₦airaland Forum

THE British Government has said it would not interfere in Nigeria’s 2019 general election. Britain, however, urged the Nigerian Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure that free, fair, credible and violent free election is conducted. Elections

The Deputy British High Commissioner, Harriet Thompson, stated this in Umuahia when she led a delegation from the British High Commissioner, Abuja, to interact with the Abia State Police Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike. It stated that it would engage the INEC, on allegations against them by parties to ensure that the election is free and credible. According to her, “British Government is desirous of seeing Nigeria conduct credible elections. We are working closely with INEC. We will take them up on any allegation them. It is critical for INEC to provide an enabling environment for a free and fair election.’’

President Muhammadu Buhari has extended hands of fellowship to those seeking to divide the country through religion, insisting that Christians and Muslims can flourish together.

He warned against the playing politics with religion.

“As our constitution codifies, politicising religion has no place in Nigeria; for it makes us turn away from one another; it makes us retreat into our communities and walk different paths.

“I believe that there is a better way. To those who seek to divide, I still hold my hand out in brotherhood and forgiveness.

“I ask only that they stop, and instead encourage us to turn towards one another in love and compassion. Nigeria belongs to all of us. This is what I believe.’’

Buhari stated this in an opinion article which featured on Friday on Church Times, UK’s largest Anglican newspaper.

According to his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, President Buhari, in the article, referenced a Biblical verse and stressed that Christians and Muslims share the same root even though their beliefs differ.

In 1844, the Revd Samuel Ajayi Crowther returned home to Yoruba land (now part of modern-day Nigeria).

“Twenty years earlier, he had been kidnapped and sold to European slave traders who were bound for the Americas.

He was freed by an abolitionist naval patrol, and received by the Church Missionary Society. There, he found his calling.

Crowther made his voyage home to establish the first Anglican mission in Yoruba land. He came with the first Bibles translated into Yoruba and Hausa languages.

He opened dialogue and discussion with those of other faiths. And his mission was a success: Crowther later became the first African Anglican bishop in Africa.

Today, Nigeria has the largest Christian population on the continent. The messages and teachings of Christianity are part of the fabric of each person’s life.

“Along with the millions of Christians in Nigeria today, I believe in peace, tolerance, and reconciliation; in the institution of the family, the sanctity of marriage, and the honour of fidelity; in hope, compassion, and divine revelation”, President Buhari wrote.

“Like Bishop Crowther, I am a descendant of Abraham; unlike him, I am a Muslim. I believe our two great religions can not only peacefully coexist but also flourish together. But Muslims and Christians must first turn to one another in compassion. For, as it says in Amos 3.3: “Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?”

“As they are People of the Book, I believe that there is far more that unites Muslims and Christians than divides them. In fact, I believe that the messages of the Bible are universal: available for anyone to exercise, and instructive to all.

“We must resist the temptation to retreat into our communities, because, if we do, we can only look inwards. It is only when we mix that we can reach new and greater possibilities.

“Whichever religion or religious denomination they choose to follow, Nigerians are devout. Anything that Nigerians believe will place impositions on their practice, and belief is therefore sure to cause widespread alarm.

“And, unfortunately, there are those who seek to divide Nigerians — and our two great religions — and to do so for their own advantage.

“I stand accused — paradoxically — of trying to Islamise Nigeria while also being accused by Boko Haram terrorists of being against Islam.

“My Vice-President is a devout man, a Christian pastor. He, too, is accused of selling out his religion, because of his support for me.

“This is not the first time that I — nor, indeed, my Christian-Muslim evenly split cabinet — have been the subject of such nonsense. Fortunately, the facts speak differently from the words of those who seek to divide us from one another.

“Since my administration has been in power, Boko Haram has been significantly and fatally degraded; I have befriended church leaders and church groups both within and outside our country; my Vice-President has addressed and opened dialogue with Muslims up and down our land.

“In all things, we seek that which all well-meaning Christians and well-meaning Muslims must seek: to unite, respect, and never to divide. Does it not say

“There is no compulsion in religion” (Qur’an 2.256)? Does it not say “Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us” (Luke 9.50)? This, surely, is the path that followers of both our two great religions must walk.

