₦airaland Forum

Classified By: Ambassador John Campbell for reasons 1.4. (b & d).

1. (C) SUMMARY.

The Senate report on the Petroleum
Technology Development Fund (PTDF) provides a detailed
account of the non-transparent nature of the PTDF and, in
particular, specific actions taken by both President Obasanjo
and Vice President Atiku which fall outside the mandate of
the fund and appear to be clear cases of misappropriation of
funds. The report shines a light on the institutional
failures that allow for large-scale graft and mismanagement
in this multimillion dollar account. As well, it points to
specific cases of malfeasance and mismanagement of millions
of dollars in public funds. While the report presents
evidence that both Vice President Atiku and President
Obasanjo were involved in the misappropriation of PTDF funds,
it concludes by recommending Atiku be sanctioned for
offenses, but Obasanjo only be "advised to adhere strictly to
the provisions of the law."

END SUMMARY.



THE PTDF: A PRIMER
------------------

2. (SBU) The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) was
established in 1973 to train Nigerians in the fields of
engineering, geology, science and management in the petroleum
and gas industry within Nigeria and abroad. Until 2000, the
PTDF was administered by the Department of Petroleum
Resources (DPR), though in actuality it was mainly dormant.
In September 2000, the GoN set up an Interim Management
Committee to administer the fund. The Committee was
comprised of the Vice President and representatives of the
DPR, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Petroleum
Training Institute and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources
(headed by the Presidential Advisor on Petroleum and Energy
and subsequently the Minister of State for Petroleum
Resources -- President Obasanjo). The PTDF receives its
funding from statutory income (signature bonuses and fees on
oil block concessions, bidding fees and charges from acreage
allocations received by the DPR) and investment income
(interest and proceeds made on investments of the fund's
capital).

3. (C) Hundreds of millions of dollars have been allocated to
the PTDF since 2000, though remarkably, the NNPC, DPR,
Central Bank (CBN), PTDF and the Accountant General of
Nigeria could not come close to agreeing on the exact amount.
According to the Director of the DPR, more than 1.7 billion
USD has been paid into the PTDF since its inception in 1973,
with more than 700 million USD paid between 2000 and 2006.
However, the Executive Secretary of the PTDF testified that
the PTDF received just over 390 million USD from 1999 to
2006, noting that the PTDF did not receive any funding in
2002, 2004 and 2005. (COMMENT: The 2005 bidding round for
30 oil blocks resulted in signature bonuses of as much as 2.5
billion USD by some calculations. The report did not probe
further into the PTDF statement that no funds were received
in 2005.

END COMMENT.


INSTITUTIONAL FAILURES: PAVING THE WAY FOR CORRUPTION
--------------------------------------------- --------

4. (C) The scope of institutional failures and the levels of
malfeasance uncovered in the committee report are remarkable.
A former internal auditor of the PTDF testified that the
fund "lacks administrative and financial checks and
controls." This appears to be the case throughout the
system, as the Committee found that the Accountant General
manages two of the six PTDF accounts in the CBN and that PTDF
management was even unaware of the existence of these two
accounts. The report confirmed that the management of the
PTDF was unable to ascertain the inflows into various PTDF
accounts at the CBN. As well, those heading the PTDF Finance
Department were not privy to all financial decisions of the
fund. "Huge" sums of money were found to be kept on the
premises of the PTDF office without regard to security or
accounting practices. The report also determined that lack of
financial controls resulted in more than 5 million USD of
PTDF funds being trapped in distressed Nigerian banks. No
audit of PTDF accounts has been conducted since 2002.

5. (C) Beyond a lack of adequate financial checks and
balances, representatives of PTDF management testified that
"some things were done impromptu and several things were done
outside the budget approved by the government." The report
found that several grants and loans were sourced from the
PTDF account on projects and programs which are not in line
with the law establishing the fund. In addition, it was
found that federal ministries were able to access money from
the fund for unrelated ministry projects. The Committee did
not investigate potential inflation of contracts or
corruption at the individual project level. (NOTE: Hussein
Jallo, Executive Secretary of the PTDF for only five months
from July to November 2005, is being prosecuted by the EFCC.
To date the EFCC has recovered 49 million Naira (382,000 USD)
and six vehicles from Jallo.


