₦airaland Forum

SOURCE>>>>http://www.idomavoice.com/2018/06/abujas-monuments-of-faith-and-the-dunamis-phenomenon.html

By Leke Beecroft

“Then answered I them and said unto them, “The God of heaven, He will prosper us. Therefore we His servants will arise and build; but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial in Jerusalem.”
Nehemiah 2:20

Just like plans to move the Israeli Capital from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Nigeria joined the rank of nations that relocated their capitals when she moved her capital city from Lagos to Abuja. The move initiated in 1975 was announced by the Nigerian Head of State on February 3 1976 at a time when he coincidentally was in a running battle with the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa of Church of God Mission International (CGMI). The newly built CGMI Faith Miracle Centre auditorium opposite the airport in Benin was to be bulldozed after a Federal Military Government Decree declared it ‘illegally situated’ and Idahosa had declared that the building will not go down. A few days afterwards, the Head of State was felled by coupists. The CGMI Auditorium remained standing (till date) while the plans to move to Abuja continued. Subsequent governments contributed their quota to the relocation and on December 12 1991, the seat of Power finally moved and there began a massive exodus to the ‘New Jerusalem’.

As the populace moved to Abuja, the Gospel of Christ also made its way there and facilities like Nicon Noga Hilton Hotel, Agura Hotel, Sheraton Hotel and Towers and the Abuja Township Stadium among several others were on hand to meet the needs of various Christian groups, Fellowships and Churches at a cost. The competition for the use of, as well as the cost of rented facilities soon brought the need for these establishments to own facilities especially in the Area 1 (Old Federal Secretariat) section mapped out for use by Churches. The Lutheran Church, The Apostolic Church, Anglican Church and COCIN (Church of Christ in Nations) were allotted spaces. Also, CGMI, The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Living Faith Church (LFC) and Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC) were among the first Pentecostal ministries to be allotted spaces. Most of the ‘mainline’ churches had gotten allocations in the central part of the City and the Pentecostals seemed bound to play on the fringes.

The sight of the Ecumenical Church under construction since 1989 became an embarrassment by the late 90s to Christendom in Nigeria. Here was the Capital City developing faster than any other city on the African continent yet hotels were regularly filled with worshippers while this Temple remained desolate. Strong in my memory with much nostalgia are several spiritually charged events attended at the Sheraton Conference Hall while few metres away at Papillon, Luigi and Mirabelle restaurant entrances, women of easy virtue laid in wait. In the meantime however, Idahosa had taken up the gauntlet and by 1996, he had not only grown a bishopric of his ministry but in addition built a Word of Faith (Secondary) School whose foundation was laid on 5th December 1996 with the Minister of the FCT present. The School is collocated with the Church at Area 1, Abuja. Bishop Oyedepo followed suit in the steps of his mentor and a few metres across the road from CGMI, LFC built a 2000 capacity auditorium at about the same time. Archbishop John Praise of the Dominion Chapel International Churches located their headquarters a short distance from LFC. Having built a large structure down the road (Now Provincial Headquarters, FCT Province 4), the RCCG in her characteristic manner had begun to sprinkle hundreds of parishes around the nooks and crannies of the Capital including many of the upper-class hotels and event centres. This was sequel to the Lekki ’98 event that announced the then 46 year old Church to the global stage.

Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC) did not appear suddenly. In May 1996, Dr. Paul Enenche, a young medical doctor along with his ‘nursing mother’ wife, Dr. Becky had set time apart to seek the face of God concerning the next step of their lives and this has been discussed in our ‘Joshua Generation’ series. Eventually, they both put away their medical certificates against strong advice from Dr. Becky’s father who at that time was already a Professor of Medicine and their lecturer as students of the University of Jos. By November of 1996, they relocated to Abuja and their first service was held at the Abuja Centre for Arts and Culture. They moved shortly after to Sheraton Hotel and Towers up till mid 1997 before proceeding to their present site which is exactly opposite CGMI and just before the Lutheran Church (at the time just a stone throw from LFC). My first encounter with Pastor Enenche and DIGC was in 1998 at the launch of his first two books. Bishop Oyedepo was present to dedicate the books and a year later at the dedication of Faith Tabernacle by Oyedepo; the 50,000 capacity world’s largest Church auditorium, Pastor Enenche was also present.

By 1999, LFC then pastored by Dele Bamgboye had moved away from the Old Secretariat to her new Church site on the other side of Durumi and just after the Catholic Secretariat. In a period of 6 months, LFC had then constructed a 5,000 capacity auditorium which was soon filled many times over despite the addition of overflow facilities. It is worthy of note that before the advent of Churches into Area 1, it was largely a dumpsite, a mechanic village, a haven for men of the underworld and a hideout for hoodlums, thieves, prostitutes, and drug peddlers. The presence of Churches soon took care of that malaise and the area soon earned the sobriquet ‘Church Hill’ because of the many churches scattered all over the area. Church Hill got the name because of the hilly terrain. Dunamis stands tall, the first Church on the street on approach from The Old Secretariat.

Darkness abhors Light. The displacement of agents of darkness from Church Hill did not come easy. One day, an Usher in Dunamis was stabbed on his way to a church service and Pastor Enenche stepped out with a few ministers and cursed the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

In a matter of days, a fight ensued among the hoodlums causing them to kill themselves. They were soon rounded up by the Police and their dominance of the area ended. To aid the Police in securing the area, Dunamis gifted a patrol vehicle to them and when that became rickety, they gave a second one. During one of her services, a bird fell from the sky and landed in one of the Dunamis Overflow Sections. Shockingly and in the presence of worshippers, the bird transformed into a human being -a lady. The lady was ministered to, brought to the fore of the Church and led to Christ. She was asked to come the following day and according to eye witnesses, she looked a lot better than she did he previous day. The news soon spread by witnesses at the scene and this in turn led to a massive influx of multitudes to Dunamis and consequently, the growth of the Church. The Federal Government had tarred the roads from the Expressway to the Old Federal Secretariat and stopped just before the “Church Hill”. Dunamis took on the responsibility and tarred the Church Hill road, installed streetlights and donated at least 5 transformers to the community.’

‘In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehendeth it not’.
John 1:4-5

In May 1999, President Obasanjo held his inauguration thanksgiving at the First Baptist Church, Garki, which was still under construction. Obasanjo’s presidency brought a seeming urgency to the establishment and construction of Churches all over the capital. Pastors Ina and Sarah Omakwu both of ECWA origin who had returned to Nigeria from the USA in 1993 found the Family Worship Centre with 47 members and soon began to construct one of the most beautiful churches in the Nigerian capital. This was completed and dedicated by Pastor Ina in Wuye in the year 2003, shortly before he passed on. By 2002, Foursquare Gospel Church Asokoro was established and also deemed it fit to build a beautiful edifice for The Lord which was soon completed. At this point, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) organised to ensure the speedy completion of the Ecumenical Church now known as the National Church of Nigeria: the primary christian place of worship in Nigeria. In just over a year, the Church was completed and the dedication service on October 2, 2005 was presided over by the Most Reverend Peter Jasper Akinola, the then Anglican Primate of Nigeria.


The Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) also put up a 4,000 capacity auditorium at Utako. By 2004, Dayo Olutayo left the LFC at Durumi and established the Good Tidings Bible Church International which also soon moved to Utako. The architecturally crafted and cosy 4,000 capacity Utako Church project started in 2007 and by 2012, it was dedicated by then CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. The Dayo Olutayo led ministry plays a big role in feeding the poor and helping the less privileged irrespective of religion in a scheme called “Lifegate Care Centres” established in several places around the Capital with the aim of feeding of the poor. The ministry also hosts a quarterly reach-out event tagged “Kingdom Welfare Day”. This day is typically set apart for the provision of clothing and other necessary materials for the poor in the city. The Church has also established a Primary and Secondary School. House on the Rock moved into Abuja in 1999 and in her characteristic manner, she set up in hotels to ensure ambience for her worshippers. In June 2007, she commenced her ‘Citadel and Towers’, a beautiful structure at the City Gate, Abuja. The building christened ‘The Transformation Centre’ is described as a Capital City Community Development Centre where several initiatives to benefit the City will proceed from.

Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) is one of the most popular Churches in The FCT. Established in Ilorin in 1999 from very humble beginnings as ‘Divine Delights’, the Church made her advent into the Nigerian Capital in 2008, led by Pastors Biodun and Modele Fatoyinbo. COZA in Abuja went off with a bang and by 2011, the church had moved to the This Day Dome in the City Centre where a fortune was spent to host her weekly services. In December 2014, COZA relocated to her world-class 3,500 capacity auditorium on Guzape Hills where the ‘Takeover Generation’ throng regularly and which on a regular hosts world class speakers and gospel musicians more than any other Church in the country. The beautiful COZA Auditorium stretches across 2,450 sq metres with a further 700 sq metres designated as foyer area. The conveniences are located beneath the structure while the sound system is about the best one can find in the country.


Joseph Iginla’s Champions City of Wonders located at Chikakore, Kubwa is also worthy of mention. Though on the outskirts, the project which began in 2013 stands out as one of the largest auditoria in Abuja. A visit in January 2017 led yours truly to count the chairs in the massive 14,000 capacity structure.

As a ministry known for large structures, LFC soon felt the need to ease up the Durumi traffic. After constructing the ‘Winners’ Highway’ at Durumi and running 4 services on Sundays, she began a new building in a massive compound at Jahi. Jahi however did not meet the vision of the leaders of the Church. Eventually after establishing other branches in Lokogoma, Sunnyvale, Gwarinpa and Life Camp among many others, she proceeded to the suburbs of the City in 2010 to build the 15,000 capacity LFC Goshen together with a Youth Church, Primary and Secondary Schools, a Guest House, a 45 unit Housing Estate and Bishop Courts for the President and First Vice Presidents of the Commission. All these were completed in 15 months. It should be noted that though the 700 acre Goshen is not located in the FCT, just like the Headquarters in Ota, most worshippers take the 40km trip every Sunday from Abuja.