“UNFORTUNATELY, those who wish us all to walk apart have recently found another focus for their efforts: the tragic clashes between nomadic herdsmen and settled farmers in the central regions of Nigeria.

“For generations, herders have driven their cattle from the north to the centre of our country; they tend to be predominantly Muslim, although not exclusively. The farmers, in certain areas of central Nigeria, are predominantly Christian.

“The causes of this conflict are not religious or theological, but temporal. At the heart of this discord is access to rural land, exacerbated both by climate change and population growth.

“Sadly, there are some who seek to play fast and loose and so make others believe that these are not the facts. When religion is claimed as the cause — and by those who know that it is not — it only makes finding a resolution more difficult.

“The government has taken action to mediate, to bring the two groups together in peace and unity. But we also need all parties to follow the teachings of the scriptures, and encourage reconciliation rather than cause division.

“As it is said: “Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear?” (Mark 8.18).

The Federal government has deployed drones in the fight against insurgency in the Northeast.

The deployment followed the recent killing of some soldiers fighting insurgency in the region who were ambushed by the terrorist group, Boko Haram.

The Nigerian delegation made the revelation in its Country report presented to the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja on Friday.

The report presented by Mr Sani Rano, also contained losses to the country from incessant farmers/herders clashes.

The deployment of the drones followed an attack on the Nigerian forces in Borno by the insurgent group, an attack which led to the killing of no fewer than 44 soldiers, the report stated.

The delegation, in their report, informed the parliament that the insurgent group killed 44 soldiers in three military bases in Borno state: Metele, Gajiram and Mainok.

The report said that the country in reaction to the attack had deployed the drones to constantly survey the area, even as it had set up a multi-national joint task force to curb the menace.

“It is worth mentioning that Nigeria has constituted the Multi-National Joint Taskforce (MNTF) made up of Chad, Benin, Niger, Cameroon and Nigeria, in fighting Boko Haram.

“It is a multinational formation comprising of equipped units, mostly the military aimed at containing the ravages of terrorism and armed insurgency.

“Presently, drones are patrolling Nigeria’s borders with Chad, Niger and Cameroon as instruments for intelligence collection.

“The Nigerian government is working closely with the Cameroonian government with the aim of negotiating efforts in enabling more Cameroon Boko Haram members to surrender,” the report said.

The report, however, stated that before the recent attacks on military bases, the Nigerian troops had made good progress in tackling insurgency and reopening towns previously seized by Boko Haram.

It said that Nigeria had gone into partnerships with other countries including the U.S. and UK, France, Germany, ECOWAS, AU and the UN which had led to the purchase of weapons including 12 Super Tucano Aircraft.

On the herders/farmers clashes, Rano stated that no fewer than 1,300 persons were killed in Nigeria.

The number according to the report was six times more than the number of persons that had been killed by Boko Haram as at the time of the report.

He said that apart from the loss of lives, Nigeria as a country was also losing billions of Naira on the importation of food which would have been produced locally if there were no crisis.

“An independent report from the international crisis group cited 1,300 deaths in the region, due to the conflicts between herders and farmers.

“The ongoing conflict between farmers and cattle herders is costing Nigeria at least $16 billion in potential revenues annually,” he said.

Rano explained that clashes were due to accusations made by the farmers against herdsmen of failing to control their cattle and allowing them to damage their crops.

He said the herdsmen also accused the farmers of stealing and slaughtering their cattle, adding that the clashes that ensued led to the killing of many, including innocent bystanders.

The report noted that the Nigerian government had, however, taken steps to address the crisis and the senseless killings.

The Nigerian Army, as well as the Police, were said to have deployed intelligent and surveillance to avert any re-occurrence especially with the coming of the dry seasons when the herders would need to search for fresh pasture.