THE CASE AGAINST THE VICE PRESIDENT
-----------------------------------

6. (C) The Committee report expanded upon allegations made
by Obasanjo (Ref D), finding some of the allegations to be
accurate and some without base. In particular, the report
found that disbursements of 125 million and 20 million USD
made to the PTDF in 2003, upon Atiku's approval, for eight
specific PTDF projects were largely invested through accounts
at the Equitorial Trust Bank (ETB) and the Trans
International Bank (TIB) rather than being used for the
projects intended.

7. (C) Following (though not immediately) several of the
deposits at TIB, loans were granted to NDTV, Mofas Shipping,
and Transvari Services -- all companies with demonstrated
links to Atiku. These loans, as confirmed by the director of
Spring Bank (the bank which took over the failing TIB under a
bank consolidation program) were "irregular, poorly
documented and uncollateralised." The committee found no
evidence of any other entity investing in the controversial
NDTV/i-Gate transaction other than the TIB loans believed to
have originated from PTDF funds. In addition, the committee
was unable to ascertain the status of the eight PTDF projects
for which the funds were originally released. The committee
noted that "the placement in TIB for the purpose of financing
the NDTV/i-Gate deal, a purely private transaction, as
against the putative purposes for which the funds were
released in the first place amounts to misappropriation of
public funds and abuse of public trust." (NOTE: According
to the report, 1.13 billion Naira (8.8 million USD) loaned to
NDTV, 420 million Naira (3.3 million USD) to Mofas Shipping
and 300 million Naira (2.3 million USD) to Transvari Services
by TIB remain unrecovered, though they have been
restructured.)

8. (C) Contrary to Obasanjo's allegations (Ref. D), the
Committee found no evidence of any lending relationship
between ETB and Globacom, nor any link between the PTDF and
Marine Float Limited accounts. In addition, the committee
found no evidence of any link between the PTDF and Mike
Otunba Adenuga. The observation that funds were placed in
investment accounts without regard to the original purpose
for which the funds were released also applied, however, to
the funds placed in ETB.


THE CASE AGAINST THE PRESIDENT
------------------------------

9. (C) Following the removal of authority over PTDF funds
from the Office of the Vice President in late 2005, the
Committee found that President Obasanjo personally approved
several projects which were outside the legislated mandate of
the PTDF and approved the use of PTDF funds by federal
ministries for ministry projects. Though conceding that many
of these projects may be laudable, the Committee noted that
they fall outside the purview of the fund "no matter how
liberally construed." It was noted that the Federal
Executive Council retroactively approved these projects,
though the Committee maintained this does not legitimize an
action that had no legal basis to begin with.

10. (C) The report ran through all projects funded by the
PTDF in 2006, noting that four of the nine projects funded
were outside the PTDF mandate. In particular, these were:

-- Establishment of an African Institute of Science and
Technology in the Federal Capital Territory. (25 million
USD) Funds were allocated as Nigeria's share of the cost for
the establishment of a "technology village" to provide
managerial training for Gulf of Guinea projects. No
legislation has ever been introduced, nor sought, to
establish such an institution. No such institute yet exists
in a legal sense. (NOTE: Groundbreaking for the institute
occurred in February on the outskirts of Abuja.)

-- Incorporation of Galaxy Backbone PLC. (17.2 million USD)
Funds were used to set up and incorporate a private company
to work on harmonization of the telecommunications
infrastructure. (As well, the PTDF paid the 1.95 million USD
legal bill for the law firm which filed the incorporation.)

-- Computers for All Nigerians Initiative. (10 million USD)
The PTDF funded a portion of the Ministry of Science and
Technology subsidized loan program for civil service
employees to purchase home computers. The Committee notes
that a revolving loan for subsidized computers cannot be
viewed as an investment and is therefore outside the
investment authority of the PTDF.

