President Muhamadu Buhari is currently meeting with Service chiefs and heads of security agencies over the worsening insecurity in the country.
Naija News reports that the National Security Council Meeting is taking place at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting is being attended by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao.
Also in attendance are the Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman; the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.
Others at the meeting are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Boss Mustapha; the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (retd).
Nigeria Needs Competent Hand and not Religion Inclined Leader – Prophet Israel of Genesis Global
… Lambast Christians Leaders Who are Causing Religious Divide in the Country
“According to the Bible, when God created Adam he did not create him a Christian or Muslim he only created him a man. Since both the Christian and Muslim believe in the Adamic creation it is surprising how those who are supposed to be unifying us through the teachings of the Bible are now trying to separate us hiding under Christianity” This are the words of Prophet Israel Oladele of the Genesis Global Church recently in Lagos.
The renowned prophet in a statement made known by his media aide Oluwaseun Fabiyi, expressed his shock at how some Pastors people are looking up to has thrown the teachings of the Bible to the trash for the teaching of self-interest, and are in the process causing disunity amongst the same people God wants them to unite.
Not taking away the fact that Pastors are also human but Prophet Genesis as he is fondly called is of the belief that the public utterances of most of this supposed spiritual head reeks more of carnality than spirituality it was supposed to be. He was of the belief that reasoning of people in such a position should not only be spiritual but also intellectually sound.
He cited the fact that rather than make religious pronouncements on issues that can further disintegrate the country the candidates should be asked how the interest and conditions of living of the people will be protected and bettered.
In reference to the unveiling event that took place in Abuja on Wednesday, Genesis questioned the decision of the supposed spiritual leaders, CAN leadership and others, why they did not use the event to ask salient questions of the APC candidates as regards to the position of the Christians.
Against the believe that any Christian that supports Tinubu has been paid, Prophet Israel Genesis states “I can say this on the podium anywhere, and I have said it severally in the past and I will never desist but rather continue saying it, No Politicians or Nigerian leaders has ever gave me money to voice out, likewise I’m not advocating for Celestial body neither CAN but rather agitating/advocating for the Nigerian Youths because I’m a Nigerian and a vibrant youth prophet of God and I am entitled to my opinion. I’m not bothered if anybody decides to take this piece personal or read it out of context as the fact remains; truth is always bitter.”
The prophet stated further that he’s not afraid of letting people know of his Muslim background which he would never kick against as we are all same Nigerians and God’s hand made.
The World Famous Prophet, Israel Genesis Global also made it known to his media aide that he would rather die in Speaking the truth always than to live in telling lies as he promised never to relent in preaching the truth to the whole world.
The Christian Association of Nigeria has reacted to the presence of some clerics at the unveiling of Kashim Shettima as the running mate of the All Progressive Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.
Reacting to the event on Wednesday, the Vice President of CAN (19 Northern States and Abuja) and its chairman in Kaduna State, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, likened the Bishops to desperados who went there for themselves.
John Hayab further said the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was free to “hire mechanics and other artisans and sew clerical garments for them”, that effort would only add to their many ropes but would not change the need for fairness and justice.
He said, “The people we saw at the unveiling of Shettima paraded as Bishops are people who did not have enough time to learn how to wear Bishop garments. Take a closer look at their photo and you will see another Nollywood movie.
“CAN wonders why the desperation. First, a story was out claiming to have come from the Chairman of CAN Borno state only to be refuted. Secondly, there was another lie that BAT (Bola Ahmed Tinubu) and his running mate were on their way to meet CAN President one night. A meeting that was not true and was on a night that the CAN President was in Alabama USA attending the Baptist World Alliance Conference of which he is the Vice President.
“Another desperation story was that they met Papa Adeboye which the RCCG later refuted. If Christians are not important why the desperation?
“BAT is free to hire mechanics and other artisans and sew clerical garments for them. An effort that will only add to their many ropes when the political exercise is over but will not change the need for fairness and justice that CAN is calling for.
“CAN appreciate that we are in a democracy, no need to do funny and dubious things just to prove a point because it will in the end bounce back. BAT team should simply do what is right and stop the drama.”
The job fair, scheduled to hold on the 3rd of August, 2022 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja is intended to attract, qualified candidates for job opportunities in IP technologies, Information Technologies, Channel management, Programming, Data Engineering, Account Management, Delivery Management, Procurement, Channel Sales and others.
This will afford candidates the opportunity to listen and connect to prospective employers. Recruiters would be looking out for Huawei certified applicants, experienced applicants, Interns and graduate trainees. The company says this is also open to NYSC members needing a place of primary assignment.
Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and most populated country with great potentials for development, especially in ICT. The ICT sector is crucial to it’s national growth, a strong tool for sustainable development, increasing productivity and Economic expansion.
The job fair is intended to attract, qualified candidates for job opportunities, in IP technologies, Information Technologies, Channel management, Programming, Data Engineering, Account Management, Delivery Management, Procurement, Channel Sales and others.
