₦airaland Forum

orisa37:
Nigeria is indigenous and amenable to improvements. America is cowboyish and saturated.

how does that relate to the subject

ckmayoca:
1. In Nigeria if a handy individual is fixing something for u in ur house and he gets injured, the hospital will make u pay his bills because u allowed someone who is not insured handle ur job. But for naija the handy man is on his own.
2. If ur hit someone crossing a junction where the traffic like is showing green for motorist, the person driving the car may sue the person he knocked down but in naija na the person knocked down go sue the driver.
3. Over there u don't throw a party opp ur house and fix speaker, here u can even block the road opp ur house.
4. Here u can slap person and even wait for police to arrive and nothing will happen but there na jailing for assault oh.
5. Here he hard to marry without the family consent but there e no concern anybody and if una wahala start make una no involve anybody.

that's funny, but not the subject. Thanks

I would appreciate if the admin can help move the post to front page. Thanks

Hello people, I need your help. I have an assignment to write at least, 100 reasons why Nigeria is better than United States of America. Although, based on what I know, I have been able to come up with some, but considering the fact that I have not been to America, there are certain comparison that I can't make to determine which one is better. I am therefore compelled to seek your input. I know nairaland is full of intelligent people from all across the country and the world. Your exposure, work and access to certain information may be useful here. Kindly help state some of the ways you think Nigeria is better than US. Thanks

?

If you love the Ikemba of Nnewi so much that you name your dog Ojukwu in Anambra state and write it on its body, nobody would call the police to arrest you. They would Lynch you. If you doubt me, let somebody try it and you would see the result. The same thing is likely to happen, if you name your dog Buhari in Kano. Nobody would go through the formalities of reporting to the police. Then again, if the father of your neighbor bears Nnamdi, and because you love him so much, you decided to name your dog Nnamdi to express your love. You even wrote Nnamdi on the dog's body for the father of your neighbor to see how much you love him. The son of the man you named Nnamdi may not remember police do exist before he engages you. While it may be wrong to react aggressively to such Irresponsibility, human nature may prevail over reason. Irresponsibility is not exercise of right to freedom. There is no right without responsibility.

WORLD BANK AND IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE STAFF By Abdulrazaq O Hamzat
On May 5, 2016, I wrote a letter to World Bank director in Nigeria, Mr Rachid Benmessaoud, complaining about the shabby event they hosted at their Nigerian head office in Asokoro, and the disgraceful remarks of one of their staff who coordinated the program. It's over 3 months already, and to my greatest surprise, the World Bank neither acknowledged the receipt of the letter nor responded to it. I feel really disappointed because, one may be forced to assume that the organization is truly represented by the disappointing attitude of its staff. With all sense of modesty, this is not a very good development from a reputable organization like the world Bank. In the letter, I made it clear that, were it possible to write the letter anonymously, nothing would have been more pleasing. However, the statements i shall have to make in the letter will be so important that it would be considered a sheer act of cowardice not to disclose my identity.
I beg, however, to assure that I write not from any personal motives, nor yet from those of self righteousness or of seeking undue attention.
''This letter, with utmost respect to your high office, is simply to express my disappointment over the poor organization at World Bank Youth Transforming Africa’s conference. Also, it is equally to register my complaint, over the uncomplimentary remark of one of your staff at the event.' I wrote. Read the letter below.
On 12th April 2016, World Bank hosted an event tagged, ‘’World Bank Youth Transforming Africa’’, a video conference at the World Bank Country office, Abuja. I was one of the participants at the World Bank office in Nigeria, at No 102 Yakubu Gowon Crescent, opposite Ecowas Commission, Asokoro Abuja.
The event was my first experience in a World Bank organized programme and I had hope and high expectations of your most respectable organization. However, the poor organization at the conference not only betrayed my expectation of the World Bank, It ended up making me lose interest in the event as a whole. While I was still trying to figure out what to do next with my lost of interest, the uncomplimentary remark made by one of your staff eventually gave me no choice, other than walking out of the event with utmost disappointment.
On the faithful day, at about 2: 30 PM, I and other participants were ushered into the World Bank premises for the conference, and since the event was scheduled to kick off by 2:30 PM, everyone took their sit and the video conference equipment was all connected. The event officially started few minutes later.
While the event had been ongoing, we could not follow or participate in it due to poor audio and video transmission. As a matter of fact, there was a total breakdown of the Tele Conference at some point.
To the best of my records, I recall that from beginning, till i left the venue almost 2 hours later, the Conference consistently experienced break in visual and audio transmission.
At first, while background shadows of projector do indicate that a speaker is speaking at the other end; we the participants could not hear the speaker. Soon after, the audio came back on, but the visuals went off completely. Moments later, the audio also went off completely and we were left with nothing for several munities afterward. At this point, it was obvious there was an internal technical problem from the World Bank. We also noticed that participants from other countries were facing similar problems. The system had to be restarted completely.
Having realized how disappointing the encounter was, a staff of your organization, who happens to be one of the event coordinators, came forward to apologize for the break down. He informed us of the ongoing efforts to fix the problem and assured that everything shall be resolved in a very short while. However, as if instigated by an unknown force, the same official, moment later, withdrew his apology in the most embarrassing manner.
According to him, ‘’I should not even apologize for this, we are all used to it. This is Africa, this is Nigeria, things like this should not be new to all of us’’. He remarked.
For me, there is no other disrespectful remark that could be more than the above, especially as it is coming from a respectable organization like the World Bank. I find it most degrading and detestful. Until this moment, i am still at loss, on how a World Bank staff, would blame poor organization and their error on Africa or Nigeria. This is most regrettable.
Am tempted to ask why World Bank failed to make adequate preparation for such an event or better still, why did it assigned unprofessional staff who harbor such poorly thought view and could blame Nigeria or Africa for this error?
Finally, I would like to urge you, most humbly sir, to properly look into this matter for the sake of your organizational reputation. My experience at the World Bank Youth Transforming Africa Conference is unpalatable; it should not be the story of my encounter with the World Bank.

