Someone told you to bring your ATM for blessing so that you can get miracle alerts. And you did. No be mumu be that? (In Asari Dokubo's voice)

How a so-called Christian got herself deceived up to the point of believing that money can fall from heaven into her bank account in demonstration of gods blessings, exposes the vandalism that this present era has done to the psyche of the average church-goer. How do you even rationalize that?

No pity for fools!

By: Celestine Mel (June 04, 2020)

George 'Perry' Floyd was an ex-convict. He spent 5 years in prison from 2009 for armed robbery committed in 2007. After his release, he moved to the Minnesota area in search for a job and ended up as Security Man in a restaurant. The job evaporated due to the corona-virus pandemic. Perry was temporarily laid off. And jobless.

On May 25, 2020, he went to buy cigarette from a food shop and his neck ended up under the knee of a white policeman, who was called by the shopkeepers to accost George for paying with a fake $20 bill. He was killed.

Someone recorded a short video of the police encounter, showing the last moments of George’s life, and his screams, pleas and cries for air and lastly shouting out the name of his late mother, who died three years earlier, and uttering the words ‘I can’t breathe’. Perry was seething with pain, eyes bulging out in a fit of asphyxiating suffocation, choking to death under the knee of a ruthless policeman and his three other colleagues who looked on, unconcerned with the tragic end of this American boy. The video was posted online and shared on social media channels around the world.

It was the last straw on the long-suffering back of the black community in America. From Minnesota to Washington, Indiana to Memphis, American citizens of all colours poured into the streets to denounce racism and demand a new type of country and justice for George Floyd.

Today, Perry has become in death, the symbol of change that has shaken America to its foundations. Through him, the USA is facing the most seismic citizen action in many decades. The White House was evacuated for fear of harm to President Trump. The military was deployed across the country for the first time in several centuries. George has become the metaphor for the existential contradictions in God's own country - America. The country and indeed, the entire world have been forced to rethink the role of race relations in a constantly changing human landscape.

As I sat to watch the first in a series of planned memorial services in the University of Minnesota this evening, so many thoughts raced through my mind. How come none of the policemen in the scene on that day, raised any voice to save Floyd’s life? Why did he even go to that shop at that time? Who took the video recording and why? How could one small event in a rural corner of USA become so big, shaking the entire world this way? How could this prisoner suddenly become in death, a hero and the anchor upon which this generation of Americans are hooking their hopes on?

Alas, George Floyd has become in death, bigger than anyone he ever thought he could be in life. I saw Ludacriss. Tyresse, TI, Rev. Al Shapton and other superstars in the University auditorium as they struggled for space to pay respects to this ex-felon. I have seen major news networks across the world, stop normal programming to follow Floyd’s body around. Presidents and Monarchs are struggling to identify with the moment. Trump has cancelled his public engagements for the week for fear of the unknown with the chances of his re-election looking more and more impossible by the day.

Everybody agrees that this moment would bring a new phase to America by forcing a correction of some of the ills that keep the blacks down; a frosty history of dark race relations characterized by slavery, denial of civil rights, discrimination and injustice.

Only in America.

** Celestine Mel is a chartered banker. He writes from Abuja, Nigeria.

Follow:
@melfication on Twitter
@Celestine.Mel on Facebook
@08088188805 on WhatsApp

I flew with Joe Igbokwe from Owerri to Lagos on Thursday evening by Air Peace. Truth is, Air Peace is not a passenger friendly airline anymore. Not because it was a Joe Igbokwe. They are simply rude and overwhelmed.

Please provide quotation for the following:
WINDOWS
Length Breadth Quantity
1.40 x 1.80 8
1.40 x 2.00 3
1.20 x 1.80 10
1.20 x 2.00 1
1.50 x 1.20 1
0.90 x 0.90 2
1.50 x 2.10 2
1.20 x 0.90 3
0.90 x 1.20 2
0.60 x 0.90 20
1.50 x 1.20 4
1.20 x 1.20 15

Total: 71

5mm glass
Standard Tower Aluminium
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Yet Kashamu owes AMCON billions of $. Is the lord not good?