I issued a cheque of N250,000 to a friend and it was turned down. When I called my account officer, he invited me for a meeting, where I was told there is a ‘post no debit’ instruction on all my accounts because of the executive order. They told me I am not the only one affected. All persons undergoing trial are affected.” a former Minister whose name is on the looters list told TheCable

The PDP has challenged us to name the looters under their watch. They said they did not loot the treasury. Well, I am sure they know that the treasury was looted dry under their watch. Yet they decided to grandstand. This shows the hollowness of their apology. This list is just a tip of the iceberg, and the PDP is aware of this. We did not make these cases up. Many of these cases are in court and the records are available.” Lai Mohammed had said shortly after releasing the list

The gale of defections rocking the National Assembly ahead of the 2019 general election is far from over as three more members of the House of Representatives on Thursday dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
It was a heartbreak also for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after another lawmaker jumped ship.
The lawmakers are Messrs Abdulkabir Akinlade (Ogun State), Rabi’u Kaugama (Jigawa State), Mohammed Ajalah (Kogi State) and Salisu Koko (Kebbi State).
Akinlade moved to the Allied People’s Movement, Kaugama to Social Democratic Party, Ajalah returned to PDP, and Salisu to SDP.
Akinlade is the choice governorship candidate of Governor Ibikunle Amosun for the APC in Ogun State but the party had recognised Mr Dapo Abiodun as its candidate.
It would be recalled that four members of the House had last week dumped the APC for various parties.

In an attempt to emulate Jesus Christ by fasting for 40 days and 40 nights, a pastor, Alfred Ndlovu, got malnourished and died.

The South African pastor was said to have fasted for thirty days without food.

During the period, the 44-year-old clergyman left home for a nearby bush to have prayers, just like Jesus did.

Buzz South Africa reports that Pastor Ndlovu died just a month despite having no history of illness after he had tried to equal or break Jesus Christ’s record of fasting for 40 days.

The report said the Pastor was alone in the wilderness and his body was found by a stranger who then called the police.

Until his death, the deceased was known by his family and community at large as a very spiritual person whose faith could move mountains and his death surprised everyone, even church members.

Reacting to the death of the clergyman, one close relative said: ‘He was a very spiritual man. It’s unfortunate he had to die this way. After a month we got the sad news of his death. The pastor was a healthy and religious old man who did not even look his age.

I think the Management/Staffs of Lagos State Emergency Number are not responding swiftly anymore.
Or should I say they are not functional again.
I reported the case of a corpse found during the early hours on Thur 22 Nov 2018 opposite Laspotech Staff Quarters Gate, Itokin Road Sabo, Ikorodu, Lagos state.
I called 767/112 over 5times and all calls were answered but they didn't show up to move the corpse away.
The lifeless body is still there as at now.
Help broadcast till it get to appropriate authorities pls.
Thank you.

Mr Loveday Ogbonna, Head, Corporate Communications, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) says registration for the National Identity Number (NIN) is free of charge to all Nigerians.

Ogbonna, who made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja, said that the commission had never charged anyone for NIN registration.

Some residents in Kubwa, Abuja, had claimed that they were made to pay N200 for logistics before being registered at the ongoing NIMC registration.
But, Ogbonna said that it was not the responsibility of the enrollees to pay money to fuel generators at registration centres.

“The commission absolutely condemns this, it is not right for enrollees to pay money for fueling of the generators before being captured but people also react based on how urgent they need NIN.

“Our staff would have told them that there was no light which is not under their control; however, you know that electricity is not under our purview just like the internet.

“Therefore, if you come to a place that we don’t have electricity and people on their own volunteer to contribute money to fuel the generator, it is out of their own free will.

“Although we don’t encourage it, because that will lead to corruption, but if the people on their own decide to contribute we cannot stop them.
“All these issues are due to paucity of fund, if there is enough money available for the exercise or steady power supply all these things will not happen,’’ Ogbonna.

The police in Adamawa state have arrested 23 year old Abubakar Yahaya, pictured above, for chopping off the wrist of one Mohammed Jafar, following their dispute over a girl named Mariam Boni.

According to the state police command spokesperson, Othman Abubakar, the suspect and Mariam were lovers and when their relationship crashed, Mariam started seeing Jafar.
Abubakar became jealous and made several attempts to persuade Mohammed from seeing Mariam. For failling to heed his several warnings, Abuabakr arranged with his friends and they ambushed Mohammed on November 21st. They beat him up and during the attack, Abubakar used a matchete to chop off Mohammed's hands.
The case was immediately reported to the police and Abubakar was arrested.
The police spokesperson said the suspect will soon be arraigned in court.