; ko

So just when Vanguard news paper is busy dissipating energy about love lost between the Minister and U23.

The people concerned/involved have no idea of this propaganda of hate. It was all fun with the players.

?

Hum

Lol

What Man Can Do, Woman Can Do It Better.
Bilkis Rafiu, 35, the only female vulcanizer in Kwara State.
She hails from Oke-Oyin, Ilorin East LG. She's married to one Aremu & blessed with four children. Her workplace is located at Oke Adini, Kulende area, Ilorin, Kwara state.

QBlazE1:
Nigeria will change when we stop voting people which names include Lai in them. E.g Lai Mohammed

Did anyone vote for Lai Muhammed?

WHEN WILL NIGERIA CHANGE?
Abdulrazaq O Hamzat
I was hoping that the economy would change
I was hoping Nigeria would get better
I was hoping the naira would be strong
I was hoping that my income would increase
I was hoping that circumstances would change
If Muhammadu Buhari becomes the president.
And indeed, he became the president
A new era was born.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Then I found out, nothing is ever going to change
Even with the new changed administration
So, my question was, if nothing is going to change
How would my life ever change?
When will Nigeria change?
When would this country get better?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is what I have learnt
If you change, everything would change for you
When you change, everything around you would change with you
When you get better, everything would get better for you
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When we are talking about a changed Nigeria
What we are simply saying is, you have got to change.
Until you change, nothing is ever going to change.
Until you get better, nothing is going to get better.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you change, Nigeria would change
If you get better, Nigeria would get better.
Nigeria is me and you
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is what you must understand
If you patronize local product
Naira would be strong
If you follow lay down rules and regulation
Law and order would be preserved
If you shun corruption, there wouldn’t be anti corruption war
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Again, ponder about this
If you do not follow ordinary traffic rules
If you engage in exam Mal-practices
If you take side with you friend or family in conflict
If you favor your tribal or religious person over others
If you have opportunity of employing people, who would it be?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Then, imagine being the President, Governor or Minister
What would you do differently?
Can you suddenly change for better?
Now you know, it begins with you. CHANGE

Every body deserve our efforts, even if they do not appreciate it. The good efforts we are making for people, is not just for them, it is for a better society, in which we also live.

NOUN VS LAW SCHOOL: Sign of an irresponsible government.
By Abdulrazaq O Hamzat

Last week, Foundation For Peace professionals sent a letter to Minister of justice, urging him to intervene in the ongoing legal dispute between students of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and Council of Legal Education (CLE) over the none admission of NOUN law graduates into the Nigerian Law School.