SEX, UDEME AND THE CHURCH

BY: Celestine Mel (June 30, 2019)

Busola Dakolo’s sad tale of her “anointing” by the Gucci-loving Pastor Abiodun Fatoyibo of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly – Abuja has literally set the internet on fire. In ordinary times, I would not join the mob of viral conversations, especially one that is driven in ‘Tweetershpere‘. I also try at all times to balance my perspective to any conversation by listening to both parties in a dispute. I am however compelled to come out to take a stand, after reading Pastor Fatoyibo’s response to the allegation that is circulating online, and carefully reviewing the many other responses by the online community which have mostly tried to equate the stormy outcome of the Pastor’s alleged personal indiscretions to mean that the ‘Church is Under attack”.

I agree STRIONGLY that the Church is under attack. Indeed, the church has been under attack since the last three decades by salacious, funky, jet-setting, criminally-minded, randy, lowlife, predatory, undisciplined, uncultured and tainted men and women of god, who have used the canopy of the ministry to commit atrocities, destroy homes, ruin marriages, fleece the poor, ruin the society and walk the gospel on ten toes. I will tell a personal story.

A friend (whose identity I cannot disclose but whom I know would read this article) lost his marriage of many years to a randy reverend father of the Catholic faith. How did he discover? One fateful day, he stumbled on a suggestive sms on his wife’s phone. When he dialed the number, the reverend father who was like family to them, and who officiated in his wedding was at the other end. He invited the ‘man of god’ to his house, and confronted him. Things turned ugly. He forcefully took control of the reverend father’s phone and discovered tons of nude pictures, videos and sex clips with his own wife and the father. It was too late to deny. The father confessed. “How long have you been ‘bleeping’ my wife?”My friend asked. “Before and after she married you.” The reverend father responded! In shock and fury, my friend drove himself to the Bishop at the Diocese to surrender. The marriage crashed. My friend left the church but the father is still serving the holy Eucharist in Akwa Ibom State till this moment. Chances are, the reverend father is the biological father of my friends’ three kids. My friend preferred not to bother about any DNA test. Has kept custody of the kids and moved on to marry another wife.

In 2013, Ese Walter – a former member of COZA, accused same Pastor Fatoyinbo of abuse, manipulation and having several rounds of illicit sex with her in London. The matter trended for a while and died down. On 8th February 2016, Anita Oyakhilome finalized her divorce and separation from her husband – Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of the Christ Embassy Church as a result of the husband’s serial adulterous lifestyle. In 2017, Canada based Stephanie Otobo, accused Apostle Johnson Suleman of the Omega Fire Ministry Worldwide of illicit sexual escapades that spanned different corners of the globe and involved exchange of assortment of gifts, cash and sundry largesse personally extended by Apostle Suleman to Esther. Esther later capitulated and begged Suleman for forgiveness. Then capitulated again, saying that the earlier capitulation was induced and untrue. Since then, nothing has been heard of Esther.

In February 2019, Pope Francis publicly acknowledged that some priests sexually abuse Nuns and girls within the monastery, promising that new rules would be made to ring-fence these nuns from their predatory male counterparts. The Pope went further to apologize to all the victims of sexual exploitation by the catholic clergy around the world and prayed God to heal their wounds.

So much has gone wrong in the temple of worship. Time-tested Christian values and mores that our Lord and savior Jesus Christ espoused such as humility, kindness, love for neighbor, forgiveness, righteousness, fidelity, have been replaced by vainglorious fleetingness of eccentric materialism, planted by the new generation of shepherds who deliberately twist the gospel to feed into modernity, exploit the innocence of the congregation and mislead the society. I recall the beatitudes: blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted, blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied, blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy, blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God, blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God, blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you. Who remembers these anymore?

