₦airaland Forum

FXKing2012: How do you know for sure they are yahoo boys? Be careful how you judge people - pastors or not.

I'm sure you are one of those fuckxing frauds. Ole! banza! barawo!

dasparrow: Oh yes, the average Nigerian is bitter and angry. It just shows in the way Nigerians are quick to take out their anger and frustrations on one another. Why do you think I tend to keep most Nigerians at bay?

Dude, you are very wise to do that. Same goes for me.

Nigerians are an angry and bitter lot. I can't imagine the brutal treatment our theiving "poli-theif-cians" would receive in the hands of these disgruntled lot once they lay hands on them.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) on Friday in Abuja expressed worry over the lack of accountability and transparency at all levels of government in Nigeria, saying the situation is responsible for the massive poverty and insecurity in the country.

The bishops said by failing to uphold probity in the deployment of public resources, President Goodluck Jonathan, state governors and other public office holders should be regarded as human rights abusers.

This is contained in a communiqué signed by Arch-Bishop Ignatius Kaigama, President of CBCN at the end of the first plenary conference titled “Faith and the Dignity of the Human Person”.

The communique stated that the lack of transparency and accountability was responsible for the high level of poverty and security threats in the country.

It said, “To respect the dignity of a person is to concede his rights to him as fully human.

“We cannot fail to point out that the pervasive lack of accountability and transparency in governance in Nigeria has become a serious abuse of human rights.

“A government that is negligent in this regard, assaults the intelligence of the citizen; this, too, is a gross violation of human dignity.

“We call on leaders in every sphere of our society to be more accountable and more transparent in the conduct of public affairs.

“The lack of accountability, especially in the oil industry in Nigeria continues to give our country a bad name, impoverishes the citizenry, and threatens national security.

“It is a gross violation of human dignity that Nigerians, citizens of a richly endowed land, live in dehumanising poverty.

“That is why the government and the governed must renew sincere efforts to fight corruption and the theft and wastage of public funds in Nigeria,’’ it said.

It called on relevant arms of government to adequately provide for the welfare of the men and women in the police, the army and other security agencies, who risk their lives to ensure security in the country.

The communique condemned the spending of public funds on artificial family planning by government and called on leaders to be wary of adopting policies that compromised cultural and spiritual values.

“We, therefore, condemn the sad novelty of our government spending public funds on an artificial family planning programme that sacrifices morality on the altar of techniques of population control.

“We again call on our leaders and government to be wary of adopting policies and strategies, which compromise cultural and spiritual values as a solution to challenges, no matter how serious those challenges may be.”

The body of Catholic Bishops declared the Diocese of Maiduguri a “Pastoral Emergency Area”.

The conference also initiated plans and strategies to directly support and sustain pastoral life in the Diocese of Maiduguri without neglecting to help other affected areas.

CBCN called on all Catholic faithful and other men and women of goodwill to make a special commitment to this task through prayers, visits, funds and technical assistance.

The communiqué, which was cosigned by Arch-Bishop Alfred Martins, Secretary of CBCN, reiterated CBCN’s commitment to the unity of Christians and reconfirm its membership of Christian Association of Nigeria.


http://saharareporters.com/news-page/catholic-bishops-blast-jonathan-governors-over-massive-corruption-rights-abuses-%E2%80%93-premium-

Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; his Anambra counterpart, Mr. Peter Obi; and a former Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Rashidti Ladoja, may soon defect to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

Competent sources at the national headquarters of the party said on Friday that the party had concluded arrangements to have these men in its fold.

Mimiko was a member of the PDP before he defected to the Labour Party in 2006 to contest the governorship election in his state.

He had wanted to contest the election under the umbrella of the PDP but then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo insisted that Dr. Olusegun Agagu would run for a second term.

The insistence of Obasanjo made Mimiko to resign his ministerial position and defect to the LP.

Though the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Agagu as the winner of the election, the Court of Appeal sitting in Benin later reversed the decision and proclaimed Mimiko the authentic winner.

Mimiko, who also defeated other governorship candidates, including that of the PDP, Chief Olusola Oke and that of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, in the 2012 governorship election, will be sworn in on Sunday to begin his second term in office.

A member of the National Working Committee of the PDP, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent in Abuja on Friday, said discussions had been concluded with Mimiko on his return to the party.

Mimiko, he said, would be made the leader of the ruling party in the South-West, with the mandate to reconcile aggrieved members of party in the zone.

Not only that, he said the governor, who after defection, would be the only governor of the PDP in the entire six states in the zone, will also be saddled with the responsibility of mobilising for the party in the zone.

The source said, “Mimiko is coming to the PDP. That is certain. Though we have not agreed on any date for his official defection, I can tell you authoritatively that we have concluded agreements on this.

