₦airaland Forum

amazinghands:
I relocated to the United States about eight years ago. My relationship with my dad has been strained and continues to deteriorate.

Background:
I grew up in a lower-middle-class family with both my mom and dad working hard. Everything changed when my dad started earning significant money. His newfound wealth led to a lifestyle filled with parties, women, and alcohol (to be fair, he earned his money, so he had the right to spend it as he pleased). He built a hotel and was barely home afterward.

2010:
While I was in college, I wanted to leave Nigeria due to the incessant ASUU strikes. I told my dad I wanted to study abroad. Initially, he agreed and gave me the funds to start the process. I was admitted to a school in Ukraine and secured a visa, but he later said he couldn’t afford to send me abroad. This decision felt contradictory, as his lifestyle said otherwise. (To be fair, it’s his money, and he has the right to decide how to spend it.)

2016:
I got admitted to a master’s program in the U.S. and approached my dad for help again. He told me to "cut my coat according to my size" and said he couldn’t sell any of his properties for the sake of a child studying abroad. (Again, to be fair, he was right—he had already paid for my college tuition in Nigeria.) Around the same time, he married another wife.

On the other hand, my mom sold her only piece of land and some jewelry to give me half of my first semester's tuition. After involving family members, my dad reluctantly gave me ₦400,000, stating that was all he could afford. I thanked him for the support.

Fast Forward to Today:
I struggled and worked odd jobs to make ends meet, determined never to ask him for help again. Over time, I’ve become financially stable, secured a good job, and am now a permanent resident. I give my dad a monthly allowance and occasionally send more during festive seasons. My mom, on the other hand, gets spoiled with gifts, extra money, and I’ve even invited her to visit and spend time with me in the U.S.

Now, my dad is broke and has suggested I buy him a car and increase what I do for him, despite the fact that my parents are separated and he currently lives with his second wife. I’ve told myself I won’t go above and beyond for him, especially since he chose to prioritize his lifestyle and the new wife (who came with a stepson). I find it hard to reconcile his past decisions with his current expectations.

Am I in the wrong here?

You will never know the full story of why your dad started behaving like that. Wait until you get married, you will understand. Almost all the men that I know that have similar stories like yours grew up, got married and then understood the full story of the relationships between their dads and their mums. By then, it was already too late for them. Don't make that same mistake. My advice to you is to treat your father very well. Forget about what he did to you. It is now your turn to play your cards. Play it well by doing your dad very good. In my opinion, whatever you give your mum, ensure you give the same quantity to your dad. If you have bought a car for your mum, buy one for your dad. If you have taken your mum abroad, as a matter of urgency, take your dad abroad too. If you heed this advice, you will never regret it.

https://www.facebook.com/chinedu.nnoli.1

I am not a church critic, and I don't intend to be one. I promised myself not to talk about religion in this space, but the trending video of Pastor Becky Enenche of Dunamis Church is something that conscientious Christians must not keep quiet about. Otherwise, as Christians, we risk partaking in the consequences of that error and being tarred with the same brush.
Before I speak further, let me say this: I originally wrote a rejoinder to Becky Enenche's preaching some days ago, but after much thought, I decided not to publish it and let sleeping dogs lie. Religion is personal and whatever people subscribe to in their places of worship is their business. However, I have to change my mind and publish this piece because of a video post I saw from a fellow rights activist, Adeyanju Deji , supporting what I consider an error of faith.

Deji commands significant influence within Nigeria's civic space. His open, unabashed support for what cannot be biblically substantiated could greatly wound the faith of many Christians and further lead our collective Christian faith into ridicule hence this reaction of mine.
First, I believe in tithing, but one that is done not out of compulsion but out of love for God and His Church. The argument as to whether tithe belongs to the Old Testament or New Testament is irrelevant as long as one gives it to God.

Now to Becky Enenche: her preaching, wherein she says that if one misses or omits paying a particular tithe, he or she has forfeited the blessings of former tithes already paid, is an error bordering almost on heresy. Beyond the theological implications of this teaching, it is also a form of subtle coercion. Deji, in his support for Becky Enenche, has said that no one is forced to give, but that is incorrect. People are indeed coerced and forced to give when they are frightened into believing that the blessings that should accrue to them as a result of their former tithe payments will disappear if they don’t continue giving. Or that something terrible will happen to them if they don’t give. That is coercion.
For the sake of Christ, and I hope Pastor Becky Enenche or her husband, Dr. Paul Enenche, will see this post, either of them would do a great service to the Church if that teaching is corrected and the correction widely publicized.

Becky Enenche and her husband have shown exemplary courage in fighting injustice in Nigeria, especially during the past administration of Buhari. They stood up for Nigerians and for hundreds of thousands of innocent souls massacred across the country by Buhari's kith and kin, and I admire them both for that. They have also shown enormous humility in the past, especially during the infamous law graduate saga. May this time not be different.

True Christians should be encouraged to pay tithes, but under no circumstances should they be cajoled or frightened into giving to God.

By Lawrence C Nnoli

Bianca Ojukwu has accepted the position of junior minister in Tinubu's government. Being an interested person, I have critically analyzed the appointment and her acceptance of the same and in my opinion, her accepting the appointment serves only her appointor and maybe herself as an individual, not the interest of Nigeria nor the interest of the Igbos.
To arrive at this decision, I have asked the following questions:

1. What does APC, the political party and the government she intends serving truly represent? APC has not hidden its intents. From 2015 to date, it has been a disaster on all fronts. APC has compromised the very fabric that has woven us together as a nation. From security, finance, religion, rule of law, etc. No sector was spared of their misgovernance. Bianca should have stayed clear of the appointment or, better still, nominated someone to represent her.

