₦airaland Forum

".....The Fu­lani causing security problems in the country were.......Influx of Fulani from neighboring countries like Sierra Leone, Mali, Senegal, Niger and Chad brought into the country for election purposes in 2015.

After the election, the Fu­lani have refused to leave. I and other like minds wrote and warned those we started APC with that this was going to hap­pen but nobody listened,”

A Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sunusi Khalil, has alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) planned to spend N500 billion to mobilise Islamic scholars and traditional rulers in the North to support the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Khalil made the claim in a video circulated by Rigasa TV News, where he said he was personally approached to join the initiative but rejected the proposal.

According to the cleric, those behind the alleged plan intended to use religious and traditional leaders to influence public opinion and rally support for the party in the build-up to the elections, which are scheduled for January 16, 2027.

“They have budgeted N500 billion to mobilise Mallams and traditional rulers so that they can campaign for them,” Khalil said.

He added that he was invited to participate in the project but turned down the offer and warned those who approached him not to bring such proposals to him again.

“They invited me to join the project, but I rejected the offer with a warning that they should never bring something like that to me again,” he said.

The cleric also claimed that an individual within the government contacted him regarding the alleged arrangement, but he refused to cooperate. As of the time of filing this report, the APC had not issued an official response to the allegation.

However, there is no publicly available federal budget line indicating a N500 billion allocation for such a programme. The claim has nonetheless sparked debate online, particularly as many Nigerians continue to raise concerns over economic hardship and funding gaps in critical sectors such as healthcare.

Mothering Sunday is one of the most misunderstood observances in the Christian lcalendar. Many people assume it is simply the Church’s version of modern Mother’s Day, but historically this is not correct. Mothering Sunday did not begin as a celebration of biological mothers. It began as a deeply liturgical, ecclesial, and spiritual observance rooted in the life of the Church, especially in England.

To understand it properly, one must trace its origin within the Western Church, its development in medieval Christianity, its decline after the Reformation, and its later confusion with the modern celebration known as Mother’s Day.

This article presents the true origin, purpose, and meaning of Mothering Sunday, and explains how it differs from the modern secular Mother’s Day.

1. Where Mothering Sunday Began. Mothering Sunday developed within the Western Church, particularly in England, during the Middle Ages. It was not started by a single bishop, pope, or council. Rather, it grew gradually out of liturgical practice.

It became associated with the Fourth Sunday in Lent, also known in Latin as Laetare Sunday, from the opening word of the traditional Introit of the Mass:"Laetare Jerusalem" Rejoice, O Jerusalem (Isaiah 66:10).

Because Lent was a season of fasting and penitence, Laetare Sunday was a day of relaxation and joy in the middle of the Lenten discipline. The Church allowed lighter fasting, flowers were permitted in some places, and the liturgy took on a more hopeful tone. In England, this Sunday became known as Mothering Sunday because of a custom connected with the idea of the Mother Church.

2. The Meaning of “Mother Church” in Medieval Christianity. In medieval theology, the Church herself was called Mother. This idea comes from Scripture and the Fathers. Saint Paul wrote in Galatians 4:26: "Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.”

Early Christians believed that the Church is mother because she gives birth to believers through baptism, nourishes them through the sacraments, and teaches them through the Word of God.

The phrase Mother Church could mean several things: The universal Church. The cathedral church of the diocese. The church where one was baptised. The main church of the region

In England, people often lived and worked far from the place where they were baptised. On the Fourth Sunday in Lent, they were encouraged to return to their mother church to worship. This is one of the strongest historical roots of Mothering Sunday.

3. The Custom of Returning to the Mother Church. By the late Middle Ages in England, it became customary that on the Fourth Sunday in Lent, Christians would go back to their mother church. . This meant different things in different places.
-I). Sometimes it meant the cathedral.
-II). Sometimes it meant the parish where one was baptised.
-III). Sometimes it meant the main church of the area.

Servants, apprentices, and young workers who lived away from home were often given the day off so that they could travel back to their home parish. Because of this, the day naturally became a time of family reunion.

When people returned home, they also visited their parents, especially their mothers. Over time, this family aspect became stronger, but it was not the original reason for the observance. The original reason was ecclesial, not sentimental.

