₦airaland Forum

Islamic extremists can be found anywhere including igboland.

SEFAGO:
U know why i said that. There is a major difference between the Islam practiced in the North and that in the South. I dont feel like going into the historical details but they are quite obvious. Its weird for a conservative muslim to say that.

Olabowale is from the South and he is a very conservative muslim. Jarus is from the North but he is a liberal muslim. Your response made me recall this thread below:

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-154710.0.html

Why are they crooks?. Did you read the story at all?

I don't know what will make me deny Jesus Christ in my lifetime. I am also getting reports that some Nigerian muslims in US are quickly becoming baptists. Olabowale may soon be left alone in this faith at this rate.

The parents, particularly Muslims, whose children are either schooling, employed or generally living abroad, by last weekend, started making frequent calls to their wards to monitor their movement and activities. The children are being advised to shave their beards, dress as cosmopolitan as possible while visits to mosques should be limited to Friday Jummat services for the time being. Though most of the parents spoke anonymously, they all seemed to share the same opinion about the unfolding
development.

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-379333.0.html

I consider myself as one of the lucky few whose children do not answer to Islamic names which will be one of the give-away signs of their religion. The second sign of identification being the dressing”.

Alhaja Mulikat Agbomeji, a business woman with two sons in universities in the UK, who described Nigeria’s listing among terror nations as very unfortunate, said she has increased the number of times she calls her children from weekends only to daily since the development. According to her, “many parents tend to take things for granted because once the children are abroad, we are under the impression that security wise, they are safe.
This Mutallab’s case has added another dimession to it. Unfortunately, we cannot change our religion because of what one of us has done. We cannot change our names overnight because we don’t want to be identified with a certain group. But what we can do is to stay out of trouble and don’t make ourselves targets for suspicion”.

She disclosed further, “ I have told my sons to limit their visits to the mosques to only Jummat worships and, if possible, avoid it totally for now. God will understand.”

Another parent who has three children in the UK disclosed that she has advised her male children to shave their beards and dress simply so as not to attract unwarranted attention from security operatives. “Apart from the beards, I have told them not to engage in any religious discussion or argument with anyone, and to moderate their dressing.

She noted that she would be travelling to the U.K to see them as soon as possible for further discussion, pointing out that “it is no longer safe to send impressionable, young children abroad without personally monitoring their activities”.

What difference does it make?

I have told my sons to limit their visits to the mosques to only Jummat worships and, if possible, avoid it totally for now. God will understand

LWKMD

Mind how you preach before somebody go design your teeth for you.

Shouldn't it be better to provide employment to them?. It's still better than those pastors who use their excess funds to buy uselss things. Who wouldn't be happy to pay his tithe in Olukoya's church?.

Shabby treatment of Nigerians: FG tackles South Africa

Amb. Marwa ends visa fee theft
From Alifa Daniel, Asst Political Editor, Abuja


ONE week after the emergence of signs that the National Assembly was considering a probe of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, The Guardian has learnt of measures introduced by the Federal Government, through the Ministry, to pay back the South African government in its coin over the way its embassy treats Nigerian citizens.





In what appears a bosom-for-tat measure currently subsisting in Nigeria's embassy in South Africa, citizens of that country hoping to get Nigerian visa are now made to wait outside the embassy for days, and sometimes weeks.
[size=16pt]
Also, just as Nigerians are made to dish out about US$1,000 before they depart for South Africa, the federal government has made it mandatory for South Africans to do the same before boarding a plane to Nigeria.[/size]

And the measure is titillating National Assembly members who see the decisive action by the Government as a way of paying back some African countries, who maltreat Nigerians.

"We shed our blood and give our resources to these brothers of ours but they always turn around to land annoying slaps on our faces, but I am happy that the South Africans are waving the olive branch this time around," a lawmaker said.

It was gathered that some South Africans and government agencies fearing a backlash on their businesses in Nigeria have initiated moves to find a lasting solution to the disagreement.

Top presidency officials from the Southern African nation had met with the country's officials led by Vice President Goodluck Jonathan and other officials with a view to removing the "impediment to good relations between both African countries."

It is expected that new measures would be rolled out soon to stop the payment of $1000, as well as ensure quick issuance of visas to genuine businessmen, tourists, and others with valid interests.

[size=14pt]It was learnt that the "$1000," as an official described it, was put in place by the South Africans "because they presume that all Nigerians are criminals and should pay the amount to cover the cost of their deportation from that country. If you return unscathed your money is refunded"[/size]

"We ran into this kind of situation because we once had a leader who gave people the free rein to ride roughshod over us. He almost sold us out to foreigners to massage his international ego. When we began to take retaliatory measures, those who work in those firms with South African interests saw they were losing out, as they could not attend meetings in Nigeria on time. Nobody advised them to wave the olive branch, and that is the way it is supposed to be," a source said.