-- Progress report on the Obasanjo Administration and
photographs for the State House Library. (35,000 USD) The
Committee noted that this project does not fall within the
PTDF mandate "by any stretch of interpretation." In
addition, the Committee recommends these funds be returned to
the PTDF.

11. In response to Atiku's allegations that 20 billion Naira
(156 million USD) approved for release by Obasanjo in May
2006 was used to fund the third term agenda, the Committee
noted only that on September 13, the Accountant General's
Office authorized 10 billion Naira (78 million USD) be
released to the PTDF to fund the six projects in the May
request. PTDF management confirmed that, to date, only 10
billion Naira of the requested 20 billion has been released
to the Fund. (NOTE: The report did not ask the question of
where the remaining 10 billion Naira is currently, if/when it
will be released to the PTDF, nor the status of the six
projects.


RECOMMENDATIONS SHOW JUSTICE NOT BLIND
--------------------------------------

12. (C) The Committee recommends funds be recovered from
NDTV, Mofas Shipping Company and Transvari and any offenses
prosecuted. In addition, it recommends prosecution of PTDF
Executive Secretary from September 2000 to July 2005 Hamisu
Abubakar and continued prosecution of former Executive
Secretary Hussein Jallo. When it comes to recommendations

SIPDIS
for the Vice President and President, however, the Committee
is much less willing to call for outright prosecution and, in
the case of Obasanjo, recommends no putative action. The
Committee notes that Vice President Atiku "abused his office
by aiding and abetting the diversion of public funds" and
recommends that he be "sanctioned for any offenses." With
regard to President Obasanjo, however, the Committee notes
only that he "acted in disregard of the law establishing the
PTDF" and recommends that "the President be advised to adhere
strictly to the provisions of the law of the PTDF."

13. (C) The Committee recommends amending the PTDF Act to
provide for a Board of Trustees, statutory audits and a
reorganization of management to insulate it from politics.
It calls for no further funding of 2006 projects deemed to be
outside the PTDF mandate. The report also recommends a
Senate evaluation of all PTDF projects since 2003 and tasks
the Senate to find all accounts existing in the name of the
PTDF both within and outside Nigeria.


BLATANT CORRUPTION REVEALED
---------------------------
14. (C) COMMENT. The Senate report provides what is likely
the most credible direct proof of blatant corruption within
the villa we have seen. Given the number of witnesses, their
credibility and the overwhelming similarities in the
testimonies given, the Committee could not easily overlook
the illegal actions of both Atiku and Obasanjo. That said,
the recommendations of the Committee are clearly softer on
Obasanjo than Atiku. While no claim of corruption in the
Nigerian context can be accepted as completely accurate, post
believes the observations and findings contained in the
Senate report may be the closest we can come to finding out
what actually happened to the PTDF funds.

END COMMENT.
CAMPBELL

SUMMARY: Following the March 24 nullification of Boni
Haruna's 2003 Adamawa gubernatorial victory by the Adamawa
State
Election Tribunal, Vice President Atiku Abubakar angrily
voiced
his opposition to the ruling at a People's Democratic Party
(PDP)
rally in Yola. Unfortunately for Atiku, his invective was
received poorly and has caused prominent Nigerians to
question
his commitment to the rule of law and his suitability as a
Presidential candidate in 2007. END SUMMARY

2. (U) During a March 26 PDP rally in Yola, Vice President
Atiku
Abubakar lashed out against the Adamawa State Election
Tribunal
for its nullification of Boni Haruna's 2003 Adamawa
gubernatorial
election. Atiku accused Tribunal Chairman Kashim Zanna of
bias
and said the ruling was an attempt to steal Haruna's mandate
and
embarrass the Vice President and his protg Atiku went as
far
as to say he was ready "to insult, beat or slap anyone" who
would
try to take the gubernatorial seat away from the PDP.