4. The Liturgical Background of the Fourth Sunday in Lent. Mothering Sunday is tied to the readings and prayers of the Fourth Sunday in Lent.

In the traditional Western lectionary, the Epistle for this Sunday is Galatians 4:21-31, which speaks about Jerusalem as our mother. This passage strongly influenced the development of the day.

The Gospel reading, traditionally the feeding of the five thousand, also emphasised nourishment, provision, and care, themes that easily connected with the idea of motherly care. Because of these readings, the Church began to associate this Sunday with the idea of spiritual motherhood.

Thus the day had three connected meanings:
-I). The Church as Mother
-II). The heavenly Jerusalem as Mother
-III). The local church as Mother. Only later did the idea of biological mothers become prominent.

5. Mothering Sunday in the Church of England. Mothering Sunday became especially strong in England, and therefore later in the Church of England. After the Reformation, many medieval customs disappeared, but Mothering Sunday survived because it was linked to the Prayer Book calendar.

The Book of Common Prayer retained the Fourth Sunday in Lent with its traditional readings, including Galatians 4. Even though the term “Mothering Sunday” does not appear in the Prayer Book, the custom continued among the people.

By the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, it had become a well known English tradition. People would attend church, return to their mother parish, and spend time with family. It was still primarily religious, not commercial.

6. The Simnel Cake and Other English Customs. In England, Mothering Sunday developed certain customs. One famous custom was the Simnel cake, a special fruit cake often decorated with eleven balls of marzipan representing the apostles, excluding Judas.

Servants who went home to visit their families would bring such cakes as gifts. Flowers were also given, especially wild flowers picked on the journey home.

These customs helped strengthen the association of the day with family and with mothers, but they did not replace the original church meaning. The Church remained at the centre of the observance.

7. Decline and Revival. By the nineteenth century, Mothering Sunday began to decline in England, especially in industrial cities where people no longer travelled back to their home parishes.

In the early twentieth century, there was a revival of interest. This revival was influenced by two things:
I). A desire to restore traditional Christian customs.
II). The growing popularity of Mother’s Day in America.

An Englishwoman named Constance Adelaide Smith played a major role in reviving Mothering Sunday in the early twentieth century. She argued that the Church should keep its own ancient tradition instead of simply adopting the American Mother’s Day. Her work helped restore Mothering Sunday in the Church of England.

8. The Origin of Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day is not a church festival. It began in the United States in the early twentieth century. The modern Mother’s Day was promoted by Anna Jarvis, who wanted a national day to honour mothers. The first official celebration was in 1908, and in 1914 the President of the United States declared Mother’s Day a national holiday.

This celebration had no liturgical origin. It was emotional, social, and patriotic rather than ecclesiastical. It focused entirely on biological mothers. When Mother’s Day spread to other countries, many people began to confuse it with Mothering Sunday. In Britain and in Anglican churches, the two gradually merged.

9. The Difference Between Mothering Sunday and Mother’s Day. The difference is very important.

Mothering Sunday is: Rooted in the Church calendar. Connected to Lent. Based on theology of the Church as Mother. Linked to the Fourth Sunday in Lent. Originated in medieval England. Originally about the Mother Church.

Mother’s Day is A modern civil holiday. Not part of the liturgical calendar. Originated in the United States. Focused on biological mothers. Not connected to Lent. Not originally a church observance. Today many churches combine the two, but historically they are not the same.

10. The Deeper Spiritual Meaning Today
When properly understood, Mothering Sunday reminds Christians of several truths.
The Church is our Mother because through her we receive the Gospel and the sacraments. Heaven is our Mother because ofour citizenship is above. Our local parish is our Mother because it nurtures our faith.

Our earthly mothers deserve honour, but the day was never meant to be only about family sentiment. It was meant to remind believers that they belong to a spiritual family, and that the Church herself is the mother of the faithful.

In an age where many traditions are forgotten, recovering the true meaning of Mothering Sunday can help restore a deeper understanding of the Christian life, the Church, and our place within the household of God.