Dunamis which is the focal point of this writ soon started running 3 Sunday services in their Headquarter Church in Area 1.The Church also opened Harvest Centres in the FCT, and State Branches around the Country. Currently, there are over 50 Harvest Centres in the FCT and at least 47 branches around the country. The crowd began to surge and the church moved to running five services of 90 minutes duration each. In 2015, necessity was laid on the church to create room for the sixth service, and although service times was reduced to 80 minutes each, congregants are sure to encounter the “feelable", tangible presence of God,and get a word in season within the new time frame. Today, widows from the community where the Church is situated are being financially empowered in their numbers by the church, while hundreds of orphans from the community are on scholarship by the same Church. A lady who was identified as the daughter of a one time head of that community once testified in the Church that upon the death of her polygamist father, she was withdrawn from secondary school. The church took up her education and sponsored her through higher institution. As at the time of her testimony, she was a certified pilot.

Dr. Enenche had received Divine instructions in a night revelation concerning the relocation of Dunamis Headquarters to a place along the airport road in the FCT with specific landmarks. He sent out surveyors to locate these landmarks all to no avail. He eventually gave up searching for a season and began to make maximum use of the present facility. His wife however was certain that the said piece of land was still available. The conviction was stronger with every journey on that route to the Airport. En route the airport one day, Dr. Becky nudged her husband in a reminder about this ‘land’. Not wanting to get into such a closed conversation, he asserted that there was no such available land on the Airport Road. He however grew restless in his spirit one day as he sent again for a surveyor, laid hands on him and sent him out again to look for that place that had been so clearly described to him by The Lord. The surveyor returned this time with good news about seeing the exact landmark which The Lord had shown Dr. Enenche. As God would have it, The land owners were willing to sell as much as the Church was willing to buy. Upon inspection of the land, the exact landmark that was shown to him in that revelation was present on that land. This set the stage for the establishment of The Lord’s Garden.

In August 2014, Bishop Oyedepo was invited to dedicate the landed property in a Ground Breaking Service held on the bare ground which had been secured at a cost of over $15 million, debt free.The initial projection at the Lord’s Garden was a 75,000 capacity auditorium. The plans soon changed and presently has been converted to a 100,000 capacity Church auditorium which when completed will not only become the largest Church auditorium in the world but the largest covered roof hall in Africa. The new auditorium is built like a stadium and the roof of the project alone which is being handled by expatriates cost about $5 million. Like his mentor Oyedepo’s projects, the building has no visible internal pillar while the angular pillars swallowed trailer loads of cement. The laying of marbles and glass is virtually completed. The Destiny Academy (an Elementary and High School) and the Pastoral Quarters are also almost completed. The facility has a Shopping Mall, Two Office Towers of 7 floors each, a 7-Floor 5 star hotel, and a 1.5 Kilometre long recreation park. There will also be a Medical Centre, a 5000-seater Youth Facility, 200 units of guest chalets and 2 Gas Stations. This project is on the verge of completion without a single dime taken as loan from any Bank or any other Institution.

To the Glory of God alone and for the benefit of humanity, The Lord’s Garden will be dedicated and opened for use sometime in 2018. It will be an epoch making day in the Body of Christ in Nigeria and worldwide as a large number of fathers in Christendom will be attending the event to be hosted by the 50 year old Dr. Pastor Paul Enenche who has become a bridge-builder between the fathers and the sons in the Body of Christ. With this and many more in the offing, Abuja becomes a foremost city on the global map for the propagation of the Gospel of Christ.

“Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.”
Zechariah 1:17

By Yemi Itodo

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), on Thursday, confirmed that it has commenced investigations into the petition against the Nigeria Police Force, by a coalition of Civil Society, over disobedience to court orders.

A group, Coalition of Civil Society Organisation for Justice and Equity (CCSOJE), had fortnight ago, petitioned the Commission, over what it described as “flagrant disregard to the rule of law and disobedience to court orders”, especially in relation to “the 2 subsisting orders that the Nigeria Police should unseal and vacate the office of Peace Corps of Nigeria”.

Addressing members of the coalition and various youth bodies who visited NHRC in Abuja on Thurday, the Director of Corporate Affairs and External Linkages of the Commission, Lambert Oparah, said the Commission had made appreciable progress in its investigation, vowing not to leave any stone unturned.

Oparah acknowledged that he received the complaints on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the Commission and assured that the Commission will swing into action, adding that “the procedure of investigation is very clear”.

He explained that the Commission will take a look at the other side of the complaints from the Nigerian Police and seek the opinion of the management as well as the response of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Kpotum Idris.

He urged members of the Corps, civil society groups and Nigerian youths to be peaceful and law abiding, urging them not to doubt the confidence and trust they reposed on the commission.

“I assure you on behalf of this commission in the next couple of days, I am not saying weeks, you will get response from us. It is important to know those things we can do for you and we can assure you we will do and it is important you also know those ones outside the scope of our mandate so that you don’t begin to have high expectations”, he added.

On his part, the Head of Civil and Political Rights, Harry Ogwuche Obe said that the commission will always encourage the exercise of human rights.

“I know that the freedom of speech and that of association is one of the cardinal rights that every citizen enjoys particularly in Nigeria. We can only emphasis that you should remain peaceful while exercising your own right”, Ogwuche noted.

He therefore assured the group to feel free to come forward anytime, noting that the commission will not be in hurry to make statement or recommendation that would be faulted, adding that whatever the commission would resolve, carries the weight of the law.

Earlier, the Coordinators of the group, Olayemi Success and Edward Omaga, charged the commission not to stand aloof in the matter that has cost the Peace Corps a whooping N13.5million, “being the annual rent it paid on the property which the Police sealed off illegally for the past one year and three months”.

They asked the commission to “urgently redressed, in accordance with the tenets of natural justice, rule of law and in the interest of the nation’s democracy, the monumental injustice perpetrated against the corps and the Nigerian youths by the police. Justice has been delayed long enough in this matter and we urge the commission to act now”.

The group reminded the Commission that, “disobedience to court judgements and constituted authority is a recipe for anarchy”.

“Today we are here demanding that the National Human Rights Commission live up to public expectations by invoking all relevant laws, including its recent directive Reference NHRC/001//2018 derived from NHRC ACT 1995 as amended to compel the Inspector General of Police to expeditiously unseal the Peace Corps office which it has illegally sealed since February 28th 2017”, they added.

The National Headquarters of Peace Corps of Nigeria located at Jabi, Abuja, has been under lock and keys since February 28th, 2017, when the Nigeria Police invaded the premises and arrested its National Commandant, Amb (Dr.) Dickson Akoh and 49 others.

Despite the ruling of Justice Gabriel Kolawole of November 9th 2017 and that of January 15th 2018 by Justice John Tsoho (all of Federal High Court Abuja), that the police should vacate the premises; the office has remained under the siege of the Nigeria Police.

The Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami had also written to the Police Boss in February this year that the 2 subsisting court orders be obeyed, “in absence of any appeal or valid stay of execution”.

The House of Representatives also, in its resolution of Wednesday, 9th May 2018, gave the Nigeria Police 21-day ultimatum to vacate the properties of Peace Corps, but the status quo has since remained.

Findings by [url]WWW.IDOMAVOICE.COM[/url] have revealed that the late Yoruba sage and nationalist, Chief Obafemi Awolowo was also conferred with the title of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR, without becoming Head of State or president.
The fact checks was prompted by the ongoing debate in the nation following the conferment of GCFR title on MKO Abiola, acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Many lawyers have kicked against the decision, saying that the law does not empower the president to do so, saying that the title was reserved exclusively for only the number one citizen.
However, findings by this reporter have shown that President Shehu Shagari conferred the GCFR title on Awolowo in 1982 for his outstanding service to Nigeria before and after independence.

The picture of Chief Awolowo receiving the award and beaming with smiles in 1982 is currently hung at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

The award The process began in 1964 during the era of Alhaji Tafawa Balewa with enactment of National Honour Act 5 of 1964. There was a short break during the Military era especially during Generals Yakubu Gowon, Aguiyi Ironsi, Murtala Mohammed, Ibrahim Babangida and General Sanni Abacha.
There are EIGHT categories-GCFR, GCON, CFR, CON, OFR, OON, MFR and MON. GCFR is meant for past Heads of State. Only Chief Obafemi Awolowo and MKO Abiola had received GCFR without becoming Head of State.

Meanwhile, Section 1 of the National Honors Act No. 5 of 1964 gives unfettered discretion to the President to create title for award as national honour on any one who in his opinion deserves to be so honoured.

Findings by [url]WWW.IDOMAVOIC.COM[/url] have revealed that the late Yoruba sage and nationalist, Chief Obafemi Awolowo was also conferred with the title of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR, without becoming Head of State or president.
The fact checks was prompted by the ongoing debate in the nation following the conferment of GCFR title on MKO Abiola, acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Many lawyers have kicked against the decision, saying that the law does not empower the president to do so, saying that the title was reserved exclusively for only the number one citizen.

However, findings by the reporter have shown that President Shehu Shagari conferred the GCFR title on Awolowo in 1982 for his outstanding service to Nigeria before and after independence.

The picture of Chief Awolowo receiving the award and beaming with smiles in 1982 is currently hung at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

The award The process began in 1964 during the era of Alhaji Tafawa Balewa with enactment of National Honour Act 5 of 1964. There was a short break during the Military era especially during Generals Yakubu Gowon, Aguiyi Ironsi, Murtala Mohammed, Ibrahim Babangida and General Sanni Abacha.

There are EIGHT categories-GCFR, GCON, CFR, CON, OFR, OON, MFR and MON. GCFR is meant for past Heads of State. Only Chief Obafemi Awolowo and MKO Abiola had received GCFR without becoming Head of State.

source>>http://www.idomavoice.com/2018/06/fact-checks-mko-abiola-not-the-first-non-president-to-receive-gcfr-title-awolowo-did-in-1982.html

seun, lalasticlala, mynd44

Today is the birthday of God's General and the Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr. Paul Enenche.

Dr. Enenche hailed from Oroakm in Ogbadibo LGA of Benue State.