I shall conclude this intervention by sharing a local story that my father - a seasoned incorruptible no-nonsense pastor, told me about faith and believe. Udeme - his distant relative was born imbued with impossible powers. One day, Udeme went to the market and bought a cheap silver ring that he placed on his middle finger. He then went into the bush to gather assortment of leaves with which he consecrated the ring. After “speaking in tongues” and conjuring some incantations, Udeme went to the oldest and biggest tree in the centre of the village (an Iroko) to slap gently. Pronto, the tree withered. The leaves dropped and the tree died. In panic, the entire village fled helter-skelter. There was trembling. While some people called Udeme the devil, others thought he was a reincarnation of Jesus Christ. Udeme died before he was 20, leaving behind a surging followership that expanded by the day, who thronged day and night to Udeme, for answers to their afflictions.

A lot of Udeme’s have taken over the pulpit. In our panic mode, we are flocking to them in our millions for answers to our everyday vicissitudes. Each Udeme is preying on our fears and deprivations to steal our dignity, our virginity, our money, our body and our souls. Instead of helping us prepare for the abundance of heavenly glory, Udeme teaches us about the power of breakthrough, instant wealth, unexplainable wealth, signs, miracles and wonders. In the end, the virginity and innocence of the church and the society, like that of Busola Dakolo, is arrested. And lost forever, to the libido of Udeme. So we sulk. And cry. And tweet. To the glory of our gullibility. Until the next one breaks. Again.

And again. And the merry goes round and round.

** Celestine Mel, a chartered banker, writes from Abuja, Nigeria

https://web.facebook.com/owydoho.Idio/posts/10156380478214013?notif_id=1561881072027830&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic

Bro chill, I am not a Tinubu or Elrufai supporter. I dont like them because of their selfish intentions but there is one thing you can't take away from this two men, they know how to spot talents, develop and empower them to achieve what they want.
And a talent picked up from the Dunghill, processed, developed and empowered will most usually be loyal.

You dey mind the bloke? Those running their mouth against Tinubu know zilch about talent identification and management. Show me any leader (whether political or private) who mentored as many powerful proteges as Tinubu. Hate or like him, Tinubu boys control this country today: Osinbajo, BRF, Ambode, Aregbesola, Fowler, Sanwo Olu, Ajimobi, Gajabiala, A Lawan, etc. All products of one man. Among them, not one is a pushover. It takes more than posting Tecno or Infinix phones to produce powerful people.

Tinubu's got the mojo. Forgerrit!!!!

More Pictures

Pictures Speak

THIS BRIDGE SWALLOWS PREGNANT WOMEN!

BY: Celestine Mel (18.05.2019)

The thought of a pregnant woman in labor, falling and drowning to death with the unborn, from a makeshift bridge in the course of trying to give birth, or a poor child washed away into eternal grave in the deep of the river at Ikot Akpan, Essien Udim LGA of Akwa Ibom State drove a drivel through my conscience.

I was mortified. Miffed. Sad. Angry. Perplexed. I felt like throwing punches. I waded through miles of sand dunes that strenuously dragged our motorcycle in an unending tug-of-war as if to ensure that our mission to expose the underbelly of the criminal neglect of this government-forsaken community is aborted. I felt adrenaline rush in my veins, asking me to get ready for a mission like no other; the right adrenaline.

We started the trip in a Toyota RAV4 SUV against advices from family and friends. They rightly predicted that a trip by car to “Ikot Akpan” bridge is mission impossible. As soon as we came off the Nsong Eto market junction – 5 minutes from my start, where every semblance of civilization ends - I was confronted by gorges and gullies that looked like craters from an earthquake. All roads from Nsong Eto Market through Midim Atan, Nto Udo, Ikot Uboh and Ikot Akpan are simply impassable. I abandoned the car by the road side, for a motorcycle ride as was initially advised. We wafted through St. Paul’s Primary School Midim Atan – my alma matter – which has degenerated beyond believe. I could see the decayed and fallen classrooms from afar. I could sense that children still attended classes barefooted, as it was in the 1970s and 1980s. I saw in them a big story for the world, but I could not spare a moment because I needed to see things for myself at “Idim Ikot Akpan” (as the river is fondly called), where a locally fabricated makeshift bridge across the Qua Iboe River that links that part of Essien Udim LGA to Etim Ekpo LGA in Akwa Ibom State fell into the water since 2009 and remains submerged and abandoned by successive governments at all levels.