Ven. Alex Uzor
Digital Archdeacon

“Hitherto, the presentation of forged certificates, which forms part of the qualification requirements, had always been a ground for election petitions. But the new Electoral Act 2026 has removed that ground,”

The removal of certificate forgery as a ground for filing election petitions in the newly amended Electoral Act 2026 has sparked widespread criticism from legal experts, political analysts and key stakeholders, who warn that the provision could weaken democracy.

BusinessDay reports that Section 138 of the Electoral Act 2026 outlines the grounds upon which an election may be challenged, but no longer includes certificate forgery among them.

Section 138(1) of the Act states that an election may only be questioned on the grounds that the election was invalid due to corrupt practices or non-compliance with the provisions of the Act, or that the respondent was not duly elected by a majority of lawful votes cast.

The law further stipulates that acts or omissions that merely contradict instructions or directives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but do not violate the Act itself, cannot serve as grounds for questioning an election.

In addition, Section 138(3) imposes strict penalties where election petitions are filed on grounds outside those recognised by the Act. The court is required to impose fines of not less than N5 million on counsel and not less than N10 million on the petitioner.

Section 139 of the Act also provides that an election shall not be invalidated on the basis of non-compliance with the law if the tribunal or court determines that the election was conducted substantially in accordance with the principles of the Act and that the alleged non-compliance did not significantly affect the outcome of the election.

But the amendment has drawn sharp criticism from Jibrin Okutepa, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who questioned the legality and moral implications of removing certificate forgery as a basis for challenging election results.

In a statement posted on his official X account, Okutepa described the move as an “outrage” and a troubling attempt by the political class to weaken established standards of accountability. “This is an outrage, a brazen attempt to redefine a society’s moral code by a morally compromised political class. When criminals rule, the society’s morals are turned upside down."

The senior lawyer noted that the presentation of forged certificates had historically formed part of the grounds for questioning a candidate’s qualification in election petitions under Nigeria’s electoral jurisprudence.

“Hitherto, the presentation of forged certificates, which forms part of the qualification requirements, had always been a ground for election petitions. But the new Electoral Act 2026 has removed that ground,” he said. Okutepa argued that the National Assembly may have exceeded its powers because issues relating to qualification for public office are constitutional matters.

According to him, the Constitution clearly outlines the qualifications required for elective offices such as President, Governor and members of the National and State Assemblies, and such provisions cannot be overridden by ordinary legislation. He further warned that limiting the grounds for election petitions could discourage legitimate legal challenges and shield unqualified candidates from scrutiny.

Also, Aminu Yakudima, a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has described the development as a serious setback for Nigeria’s democratic and institutional growth.

In a telephone interview with BusinessDay, Yakudima said the situation reflects a troubling trend that could undermine the country’s progress, particularly in the areas of education, governance and human development. “This is a very serious retrogressive development. It is not good for a country like Nigeria that is still struggling to develop.

“We are already behind in development, education and human capacity development. If we truly want to grow as a nation, we must place strong emphasis on education, knowledge and experience,” he daid.

Yakudima, who is also a political analyst, stressed that formal education remains essential for building competent leadership and effective democratic institutions. "Our emphasis should be on formal education, where people are required to go through proper academic processes and obtain certificates that attest to their qualifications,” he added.

Yakudima, a chieftain of the PDP warned that any attempt to downplay the importance of education or tolerate actions that undermine academic standards could harm both the country’s educational system and its democratic foundations.

“Governance is a serious business. Democracy cannot function effectively without capable, knowledgeable and well-educated individuals in leadership positions.
When we uphold laws and standards that emphasise proper education and certification, we are strengthening the country. But if we undermine them, we risk doing serious damage to our institutions and to democracy itself."

Similarly, Peter Ameh, a politician and former chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), has also criticised the development, describing it as a troubling moment for Nigeria’s democracy.

Speaking with BusinessDay in a telephone interview, Ameh, who is also a former national chairman of the defunct Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA), said the move raises serious concerns about the country’s commitment to education, merit and democratic integrity.

“Why are we sending our children to school? Why are families spending huge amounts of money on education if we are beginning to suggest that academic qualifications no longer matter in public leadership?