A medical Doctor-turned cleric.

He's married to his ever supportive wife, Dr. Mrs Becky Enenche and they are blessed with four children.

Read his untold story here...http://www.idomavoice.com/2018/06/dunamis-untold-story-of-dr-paul-enenche.html

Comrade Prince Emmanuel Abba Yaro, has been sworn-in as the State Chairman, Benue State chapter of the ruling party for a second term in office.

The swearing-in ceremony took place at the NEC Hall of the party national headquarters in Abuja Monday afternoon.

The development followed the May 19 victory of the Yaro- led EXCO, who were unanimously returned for another term in office

Yaro, while addressing journalists at the end of the inauguration, thanked the party leadership for reposing avowed trust in his leadership.

He stressed that he shall alongside other members of the State EXCO ensure another round of victory for the Benue APC in the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

Ogebe Alice Oya is a household name as far as Otukpo local government area and Idoma women's football is concerned. The former captain of the defunct Apa Queens Football club and Super Falcons player has once again proven herself worthy of being called the Queen of Idoma football.

Alice, fondly called Oya, left Lafia the capital of Nasarawa State where she was on trial to join Rivers Angles of Port Harcourt where she happened to be one of the best players on the team.

Oya, who is the younger sister of of Hon. Ogebe Inalegwu, a former Chairmanship aspirant of Otukpo local government council got signed by Zfk Crvena zvezda otherwise called the Red Stars, a Serbian women's football club in Serbia, Southeast Europe earlier this year.

However, delivering her team as usual has always been her priority and what she loves doing the most. Oya who is also the only black and African player on the team succeeded in scoring the most important goal that aided the Serbian club to lift the women's FA cup tittle on Friday June 1st, 2018.

Below is a video highlight of her at the team's final game for the season and pictures of her in actions.

WATCH HERE>>>>http://www.idomavoice.com/2018/06/meet-idoma-born-ogebe-alice-oya-the-new-queen-of-serbian-womens-football-video-and-pictures.html

Coalition of Civil Society Organisations on Human Rights and Conflict Resolution In Nigeria has accused foreign organizations of frustrating the moves to return the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, back to their country homes.





The group alleged that some international agencies have continued to enrich themselves in the name of rendering aid to victims of the Boko Haram attacks in the north eastern part of the country.



Maxwell Gowon, Executive Director/ National Coordinator, who made this revelation while presenting report after assessment of ongoing military exercise in Borno axis, called on the federal government and the military authorities to immediately unveil a roadmap for returning and reintegrating IDPs into their original communities.



He also opined that stakeholders should convene a forum to audit the roles being played by all organizations with presence in the northeast of Nigeria.



He said, “The decision to focus on these aspects was informed in part by feedback from residents of affected communities who are concerned that full return of peace to their towns and villages is being prevented by factors that stakeholders in Nigeria may not have much control over. The concerns were tempered by the understanding that anything that offers the slightest boost to Boko Haram risks not only reviving the terror organization but would also position the terrorists to fully overrun the country.



“These boosts, sadly, exist in form of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps that have remained operational in the areas years after the communities from where the IDPs were displaced have been fully liberated by troops and are being rehabilitated by the relevant level of government.



“The camps constitute soft targets for Boko Haram's person borne IEDs and suicide bombers who continue to attempts attacks at the facilities to create the impression of still being deadly. The camps have also been exploited by sympathizers of the terror group as a recruitment ground to replenish the decimated ranks of the terrorists.



“Questionable international organizations like Amnesty International leverage on the existence of these camps as propaganda props. There have been reports that they monetarily induce IDPs to pose as victims of sexual abuse in order to malign soldiers. Diseases and other mishaps that are natural consequences of people being dislocated and confined to restricted areas are easily blamed on the military by an organization like this.



“Those profiting from Boko Haram terrorism continue to use the camps as avenue to steal money through diversion and theft of funds and relief materials. The presence of the IDPs at the camps does not therefore guarantee that intended interventions gets to them.



“The upcoming 2019 General Elections further expose the camps to the risk of becoming political prop with the risk that they could become epicenter of violence since politicians already exploit the vulnerability of the IDPs.



“IDPs are unable to return to lives of active economic engagement and therefore continue to be dependent on aids. This opens them up to being recruited as actors and actresses as recently demonstrated by the fictitious report published by Amnesty International that alleged that they were raped. It turned out in some cases that persons who have been forced into compromising position as a result want have to allege abuse to escape social rejection and get sympathy.





“Liberated but unoccupied communities provide safe haven for fleeing Boko Haram terrorists that are able to hide within such communities to plan attacks on soft targets. Failure of inhabitants to return to these towns and villages means the civil police does not allocate resources for covering them.



“Agencies of the United Nations like UNICEF, WHO, IOM and others have not done much to motivate the IPDs to return to their original communities. Staff of these agencies rather continue to encourage the IDPs not to return home. This is an arrangement that favours the staff as they continue to draw allowances when the camps remain open.



“Foreign NGOs are exploiting the IDPs to source funding that do not come to the need but are instead diverted to execute agenda that further undermine the security situation of the entire region so that the IDPs will not be willing to return home. A vicious circle has so been created. Some local NGOs have allied themselves to their foreign counterparts to share from the booty accruable from manipulating the IDPs situation. Most international NGOs and their allies in the north east have now abandoned their core mandates to engage in blackmailing the military to extend their stay in the north east without providing any succor for those affected by violence.



“The federal government and the military must immediately unveil a roadmap for returning and reintegrating IDPs into their original communities.



“Stakeholders should convene a forum to audit the roles being played by all organizations with presence in the northeast of Nigeria.”

SOURCE>>>http://www.tabloidnig.com/2018/06/boko-haram-international-bodies-of.html

Barely one week after clocking 40 years and few days to his ‘Timeless Worship2: The Closet Concert’, ace gospel music minister, Chris Abah Ochogwu Morgan, famously known as Chris Morgan during the weekend escaped death by whiskers along Airport Road, Abuja.

Morgan and his band were returning from an event when his car suddenly developed electrical fault along the road.

www.IDOMAVOICE.com gathered that the singer and his team alighted to ascertain the real cause of the sudden breakdown when some heavily armed men emerged from the bush and robbed them off their valuables, including cash.

Our reporter gathered that the bloodthirsty attackers, who were apparently on a different mission, stabbed the singer close to his spinal cord with the aim of rendering him paralyzed.

“As if that was not enough, the man took his knife and wanted to slit my throat and I began to shout Jesus and hit the sword and it injured my hand.

“I summoned courage and I took off and they went after my boys, they chased one of them for close to 30 minutes in the bush but he escaped.

“I was in the middle of the road shouting for help in the pool of my blood when a woman saw me and recognized me, she quickly opened her back door and helped me to enter.

“It was God who saved me and my team. I thank God no life was lost. It was just another distraction from the enemy,” a thankful Morgan told our reporter.

Confirming the attack to this reporter, Morgan’s Manager, Moses Ogidi Paul, otherwise known as MadMo, described the incident as a miraculous escape.

“The devil has been put to shame. We are just busy preparing for his concert, The Closet with Chris Morgan and the devil thought he could distract us.

“The doctor said the sword was an inch away from his spinal cord, which would have coffined him to wheelchair,” he said.

Speaking on the forthcoming event, Ogidi said the event would hold despite the attack stressing that the Daily As I Leave crooner was responding to treatment.

“The show goes on. In fact, everything is set for the epoch-making event. Our billboards and adverts are all over the city of Abuja.

SOURCE>>>http://www.idomavoice.com/2018/06/how-gospel-singer-chris-morgan-escaped-assassination-stabbed-severally-by-gunmen-few-days-to-concert.html

A group of suspected cultists on Sunday clashed in Otukpo, Benue State, leading to death of over 10 persons, IDOMA VOICE can report.


[url]WWW.IDOMAVOICE.COM[/url] gathered that two of the victims confirmed dead where killed at a popular drug joint known as Banana Island. The third victim was a barber shot outside his saloon at Akpa street, the forth victim was killed along Uloko lane all in Otukpo local government area.

More details to come…

SOURCE>>>>http://www.idomavoice.com/2018/06/breaking-rival-cult-groups-declare-war-on-each-other-in-otukpo-photos.html

The Nigeria Police have released names of successful candidates, who passed the nationwide recruitment examination conducted on Friday by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

157 were shortlisted from Benue

According to the list published on the Nigeria police website, https://psc.org.ng/candidateslist/, the candidates were directed to go for the screening at the zonal police headquarters in their state of origin between May 31 and June 3.

SEE FULL LIST HERE>>http://www.idomavoice.com/2018/06/police-recruitment-names-of-successful-candidates-from-benue-see-full-list.html

By Rogers Edor Ochela

Our attention has been drawn to the above publication, which appeared in your Edition of MAY 28, 2018, and we wish to state categorically that the aforementioned report is completely false and a wicked fabrication designed to impugn on the character of the National Commandant of Peace Corps of Nigeria, Dr Dickson A. O. Akoh. In a nutshell, it is a manifestation of the typical yellow journalism that is gradually taking over the nation’s landscape.

Reading the entire report, any rational mind will know that it a comical display of yellow journalism and it is quite laughable. Just for the records, Dr Akoh is a young man who has distinguished himself creditably well in virtually all spheres of human endeavour, especially as it relates to youth empowerment.

At this juncture, it is appropriate that we dissect the report in its entirety with a view to responding to the bundle of lies contained therein. First and foremost, to prove that the report is a mumbo jumbo of falsehood, the writer, Mr. Austine Elemue wrote that Dr Akoh is ‘’currently undergoing a Master Degree programme in Sociology under the Faculty of Social Sciences…..’’. Nothing can be further from the truth!

To set the records straight, Dr Akoh’s Master Degree is in Criminology and not Sociology as mischievously reported by the writer. And it is equally important to orchestrate here that he finished the programme in October 2017 and is to defend his project on 5th June 2018. If not mischievousness, how does one explain the rationale behind this report that is just coming out seven months after Akoh had finished his Master Degree course work and issued a Statement of Result?