3. (U) Despite statements from the Vice President's office
accusing the press of misrepresenting his statements,
reaction to
Atiku's Yola tirade was swift and negative. Nigerian Bar
Association President Wole Olanipekun called the Vice
President's
comments a threat to Nigeria's nascent democracy. Olanipekun
went on to say that Atiku had no right to level such harsh
criticism on the judiciary since the Vice President and the
executive branch had so clearly failed the country. Going
on,
Olanipekun mused that the situation in Nigeria would be
greatly

CodeTemplar:
Mbaka, Bakare and Osinbajo did more but nobody was disturbed. Imams preach directly to their followers that Muslims are suppose to rule over other Muslims always and nobody raises alarms so Oyedepo is just another individual.


@bold part, Muslims gladly watch while government meant for all fund their religion so it will be bad for us to talk about Oyedepo who doesn't press anyone for financial assistance.

I dont believe my post singled out any religious unit. I said ALL, without qualifying.

CodeTemplar:
Did he?
I ask because a lot of folks are having sleepless nights over an innocent appearance of Oyedepo beside Atiku and Obasanjo, two old pals who were not in good terms before Oyedepo was invited to reconcile them.

Has he broken any law or is he the first to associate with politicians?
Who is a politician by the way and who has right to political choices?

I do not think he broke laws. Not everything is about breaking law, somethings are improper if they appear unethical in judgement. An ethically indicting action, even if it's within law, is just as bad on character and credibility and can tarnish image just as if one had broken law.

Religious organizations are registered with CAC as tax-exempt. What this means is they are not in business to generate revenue but can take donations from public. This is a thin line and a careless Head of Religion unit can trespass the boundary and get in trouble. A Church must always avoid acts that will force it to open its books to investigators. Discoveries will be made that can embarass the leader and its church.

Not just Oyedepo, but I think generally all religious bodies should be addressed by EFCC and reminded of the dangers of sending in auditors to inspect infringements of their charter. They all need a training to keep them safe and sound out of trouble. They have become nuisance to society lately.

Does Reno not know this was a noise bait from Buhari?

The following chart is IGR growth vs External Debt growth by State. Ideally IGR growth YoY should trend up while debt should trend down.

princfred:
Between Osibanjo and Tinubu who get mouth pass for west? Igbos are not even interested in the Muslims there talk less of suppressing them. Igbos are too busy pursing progress to notice them unless in times of crisis unlike you Afonja who are too insecure and envious of other peoples progress.

Insecure ke? Do a headcount. How many Yorubas are in SE? In a normal day we get Ibo arrivals in Yorubaland than there are Yoruba population in entire Iboland. Just one day of headcount for new migrants from Iboland. What's chasing you from your land if not insecurity?

Odingo1:

Yoruba and their way of twisting things, so you want SE to remain marginalized.

Obasanjo 8 years = Yoruba

Osinbajo VP 4 Years= Yoruba

Total in corridor of presidency 12 years.

You want Yoruba to remain their forever so that they will not be marginalized while there are others that have not been there. What a very greedy folks.

It is not anyone's job to bring SE out of any condition. You owe it to yourself to come out of any condition that does not favour you.

Marginalization does not favor SW and have made it our duty and obligation not to enter into it. We are not asking you to keep us out of it. We are not asking for your help to block marginalization. We are telling you we have the resolve and the means to keep marginalization away from our region. Now, where marginalization goes...is not our headache!

kalu61:
Well this is NL where men and boys are equal. Sometimes do a little research before exposing your ignorance. Even atiku had mentioned it recently why Tinubu had Lagos in 2003.

Atiku mentioned it...and it becomes your history.

hahahahahahahaha....

GidiWoodsMan:
So the Jagaban wants to succeed Buhari. Where does that leave the Ibos, if I may ask.

