption by this government.

“It might interest the DSS to know that there’s a video in circulation where one of the presidential candidates was seen sharing money to supporters in broad daylight, an act that violates provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.

“Let me advise security agencies like the DSS to channel their energies to curtail such illegalities rather than embarking on a wild goose chase.

“I would like to use this opportunity to state that the members of the cabal plotting this evil are not happy with President Muhammadu Buhari’s principled stance on the conduct of a free and fair general elections come 2023.

“It is obvious that Mr. President will not endorse this type of illegality, hence some members of his administration have ganged up to plan the arrest and possible assassination of Emefiele.

“I have it on good authority that one of the Deputy Governors of the CBN, said to be loyal to one of the presidential candidates, is being primed to step into Emefiele’s shoes upon arrest.

“Therefore, he would be mandated to reverse all recent policies of the CBN, especially that of Naira notes’ redesign. My message to him and his cohorts is that they have failed!

“I dare the DSS to show Nigerians proof of Emefiele’s involment in any form terrorism related activities or else remain quiet and concentrate on their primary assignment.

“The DSS must steer clear of politics and immediately shelf their purported plans to arrest Emefiele on his way back into the country with the aim of embarrassing him.

“We call on the international community to wade in and mount pressure on the President to stop their plan to illegally and forcefully remove Mr. Emefiele as CBN Governor.

“In all, if anything untoward happens to Emefiele, the DSS must be ready to take full responsibility.”

Philanthropic Organisations To Train 10, 000 Youths From 7 States On Digital Skills, Technology, ICT and Others

Mallam Bala Idrisu, the Managing Director of Renaissance Logistics and Supplies Limited, in partnership with Wootlab Foundation and in conjunction with Microsoft has concluded arrangements to train and empower 10,000 Nigerians.

The implementing partner, Wootlab Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to address inequalities for underrepresented and marginalised children and youths by providing opportunities that foster economic growth and financial freedom through digital literacy interventions.

The intensive digital skills training under the Learn Entrepreneurship and Applicable Digital Skills (LEADS) initiative comprises intensive two-week trainer-led classes in highly sought-after digital skills to support their entry into the tech industry and attract opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.

Speaking with Newsmen in Lokoja, Mallam Bala stated that out of the 10,000 beneficiaries to be trained, 5,000 will be selected from Kogi West local government.

The remaining 5,000 people who will receive training and empowerment, he added, will be distributed as follows: 2000 will come from Nasarawa State, 500 from Bayelsa, 500 from Lagos, 500 from Delta State, 500 from Kaduna State, and 1000 from Kano State.

According to the Managing Director of Renaissance Logistics and Supplies Limited, registration for the training and empowerment will begin on Monday, 12th of December, 2022, while the actual training will commence in January 2023.

He said that, in addition to the physical training in Lokoja for individuals from Kogi West, there would also be virtual training, with participants receiving incentives like computers, Android phones, and data to learn.

At the end of the training, the best trainee would receive a laptop, while the two runners-up would receive Android phones.

Mallam Bala explained that the training will be in the chosen areas of the participants. He expressed optimism that at the end of the training, the trainees will be self reliant and gainfully employed.

To register, click on the following link: http://bit.ly/wootlableads3

Petrol: NAPGCO Commends NNPCL Boss for Slashing Price To Tackle Brewing Scarcity

Group under aegis of National Association of Petroleum products and Gas Consumers, (NAPGCO) has commended the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL ,Mele Kyari for adopting measures to guarantee adequate fuel supply by fixing N148 per litre as the price for lifting petrol at depots.

According to the group, for agreeing to supply outstanding stock to independent oil marketers, to end product shortage is no doubt part of the swift administrative response to tackle the brewing fuel scarcity problem across the country has helped to make fuel available at filling stations .

“We can all see that making the products available really helped to during this period did really doused tension over usual perennial panic that characterized the ember months , especially Christmas and New Year festive periods.”

“We are glad to announce that Saboteurs who profit from this have not only been frustrated ,but also have been thought a bitter lesson that with a proactive leadership and right administrative approach , it is no longer business as usual.” It added .

National Association of Petroleum products and Gas Consumers, which stated this in a Press Statement signed by its Chairman, Comrade Mohammad Ibrahim Kazaure said, the decision to commend the NNPC boss, who in few years in office has transformed NNPC into a profit making organization, reiterated that frantic efforts to tackle the problem of scarcity head-on is reasons Nigerians will queues are already disappearing at filling stations today.

“For us , the greatest feat beyond making products available is the slashing of pump price ,which was the “magic wand” .that help to reduce long queues at filling stations as today.

“There is no doubt that the increase in the national crude oil reserves to achieve the 40,000 billion barrel target through focus and commitment; efforts to revive refineries and decision to collaborate with relevant security agencies to clamp saboteurs are enough reasons to ensure and sustain steady supply of fuel across the country .

It further stated , ” We are particularly impressed that for the first time in the history of NNPC, the company declared profit,which Kyari achieved through the area of financial transparency via the audited financial statements of the NNPC LTD.

While urging the NNPCL Boss to shun those it described as “saboteurs and enemies of Nigerians” in the bid to make fuel available always , it pointed out that the decision to make public the Corporation’s Monthly Financial & Operations Reports (MFOR) in line with his Transparency Accountability and Performance Excellence(TAPE) vision placed NNPC as the only national oil company that publishes its financial and operations reports monthly globally.

It further said , Kyari’s efforts to fight oil theft has yielded results as disclosed during the Senate’s joint committees on Petroleum (Upstream and Downstream) and Gas, that “within six weeks, 395 illegal refineries have been deactivated, 274 reservoirs destroyed, 1,561 metal tanks destroyed, 49 trucks seized and a 4-kilometres illegal oil connection line from Forcados Terminal into the sea – which had been in operation undetected for nine years – detected.”