2. What do her constituents say about her acceptance of the position? Did her acceptance of the appointment dampen the minds of her people or elevate their minds?
There is no joy in Nnewi, her husband's place or in Enugu, her dad's place about the appointment and about her accepting the appointment. The most positive attitude of her constituents as a result of her accepting the post is an attitude of indifference. Most people truly felt she sold out by her accepting the position of a junior minister. Maybe for a senior ministerial appointment, some people would have given a positive nod but as a junior minister, most people think she grabbed that position for her personal benefit.

3. Who would gain the most from this appointment: her people, herself or the government?
The answer is pretty straightforward. The unpopular government gains the most, followed by herself and her associates. The position does not serve the greater interest of her people. Nearly a week after the announcement of her appointment, no prominent Igbo leader has publicly congratulated her - not Peter Obi, Not the Anambra state governor, Chukwuma Soludo, not the Enugu state governor, Peter Mbah, and not even the Ohaneze Ndi Igbo.

4. Would her great father, C.C Onoh and her great husband, Emeka Ojukwu, have approved that a woman of her status be appointed as a junior minister in a very unpopular government?
It is obvious. Appointing C.C Onoh's daughter and Ojukwu's wife as a junior minister is not worth celebrating. It's almost like dragging in the mud those great names the woman represents.

5. What would the millions of her followers, nay her husband's followers think?
I am not in doubt that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Simon Ekpa, Ralph Uwazurike and others would not feel happy hearing that the wife of their late leader has accepted to be second fiddle, a junior minister in a very unpopular government.

6. What risks are involved in accepting this position? Do the gains outweigh the risks?
There is no gainsaying the fact that Bianca's alignment with a government as polarizing and unpopular as Tinubu's government exposes her to significant risks both political and personal. Accepting the position of a junior minister neither uplifts her people nor strengthens her political ground. Instead, it places her at odds with the ideals her dad and her husband's families represent. It places her at variance with the common factual belief that Tinubu manipulated his way into the presidency and stole the slot of an Igbo man to become the president of Nigeria.

https://www.facebook.com/chinedu.nnoli.1

I read with horror the outburst of Prof Ishaq Akintola regarding the prosecution of his friend, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna state, Nigeria. The Kaduna state government is seeking to prosecute El-Rufai for financial misconduct to the tune of N432 billion naira ($271M) allegedly committed by him while he held sway as the state governor from 2015-2023. El-Rufai has joined issues with the government and has gone to court to challenge the process that led to his criminal indictment.

While everyone is waiting for the decision of the court regarding the matter, Prof Akintola of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), on 17th August 2024, issued a widely published statement on the subject matter and the meat of his statement reads as follows - "... Most disturbing is the manner the state government ignored all the brilliant minds in the legal profession in the whole North to pick a human rights lawyer from the South-West for the purpose of prosecuting El-Rufai. This is a slap in the face of not only that of legal practitioners in the North but the entire Northern population. It also constitutes a colossal waste of resources as well as an insult and a disservice to the whole North."

Prof Akintola's statement was made under the cloak and banner of MURIC, which is one of Nigeria's foremost Islamic rights organizations hence it carries weight and influence. However, his statement is troubling, especially for the dangerous ethnic and regional tensions it could ignite not just in the general context of Nigeria's polity but particularly within Nigeria's legal profession and industry. One must admit that Prof Akintola's statement left the central issue of allegations of financial misconduct of his friend and instead dwelt on the ethnicity of the lead prosecutor. This is usually seen in cases where there are compelling evidence of criminality against some Nigerian elites facing trial in courts.
While Prof Akintola, just like every Nigerian, is entitled to the freedom to express his thoughts, especially in favour of his friend, such right must not be exercised carte blanche. Rather, it must be exercised within legal bounds. The statement of Ishaq Akintola is outside legal bounds. Section 42 (1) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended)provides that "A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or administrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions.
Furthermore, Section 42(2) of the Nigerian constitution provides that "No citizen of Nigeria shall be subjected to any disability or deprivation merely by reason of the circumstances of his birth.

Femi Falana (SAN), the newly appointed lawyer of Kaduna state tasked with leading the prosecution of El-Rufai, is a competent and well-known human rights lawyer in Nigeria. Within the context of the above-cited laws, Prof Akintola’s expression of his objection to his friend’s prosecution led by Femi Falana SAN, his basis for such objection founded on tribe and ethnicity is a clear infringement of the constitutional right of Femi Falana, and an objection teetering on criminal incitement and ethnic profiling.

What Prof Akintola is trying to ignite in Nigeria is what Western countries are committing much funds and resources including making new laws to quench. Recently, the United Kingdom was faced with massive protests which erupted from similar utterances as made by Prof Akintola. It is disheartening that Prof Ishaq Akintola, who identifies as a human rights activist and a professor, would make such a statement against a notable colleague in the human rights industry. This undermines the efforts of Nigeria's human rights community towards ensuring the rule of law in the country and the government's respect for citizens' rights; it further raises questions about MURIC's true objectives. It is worth repeating that in El-Rufai's case, there is nothing wrong with having a Southerner as a lead prosecutor. Prof Akintola's statement deserves condemnation from well-meaning Nigerians and legal scrutiny by law enforcement agencies. If we continue to allow such narratives go unchecked, we risk further deepening the divides in our country, which is something we do not need at this moment.

By Lawrence C Nnoli

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/8VcrvSYuLQgkwS9G/

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/J14FjKJQ5MTctUZx/

In the field of international human rights, few causes have made as significant inroads into modern society as the same-sex human rights movement. This cause has transcended its origins as a human rights issue, evolving into a matter of sexual right, religious right, and now, political right. The stance of frontline politicians on same-sex rights in most modern societies can significantly influence their political fortunes, often swaying votes either for or against them. Indeed, politicians who oppose same-sex rights are frequently advised to remain silent on the matter during interviews to avoid alienating voters.