“This is a very unfortunate development. The amendment looks like a legislative overreach aimed at favouring the interest of one individual while undermining the integrity and credibility of our electoral process,” he said.

He argued that democratic leadership should be built on competence, knowledge and proven capacity, which are often demonstrated through education and experience. “In every professional field today, people are required to present certificates and evidence of competence before they are employed. Yet we are lowering the bar for those who want to govern millions of people and make laws for the country,” Ameh said.

The former IPAC chairman warned that weakening standards for public office could erode accountability and reduce the quality of governance. “Instead of strengthening our laws to promote discipline, transparency and credible participation in governance, we appear to be weakening them. That is not how to deepen democracy.”


Ameh described the development as a setback for Nigeria’s democratic evolution and urged lawmakers to prioritise reforms that strengthen institutions rather than those that create doubts about the country’s commitment to merit and accountability.

However, Bernard Mikko, a political scientist and former member of the House of Representatives from Rivers State, offered a different perspective on the development.

Speaking with BusinessDay in a telephone interview, Mikko said the issue of certificate forgery is already adequately addressed in the Nigerian Constitution, and therefore removing related provisions from the Electoral Act may not significantly change the legal position. “The Constitution is very clear on the issue of qualifications for elective office, including the presentation of certificates. If you check the relevant sections, the requirements are already stated there,” he said.

According to him, unless the Constitution itself is amended, the fundamental provisions governing eligibility for public office remain intact. “If such a clause is removed from the Electoral Act, it does not automatically override what is already provided in the Constitution. Any major change would still require a constitutional amendment,” he explained.

Mikko added that if the provision is no longer emphasised in the Electoral Act, the responsibility may increasingly fall on voters to scrutinise the backgrounds and credibility of candidates seeking public office. “In that situation, the burden shifts more to the integrity of the candidates and the vigilance of the electorate. Voters know the people from their communities, they know their background, their age, the schools they attended and their general history,” he said.

He concluded that while the debate may generate political controversy, the constitutional framework governing eligibility for public office still provides mechanisms for addressing disputes over candidates’ qualifications.

INEC Seeks Thorough Screening of Candidates
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that certificate forgery was indeed removed as a ground for election petitions in the amended law.

In an exclusive interview with BusinessDay in Abuja, Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, said the provision was expunged by the National Assembly during the amendment of the Electoral Act.

Oketola therefore, urged political parties to take greater responsibility in screening and verifying the credentials of aspirants before presenting them as candidates.

“It therefore, behoves political parties to undertake thorough verification of the credentials of their prospective candidates to ensure that only duly qualified persons are nominated and presented for the 2027 general election,” he said.

He noted that allegations of certificate forgery would now fall within the category of pre-election matters rather than post-election disputes before election tribunals.

“By implication, issues relating to certificate forgery are now treated as pre-election matters or internal party issues, rather than grounds for questioning the validity of an election before a tribunal,” he said.

madridguy:
Obi and his cho cho cho like a parrot. So he doesn't know how many politicians or appointee that has lost their position due to certificate forgery? So Obi was a kid to remember Salisu Buhari?

Let it be on record that the NASS. Removed a clause that affirmed forgery as a ground to challenge election results!

Inference: This means that you can submit a forged document to INEC and you will get away with forgery!

Nigeria is Facing a Troubling Contradiction.
What type of country are we trying to bequeath for our children? The same lawmakers who have proposed a fine of ₦10 million and up to two years in prison for dual political party membership have simultaneously removed certificate forgery, age falsification, and false declarations as grounds for challenging an election in a tribunal.

This is in direct contradiction to the provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria (1999, as amended). This situation raises a fundamental question about the priorities of our political system.

In any serious democracy, the gravest offense in public life is deceiving the people to gain power. Submitting false documents, falsifying one’s age, forging certificates, and making dishonest declarations to electoral authorities are among the most serious offenses in any democracy. Such actions not only lead to automatic disqualification but also warrant criminal prosecution.

Yet today, our electoral system seems more focused on protecting political structures than on upholding the truth. There is no justification for prioritizing punishment for party alignment over punishing false certificates, forgery, and other forms of deception in the pursuit of public office.

Laws should strengthen democracy, not weaken it. They should promote ethical leadership rather than lower standards for those who aspire to govern.