“His coming would also help us in the South-West because of the coming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states. We need to win at least one of the two states.

“Mimiko is going to be the leader of the party in the zone, because right now, the party is in disarray due to a lot of factions and court cases arising from the zonal congress of the party, which was nullified by the court.”

The plan to have Mimiko back in the PDP was said to have been hatched by Chief Ebenezer Babatope and Senator Bode Olajumoke.

The two men were said to have convinced President Goodluck Jonathan on the need for Mimiko to return to the party.

If he returns, he may do so with members of the LP in both the National Assembly and the Ondo State House of Assembly.

However, Mimiko and Obi said they had no plans to dump their respective platforms for the PDP.

Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, said, “There is no iota of truth in the story. It was planted by the opposition to discredit our inauguration.

“We are focused on our inauguration and we will not give in to any form of distraction from anybody or group seeking cheap political relevance.”

Chief Press Secretary to the Anambra governor, Mr. Mike Udah, said, “Governor Obi is sitting pretty in APGA. He is comfortable in the party.

“If he was moving out of APGA, he would not have taken steps to defend APGA, as he has been doing since he returned from his foreign trip, and ensuring that the party’s National Working Committee is reconstituted.”

http://www.punchng.com/news/mimiko-ladoja-obi-may-defect-to-pdp/

"I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things." ~ Isaiah 45:7 KJV

New Testament bible passages are NOT regarded as Scriptures. The Torah (commonly known as Old Testament) is what is called Scriptures. Study the Bible and you will find each time Jesus and the apostles referred to the Scriptures, it was always the Torah they referred to.

So the topic should be: "How well do you know your Bible Passages?"

By Chuks Okocha

In an apparent deference that campaigns for the 2015 election should be kept in abeyance till further notice, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Thursday kicked off a subtle support for the second term for President Goodluck Jonathan with a planned mobilization of five million women.

This is coming as the wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan defended her pet protect, ‘the First Ladies Mission’, stating it was aimed at improving the status of Nigerian women and provide employment opportunities for Nigerians.

Speaking at the launching of an almanac by the PDP highlighting PDP women in politics, the party’s national women leader, Kema Chikwe said: “We are even confident that when President Goodluck Jonathan returns in 2015 women would be talking about 50 percent no longer 35 percent. As we give unequivocal, undiluted, unreserved and unlimited support and as we march with him to 2015, PDP women will reach the Promise Land”.

More to follow...

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/2015-pdp-kicks-off-jonathan-s-second-term-with-mobilization-of-women/140214/

After years of pussyfooting, the Federal Government is finally ready to hand over the management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to a Canadian power firm, Manitoba Hydro Power (MHI), next week.

The handing over of TCN, a critical component of the power reform and privatisation programme, is coming seven months into the $23.7 million three-year management contract it signed with the foreign firm last July.

Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, said Tuesday in Abuja at the ongoing 13th edition of the Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG-13) conference that the government was now ready to hand over to Manitoba, the required and controversial “schedule of delegated authority” that would enable it to effectively take control of TCN by next week.

Nebo, who made a presentation on the progress of government’s reform exercise in the power sector, also explained that workers of successor companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) who had sought for the payment of their severance benefits in the wake of the privatisation of PHCN would begin to get their severance pay cheques next week.

He said the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) would Thursday begin to sign all the necessary documents with preferred bidders for power distribution companies (discos) in anticipation of their imminent takeover of affairs at successor PHCN companies.

The industry documents to be signed by the expected owners of PHCN successor companies include the vesting contract, gas sales agreement, power purchase agreement, transmission agreement and share transfer agreement.

Nebo said: “The process of privatisation is heading towards its completion and awaiting payment. By Thursday (tomorrow), many of the preferred bidders will sign-on and will be required to pay the first tranche of the money that they have been asked to pay so that eventually they will take over these companies.

“I can also assure you that within the next week, Manitoba Hydro will get their schedule of delegated authority and we are also making arrangement to pay off PHCN workers but not everybody will be paid at the same time; we will make the payments in batches.”

The government had in July 2012 after a procurement process that was conducted by the BPE, signed a three-year management contract with Manitoba.

The $23.7 million contract was supposed to reposition TCN into a technically, financially efficient and stable transmission company in anticipation of its expected roles in Nigeria’s emerging power sector.

The contract had however remained dormant in the past seven months following the seeming reluctance of the government to grant Manitoba control of proceedings at TCN through “a schedule of delegated authority” which would contain all the major responsibilities of Manitoba.

Manitoba is in accordance with the contract expected to take up staffing and management of key departments of TCN such as the Systems Operations (SO), Transmission Service Provider (TSP), National Control Centre (NCC) Osogbo and Market Operations (MO), which was reported to have been a controversial aspect of the contract.

