Oyedepo Speaks On Contesting Election In Nigeria, Reveals Preferred Party
Founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, stated that he would never contest for any political position.
Naija News reports that the bishop stated this while speaking on Sunday during a sermon at the church’s headquarters, Canaanland, Ota in Ogun State.
According to the world second richest pastor, he would also not join any political party.
Oyedepo said God has placed him above all political positions in the country, including the presidency.
He said, “Will I ever be in a political party in my life? No. Gone forever.
“I knew God has positioned me far above all nations even when I was not above a town or a street. I knew it by divine insight. That is where God is taking you to”.
In other news, the Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has warned his deputy, Mahdi Aliyu, not to go against him or else he would be punished.
In an interview with DW Hausa Service on Saturday, Matawalle said he would not tolerate any act of disrespect from Aliyu.
Matawalle berated Aliyu for organising a rally last week after some communities had recorded fresh killings and kidnappings.
He, however, denied being the mastermind of the alleged plan to impeach his deputy, adding that he had promised to work with Aliyu irrespective of our political affiliations.
Matawalle said: “I just read about the impeachment plan and called someone for clarification who told me that they would not accept it from the deputy governor to be organising rallies when people are being killed.
“As governor of the state, I promised to work together with the deputy governor, irrespective of our political affiliations. But I won’t tolerate disrespectful attitude from him.”
“I won’t join issue with him but if he dares me, I will give him the treatment he deserves,” the governor said.
“We all agreed to halt any political rally welcoming politicians into the state since we lost some of our supporters while welcoming us.
“The deputy governor should have notified me of whatever he planned to do. Being of different political parties does not mean I am no longer his boss. Since the defection, he has stopped associating with me.”
‘Custom Officers Attacked Ibarapa Community, Not Bandits’ – Oyo Government
The Oyo State government has accused operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service of carrying out the attack on Ibarapa community on Friday.
The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa made the observation in a statement on Saturday after a visit by the government team to the affected communities.
It will be recalled as earlier reported by Society gazette that suspected gunmen who reportedly wore ‘Customs Uniform’ on Friday night attacked Igangan in Ibarapa North local government and Ibarapa Central local government areas in Oyo State.
It was gathered that the gunmen stormed the ancient town around 8.pm and left after shooting sporadically.
No fewer than three people were reportedly killed while the shooting lasted, including an Amotekun commandant in Ibarapa Central LGA.
The gunmen reportedly attacked Igangan in Ibarapa North LGA killing two people, while an Amotekun commandant was killed in Igboora in Ibarapa Central LGA.
But making clarification on the ugly incident, the Oyo Governor’s media aide said the community leaders identified those that attacked them as Customs Officers, not unknown gunmen as widely reported.
He added that the community leaders made the revelation during a fact-finding meeting between a team of the state government and political/traditional leaders of the affected communities on Saturday.
Adisa said, “The political and traditional leaders of Ibarapa extraction at the meeting, described the Friday raid on Igangan, Igbo-Ora and other communities in the area by men of the NCS as unnecessary and not well-thought-out.
“They called on the leadership of Customs Service to regulate operations of its personnel.
“It will be better if the authorities restrict them to border towns to end unwarranted attacks on innocent communities.”
The government’s team accompanied by the traditional rulers and community leaders visited the scenes of the incident at Igangan, Ayete, Tapa, and Igbo-Ora.
They appealed to the residents to maintain calm and avoid retaliation of any form for peace to reign.
The leaders, included the Olu of Igbo-Ora, Oba Jimoh Titiloye, and the Chairman of Ibarapa North Local Government, Mr Adeoye Adedoyin.
Optimism Of Francophone’s Strategic Cooperation Against Insurgency As Buratai Resumes In The Republic Of Benin
National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE, in this piece, cast a diagnostic review and analyses of the appointment of General Tukur Buratai as Ambassador to the Republic of Benin. The association predicts sound health resulting in a reinvigorated diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and its Francophone neighbour, capable of checking illegal arms and ammunition smuggling that fuel insurgency in Nigeria
Judging by Standard Performance Evaluation, SPV, even the most incurable cynics, among public affairs analysts, cannot help but attest to the fact that Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (retd) was a performer and an achiever, who reclaimed zones and territories which were hitherto occupied by insurgents prior to his appointment as the Nigerian Chief of Army Staff in 2015.