A nation cannot rise above the integrity of its leaders. If we truly want a better Nigeria, our laws must defend truth, character, competence, and accountability. We cannot continue to tolerate criminal behavior.

A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO

Former presidential candidate and African Democratic Congress chieftain, Peter Obi, has faulted the recommendation of N10 million fine against politicians with dual membership and deleting certificate forgery, age falsification and false declarations as grounds for challenging an election in a tribunal.

Mr Obi, in a statement on X on Friday, said the removal of certificate forgery as ground in election petition was a direct contradiction to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), accusing the President Bola Tinubu-led administration of criminal behaviour.

“Nigeria is facing a troubling contradiction. The same lawmakers who have proposed a fine of ₦10 million and up to two years in prison for dual political party membership have simultaneously removed certificate forgery, age falsification, and false declarations as grounds for challenging an election in a tribunal. This is in direct contradiction to the provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria (1999, as amended).

“A nation cannot rise above the integrity of its leaders. If we truly want a better Nigeria, our laws must defend truth, character, competence, and accountability. We cannot continue to tolerate criminal behavior,” the politician stated.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday amended the Electoral Act 2026 to prohibit individuals from belonging to more than one political party.

The proposal came amid outrage over the removal of certificate forgery as a ground upon which an election may be challenged at the tribunal; from the amended Electoral Act 2026.

Mr Obi, who stated that the situation raises a fundamental question about the priorities of the nation’s political system, said deceiving people to gain power was a gravest criminal offence in a serious democracy.

“In any serious democracy, the gravest offence in public life is deceiving the people to gain power. Submitting false documents, falsifying one’s age, forging certificates, and making dishonest declarations to electoral authorities are among the most serious offenses in any democracy. Such actions not only lead to automatic disqualification but also warrant criminal prosecution,” the ADC chieftain added.

Noting that the country’s electoral system seems more focused on protecting political structures than on upholding the truth, Mr Obi said, “There is no justification for prioritising punishment for party alignment over punishing false certificates, forgery, and other forms of deception in the pursuit of public office.”

The politician insisted that laws should strengthen democracy, not weaken it, adding they should rather promote ethical leadership rather than lower standards for those who aspire to govern.

FxMasterz:
"Iri Orun sokale,
Ko wa gbe wà ró,
Adaba orun sokale,
Ko wa gbe wà wo,
Rojọ ibukun Re,
Le wa nì ori,
Ninu ipade wa yí,
Afé rí o k'a to ló."

Veteran gospel music icon Toun Soetan dies at 73 and songwriter, Toun Soetan, popularly known as Evangelist Shouet, has passed away at the age of 73.

The respected evangelist and gospel music pioneer was widely known as the original composer of the beloved Christian chorus “Darling Jesus,” a song that has been sung in churches across Nigeria and around the world for decades.Nigerian Current Affairs
Her music ministry spanned more than 40 years, making her one of the most influential voices in Yoruba gospel music.

Throughout her career, Soetan’s songs were widely described as inspirational and motivational, particularly during the early 1990s when many of her worship choruses gained popularity in churches and revival meetings.

Beyond “Darling Jesus,” some of her notable songs include “Ke Pe Jesu” and “Cast Your Burdens,” which became widely used in Christian worship.

In addition to her music ministry, Soetan served as the Minister in Charge of Trinity World Evangelical Ministry, where she dedicated much of her life to preaching, teaching, and mentoring younger gospel ministers.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, she spent part of her early life abroad before returning to Nigeria for her education. She later studied at the University of Ibadan before committing fully to evangelism and gospel music.

Over the decades, Evangelist Soetan built a legacy as a teacher, evangelist, and worship leader whose songs were rooted in scripture and aimed at spreading the Christian message.

Many Nigerian gospel artists and church leaders have credited her as one of the pioneers who helped shape indigenous gospel worship in Nigeria.

Her death on March 13, 2026, has sparked tributes from members of the Christian community who remember her as a passionate minister whose music touched generations of believers.

Mrfixitt:
Tinubu is monumental failure like no other. Imagine a man worse than Buhari in governance, no words to describe him