The controversy over the management contract had forced President Goodluck Jonathan to cancel it last November.

Manitoba had signed the management contract with the BPE, following a long drawn out process that lasted more than five years, in which the Canadian firm and Power Grid of India had their technical and financial proposals evaluated to determine which of the companies would be selected as management contractor.

The selection process for a management contractor was started under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2007, but was stalled by his successor, the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who rolled back the power sector reform and privatisation programme.

However, when Jonathan took over in 2010 and launched the Power Sector Road Map that same year, the Federal Government directed the BPE to continue with the process from where it had been stopped, rather than re-advertising for prospective companies to express interest all over.

The decision was because the government was eager to jump-start the power privatisation process without the bureaucratic red tape.

But presidency sources had told THISDAY last November that the president based his decision to cancel the contract on a memo sent by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), which for several weeks, had been pushing for its cancellation on the premise that it did not pass through due process as provided under the Public Procurement Act.

However, following concern raised by stakeholders over the surreptitious cancellation of the contract, Jonathan backed down.

It was learnt that the Ministry of Power was not notified on the cancellation of the contract, but rather, its officials were made to understand that the president had ordered a review of the contract.

An official of the power ministry had told THISDAY, which exclusively reported the cancellation of the contract last November, that the management contract might not have been cancelled, adding that the president had decided that the contract be reviewed by a team of experts.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/finally-fg-ready-to-hand-over-tcn-to-manitoba/140066/

Instead of going to European and other foreign countries to seek for help on how to tackle crude oil theft, the Goodluck Jonathan administration should move against “principalities and powers in high places,” who are the sponsors of crude oil theft, the Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, said in Abuja on Wednesday.

Sunmonu, who spoke at the ongoing Nigeria Oil and Gas 2013 Exhibition and Conference, compared the stolen crude deal to the drug business with couriers, small dealers and sponsors.

He said though it was commendable for the government to take the initiative of discussing with foreign countries suspected to hold the proceeds from the sale of stolen crude oil, the problem could easily be solved if the sponsors were found out and dealt with.

Sunmonu said like the drug business all over the world, criminals who sabotaged crude oil pipelines in the Niger Delta were only working for bigger entities that should be found out and dealt with.

“The truth is that the small criminals in the creeks of Niger Delta bursting pipelines and stealing crude oil are not working for themselves. Like the drug cartels around the world, they are being sponsored by big principalities and powers in high places, which the government should go against if the fight against crude oil theft is to be won,” he said.

The Shell boss said efforts should be made by all stakeholders to tackle the problem of poverty among the people, adding that if this was taken care of, the problem would have been half solved, as the perpetrators would not have any reason to allow themselves to be used to steal the country’s commonwealth.

Sunmonu said Shell and other International Oil Companies operating in Nigeria have had their pipelines sabotaged by crude oil thieves on several occasions.

The oil companies have privately and publicly blamed the government for its failure to provide security for the pipelines despite the fact that they pay all the charges and taxes the government asks of them.

He also said the setback in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill was one of the several difficulties hindering Shell’s planned investment of about $30bn in two offshore deepwater projects in the country.

The Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Abiye Membere, similarly said the country’s total crude loss to bunkering activities had dropped from 150,000 barrels per day to 80,000bpd towards the end of 2012.

Membere said the government’s security measures to curtail the menace of oil theft in the country had so far yielded results and that the volume of crude stolen from the country had now dropped from 150,000bpd to 80,000bpd as of the end of last year.

http://www.punchng.com/news/powerful-nigerians-behind-oil-theft-shell/

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday approved the sum of N384bn for the payment of severance benefits to employees of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria who will be disengaged from the services of the company.

This was in fulfilment of the agreement reached between the labour unions in the power sector and the Federal Government during a recent peace talk brokered by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim.

Controversies about the payment of the severance package, the amount to be paid and the number of beneficiaries have been core issues hindering the privatisation of power firms in the country.

About 50,000 PHCN workers and 4,000 whose employment has not been regularised will be paid off from the amount to pave the way for the full privatisation of the successor companies of PHCN.

The implication of this is that the workers that will be absorbed by the new owners of the successor companies will operate under new conditions of service in line with agreement with Labour.

The ministers of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu; and Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, disclosed the President’s approval to State House correspondents in Abuja on Wednesday.

Wogu said the Federal Government would spend N384bn on the severance package, which payment will start on Thursday (today).

The minister said the payment would finally put an end to labour issues in the power sector.

He said, “I want to inform you that the agreed benefits accruing to the staff of PHCN in the last negotiation between government and the labour unions have been approved by President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Payment of the agreed sum will commence immediately and that brings to an end the labour issues relating to the non-payment of benefits.