Through the winding roads, school children in blue-and-white were milling past, heading to St. Paul’s. We first attempted to pass through Midim Atan Village. At Anwa Udom - the village square – the ‘road’ (for want of a better name to describe this bush track) literally emptied into a big gully, causing pedestrians and bicycles to plough through a farmland to connect back. It is impassable by motorcycles and certainly, not cars. I recall that in the 1990s, I used to visit my elder sister married across the river through this route. Not anymore this time. So, we made a detour.

Passing through Nto Udo village – the alternative route – was as herculean as climbing the Kilimanjaro. But we made it to the riverside. The dirt road has been thoroughly dug-in by erosion, creating a fearsome surreal feeling of being surrounded by tall washed-out walls that threaten to collapse on passers-bye. My minder, who is the community chairman of the 5 villages of Midim – Udo Peter - held back nothing from me. He narrated the ordeal that this community has been through in the last 10 years as a result of the fallen bridge and derelict roads. He said the river has consumed at least 5 school children who drowned on their way to school. He narrated how a pregnant woman who was being rushed to hospital in labor, fell into the river and drowned to death – herself and the unborn. He said that the community wrote to the LGA and Akwa Ibom State governments for succor, to no avail. He said they even invited the local chapter Chairmen of the two major political parties – APC and PDP to lobby for help. Nothing came out, except empty promises.

After waiting fruitlessly for government intervention for 6 years, the community in 2015 decided to rebuild the bridge by itself. It exploited the skills of indigenes who had experience in building houses. The community levied every adult member to buy cement and iron rods, while local volunteer builders set out to ‘engineer’ a bridge. Younger energetic men ‘dived’ to excavate gravel and sand from the river-bed for the project. Women cooked to feed all the laborers. Everyone got involved.

For 6 months, they toiled and labored. Pillar after pillar could not stand the water current. Each pillar was washed away as soon as it got erected. The people simply had no skill enough to build a bridge. But they never gave up for, their lives depended on this bridge. On the 5th attempt, someone suggested that they should rather stand the supporting pillar on top of the fallen bridge to ‘defeat’ the water-current menace. They did. It worked. They cast concrete on top and it stood.

I witnessed first-hand as bicycles, pedestrians and motorcycles lined up to cross this contraption of a bridge that measures 2 feet wide and 10 feet long. Nobody knows the strength of materials used, the state of the fallen bridge that it stands on, and indeed, anything more than the fact that one can hop across it, with the heart in the mouth. I personally stood on the slab with trepidation. It seemed as if the water under was calling me, begging me to come. I felt exposed and in imminent danger of death. The tiny strand of concrete has no supportive railings on both sides. The concrete shook menacingly to the rhythm of my footsteps as I paced fearfully across, trying to take pictures. The water below looked squeaky-clean. I could see as far as the river bed, dozens of feet deep. I could spot different fish species moving freely in their natural habitat. The greenery of the surroundings presented a spectacle that I would relish forever. Everywhere felt virgin, fresh, green and peaceful. In the middle of my photoshoot, I hit one of the crude leftover iron spikes and stumbled. My minders pulled me back by the hands and saved me from plunging into the deep below. I was lucky. I survived.

Several other victims of this forgotten community have not been so lucky. They have died in the river for the flimsiest of reasons like going to school, going to market, going to hospital or going to Church. Their bodies – if ever recovered by local divers- are buried in the far end of the river bank. I was told it is taboo to bury people who drown, away from the river. If you die in the river, your remains are buried by the riverside. It is that simple. And horrible.

Every mission across the river is a potential ‘last mission’. Paradoxically, most life-support institutions including Mercy Hospital – Abak, Urua Mkpoho Eto Market - Ika, Christ Faith Church Headquarters – Etim Ekpo, St. Augustine’s Secondary School – Urua Inyang all lie a few miles across the river. These are places the community must visit in order to survive.

