Dear Nicholas,

Firstly, thanks for standing up for your moral principles this week! I appreciate your zeal and bold resolve to let integrity lead in your journalistic pursuits.

My name is Ihechukwu Njoku, a freelancer currently in Lagos. Let me be honest – a brief online check will show that I am a fan of TB Joshua, evidenced in my numerous write-ups about The SCOAN. I am not however a ‘church spokesman’ as a few people have insinuated due to the positive focus of my reports.

Before placing me in any stereotypical mould, I am not here to declare some ‘Deuteronomy-style’ curse on your head or quote the whole ‘touch not my anointed’ jargon as I know some other religious fanatics (nutheads) have done.

I simply wish to express my own personal observations of this current ‘bribe-saga’ in the hope that it may also help clarify a couple of things.

I agree 100% that journalism in Nigeria is darkened by a cloud of corruption where truth is doctored to suit the political will of the paymasters with ‘brown envelopes’ running the show behind the scenes. This deserves denunciation and renunciation at every available opportunity by all who believe ‘the pen is mightier than the sword’.

I would sincerely, however, paint a different picture in the case of T.B. Joshua – based on my own personal experiences and the principles Joshua has espoused and stood for over the years.

I am not sure how well you know TBJ or SCOAN but I would say first of all that it would be impromptu to use this particular tragic incident and the church’s rather unusual reaction to it as a yardstick to determine his integrity.

I have watched Emmanuel TV for nearly five years and visited The SCOAN several times during this period. I was initially very skeptical but what caught my attention was the sheer simplicity of Joshua’s message and lifestyle. He is a fresh exception to the ‘money-mongering’ ‘private-jet-boasting’ lifestyles of most Naija men of God today. Joshua lives simply, drives simply, dresses simply, talks simply… he is hands-down the most humble, generous and unusual man I’ve met.

The first time I met T.B. Joshua (without him knowing I was into a journalism and without my asking), he gave me N10,000 for ‘transport’. Where I lived only needed about N500 to get there! There was no condition attached or surreptitious motive at play. That’s just the type of man T.B. Joshua is – a good giver. Ask anyone who knows about SCOAN and they will tell you the same. That’s why I termed him unusual. Such attitude is so rare to find in Nigeria that the insinuations and connotations you arrived at in the light of what he offered you last Sunday are completely understandable.

Don’t think I am naïve! Of course, the money offered by Joshua to you and other journalists last week was certainly influenced by the situation on ground. However, it does not change the truth that this has been Joshua’s habitual practice – not only to journalists but to anyone he meets. Don’t judge by my perception alone – ask anyone who has met him and has not left with some form of blessing.

Besides, what facts are really there to be ‘covered up’ by this ‘bribe’ in an international incident of this magnitude? The money, either received or rejected, didn’t change the facts that the media reported.

I could say a lot more but I’m not here to preach. I am just positing that there is more to T.B. Joshua than could be appreciated on a first encounter in a challenging scenario.

My candid advice is to take some time to watch Emmanuel TV, even if you consider yourself ‘unreligious’. Watch the man, listen to what he has to say over a significant period of time and in the light of such, arrive at your conclusion. After all, for over 360 South Africans to take the long journey to Lagos, ignoring the fears of Ebola and Boko Haram, show he certainly has something worth looking at.

That’s just my two cents.

God bless!

http://dailypost.ng/2014/09/26/ihechukwu-njoku-open-letter-nicholas-ibekwe/

ok
continue... these things you people are doing in the name God... hmmm

kudos

they should setup preventive measures now

Ebola is one of the scarier diseases in the world for 3 main reasons. 1. It’s highly contagious, 2. It kills with 2-14 days of infection, 3. It has no cure.

That’s why prevention is very important; the most important thing you can do. Here are 5 preventive things you can do to protect yourself and loves ones from contracting the Ebola Virus.