It was not clear yesterday what role Nigeria's Ambassador, General Mohammed Buba Marwa, played in the efforts to resolve the disagreement, but it was gathered he was at the centre of measures to stop alleged visa racketeering that was going on in his embassy.

"We learnt that he initiated the moves that led to the invitation of some officials that uncovered fraudulent activities in his embassy, and he also ensured that all those under investigation were moved from their desks. How he knew about the visa racketeering beats our imagination as ambassadors in other outposts have either been ignorant or they are part of it," a source said.

Last week, The Guardian reported plans to probe the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its officials over frivolous trips, non-payment of salaries, and "missing visa fees" in some embassies.

This had come on the heels of reports that staff, in most foreign missions, were left stranded for the Christmas and New Year holidays without pay packets to take home.

In one of the embassies in Southern Africa, an officer was moved from his schedule because he failed to explain how over $150, 000 got missing from the Embassy's coffers.

Observers wondered whether the embassy official funds were not been used by staff to meet their personal needs abroad since Abuja was not forthcoming with salaries and other funds.

Other sources speak of such situations in most of the country's outposts abroad.

"What is sickening about the situation is that the local staff in those countries know what our people are doing with embassy funds so they do not have a great deal of respect for Nigeria and her citizenry. To compound matters, they know some of the fees being charged are illegal and going to private pockets. What does that say about the re-branding project when foreign governments know the situation in our embassies?" The Guardian was told.

Though the Senate is said to be gearing up for a far-reaching probe of how funds are managed by Abuja and the outposts, it was learnt that the amount of N2.7 billion said to have been spent by the ministers and officials of the Ministry for foreign trips might have been an under-estimation of the real amount that was actually spent.

"It is far higher than that, and we will get to the root of it. In fact, we learnt that most of the funds, which they said were used for trips abroad, were superfluous.

"Let me explain: Many of them either did not go for such trips or they spent less than the required days and did not return the balance. Somebody has said that if they deny, we should ask for the vouchers raised for all the trips and ask for the passports to check entry and departure stamps on the passports. It promises to be interesting."

Three weeks ago, The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs had frowned at the N2.7 billion expenditure, which it said was incurred by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Chief Ojo Madukwe, on foreign trips in 2009.

At a budget defence session with the officials of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Jibril Aminu (PDP, Adamawa Central) said the Minister's several trips outside the country had become 'wasteful' to the economy.

Aminu said: "The whole budget of the ministry of commerce is about N2 billion, while that of the Ministry of Police Affairs is about N1 billion but you have used N2.7 billion for international travels alone. And you are even asking for increase in the 2010 budget. These foreign travels are wasteful; you have to cut it down. There is no way we are going to give you more money for international travels."

In his response, Chief Ojo Maduekwe said the international travels being undertaken by the Ministry were for the sake of diplomacy saying:

"Diplomacy is all about visibility. Even technology has not helped in reducing international travels in diplomacy. There is no way the travel commitment of the Foreign Ministry could be compared to that of the Ministry of Commerce."

The Committee also lamented the non-release of funds to foreign missions, a situation it said resulted in non-payment of salaries and allowances of diplomats in the past three months.

On the issue of poor funding, Maduekwe told the committee that the poor financial position of foreign missions was caused by frivolous trips by some ambassadors whom, he said, usually pay themselves huge estacodes.

But in an explanation to the Committee, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Jibril Maigari, said due to a shortfall of 21 per cent in the allocated funds to the foreign missions, about N8 billion could not be disbursed.

"The exchange rate of Naira to the dollar in the budget was N118; but in the end, The naira fell to N150 per dollar, causing a shortfall in the funds disbursed to the missions," he explained.

According to Maigari, "although the CBN has paid the sum of N4.5 billion to take care of parts of the shortfall, the balance could not be paid because the 2009 Supplementary Budget is not ready."

http://odili.net/news/source/2010/jan/9/11.html

Senator advises Yar’Adua to seek healing at Joshua’s Synagogue
By Dennis Agbo
Sunday, January 10, 2010



Abakaliki -Vice Chairman, Senate Committee for Federal Capital Territory, Senator Anthony Agbo (PDP, Ebonyi North) has suggested that in addition to President Umaru Yar’Adua’s medical treatment in Saudi Arabia, he could also visit the Synagogue Church of all Nations in Lagos where Pastor T.B. Joshua performs healings on all manner of people both from within and outside Nigeria.




http://odili.net/news/source/2010/jan/10/302.html

Senator Agbo stated that President Yar’Adua, a Muslim, should forget about his religious affliations and receive healing first; con-tending that God is one and for everybody whether as a Muslim or a Christian.