After our organization has formally requested the Minister to intervene for a peaceful resolution, i consider it worthy to put before the public, what the organization has put before the minister for consideration.
It is my considered opinion that, the legal dispute between NOUN and CLE is an unnecessary legal dispute that could be easily resolved by the office of the minister, should he be willing to peacefully resolve the matter, which i urge him to do, to save the students the energy, resources and time that would be consumed by this lawsuit, as such resources could be channeled into more positive venture that would be of greater benefits to the nation.
As you are already aware, National Open University of Nigeria is the only Open and Distance Learning Institution in Nigeria, with all its courses duly accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC) including its Law Programme.
It is important to point out here that, at first; Nigerians distanced themselves from NOUN due to fear of discrimination. The situation continued for many years, until former Secretary of National Universities Commission, Prof Julius Okojie publicly assured parents and students of the quality of the institution. Professor Okojie urged students to seek admission into the institution, assuring them that the certificate is not in any way inferior to that of other institutions. Since the public assurance by the former NUC boss, a lot of young Nigerians have enrolled in the University.
However, it is 3 years now since the first sets of graduates emerged from NOUN, but contrary to all assurances given to the students, they are now being openly discriminated by federal establishment such as NYSC and its law graduates out rightly rejected by the Nigerian Law School. This is such an unfortunate situation, which should never have happened.
While it is possible to manage with NYSC exemption letter given to NOUN graduates, this is not possible with a law degree, as a law graduate cannot practice without being called to Bar. This led to the ongoing legal dispute between NOUN law students and graduates and the Council of Legal Education.
In 2015, NOUN students and graduates dragged the CLE to the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, for allegedly refusing them admission into the Nigerian Law School. Also dragged before the court are the NUC, NOUN itself and the office of Attorney General of the Federation. The suit follows a publication by CLE in National Dailies excluding students of law programme in NOUN from being admitted into the Nigerian Law School. Filed in suit No. FHC/PH/CS/UI/2015, the students are praying the court to declare as null and void the publication by the council as well as a declaration that it is infringement on their fundamental rights.
However, one strange thing observed in the course of this legal dispute is the fact that, management of NOUN distanced itself from the lawsuit filed by the students. Rather than compliment efforts of its students and graduates to seek justice for themselves when the University had failed to do so, the University applied to be exempted from the court case. Similarly, the office of Attorney General of the federation which should ordinarily champion the course of justice for these students also applied to be exempted from the case. Also, the NUC, which accredited NOUN law programme and advocated for the University to be patronized also applied to be exempted from the case, leaving the helpless students to their fate, after spending years, scarce resources and energy in acquiring what is now about to amount to a worthless law degree from a federal University.
Although, the applications of the three bodies to be exempted from the case were recently dismissed by the trial judge, Hon. Justice B.O. Quardri, nonetheless, their conduct is far from ideal and satisfactory.
Furthermore, in the course of hearing the matter, one fact has been properly established without any doubt whatsoever, that fact is that, CLE is not in any way interested in justifying its action against the students, as there is no any justification whatsoever. All the Council has been doing, is filing one preliminary objection or the other, seeking to unnecessarily prolong the case to frustrate the students and eventually force them to abandon the case altogether. Should they succeed in doing so, lives of many young Nigerians would have been jeopardized due to government irresponsibility.
I make bold to say that, this deliberate discrimination and outright victimization of NOUN graduates by government establishments, coupled with the ploy of CLE to frustrate their lawsuit is capable of bringing out the worst in any human. Let me quickly add that, the rigid stance of CLE was not founded on any known fact, it rather portrayed the council as being in dark about best practices in 21st century.
Even in United Kingdom, which influenced Nigeria’s current legal system, Distance legal education is accepted by the Law Society of England and Wales as a qualifying law degree and one of the possible ways to become a solicitor or a barrister. In several other countries influenced by the British legal heritage, legal education can be obtained through distance education, including India, Indonesia, Australia etc. It wouldn’t be out of place to conclude that, not recognizing NOUN on the basis of non-existing barrier will further hurt our dear nation and rob it of the gains of 21st century.
In view of this and in line with this administration’s change agenda, this unnecessary legal dispute deserve the authoritative intervention of the minister, through exercise of his powers as contained in Chapter 4 of Legal Education Act, 1979 which states thus, ‘’ Subject to this Act, the Attorney-General of the Federation may give the Council directions of a general character with regard to the exercise by the Council of its functions and it shall be the duty of the Council to comply with such directions’’.
The CLE Act gives the minister’s office unfettered powers to give directives to CLE and I urge the minister to consider the letter of Foundation for Peace Professionals and exercise such power to end an unnecessary legal dispute, consuming time and resources of both the students and government.
Should CLE have any objections about the law programme of NOUN, the conventional and reasonable thing should be to treat the matter as it did earlier over the Evening Law programmes offered by some Universities in the past by liaising with the NUC for review of the accreditation given to NOUN and not to refuse admission to students already in the system, talk less of graduates.
Abdulrazaq O Hamzat is the Founder and CEO of Foundation for Peace Professionals. He writes from Abuja and can be reached on discus4now@gmail.com.