Companies in attendance will include Huawei, its partners, customers and contractors. This is one of the profound components of Huawei skills development strategy and the youths are urged to seize the opportunity by ensuring that they market themselves and showcase their potentials.
The Job Fair is an important part of the Huawei talent ecosystem development strategy which aims at developing talents, promoting a favorable business environment and strengthening partnership within the industry.
A key aspect of ICT development in Nigeria is the cultivation of ICT talents in all industries. Looking to bridge the gap between Industry requirements and the Academia, Huawei continually leverages on the technologies, knowledge, experience, and successful practices it has gained over years of operations in the ICT industry to cultivate more high-quality ICT talent. Huawei does this through building sustainable partnership between the Industries, Government and the Academia.
As part of this, Nigeria’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy recently partnered with Huawei towards developing ICT Talents by signing an MOU with the Ministry of Communications and digital economy to train 3,000 students in ICT thereby expanding the digital economy. This is done through different initiatives, one of which is the Huawei ICT Academy which has partnered with over 100 educational institutions in Nigeria, including Ahmadu Bello University, University of Port Harcourt, University of Ibadan, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic and other renowned institutions.
The College of Education Association Staff Union, COEASU, has vowed to continue with the ongoing industrial action following the non- payment of 29 months salary arrears owed staff of the Abia State College of Education Technical Arochukwu, by the State government.
The union, after an emergency meeting on Tuesday, said staff of the institution live in deplorable condition due to non-payment of their salary arrears.
In an interview with THE WHISTLER on Wednesday, Chairman COEASU, Abia State College of Education Technical Arochukwu chapter, Comrade Kevin O Egesi, revealed that the nonchalant attitude of the state government towards teacher education was condemnable.
The union further accused the college management of refusal to promote staff for more than 7 year and to implement financial increment from 2008 till date.
He said: “In the meeting held on 19th July, 2022 the National Executive Council of COEASU agreed to continue with the strike action going on in the Colleges. Agreed to meet again in three weeks time.
“Abia State College of Education (Technical) Arochukwu staff are in a very deep suffering because of 29 months salary arrears owed to them. Abia State Government’s nonchalant attitude towards teacher education development and non release of subvension to the college have killed many staff, rendered many homeless and scattered many families. What is our offence in working for the state.
“The college management refused to promote staff for more than 7 years and also refused to implement financial increment from 2008 till date. Non- remittance of deducted union check-off dues by the management to cripple the union is a big offence. And the continuing deduction of staff salary by 15% for more than 2 years now. What a management, man inhumanity to man.
“Based on all these plight and suffering of the workers, strike continues in Asceta till all our demands are done.We will all see light at the end of the tunnel. Aluta continua”.
Recall that the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) on Tuesday withdrew the accreditation of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, for failing to pay staff salaries and allowances for over 30 months.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, a spokesperson for NBTE, Fatima Abubakar, said the accreditation was withdrawn because the polytechnic had not shown any commitment to offset the arrears and ensure regular payment of salaries.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented a certificate of return to Senator Ademola Adeleke, the winner of the just concluded Osun State governorship election.
Adeleke was presented with the certificate of return on Wednesday at the INEC headquarters in Osogbo.
In his acceptance speech, Adeleke commended INEC for the conduct of the elections, while appreciating the good people of Osun for trusting him with their votes.
THE WHISTLER had earlier reported how Afrobeats singer, Davido, called out the electoral umpire over the delay in issuing the certificate of return to Adeleke, his uncle.
Davido, real name David Adeleke, took to his Twitter account with about 12 million followers on Tuesday to query why INEC has yet to issue his uncle with a certificate of return 48 hours after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate defeated the incumbent Governor Gboyega Oyetola who had sought re-election on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform.
Responding, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, explained that Section 72 of the Electoral Act 2022 provides that a sealed certificate of return at an election in the prescribed form shall be issued within 14 days to every candidate who has been returned by the Returning Officer in an election under the Act.
Recall that Adeleke of the PDP polled 403,371 votes to defeat incumbent governor, Gboyega Oyetola of the APC who garnered 375,027 votes.
He will be inaugurated on the 27th of November, 2022 when the tenure of the incumbent governor will come to an end.
The increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol from N165 per litre to N179 per litre has been approved by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).
The new price approved by NNPC is expected to take effect today across the country as it directs fuel marketers to change the petrol price on pumps today.
NNPC also increased the ex-depot price from N148.17 to N167 per litre.
The decision was reached weeks after fuel marketers adopted different prices following petrol scarcity across the country.
Some filling stations had changed the price on their meter, while others left the approved retail price of N165 per litre but were selling above the displayed price.
Some filling stations were dispensing fuel for motorists for around N170 to N175 per litre.
Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has met with the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, following the controversy trailing the Muslim-Muslim presidential preference of the ruling party
THISDAY had reported yesterday that Tinubu had set up a team of eminent persons with whom he was scheduled to meet the Christian leaders within the party and faith-based organisations like the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and the Catholic, to appeal to them and secure their buy-in.