The author of the aforementioned story, who is obviously on an evil mission to unnecessarily cast aspersion on Dr Akoh’s hard earned image and reputation, made glib references to Akoh’s classmates, ostensibly impersonators that are all out to ensure that Akoh is run out of town through sheer peddling of falsehood. The question to ask is: who are the so-called course mates of Akoh that the writer claimed to have talked to? No doubt, the voice is that of Jacob, but the hand is obviously that of Esau (read enemies of Dr Akoh).

The decision of your medium to give the report undeserved prominence on the front page in spite of the shallowness of the story is a clear indication of your avowed determination to please your paymasters. To us, this is part of the larger agenda of the enemies of Peace Corps of Nigeria, a stiff opposition which started mounting right from the time the Nigerian Peace Corps (Establishment) Bill was introduced on the floor of the National Assembly up to the withholding of Presidential Assent.

Moreover, as it is the norm, when a student is caught cheating during examination, a form will be given to him/her to fill indicating the nature of the malpractice. So, was the reporter availed of such form in the case of Dr Akoh? Or did he sight it? And what is the nature of Akoh’s supposed examination malpractice? These are posers for the author of this offensive report to answer. Another germane question is: which institution worth its name will go ahead to issue a Statement of Result to a student who has case of examination hanging on his neck like a sword of Damocles?

It would be recalled that when Dr Akoh was writing his examination and his case came up before Honourable Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, he sought the permission of the Court to allow him write the examination, which was supported by his Examination Timetable, a lawful move that was stridently opposed by the Police. And to the consternation of his traducers, the learned Judge granted Dr Akoh’s request, an action that did not go down well with his enemies. Who knows whether this report is not a product of the simmering angst of these enemies who have been waiting for an opportunity to get a pound of flesh from Akoh. The temptation to believe this conclusion is too strong to be ignored.

Over the years, our National Commandant, Dr. Dickson A. O. Akoh, has proven to the whole world that he is a man on integrity, who cherishes and guards his reputation jealously. That explains why in spite of all the machinations of the enemies coated in unsubstantiated allegations, he has always trounced his opponents in the Courts.

For the benefit of our dear readers, including Mr. Elemue, one of the fundamental reasons that informed Dr Akoh’s resolve to establish Peace Corps of Nigeria is the determination to curb all forms of social vices, examination malpractices in the nation’s educational institutions. So, it will amount to playing double standard for him to engage in such crime.

We want to assure all Nigerians that no amount of intimidation encapsulated in negative media propaganda will derail our National Commandant from his redemptive mission of empowering millions of Nigerian youths and giving them a sense of belonging. It is a task that he has set for himself over the years, which he has been vigorously pursuing without looking back. Those who don’t like his guts can as well go and kiss electricity Transformer. Period!!!

(Ochela is a Media Consultant to Peace Corps of Nigeria).

A group, the Progressives Yoruba Youth Congress, PYYC, has cried out to the international community over a plot by the United States of America’s backed self-styled human rights watchdog, Amnesty International to use fictitious reports to create tension in the country.

It said the report was targeted at discrediting the Nigerian military on its fight against insurgency.

The youth group therefore called on AI and its agents to come out clean on their plots to heat up polity in the country through its conjured report.

Comrade Akintola Festus, national leader of the group, while addressing newsmen on Wednesday, drew the attention of the United Nations (UN), the European Union and other international bodies to what it described as plots by AI’s local franchise to promote terrorism in Nigeria.

Festus lamented AI’s periodic reports, which accused the Nigerian military and sister security agencies of human rights violation in their efforts to bring a lasting peace to this entity called Nigeria.

The youth leader decried that the international agency is doing everything possible to see a stage-managed implosion in Nigeria, a country gradually and steadily recuperating from bile terrorism.

He, therefore called on the Nigerian government to without delay commence the process of the expulsion of Amnesty International from the country.

His speech reads below.


“We believe we are aware of the difficulties experienced in the past administration in checkmating terrorism, especially Boko Haram, IPOB and the Islamic Movement in Nigeria has reached alarming proportion for all Nigerians to be concerned.

The manifest cruelty and appetite for bloodletting in atrocious acts and heinous crimes against Nigerians by these sects is legendary. And we know the sects are ennobled by the sponsorship, funding, and backing of foreign forces bent on foisting evil on our land to destabilize our country.

“We are persuaded to draw the attention of World bodies like the European Union (EU), the United Nations (UN) and the Federal Government in Nigeria about some twists and ugly developments concerning winning streaks of Nigerian military against Boko Haram terrorists.


“We strongly suspected sustained and covert actions and activities of terrorists agents, particularly, some international organizations’ domiciled in Nigeria who are discreetly working day and night to promote the scourge of terrorism on Nigeria.

“The Republic of Iran has never concealed this devilish plot on Nigerian and the leaders of these sects, particularly, Boko Haram factional leader, Abubakar Shekau have also affirmed this fact. And the dragnet of sponsors, paid agents and sympathizers’ with terrorists in Nigeria is expansive and obscure. These covert agents operate under different official or unofficial banners.

“To this end, we have realized lately and suspect a strong bond between the Iranian Republic, Boko Haram terrorists and the Amnesty International (AI) in festering the menace of terrorism in Nigeria. AI is an international organization whose mandate is to conscientiously monitor human rights violations in the countries they operate.

“We also note that AI has strong affinity with the United States of America (USA). AI is America’s pet child and America has this inglorious history of dubious interventions in the internal affairs of developing countries like Nigeria.


“AI’s periodic reports are usually based on unsubstantiated allegations and falsehood, alluding to rights violations perpetrated by the Nigerian military and sister security agencies. The reports are primed to limitlessly and baselessly indict the military; while emboldening the terrorists in their suspected sponsored assignment to destroy and delete Nigeria from the map of the world.

“We are mincing no words to assert that no external force can govern us; we must govern ourselves and the rude disrespect by AI to testify before lawfully constituted Probe Panels is an undisguised affront on the powers and sovereignty of Nigeria.

“AI is doing everything possible to see a stage-managed implosion in Nigeria, a country gradually and steadily recuperating from bile terrorism.

“Therefore, we plead with our international partners especially the UN to undertake a critical investigation into the sinister operations of Amnesty International in Nigeria and the complicity of the US Government. We have every cause to suspect AI and America’s covert support of the organization in the evil conspiracy against Nigeria to promote terrorism, an idea hatched by foreign forces against the unity and peace of Nigeria.

“We consequently, call on the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) to immediately commence the process of the expulsion of Amnesty International from Nigeria. Nigerians cannot compromise or allow anybody or organization, not even AI and its local franchise to reverse the gains the country has recorded on the terrorism war. We are not prepared to return to the dark days of reckless bombings, agonies and deaths arising from terrorism.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Oq9OwMFcRg

Watch video here>>>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Oq9OwMFcRg

more images

more

Harvest of deaths! How Benue State is bleeding under Ortom

Source: http://www.idomavoice.com/2016/08/harvest-of-deaths-how-benue-state-is.html

more pix

Dr. Paul Enenche, his wife, Dr. Becky and other members of Dunamis could not hold back tears after God healed twin beautiful twin sisters of insanity at the day one of the Destiny Recovery Convention 2018.

www.IDOMAVOICE.com observed that the Senior Pastor and his wife were overwhelmed that they cried profusely over the miracle.

Here are pictures and videos.

SOURCE>>>http://www.idomavoice.com/2018/05/dr-paul-enenche-wife-in-tears-after-god-healed-beautiful-twins-of-insanity-in-dunamis-photos.html

All is now set for the burial of two priests and 17 others who were killed by Fulani herdsmen in Mbalom, Gwer East LGA of Benue State.

The burial would hold today.

[url]WWW.IDOMAVICE.COM[/url] would bring you live update from the event.


SOURCE<<<http://www.idomavoice.com/2018/05/benue-set-for-mass-burial-in-two-priests-17-others-photo.html

A group under the aegis of Middle Belt Conscience Guard (MBCG) has demanded for open apology from former Chief of Army Staff, Gen Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma over his recent claim that the Nigerian military colluded with those behind killings in the country.



Danjuma had in March called for self-defense over the unnecessary killings in the country, which he had tagged ethnic cleansing of the people of Taraba and Nigeria at large.

He had said, “The armed forces are not neutral; they collude with the armed bandits that kill people, kill Nigerians. They facilitate their movement. They cover them. If you are depending on the Armed Forces to stop the killings, you will all die one by one.”

Following his claim, the army constituted a 10-member panel to probe the allegations.

The panel, which comprised serving and retired army personnel, representatives of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), was set up on April 10.

However, the panel after its findings said allegations leveled against it by retired Gen. Danjuma that it refused to protect the people of Taraba State were untrue.

The report exonerated the army, saying that there was no collusion between it and bandits in Taraba as alleged by the former chief of army staff.



Reacting to the development, MBCG hailed the Nigerian Army for working meticulously, painstakingly and conscientiously to unravel the truth in its report.

Prince Raymond Enero, National Co-ordinator of the group said it is evident cause of the vilification of the Nigerian Army and the attempt to taint its reputation by some stakeholders in Taraba state stemmed from the refusal of Lt. Col. Gambari to be dragged into the complex political and ethnic mix in Taraba state by some powerful politicians, in apparent abuse and violation of his professional duties or code of ethical conduct.

According to him, “These politicians and leaders are reminded that this is a precarious move, as the politicization of the Army portends grave dangers for democracy and security of the nation. This is a fact at the fingertip of Gen. Danjuma (rtd).

“The MBCG have consequently perceived the adamant refusal of Gen. TY. Danjuma’s to make himself accessible to the Military Probe Panel constituted at the instance of his indecorous, mendacious, untruthful, fallacious and spiteful allegations against the Nigerian Army.

“To say the least, it has exposed Gen. Danjuma (rtd) as the silent shadows behind the frosty and degenerating inter-ethnic animosities in a multi-ethnic and multi-plural state like Taraba, often ending in escalated violent communal skirmishes.