Igbo people if you like vote for the Dullard next year. Your wailing will simply continue on a higher note

It is automatic, they dont have to vote for him to continue the wail. Atiku is not winning, period!

princfred:
Its mainly the Afonja (Yoruba Muslim ) deceiving the rest. Even the north is a mess with Buhari talk less if a selfish village inclined Afonja takes power.

Is Osinbajo a Yoruba muslim?
Religious crisis happen in two regions only 1 - North, 2 - SE.

I say SE because you supress your Muslims and marginalize them. They dont have voice. The day they start voicing their interests SE will boil.

Shehunoshewhat:
Be sincere, if Osinbajo were Peter Obi, will you vote Atiku

Is Osinbajo the first Yoruba V nominee?

There are parties that have fielded Yorubas as their candidate. Its about the administration. This administration is transparent

Odingo1:

Yoruba and their way of twisting things, so you want SE to remain marginalized.

Obasanjo 8 years = Yoruba

Osinbajo VP 4 Years= Yoruba

Total in corridor of presidency 12 years.

You want Yoruba to remain their forever so that they will not be marginalized while there are others that have not been there. What a very greedy folks.

Your governors marginalized you. Ask them to give you account of their monthly allocation

Yomit71:
Yoruba is God's blessing to this nation
believe it or not, Igbo are too greedy & aggressive. always want everything to themselves.
poor greedy ungrateful people

According to them, every one of their governor is a self-made billionaire, and they are very proud to say it. ...but they wonder why no development in their region. Their self-made billionaire governors bankrupted their developments. This is why Kanu is very upset and refused to partner with them. Kanu has not been round the country and see with his eyes what is going in other regions. If he did he would have sent out assassins after SE govs, out of rage.

kalu61:
Go and read history. Tinubu didn't claim Lagos 2003. Atiku willingly avoided taken over Lagos because Tinubu was his friend. use google

Atiku that came third in every primary he vied in? He had to buy his way to come 1st this time. Where does he have the clout to take over Lagos but lacked clout to win his party primary? Which kind brain you dey use talk for here? Use human brain abeg

Who really cares how anyone feels about our resolve to return Buhari to power in 2019?

If dem like report Fashola to international court of justice, which is their normal route.....we will not back down from putting Buhari in power.

PDP VP nominee, Peter Obi says he will bring SE out of marginalization....this is ok.

Fashola says Yoruba voting Buhari in 2019 will prevent SW going into marginalization....Oh no, this is hatred and tribalism!

Instead of hyper-optimism....counting the chickens before they are hatched, why not first review....realistically, to see how many eggs hatched into chicken on last count?



Look at gains and losses by the two top contenders on the eve of last presidential election compared to this cycle. You can see NW and SW are complete wipe out, PDP has no foothold there. So how is PDP going to win with the two most populous regions in the clutch of its opponent? What strategy do they have to snatch these two regions from APC. That's a tall order, is it not?


2014

SS
PDP = 5
ACN =1

SE
PDP = 3
APGA =2


SW
ACN = 5
LP = 1

NW
PDP =6
ANPP =1

NE
PDP = 4
ANPP = 2

NC
PDP = 5
CPC =1



2018

SS
PDP = 5
APC =1

SE
PDP = 3
APGA =1
APC = 1


SW
APC = 6


NW
APC = 7

NE
APC = 4
PDP = 2


NC
APC = 5
PDP =1

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/10/us-govt-considering-pdps-petition-against-buhari-apc-youth-leader/

In reference to the report in Vanguard that PDP had submitted petition to foreign governments complaining and warning about the forthcoming election, it is important to view this action as a breach of rights of sovereignty of Nigeria as an independent nation.

PDP was displaced after 16yrs of ruling, but by any measure it has failed to be an effective opposition since its defeat by APC close to four years ago. The news caption posted in the attached link above is a good reason to see the actions of PDP as counter-progressive for the Nation and moreover a score of failure on its role as opposition party for government.