At the time, terrorism had become a national nightmare, a worrisome development that needed immediate remedies as insurgents occupied and hoisted their flags in five states of Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Bauchi and Gombe.
In these states, no fewer than 21 local government areas were seized and occupied by the deadly jihadists, who perpetrated their inordinate territorial expansion with mindless bloodshed and untold atrocities.
With Gwoza as their main caliphate administrative centre, the insurgents turned the surrounding areas to a killing field where many emirs, community leaders and their people were killed at will. Over 20, 000 Nigerian hostages, including the Chibok schoolgirls were scattered in different locations of Boko Haram secret camps. So bad was the situation that the Northeast region was substantially closed to public or social life for dread of the atrocities of Boko Haram.
But on the assumption of duty in July 2015 at the height of the insecurity problem, Buratai, an infantry combatant, hit the ground running. Incidentally, he did not assume the position of Army Chief unprepared. From the records, he had spent the best part of his military career in the trenches, fighting wars to keep Nigeria together.
In some important respects, he was involved in the UN Peace Keeping Missions in Angola and other countries. At a time, he was in the creeks of the Niger Delta fighting incendiary militants, vandals, and economic saboteurs bred in the region.
He was the Field Commander of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), the multi-nation military outfit conceptualized by Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroun and later on, Benin Republic to battle terrorism in the sub-region.
In all these assignments, he earned medals and awards for his exemplary and excellent performances, which consequently earned him accelerated promotions in recognition of his exceptional military exploits and results.
As Chief of Army Staff, Buratai demonstrated courage and leadership on the battlefield and supervised the counter-terrorism operations against the resilient Boko Haram insurgents and terrorists of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in line with global best practices.
His initiatives transformed the Nigeria Army into an entirely new institution with reforms and innovations.
Before he left office, he got the Army new specialized Army schools while old and abandoned army institutions were revamped.
He returned Nigeria Army to its glorious path of self-dependence where it manufactured some of its warfare equipment and visibly changed the narratives of the anti-insurgency combats, progressively.
Buratai, Grand Patron of the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE, also established far-reaching synergies with the armies of other countries, in the West African sub-region and outside the continent, with the likes of India, Brazil, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Sensitive knowledge sharing and exchange of experiences on combating terrorism became a regular feature of his leadership.
This accounted for his success in the anti-insurgency war.
He reorganized and empowered the Department of Civil-Military Affairs (DCMA) to function effectively, especially in the campaign for the protection and respect for human rights by the Nigerian Army. The first step he took to checkmate human rights abuses was to rejig and strengthen the DCMA.
Consequently, sensitization workshops and campaigns on the protection of human rights were dynamically conducted for members of the Nigeria Army.
Worthy of mention, as an attestation of his sophisticated diplomatic and public relations skills, was the Human Rights Workshop in 8 Task Force Division, where he was represented by Major General Nuhu Angbazo, the then Chief of Civil-Military Affairs.
That workshop confirmed that the Nigerian army had embarked on a drive to educate troops in the Laws of Armed Conflicts and therefore avoid unprofessional conducts that could destroy their careers and tarnish the good image of the Nigeria Army.
Buratai took a bow from military service on Tuesday, January 26, leaving Nigeria on a better anti-terrorism rating than he met it.
President Buhari, who superintends over the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and supervised Buratai at close range in his capacity as Army Chief, nominated him for Ambassadorial assignment.
The nomination on Thursday, February, received mixed reactions in the public space.
While some applauded the presidential foresight on account of Buratai’s commitment to degrading insurgency, others simply went for his jugular, citing imperfections on the battle front, which in their estimation, resulted to infringement of fundamental human rights.
Senate confirmed the nomination on February 23 and letter of credence was issued on Wednesday, June 23.
Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (retd)
Erudite scholar, Samson Aboh of the Federal University, Lafia, in a piece, emphasizes that Buratai’s encounters and relationships with foreign countries, especially in the Francophone bloc, would benefit Nigeria tremendously in his new assignment as Nigeria’s ambassador to the Republic of Benin.
“It is my utmost conviction that Nigeria can better resolve its internal problems of insurgency if the country strikes a strong diplomatic synergy with francophone countries.
“Ambassador Buratai stands in good stead to anchor these diplomatic relations between Nigeria and these francophone countries,” he writes.
In like manner, Governor Mala Buni of Yobe State, in a recent public statement, expressed confidence and trust in the appointment of Buratai as ambassador to the Republic of Benin.
He noted that the former army brass has the implicit skills and knowledge to represent Nigeria and develop synergy with the Beninoise to check illegal smuggling of weapons into Nigeria through the 809 km Benin–Nigeria border which stretches from the tripoint with Niger in the north down to the Bight of Benin in the south.
Buratai, he added, can replicate his military successes in diplomacy.
Governor Mala-Buni, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), said the newly appointed ambassador would be a worthy representative of Nigeria in Benin, noting that he would bring to bear his wealth of experience in discharging his duties.
“l have great confidence in your ability to build a viable and strong relationship between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.
“Your meritorious service in the army has built great confidence around you, which earned you this appointment,” he said.
This submission by Governor Buni reinforces the belief in many quarters that the strategic intention by President Muhammadu Buhari to build a wall of defence around Nigeria by posting immediate service chiefs as ambassadors will sufficiently check the unchallenged free movement of arms into the country.
These remarks and beliefs are the needed conviction of a new dawn that is capable of strengthening internal security mechanisms led by the current service chiefs and the team of retired officers as ambassadorial rings around Nigeria’s borders.
Without doubts, General Buratai would up his diplomatic and public relations game to synergize with the neighbouring countries and put a check to the movement of illegal arms. This would help Nigeria a great deal considering how Nigeria’s current epidemic of insecurity has brought illegal possession of guns into public view.
The more illegal arms that have entered into circulation, the higher the death toll and the more widespread the atmosphere of fear and insecurity.
The proliferation and easy access to small and light arms has of late attracted the attention of both government and the elite.
General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), former Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee disclosed the extent of arms proliferation in the country in a report by his committee.
The report indicated that there are over 6 million (6,145,000 to be exact) guns in the hands of private citizens.
The current total population of Nigeria’s armed and security forces is about 300,000 with 89,000 reservists.
If Police are added, Civil Defence, Customs and other departments officially allowed to bear arms, the entire security architecture does not have more than 500,000 legal arms in the holding of the state.
This simply means that the state and its security forces are outgunned by a high deficit ratio, a development Buratai would tackle as Benin Republic Ambassador.
In all of this, however, the appointment of Buratai signals diplomatic fresh onslaughts against insurgency and an end to subsisting challenges in the fight against terrorism including lukewarm strategic cooperation with francophone countries.
Ecobank Celebrates Nigerians In The Diaspora; Announces Zero Fees for Transactions on Rapidtransfer
In commemoration of this year’s National Diaspora Day event, Ecobank Nigeria is joining the rest of the country to celebrate Nigerians in the diaspora by making transactions on its proprietary money transfer app, Rapidtransfer, free of charge.
The Federal Government has set aside July 25 of every year as the National Diaspora Dayin recognition of the contributions of Nigerians living outside the country towards the development of their homeland.
In a commemorative message, Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Patrick Akinwuntan stated that Nigerians in the diaspora contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of the country. Mr. Akinwuntan lauded the decision of the Federal Government to set aside a special day every year as the National Diaspora Day, adding that the recent launch of the National Diaspora Policy (NDP) by the government would further promote and harness the resources and capacity of Nigerians in the diaspora towards national development.