He quickly added that Yar’Adua is president of all Nigerians despite their religious affiliations.

His words: “We are all praying for him and indeed all the people with disabilities in Ebonyi State have specifically put it in our programme that we are going to pray for the president…But for me, I really would have advised, if it is possible, for the president to visit the Synagogue Church of all Nations. This is because from what I watch on Emmanuel Television, my mind tells me that if the president can visit that church, God can give him instant and total healing in addition to all the prayers that are being said about him.”

The senator who spoke to newsmen in Abakaliki, stressed that though he had never visited the Lagos Synagogue and does not know Pastor Joshua in person, but that as an ardent watcher of Emmanuel TV he sees what God does in the synagogue.

“So my recommendation is that in addition to the prayers that are being said all over the country, the president should be made to visit the Syna-gogue Church to solicit God’s instant intervention in his health,” Agbo said.

Asked if the president, as a Muslim, would be allowed by his religious leaders to visit a Christian church, Senator Agbo said: “Well, God is one. God, I believe, is the same God that created both Christians and Muslims. I watch Emmanuel TV, as I said, and I see a lot of Muslims that go there. I have seen several Muslims that took their problems to that place and they got instant solution and that is the way God is. The president of Nigeria is president for Muslims as well as Christians; so the God of Muslims and the God of Christians is the same God of the president.

“Therefore the president of Nigeria does not even have a denomination or a religious inclination. He should be both a Christian and a Muslim if we all accept that God is one. I don’t see anything wrong in a Muslim president seeking faith healing in a Christian church as long as we know that the healing that is happening in that place is really coming from the Almighty God through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ. That is my recommen-dation.”

MASSOB terror: Indigenes of Umudike community, in Imo State, cry out over activities of pro-Biafran group; allege rape and high-handedness
By HENRY UMAHI (kinghenrysun@yahoo.com) and UCHE ONWUCHEKWA

Saturday, January 9, 2010
Ndubuisi Dim is a pathetic sight. An indigene of Umudike, in Owerre-Okwe autonomous community of Onuimo Local Government Area in Imo State, he is heart-broken and a psychological wreck. Gnashing his teeth, his voice betrays his pains, anguish and grief.



[img]http://odili.net/news/source/2010/jan/9/sun/MASSOB-HQ[1].gif[/img]
MASSOB head quarter



http://odili.net/news/source/2010/jan/9/505.html


A father of four, Dim had the misfortune of watching his wife and daughter raped mercilessly in his farm recently. The sickening attack, which caused a wave of shock and revulsion, were allegedly carried out by members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra ( MASSOB).

Narrating how he watched in horror as a group of men sexually assaulted his wife and daughter, Dim said that the sad memories of the day would never fade.

He said: “On the fateful day, an Afor day, I was working in the farm with my wife and daughter, when the evil men, wielding guns and machete, emerged from the bush and grabbed them. I was on the other side of the farm but when I heard them screaming, I ran there to find out what the problem was. Then I saw a group of men dragging my wife and daughter into the bush and raped them in my presence. I could not do anything because they were well armed and their eyes were blood-red. Even when I tried to shout, they threatened to kill me.

“This is the worst thing that could happen to a man. It is man’s inhumanity to man at the worst level. They are not humanbeings but beasts. They are evil men. They are MASSOB people; they have been terrorizing us for sometime now.”

Asked how he knew that those who sexually assaulted his wife and daughter were actually MASSOB members, he said that members of the group were not difficult to identify.

According to him: “ We know them; they are strangers; they are not from our community, we know ourselves. Most of them are from Ebonyi, Enugu, Cross River, Anambra and Akwa Ibom states and elsewhere. Also, they move about in MASSOB uniforms and vests. They have badges and mementoes.”

Dim added that he reported the incident at the headquarters of MASSOB in Okigwe but was treated disdainfully. According to him, he took his wife and daughter, a Secondary School student to the hospital for treatment after the attack. He disclosed that the effect of the assault on the family is unimaginable.

Dim is not the only person from Umudike in agony. Also speaking with Saturday Sun in the palace of Eze Bernard Obi, Onyeoruru I of Owerre-Okwe, Mr. Paul Okoro said that his 20 year-old-daughter, Juliana, was brutally raped by men adorning attires of green, red and black colours embossed with the rising sun, which is the Biafran symbol.

The 50-year-old man maintained that since Juliana was dragged into the bush and cruelly raped in turns, she has remained in trauma.