No other human right, religious, or political cause in the Western world enjoys the extensive recognition and support that the same-sex rights movement does. The movement is celebrated with the entire month of June dedicated to it—Pride Month—during which numerous events and activities take place worldwide to honour and support LGBTQ+ communities. The rainbow flag, a universal symbol of LGBTQ+ pride, has become an iconic emblem representing the cause. Iconic monuments and impressive edifices have been built and dedicated to the same-sex rights cause, symbolizing the movement's significant cultural impact. These developments have been made possible by substantial financial backing from individuals, organizations, and states. The success of the movement can also be attributed to the excellent harmonization of its advocacies across key institutions such as the media, religion, business, and politics.

While advocacy for same-sex rights is gaining momentum in the United States and Europe, the situation is starkly different in Africa and the Middle East. In these regions, same-sex acts and even activities perceived to support or encourage such acts are criminalized. Countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, Uganda, and Ghana have enacted stringent legislations that not only ban same-sex relationships but also penalize any form of advocacy or support for LGBTQ+

The debate over same-sex rights is multifaceted, with strong arguments on both sides. Proponents argue that individuals have the fundamental right to choose their sexual partners and to love whom they wish without fear of persecution. They emphasize that same-sex rights are intrinsic to human dignity and equality.
Opponents, however, contend that the acceptance of same-sex relationships poses a threat to traditional family structures and societal norms. Some even argue that widespread acceptance of same-sex relationships could lead to the "indirect extermination" of the human race, suggesting that if everyone adopted same-sex relationships, it would endanger population growth and human continuity.

Beyond these debates, the issue of same-sex rights has become a significant factor in international relations. Countries in the Global North often use their diplomatic and economic influence to advocate for the decriminalization of same-sex relationships in the Global South. This is sometimes perceived as a form of "bullying," where aid and favourable diplomatic relations are contingent upon the recipient countries' stance on LGBTQ+ rights.
A notable example is the international reaction to Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2014. The United States and several other countries responded with strong condemnation, imposed sanctions, and redirected aid away from the Ugandan government. These actions underscored the growing importance of LGBTQ+ rights in shaping international policies and relationships.

As the movement for same-sex rights gains momentum, social norms are shifting dramatically in the West. It is becoming increasingly challenging to express traditional views on sexuality without being labelled as anti-homosexual. This cultural shift has led to significant changes in various aspects of life, from government documents now including options for diverse sexual orientations to corporate bodies embracing inclusive policies. The pressure to conform to the new norms also extends to religious institutions, with many being forced to temper their teachings to avoid backlash.

While the advocacy for same-sex rights is commendable for its dedication to achieving equality and acceptance, the aggressive tactics employed by some of its advocates raise concerns about the movement's long-term impact. There is a growing perception that the movement, in its quest for acceptance, is increasingly intolerant of dissenting views. This shift from advocacy to what some see as a form of social coercion risks alienating potential allies and entrenching opposition. The challenge moving forward for its advocates will be to balance their advocacy with respect for differing viewpoints, ensuring that the quest for rights and recognition does not overshadow the fundamental principles of tolerance and mutual respect.

Written by Lawrence C Nnoli

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/J14FjKJQ5MTctUZx/

RCCG's Pastor Iluyomade's Ordeal: My Reflections
..........................................................
The news resounds of Pastor's plight,
Suspended from his holy site,
For celebrating love too bright,
When mourning cloaked the sacred night.

Herbert Wigwe's tragic fate,
In a crash so harsh, so late,
With wife and son, the sorrow great,
Yet joy was found in partying’s state.

Pastor Iluyomade's love displayed,
Affection for his wife conveyed,
But leadership, some say, betrayed,
As church in grief was left dismayed.

It wasn't just the birthday cheer,
But songs and music brought to ear,
That clashed with values held so dear,
And fueled the outcry far and near.

Could wife alone have staged this grand?
Or did the Pastor lend his hand?
In marriage, duties oft are extended,
But here, the scales did tip the stand.

A public figure must discern,
To whom his loyalties must turn,
In God’s eyes, first his faith must burn,
Then earthly loves he might pursue or adjourn.

Sincerely, I feel for Pastor in this test,
For love and faith, both manifest,
Yet choices made were not the best,
And now he faces great unrest.

Like Adam's tale in Eden's lore,
His wife, the cause, but blame he bore,
In moments grave, he should implore,
To stand by right, despite love’s roar.

He knew the clash, the discord he felt,
The party's tunes, uneasy dealt,
Yet in pastor's heart, his spirit knelt,
While outwardly, chaos slowly built.

Imagine now if he had to the wife said,
This celebration must be postponed or sped,
Or not at all, for grief’s widespread,
To avoid this shame that now has firmly spread.

But quarrels in the home would arise,
When one defies the other’s ties,
Yet better that, than this tarnished honor,
And possible flocks' faith's demise.

In hindsight, wisdom is clearer seen,
For love and duty, though in-between,
In God’s own service, he should have been,
A guide, and a shepherd first before a lover.

By Lawrence C Nnoli

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/3GPco5hxG82buuWL/

Igbo children's right to education: An Appeal to IPOB
...............................................
I write this piece against the backdrop of the recent threat issued by the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) to all the school children in South-East Nigeria who are due to write the Mathematics paper on 30th May 2024 as part of the on-going West African Senior School Certificate Examination(WASSCE). I may be targeted for this write-up, but it matters less to me. I speak not for myself but for our children.

Most Igbo people I know sympathize with the agitation of IPOB to have its leader, Nnamdi Kanu released by the Nigerian government. Myself inclusive. We believe that Nnamdi Kanu committed no crime in asking that Fulani killer herdsmen vacate the South East forests willy-nilly, especially when the Nigerian government under the immediate past president, Mohammadu Buhari was intentionally docile and folded its arms while thousands of Igbo people were murdered on their own lands by these marauding Fulani herdsmen. We also believe that Nnamdi Kanu committed no crime in demanding that a referendum be conducted in the former Eastern region of Nigeria for the indigenes to determine whether they want to continue to be part of Nigeria or not. These are legitimate demands (under international laws) that every conscionable Nigerian in today's Nigeria would agree with, given the current situation in the country.