A source in the Tinubu Campaign team, who pleaded anonymity, informed THISDAY that the plan, which was going to be a holistic approach to the crisis, was to make the Christian community see reasons behind the Muslim-Muslim ticket, adding that Tinubu decided to lead a team to appeal to the Christian community.
But THISDAY yesterday gathered that the meeting with Adeboye was actually held on Sunday at the Redemption camp.
A reliable source, who also pleaded anonymity, told THISDAY that the meeting with Adeboye was very fruitful, adding that the clergy was not against a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Though THISDAY could not confirm those on Tinubu’s entourage to the meeting with Adeboye, it was reliably gathered that the wife of the presidential hopeful, Senator Oluremi,was there.
“He met Adeboye on Sunday. The meeting was very fruitful. He (Adeboye) is not against Muslim-Muslim ticket,” the source said.
Asked who was with Tinubu at the meeting with Adeboye, the source insisted “his wife”, stressing that Tinubu would soon meet with the leadership of CAN.
Chief Nelson, a former South-West Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), died on Sunday at the age of 66 after a brief illness.
Dr. Obasa, in a statement on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Eromosele Ebhomele, described the death of the politician as a huge loss to Lagos state, the party she served with so much passion and enthusiasm, members of the party and Nigeria.
“The shock is indescribable. It is so huge and painful, one that will be difficult to heal for a long time. Indeed, we lost a very bright light that had always brought the desired radiance to our party.
“Chief Kemi Nelson was a coordinator of women and she carried out her tasks with so much ease, enthusiasm and effectiveness to the admiration of everyone of us.
“She never hid her passion for a better Lagos and Nigeria through democratic governance. She was dilligent and excelled in every position or committee she found herself.
“While I, like many others she held in high esteem, will personally miss her, I pray that God would strengthen every member of her family, her friends, associates, those she mentored, the GAC and our party,” Obasa prayed.
Chief Kemi Nelson, former Executive Director of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and influential politician, was a senatorial candidate in 1992. She lost the election to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, now presidential candidate of the APC ahead of the 2023 election.
In 1999, she pitched tents with the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and served in the administration of Asiwaju Tinubu as Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly
My Heart Cries For Nigeria Says Prophet Joshua Iginla As He Speaks On Tinubu’s Choice Of Shettima As Running Mate, kuje Prison ( Video)
The General Overseer of the Champions Royal Assembly, Prophet Joshua Iginla has taken shared his view on the trending Muslim-Muslim APC ticket after Chief Bola Tinubu opted for the former Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, as his running mate for the 2023 presidency. The prophet also went further to plead with Nigerian leaders to fix the country.
According to Prophet Joshua Iginla, he wondered why APC would be so insensitive by going for a muslim-Muslim ticket. “I asked myself, in a country like Nigeria with too much strong religious beliefs, why will the ruling party go for a Muslim-Muslim ticket? Why will their presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, go with that view? I asked myself again, if we don’t know, we are sounding the drum of war in a place where there is unity, peace and understanding despite our differences. Nigeria is a country for all and does not belong to a particular set of religion. It has never happened before in this country. Why now?
“If we must make Nigeria great, we must allow equity, justice and sensitivity to be the watch of the day for our leaders. I am pleading in my heart, this was not the Nigeria I was born to. This was not the Nigeria that our great heroes fought for. What is going on? Our leaders, please save us because the Muslim-Muslim ticket is a sign of war”.
Meanwhile, the prophet also touched the issue of insecurity when he commented on Kuje prison break. He said the Nigerian military is among the best in Africa but wonder why the country could not replicate that standard in her nation. He further said the security bodies should wake up.
Speaking on Kuje Prison attack and a message to Nigerian leaders, the prophet said, “Kuje prison break is the one that left me speechless. Why? It happened in a country with the highest ranking military capacities in Africa. Sometimes I ask, is it not the same military that fought wars in Africa and came out victorious? The Giant of Africa has now become the sleeping brother of Africa. In the history of this country, we have never experienced such a thing before.
“It is because of insensitivity of our leaders that insecurity increased in this nation. If they are conscious of things to happen, they will take a step to remedy the issue. In Nigeria, before anything happens, the signs are clear if only our leaders can be more sensitive to detect them on time.
“Finally, this is my message to our leaders. I am sorry to say this, many of our elected leaders don’t feel the pains of the masses. Please in the name of whatever you hold dear, fix this county. This was not the Nigeria my parents told me about”.
Prophet Joshua Iginla started by saying, “As a pastor, my phone rings everyday. What are they asking for? They are looking for food to eat. Today, a Dollar is about N600. Today, our diesel is up to N800 per litre. Today, there is insecurity everywhere that many are gradually moving to arming themselves. We are afraid to be in church; we have become the security of ourselves after the Owo massacre. If the church can be attacked, no one is safe again”.