“The pervading atmosphere of intolerance, ethnic rivalries, distrust and lack of inclusion of all in the political and leadership spheres of all ethnicities in Taraba state is condemnable. And we are stunned and indeed, t is very disheartening to know, it sprouts from the handiwork of the masked forces of some of these elder statesmen, as Gen. Danjuma’s outing has yawningly professed by his empty vitriolic comments.

“It is little surprise, they expected that the Nigerian Army would become the springboard to fester these aberrations. But the adroit stand of the Army, who cannot compromise professionalism offended them infinitely.

“So, everything possible was done to strewn the path of the Army with impediments, including false accusations and media mudslinging against the Army. This posed extreme difficulties to soldiers in the course of performing their Constitutional and official assignments, yet they excelled.

“Therefore, his mass call for self-defence is self-serving, unpatriotic, uncharitable and a serious disservice to Nigeria, a country which has done so much for him in life and keeps sustaining him.

“To this end, we thus, unreservedly frown at Gen. TY Danjuma (rtd) for making such uniformed allegations and statements against the Nigerian Army. He is further implored and prodded to immediately re-secure his reputation by a remorseful retraction of the statements, with an apology to the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Nigerian Army and the good people of Nigeria over his unjustifiable utterances.



“But in the interim, it is our firm conviction that all stakeholders in Taraba State should be cautioned against making inflammatory statements, which have the potency to undermine, jeopardize or scuttle the efforts at peace and security to bring the communal clashes to a halt, with the intervention of the Army .
We also find it expedient to advise the Nigerian Army never to be distracted by the antics of our politicians and leaders.”

source>>>http://dailypost.ng/2018/05/21/ty-danjuma-middle-belt-group-reacts-army-board-inquiry-report/

Transparency Initiative calls for urgent investigation of massive corruption in Benue State


Initiative for Transparency, IT, an anti-corruption organisation has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to as a matter of urgency investigate the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom over with it termed ‘serial appropriation of the state funds and abuse of power.’

IT said the call became imperative so as draw the attention of the international community to the fact that Benue State was dying from the inside slowly as a result of non-stop theft of the state's resources on an industrial scale by Ortom and his lackeys.

The group’s Convener, Pastor Samson Ayodele, while addressing newsmen in Makurdi on Sunday, alleged the governor uses the killings in the state as excuse to divert more of the state's funds into his personal accounts.

Ayodele alleged that the Ortom’s associates were not left out in the looting spree going on in the state.

IT said failure of the anti-graft agency to bring Ortom and his associates to book would further collapse Benue and fade it into cultural pot of time.

The convener alleged that the Paris Debt Refund accruable to Benue state remains unaccounted for till date, stressing that some of those that had asked questions about the money were run out of town or worse still they got killed under questionable circumstances.

He said, “The Ecological Fund accruable to Benue state remains unaccounted for.

Internally generated revenue, which is what now powers a few states in the country, have largely gone to service the thugs that Mr. Ortom uses for his nefarious acts.

“The few projects that the governor claims to have executed are of the lowest quality imaginable while they cost more than four times the global pricing index.

“Public sector workers in the employment of Benue state government have the rawest deal in the land as they perpetually remain unpaid for long stretches of time and are only paid fractions of what they are being owed as a means of releasing pent up anger when the people of the state are at breaking point.

“Under the guise of addressing the crisis in the state, which he has been fingered as being responsible for, Mr. Ortom has sharply increased the security spending of the state without result to show for it.

“It is on the strength of the foregoing that we have found imperative to expose the Ortom administration as a cesspit of corruption that it is. it is on this basis that we demand that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should step to the plate and do its work as things would have taken an irreversible turn should the Commission wait till the governor's tenure is up for him to lose his immunity.

“Immunity did not stop the courts from granting EFCC's request to freeze the bank account that Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose used to receive alleged proceeds of corruption so Benue state cannot be different. Even while Ortom's immunity subsists, his aides that have no immunity and facilitated the theft of state money should immediately be tried for their roles.

“We make this demand because there is credible information that the EFCC has all the evidence it needs to prove that Ortom has stolen another N18.8 billion, which the reason Benue workers cannot get salaries as at when due. It is the reason the state can never witness any positive development under the present administration of Samuel Ortom and his band of thieves.

“The EFCC is presently investigating the governor for this fresh N18.830 billion which was withdrawn on his behalf by the trio of Oliver Mtom, Aorga Emmanuel and Ochoga Peter. The three suspects confessed to the EFCC two weeks ago that they truly withdrew the huge funds for the governor from Benue State accounts with UBA, GTB and First Bank.

“In their admittance of culpability in the raiding of the state resources, Oliver Mtom confessed that he withdrew N18 billion; Aorga Emmanuel and Ochoga Peter confessed that they withdrew N700 million and N130 million respectively, amounting to the N18.830 billion that was stolen for only one person at a time workers and pensioners have not been paid for more than a year. This amount can cater for five months' worth of workers' salaries, which leaves us wondering why Ortom keeps lamenting that there is no money to pay salaries.

“We want the EFCC to also go after all the accessories to this theft, who are people that should have queried the questionable withdrawals but failed to ask questions or raise alarm. Some of them are the six signatories to the three accounts from where the huge funds were withdrawn. These are Mr. Dzege (Permanent Secretary, Government House), Mr. Daniel Terzungwe Aernyi (Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Internal Affairs and Special Services), Cecilia Ayom, Boniface Iornenge, Patrick A. Aba and Elizabeth Anyanwu. These six people have also been indicted for signing the cheques that were used to withdraw the N18.830 billion. We know the EFCC has copies of the cheques with their signatures.

“Mr. Dzege and Daniel Aernyi had been invited by the agency last week. Dzege got administrative bail after he confessed and promised to report back to the EFCC headquarters with documents that detail how the frauds were perpetrated. Mr. Daniel Aernyi was detained for trying to conceal some already known facts.

“With the benefit of these facts, the Initiative for Transparency is appealing to EFCC not to for anything allow this case to die because unlike the incidents of theft of public money in other states, the case of Benue is tied to a river of blood where people have been massacred to divert attention from the theft of their money. People are dying of hunger and frustration because the money to pay them for work duly done have been diverted to the governor's personal account.

“We urge the Federal Government to take the necessary steps to stop further release of funds (the ones that can be withheld) to the Ortom administration until a prudent regime is in place in Benue state as any additional funds released will end up like the N18.8 that went into private pockets.”

http://www.tabloidnig.com/2018/05/transparency-initiative-calls-for.html

By Ameh Comrade Godwin @amcomrade

Once upon a time, before ‘banana and cassava’ began to fall on music lovers in Nigeria, the nation paraded singers whose lyrical contents contained didactic messages that addressed bad governance and moral decadence in the society.

Before the advent of ‘ukwu’ ‘Hennessey’, ‘champagne’ and show-off of wealth in the nation’s music industry, music lovers were exposed to songs that taught moral lessons, addressed bad governance and exposed corrupt leaders.

Today, the story is different. Most musicians in Nigeria nowadays worship sex, money, women and wealth with their lyrics.

Albeit, today is not Thursday that social media users have adopted as flashback day, but I want to journey down memory lane to reveal those who made (still make) ‘real sense’ with their music in the extant.

This is a personal observation. The list is endless but here are the unforgettable 10.

Fela-Anikulapo Kuti

No doubt, President of Kalakuta Republic, Baba Fela remains the father of anti-corruption music crusader in Nigeria.

For more than 10 times, he was thrown behind the bar because of his songs against the then military government but he remained unperturbed and never deviated. Fela made sure he passed his message to looters and corrupt leaders in the country and Africa at large during his heydays on stage fearlessly.

Do you remember his song entitled Authority Stealing where he compared the crimes of an armed robber to a person in authority stealing? The armed robber would be lynched or thrown in jail for stealing a petty amount; meanwhile the man in authority would get away with it. Or even be praised.

What about Suffering and Smiling, where he talked about life for the average Nigerian, who experiences strife in almost every area of life but continues smiling, believing they will receive their reward in the afterlife because of the teachings of religious leaders, who themselves are enjoying plenty of the world’s earthly pleasures.

Apart from the absence of a military whip, things haven’t changed much after all.

Nigerians will never forget his song, Coffin for Head of State where Fela critiques the hypocrisy of political and religious figures and the presence of preferential treatment in the allocation of positions based on religion.

Hear him, “Anywhere the Muslims them they reign

Na Senior Alhaji na him be Director

Anywhere the Christians them they reign

Na the best friend to Bishop na him be Director.” So sad the story has not changed.

African China

About two decades ago, Chinagorom Unuoha came into the limelight with his evergreen song, Crisis; where he vented out his anger on the killings in Nigeria, particularly in Jos, Zamfara and Kaduna States.

In the album entitled Crisis, which he released in early 2000s, China lamented ‘How Long’ it would take Nigeria and Africa to realize that shedding of blood would take us nowhere.

China predicted most of the things happening in Nigeria today through his songs.

Coming on the success of his debut album, China dropped Mr. President where he lamented thus, “food e no dey

Brother eh water no dey

And our country no good o

Everyday for thief

One day for owner e

Poor man wey thief maggi

Omo, dem go show im face

for crime fighter [crime fighter]

Rich man wey thief money

Omo, we no dey see their face

for crime fighter.

Most of his songs that addressed bad governance and corruption included: Crisis, Our Government Bad, How Long, Mr. President, Boko Haram, Amen.

He summed up the suffering of Nigerians in his about-to-be-released song entitled Letter to Mr, President thus: “who no know now go know, say na now the real hunger show. Hungry wan kpai man for this country o. dollar frustrate our naira and fuel price do don to wahala. If them cannot rule make them backup. he vowed to ‘continue to dey talk until their wickedness stop.”

Ras Kimono
What’s gwan inna this our nation? Man and woman can’t get no food to eat Watta fi gwana? Watta fi gwana? All the people are them are running fi murder Watta fi gwana? Watta fi gwana? All the masses are them are running fi cover Watta fi gwana? Watta fi gwana? All the children them are halla fi hunger What’s gwan inna this our country? Lord of mercy!