I found stunted livelihoods, grinding ‘in-your-face, poverty, sordid stories of avoidable maternal mortality, unusually high illiteracy rate, lack of basic infrastructure, un-motorable roads and a generally sub human standard of living in this mission. Tellingly, Essien Udim is the home LGA to the immediate-past governor of Akwa Ibom, who was reputed to have built an El Dorado at home. My mission to Midim Ikot Akpan River exposed yet again, the façade of the celebrated “uncommon transformation”.

As I made to depart, I decided in my heart to bring the plight of this forgotten community to the attention of the world. It is inexcusable that Akwa Ibom State, which consistently receives the highest monthly federal allocation among the 36 States in Nigeria in the last 20 years, ‘boasts’ of a community so poor; so deprived. Intervention agencies such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) seem to have been hijacked by primordial pecuniary interests opposed to the founding ideals that necessitated their existence hence, unable to respond to a situation this dire. I was told that the community played host to countless delegations from NDDC that left with promises, but failed to lift a needle after. The community narrated how each NDDC delegation was welcomed with gifts, pounded-yam and white soup meals, live goats with other enticing hospitality offers to elicit favorable response that never materialized.

I wish this message would reach the Chairman of Essien Udim LG Council – Mr. Raphael Isobara, His Excellency Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, the Management of NDDC, the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, His Excellency President Mohammadu Buhari, Her Excellency Mrs. Aisha Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo or indeed anybody or agency of influence out there, who can cause light to shine on members of this community, and change the situation for good. The thought of a pregnant woman in labor, falling and drowning with the unborn, from a makeshift bridge in the course of trying to give birth, or a poor child washed away into eternal grave in the deep of the river at Ikot Akpan, in the course of pursuing education should seer the soul and conscience of every human being alive, to act. How many more shall die?

**Celestine Mel, a Chartered Banker / IT Projects Specialist writes from Abuja – Nigeria. Follow on Facebook: celestine.mel; @melfication on
twitter; email: celestine.mel@outlook.com

https://www.facebook.com/owydoho.Idio/posts/10156285386519013

On the contrary it is not. The will of the people will prevail

IamZik, I want to play NaijaBet with you on this. At 2 to 1 Odd, let us bet. If Adeleke wins to become governor of Osun after runoff, I would pay you N1,000,000. If Oyetola wins, you pay ne N500,000. Do you agree? Put your money where your mouth is. Na today I follow politics in Naija? This game is out of reach for Adeleke. QED.

When you are fighting incumbent, you don't leave any room for an opportunity else, they sting back with fury. Adeleke winning by just 300 votes and fewer LGAs was a strategy that was set to backfires. Now, the federal might would be brought to bear. No price would be spared to wipe out this weak margin. Too bad for Adeleke. We fought a good fight. He was so close. I salute his strength. And Davido too. This election however, is out of their reach, for good!

I hope we would also tolerate an "Alhamdullahi Mandate" Council for Gov. El Rufai or "Allahu Akbar" Restoration Council for President Buhari ?! The way "Christians" abuse the privilege of their relationship with God is amazing. A known pedophile or thief would ascribe his wealth and means to "divine" grace. A kidnapper would ascribe his worth to divine "favor". A failed politician would set up "divine mandate" campaign council to return to power, even when his first election was executed on the blood of hapless hopeless youths, and his campaign chairman admonished their supporters to "prepare for war"!

Despicable deplorables!

In every election since 2015, PDP always wins in virtual Nairaland polling Units while APC always wins at REAL polling stations. Too bad PDP has been reduced to a wailing crying virtual party.

Up Magu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

True. I was wondering why DSS blocked the NA when Akpabio who was to take over the SP seat was already on his way to Uyo, and his defection scheduled for tomorrow. That Saraki guy has moles everywhere. But he won't outplay God in the end.

You don't understand Nigeria politics. Winning 21 States will not make him president even with the highest votes. You must win 2/3 of the States which is 24 states otherwise there will be by-election. 2019 will be interesting. We are waiting for campaigns to see what APC will present as score card may be killings in Nigeria. Let is be wise. We must vote leaders with 21st century intellect not mediocre.