Avoid Crowded Areas. It’s pretty simple; The more people you come in contact with (knowingly or unknowingly), the higher your risk of coming in contact with an infected person. No one says don’t leave your house, but if you can avoid crowded places like markets, airports, public transportation etc, do so.

Wash Your Hands a Lot. This is one of the most important and simplest prevention measures you can take. Use soap and water, or use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol when soap and water aren’t available.

No Bush Meat: Those of you that like to eat Bush Meat, this will be a very good time to stay away.

Avoid Contact with Infected People. This goes in line with the first point but avoid contact with infected people. Body fluids and tissues, including blood, Fluid, womanly secretions and saliva are all sources of transmission. People with Ebola or Marburg are most contagious in the later stages of the disease.

Don’t handle remains. The bodies of people who have died of Ebola or Marburg disease are still contagious. Specially organized and trained teams should bury the remains, using appropriate safety equipment

davitogreat:

Your just typing nonsense. My comment had nothing to do with feelings. Or licking ass.

It's all about facts. If the Americans see it fit to share defense funds with Uganda, ghana and Rwanda. ( countries with very questionable corrupt/shady governments and institutions)

Uganda- very corrupt. Government has history of abuse. Also history of using child soldiers.
Ghana- very corrupt and is a poster boy on how NOT to run your economy
Rwanda- though Rwanda has made great improvements economically Kagames government has also been very oppressive towards opposition and anyone who speaks ill of his government. Has played a role in assassinating journalists and opposition members in Rwanda and even outside the country.
Plus lets not forget rwanda and uganda have been caught assisting rebels who are destabilizing the congo.

So with all that What makes it right to skip Nigeria? Jonathan with all his faults is not as bad as the leaders of these countries.

nigeria is one of the worlds leading peace keeping nations and a country that does and has done a lot for Africa. So it's logical to work closely with such a country if one is looking to further peace in Africa.

No vex, have you been to Nigeria?

Please seun, in a time as this we need more this on frontpage. RIP my fellow Nigerian

achyc2002: Saw this and just thought I should share


(CNN) - Donald Trump is tweeting that "We should not be importing (Ebola) to our homeland."

An Indiana congressman is worried that refugee children from Central America could pose a public health risk with "Ebola circulating."

And the Twitter-sphere is filled with people asking "how can we bring these patients to America," complaining that "We don't have enough problems in America! Let's import Ebola patients!" and speculating that treating them here is "highly irresponsible."
It's a terrifying disease for sure. It typically kills 90% of the people who get it, and this most recent outbreak is the largest in history. But you don't need to panic, experts say, and you definitely don't have to worry about the two American Ebola patients who are being treated in Atlanta.

Here are five reasons why:

1. It's fragile.

Ebola is an incredibly fragile virus. It does not fly through the air with the greatest of ease. It cannot be transmitted through a cough or sneeze. It doesn't move easily from human to human like the common cold.

Ebola is aggressively infectious, so people who are infected are highly likely to get sick. But it's not highly contagious.

"The Ebola virus spreads through direct contact with the blood, secretions or other body fluids of ill people and indirect contact -- for example, with needles and other things that may be contaminated with these fluids," said Stephan Monroe, deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control's National Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Infectious Diseases.

2. We know how it works.

Although there is no vaccine and no cure, the one real advantage we have with Ebola is that doctors know how to control it.

Ebola isn't "some mystical pathogen (with) some bizarre mode of transmission," said Bruce Ribner, who oversees the special isolation unit that is treating the patients at Emory University Hospital.

Common-sense hygiene can stop its spread.

"Ebola is a virus that can be stopped and not spread in hospitals. The stakes are higher, but it's easily inactivated with typical hospital disinfectants," said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Tom Frieden.

3. We have the resources to contain it.

The two American patients with Ebola were flown to the United States in a plane outfitted with an isolation pod.

They are being kept in isolation at the Emory hospital with a specialized containment ward, one of four in the country.
In the containment ward, the vents are specialized. There's an intercom and plate glass that separates patients from visitors so they don't come into direct contact. There's a strict protocol on everyone and everything that goes into and out of the patient's room. Health care workers wear protective suits.