This song was an anthem on many radio stations across the country in the mid 90s.

This reggae singer, Kimono was among few musicians that flayed the then military government over the suffering of the masses.

Oritse Femi
Oritse Majemite Femi started out in the ghetto street of Ajegunle with his estranged band mate, Chi of the Junglist fame where they voiced Eyes Don Clear, a song talked about how Nigerian leaders looted the nation’s treasury to world bank.

Following the split of Junglist in early 200os, Femi dropped his first solo album tagged Flog Politicians where he literarily whipped corrupt political leaders with his lyrics.

In another song entitled ‘Elewon’ (chase them) Femi also bemoaned how Nigerian leaders sold out Niger Delta oil to white men, which led to the emergence militancy and kidnapping in the region.

He later joined ‘bad gang’ in the cassava and banana’ industry but he would be still remembered for his messages against bad governance when music was still music in Nigeria.

Eedris Abudukarim
Nigeria jagajaga Everything scatter scatter Poor man dey suffer suffer Gbosa, gbosa, gun shot inna di air Armed robber came to your house Eno thief money, eno rape your wife Went straight up to your bedside (Gbosa) Six feet, now you are down Which armed robber no want money Which armed robber no want joley Na political armed robber be that Na wetin dey kill Nigeria o.

This above lyrics landed Kano-born activist and singer, Eedris Abdulkareem in the prison yard.

The then president, Olusegun Obasanjo was so pissed that he organized a world press conference to reply Kennis Music Eedris on his assertion about the country in his song, Jagajaga before throwing him behind the bar. Truly, Nigeria still remains Jagajaga.

Blackface Naija
Many music analysts believe that the ordeal of Augustine Garuba Ahmedu, also known as Blackface in the industry boils down his refusal to compromise his standard.

After Planthasun Boys disbanded and the trio of 2face, Face and Blacfkace went on solo careers, this Benue-born singer released his debut album, Ghetochild where he highlighted the suffering of masses in Nigeria in one of his songs, Hard Life.

He has good lyrical contents and most of his songs addressed bad leadership and the suffering of Nigerians in a nation believed to be the (gi)ant of Africa.

Majek Fashek
Once, Majek Fashek was Nigeria’s greatest musician. A reggae extraordinaire with an epic all-time hit song called Send Down The Rain. Whenever Majek Fashek (whose full name is Majekodunmi Fasheke) raised his voice in a melodious refrain of “Send Down the Rain”, there was always a downpour. And by that, he put an end to an almost two-year drought in northern Nigeria.

If reggae were to be a religion of sort, with the legendary Bob Marley as its Delphic Oracle, then Majek Fashek, at the peak of his career, was the principal prophet of reggae. Rolling Stone acclaimed him as the heir apparent to Bob Marley. He was compared only to the greats – Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix and Fela. He was reggae’s poster boy in the late 1980s and early 1990s so much so that any international reggae concert will not be complete without Majek Fashek headlining the show. When he performed live on the David Letterman show in 1992, he made history as the first African to appear on a national network television in the United States.

Before the Majek narrative plunged into a dark from the Olympian height and but a ‘fallen god’ he had many studio efforts that faulted bad governance in Africa.

His songs, So Long, Free Mandela, Prisoner of Conscience, Religion Na Politics, et al are what the society needs today.

Raymond King Gbaji

His strong lyrics against the Nigeria Police and government landed him in the police net many years back. Raymond King Gbaji would forever be remembered for his song against bribery among Police officers in Nigeria.

Black and Black what the song he used in passing his message to corrupt police officers. He paid for it but sure achieved his aim – say no to bribe and corruption.

Tuface Idibia

His song, E be like say is many things rolled into one.

He has many didactic songs but this surely carries the message the society needs right now, especially as preparations heat up ahead of 2019 general elections.

Hear him.

Ebe like say you want to code

You want to code

See, all I want to say is that

They don’t really care about us

Because all they want to do is to get in touch with big bucks

Because they think the money gives them the power

But the power is nothing

If your people cannot get quality education

The power is nothing

If your people keep on dying of disease and starvation

The power is nothing

If your people have no peace (no peace)

The power is nothing.

If your people cannot live in unity (yeah)

See, why do you keep deceiving the people, my brother, my sister

See, why do you make all this people to dey fight one another

Only God can judge you now

2baba, as the Idoma-born singer now prides himself is one of the few musicians whose lyrics are lewd-free.

Have you listened to ashes, touch a life, for instance? The songs sure are evergreen.

DON'T MISS: Download DailyPost Android app and earn unlimited free Airtime

Others worthy of mention are: Victor Essiet and the Mandators, Andy Shurman, Save the Masses crooner and Maxwell Udoh.
[b][/b]
SOURCE>>>>http://dailypost.ng/2018/05/11/ameh-comrade-revealed-unforgettable-musicians-ignored-banana-cassava-societal-change/

Current Face of Leadership Scorecard Nigeria, Queen Josephine Eleyi Igoche is dead.

[url]WWW.IDOMAVOICE.COM[/url] gathered that the young model-cum-beauty queen passed away in Kaduna on Monday after a brief ailment.

In 2016, Eleyi, who studied Political Science at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria won the Miss Ambassador for Peace North Central.

Confirming the sad news to IDOMA VOICE last night, her young sister, Linda Igoche described her demise as a rude shock.

She said, “This is what life took from me, I dont no what to do, I don’t no were to go, my world has fallen apart a cent i cannot hold, somebody should console me and be my pillar of help, I love you sis, I wish it was a dream …RIP SIS. U still remain #QUEEN JOSEPHINE ELEYI IGOCHE, Lord I need a pillar of help …”

Another family member, Enenche Igoche said Eleyi’s demise was a big blow on the entire Igoche’s family.

He wrote, “It will be very difficult to accept the reality of the loss, and it will be even more difficult to go through the pain of the loss.

When you lose a sister, the pain of it can turn your whole world upside down. You not only lose a sister but a whole support system.

The hole that they leave in your hearts is a hole that no one could ever fill, and the sister that you lost is a sister that can never be replaced. R.I.P sis. I WILL SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE.”

SOURCE>>>>http://www.idomavoice.com/2018/05/breaking-idoma-born-face-of-leadership-scorecard-josephine-eleyi-igoche-is-dead-photo.html

A young man identified as Etim, believed to be in his late 20s has died after reportedly consuming over a thousand milligram of tramadol in Obaganya Otukpo, Benue State.

[url]WWW.IDOMAVOICE.COM[/url] was gathered that Eti, who is popularly known as Ratty, was rushed to Abba clinic at Ogiri Oko street when he became unconscious after taking the substance on April 30.

He was pronounced dead on Wednesday after spending three days at the hospital and was buried the same day.

A source at the hospital said that the tramadol dosage he took was too much for his system to withstand which led to the destruction of some vital organs.

"He became extremely weak and couldn't even say a word throughout his stay at the hospital till he gave up the ghost,' the source said.



Source>>>> www.idomavoice.com/2018/05/young-man-dies-in-otukpo-after-taking.html

Chairman of Zone C Elders' Forum, Mr. Edward Okopi, has said that death toll from the fracas that ensued during the Benue South Zonal caucus meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress held in Otukpo penultimate Friday has risen to ten as 3 of 6 persons injured were reported death Friday evening


The meeting which was organised for Friday, April 20, 2018 at the Double K Resort in Otukpo, Benue State meant to discuss the forthcoming congresses and national convention of the party was attended by Senior party members from the nine local government areas of the district, including the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Audu Ogbeh.


However, according to reports, the State Chairman of the party Comrade Emmanuel Abba Yaro stormed the meeting with six bus-load of thugs and cultists led by one Austin Agada who was introduced as SSA on Administration to the Governor of Benue State and Daniel Ekele alias Ndidi, a supervisory councillor from Ogbadibo local government area of the State.

Trouble started when the former Senate President, Barr. Ameh Ebute observed that the atmosphere was not conducive for party businesses and was shouted down by Mohammad Hassan the Zone C District Chairman of the party whose brother, Iliya Hassan, was positioned at the high table to attack any one with dissenting opinion from their agenda. The former Senate President amidst shout of "seat down" insisted that no serious business can be discussed in that atmosphere.


The Minister of Agriculture Mr. Audu Ogbeh who rose to speak was also shouted down by Abba Yaro’s thugs but he insisted that there shall be no imposition contrary to Mr. Yaro’s insistence that he should be endorsed and pronounced unopposed.


Hon. Hassan Anthony Saleh, the member representing Okpokwu, Ado and Ogbadibo Federal Constituency was denied access to the microphone and was rather told to go back to PDP amidst push to attack him.


The meeting was however brought to an abrupt end when the thugs started clapping and shouting, calling the Agric Minister, "Mr. Cattle Colony", on Abba Yaro’s order. Hon Hassan Saleh was followed and dragged by Iliya Hassan and Daniel Ekele alias Ndidi who were positioned to attack anyone whose opinions or contributions go contrary to Mr. Abba Yaro's dictates


It took the intervention of the Agriculture Minister's security aides to rescue the member of the National Assembly from the venue. The district chairman Mohammed Hassan at this point shifted the meeting from Double K. Hotel to the party Zonal Secretariat across the road for item 7 according to him.


The money meant for the cultists and thugs was handed over to Illyasu Hassan an alleged cultist of the Red Beret which led to a scuffle and an alleged cultist of who felt short-changed shot and killed the Red Beret fellow at the zonal party secretariat.

Abba Yaro who ran out at this point left Hassan Mohammad to contend with the crisis and left for Makurdi.


The Red Beret Cult went on rampage searching for the to their homes hence one Pastor Sam was killed by Iliya (Illyasu) Hassan and his group.

An eye witness Mr. Owoicho Adah said "I have never seen a thing like this as PDP in their impunity never brought death and sorrow to Idoma land with their internal crisis. Can you imagine Abba Yaro stormed the venue of the meeting with six truck loads of thugs and cultist only to disembarked from his vehicle at the junction leading to the hotel and being escorted to the hotel with heavily armed thugs?"


