₦airaland Forum

The Catholic Church on Monday clarified the recent transfer of Father Ejike Mbaka, saying the controversial priest was merely being sent to where he would be more useful to the church.
In its first reaction since the controversy over the transfer broke, the church church said the posting was not meant to be punitive.
In an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES Monday, the Secretary-General of the Catholic Secretar‎iat of Nigeria, Reverend Father Ralph Madu said transfer of priests within the catholic church is a “normal church procedure.”
“Mbaka’s own is not an exception,” Mr. Madu said. “The Bishop has the right to post any priest wherever he feels his service would be more useful to the church.”
Public criticisms had greeted the Enugu Diocese’s recent decision to transfer Mr. Mbaka out of Christ the King Parish‎, GRA, where he had served for over a decade and had established a popular prayer ministry, the Adoration Prayer Ministry.
Mr. Mbaka is to resume immediately at his new post at the Our Lady Parish, Emene.
The priest, who is as fiery as he is controversial, had described his ‎re-posting by the church as a “calculated move” to make him suffer.
“I know we are going to suffer within now and few months to come,” the priest said. I am going to suffer and suffer; I know that. I’m going to suffer because I have no place to put my head. I am going to suffer because I have no place to keep the Adoration Ministry’s assets. I know I’m going to suffer.”
On Sunday, the South-East zone of the All Progressives Congress alleged that Bishop Callistus Onaga was manipulated by external forces into effecting Mr. Mbaka’s transfer.
“As a party, we have watched with concern and trepidation the criticism, the attack, assault and unpleasant comments hurled against Fr. Mbaka since he providentially prophesied that President Buhari would win the 2015 elections,” the APC said in a statement by Osita Okechukwu, Spokesperson of its South-East caucus.
“Even the church did not spare him; he was called unprintable names, yet his prophecy came true.”
In the run-up to last year’s presidential election, Mr. Mbaka had told a gathering of thousands of catholic faithfuls at his Adoration Prayer Ground ministry to vote out then president, Goodluck Jonathan.
The priest, renowned for his blunt sermons, has a huge followership in‎ South East Nigeria, where thousands of Catholics throng to his prayer ground for healing and miracles.
But following his recent transfer to a new parish, speculations were rife that his being moved to another parish was punishment for his unalloyed support of a Muslim candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari, over his Christian predecessor, Mr. Jonathan.
But Mr. Madu told PREMIUM TIMES that “such frivolities ‎have nothing to do with the posting.”
“His posting should have been a privilege, not a punishment – which the Bishop can do because he has the power.
“If he (Mbaka) says it’s a punishment, then it’s open for further investigation. Posting is a regular thing, a priest can be transferred after two, three, four, or more years, it depends on the discretion of the Bishop.
“That ministry (Adoration Ministry) is his private ministry, it does not belong to the church. Overseeing a parish is a full time job. Overseeing a ministry is a bigger task. If the church decides to take him somewhere where he’ll have more time to carry out his ministry, how is it punitive? That should not be the language.”
Mr. Madu said Mr. Mbaka had done things that were unacceptable to the church in the past but received no punishments for them.
“He is supposed to be a missionary,” Mr. Madu said. “What if the Bishop had closed down the ministry‎, which is within his power to do? Sometimes, transfers can be for the good of the priest as something can be going wrong which he might not be aware of. The Bishop is free to move any priest at any time, it is his prerogative.”

Firefire:
SMH

Fake and fraudulent promises.


APC, party of professional liars and career fraudsters.

poshestmina:

One chance

The report, which covers the activities of the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government from May 29 to December 31, 2015, observed in its assessment that the achievement was in the area of the fight against corruption, even though a lot was still left undone in that regard.
“PMB has only achieved 1 out of the 222 tracked promises, which constitutes 0.5 percent of the promises,” Buharimetre reported.
“ More so, it reveals that while the government is taking action to achieving only 27 (12.2 percent approximately) of the tracked promises thus ongoing, 194 electoral promises are still ‘Not Rated.’
“ The latter constitutes 87.3 percent of the tracked promises.”
The electoral promises not rated, it says, is because there is “no tangible related activities being implemented.”
The 2015 report is the fourth on the series of report on the assessment of the performance of President Muhammadu Buhari and the governing party, the APC, on the delivery of its 222 electoral promises.
The report examined and focused on issues around insecurity, the economy, oil and gas, corruption, agriculture and social sectors, with emphasis on the environment.
It also provided useful insights into the current state of key sectors as a way of establishing the basis of measuring outcomes.
Assessing the fight against corruption, the report noted that there had been visible efforts to combat corruption since the inauguration of the present administration, naming the arrest and prosecution of some notable persons and the efforts to recover looted funds.
“PMB anti-corruption efforts have been commended as a step in the right direction,” the report noted.
“ Positive opinions in this regard are due to the possible positive impact of the efforts on development and democracy in the country.
“However, the government has been accused of politics of selection in the fight against corruption. A delay in the prosecution of the accused people has been a major criticism of the government. Moreover, while the government has shown unmatched commitment to curbing corruption, such effort should be institutionalised.”
The report observed that one of the promises of the current administration was to strengthen the capacity of anti-graft agencies, particularly EFCC and ICPC, by guaranteeing their prosecutorial and financial independence as well as security of tenure.
“Despite the fact that the anti-grant agencies have shown renewed efforts in the fight against corrupt practices, there has been no effort by the government to amend relevant laws to guarantee their independence in these areas,” states the report.
“Moreover, nothing has been done to enact the Whistle Blower Act, as promised by the administration. We believe that through these interventions, the performance of anti-graft agencies would not rely on the personality and political will of President Buhari, but rather the campaign against corruption would be institutionalised and thereby would extend beyond the current administration.”
While stating that it was aware of government’s commitment to fighting corruption and blocking leakages in both the civil service and the oil and gas sector; and exhibiting a strong political will to fight corruption irrespective of who is involved, Buharimetre observed that the fight against corruption must not be devoid of strict adherence to the rule of law.


“In the last few months, several of the people accused of corruption have been detained against the law, which stipulates that all accused must be brought before the court 48 hours after arrest,” it stated.
“Some people granted bail have since been re-arrested and detained. The fight against corruption must be pursued in line with due process and never in abuse of the law.
“It is also imperative for the government to acknowledge that the fight against corruption should not be confused as sufficient to address all governance challenges in the country.
“Essentially, fighting corruption is and should remain one of the policy priorities of government but not the only overarching intervention necessary to strengthen governance, especially in a country like Nigeria where democracy is still transitioning.
“The campaign against corrupt practices should simultaneously exist with interventions such as social provisions that could discourage people from engaging in corrupt practices, and to a large extent, galvanize support for the campaign. This may also help institutionalise the anti-corruption process in the country.
“ Allegations of perceived bias continue to be made against the PMB administration in several parts of the country. For instance, the South Eastern part of the country continues to claim marginalization on the part of the government.”
Boko Haram
Although, Buharimetre noted the efforts of the Nigerian military in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency in the north east of Nigeria and to ensure security in the entire country, it said the rising wave of violent crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping, militancy in the Nigeria Delta and the activities of Biafra separatists groups were posing even greater danger to the security of life in the country.
The report acknowledged the achievements in decimating the capabilities of Boko Haram insurgents in the North East and the reorganization of the entire structure in the anti-terrorism project, but noted that the sect continues to display strong resilience and shocking adaptability.
“Members of the group, who formerly travelled in armoured personnel carriers (APCs), now ride horses, motor bikes and bicycles to carry out their nefarious activities,” said the report.
“ These range from poisoning water when fleeing villages and adopting soft target attacks using suicide bombing, executed mostly by young girls.
“The insurgents have also carried out attacks in Nyanya and Kuje, on the outskirts of the capital city, Abuja.”
It faulted the government’s responses to the increasing number of internally displaced persons whose living conditions had become life threatening.
The report also underscored government’s failure to officially unveil its accountability plans for resolving the Boko Haram insurgency.
“This may be partly because the problem is not Boko Haram alone. Amnesty International recently issued a report titled Stars on Their Shoulders, Blood on Their Hands indicting the Nigerian military for its wanton killings in the war against the insurgency,” it said.
“The ICC-OTP has also established eight possible cases of crimes against humanity in relation to the North East of Nigeria. This includes six possible cases against Boko Haram and two possible cases against the Nigerian security forces.”
The report also drew attention to the fact that the remote and immediate causes of violent extremism are still very much alive in the polity.
“There are smaller, less popular Islamic radical groups present in several parts of Northern Nigeria,” says the report.
“For instance, Yanlabaiku in Kebbi state is preaching against Western education and Westernisation, and Niger state is pervaded by different radical Islamist groups. Most of these groups live in seclusion, preaching and practicing radical Islam.”