When a ruling party appears to be skirting the rules and codes of government it is the duty of opposition to first, draw their attention and that of the public to the infraction, and second, work patiently with them to return them to compliance. A misrule by the party in power should not only be critiqued but even more important should not be allowed to continue without redress because the aftermath is a negative impact on society. An opposition serves as the eye and voice of reasoning to bring the incumbent back into reality when it is straying from course. While the goal is to position the ruling party as an incompetent administration and seek public opinion against it for its own political advantage the opposition, nonetheless, owe a duty to the sovereign nation. Opposition is part and parcel of a government at any time even though it does not own the administration and cannot be blamed for misrule and mistakes of the ruling party, it cannot in any way escape liability for injury to State and society.

It is appalling that PDP, instead of seeking redress domestically through the many instruments of power available to it at the Legislative, Judiciary and Council of State and approach its concern legitimately for proper process, has chosen to breach our independence status and petition foreign governments to intervene and dictate new code of conduct by which we must govern ourselves. What exactly can any of these foreign governments do that we are unable to do and redress ourselves if tabled and addressed through the proper channels available to PDP domestically?

Shame on PDP for submitting our sovereign independence to foreigners to supervise!

Olu317:
I have been able to read the Oman history with this claim of Yaruba. And it only point to the direction, of the possibility of migration of Yoruba people to be from middle east.Despite unsubstantiated road link but many other similarities are eminent.

Infact,when a man known as M. C Adeyemi posited this view, in the early1914, Yoruba migrated from Medina-Midian, people were anxious to disregard it because they claim, it was as a result of religious affinity with the Middle East. Olumide Lucas posited Egypt's origin even with shared words,some scholars later accused him of not being a linguist or Historian. Yet, evidence in Art support this,customs support it and today, Language similarities support it. Susan Blier in her book(ART IN ILE IFE, Birth place of Yorubas )claimed that Odu'a group usually allow their beards unshaved. These are shown in the pattern on the bronze Heads that were dug out or seen in the groove in ILE IFE . The book claims, that some do have sign around the check which is a form of holes to depict ,spot where hair grows.

As you have rightly stated, over 95% of preIslam account of these people who lived in ancient Arabia were buried with the past. In fact, I learned that anyone who did reference history during the era of the Prophet, such is seen as infidel and stigmatised. This alone had made Arabia history with many negative impact and whoever that didn't accept the Islamic religion were either made to leave or die by sword . And this same thing was applicable also during Crusaders era.

Funny enough, Olumide Lucas claim of Egypt origin of Yoruba isn't in anyway wrong because Yoruba indeed had a footprint in this land, at one time or the other with evidence of beads, looom, language before moving inward. Conton claim, Yoruba lived in between Ancient Hebrew and Egyptians ? ... The question is this : What name did Yoruba bore when they lived between Hebrew and Egyptians ? According to legend, Yoruba bore different names such as Jebu(Yeb,), Offa,(Jaffa)etc. But the name from ILE IFE, was O o ni( he that owns) and these kind of names existed in Egypt before and around 160BCE,when the new Onias fled to Egypt from Jerusalem in Judah to establish Onias kingdom.

Hence, the reason, Yoruba language is of both Hebrew-semitic and Egyptians origin with infiltrated other few other languages. After all, Hebrew/Egyptian Moshe - drawn from water, may also be Mu ni Osé—Mosé(contracted) to mean drawn from river Osé.

Crediting Arabs with trustworthiness in historical record keeping is underserving. They are not at all altruistic and their record keeping is not meant for human evolution but rather for religious propagation and dominance. When a conflict arises between an important event of history and their religious bigotry, they will erase and obliterate the historical record to safeguard their religious teachings.

Look at the following for instance. If they can disregard artifacts dated to time of the founder of their religion, imagine what they did in time of Muhammed himself to the history of the people and their religion in Mecca and before The Prophet founded Islam.