Speaking on behalf of the Zone C Elders' Forum, Elder Okopi who said 3 of the six injured victims earlier hospitalized were reported dead Friday afternoon by the deceased families who spoke to him (Okopi), called on the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to immediately arrest Mohammad Hassan, Dan Ekele (Ndidi) and Austine Agada and charge them for murder of those youths.


Earlier, another eye witness, Barrister Mathias Onoja in his opinion asked the elders of the party to petition the national secretariat of the party as Abba Yaro, Hassan Mohammad conduct of invading the party meeting with thugs and cultists is in violation of article 21 vii and viii which led to the death of persons at the party premises and in Otukpo town as higher death toll rises to 10. He also advised the elders to petition the Police against Abba Yaro and his cohorts for murder to stem this tide of violence of higher dimensions ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Simon Godwin Idoko, a 26-year-old young man, who graduated a with First Class degree from the Department of Applied Chemistry, Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto has revealed how he conquered his setbacks to become one of the best students in his department.



Idoko, a native of Udaburu Owukpa, Ogbadibo LGA of Benue State, said his dream of becoming a medical doctor or pharmacist was frustrated after sitting for UTME for five times without success.



Still not discouraged, Godwin decided to apply for a different science-related course and was offered to study Applied Chemistry at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto where he graduated with a first class, garnering a total of 4.75 CGPA.



Speaking with DAILY POST on Monday, Idoko, a former student of Wesley High School, Otukpo, and LGEA Primary School, Udaburu, Owukpa attributed his success to God and hard work.



According to him, “I left secondary school in 2007 from Wesley High School, Otukpo where I was awarded the overall best in Mathematics. I took UTME six times before I got admission to study Applied Chemistry. I was initially applying for Medicine and Surgery due to the advice from different people.



“I have never scored below 200 in UTME and the most disappointing time during the period of struggling to get admission was when I scored 264 in UTME and 68 in Post UTME in 2012 but I was not offered admission to study any course.



“The only course I was offered throughout the period of the six years was the course that I studied (Applied Chemistry). It was very frustrating then."



Recalling his challenges and the pain he went through, the young chemist said, “By the grace of God, I didn't face financial challenges due to the constant support from my parents, Chief & Mrs. Simon Omonu Idoko as well as my uncle, Dr. Idoko Emmanuel Omale. Additionally, NNPC/Total scholarship and Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) scholarship that I won contributed in no small measure to my wellbeing in the university. However, one of my challenges was acclimatizing to the harsh weather condition in Sokoto."



On how he was able to achieve the feat despite facing admission challenges for six years, Idoko said, “I was able to achieve the feat through continuous prayer, hard work and the zeal to always be the best I can be.



“The secret behind my success emanated from the fact that as the first son of my father, I wanted to set a standard to which my younger ones can emulate."



Asked about his social life while on campus, he said, “I didn't have much time for social activities on campus. However, I was a strong member of National Union of Benue State Students (NUBESS).


“Telling anyone that graduating with first class is easy is one of the most expensive lies in the world. To achieve such feat, one must be ready to do what ordinary students cannot do such as spending money on good textbooks, spending more time reading and spending less time on social activities.



“My message to anyone who wants to graduate with first class is that such a person should bear in mind that attaining such feat is not easy so the person should be ready to make sacrifices.



“He has to start reading from the beginning of the semester and not when examination is around the corner.



“He should not struggle for many lecturers to know him because some lecturers are "anti-first class" and "anti-success". He should teach as many other students that he can teach and leave others because not everybody can be satisfied.



“I'm praying to start my M.Sc. programme after my NYSC. I would like to be a lecturer but if I'm lucky to get a job in a multinational company, it would be very good as well.


"I graduated with a CGPA of 4.75. I was one of the best students in my department.”

SOURCE>>>>http://dailypost.ng/2018/04/24/wrote-jamb-six-times-26-year-old-young-man-graduated-first-class/

NEMA probe: Centre writes Speaker, Dogara, warns against political undertones

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET), has written the Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, the Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, on the ongoing investigations into the activities of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

NEMA has being on the EFCC radar following the alleged disappearance of N2.5billion from the agency.


Six top directors of the agency had since been suspended indefinitely in connection with the missing fund.


CESJET in a letter addressed to the Honourable Speaker and obtained by DAILY POST on Monday, warned the Green Chamber not to allow the mater fades into cultural pot of time.

The letter partly reads.

The available documentary evidence suggests that the former Director- General of NEMA, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Sidi, perpetrated lots of unwholesome atrocities while in office. He practically turned the agency and its resources into a private company by awarding arbitrary contracts and making payments that violated all known public procurement processes. This accounts for why a grand plot has been designed by some individuals acting on behalf of those indicted NEMA officials and presently being dramatized at the Investigative Hearing to cover up for Alhaji Mohammed Sani Sidi.

Honourable Speaker sir, you are very much aware that upon resumption of duty of the current Director-General, the funds left in the coffers of NEMA was a meagre N4.6 Million and a liability of N1.5 Billion. The immediate past Director-General, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Sidi, paid for contracts without proper documentation and maintained 20 different accounts in various banks despite his public servant status. The EFCC found suspicious deposits amounting to 164, 000 US Dollars in his domiciliary account at Standard Chartered Bank alone, all within 18 months. At the same time, he had up to £58, 000 in his Pounds Sterling Account.

The records are clear that the suspended Director of Finance and Accounts, Akinbola Hakeem Gbolahan, also maintained many bank accounts with questionable transactions. In particular, his account in GTBank Plc contained suspicious deposits totalling N27, 650,000. Also, deposits of over £37,000 and $120,000 were found in his domiciliary accounts, and much of these deposits flowed directly from NEMA.

Similarly, the acting Director of Special Duties, Mr. Umesi Emenike, diverted funds meant for programmes and maintenance of the South-South Zone operations of NEMA under his supervision. The funds were paid directly into his accounts (14 of them have been discovered by EFCC in various banks), instead of the Zonal Office Account. Mr. Emenike was found to have withdrawn freely in cash, by electronic transfers or through ATM Machines, without any evidence of the money being used for NEMA activities.

An EFCC report indicated that the Director of Risk Reduction, Mr. Alhassan Nuhu, also maintained five bank accounts which were apparently used as conduits to receive and distribute money from NEMA coffers. According to the report, so far, Mr. Nuhu has not been able to give a satisfactory account of the transactions, including NEMA funds moving through him to a company called Dambo Farms Limited.

The report also indicted the pilot in charge of NEMA’s Air Ambulance, Mamman Ali Ibrahim. He commercialized both the NEMA Air Ambulance and Helicopter. The report further shows that EFCC traced at least N285 Million to him, of which only N63 Million was paid to the Accountant General’s Office and another N11 Million was paid to NEMA while the balance could not be accounted for. According to the report, some of the money was however channelled to his family members through his company named Aerocare West Africa Limited, while others in foreign exchange were directly traced to the former DG’s accounts.

There is also the case of M. Kanar Mohammed, the Director of Welfare. His six bank accounts were found to be replete with NEMA funds, including the sum of N214 Million meant for displaced traditional rulers in the North East but diverted, N184 Million paid by him to one Crystal Chambers and N29.5 Million paid by him to a former Minister, Abdul Bulama.

Honourable Speaker, it would interest you to know that the sacked Directors in league with the former Director-General of NEMA illegally carted away various papers from NEMA files in their bid to exonerate themselves and challenge their suspension, claiming they were innocent whistle-blowers being victimized by the Governing Council. Therefore, the action of the sacked Directors by dragging the Governing Council of NEMA to the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness is a calculated attempt to subvert the course of justice.

It is worrisome that NEMA, which is a strategic Agency saddled with the responsibility of mitigating national emergency situations in the country, would be milked dry and rendered comatose by Alhaji Mohammed Sani Sidi and his cohorts as exposed herein only for the House of Representatives to focus their probe solely on the current Director-General. We believe that some wicked elements within the House of Representatives are desperate to cover the tracks of the former Director-General and the suspended 6 Directors about the alleged fraud and violation of public trust in NEMA. Unless and until Alhaji Mohammed Sani Sidi is handcuffed by the EFCC and detained for thorough investigation, we in the civil society will never be convinced that the House of Representatives is all out to genuinely and transparently exercise their power to conduct investigations into the activities in line with Section 88 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

In view of the foregoing, we urgently call on the Honourable Speaker to suspend the ongoing Investigative Hearing on the activities of NEMA.
Alternatively, the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness should be directed to invite Alhaji Mohammed Sani Sidi, the 6 suspended Directors and other indicted persons or organizations for a holistic probe. The real criminals must be brought to book regardless of the campaign of defamation they have launched against the current Director-General of NEMA and by extension the Governing Council headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, GCON.

We are patriotic citizens who believe that justice and fairness must be served in the interest of Nigeria as a whole. History will not forgive us if we fold our arms and refuse to act now only to allow the polity of our dear country to be continuously heated up by some enemies. To this end, we wish to warn that CESJET will be compelled to address the media and take other necessary actions within the next few days if the Honourable Speaker does not consider and heed our demands as contained in this letter.

Failure to adhere to the content of this letter would leave us with no option to agree with the wildly held view in public domain that your alleged persistent threats to deal with the Director General over his relationship with the Governor of Bauchi State, Alh Mohammed Abubakar is at play and Nigerians shall take a firm and decisive Step to address it.

Accept the assurances of our best regards.

Yours faithfully,
FOR: CENTRE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, EQUITY AND TRANSPARENCY


Edward Omaga, Esq.
(Legal Adviser)


CC:
His Excellency,
Professor Yemi Osinbajo
Vice President,
Federal Republic of Nigeria

His Excellency,
Distinguished Senator Bukola Saraki
President of the Senate,
Federal Republic of Nigeria



CP Ibrahim Magu
Acting Executive Vice Chairman,
Economics and Financial Crimes Commission
Abuja

Engr. Mustapha Maihaja
Director General
National Emergency Management Agency
Abuja
[ NEMA].