CORRUPTION IN NFF GOT OUR UNDER 23 TEAM STRANDED, NOT GOVT.
The Minister of Sports insisted that NFF/Amaju should not take the team to Atlanta for training because of paucity of funds, Amoju/NFF told the Minister that they have found a sponsor and they have signed every document with him for all trip expense covered. Even with that, the Minister said to Siasia, why can't you suggest to your sponsor that you will do your training here in Nigeria so that when it is time to move to Rio, the team can move at once with the Team Nigeria to Brazil.
Amoju/Siasia disappeared with the boys to Atlanta without the minister's consent. The next thing Dalung heard was that the Nigerian Football team is stranded in Atlanta. Atlanta? How? When did they go to Atlanta, he didn't know. This is exactly why the minister said it was not their business if they got stranded in Atlanta. In anger, he actually said the United States of Nigeria.
But investigation revealed that, they were stranded as a ploy to extort money from the Government, not because they were really stranded. They wanted to force government to finance the trip, even after saying they got sponsor. Or, how would a team who got sponsor to travel to Atlanta suddenly get stranded? How can you ask govt to provide funds for a trip you were asked not to go and you eventually went through the back door?

Can you ever support a PDP presidential candidate back to power in Nigeria?

From Orlando to Surakarta, Paris to Baghdad, and Dakha to Monguno, terror in the name of Islam has seized the world. Thousands of people are dead while many in hospitals, with cut limbs and in horrible pains, are wondering whether surviving was really worth celebrating. As more than a billion strong Muslims all over the world are confused, disturbed and frustrated by the unfolding murderous acts of some misguided Muslim individuals and groups, the rest of the world is becoming terrified of having Muslims as neighbours and friends in most parts of the world. It has to be a difficult time for all.

It is a fact that most of the dead and wounded are Muslims. But when your brother is gunned down by an ‘Allahu Akbar’- shouting man or when a young girl clad in hijab enters a shopping mall and detonates a bomb that consumes your bosom friend, it is difficult to expect you to start reading the Qur’an just to know whether their acts where actually sanctioned by Islam or not. You won’t have time for that. Indeed if I place myself in non-Muslim shoes, I will see that the terrorist acts of the recent past were committed by people of as varied social status as possible that are claiming to be doing it in the name of Islam. You find in the suspects the rich and the poor, the literate and the illiterate, the male and the female and young and the old – all of them claiming Islam. If the common denominator is Islam, why should I be expected to blame anything else? This is what we Muslims need to factor in when rationalizing reactions from non-Muslims.

Ordinarily, even a rudimentary knowledge of Islamic scripture, history and philosophy tells you that the most valuable of God’s creation is human life. The Prophet of Islam had never raised his weapon or instructed anyone to raise his weapon except in self-defence. The rule of law is sacrosanct – no one is allowed to take the law into his own hands. But when some Muslims lynched a non-Muslim lady in Kano for allegedly desecrating their Muslim ways, which non-Muslim would listen to you when you try to exonerate the faith? There is a popular Hausa saying – ‘Dan kuka shi ke jawowa uwarsa jifa.’ In other words, it is what we do while being Muslims (or claiming Islam) that will tell the world what Islam is all about. Considering the kinds of Muslims we are today, that is so unfair on Islam. It is grossly unfair on a religion that is founded on the principles of peace, tolerance, literacy and kindness. Who would listen to that now?

This is why I think we Muslims have a lot of work to do. And we needed to start yesterday. But before you think I am too naïve or ignorant of the roles of non-Muslim individuals and nations in generating, contributing to and sustaining the negative narrative against Islam, I assure you I read a lot about that. I know that not only Islam, but also all monotheistic religions are now fair game to the ungodly world. However, I am also aware that no false flag operation will succeed without the active participation of the target or its appendages. There is a legitimate claim that Farouk Abdulmutallab may have been a victim of a false flag operation, but clearly he actually thought he was doing something for Islam. Even his father alluded to that. Most of the suspects arrested in various churches and mosques bombings in Nigeria are Muslims. So even if we accept that there are puppeteers somewhere else, it is clear that there are some Muslims at least amongst the puppets.

No doubt Islam is facing threats both internally and externally. But it is the internal that we must focus on first so as to put our house in order. I believe if we focus all our energy in looking inwards and paying attention to what is happening in our homes and in our localities, we can nip a lot of these dangers in the bud. We must first know what our children and other dependants are being taught in Islamiyya schools. Who are their teachers? Where did the teachers study? This is because these things normally start with small bits that you may innocently ignore at your own peril. Recently, my six-year old child met me listening to a Phil Collins song called ‘Both Sides’. It is fine song that talks about the need to hear both sides of any story before you reach any conclusion. She looked at me disapprovingly and said, ‘Our teacher said music is haram (prohibited) to listen to. ‘Really?’ I asked. That was when I found myself struggling to explain concepts like context, content, school of thought, etc, to a six year old! She’s not even old enough to be instructed to pray, for God’s sake.