He said: “She has not been her normal self since the men assaulted her recently. After the incident, we took her to the hospital for treatment. Tests were also conducted on her and thankfully, she was not infected with any disease.”

But if Juliana was lucky not to have contracted any sexually transmitted disease, the case of Ngozi, a 19-year-old student, is different. With tears streaming down her cheeks, Ngozi, who hails from Umuibe, Ezeana Okwe, told Saturday Sun that the rapists infected her with syphilis.

“When the results of the test came, they said that I had syphilis. I was a virgin before they raped me,” she sobbed. She revealed that four men raped her without condoms.

Also, on the list of ladies recently raped in the community is one Chinyere (surname withheld), who is physically challenged. It was gathered that because of her physical incapacitation, she has been assaulted severally and forced to prepare meals for the attackers.

Owing to the activities of the rapists, it was gathered that women in the area are now endangered species. According to Mr. Goddy Okoro, the vice-chairman, Umudike Owerre Okwe autonomous community, the rampaging rapists have caused women terror in the community. He said that they waylay women and pounce on them where they are extremely vulnerable.

It was gathered that pregnancies have also resulted from the unrestrained assaults. One of the victims said to have become pregnant in the process is one Miss Ejima Uchegbu. When members of her family confronted the rapists, they were threatened.

Sources further claimed that MASSOB members are also used to settle claims or to handle civil cases whereby “justice” is awarded to the highest bidder. Many have allegedly lost their lives as a result of torture in the hands of MASSOB members.

The source said: “For instance, one Mr. Anthony, alias Best Man, a photographer, died two days ago after he returned from the torture chamber. The man, who hailed from Diakuma community, in Umunna, had two wives. MASSOB people beat him to a pulp and he died two days later.

“Also, they broke the legs of Mr. Simeon Lebeanya and he stayed in hospital for three months. His wife dragged him there after a minor quarrel.”

Saturday Sun learnt that MASSOB operates illegal roadblocks in various parts of Onuimo LGA of Imo State. When Saturday Sun visited the area recently to verify the allegations, road blocks with bamboo bearing Biafran flag were seen at various locations. They include the junctions between Umudike-Ofeke and Umunamu Central School Road; entrance to Okwe from Ezelu village; Ofeke Owerre Okwe road as well as entrance to Umudike village from Umuna and Okwe Central School.

Extortions go on freely on the locations, while cannabis is freely smoked. Those who do not pay the illegal toll are beaten black and blue.

Mr. CY Igwe, a Lagos-based transporter and father of three, said of this: “For instance, Mr. Raymond, a community leader, was beaten to an inch of his life for trying to call the MASSOB people to order. They force the rural dwellers and visitors to pay them before passing; otherwise the person will be dealt with. They carry out their illegal activities with impunity and high level of audacity. Can you imagine that they rape women in broad day light without any fear? That is how bad the situation is.”

Saturday Sun also visited the MASSOB detention camp at Okai, in Umunna. There, people are illegally detained and forced to buy their freedom. It was gathered that the operatives specialise in breaking their victims’ legs, known as “Itu down” in local parlance.

Okoro said that Umudike community farmland, measuring about 5,000 acres, has been confiscated by MASSOB, adding: “The community is under siege; we are living in bondage.”

Meanwhile, the Owerre-Okwe autonomous community has written a petition to the presidency and security agencies intimating them of the “many rebellious acts and atrocities committed” by MASSOB.

In the petition dated December 2, 2009, from the chambers of I.O. Egbo & co, they listed the atrocities of the group as: “Recruitment and maintenance of a private army and police force comprising both Nigerians and some mercenaries that are not Nigerians; the confiscation of and turning into a barrack for his MASSOB Biafran army and police force militants, the house of one Mr. Albert Uzoho, a retired teacher, which is directly opposite the Onuimo Local Government Area Sports Centre, a corner piece bounded by Umudike-Ofeke Owerre-Okwe Road and Umunanu-Umuogele Road, Okwe; the introduction and enforcement of the usage of ‘Biafran currency,’ which the MASSOB Biafran army and police militants thrust on the helpless farmers and take their farm produce away, thereby making the helpless and poor villagers remain hopeless while frustration and death have increased in the community as a result of the frequent attacks and brutalization.”

The petition also alleged that the group illegally hoisted Biafran flags in strategic places in Onuimo Local Government Area, particularly on the land its members seized. It also listed raping and assault of women.

The petition said: “The kidnapping and raping of women and girls in the community by MASSOB Biafran militants are now on the increase. The most recent and most pathetic incident is the raping, at gunpoint, of a mother and her daughter in the presence of the husband and father.”