However, threatening our children who are due to write the Mathematics paper on 30th May 2024 as part of the on-going WASSCE exams and demanding that they boycott the paper is something I cannot agree with. The questions begging for answers are - who loses when our children do not write the exam? We do. Who gains when our children do not write the exams? The enemy.
Unless the IPOB leadership has been infiltrated by the enemies of the Igbos, this threat against Igbo children is a catastrophic misstep, an own goal against the people of the South East. While the agitations for Nnamdi Kanu's release and restoration of actual federalism continue, our children's right to education must not be breached.

I commend the Abia state government for appealing to IPOB to allow our children to write their Mathematics paper. In contrast, the comments of the Anambra state commissioner for education, Ngozi Chuma-Ude, are reprehensible. She is quoted to have said to the media, “The resolution to some of these problems lies with you, the members of the fourth estate of the realm. Some of the prominence given to wrong things have been the reason for this crisis. When you spread these bad things, you make the society worse... If a child doesn’t know that they were asked not to come out, he won’t fear and he will come out and take his exam. He will not bother. It is the media in their usual way that spread the news and instill fear in the people." This statement shows the commissioner's profound misunderstanding of how IPOB operates and thereby puts our children at risk. She needs to be cautioned.

I appeal to IPOB as a stakeholder in the Igbo project to allow our children to take their Mathematics paper. Last year, the children wrote the exam in full, and it should not be different this year. As was done last year, children should wear their school uniforms for easy identification and safety. And IPOB must come out to provide security for our children at all examination venues.

IPOB must understand that our children writing their academic exams does not undermine its agitations. In fact, writing this paper is an intrinsic part of their right to education, as provided and protected by Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 28 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 17 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, among other international laws.

As usual, I believe IPOB would allow good reasoning to prevail by allowing our children to write their mathematics paper on 30th May 2024. However, if they do not and still prevent our children from writing this paper, it will not only harm our children's future but also erode the legal and moral foundations of IPOB's struggle. This must not happen.

By Lawrence C. Nnoli

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/4ABQfjm44Ecrt6kg/

International Criminal Court pursues Netanyahu: But what about Nigeria?
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It is tough, but it has happened. Finally, Israel, a steadfast ally of the United States and the United Kingdom, has come under scrutiny by the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor, Karim Khan. Khan is now seeking a warrant of arrest from the ICC against Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Minister of Defence, Yoav Gallant, for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza, Palestine, since 8th October 2022, following Hamas attack on Israel.

One significant international crime for which the ICC prosecutor is seeking an arrest warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu is Israel's use of starvation of Palestinian civilians as a method of warfare against Hamas. The internet is replete with videos showing numerous trucks carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza being blocked and destroyed by Israeli soldiers and civilians.

In Nigeria, during the Biafran war of 1967-1970, the government of General Yakubu Gowon committed a similar crime. The second in command to General Gowon, Obafemi Awolowo, confessed to this crime in a widely quoted statement about the food blockade policy implemented by the Nigerian government against the Biafran secessionists. He stated, "All is fair in war, and starvation is one of the weapons of war. I don't see why we should feed our enemies fat, only to fight us harder." Additionally, a Nigerian military commander, Benjamin Adekunle was quoted during the war saying, "I want to see no Red Cross, no Caritas, no World Council of Churches, no Pope, no missionary and no UN delegation. I want to prevent even one Igbo from having one thing to eat before their capitulation."

These admissions by officials of the Gowon government highlight the intentional use of starvation as a weapon against the Biafrans during the civil war. After implementing this food blockade policy which resulted in the deaths of over three million Biafrans, most of whom were children, Biafra surrendered to the Nigerian government.

The ICC's prosecutor's indictment of Israel's prime minister for this crime is now an affirmation that the actions of Generals Yakubu Gowon, Theophilus Danjuma, Olusegun Obasanjo, Muhammadu Buhari, and others during the Biafran war—by deliberately preventing humanitarian aid and food from reaching Biafrans, leading to the starvation and death of millions—constitute an international crime.

International crimes have no statute of limitations. Although the Rome Statute which established the ICC, came into effect in 2002 and thus the ICC lacks the jurisdiction to prosecute the aforementioned Nigerian leaders, the United Nations Security Council, relying on the principles of 'jus cogens', could establish a tribunal to try these Nigerian leaders for the atrocities they committed against the Biafrans, majority of who are ethnically Igbos, similar to how it prosecuted Holocaust perpetrators and ... the leaders of the defeated Axis powers in the 1940s.
The number of casualties in Gaza alleged to have been caused by Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant is significantly less than the number of Igbos massacred during the Biafran war via food blockade. This number is comparable to the six million Jews murdered by Adolf Hitler which prompted the then Allied Powers to commission the Nuremberg Trials. To this day, Israel actively pursues anyone connected, even remotely, to that massacre.

The question that arises is: if the world could react to the Holocaust and is now reacting to the situation in Gaza, why is it silent about the massacre of three million Igbos?

Written by Lawrence C. Nnoli

Government-paid propagandist spotted.

Nvestor02:
https://punchng.com/afenifere-has-no-regrets-supporting-tinubu-to-be-president-secretary/

Jamieb:
Once a soldier always a soldier . I knew OBJ won't cower and apologise.

Kindly watch and Subscribe to my channel please 🙏

10 Greatest Action Movie Stars Of All Time


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAYFPulbZrE?si=T-359LYCXhB6tBfe

Are you by any means saying soldiers are indecent, uncouth, mannerless and shameless? I ask because I know well-cultured and decent soldiers.

Jennyclay:
Oh No!! Not again

No woman should ever leave her female child under the care of any man not even her father.

I wish I could secretly poison this useless man to death right now . Honestly I hate Nigerian men so much.