But when the following week this same girl came to tell me that we should not celebrate birthdays again because their teacher said it was also haram, I had to act immediately. Now if I were not close to my children, there is every chance that one teacher out there would quietly indoctrinate my children with some rigid or wrong interpretations of Islamic principles. Before you know it, your children would be looking at you as a godless individual that doesn’t deserve their time. And that would be only the beginning.

That is why I say we need to be paying close attention to what is being taught to members of our household, neighbours and relations. Going to the mosque is necessary not only to pray but also to personally assess what is being shared and contribute to it. We must pay attention to preaching during Ramadhan in public and on radios and televisions. We must do this because there are verses in the Holy Qur’an that can easily be misquoted, misinterpreted and misused by evil people to create disaffection, promote hatred and foment trouble within Islam and between Muslims and others. We all MUST endeavour to know these verses, the context in which they were revealed and the correct interpretation so we can educate our families and associates. Some of the exploitable verses include Q: 2:191, 2:216, 2:217-218, 2:244, 48:29, 47:4, 33:23, 9:5, 9:29, 9:91, 8:12-13, 5:33, 5:51, 5:54, 4:76, 4:89 and 4:95. It is our duty to ensure that nobody within the house of Islam gives it a bad name ever again. This is something that we as individuals must do to help this religion survive this internal attack.

We must disarm these agents of madness with real knowledge. By now, it must be very clear to one and all that no amount of arms and ammunition will completely defeat people that base their attacks on ideology. You must use the correct ideology to defeat them. This war must be fought from within. Knowledge would prevent them from having new recruits. Who knows, perhaps even some of them may eventually accept the correct interpretation and mend their ways.

It is a very difficult time for Muslims in Iraq and Syria, non-Muslims in Europe and America, Muslims and non-Muslims in Nigeria and Islam and other religions all over the world. May God both guide and protect us to do the right thing.

God bless.

Source? What source do you need again apart from the proper references

LAW SCHOOL VS OPEN UNIVERSITY. It should be recalled that graduates of law, from the National Open University of Nigeria had dragged Council of Legal Education to court for refusing to admit Noun law graduates into law school, while every other regulatory body had given them the nod to do so. The CLE had no defence to their unjust action. All they did was file a preliminary objection to frustrate the case. But in the latest ruling, their preliminary objection was over ruled. The trial judge, Hon. Justice B.O. Quardri, after taking submissions from all parties rejected all the preliminary objections of the CLE and dismissed them out rightly. On the contentions of the NUC and AGF, Justice Quadri equally rejected the defenses stating that albeit they both showed they are not at loggerheads with NOUN, they cannot proficiently be removed as parties in the matter since the certificates issued to the plaintiffs by NOUN, a university approved by FGN and accredited by NUC is the subject of the dispute, both are desirable and necessary parties in the suit, and therefore struck out their applications to be removed as defendants. In addition, the judge reminded the AGF that since all his three co-defendants are agents of the Federal government coupled with the CLE Act which gives him unfettered powers to give directives to CLE, he is a competent party in the suit.
Amuda-Kannike (SAN) in a meeting in his office at Port Harcourt on Tuesday with the plaintiffs and Coordinator of Law Graduates Forum (LGF), Hon. Carl Umegboro, maintained his position that action of the CLE against NOUN graduates over admission to the Nigerian Law School is ultra vires and cannot stand without legal backing stating that students that sacrificed both time and resources to obtain a degree from an accredited university cannot reasonably be frustrated knowing that advocate and solicitor are fused in Nigeria, and therefore without enrolment to the bar, the law degree may amount to nothing to the possessor who intends to practice law.
He added that if the CLE has any objections on the law programme of the University, the conventional and reasonable thing should be to treat the matter as it did earlier over the Evening Law programmes offered by some universities by liaising with the NUC for review of the accreditation and not to refuse admission to students already in the system talk less of graduates, which could be considered as tantamount to malice to the students without putting their fate into consideration.
The learned Professor vowed that in line with justice, equity and good conscience, he is determined to pursue the matter to a logical conclusion to ensure that innocent Nigerians who spent their resources to add values to their lives are not frustrated by those in authority. Recalling that these innocent victims-graduates all come from families like members of the Council, and certainly aimed at earning a living from the profession, the learned silk passionately appealed to the young lawyers to maintain decorum and remain strong as the court remains the last hope of the common man.
Hearing on the substantive matter which was earlier scheduled for 5th July, 2016 but couldn’t hold due to the public holiday to mark the Eid-Fitri, a Muslim festival is rescheduled on 23rd September , 2016.