All efforts to speak with the leadership of MASSOB, especially its leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuike, proved abortive. The MASSOB leader was unavailable when Saturday Sun visited the group’s headquarters in Okigwe and all his phone numbers were either switched off or unavailable.

War inside church - Thugs descend on Vicar
Olayinka Olukoya, Abeokuta
Sunday, January 10, 2010
The first Sunday of the year is often looked forward to by most Christians in the country. In the south-western part of the country, the New Year is often referred to as Odun Nla (literally meaning the big festival). On the first Sunday, most worshippers are decked in their best attires because it is a day of thanksgiving. However, it was not the case with St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Sodubi, Abeokuta, of the Egba Diocese of the Anglican communion.




http://odili.net/news/source/2010/jan/10/600.html

Instead of celebrating and enjoying the presence of God, it was a day the devil entered the church as people suspected to be hired thugs came in and stopped the officiating minister from conducting the service.

The congregation was flabbergasted as confusion reigned inside the church.

The crux of the matter, Saturday Tribune learnt, was the allegation of incessant offensive preaching by a certain 'Venerable' everytime he mounted the pulpit, which did not go down well with some members of the congregation.

It was gathered that the “offensive” preaching of the man of God had angered some members so much that they felt the only opportunity open to them to show their displeasure was to disrupt the first service of the year by preventing the vicar from officiating.

The man behind the mob action, a title holder of the church, alongside his supporters, had hired the services of six hefty men who barricaded the entrance of the church, preventing the vicar and other members of the clergy from gaining entry into the worship place.

The questions on the lips of many people was: has partisan politics become part of the house of God? Are people ready to listen to the true words of God again?

Saturday Tribune learnt that the vicar, having sensed danger, left the church premises with some members of the church believed to be his loyalists and retired to the vicarage while the “main man” in the unholy act was reported to have ordered a layreader, to conduct the service.

The service, according to a member of the church, who spoke on condition of anonymity, was attended by a few members with apprehension on their faces.

The member accused elders of the church of turning the temple of God into a political arena where their “power” and “might” are put to test.

He said that different political intrigues had been brought to the fore by the church leaders which had, in turn, affected the growth of the church.

When contacted, the man in the centre of the row accused the vicar of raining curses when on the pulpit.

Another member of the church who also did not want her name in print, however, had a different view of the crisis. She told Saturday Tribune that the vicar always preached on morals and spiritual development without refering to any member directly.

She said: “Even if a sermon seems pointed at you, what a responsible person should do is to make amends.”

The vicar, when contacted, refused to comment on the incident but told reporters that the matter had been reported to the new Diocesan of Egba, Rt. Revd. Emmanuel Oludaisi Adekunle.

When the vicar was approached, he was fuming with anger as he bombarded reporters with rhetorical questions, such as “How did you get to know what’s happening here? Who told you and who told you to come? This is a church affair and not press affair! I don’t want to comment further.”

Bishop Adekunle, when contacted on phone, described the action as unfortunate, contending that the church would not bow to the wishes of the devil.

He said: “The incident was unfortunate and called for proper handling to right the wrongs.

“I was just called this morning that the minister in charge had been denied entry into the church and to avoid chaos, I asked the priest to stay off that service.

“The cleric also denied that hoodlums brought guns to the church service. I’ve not been informed that anybody brought guns into the church or came with cudgels. But I learnt that people barricaded the gate and did not allow people to enter. Not that they brought guns.”

Bishop Adekunle promised to look into the matter critically as soon as he returned from the Bishops' New Year Retreat, holding in Delta State, with a view to resolving the crisis.

Nigerian parents warn children abroad: Slow down on Islamic activities for now
By Yetunde Arebi
Saturday, January 9, 2010
NIGERIANS with wards abroad, especially in the United States, US, and United Kingdom, UK, have begun taking precautionary measures in a bid to ensure that their children do not come to harm following the blacklisting of Nigeria in the wake of the attempt by Farouk Abdulmutallab to blow up a plane in US last Christmas day.


http://odili.net/news/source/2010/jan/9/321.html

Sunday Vanguard investigations revealed that many parents have been issuing warnings and advice to their wards on physical appearance, association with friends and Islamic activities they engage in.

The parents, particularly Muslims, whose children are either schooling, employed or generally living abroad, by last weekend, started making frequent calls to their wards to monitor their movement and activities. The children are being advised to shave their beards, dress as cosmopolitan as possible while visits to mosques should be limited to Friday Jummat services for the time being. Though most of the parents spoke anonymously, they all seemed to share the same opinion about the unfolding development.