“So, we enjoin labour unions in the power sector to work closely with the Ministry of Power in the payment of these benefits as agreed. The process will commence tomorrow (today) and I want to assure them that this brings to an end the labour issues in the sector.

“This payment is only for PHCN staff and in determining who should benefit, labour and government conducted a biometric exercise. The number of people benefiting is clearly defined by this agreement.

“The total package is approximately N384bn in full payment of all outstanding benefits that we agreed upon. It will be done within the best principle of transparency and accountability.”

Nebo expressed the hope that the approval of the payment would further encourage the PHCN workers to continue to serve patriotically and ensure that no hitches were recorded in government’s efforts to realise its power sector roadmap.

He said, “We are very grateful to the staff of PHCN for all that they have done to make sure that power is available all over the country. We do hope that they will continue to serve patriotically to ensure that no hitches are put in place in the realisation of the entire power sector roadmap.

“We want to make sure that eventually, Nigerians get uninterrupted power supply and that is exactly what the roadmap for the power sector addresses.”

http://www.punchng.com/news/jonathan-approves-n384bn-severance-package-for-phcn-workers/

Image123: i knew you couldn't take the truth, you're all worked up and showing forth your depraved uncivilized hell bound nature. Where are your fellows when you need them? Wretched sinner like you, you need a dip in the blood of God Jesus.

Dude, take a chill pill and relax. Don't burst an artery because of my non-chalance to your sick postulations. I'm as cool as ice here. It's you who's having headches for nothing. What is the truth? Oh, the truth is non-Christians will eternally burn in a furnace that's located in a metaphysical dimension Do yourself a favour and be cured of your insanity and blood lust.

Hahahahahahaha... Crazy dude claims an invisible God has blood flowing in his veins.

Image123: wow you're infuriated. You don't want to go to hell? I'm not in the position to put you there, only two persons are. You and God. God Jesus will put you in hell fire except you repent. You should be worried about yourself, not about muslins and hindis.

Your m.a.s.t.u.r.b.a.t.o.r.y obsession with sniffing burning flesh has turned you to a certified slowpoke. See how confused you are. One minute it's Jesus who will put me in hell, the next minute it's God whose surname is Jesus that will put me in your imaginary furnace. Hahahahahahaha! Apply to be put in a mental asylum and send me the bills. I'm happy to pay for your treatment. Make sure you take your drugs daily, ok?

Image123: I've only told you the truth that many other of your Christian friends would not sincerely tell you because of political correctness. i don't know you and I'm not happier that you're going to hell. You think I'd be a true Christian if i didn't tell you where you were headed? The blame is on you and your parents.

What a load of bollocks!!! How do you know I'm going to hell? Who are you to decide that? Who goes to hell? What you are saying is every non-Christian is a candidate of hell. What a moronic assumption. This is the fallacy that fuels religious intolerance.

Wait a minute! Every Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Scientologist, Sikh, Jew, Mormon, Taoist, Rastafarian, e.t.c will go to your imaginary hell no matter how good they lived their lives just because they are not Christians Can you hear your brain ticking? You don't even know your Bible. I will sit you down and educate you properly that is if you not so busy sticking your head in your a55 all the time.

onitshaigbo: I am aware of similarities between Judaism/Christianity and their contemporary religions, and the possible influences from them. I know about Ahura Mazda, but in Zoroastrianism there is also an evil god. I've also heard about the myth of Mithra during Christ's life time that had similar themes of virgin birth, resurrection, etc. Yes, they may raise a lot of doubt in people, but that's besides the point. How?

I don't think the Bible is to be taken literally. It's not a history book. It's not a science book. It's not a fortune teller's tool. It's instructions on how to live life. Of all the ones that claim to be such instructions, the Bible has worked the best over the ages.

Regarding Christianity dying out, well I believe the present trend in the west of secularization is just a way of weeding out the nominal Christians who claim to believe but have no faith. I believe that Christians have always formed a minority in their population, even when most people claimed to be Christians on paper. There will always be a vanguard of believers who stand firm when others submit to to disbelief.

I'm glad you agree religions more ancient than Judaism and Christianity has influenced both. At least Zoroastrianism honestly admits to an evil god while most Christians want to absolve your Jewish God from evil. What does the Bible say about this?

"I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things." Isaiah 45:7 KJV

When you say the Bible is not a history book you invariably call the Jews liars and in doing so, offend a race who have the history of their relationship with a deity documented in the Torah. As it stands, the Bible is a history book. It clearly documents the genealogy of different Jewish families and tells their story.

My African ancestors have proverbs and sayings on how best to live life. I see nothing wrong with that. I'm not claiming it's the best and I think you are taking it a bit too far in saying the Bible contains the best instructions on how to live life. What evidence do you have to prove this?