Nigerian. Retail and SME Banking. Finance, Economics, Sports and Politics. Goal-Getter. Depression and Suicide Survivor! Arsenal FC Fan.


People who knew him described him as an ambitious and helpful man and also a giver.

Zamfara State High Court sitting in Gusau, has sentenced a serving member of the State’s House of Assembly, Lawali Attahiru Dogonkade, to four years imprisonment over an alleged N31 million fraud.

Dogonkade who was arraigned today by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a four-count charge bordering on conferring corrupt advantage on himself admitted guilt before Justice Bello Shinkafi, thereby leading to his immediate conviction by the court.

The convict, representing Kauran-Namoda Local Government in the Zamfara State House of Assembly, was accused of using his position to confer corrupt advantage upon himself in a N31, 290, 000 contract meant for the supply of medical equipment to the State Government in violation of Sections 10, 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Counsel to ICPC, Mashkur Salisu, in one of the counts told the court that the convict received N4.5 million from the Managing Director of Madaci Pharmacy, Mr. Hamisu Saminu Jibril, as percentage for the supply of medical equipment contract awarded by the state government.

His counsel, Mr. Abubakar Junaidu, had earlier argued on the propriety of the charge before the court saying that the accused had been charged one time before the Federal High Court in Gusau by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). But the trial judge overruled his argument and shortly after, the convict entered into a guilty plea.

Junaidu then pleaded with the court to be lenient with his client considering the fact that he was a first time offender with a large family and dependents who solely rely on him for their livelihood.

Following his guilty plea, the Counsel to the Commission invited the court to convict him in line with the provisions of 274 (2) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

The court thereupon convicted the accused person as charged and sentenced him to four years imprisonment or payment of fine of N30, 000 on each of the counts totaling N120, 000.

Kogi office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), mourn as four staff members, a youth corps member and a three-year-old girl died in an accident on Ajaokuta-Lokoja road on Saturday, an official has confirmed.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt in Lokoja on Sunday that the National Youth Service Corps member was performing his primary assignment with INEC office in Lokoja and that the child belonged to one of the INEC staff members.
The victims were returning in the evening from Ayingba, Kogi, where they attended the wedding ceremony of another INEC worker, NAN learnt.
The Director of Voter Education and Publicity at Kogi Office of INEC, Mr. Ahmed Biambo, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with NAN.
Biambo said that the victims were from the Information and Communication Technology and Accounts departments of INEC.
He said that the corpses have been deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja.
Meanwhile the Kogi Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr Olusegun Martins, could not comment on the incident as he did not respond to calls made to his telephone number.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has commenced distribution of Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) to eligible voters who registered between 2015 and March 2018 in Kastina state.
Alhaji Abubakar Zarewa, INEC Resident Electoral Commission (REC), in the state made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen in Katsina on Thursday.
“We will also give priority to those who registered from March to August 2018 especially those that will participate in the by-election in Kankia, Kusada and Ingawa Federal Constituency.
“We are calling on all eligible voters who registered to come forward and collect their PVCs in our offices in the 34 Local Government Areas (LGA) of the state.
“Anybody that has any complaint is free to forward it to us,’’ he said adding that ‘‘people are free to do so.”
Zarewa advised the electorate to protect their PVCs after collection in order to make proper use of them during the 2019 general elections.

Armed police personnel were on Thursday been deployed in strategic areas leading to the Anambra State House of Assembly to prevent unpleasant situation.
The House was expected to resume sitting after its crisis which began on Tuesday over attempt to impeach the Speaker, Mrs Rita Nmaduagwu.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that policemen were stationed at Ekwueme Square, NULGE Secretariat Junction and barricaded roads leading to the Complex with patrol trucks.
Workers in Anambra Universal Basic Education Board, Independent National Electoral Commission and the High Court, all within the assembly area were forced by the police to disembark from commercial vehicles and walk.
Those in private vehicles were thoroughly screened to establish their identities and destinations while some vehicles were diverted from the area.
Some members of assembly on Tuesday purportedly impeached the Speaker and elected Mr Ikem Uzozie as her replacement.
The attempt which was reportedly botched has since split the house into two factions as Mmaduagwu insisted that her purported removal was invalid.
Police spokesman in the command, SP Mohammed Haruna, did not take calls or respond to messages to his phone on enquiries over the deployment of personnel in the assembly area.
A source close to the assembly, however, told NAN that Thursday’s sitting may have been shelved to give room for more consultations and reconciliation among the lawmakers and other stakeholders.