I refuse to believe they tore down the place where Muhammed was born or the mosques he built to prevent it turning into worship grounds. Mecca had always been a no-go area for non-Muslims, according to Saudi law. Likewise they enacted laws that forbade excavations or anthropological diggings and studies in and around Medina and Mecca. It does not appear they can hold tight much longer on these laws without yielding, and they are scared of the revelations that will come out of these excavations. So they are destroying them. How else can one explain a people reputed to be record keepers to now turn around destroying history for grounds to build hotels? The Taliban destroyed Petra statues and the remains of great civilizations to propagate extremist Islam. The leftover antiquities of Iraq has been raided and blown to pieces by Isis in name of Islam. These erasures are not new.

A new order in civilization is emerging and a new set of cross migrations and populations will be witnessed and even though they are removed from origin, their culture and nativity will remain in spirit.....as was the case with Yoruba departing AfroAsia, or across Atlantic in the Americas. We settle to our new abode, but the ancestors in us remain tied to their roots...wherever it was....bringing us to its awakening periodically and nudging for a return and conciliation to origin. It is a continuous quest!

But such a transformation has come at a cost. The Washington-based Gulf Institute estimates that 95 per cent of Mecca's millennium-old buildings have been demolished in the past two decades alone. Dozens of key historical sites dating back to the birth of Islam have already been lost and there is a scramble among archaeologists and academics to try and encourage the authorities to preserve what little remains.

Many senior Wahabis are vehemently against the preservation of historical Islamic sites that are linked to the prophet because they believe it encourages shirq – the sin of idol worshipping.

But Dr Irfan al-Alawi, executive director of the Islamic Heritage Research Foundation which obtained the new photographs from inside the Grand Mosque, says the removal of the Ottoman and Abbasid columns will leave future generations of Muslims ignorant of their significance.

“It matters because many of these columns signified certain areas of the mosque where the Prophet sat and prayed,” he said. “ The historical record is being deleted. A new Muslim would never have a clue because there’s nothing marking these locations now. There are ways you could expand Mecca and Medina while protecting the historical heritage of the mosque itself and the surrounding sites.”

However key sites are still at risk. The Independent has obtained a presentation used by the Saudis to illustrate how the expansion of Mecca’s main mosque will look. In one of the slides it is clear that the Bayt al-Mawlid, an area which is believed to be the house where Muhammad was born in, will have to be removed unless plans change.

The Independent asked the Saudi Embassy in London a number of questions about the expansion plans and why more was not being done to preserve key historical sites. They replied: “Thank you for calling, but no comment.”


https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/the-photos-saudi-arabia-doesnt-want-seen-and-proof-islams-most-holy-relics-are-being-demolished-in-8536968.html

This girl is beautiful.

OP, I salute o!

WetinConsignMe:
Has nothing to do with literature. The essence of Christ comming is to free you from all these rites and rituals that have been used to keep man in bondage. Xtianity is internal, u r guided by spirit. If u still have to engage in these blood rituals, fine - but u can't do that and at tha same time call yourself a Xtian.

My brother,
The Christ is derived from Greek word Khristos.
Jesus was not Greek. He was an Hebrew and spoke Aramaic, a dialect of ancient Hebrew. So how did Christ come about?

In ancient Hebrew and Aramaic, there is a word called Masheah. In modern Hebrew they call it Messiah. It means anointed, or one who possesses Divine Authority! The Greeks only knew of one authority and it belongs to their Ceasar or Kings, no one else. So they refused to assign a King's attribute of authority to Jesus but instead translated Masheah to Khristo. This is how Jesus CHRIST entered Bible and Christianity derived. If you had to study and render Bible in ancient Hebrew as Muslims do by learning and rendering their religion in Arabic....you will not be known as Christian...but instead as Masheanite (follower of Mashead). Instead of Jesus Christ we will be sayong Jesus Masheah. I can even take you deeper than this but I dont think its necessary to waste my time on public forum revealing things that are of no use to you anyway.

Now, how does all these connect with Yoruba?

In Yoruba, divine authority is called ASHE. Ifa adherents (Awo) say ASHE to prayers.

You can see how Ifa and Christianity connect when you go into their ancestry and uncover the connection between Masheah (Christ) and Ashe.