As reactions continue to trail the killing of a soldier in Naka, Gwer LGA of Benue State, a human rights group, under the auspices of Coalition of Conflict Resolution and Human Rights in Nigeria, has said the incident posed grave danger to troops and practitioners across the world and not only in Benue State.

DAILY POST reports that no fewer than 20 houses were during the week razed down after military men on reprisals attacked Naka community over the killing of one of their men by the youths in the area.


The state government had through the Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Titus Zam, said the unfortunate incident was highly regrettable and condemnable.

It however, vowed to bring the attack to book.

Also, reacting to the incident in a statement issued on Saturday Coalition of Conflict Resolution and Human Rights said the alleged murder of the troop was as set a back for global peace mission as people who once laid down their lives for the peace of others would be discouraged by that uncharitable act coming from Benue State.

Marxwell Gowon esq, Executive Director in a statement issued and forwarded to DAILY POST, said the incident had revealed the grave danger such actions posed to the sustenance of peace and stability in the country.

According to Gowon, “On Thursday April 19, 2018 youths in Naka killed a soldier, buried him in the bush and went away with his gun, leading to troops having to take steps to track down the killers.

“These killers that have been provoking crisis are apparently the same militias that were armed and mobilized by the Benue state government, which has so far refused to identify and demobilize them in the interest of peace.

“To the extent that the Benue state government remains uncooperative with the Federal Government towards finding a lasting resolution to the farmers/herdsmen clashes, and in view of the growing threats to troops on deployment to these areas, it has become imperative that the tactics for containing the violence be redirected to tackle the problem from the root cause.

“The Federal Government should sanction communities that embark on such barbaric acts against peace-keepers from any security organization, aide and humanitarian workers as this is not only condemnable but against international peace-keeping laws and conventions on armed conflicts.

“We call on the Nigerian Army not to be discouraged by the ingratitude of this community. The death of its personnel should not be allowed to distract it from the mission to restore peace in Benue State and other parts of the country.

“While the Coalition on Conflict Resolution and Human Rights in Nigeria continues to monitor the situation in Benue state and other areas across the country, we shall make a full report available on what transpired in that state after full investigation. It is therefore our stand that stakeholders take proactive steps to assure troops and peace agents across the world that it will not repeat itself again.

http://dailypost.ng/2018/04/21/naka-mayhem-rghts-group-reveals-implications-soldiers-murder/

The Benue Proactive Initiative, a civil society group has condemned in strong terms what it tagged as the barbaric, wicked and malicious killing of a personnel of the Nigerian Army in Naka, Gwer West Local Government Area of the State on Wednesday.


Report had it that some youths in Naka had attacked troops, who were on a peace-keeping mission in the area, thereby triggering reprisals from the army.

Reacting to the incident through a statement issued on Thursday night, Comrade Terkaa Jam, Convener, BPI, said the unfortunate incident was highly regrettable and condemnable.


Jam noted the soldiers deployed to Benue State on Peace keeping have been making frantic efforts to curtail the incessant crisis between herders and farmers in the country.


He said, “We wish to boldly attest to the fact that until last night when these restive youths decided to kill and bury an officer after disarming him, the people have had a very cordial relationship with the Nigerian Army and do appreciate all their efforts towards restoring peace to the various communities in the state.



“We understand that these acts were carried out by miscreants whose past time is cheap drugs and have nothing to offer the society and regrettable that this led to the burning down of houses by the soldiers who had once conducted themselves peacefully. As much as we submit that the anger was well understood, it is our desire that the military does not turn its table against us or stop being of immense assistance to us because of these criminal elements.


“The Benue Proactive Initiative wishes to make it abundantly clear that the action of these few disgruntled elements in the state doesn’t represent our relationship with the military neither does it portray our appreciation of their numerous sacrifices to the peace project in Benue State. It is therefore clear that the actions of the youths were aimed at jeopardizing the peace gradually returning to the local government.


“We extend our condolence to the President and Commander-in-Chief, the Nigerian Army and families of the deceased over the unfortunate incident, and also call on them to halt any action that may demonstrate the bitterness of the Nigerian Army and its Personnel towards the people.”

SOURCE>>>>http://www.idomavoice.com/2018/04/killing-of-soldier-in-naka-barbaric.html

By Yemi Itodo 



The Emir of Daura, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Umar Farouk Umar, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to kindly rescind his decision on the Nigerian Peace Corps (Establishment) Bill.


Alhaji Umar is the paramount ruler of the community where President Buhari hails from in Katsina state. 


President Buhari had, on the 27th February 2018, transmitted to the National Assembly, his decision to withhold assent to the Bill, giving paucity of funds and duplication of duties of existing security agencies, as reasons. 


Addressing the delegation of officers of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) led by its National Commandant, Amb. (Dr.) Dickson Akoh in his Palace yesterday, the Emir commended the organization for its doggedness and for conducting itself peacefully by resorting to Rule of Law and Advocacy in pursuing its goals. 


He said, as a father, he would look into the demands of the Corps with a view to making the Bill see the light of the day.


The paramount ruler acknowledged that, "when the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill becomes law, it would serve as a platform for providing massive job opportunities for the Nigerian youths and creating the desired peaceful atmosphere against the prevailing height of insecurity in Nigeria".


Speaking earlier,  the Peace Corps boss said, the Corps has not breached any known provisions of the laws of the land to warrant the constant harassment it has been suffering in the hands of some security agencies, stressing that his organization was a mere victim of distortion of facts and misrepresentations.


Akoh told his host that, "when it became obvious that there was a grand conspiracy to misrepresent the noble intentions of the NPC Bill before Mr. President with a view to frustrating his assent to it, the Corps, in September 2017, formally requested for an audience with Your Royal Highness, which was graciously granted", pointing out that, on getting to Katsina, ‘’we were told that Your Highness was indisposed.’’


‘’If that visit with you had held and the facts of our case laid bare before you, it would have averted this temporary setback occasioned by Mr. President vetoing the Bill. Notwithstanding, now that we are with you, we do know and very hopeful that you will use your good office to appeal to your son, our President who we hold in high esteem to reconsider his earlier stance on this all-important Bill, ’’ Akoh said.


The National Commandant, who likened the visit to that of a ‘’child in distress reaching out to his father for solution’’, assured the Emir that, contrary to all negative reports against the Peace Corps, the organization has remained steadfast in its obedience to the rule of law, even as he also submitted that, evidence abounds that the organization was highly misrepresented before the President.


To further buttress his point, Akoh said that if the President is not convinced of the nobility of the Nigerian Peace Corps, he should set an Independent Commission of Inquiry to look into the past and present activities of the Corps, the outcome of which he assured would finally winnow the chaff from the grains of truth.

Yoruba youths, under the aegis of Progressive Yoruba Youth Congress have reacted to contradictions from House of Representatives panel currently investigating the alleged violation of public trust in the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) as the work of external influences on the committee bent on tarnishing the image of the Vice President and the Director General

The reps also resolved to summon Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Winifred Oyo-Ita, Head of Civil Service to appear before it’s panel.

The Yoruba group described the move as an a deeply rooted conspiracy to indict the Vice President and the DG by some external forces outing from outside the hallowed chamber.

Rep had last week concluded plan to invite Osinbajo, who doubles as the board chairman of NEMA.

Recall that the anti-graft agency had few weeks back invited 20 top officers of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for questioning over alleged N2.5billion scandal in the agency.


Consequently, the board of NEMA suspended six directors of the agency indefinitely in connection with the missing fund.

President of the PPYC, Comrade Kola Salawu, while speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, described the invitation as an affront on the person and office of the Vice President


According to Salawu, “The indisputable fact is that the current probe was initiated by the Board of NEMA and acting in consonance with established norms, the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who statutorily chairs the NEMA Board instantly suspended the directors implicated in the sleaze to pave way for a clean, unhindered and successful completion of the investigation by the EFCC.

“But rather than concentrate or channel energy on clearing their names or establishing their innocence, the directors have deployed various antics to subvert the course of justice, by dragging the NEMA Board to the House of Representatives ad hoc Committee.

“The invitation of the Vice President, Prof. Osinbajo by the Hon. Ali Isa-led committee over the N2.5 billion fraud, instead of the indicted six directors implicated in the fraud is an affront on the person and office of the Vice President. It is an undisguised plot to tarnish his good image, integrity and reputation, which cannot be allowed to stand.

“So, we want to unequivocally state that the actors in this sordid drama, particularly the House of Representative’s adhoc committee has no cogent, lawful or moral reasons to invite the Vice President, Prof. Osinbajo to appear before it on the laughable reason of explaining why he suspected the six directors implicated in the N2.5 billion alleged fraud were suspended. Should the House of Reps be more concerned about the suspension of the indicted officials; or genuinely assisting in tracing the whereabouts of alleged missing funds?

“This is completely laughable, senseless and unacceptable. We perceive the intervention of the House of Reps ad hoc committee from this flawed and illegal angle, as a discreet move to assist the indicted directors evade justice, but dubiously explore avenues to frame up Vice President Osinbajo to rubbish the anti-corruption campaign of President Muhemmedu Buhari ahead of the 2019 ballot.

“The Vice President, Prof. Osinbajo has not erred in any way to enable a drill by the House of Reps. It is therefore, more sensible and reasonable to allow the six directors suspended for their implications in the alleged fraud to defend themselves at the EFCC or possibly go to court, than the easy resort to gimmicks, vindictive actions and chasing of shadows by senselessly dragging the Vice President into the mess they orchestrated.

“Let us make it abundantly clear that these sponsored actors and their band of odious characters who are erroneously thinking, they have the power to destroy Prof. Osinbajo’s political career to have a rethink. Prof. Osinbajo is the most senior Yoruba appointee in the present government and any attempt to unjustifiably launch conspiratorial and satanic attacks on him, to rubbish the Southwest before Nigerians would be vehemently and lawfully resisted. We shall deem it as an attack on the whole of the Southwest and no weapon would be spared in this battle.


“We know Prof. Osinbajo as a personality and leader with strong positive character and integrity. No one would be allowed to baselessly tamper with the good reputation he has painstakingly erected over the years. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.”