Image123: The quotations show you that Jesus will put you in hell, you'll wish you were never born. You must be deluded to assume every Christian wants to convert you. Heaven is not by force, and like Oyedepo told your sibling, "you are free to go to hell".

Hahahahahahahahaha...Someone is getting butt-hurt here! You will eternally wait in frustration for Jesus to put me in hell. He will do no such thing. If you want to have a high blood pressure or a massive heart attack because of this, then please yourself. See your life? Your only motivation for being a so-called Christian is to avoid hell. You deceive yourself daily thinking you worship your Jewish God out of love but we all know it's a BIG lie. Your main reason for being a religious nut is to avoid hell. Hahahahahahahahaahahaha...

Your type don't surprise me anymore. Brainless, religious bigot. So your joy is to hear the screams of non-Christians in an imaginary burning hell. That's all you live for. Dude, get a life and please get an education. Don't be a waste of s.e.m.e.n!

albacete: Last to comment.

Thread closed!

Sorry to burst your bubble.

A High Court in Port Harcourt has ordered the Federal Government to pay N37.6bn as compensation to victims of the military invasion of Odi community in Bayelsa State.

The court ordered that a special damage of N17.6bn and a general damage of N20bn be paid to the community as compensation.

It also issued a permanent injunction restraining the respondents and their agents from attacking Odi again.

Soldiers had on November 20, 1999, invaded Odi community after 12 policemen were killed by a group of militants within the area.

But the people of the area in Bayelsa State had dragged the Federal Government to court, demanding N20bn as damages for gross violation of the their rights.

Ruling on the matter on Tuesday in a class suit No.FHC/PH/CP/11/2000 filed by Professor Kobina Keme-Ebi Imananagha, Chief Ndu Gwagha, Chief Shadrack Agadah, Mr. Idoni Ingezi and Mr. Nwaka Echomgbe, the presiding judge, Justice Lambo Akambi, also ordered that the payment be made within the next 21 days.

Akanbi described the attack on the people of Odi as genocidal, reckless, brutish and a gross violation of the rights of the victims to life and to ownership property.

Counsel for the plaintiffs, Lucius Nwosu (SAN), Lawal Rabana (SAN) and Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), prayed the court to affirm that the invasion of Odi by soldiers and the attack on innocent indigenes of the community was a gross violation of the people’s fundamental human rights to life, dignity and personal liberty.

The counsel for the Minister of Defence and a director in the ministry, Mallam Jimoh Adamu, had earlier told the court that he had filed new application seeking for an extension of time, arguing that his principal was not served any of the court processes.

The presiding judge, however, dismissed the application, after going through the courts records and found out that the Attorney General of the Federation was served the court processes.

Justice Akanbi described the claim by counsel for President Goodluck Jonathan that troops were deployed in Odi in November 20, 1999 to flush out secessionist militants who had killed seven policemen as false.

According to him, such a claim contravenes the President’s recent statement on Nigerian Television Authority that no militant was killed in Odi during the military incursion, but innocent indigenes of the community.

Justice Akanbi pointed out that Jonathan’s declaration on the matter was an acknowledgement of the enthronement of the rule of law as opposed to the enthronement of guns.

According to him, the president’s statement is a proof to the international community that Nigeria is now governed by those who respect the law.

Describing the destruction of Odi as comprehensive and total, Akanbi noted that nothing was spared by the marauding soldiers.

He added that the Federal Government brazenly violated the fundamental human rights of the victims to movement, life and to own property and live peacefully in their ancestral home.

Nwosu, who is the lead counsel for the plaintiffs, hailed the judge for his courage towards putting an end to executive recklessness in the society.

Also, the counsel for the President and Chief of Defense Staff, Akolika Awa Esq, commended the stance of the presiding judge despite the outcome of the case.

http://www.punchng.com/news/fg-to-pay-n37bn-compensation-for-odis-invasion/

The Presidency, on Tuesday, challenged those who claimed that President Goodluck Jonathan signed an agreement to spend one term, to produce the document.

The Senior Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Mr. Ahmed Gulak, said this on an Africa Independent Television programme, Focus Nigeria, monitored in Abuja.

He said that nobody could intimidate the President away from the 2015 presidential race.

The Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, had on Liberty FM, Kaduna, on Saturday claimed that Jonathan signed an agreement with the Peoples Democratic Party’s governors not to seek re-election in 2015.

Gulak, had in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, said the President did not sign such an agreement.

Reiterating his earlier statement, the presidential adviser said, “I’m telling you without any iota of doubt and with all sense of responsibility that there has never been any agreement or pact signed by the President that he is going to run for only one term. He has never told me about it and I have never heard about it. The governors said they have the agreement, let them bring it. I know as of fact that there is no such agreement.”