According to a Nigerian diplomat, “the Abdulmutallab incident is an unfortunate one which is going to affect all of us, especially tho se who travel to the US often or have people who live there.” The diplomat, a Muslim, stated, “My children have been living in the US for 20 years, but things would have to change for everybody now and this is what we have been telling the children since the incident occurred.

[size=16pt]I consider myself as one of the lucky few whose children do not answer to Islamic names which will be one of the give-away signs of their religion. The second sign of identification being the dressing”.[/size]

He noted that prior to the failed bomb attempt by Abdulmutallab, Nigerian Muslims had never come under serious scrutiny. “Mosques belonging to the Nigerian community have always been spared such treatment given to those belonging to the Arab”, he said, adding that the privilege has been withdrawn now.

Another parent who has three children in the UK disclosed that she has advised her male children to shave their beards and dress simply so as not to attract unwarranted attention from security operatives. “Apart from the beards, I have told them not to engage in any religious discussion or argument with anyone, and to moderate their dressing.

She noted that she would be travelling to the U.K to see them as soon as possible for further discussion, pointing out that “it is no longer safe to send impressionable, young children abroad without personally monitoring their activities”.

She said though the laws and legal system in the Western countries may be better than in Nigeria, a lot of lapses are bound to take place given the tense and panic situation prevailing right now in those countries, adding, “There is no perfect system anywhere. If the US can admit administrative failures despite the warnings from Abdulmutallab’s father, then they can make mistakes too by arresting innocent people. We pray that does not happen to our children. It is not only in Nigeria that innocent people suffer injustice, it happens in these counties too and the possibility of it happening now is very high”.

Alhaja Mulikat Agbomeji, a business woman with two sons in universities in the UK, who described Nigeria’s listing among terror nations as very unfortunate, said she has increased the number of times she calls her children from weekends only to daily since the development. According to her, “many parents tend to take things for granted because once the children are abroad, we are under the impression that security wise, they are safe.

This Mutallab’s case has added another dimession to it. Unfortunately, we cannot change our religion because of what one of us has done. We cannot change our names overnight because we don’t want to be identified with a certain group. But what we can do is to stay out of trouble and don’t make ourselves targets for suspicion”.

She disclosed further, “ I have told my sons to limit their visits to the mosques to only Jummat worships and, if possible, avoid it totally for now. God will understand.” However, diplomat advised Nigerians to reason with the US government and not criticize them unnecessarily. “They have a right to do whatever the think is in the best interest of their country and people. If we take a holistic look at developments in Nigeria, from the Boko Haram to the unending chain of religious related crisis in our country, now compounded by Abdulmuttallab’s case, not forgetting the Supercreen Television bombing in Lagos which unfortunately again was perpetrated by a Muslim convert, every right thinking government will want to think twice about Nigerians, especially the Muslims, and we can’t blame them,” he said.

“What the Muslim Umah needs right now is intellectual jihad, technology jihad, academic jihad all of which have been lost and taken for granted by the Muslim Umah, not all these violence motivated by politics, economic and power games. The onus now rests squarely on the shoulders of Muslim parents to educate and guide their wards on the right path and not leave them to the whims and caprices of those who will mislead and use them in the name of religion”.

Olukoya amazes 20 first class students with car gifts
By Sam Eyoboka
Sunday, January 10, 2010


THE Nigerian Church has, not without reason, come under intense vilification in recent times with its leadership accused of taking advantage of the pervading poverty in the land to hoodwink cash-strapped citizens, in want of miracles, who easily enrich the Church with their widow’s mite, while the pastors lead very flambouyant lifestyles.


[img]http://odili.net/news/source/2010/jan/10/vanguard/images/MFMawards[1].jpg[/img]

Kingsley Ogiri, (l) UNILAG, receiving his car keys from Pastor (Mrs) Folashade Olukoya (wife of Dr. Daniel Olukoya, MFM General Overseer)





Church members, basking on the lofty promises of divine prosperity by crafty pastors, even went to the ridiculous extent of stealing their employers’ monies, donating same to the Church in fulfillment of their pledges to be part of ‘divine’ work in the Church.

Such thieving members, in most cases, lick their wounds several years later when they discover that their monies have been used to sustain their pastors’ flambouyant lifestyles while they get poorer.

The Church is, however, gradually responding to the criticisms as a negligible few of them are being more socially responsible to the needs of the people around them. One of such churches that has caught the bug of social responsibility is the 20-year Mountain of Fire and Miracles, MFM, which last Saturday gave 20 cars to an equal number of student-members of the church who had first class honours in their degree examinations.