It also cited armed banditry which had continue to terrorise rural communities, rustling cattle, raping and abducting women and girls, killing people and committing highway robbery and thus increasing tension in Northern Nigeria.
Also citing the Biafra struggle, the report noted that the state approach, and particularly the security sector approach in handling the conflicts remained a cause for concern across the country.
“There are fears that if the IPOB is not properly managed, it may degenerate into a low level insurgency, further compounding current security challenges,” it said.
“Soon after the security agents clampdown on the Biafra separatist movement, there were reports that the Nigerian Army, in preventing an alleged attempted assassination on the Chief of Army staff, General Buratai, killed twenty Shia members in Zaria.
“The Shia are said to have put up barricades and blocked the road to be used by General Buratai. The Army went to the sect’s enclave Husainiyyah, the residence of sect leader Ibrahim Zakzaky in Gyallesu, and the DarurRahma mosque, where many unarmed people were killed.
“Human Rights Watch (HRW), has alleged that no fewer than 300 members of the Shia sect were killed and secretly buried by members of the Nigerian army,” the report stated.

“Never trash your brand no matter whatever the government of the day is saying about you”,

spanishkid:
Nnamdi Kanu has entered one chance. He called Nigeria a zoo and even solicited for arms to fight the country. You don't grant bail to traitors and secessionists. The penalty for treason is death by hanging or life imprisonment. Nnamdi Kanu must die.

obailala:
How can a person just wake up and start wishing Nigerians all sorts of disasters, calamity and death??... And then he foolishly walks into the same Nigeria and expects Nigeria to smile and treat him with love??

The constitutional provisions for treason are very clearly spelt out in the Nigerian constitution and Kanu's crime is clearly treason. I do not see any chance of Kanu leaving jail any time soon.

nigerianvenom:
Its a ppp stuff

NgeneUkwenu:

Mynd44:
His lawyers dont know what they are doing. A charge of treason cannot be bailed because the penalty is death.

sukkot:
phockphockman you done buy shares for nairaland ? all ya topics just dey hit frontpage anyhow. up enyimba

nigerianvenom:
The Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Mr Udom Emmanuel is partnering with the private sector to establish three oil refineries in the state.

The Commissioner for Commerce and Industries in the state, Barr Emmanuel Enoidem gave the hint when he spoke to our correspondent in his office.

Enoidem told THE SIGNAL that the state Government is partnering with the private sector to establish three crude oil refineries.

The commissioner said the first refinery, Rev Oil Petroleum Limited when completed will have a capacity to produce 50,000 barrels per day.

He noted that the interesting part of the refinery project is that it is seated on an oil block. "The oil block was owned by shell and later the Federal Government took it over and sold it to the present company. It is in Iko in Eastern Obolo LGA. There are about 17 oil wells in that region and 15 have been confirmed to be commercially viable. The proximity between where the crude oil is found and the refinery is very short". He added.

Enoidem also said that the second Refinery is Resource Petroleum Limited, which will produce over 100,000 barrels per day.

He disclosed that all the licenses had been obtained and that the location, about 96 hectares of land has been cleared between Eket and Ibeno local Government Areas.

He said that the team from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) is expected soon to inspect the location, so that Preisdent Mohammadu Buhari can visit the state for a ground breaking ceremony between now and April, 2016.

Enoidem further said that the ministry of lands and housing is working on the staff quarters and that a lot has been achieved so far on the project. "The unique design for the refinery has been approved. The major engineering design and final designs will be approved soon".

The Commerce and Industry Commissioner further expressed Government's desire to make the Amakpe Refinery project a reality.

He disclosed that a couple of meetings between parties have been carried out. "It is the first privately owned oil refinery in Nigeria. Government has inspected the facilities and is satisfied. The design and engineering metrics are fine at the manufacturing facility in Pasadena Texas" He said.

"There are debts to settle at the Amakpe Refinery. The refinery was built about eight years ago and it has been warehoused by the company that fabricated it. 14.9 million dollars is to be paid. It includes the cost of shipment back to Nigeria, clearing and installation by the technical team. The refinery has a capacity of 6,000 panels per day, expandable to 12,000" He added.