He said that Aliyu’s statement was borne out of his ambition in 2015.

Gulak added, “We are all Nigerians and if you want to pursue your own ambition, like I have always said, you have the right. You have the right to pursue your ambition to be the President of Nigeria. But you don’t have to concoct stories to justify your ambition.

“President Jonathan never signed such a pact, but only gave Nigerians the general guarantee of one-man, one- vote and that no one has the political strength to intimidate the President to run away from his constitutional right of contesting the next elections, should he decide to do so.”

He said he hoped that a forged document indicating that Jonathan agreed to spend one term would not be produced.

The presidential adviser also dismissed reports that there was a crisis between Jonathan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He said that the sack of some Peoples Democratic Party officials on Friday was not targeted at Obasanjo.

According to him, the party is only abiding by a court judgment.

He said, “Somebody took the party to court challenging the emergence of our officers from the South-West. Unless and until the judgment is upturned, it remains valid.

“If the PDP fails to abide by the judgment, the same Nigerians will accuse the party of being lawless.”

Meanwhile, investigations on Tuesday showed how the purported single-term of four years accord the President had with the PDP governors was reached.

It was learnt that the four-year deal was backed by the leadership of the party on August 13, 2010 at the meeting of the National Executive Committee, which was held at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.

The PUNCH learnt that the decision to grant Jonathan one more term then was predicated on the tension created in the party after the death of former President Umaru Yar’Adua.

Governors and some prominent leaders from the north were then insisting that the north must be allowed to complete its eight-year rule like Obasanjo did.

In granting the President four more years, the party said this would enable him to complete the joint ticket he had with the late President as his deputy.

The then National Publicity Secretary of the party, Prof. Rufai Alkali, who announced the party’s decision after the NEC meeting, however, said other aspirants would not be disallowed from contesting with the President for the party’s sole ticket.

Alkali had said, “NEC took time to review the origin and essence of the zoning principle as enshrined in the PDP Constitution. In view of historical antecedents and contemporary realities and in order to ensure justice, equity and fairness, NEC unanimously endorsed the retention of the zoning principle in the PDP Constitution.

“NEC also observed that President Goodluck Jonathan is serving out the first four year term of the joint ticket with the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and therefore has the right to contest the remaining four-year term of their joint ticket in 2011.

“NEC however resolved that this will not of course exclude any other Nigerian from any part of the country from contesting the Presidential primaries for the 2011 general elections.”

The NEC was persuaded by the former chairman of the party, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, who canvassed for the understanding of the party to allow the President run for election.

The motion for the adoption of the chairman’s speech in which he marshalled his reason, was moved by the Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, and seconded by the former chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih.

Before NEC passed the resolution, a former Governor of old Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, had also interceded for the President.

The former governor was said to have argued that that he was enlisted in the army based on zoning.

He was also said to have informed his audience that the killing of General Murtala Muhammed in the 1975 coup led to the emergence of General Olusegun Obasanjo as the Head of State.

This action, he said, led to the promotion of Lt. Col. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua to the rank of a Major-General, which enabled him to become the number two citizen.

This argument was said to have swayed the NEC members who then agreed that Jonathan should be allowed to contest in 2011.

Before the closed-door meeting, Nwodo had argued that since both the late President and Jonathan came into power with a joint ticket, he said it was better for the party to allow Jonathan carry on with the ticket in the absence of Yar’Adua.

He had also cited the case of Adamawa State where the former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar was picked as the running mate to Obasanjo; he forfeited his position as the governor-elect to his then running mate, Boni Haruna.

He said that when Haruna completed the tenure of Atiku in 2003, he also contested the governorship election again in 2007 without the party complaining.

Nwodo said that despite the numerous court cases by his traducers, Haruna came out of these cases triumphantly.

However, none of the members of the current NWC was ready to speak on the matter.

Investigations by our correspondents indicated that the members considered it as too delicate to dabble in, especially when the rumblings in the party were already causing problem among its members.

A member of the NWC, who spoke with one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity, said the President was aware that there was a pact between him and the party in 2010.

“There is no way the President would have kept quiet over such a sensitive issue if he had no such pact with the governors,” the member said.


http://www.punchng.com/news/bring-out-single-term-pact-presidency-dares-govs/

onitshaigbo: Actually, I have no intention of trying to convert you. But if it makes you feel better that I was trying to do so, well go ahead and believe that.

You seem to be obsessed by the fact that the Jews are in the limelight because of the Bible. I don't see that as a problem as you do. Still, although it could be said that salvation comes from the Jews, it doesn't depend on them. What they do is independent of our relationship with God. You see the subtlety here?