As part of the first monthly Power Must Change Hand programme of MFM, the general overseer of the church, Dr. Daniel Kayode Olukoya doled out 20 cars to the high flying students as part his 21-point agenda to encourage the nation’s youths to stay clean and far away from satanic destruction. One of them was, however, said to be absent for the presentation ceremony for inexplicable reasons.

The dream of Dr. Olukoya, who made history with a first class degree in micro-biology at the University of Lagos, is to reshape the destinies of Nigerian youths whose academic focus is already lost, to promote in them their innate academic potentials, to give hope to those who are academically less privileged, to rescue them from being derailed while on campus, to make MFM youths points of reference to their contemporaries who are aimless on campus, to celebrate excellence through word class award ceremonies, to let the world know that youths of this generation are a leading force in terms of academic structure and content.

The list of the recipients included Adesanya Abosede, University Of Lagos, English; Alabi Olakunle, Ambrose Ali University, Bio-Chemistry; Aluko Damillola, University of Lagos, French; Anifowose Abiodun, University of Lagos, Chemistry; Dosunmu Olakunle, University of Lagos, Chemical Engineering; Edaogbogun Blessing, OAU, Accounting; Ezeji Kelechi Maxwell, FUTO, Mechanical Engineering; Iwaotan Temidayo, Unilag, Botany.

Others include Jegede Bolaji, Unilag, Chemical Engineering; Nwachukwu Hope, Nasarawa State University, Physics; Ogirri Kingsley, Unilag, Sociology; Okafor Chiweoke, UNN, Economics; Olabatuyi Oluwole, UNAAB, Mathematics; Oladiran Gideon, Unilag, Chemical Engineering; Olaopa Oladeji, UNAAD, Economics; Oyeniyi Gabriel, UNNAD, Accounting; Olawole Olabisi Isaac, OAU, Plant Science; Oyindamola Tolu, UI, Computer Science and Sonubi Adeyemi, UNAAB, Mathematics.

Some of the recipients expressed their gratitude to the general overseer for the award which they said would spur them on the greater heights. Mr. Bolaji Jegede who had first class in 2008 at the Unilag was said to be reading for his master’s degree in Cambridge. Hs father, who received the award on his behalf, said he was very happy because the gesture of the church has the capacity to spur the nation’s youth to work harder. “I am happy, at least, somebody is recognizing the youths of this country. This recognition will give them more challenges to go ahead and be the best in their fields of endeavour. More people will be drawn towards reading and make sure they come out with good grades and results,“ the older Mr. Jegede said.

Another recipient, Abosede Adesanya, a Unilag graduate, who had first class in English, said: “I feel very honoured to be counted among the awardees. All glory to God.” He therefore advised students to believe in God, trust in Him and also believe in themselves.

A 2008 first class graduate in Chemical Engineering at Unilag, Oladiran Gideon was short of words to describe his feelings, saying “I feel good, no words to describe this. I won’t be surprised if other churches follow suit. No words to describe this; it is extraordinary. I advise students to read hard and be close to God in all things.”

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A cross section of the cars


The wife of the General Overseer who presented car keys to the 19 first class graduates, said the gifts were to encourage the nation’s youths. She said the church has 21-point agenda to capture the youths of this generation from satanic destruction, to reshape the destiny of youths whose academic focus is already lost, to promote in them their innate academic potentials, to give hopes to those who are academically less privileged, to rescue them from being derailed while on campus, to make MFM youths points of reference to their contemporaries who are aimless on campus, to celebrate excellence through word class award ceremonies, to let the world know that youths of this generation are a leading force in terms of academic structure and content.

Her husband, Dr. Daniel Olukoya, in an interview, told our reporter that in 2008 he challenged the youths of the church to study hard, saying that anyone who comes up first class would get a gift of a car from him. “We just want to encourage them to reposition them for the challenges ahead, because of the intensity of peer pressure,” he said, adding “we recommended that price to make them work hard. The effect is what you are seeing today. Some wanted cash and we gave them cash, others wanted cars and that is what they got.”

The man of God who refused to disclose the cost of the project, advised the nation’s youths to forsake evil when they are young and follow righteousness which is the only guarantee to a secured tomorrow.

http://odili.net/news/source/2010/jan/10/308.html

RichyBlacK:
Oh well, one more reason why I'll continue living outside Nigeria. That jungle called Nigeria is a disgrace to all primates.

You better come back home before the oil money dries up.

Mekusxyz:
That is why this man is standing up. That is why citizen Uzoma beaten up by Navy man Arogundade stood up.

Very sad indeed, but, at least, the mad shooter got himself a life jail (in a naija prison oh!) and dismissal from the navy. I think he is a big loser too. The victim in the current episode will most likely get some justice because he is not a poor Nigerian (+American) and the current IGP is his relation, plus the hell that could be raised, him being an Ame citizen too. Ame does not joke with their citizens. If anything, the mad general may not get an Ame visa in his lifetime.