MUSLIMS AND THE LAST 30 DAYS OF TERROR

From Orlando to Surakarta, Paris to Baghdad, and Dakha to Monguno, terror in the name of Islam has seized the world. Thousands of people are dead while many in hospitals, with cut limbs and in horrible pains, are wondering whether surviving was really worth celebrating. As more than a billion strong Muslims all over the world are confused, disturbed and frustrated by the unfolding murderous acts of some misguided Muslim individuals and groups, the rest of the world is becoming terrified of having Muslims as neighbours and friends in most parts of the world. It has to be a difficult time for all.

It is a fact that most of the dead and wounded are Muslims. But when your brother is gunned down by an ‘Allahu Akbar’- shouting man or when a young girl clad in hijab enters a shopping mall and detonates a bomb that consumes your bosom friend, it is difficult to expect you to start reading the Qur’an just to know whether their acts where actually sanctioned by Islam or not. You won’t have time for that. Indeed if I place myself in non-Muslim shoes, I will see that the terrorist acts of the recent past were committed by people of as varied social status as possible that are claiming to be doing it in the name of Islam. You find in the suspects the rich and the poor, the literate and the illiterate, the male and the female and young and the old – all of them claiming Islam. If the common denominator is Islam, why should I be expected to blame anything else? This is what we Muslims need to factor in when rationalizing reactions from non-Muslims.

Ordinarily, even a rudimentary knowledge of Islamic scripture, history and philosophy tells you that the most valuable of God’s creation is human life. The Prophet of Islam had never raised his weapon or instructed anyone to raise his weapon except in self-defence. The rule of law is sacrosanct – no one is allowed to take the law into his own hands. But when some Muslims lynched a non-Muslim lady in Kano for allegedly desecrating their Muslim ways, which non-Muslim would listen to you when you try to exonerate the faith? There is a popular Hausa saying – ‘Dan kuka shi ke jawowa uwarsa jifa.’ In other words, it is what we do while being Muslims (or claiming Islam) that will tell the world what Islam is all about. Considering the kinds of Muslims we are today, that is so unfair on Islam. It is grossly unfair on a religion that is founded on the principles of peace, tolerance, literacy and kindness. Who would listen to that now?

This is why I think we Muslims have a lot of work to do. And we needed to start yesterday. But before you think I am too naïve or ignorant of the roles of non-Muslim individuals and nations in generating, contributing to and sustaining the negative narrative against Islam, I assure you I read a lot about that. I know that not only Islam, but also all monotheistic religions are now fair game to the ungodly world. However, I am also aware that no false flag operation will succeed without the active participation of the target or its appendages. There is a legitimate claim that Farouk Abdulmutallab may have been a victim of a false flag operation, but clearly he actually thought he was doing something for Islam. Even his father alluded to that. Most of the suspects arrested in various churches and mosques bombings in Nigeria are Muslims. So even if we accept that there are puppeteers somewhere else, it is clear that there are some Muslims at least amongst the puppets.

No doubt Islam is facing threats both internally and externally. But it is the internal that we must focus on first so as to put our house in order. I believe if we focus all our energy in looking inwards and paying attention to what is happening in our homes and in our localities, we can nip a lot of these dangers in the bud. We must first know what our children and other dependants are being taught in Islamiyya schools. Who are their teachers? Where did the teachers study? This is because these things normally start with small bits that you may innocently ignore at your own peril. Recently, my six-year old child met me listening to a Phil Collins song called ‘Both Sides’. It is fine song that talks about the need to hear both sides of any story before you reach any conclusion. She looked at me disapprovingly and said, ‘Our teacher said music is haram (prohibited) to listen to. ‘Really?’ I asked. That was when I found myself struggling to explain concepts like context, content, school of thought, etc, to a six year old! She’s not even old enough to be instructed to pray, for God’s sake.

But when the following week this same girl came to tell me that we should not celebrate birthdays again because their teacher said it was also haram, I had to act immediately. Now if I were not close to my children, there is every chance that one teacher out there would quietly indoctrinate my children with some rigid or wrong interpretations of Islamic principles. Before you know it, your children would be looking at you as a godless individual that doesn’t deserve their time. And that would be only the beginning.

That is why I say we need to be paying close attention to what is being taught to members of our household, neighbours and relations. Going to the mosque is necessary not only to pray but also to personally assess what is being shared and contribute to it. We must pay attention to preaching during Ramadhan in public and on radios and televisions. We must do this because there are verses in the Holy Qur’an that can easily be misquoted, misinterpreted and misused by evil people to create disaffection, promote hatred and foment trouble within Islam and between Muslims and others. We all MUST endeavour to know these verses, the context in which they were revealed and the correct interpretation so we can educate our families and associates. Some of the exploitable verses include Q: 2:191, 2:216, 2:217-218, 2:244, 48:29, 47:4, 33:23, 9:5, 9:29, 9:91, 8:12-13, 5:33, 5:51, 5:54, 4:76, 4:89 and 4:95. It is our duty to ensure that nobody within the house of Islam gives it a bad name ever again. This is something that we as individuals must do to help this religion survive this internal attack.