Bunch of rapist!!
Bunch of murders!!
Bunch of woman beaters!!

I agree with you in so far no man should ever allow his male child to be under the care of any woman not even his mother.

Childish. All South Easterners are not Christians, some are Muslims, some are Traditionalists. Some are atheists. Deborah too is not from the South East neither was she murdered by people from the south east. How can her blood be on the hands of Easterners? There was also no way Tinubu could have picked an Igbo man as his Vice. Both are from the South. Think before you write. You cannot force anybody to vote Obi. That is not democracy.

sotall:
Any southeasterner or person from South south especially a Christian that takes any political appointment from Tinubu is a bastard.

Any of them that accepts Tinubu's appointments will have the blood of Deborah and the murdered southern Kaduna Christians in their hands.

Stay off from his government. Let him appoint his thugs and muslim jihadists.

When he wanted to take a vice, he didn't deem you fit enough, hence dont accept his inferior political positions

Stay away from bleaching! She and her mother are originally dark in complexion as Ike Ekweremmadu. Struggling to change your skin colour is a recipe for kidney problems.

post=120640122:
First and foremost,
The most important thing in all of these is that,
All of us at [/b] pray for a successful surgery/operation for this young girl.
We pray for a healthy life for her.
This is the primary thing.
After that, all the other court issue can go on.
Her health and life comes first.

[b]Get well soon Sonia.
God gat you dearie.
Affliction will not arise a second time in your youthful life.

We Rise.


We are not talking about her father,
We are talking about an innocent 25 year old girl here, get that right.
Anyways, whatever you wish for the young girl comes back to you in multiple folds.
What goes around , comes around.
We Rise.

Chisimdili:
UKVI seems to be working very fast now.

My biometrics was done on 22nd June.
NSF mail received on the 5th of July . Reply sent on the same day.

I just called them to confirm if they received the reply to the NSF only to be told that decision has already been made on the 6th of July. Isn’t God wonderful?

Visa Alert ** loading soon

Please how were you able to book for your appointment? I have been trying for days to book for appointment but no available date is highlighted.

Jenk22:
Please how did you get your date, I'm a student and have been trying to secure one for several days now

Same with me. I have been trying to do so for days now.

Liell:
Hi everyone,
Please I would like to confirm if you need to maintain your POF after you have submitted your application and done your biometrics?
I mean to leave your account's funds untouched while you wait for your visa.

Thanks

You need to wait until your visa is out before you touch the money.

Meanwhile how were you able to book for appointment? I have been trying for the past 2 days now?

Gift7428:
Guys this 28 days ish
Monday Tuesday is public holiday and I intend to use statement from my bank( banking hall) and I don’t want to wait till Wednesday next week

So I intend to print out from 11th June to July 8th. Is it 28 days?

Have for your book for visa appointment?

biosamak:
Congratulations dont you submit any of your school certificates??

TO THE GLORY OF GOD
Family of 3 (wife MA), husband and lil daughter
submission date: 30th May
Bio: 15july
No NSF.
First paid mail 29june. Decision made
Collection mail 5th July.
Visa delivered 7pm 7th July

Document:
MA: passport, POF 35days, marriage certificate, employment letter, work ID, family pictures.

Dependant husband: same POF, passport, marriage certificate, family pictures, us B1 2018 refuser declared.

Child: passport, signed consent, birth cert.

This forum serves as a guide, though I'm an observer.... Thanks to everyone, your time will come.

I am having problem booking for appointment since two days ago. How easy was it for you to book for appointment?

Alienpicasso:
This is one of the worst nightmare for any Nigerian graduate to work in. The company is owned and managed by Indians. They pay awful salary way below the expected pay for workers across all positions. I mean if Simba pays you 80k, the average Nigerian company would offer 200k for same role and position, that's how worse the company's pay is. To cap it all, when you resume (workers are given offer to begin on the first of the month), you are paid half of your salary at the end of the first month (this is camouflaged in the name of 'our accounting month starts on the 16th'). Why make someone resume on the first of the month, only to pay them half of their salary at the end of same month. Isn't this sheer wickedness? Asides from the fact that you get no dues or allowances on top of the very unusually low pay, when workers finally resign (N.B. at least 10 people resign every month there. You can go confirm this. That's why they keep recruiting times without number), they do not get paid salary for the last month they worked for? Can you imagine this? When other companies pay your terminal salaries with other terminal dues and perks. You only get your final salary when you try to put up a fight or have someone who can help you with 'processing'? This is just few from the tens of issues you face as a worker there. From undefined job roles, Zero career growth (growth is based on emotions of the Business Heads), Insults from Superiors (the Indians mostly are not far from curses).

As I type this, I'm yet to get my salary for the last month I worked before resignation.

Send a mail to info@excellawchambers.com

RUN!

Beautifulearth:
Met my girl 2yrs ago and we apparently love each other but I’m worried due to some factors I noticed…..
She’s from a dysfunctional family (Mother is a single mom who left her home because her husband married another wife and Her Sister is currently in her third marriage with 3 kids from 3diff men)
She’s insisting on doing things we agreed she wouldn’t do, she was using leg chain when we met and she stopped it because I told her I don’t like it(I don’t like ashawo vibez like 2-3neckchains, leg chains and piercing) now she’s insisting on doing some of them which led to a great misunderstanding between us which we still trying to resolve
And lastly we do have little quarrels a lot even tho most would be settled because we both have anger issues and sometimes get physical with each other because she will lash out and will try to want to stand up and fight you like a man and my mom really doesn’t like her because of her quarrelsome attitude and only support me because I love her……..we stayed this long because I never suspect or caught her guilty of infidelity(I go through her phone unaware and she never gave me a reason to suspect her) which is a trait I always wanted above others in a woman.

madone:
Just make sure u remarry. You will be fine . Keep urself beautiful

Just make sure you remarry?

Why the "just make sure"?