Furthermore, as we read, the offending army general is retired and if the victim does not relent in pursuing the case, the military will soon abandon the retired man to his fate. Then he will be left alone to carry his troubles. Does anyone know what became of Uzoma’s case? Navy army Arogundade is still having his day in court, but I bet he will be dismissed, at least.

Case is still on and she seems to be winning so far unless miracle happens, the guys involved may soon join Uncle Bode in Kirikiri.

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Sam Okwaraji [RIP]
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Christian Karembeu[left]

KunleOshob:
Divine health  Apart from the fact that is no such promise for christians in the bible, Bishop Oledepo the chief promoter of divine health gospel does not believe in it either. when his wife was sick two years ago he promptly flew her abroad to get the best medical care that money could buy. That apart what is a man preaching divine health doing establishing an hospital who the chief patrons are members of his church? If his divine health propnganda is working why does he own an hospital [that charges exhorbitantly] that his members are directed to when they are ill or is the divine health available only after you pay his exhorbitant hospital bills?

I am now seriously convinced that a Winners chapel member usurped your wife. My brother, tap into the richness of the lord through tithing and divine health.

You mean you are truly pitying your sorry self?

Big No. . . .
I'd rather kiss a tree or a table leg. . .

LWKMD

Onlytruth:
This "general" doesn't seem like the honorable one you mentioned. His impunity betrays him as one of those involved in oil bunkering and other shady deals. Something is pumping his ego.
His ego needs to be brought under the law.

Honorable or not, it depends on the portfolio they handled while in office. If the military "big boys" don't like him, he will retire a broke a*s*s general .

Onlytruth:
Hull his a's's in jail and you will be shocked by how much he had stolen and stacked away for his wives and concubines!
Get him first and watch him promise to pay millions of dollars.
Retired civil servant my a*s*s'.

Don't we have honest generals again in Nigeria?. Ebitu Ukiwe was kicked out as IBB's deputy and replaced with Augustus Aikhomu because he refused to partake in looting and embezzlement. What happened ti him?. They forcibly retired him from the navy.

Onlytruth:
It doesn't matter much until he is convicted (our courts are getting bolder these days, if you doubt that to ask Bode George). When he serves between 5 to 10 years for attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, believe me others like him would learn. After his conviction, his estate will be confiscated to pay for all these plus damages.

Which estate? A retired Nigerian civil servant?

Onlytruth:
Well, look at it this way. The victim approaches a private company (bounty hunters) and contracts them to take up his case. He pays them their fees and they swing into action. They first approach a court and files for a warrant of arrest (private attorney general arrest warrant) with substantial evidence. The court grants it. They swing into action.

Armed with the warrant, the bounty hunters trail the general to a less secure position, pounce on him and if his bodyguards try any nonsense, they give them the beating of their lives and drag their boss to jail. Next business day, they drag him before the court and take it from there. All these will happen without much police involvement.
The general won't be eating ewedu in peace for some time then.
And guess what if convicted, he pays for all these plus punitive damages to his victim.
We have some ways to go in Nigeria

He will be released on a N10k/$60 bail the next day. He is only a suspect for assault and battery and not murder or ra *pe. No be Naija?

riversman:
i posted it earlier, my aunt was on the same flight with the chic oh, she saw police carry her away, she is not sure if its drug related sha, but two hefty police men in black picked her and her luggage up,

Ask your aunt how much she had to drink before boarding that plane in Heathrow?

Onlytruth:

Back to the topic, does anyone know of any laws in Nigeria that allow ordinary citizens to arrest and bring before a competent court of law(act as the attorney general temporarily on the case), a fugitive of the law? Do we have such law in Nigeria? Anyone with the knowledge please volunteer.
If we don't have such law, then incidents like these will continue because of too much corruption in the police and attorney general's office.

The general in question is not a fugitive. He is happily eating amala and ewedu in his home while his guards are eagled eyed  waiting to brutalize any ordinary citizen like you with a placard. Compare this story with the guy murdered by the mopol some days ago at Awka and tell me the difference.

Mekusxyz:
I Would rather believe that Mustafa's position as CSO to abacha was more from loyalty and family ties than from any SUPER MILITARY qualifications. He certainly was not the most qualified for that position. Anyways, all that is history now; these ones are hapenning under a so-called democracy. Big difference

Mustafa was trained by the Mossad, KGB and the North Korean intelligence.

SEFAGO:
I have always been curious where the legendary sergeant rogers is from?

Plateau State.

How healthy is kissing a dog?


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