“In the 90s, we delegated and rotated the heads of security agencies serving in the airports to supervise and control night operations which is akin to the United States Transportation Security Agency (TSA) model.

Security threats have evolved and we as a nation are challenged to find the nexus and best fit security architecture, as our security challenges cannot be the same with other nations.”

Medical practitioners have recommended some natural remedies that could curb the increasing rate of diabetes in the country.
The practitioners offered the remedies in separate interviews with our reporter in Abuja.
They spoke against the backdrop of this year’s World Diabetes Day, which is celebrated globally on Nov. 14.
The practitioners said the awareness had become imperative because diabetes is a condition that impairs the body’s ability to process blood glucose.
“Diabetes usually is prevalent in middle aged and older adults but now becoming common in children. Adults are still at the highest risk than children,’’ Dr Iorwuese Charles told NAN on phone.
He said that diabetes has to do with an increase sugar level in the blood caused by an absolute deficiency of insulin that affects one out of three adults.
Charles, a medical practitioner at Police Hospital Ado, Ekiti State, said that diabetes is a group of diseases that usually ends up in too much amount of sugar in the blood.
He advised families to always maintain good lifestyle habits to curb diabetes in their homes.
“A healthy lifestyle and diet are vital keys to curb diabetes, stop smoking, reduce alcohol intake, moderate exercises, reduce food rich in sugar, eat vegetables and wheat products,’’ he said.
Charles said the symptoms in diabetes include increased frequency of urination, increase thirst, dry mouth, increase in eating with weight loss.
Other signs, he said, are: “Blurring of vision, tiredness, fatigue, mood swings, irritability, frequent urination at night and headaches.”
According to him, the symptoms of diabetes are endless with no permanent cure but with proper maintenance one could live a healthy life.
Another medical practitioner, Dr Egbete Chimaobi, told NAN that some of the most commonly suggested natural remedies can be used to curb diabetes.
“Remedies such as ginger and a mix of cinnamon as the anti-inflammatory properties help prevent certain diabetes complications; bitter leaf also helps to reduce the blood sugar and avoid heart and kidney failure.
“Aloe Vera juice is very effective and useful to a diabetic patient as regular intake would help stabilize the amount of glucose in the blood stream,’’ Chimaobi said.
He explained that: “The family and diabetes are two sides of a coin as diabetes like any other illness has a huge strain on families both financially and psychologically.
“It reduces productivity when the person affected is admitted and a working family member leaves work to take care of the patient.”
According to him, though there are lots of negativity associated with diabetes, it can have positive effects on the family.
“The families become aware of the disease while some families result to becoming ambassadors and educating others,’’ the expert said.

You won't believe what happened to me today God had saved me from the hands of rituals in Otokutu town I went for ceremony on my way back to ughelli a boy came to me and say Fine girl who you dey find then I said nobody suddenly I can't remember anything again then I saw my self naked and tied up with my pant and bra and heard the boys conversation outside trying to sell me to another guys for 900,000 thousand naira, And suddenly I recover my self and I quickly untied my self and I escaped from their hand please help me to celebrate God is a wonderful God and please girls be wise boys are not smiling oh make them nor use you buy veza or Glk oh ?'' '' .

Moments ago, the Senate adjourned for a week following its inability to form a quorum. The chamber needs at least 38 senators to carry out legislative activities at plenary but only 20 members were seated at the commencement of the day’s session.

The Minority Whip, Senator Phillip Aduda, who moved the motion for the adjournment, citing order 10 (3) of the Senate rules, explained that most of the members were not at plenary because they went on oversight functions.

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, seconded the motion for the adjournment, stressing that the order cited by Aduda, barred the Senate from carrying out any legislative duties if members are not up to 38. Then President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki put the motion to a vote and members overwhelmingly backed it.

Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, thereafter moved for the adjournment till Tuesday, November 20.