It's true that every culture has its spiritual myths. But few believe in a supreme and benevolent god. None believes that there is only one God, who loves the world and is omnipotent. There is no religious tradition that instills a sense of purpose, good morals and humane treatment of others like that of the Judeo-Christian tradition. To me personally, Christian theology is also very poetic, and helps me make sense of everything.

I don't know your experiences, obviously. And I shouldn't blame you for your disbelief.

I think everyone worships God a little differently, in his unique way, and only that way is genuine. The same could be said about our larger black African community. I think that the background of black African Christians changes our understanding and practice of Christianity. Diversity in the practice of religion isn't a hole in our belief system. I believe that diversity is more beautiful than homogeneity, than a monotonous mush. I truly believe that Christianity has made Africa a better place, and we need to continue to replace our old superstitions with more humane practices. At the same time, I understand that some of our traditional practices and value must be maintained, if they do not contradict with us placing God in the center of our lives.

Your err greatly in the bold statement above. You will do well to research the origin and evolution of your Judeo-Christian belief. Let me give you an example. Zoroastrianism has greatly influenced Judaism, Gnosticism in Christianity and Islam. This is a sophisticated religion that existed way before any of these religions. Zoroastrians believe that there is one universal and transcendent God, Ahura Mazda. He is said to be the one uncreated Creator to whom all worship is ultimately directed. If you study more about Zoroastrianism, you will find out it is all you think Christianity promotes and many more. And this is just one out of so many examples.

What you call Christianity has evolved over the centuries and has strayed from it's original format and structure. Ever heard of the sect called the Way?
Paul the Apostle, who wrote most the epistles in the New Testament, openly declared he was a follower of this sect(Acts 24:14). So where did Christianity originate from? You have to seriously consider this and many issues. Christianity is like a giant star that is slowly dying out. It's not too long now before it becomes irrelevant and become replaced by another religious hype.

Image123: See yourself, you do not know Jesus. Read up.
Mat 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Luk 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Luk 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
Luk 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luk 13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
Luk 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luk 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
Mat 24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

All these bible quotations just to gloat over me while you salivate in your blood lust. Shame on you! If this is how you think you can convert me, you have failed massively. Jesus is not proud of you. You can hang your head in shame.
Go and face the Muslims let them tell you what will happen to your sorry Christian soul when you face Allah on Judgement Day.

onitshaigbo: The Bible may be told from the Jews' perspective but it does not put them into a good light. They have continuously rebelled against God's Laws and because of that, have been punished repeatedly for it.

Every race has its purpose which God has planned. If the Jews' purpose was to spread knowledge of God to the world, so be it. I don't find it offensive. I'm sure we blacks have a unique purpose that no other group can fulfill, just like every other race.

Creation isn't about homogeneity. If all groups of people have the same attributes and purpose and history, the world wouldn't be as interesting. Instead, each plays a crucial role in the world that no other group can replace.

Salvation does not depend on the Jews. Sure Jesus, as a Jew, preached almost exclusively to the people of Israel, but they ignored Him, and were slaughtered and exiled less than a century after His death. The Jews suffered their share as the chosen people, but they managed to survive in exile because they did not completely forsake God and kept their identity. We should learn how to survive with adversity from the Jews.

Of course, you may say that they have their religion and scriptures that has them as central figures and we as blacks use scriptures filled with foreigners. I think Christianity practiced by Africans is different than that practiced by oyinbos.

Well, the Bible is written to teach each and every human being as if it were written specifically for you. In fact, the Bible says that the universe was created specifically for you (that's you as in nep2ra). We all have a purpose to fulfill, and it's our duty to retain our African identity so that we could fulfill it.

I see your dogged determination in trying to convert me. Good job there but I will pass on this one. Let's start from the bolded. The Bible indeed does say that salvation is from the Jews.

You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. John 4:22 NIV

This is Jesus emphatically saying salvation is from the Jews. So where are you getting your argument from?

Your conviction stems from a book written by the Jews and you hold this as absolute Truth for the entire human race. This is where the problem lies. There are more sophisticated religions in the world with more elaborate story lines that could appeal to any belief system. The Jews do not have a monopoly of the knowledge of God (or the concept of God). Over the centuries, every race claimed a knowledge of the Supernatural or God. So, who are you or any of your fellow adherents to say your faith is far superior?

If Christianity as practised by Africans is way different from their Western counterparts, isn't that an indication of a questionable holes in a belief system shared by both parties?

onitshaigbo: God does not have a race! He is not human, he is spiritual. We cannot quantify him in any physical sense, so race is totally irrelevant. But God is the God of all creation, all peoples.

The Jews are a chosen nation of God, but they have repeatedly forsaken him and his prophets. But God did not forsake them or the non-Jews. And that is why Jesus came, to not only save Israel, which turned their backs to Him, but also to save the entire mankind. The old testament was written from a Jewish perspective, no doubt about that, but so what? Why do you hate the Jews? Are they not human beings? Maybe you feel so inferior to them that you hate everything that has to do about them.