But any major medical center could really take care of an Ebola patient, said William Schaffner, an expert on infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University's School of Medicine.

Most ICUs have isolation rooms that are used for patients suspected to have tuberculosis, SARS, Middle East respiratory syndrome or another infectious disease. Schaffner said that not much would be different for an Ebola patient, though more stringent precautions might be taken to ensure that health care workers are following all protocols.

4. Our medical staff is ready.

"We have been training for this," Ribner said of preparations for the two American Ebola patients. These doctors know how to handle Ebola and will use an abundance of caution when working with an infected person.

Medical workers across the country have also been told to watch out for Ebola symptoms and question patients who have recently traveled to West Africa. They are trained to recognize Ebola cases and can quarantine them early, keeping others from coming into contact with an infected person's bodily fluids while the disease runs its course.

5. Airports are on alert.

At African airports in the Ebola-affected region, passengers are being closely screened. Health experts are watching for people with high fevers. Those who have a temperature are removed and monitored while doctors test their blood for Ebola.

When passengers arrive at the airport, they are required to wash their hands in a chlorinated solution. Customs agents and passport inspectors are also wearing surgical gloves when interacting with passengers.

Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/08/05/health/ebola-dont-panic/index.html?c=&page=4

... The antibody work came out of research projects funded by the U.S. Army more than a decade ago... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZMapp), What have your NATIVE DOCTORS being doing more than a decade ago

9jawear: Where has EBOL been all this while that SUDDENLY it appears some unsurmountable catastrophy? There is always a ploy to make Africa look HELPLESS and DESTITUTE for some reasons best known to them. AND THEY ALWAYS WIN!

Talk of MALARIA! At what point did we AFRICANS become helpless victims of MALARIA in Africa that EURO-AMERICA now have to be where we must get MALARIA DRUGS from? Damn! We were living and thriving BARE-CHESTED when the first European Ship arrived on the shores of DINA (Elmina) 1471 and we have historical account of what happened to Europeans who came. For over a century they were coming and dying like sick chickens. The so-called MISSIONARIES were dying like diseased chicken on arrival from MALARIA, some as early are as two weeks! Later all they had to do was to humble their ego and allow 'NATIVE DOCTORS' to treat them with HERBS!

WE NEVER DIED FROM MALARIA!!

So, so..when did we lose our intelligence as AFRICANS and got hooked on to the CHLOROQUINE and now ATER..what-what? Aren't people now dying from these drugs?

WHY HAVEN'T I TAKEN ANY OF THESE DRUGS at age 31 (all my lfe)? I still take the herbs I saw my grandmother use and the wisdom is DON'T WAIT TO GET MALARIA before taking it.

So, there so must Media Hype and exaggeration over this ANTWERP-MADE Laboratory Virus clled EBOLA in Africa. Can someone SHUT off that and allow us some senerity of MIND to think out our solutions? No, they won't because it's all part of the MARKET CREATION PROCESS!!

It's like when you have Maths question before you to think through and ONE IS DRUMMING AND SINGING in the class!!!

IT IS NOT THE EBOLA THAT IS KILLIN PEOPLE, IT IS THE MEDIA SPIN AND NOISE THAT'S FRUSTRATING US FROM PICKING THE SOLUTION!

In ancient times, the HERBALIST took a lonely walk in the dead silence of the dawn on his search for cure. The mind requires silence in its search for solution!

ALLOW AFRICA TO THINK ON ITS OWN!!f it's food THEY CLAIM we need, they will FORCE GMO on us. If it's Security they claim we need, they'll force War and Military bases on us. If it's cure they claim we need, they'll force drugs on us!

It's no genuine desire to SOLVE AFRICA'S PROBLEM! It's a greedy QUEST to 'commodify' and commercialise our challenges FOR PROFIT!


AFRICANS AND NIGERIANS SHOULD WAKE UP