He said already the government is sourcing for funding to pay up the debt and bring back the refinery.

He appealed to the people of the state to support the Udom Emmanuel Government as it has what it takes to rejuvenate the drowning economy of the State at a time the nation's economy is dwindling. He said that the three refineries would employ more than 500,000 people directly and indirectly when completed.

https://mobile.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1245406965487382&substory_index=0&id=1025873237440757

Seun,lalasticlaca,tonyebarcanista,phockphockman,ibokoutoroh,etc

ahaika23:
This is morning. By the time WIke is through with that amazon, he will abandon his Ministry and relocate to Ghana again!

Demdem:
Foolish man. When he has a serious case he will go to court.

Mjshexy:
Heyyy..half of our budget . Common Wike it's too early for child's play, so where did Ameachi get the money he used in building those computerized schools, roads & hospitals or did he use his own pocket money? Anyway there should be a thorough investigation & money looted must be refunded oh

kolawaxxy:
..if I was the judge, I would grant him a 700 million naira bail then call him for trial after two weeks which of course will have him incarcerated for life

baralatie:
The APC sowed this evil seed "heavily" and they think it is fun.

Obiagelli:
Is he talking about the helicopter without rotor he bought that ended the life of a fighter pilot? Don fortunato aka EL clueNO (thanks to modath)

In an interview with France 24, the Nigerian leader said insurgency caught the country unawares but his government laid a solid foundation for terrorism to be defeated.

“The new government is working hard and I believe they are still using the equipment we procured. Though the budget is still being debated, no new equipment has been bought, so even those equipment the president is using to prosecute the war against Boko Haram are those equipment we procured,” he said.

“When Boko Haram started in Nigeria, we had no terror experience. Yes we had armed robbery and other common crimes, but terrorism was different because the people involved were not afraid to die.

“So, you need a different mechanism to confront terrorism, you need superior technology, so that you will be able to stop them even before the attack. We never had the equipment, but when we were confronted, we started acquiring and before I left office we built reasonable capacity and I believe with what we left behind and also with what the new government will acquire, they will be able to prosecute this terror war to a reasonable conclusion.”

Jonathan also attributed the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the loss of the 2015 election but expressed optimism that the former ruling party would soon gain stability.

“The PDP definitely will have some minor issues, it is expected… We lost the presidency and definitely we will have some kind of leadership problems. When you have a president, everybody looks up to the president. But when you no longer have the president, it becomes difficult for the party to have strong leadership.

“I believe whatever you observe will be sorted out. Leaders of the party, elders of the party have been meeting and all this perceived disagreement will soon be sorted out.

“Every political party has misunderstanding, it is not new, it is always there. From the beginning of PDP, even before I got to Abuja as a vice-president and president, there were instances when the chairman of the party will be asked to step down. And some officers leave from time to time when there are issues. So what is happening is not new but I promise you that PDP will stabilize.

“In fact, by March this year, we are going in to elect officers at the lowest levels of the wards to the local government, to the states, to the zones then of course at the national officers will be elected; that is just in March. So the party will bounce back, whatever you are perceiving, it always happen and we will get over it.”

Why Exit of Secondus A Welcome Development:
I have to state without fear or favor that the exit of Prince Secondus as National Chairman is a welcome development for the party. Under the watch of Secondus, the pary's fortune grew from bad to worse, from redeemable to almost irredeemable. The soul of the party moved from the hands of the people to those of corrupt and greedy men that empowers foot-soldiers to constantly offend people of non-SS/SE extraction, and non-sympathisers of Kanu-secessionist IPOB movement. These people made PDP appear like a party of only Nnamdi Kanu IPOB sympathisers (opposition to this group was seen as anti-PDP by these people). In fact, the party's image became so battered that it shamelessly came to open defence of those standing trials for corruption, a position it has NEVER taken before now. The party lacked direction in its role as opposition, and constituted nuisance for most of the time it speaks on national issues, which made some of us stayed on the sideline and watch in disbelief.

chubhiee:
omenka is on a flight to Eritrea.

BeClever:
omenka come and masturbate on this thread..

You have a way of surfacing each time.. .
These IPOB no dey tire!

Chanchit:
When dem no crase, why would they near my time.

Chanchit:
Una just dey waste the times of your lives.