We must disarm these agents of madness with real knowledge. By now, it must be very clear to one and all that no amount of arms and ammunition will completely defeat people that base their attacks on ideology. You must use the correct ideology to defeat them. This war must be fought from within. Knowledge would prevent them from having new recruits. Who knows, perhaps even some of them may eventually accept the correct interpretation and mend their ways.

It is a very difficult time for Muslims in Iraq and Syria, non-Muslims in Europe and America, Muslims and non-Muslims in Nigeria and Islam and other religions all over the world. May God both guide and protect us to do the right thing.

God bless.

Written by Auwal Sani Anwar

Hum

simplyhonest:
my own opinioin is LET THE RULE OF BE ADHERED TO when trying to protect the law....#simplyhonest

You are very correct

Certainly worthy of front page

Saraki, Ekweremadu: The limit of sentiments

Much has been said about the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki. Those sympathetic to the former Kwara State Governor believe he is being persecuted for working against his party on the leadership of the Red Chamber. But in this analysis, Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU writes that Saraki is not the first high ranking public officer nor the first chieftain of a ruling party to be tried. Salisu Buhari, the first Speaker of the House of Representatives, was tried, convicted and booted out of office and the heavens did not fall.
IS there any justification for the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, for alleged forgery? Opinion is divided on the trial of the two lawmakers. The pro-Saraki forces in the upper legislative chamber believe that their arraignment in court was in bad faith, adding that they were being victimised by President Muhammadu Buhari. They have been threatening fire and brimstone, saying that democracy is endangered.
But, many observers disagree with them. In the observers’ view, the duo of Saraki and Ekweremadu are not insulated from trial because they lack immunity. Besides, they feel that the Buhari administration, built on a clear anti-corruption mantra, is trying to lay an example.
As far as they are concerned, Saraki, Ekweremadu and others on trial are suspects, until the court decides their fate. According to them, nobody is above the law in a democracy. Thus, if the suspects are found guilty, they should face the music. If otherwise, they will be let off the hook. In this wise, the cause of democracy and due process would have been enhanced.
The trial has worsened the frosty relationship between the Senate and the Presidency. Fear has engulfed the National Assembly, with legislators agitating for constitutional amendment for personal protection through an inexplicable legislative immunity that will shield them from criminal trial like the President, his deputy, governors and their deputies.
Already, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senators’ Caucus has alerted the President to an imminent showdown by announcing the withdrawal of support for his policies and programmes. Some of their counterparts in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have also said that the executive was playing with fire.
But Senate Chief Whip, Sola Adeyeye, said the Buhari administration’s position on corruption should not be compromised. He urged the suspects to prove their innocence before an independent judiciary. Senator Adeyeye said that the APC senators will support the President’s bid to rid the nation of theft and graft.
In Kwara, the state where Saraki was governor between 2003 and 2011, APC chieftains are enraged. They poured venom on the President for allowing the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to drag Saraki to court. On the day of their arraignment, an embattled Ekweremadu decided to play the ethnic card. Decked in Igbo attire, he conveyed the impression that the Southeast, many parts of which did not vote for Buhari in last year’s election, was on trial. He forwarded letters of protest to world leaders, sub-regional and continental groups, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU), urging them to call President Buhari to order.
As usual, Saraki was combative. He is facing trial on two fronts. He is being tried at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for allegedly falsifying his asset declaration and for alleged forgery in concert with civil servants, who allegedly violated the law by amending the House Rules to suit a particular agenda. The former Kwara State governor has been crying foul, saying that the executive was victimising him because it has not overcome the shock of his emergence as the Senate President, despite its hostility to the process that paved the way for his emergence. He has attributed his ordeal to the antics of a cabal, a tiny executive within the broad executive, which has cowed others under the weight of its power and influence.
Ironically, the Senate President was accused of being a member of a cabal under the administration of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, when, following a visit to Saudi Arabia, the cabal announced that the ailing President was well.
Saraki fired salvos at the Federal Government. He said the executive has infringed on the fundamental principle of separation of powers in a presidential system. The Senate, he argued, was at liberty to conduct its affairs as an independent arm. Malami has countered him, saying that the alleged forgery constituted a serious infraction of the law.
According to observers, both Saraki and Ekweremadu may not have approached the court of public opinion with an overwhelming evidence of non-connivance. Was the offence committed or not?