Enough said abeg....Nairaland is not the place to make revelations, it will be denigrated.

Nice Job deomelo!

This picture-story should be called "A Day in The Life of VP Osinbajo". Many of us do not know he is this involved in community.

Kaabiyesi oo!

PeterKbaba:
[b](Ẹla is the Word)
.
Ọrọ ni ọmọ bíbí inú Elédùmarè
(Word is the only offspring of The Almighty)
.
Nigbati a bi Ẹla latara obirin
(When Ẹla was born through a woman in flesh)
.
Gẹgẹ bí ìpín rẹ lati tọ ile aiyé wo.
(Due to his lot to taste how Life is)
.
Oba Olugbọn, Oba Arẹsa, ati Ọ̀ràngún Ilé Ila
(King Olugbọn, King Arẹsà, and King Ọ̀ràngún)
.
Wọn dífá ìràwọ to yọ l'oke òréré
(They consulted the Ifa Oracle regarding the Star Shinning so bright from afar)
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Ifa ni ki wọn mu ewure dudu, àgùntàn bọlọjọ, ati wúrà tounti fadakà.
(THE oracle instructed them to take black goat, white lamb, gold, and silver)
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Kin wọn fi tuba àlejò Ọrọ.
(To go and pay obeisance to the Word)
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Ki aiye le tuba tuṣẹ fún wọn lórí apere.
(So life can be easy for them on the throne)
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Njẹ kíni katigbọ
(Alas! How can it be said)
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Wípé Ọba n tuba fún arobo abẹjẹ lori
(That a King paid obeisance to an infant)
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Ifa ní, afojudi a maa sọni di egungun arinwowo.
(Ifa warned them to not be arrogant lest they become like a Masquerade that went into the market naked)
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Ni wọn ba forikunkun silẹ
(They quickly let go of their Egos)
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Wọn gbọ t'ẹnu ifa.
(They listened to Ifa)
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N ni wọn fi n pe:
(That's why they often say...)
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O de b'olugbọn o mu mọra ni
(It happened to Olugbọn and he took heart)
.
O de b'arẹsa, o mu mọra ni
(It happened to Arẹsà and he took heart)
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O de b'ọrọgun Ile ila, o mu mọra ni.
(It happened to Ọrọgun of the house of Ila, he also took heart)
.
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Njẹ iwọ ti o n ka odu yi.
(You my Reader)
.
Owo a de ba ọ
(Riches will happen to you today)
.
Ọmọ a dé ba ọ
(Fruitfulness will happen to you today)
.
Alafia a de ba ọ
(Peace will happen to you today)
.
Aiku, baálẹ̀ ọrọ a de ba ọ.
(Long life and prosperity will happen to you today)
.
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Tuo!
(So shall it be)[/b]

Loving it!

WetinConsignMe:
Simply choose one. You can't be a Xtian and Ifa worshopper same time.

Not true. There is no inconsistency between Ifa and the three Abrahamic religions.

WetinConsignMe:
Ase Edumare to u too.
But the blood of Jesus was meant to end all that blood stuff. Lord Jesus emphatically told us not ti engage in such.

You are quoting the literature...the text written in the Bible. Underneath the texts, there are crypted messages for those with higher understanding. Some people said this rite should not have been made public. I disagree and happy that it is publicised. It will open discussion into better understanding of the Bible, so the yoke of demonic Pastors misguiding and cheating innocent congregation can be broken and casted away.

I love it!

Congrats!

Most commenters here querying the blood ritual as a conflict with her Christian ministry are ignorant of the TRUE meaning of "The blood of Jesus" as prescribed in the Bible, nor what the Cross symbolized. Let's just say that Olori's act here stepping on the blood is an act of redemption. It's an ancient practice dating back to time of Noah, continued in Torah, in Bible, in Quran. What you observe here is the affirmation in Ifa, which predated Torah.

Ase Edumare!

Kaabiyesi ooo!

I love the pair, the harmony is infecting.