SammieRexx:
Bros otukpo no be north. Take note

Which geopolitical zone in Nigeria does Otukpo belong to currently?

deltateam:
She's a minor and can't give consent until 18 years. Even at that, it's immoral to sleep with one's student. It's an act of rape to sleep with a minor even if she asks you to do it.

Strictly speaking and from the story told, this is not rape. At best, it could be called defilement of a minor. However, in this case, there may not even be any crime committed if the sexual act between the man and the girl is indeed consensual. This is so because the place where the act is committed is Otukpo which is located in Northern Nigeria where the adult age of a girl is not eighteen. It is only in the South that such an act could have been classified as rape because the laws in the South recognize the consent age especially of a girl to be 18.

Anambra Governorship election: Don't vote PDP
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In 2014, Transcorp Plc came out with its initial public offer (IPO) of ordinary shares of fifty kobo (50k) offered to the public at ten naira (N10). The management of that company induced Nigerians with all manner of sweet talks on why we should purchase the shares at N10. One of the reasons given by the company is that after the close of sale of the IPO, the share price will definitely double or even triple.

Because of these sweet talks, the IPO was oversubscribed by more than 52%. Since the end of the IPO till date (over six years ago), the share price never rose beyond the N10 it was sold at the Initial Public Offer. The share price instead of going up as promised by the management of Transcorp plc, crashed from N10 to 0.90k. As at yesterday, the share price of Transcorp plc was one naira, one kobo(N1.01). Ordinary Nigerians lost their hard earned money by that transaction.

Some of the share purchases were done with loans and some of the people that bought those shares are yet to recover from that disastrous fall.

Today one of Transcorp's former top officers that supervised that "deal" against Nigerians wants to be Anambra state governor under PDP. To be governor to do what?

Anambra Senators, agents of betrayal
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It is very unfortunate that no Senator from Anambra state voted for electronic transmission of election result during yesterday's vote at the Senate.

All the Senators from Anambra state viz - Messrs Ifeanyi Ubah, Uche Ekwunife and Stella Oduah clearly abstained from voting. Their abstinence from voting is a betrayal of the people's trust on them and an act of great public disservice to the desires and yearnings of most people of Anambra state who desire transparency and accountability in our electoral processes.

If there was a time that this trio ought not to have been found missing in action, it was yesterday. Events at the Nigerian Senate yesterday has opened our eyes to who is with us (the people) and who is against us(the people). Clearly, all the three senators from Anambra state are against their people on matters of electoral reforms hence it is apposite to use this medium to let the world know that the actions of the three Senators from Anambra state (in refraining from voting in favour of electronic transmission of results) do not represent the will and desires of most Anambra people.

The trio by their public disservice of abstaining from voting in support of electronic transmission of results has shown us that they are not different from Buhari and his cabal, (and all other notorious election riggers scattered all over the states in Nigeria).

To even think that these trio have almost effectively pursued their ambitions to rule Anambra state as governor in the past and one of them (Ifeanyi Ubah) is currently an aspirant in the forthcoming November 2021 Anambra gubernatorial election could only mean that the political field of Anambra state needs weeding.

Of what use is Ifeanyi Ubah, Uche Ekwunife and Stella Oduah to us (at the Senate) if they cannot represent the wishes of the Anambra people?

Indeed it is not only Nigeria that needs salvaging, Anambra state too needs being salvaged.

By Lawrence C. Nnoli

Secession and the unfounded fears of Obasanjo
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Former president Olusegun Obasanjo recently theorized that in the face of the intractable problems currently beleaguering Nigeria(ns) coupled with the fears of looming dangers ahead, the idea of having a conversation on the necessity of elongating or severing the "forced marriage" of all groups within the union called Nigeria cannot be raised, let alone had.

The former president theorized that having such a robust and candid conversation which may most likely lead to the eventual disintegration and annulment of the Nigerian Union can only ensure the EXTERMINATION OF MINORITY GROUPS in Nigeria. That is his fear and his theory.

With due respect to President Obasanjo, I beg to differ with his theory and I make bold to humbly assert that his fear is unfounded for the following reasons:

1. Fear of extermination of the minority groups cannot be a reason why all the groups cannot come together and negotiate their membership of this country. Indeed all the minority groups can use such forum to reinforce their own allegiances to any of the major tribes or even to Nigeria. That discussion which most probably will lead to a free and fair referendum can be used to further reinforce the unity and indivisibility of Nigeria. For example, the United Kingdom through its Referendum Act of 1975 conducted a referendum which resulted in a reinforcement of their membership of the European Union which happened in 1973. The same United Kingdom later had another referendum called Brexit which resulted to their exiting the European Union in 2020.

2. This country (Nigeria) was not formed ab initio out of fear of extermination of minority groups. The basis of the amalgamation and formation of this country was purely for the economic benefits of the colonial masters. Now that the colonial masters are gone, it is reasonable that the "federating units" so to say, should come together to negotiate their union. That is logical. Especially now that members of the federating units are asking that such dialogue be held. Let the citizens of Nigeria decide for themselves whether they want to be Nigerians or not.

3. President Obasanjo is not from any minority groups and has not been appointed by any minority group to speak for them. These minority groups should be allowed to speak for themselves through referendum. It is not fair for a person from one of the major tribes to force his views on the minorities. Let the minorities at least have their say even if some persons in the major tribes would like to continue to have their way.

4. Given the current massacre being orchestrated by the kith and kin of President Mohammadu Buhari who is from a minority tribe, the fears of Obasanjo is grossly unfounded. The reality today is that all groups (major and minor) are now living at the mercy of a minority group. With the level of pains and anguish that this minority group has caused all groups within the space of six years that President Buhari has been in power, it is not unreasonable to think that whatever group that takes power from President Buhari tomorrow may seek a revenge and the cycle of cries of injustice and woes continues .