Some activists have observed that it appeared that more energy is being dissipated on partisan and sentimental explanations about why they should not be tried; little legal justification for non-arraignment appeared to have been offered. It is up to them and their lawyers to inflame the legal fireworks in the court when they open their defence.
Saraki’s trial has generated heated debate and controversy, aided by an uncanny media war. But, historically, he is not the first chieftain of a ruling party and a high-ranking officer of the state to be tried.
The first epic trial in this dispensation was that of deposed House of Representatives Speaker Salisu Buhari. At the initial stage, there was uproar in the Green Chamber. Buhari was perceived as an ‘Obasanjo boy.’ The former number three citizen was popular in the House; charming and charismatic. But, the allegations of false education claims and age declaration sank his career. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the then leader of the ruling PDP, to which he belonged, could not save him. Caught in the act, he dragged his feet a little while before owing up. Buhari was consequently tried and convicted. Although he was later pardoned, he went into socio-political oblivion.
Under the Obasanjo administration, another party chieftain, Senator Adolphus Wabara was impeached as Senate President and tried for budget scandal. There were allegations of financial inducement of senators involving the former Senate President, former Education Minister, Prof. Fabian Osuji and some senators. On that note, Wabara’s senatorial career hit the rock. He was removed as the Senate President. Osuji was sacked from the Federal Executive Council (FCE). The case is still in court.
Even before Wabara, Chief Evan Ewerem was removed as Senate President for forgery and inconsistencies in the spelling of his name.
Under the Yar’Adua administration, two ministers were removed, following allegations of financial misappropriation. Former Health Minister, Prof. Adenike Grange, and the Minister of State for Health, Chief Gabriel Duku, were investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). To the consternation of officials of the anti-graft body, the two ministers were misled by civil servants against doing the right thing with unspent funds. They did not benefit personally from the transaction. But they had been removed as ministers in error and the duo were never reinstated.
Prof. Grange, an eminent scholar, accepted her fate, having been cleared. But, Duku, a politician, went to the court. The court ruled that he was not corrupt.
After a successful career spanning over three decades, former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tafa Balogun was tried for corruption. His career ended on a sour note. He was handcuffed by junior officers who dragged him on the floor. Balogun was tried and convicted. His saving grace was the plea bargaining.
The governors who served under the Obasanjo presidency were not spared. Joshua Dariye (Plateau), Dieprieye Alamieyeiseigha (Bayelsa), Rashidi Ladoja (Oyo) and Ayo Fayose (Ekiti) were not insulated from investigation by the EFCC.
Amid the controversies that engulfed their tenures, Dariye lost power for six months as a state of emergency was declared in Plateau; Alamieyeseigha and Fayose were impeached, although the court later ruled that Fayose’s removal violated the due process. Dariye, who is still facing trial and the late Alamieyeseigha belonged to the PDP. Fayose is still in the PDP. Alhaji Ladoja, whose impeachment generated controversies, challenged his removal from the lower court to the Supreme Court, which ordered his reinstatement.
Fayose’s fate under the Obasanjo and now under the Buhari administration demonstrates the limitation to the efficacy of immunity prayers.
Lawyers have referred the governor to the Supreme Court ruling that, despite the fact that a governor cannot be prosecuted, he can be investigated. Investigation is a prelude to, and indeed, the foundation of trial.
Also, under the Obasanjo administration, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was investigated by an administrative panel, which indicted him, despite his immunity. But, he took his battle to the court and won. The court ruled that he cannot be excluded from the electoral process merely because he was indicted by a non-judicial panel.
Other PDP chieftains, who were tried in the past included former Minister of Internal Affairs, Chief Sunday Afolabi, former Housing Minister, Mrs. Mobolaji Osomo, and former Senate President, Chuba Okadigbo.
The National Identity Card scandal led to the arrest, detention and trial of Afolabi, who was a PDP elder and personal friend of the former President. Mrs. Osomo was removed as minister over a housing scandal. But, investigation later showed that she did not take any action for selfish interest. Although she was cleared, she never regained her ministerial seat. Okadigbo’s undoing was the granting of anticipatory approval.
Also the first female House of Representatives Speaker, Patricia Olubunmi-Etteh, was sacked by the PDP-dominated Green Chamber for inflating the contract for the rehabilitation of her official quarters. Her removal paved the way for Dimeji Bankole.
Why should the polity be heated up because Saraki is being tried for alleged false declaration of assets and alleged falsification of Senate rules? In both cases, he has alleged persecution instead of stepping out confidently to prove his innocence in court or at the tribunal. This is certainly not how to be the leader of men and women who claim to be highly distinguished.http://thenationonlineng.net/saraki-ekweremadu-limit-sentiments/