” As a group ,we appreciated that against all odds ,he was able to champion reforms in the upstream sector, sustaining oil output, boosting its subsidiary, implementing the National Gas Expansion project, AKK pipeline project, NLNG Train 7 FID, facilitating power projects, efficient crude oil lifting contract and ultimately instilling transparency in the corporation .

Nationwide Strike: River Basins Union gives Water Resources Minister two weeks ultimatum

The Trade Group under the Federal Ministry of Water Resources – All River Basin Development Authority (FMWR/RBDAs) has given the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu two weeks ultimatum to either sack the Managing Director of Lower Niger River Development Authority (LNRBDA) Ilorin, Dr. Saheed Adeniyi Aremu or they will embark on nationwide strike.

This is contained in a Communique at the end of their trade union meeting duly signed by the Forum Chairman, Engr. Mudi Olayinka Raji and the Secretary, Engr. Nwabueze Ibeneme and made available to Newsmen on Tuesday.

The Communique reads ” The forum is disheartened by the inhuman treatment of staff by the Dr. Aremu. The maltreatment is eclipse by the unwillingness of the Minister to take necessary action over the several misdemeanorous and various acts of corruption allegations against Engr Aremu.

” The forum wishes to notify the Minister that all RBDAs will embark on nationwide protests if Dr. Aremu remains Office beyond 27th of December, 2023

” The forum is concerned about the ongoing trend of gross mismanagement of RBDAs mandate as some RBDAs use of the budget for policy implementation. This has resulted in the Government spending money inefficiently and non optimally.

The Communique appealed to the ministry to ensure that the RBDAs adhere strictly to the statutory mandate of the Authority by tailoring their budget towards the objective of their establishment especially Federal Government policies in the areas of irrigation Agriculture and foods security.

The forum further stressed that some of their members at the branches level have embraced an inappropriate means of reporting issues to the some organs of the Authority thereby bypassing the executives. It thereby seek that status quo should be maintained by abiding by the rules and regulations in carrying out activities.

Nigeria Inter-Faith Alliance (NIFA) adopts Obi/Datti, As Peter Obi Storms Jikwoyi In Abuja For Endorsement Rally

The national umbrella body of inter-faith clergy, comprising both Christian leaders and Islamic clerics across the 36 states of Nigeria and FCT has adopted the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi and plans to hold endorsement rally to flag off religious communities massive mobilisation for Obi-Datti.

This was disclosed on Sunday December 4, 2022 by Archbishop Prof Leonard Kawas while addressing pressmen at the headquarters of his church in Abuja shortly after the celebration of his 21st year as a Bishop.

According to the Archbishop who played host to the National Chairman of Labour Party, Barr Julius Abure and other dignitaries at the celebration of 21 years of his ordination as a Bishop, “Mr Peter Obi will storm Jikwoyi to be part of the endorsement rally slated for 10am on Tuesday December 13, 2022 at World Harvest Pavilion by Ashaka Cement Bus Stop in Jikwoyi, Abuja”.

The cleric who is the National Coordinator of the inter-faith group and the Visioneer as well as the Chief Host of the event, further asserted that out of their teeming members, “not less than three thousand (3,000) Christian and Muslim Clerics across all the states in Nigeria have strongly indicated interest to be part of the history making event and are preparing for the journey to Abuja for the occasion and to receive the Presidential candidate of Labour Party, His Excellency Mr Peter Obi and the Vice Presidential candidate, Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed with their entourage and some key leaders of Labour Party; live during the endorsement rally”.

MOTHER OF ALL ENDORSEMENTS FOR PETER OBI BY NIGERIA INTER-FAITH ALLIANCE

Over 3,000 Christian and Muslim Clerics from all 36 States of Nigeria and FCT under the platform Of Nigeria Inter-Faith Alliance (NIFA) will be holding a rally to endorse Mr Peter Obi and Dr Ahmed Datti on December 13, 2022 in Jikwoyi Abuja in what is believed to be the mother of all endorsements so far.

The Nigeria Inter-Faith Alliance NIFA, that comprises both Christian and Islamic leaders all over Nigeria will receive the Presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi; his Vice Presidential candidate, Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed with their entourage and some key leaders of Labour Party; live from 10am on Tuesday December 13, 2022 at World Harvest Pavilion by Ashaka Cement Bus Stop in Jikwoyi, Abuja for the endorsement rally, which will also serve to flag off religious communities massive mobilisation for Obi-Datti.

According to Archbishop Prof Leonard Bature Kawas who is the National Coordinator of the inter-faith group and the Visioneer as well as the Chief Host of the event, “even Nigerians from diaspora are going to grace the occasion in addition to highly respected Islamic Sheikhs across Nigeria like Sheikh Mahmoud Murtadam, Sheikh Alhassan Useni and Sheikh Mohammad Musa who are part of the co-hosts and are mobilising other Islamic clerics for the Inter-faith Alliance Rally”.

Also the Atlanta based Apostle David Solomon, who played host to Mr Peter Obi in Atlanta Georgia during his tour of United States of America, has arrived Nigeria leading other Nigerians in diaspora for the rally and he will be speaking during the endorsement rally. In an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja, Apostle David said, “this endorsement rally will be the mother of all endorsements so far and it will shake the political landscape in Nigeria.

“In the past, politicians have been throwing seed of division between Christians and Muslims so as to have their way, But it’s no longer tenable as we have come together as brothers and sisters, citizens of the same country to face our common slave masters, in a battle to rescue our dear country from their hostage. And it will be this 2023 that we, Nigerians will take back our country through Mr Peter Obi as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” The US based Apostle concluded.