I deeply appreciate President Obasanjo for his past and current efforts to keep this country (Nigeria) ONE, however he cannot deny that his efforts and those of his collaborators have failed and will continue to fail unless this discussion is had and referendum conducted.

Let the people speak and decide for themselves.

Wrriten by Lawrence C. Nnoli
Lawrence is a lawyer and a Public Interest Advocate. He can be reached via lawrence.nnoli@gmail.com

NaijirianKing:
Your statistics are not correct, this was the figure of the past, that only counts Fulani that have been living in the North, but more Fulani have come into Nigeria recently from various nations and Fulani are now up to at least 25 million.

Any attack on any of these Fulani peacefully residing in Nigeria is an attack on all Northerners and will be treated as such. Northerners are not parochial and tribalistic like those from other regions. The North is one, and so is Nigeria, and so shall it stay.

This is the final say on the matter.

Which North are referring to that is ONE?
Is it Benue, Plateau, Kwara, Kogi, Niger or the North West or North East that people with your kind of mindset have virtually destroyed in the name of Fulanization?

All the ethnic groups in your so-called North are currently up in arms against the terrorist Fulanis.

With the kind of terror attacks the Fulanis have rained on the North since 2015, if elections are to be free and fair in Nigeria today, no reasonable person from the places I have mentioned will ever vote for a Fulani man to be Nigeria's president again.

Just get a good lawyer. Most Nigerian banks don't succumb to media fights like this.

Visit www.excellawchambers.com for more information.

Just get a good lawyer. Most Nigerian banks don't succumb to media fights like this.

Visit www.excellawchambers.com for more information

GOTVee:
Even though I'm a born again Christian, I think Christianity should be banned in Nigeria. We Christians are causing too much problems in this country unlike our dear Muslim brothers

You said you are "born again" and these words came out from you? Your "born again" needs serious check.

Lawrence C. Nnoli Versus President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria & 3 Others (FHC/L/CS/897/2020)
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Eight months after the National Judicial Council has recommended the appointment of four new Justices for the Supreme Court of Nigeria and has sent their names to President Mohammadu Buhari, the president has failed to appoint the persons recommended and has also failed to forward the names of those recommended persons to the Senate for confirmation as stipulated by Section 231 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

Various reasons were adduced by the presidency on why the persons recommended by the National Judicial council have not been appointed as Justices of the Supreme Court and why their names are yet to be sent to the Senate for confirmation despite the urgent need for appointment of new Justices for the Supreme court. Such reasons reportedly given by the presidency and by some officials of the Federal Judicial Service commission were that the recommended persons are still undergoing background checks by the relevant law enforcement agencies and also that the federal government at the moment does not have the funds to maintain new Justices of the Supreme Court.

However, contrary to these reasons, it is rumoured in some quarters that why President Buhari has not considered the list of the recommended persons is that of all the four recommended names sent by the National Judicial council, three are Southern Christians while only one person is a Northern muslim from the North East part of Nigeria.

Following these developments, Lawrence C. Nnoli a lawyer on Thursday 16th July 2020 has filed an action at the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos praying the court for leave to bring an application for an order of mandamus against President Mohammadu Buhari compelling him to immediately appoint as Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and forward to the Nigerian Senate the names of the persons recommended to him by the National Judicial council since October 2019. Other persons joined in the suit are the National Judicial Council, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the President of the Senate.

The matter is currently awaiting assignment to a judge for the hearing of the exparte application.

Ese Oruru & The Conviction of Yunusa Dahiru: Are Christian girls endangered species in the North?
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Miss Ese Oruru, you remember her? Sure you do.

For the benefit of those who may not know her, Ese Oruru is a Christian girl of 13 years old as at 2015. Though a native of Delta state, she resides with her parents in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state. Ese’s mom is a food vendor and her daughter, Ese helps her to sell food to customers after school hours.

Sometime in August 2015, it was widely reported that Ese was kidnapped by one of her mom’s customers, a Muslim man named Yunusa Dahiru. Yunusa Dahiru resides in Bayelsa but hails from Tufa village in Kano.

Facts have it that Yunusa a tricycle rider befriended the young Ese at her mom’s shop, had sex with her and secretly took her to far away Kano state where he had her converted to Islam and married her. Ese upon her conversion to Islam was renamed Aisha. It was reported that Ese’s wedding to Yunusa took place at the palace of the deposed Emir of Kano, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

The abduction, conversion and marriage of Ese to Yunusa were all concluded in a space of thirty-six (36) hours. Meanwhile Ese’s parents were already looking for their daughter in Yenagoa and had declared her missing.

Luck smiled on Ese's parents when they got the information from one of Yunusa’s friends that their daughter is now a married muslim woman living in Kano with Yunusa. Pronto, Ese’s mom boarded the next available vehicle going to Kano and went searching for her daughter. She first went to Yunusa’s village – Tufa where she met the village chief who informed her that her daughter is still at the wedding venue in the custody of the Emir. Immediately she set for the Emir’s palace. On getting to the Emir’s palace, she identified herself as the mother of the ‘newest bride in town’ whose wedding was just conducted. Despite this, she was denied entrance to the palace to see her daughter or the Emir.

She went and made a report at the Kwani Police station, Kano. Despite the report, Ese was not released to her mom rather the Police told Ese’s mom to go back to Yenagoa, Bayelsa state and lodge her complaint there.

At this juncture, Ese’s mom knew that unless she does something drastic, her daughter is gone for good as she has been informed by one of the prominent officials of the Kano Emirate council that Ese is now a convert of Islam and if brought to her, she (the mother) would not be able to talk or touch her else either she or Ese would die. She was then advised by the officials to approach the Sharia court to ventilate her grievances.

She instead went back home to Yenagoa. She and her husband got the matter formally reported at the Bayelsa State Police command; they also reported the matter to prominent local and international civil rights organizations including the Punch Newspapers, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the then governor of Bayelsa state, Mr Seriake Dickson.