“As a pan-African institution positioned to foster the economic growth and integration of our continent, we are particularly pleased to work closely with NiDCOM, ably led by the Chairman/CEO, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa towards the engagement of Nigerians in the diaspora on policies, projects and other initiatives geared at developing the nation. From our constant engagement with Nigerians in the Diaspora, we understand their peculiar needs and have created tailor-made solutions to serve them effectively.” He noted further that Ecobank has partnered NiDCOM on webinars, diaspora quarterly lecture series and will continue to seek other collaboration opportunities to deepen engagement with the diaspora community.
Also speaking, Korede Demola-Adeniyi, Head, Consumer Banking, Ecobank Nigeria said Ecobank will apply zero fees to all Rapidtransfer transactions from 1st July till the end of October, 2021, thereby enabling Nigerians living abroad to send money to their loved ones affordably. According to her, the decision to waive charges underscores the bank’s commitment to helping Nigerians abroad remit money home without placing an additional burden of charges on them, especially at this period of global economic downturn.
Rapidtransfer is Ecobank’s proprietary money transfer service which enables users send funds across borders, affordably and instantly. The Rapidtransfer app is available for use by Ecobank and non-Ecobank customers. Remittances can be received directly into the recipient’s account or as cash at any Ecobank branch. Beneficiaries who wish to receive funds into an account but do not have domiciliary accounts have the opportunity to open in Euro, GBP or USD instantly and enjoy all the benefits that come with Ecobank foreign currency accounts.
In addition, N5 is paid on every one dollar received as cash or direct to account in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s ongoing Naira for Dollar initiative.
‘Where do people get such money?’ — reactions trail Obi Cubana mum’s burial
BY JAMES OJO
‘Where do people get such money?’ — reactions trail Obi Cubana mum’s burial
The flamboyant funeral of Uche Iyiegbu, mother of Obi Cubana, Nigerian nightlife promoter, has sparked different reactions on social media.
On Friday, the entrepreneur’s mother, who passed away in December last year, was laid to rest in Afor Uzo Oba, Anambra state.
The event had in attendance prominent figures across various spheres in Nigeria including Davido, D’banj, Phyno, Odumeje, and Abba Kyari, a deputy commissioner of police (DCP).
The ceremony was characterised by live performances from various artistes who graced the event. Guests also took turns to spray wads of naira notes to a huge crowd that graced the occasion.
The lavish burial ceremony has, however, begun to attract controversies on social media, particularly Twitter, where Nigerian users ensured it topped the subject of conversation.
While some users hailed the activities that took place at the event, especially the spraying of money, others had their reservations.
“The bastardisation and rubbishing of Nigeria naira by umu Igbo has spiritual coronation. Some of them spreading these monies never knew it was an assignment. They are being used by our forefathers whose investment & millions in banks were denied & only 20 pounds given #obicubana,” a user wrote.
“I thought we are all shouting no money for this Nigeria. Where una dey see this money,” another user wrote in a mixture of English and Pidgin.
Here’s what others had to say:
EFCC won’t disappoint!
They’ll investigate the “rain of money” at Oba for no reason other than it’s in of the “Dot Nation”
They won’t see:
The bullion vans at Asiwaju’s home
The multi-million power bikes of unemployed Yusuf Buhari
The lavishness of politicians’ kids#obicubana pic.twitter.com/ac0hfDlBkq
—Afri-Sagacity (@afrisagacity) July 17, 2021
Nobody is fuming about extravagant spending of Obi Cubana & his friends.
No one is angry they’re throwing money in the air instead of feeding the poor or building infrastructures.
Wait till one Church builds a new auditorium.
“feeding the poor” logics go full twitter.
—This Girl is Blessed 🇨🇦 (@Girl_isBlessed) July 16, 2021
There’s no “Obi Cubana” in East Africa, with crass, vulgar displays of wealth.
What East Africa has in abundance is the extravagant expression of the uniquely African feminine form.
We must go there, and leave Nigeria to wallow in its inauthentic gaudy flamboyance.
—Onye Nkuzi (@cchukudebelu) July 16, 2021
Let me just quickly clarify a few things because I know this issue will come up again in the future.