You contradict yourself in this one. God does not have a race. Granted, lets say I agree but in the next breath you say Jews are his favourites. Don't you see there's a big conspiracy by the Jews to pull a wool over your eyes? The Jews who wrote the Bible tell you they are God's chosen people and you swallow it hook, line and sinker. Well, there are books elsewhere that say God favours one race over the other and if anybody chooses to believe that, who are you to argue with them? So, the whole world's salvation is dependent on one race? Do you know how offensive that sounds? No surprise coming there seeing the hatred between Jews and Arabs.

I do not hate Jews. I don't know how you came to that conclusion.

Image123: you don't know Jesus. He's going to put you in hell fire if you do not repent. It would be better you were never born.

Hahahahahahahahahaha...Ouch! I touched a nerve. That must hurt.

Jesus WILL NOT put me in hell. He's not as vindictive and petty as you are. Which hell are you talking about? The one your strange religion invented or the one in your nightmares? Repent exactly of what? Repent from not believing the poo you believe and you think that is enough for Jesus to put me in hell. You see your life?

onitshaigbo: It is you who uses ad hominem attacks and ignores what I have to say when you can't counter my points. So, it baffles me as to how you can ask if I'm debating with reason.

You imply that believing in the God of the Bible is a sign of an inferiority complex. Why are you interpreting the Bible from the Jewish point of view? You know the Christian interpretation of the Bible with respect to the Jews does not in anyway render non-Jews or Africans inferior. The fact that you would rather see it from the Jewish point of view exposes your own inferiority complex, not mine.

Who is the God of the Bible? What race did this God identify with? Study the Bible from the beginning to the end and you find out it's a story from a Jewish perspective.

Logicboy03: Jesus himself said that he came for the lost sheep of isreal. He didnt even want to heal the Canaanite woman because she wasnt an isrealite!


You are a Jewish slave. You believe that the first people on earth have hebrew names (Adam and Eve) and you are their descenedant

Go and read about Nigerian history, we have a history older than hebrew itself.

This is someone who has a brain and uses it! Cheers bruv!

Miss Ope: So u actually believe God ask dem to do those things.....i see u're beginning to believe in God subconsciously...Hurray.

Let me answer u correctly...God was trying to tempt Abram.... We all know @ d end ABRAM didnt kill Issac..
JEPHTAH.... CONFESSED WITH HIS MOUTH DAT HE'LL DO...SO he DID IT @ WILL...
Yes...David, samson had to fight and kill under God's authority cos @ dat time the people were rebellious just like d majority of u atheist....
But dat was in d past...,things av changed ..new rules av being made...
Jesus has payed the price.......and the rest is history......hope u understand.

This God stopped Abraham from killing Isaac but failed to stop Jephtah from brutally killing his daughter with a sword

Why are you Africans so fixated with a Jewish God who clearly has no plans for your race? He is the God of the Jews! Go and find the God of the Africans and leave this God alone!

Image123: is he? Do you know what He would do and what He would not? If yes, on what base?

I don't see what point you are trying to make. Jesus would be disappointed with your behaviour on this forum. Let me use someone closer to home. Paul the Apostle would be highly disappointed if he heard you arguing about your faith this way. Study the epistles of Apostle Paul and see how fine arguments are passed across with such intellectual dexterity. You on the other a hand, a self-professed Christian... SMH

onitshaigbo: Instead of debating with reason, you resort to childish insults. Tell me what doesn't make sense here? Or are you just another self-hating African?

Ask yourself this sincere question; does it sound like you are debating with reason?

To answer your question, I'm not a self-hating African. Do I look like an inferiority complexed African who is fixated on some Jewish God?

Image123: oh you know Jesus?

Isn't Jesus as popular as Buddha, Zoroaster, Mohammed, Confucius, Lao Tzu, e.tc

onitshaigbo: I happen to deal with Chinese merchants on a regular basis here. I guess you don't mind being mistreated and exploited by your Chinese boss, you self-hating scum. Let's talk about facts and perceptions, despite shiny skyscrapers and modern cities you can find on the internet about China, the fact is that the income is very unequally distributed (more so than Nigeria! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GINI_retouched_legend.gif), so that only a tiny aristocratic minority have the privilege of enjoying them. The average peasant worker in China is no better off than the average Nigerian. Compared with China, Nigeria has much more social mobility. Nigeria is the land of opportunity even despite our corrupt government.

If only we have regular power supply, Nigeria would be a much better place to live. And with God's grace we are getting it. Power has improved in the past few years.

Yet you haven't explained the correlation between Nigeria's religiosity and the high rate of corruption and wickedness.