As a result of the massive campaigns launched by these organizations against the Kano Emirate Council, Ese who was now heavily pregnant with Yunusa’s child was reunited with her parents in March 2016. This was seven months after her abduction, forced conversion and forced marriage.

Shortly thereafter, the Police had Yunusa Dahiru arrested and arraigned at the Federal High Court, Yenagoa on a five counts charge of abduction, child trafficking, illicit sex, sexual exploitation and unlawful carnal knowledge. The first four counts are offences provided and punishable under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 while the last count was provided and punishable under the Criminal Code Act of 2004

Yunusa pleaded not guilty to the charges and trial was commenced. After trial, the court acquitted him of the first count charge of abduction but found him guilty of the remaining four counts charge of child trafficking, illicit sex, sexual exploitation and unlawful carnal knowledge. He was consequently convicted and sentenced to twenty-six (26) years in prison. It was reported that as he was being led out of the courtroom after his conviction, he spoke out that he was treated this way because “he is a Muslim.”

It is important to note that the judge did not impose the maximum weight of the punishment as prescribed by the law in sentencing Yunusa Dahiru. Among other offences that Yunusa was charged with and convicted upon is the offence of violation of Section 357 of the Criminal Code Act which is punishable under Section 358 of the same Act. That law provides summarily that “any person who has unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman or girl without her consent or with her consent if the consent is obtained by force or by means of threats or intimidation of any kind, or by fear of harm, or by means of false and fraudulent representation as to the nature of the act, or in the case of a married woman, by personating her husband, is guilty of the offence of rape and is liable to imprisonment for life, with or without caning”. Despite the prescribed punishment of life imprisonment for any convicted offender, the federal high court judge handed Yunusa a seven year jail term for that count.

It has been observed that since the delivery of this judgment few days ago, there has been a growing disaffection among some people of the Islamic faith in Northern Nigeria. These people have opined that the judgment delivered by the Federal High court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state was not in line with the dictates of justice. They have argued that Ese was not forced against her will to accompany Yunusa to Kano. They equally argued that what existed between Ese and the convict was a case of ‘love’ and that the court’s acquittal of Yunusa on the offence of abduction clearly shows that all that Ese did with Yunusa was done with her freewill. They have also argued that since Ese has now converted to Islam, she is free to marry even at her age with or without her parents’ consent as same is permissible under the Islamic law. They further argued that Yunusa was prosecuted and persecuted simply because he is a Muslim and that this could not have happened to him if he is a Christian. They also argued that the conviction was possible only because Yunusa was tried in Southern Nigeria and that if he had been tried in the North, no court in Northern Nigeria would have jailed him.

Having examined all the arguments of some of these Muslim faithfuls, one particular fact that stands out in their arguments is their unwillingness to accept the position of the Nigerian law that says that Ese Oruru is a child. Woven subtly in their arguments is their assertion that Ese for all intents and purposes should not be seen as a child. Their contention which also is their belief is that a girl regardless of her age, ceases to be a child once she attains puberty and starts menstruating. To them, at that stage, that girl-child is responsible for her actions and can change her religion and be betrothed or married to whoever she likes. Indeed this belief of theirs is a widely held belief in the Northern states of Nigeria where Sharia is practiced.

Despite this belief system, it is important to have these people reminded that the position of the law remains clear. Section 21 of the Child Rights Act (CRA) 2003 provides that no person under the age of 18 years is capable of contracting a valid marriage and that a betrothal or marriage so contracted by or with such person is null and void and of no effect whatsoever. The CRA also provided that whoever that has a hand in the marriage or betrothal of such a person has committed an offence and is liable to be fined or imprisoned for five years. Section 31 of CRA also provides that whoever that has sex with such a person is liable on conviction to life imprisonment. The Child Rights Act is an Act of the National Assembly made for the entire states in the Nigerian Federation. This Act though seemingly not acceptable to a large percentage of Northern Muslims, still remains the law in Nigeria. It has not been repealed neither has it been rendered null and void by any court in Nigeria despite various clamours that it needs to be domesticated first by the States’ Houses of Assembly before it can apply to states interested in implementing its provisions.

Furthermore, it is worthy of note that long before the conviction of Yunusa Dahiru came to be, girls in Northern Nigeria and especially from the Christian faith have become major targets of some misguided religious fundamentalists who while professing the Muslim faith have resorted to abducting and luring girls for forceful conversion to Islam and forceful marriages. The cases of the two hundred and seventy-six (276) abducted Chibok girls, one hundred and ten (110) abducted Dapchi girls and Leah Sharibu come to mind. Also recently reported is a case of a fifteen year old Miss Patience Paul who was lured and taken by her abductor from Sokoto state to Bauchi where she was converted to Islam and serially exploited sexually by her abductor. It took the personal intervention of the governor of Sokoto state, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal to have this girl returned to her parents in Sokoto state from Bauchi.

Most worrisome about the prevalence of forced conversion of Christian girls to Islam together with the forced marriages is that the perpetrators of these acts claimed to have found validation of their actions in the Islamic faith. However it needs to be restated that Islam does not advocate that its faithfuls should disobey the law of the land where they are domiciled. For example, despite that it is permitted in Islam for a Muslim man to marry up to four wives, such permission is subject to the law of the land where the said Muslim man is residing. That is why it is unIslamic for a Muslim man to practice polygamy in the United States of America as the law of the United States of America forbids polygamy.

Up till this moment, parents of Christian girls in Northern Nigeria live in constant fear of losing their young daughters to some misguided fellows who hide under the guise of Islam to practice pedophilia. It is hoped that with this judgment and conviction of Yunusa Dahiru, the relevant law enforcement agencies to wit- the Nigeria Police and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) will further strengthen their efforts to halt the widespread illegalities of forced conversions and forced marriages of Christian girls in Northern Nigeria.

Lawrence C. Nnoli
27th May 2020