My dear, I understand this game and have been an active practitioner since 1999. Buhari would score 2/3rds in all the 36 States + Abuja. That has never been in doubt. What is in play is, how many states he can win majority of votes cast. He actually needs a simple majority to win the election. And i was laying out all the 25+1 States that are under the APC umbrella that he would most likely win majority. Even if he loses in 5 out of the 25+1 States, he would still win comfortably especially as the riggging elements in Rivers and Akwa Ibom have been effectively neutralized by federal might and INEC. I hope you come back to this page in 2019 and tell me "you told me so!"

Saraki is not leaving the known to the unknown. Except he wants to commit suicide, like Babangida Aliyu did in 2015. Saraki needs Buhari more than Buhari needs Saraki. With 25+1 States under the control of APC, and 10-1 States in PDP, the road to 2019 could not be clearer for PMB. All of them know the odds against them thus, the grandstanding. APC would be in power in Nigeria for a very long time to come. Any good politician knows this.

Since 2015, PDP has lost 2 more states to APC - Ondo and Ekiti. It has also lost 90% of all the national assembly seats in Rivers to APC. APGA is effectively an arm of APC as of today. APC controls 25+1 states, while PDP has 10. Even if 5 APC governors defect, APC would still have control over 21 States and their resources, while PDP would have 15. Head of tail, Buhari would win the 2019 elections with a higher margin than he did in 2015. No sane politician would jump from the known to the unknown. Saraki knows so well that he would lose out of this game if he goes ahead to dump APC or consider the gamble. He is just trying to use his leverage to secure deals that he can bank on. I do not see him leaving the APC, unless he is politically naive. He isn't so daft.

I am from the senatorial district. A shock of an earthquake magnitude awaits PDP. Since 1999, they have been cooking false and fantastic results from Akwa Ibom, claiming 98% turn out of registered voters. It was so easy to do so, using Police, NSCDC, army, etc., while the "winners" gloat all over the place claiming that Akwa Ibom is PDP and PDP is Akwa Ibom. Unfortunately for them, government changed hands in Abuja. They no longer have control over the security agencies and INEC that they used in manufacturing those results. All of them would dance naked come 2019! We shall retire them looters permanently from politics. PDP would have to go shop for a new senate minority leader. Watch this space!

By the time Rivers and Akwa Ibom fall, PDP would become history. The rigging machinery that have sustained the stranglehold of the Wike's and Akpabio's of this world on the innocent populace is already gone. Neutralized! They no longer control the police and army that deployed to rig the system in 2015. Let's see how they would cook, sex up and manufacture those bogus numbers again in 2019. Fear dey catch them all. Ntoooor!!!!!!!!!!

See their eyes

TOTAL VOTES

APC - 197,459
PDP - 178,037
DIFFERENCE - 19,422

WINNER - APC

DR. KAYODE FAYEMI OF APC, HAVING SCORED THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF VOTES AND SATISFIED THE CONDITIONS FOR ELECTION IS THEREFORE RETURNED ELECTED AS GOVERNOR OF EKITI STATE.

ADO LGA

APC - 28,111

PDP - 32,810

DIFF - 4,699

WINNER - PDP

EKITI SOUTH WEST LGA
APC - 11,015
PDP - 8,423
DIFF - 2,592

WINNER - APC

EKITI EAST
APC - 12,778
PDP - 11,564
DIFF - 1,214

WINNER - APC

IKOLE LGA

APC - 14,522
PDP - 13,961

DIFF - 561

WINNER - APC

EKITI WEST

APC - 12,648
PDP - 10,137

DIFF - 2,511

WINNER - APC

IKERE LGA
APC - 11,515
PDP - 17,183

DIFF - 5,668

WINNER - PDP

IKERE LGA
APC - 11,515
PDP - 17,183

DIFF - 5,668

WINNER - PDP

EMURE LGA

APC - 7,048

PDP - 7,121

DIFF: - 73

WINNER - PDP

GBOYIN LGA

APC - 11,498
PDP - 8,027

DIFF - 3,471

WINNER - APC

IJERO LGA

APC - 14,192
PDP - 11,000

DIFF - 3,192

WINNER - APC