Most of the folks who criticised yesterday didn’t criticise Obi Cubana for spending on his mums burial neither did they criticise Cubana Chief Priest for buying 46 cows.
—Dr. Dípò Awójídé, FHEA (@OgbeniDipo) July 17, 2021
In the end, the biggest winner in this whole Obi Cubana’s mom’s burial is Anambra State economy. I am so happy it happened in Alaigbo. Make traders, hotelier, transport companies etc smile small. ❤️
—Afamefuna Ezenwankwọ (@AfamDeluxo) July 17, 2021
Police officers are greedy oo
See what is happening in Oba ooo
Obi Cubana don cause wahala #obicubana pic.twitter.com/ivefusgWGY
—Kelz Tbg (@KelzTbg) July 15, 2021
Reasons why having rich friends as well in your life is very important. Just look at how funeral gifts have turned into a potential business #obicubana #cubanachiefpriest #cubana pic.twitter.com/3sGvdoyndS
—Carrington (@black_vasilis) July 15, 2021
Me dropping out of school to focus #obicubana money pic.twitter.com/LMFkupJBj1
—😈✞ skucci szn ☔🧵 (@theclothsmith) July 16, 2021
How Igbo group are defending the wealth of #obicubana without any fact but you are jealousy and hating of our tribe
Show Nigerians only see criticisms as an attack on their in-group.
Too much for those who blame Hausa for defending their tribe
—theSociologyGuy (@Freshdipo1) July 17, 2021
Obi Cubana’s mom burial has to be the most talked about burial since Michael Jackson. Anambra men doings is on another level 🙌🏾#obicubana
—Billionaire Ambition 🙏🏾 (@datgreatnigga) July 16, 2021
Person dey bury e mama, you dey shout God When
Don’t worry very soon
#obicubana
—provii (@provii8) July 16, 2021
Because we no get money, rain wey suppose fall for oba, they shift am come Lagos now everywhere don flood😭😭#obicubana pic.twitter.com/aLHZ2Vip5h
—Bride of Jesus ☺️ (@Tife_Young) July 16, 2021
Ithought we are all shouting no money for this Nigeria.
where una dey see this money#obicubana pic.twitter.com/y4sO09qUxG
—Precious 🇳🇬 (@prexy500) July 16, 2021
Davido is the first music artist to turn a burial into a concert 🤯🔥 happening live at Oba Anambra #obicubana pic.twitter.com/4oFRQAABIZ
JUST IN: IPOB’s Plotting To Launch Attack on Kuje Prison, Free Nnamdi Kanu – Security Agencies Raises Alarm
Nigerian Security agencies have uncovered plots by members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to attack Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja and free their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Recall that IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu was reportedly rearrested in Kenya and extradited back to Nigeria on the 27th of June, 2021.
He was then arraigned before Justice Binta Nyako who ordered his remand in the custody of the DSS until his next trial date which is July 26 and 27.
Kanu, who is facing an 11-count charge of treason, treasonable felony, terrorism and illegal possession of firearms, among others, jumped bail in 2017 and left the country, only to re-emerge in Israel and then in the United Kingdom.
The IPOB leader, through his lawyers, has accused the DSS and Kenya authorities of torturing him while in their custody.
He had also asked the court to transfer him to Kuje prison and allow him to see his doctors over his poor health due to torture.
But a top-ranking officer of one of the security agencies told PRNigeria that the militias of IPOB under the guise of Eastern Security Network (ESN) are plotting to launch an attack on Kuje Prison if Nnamdi Kanu is eventually moved there.
“We have uncovered the grand plan of a looming attack on Kuje Correctional Facility. This is sequel to Nnamdi Kanu’s plea to the Court to have him moved to the Kuje Prison from the detention facility of the DSS,” he said.
“We are aware of the motives of some of his supporters to intimidate and harass judicial and security officers to do their biddings through petitions, propaganda and blackmail so that he could be transferred to the prison which they could easily attack as they have done to many Police Stations and Correctional Facilities in the Southeast, in the last six months,” he added.
He stated that prominent individuals who are arrested and detained at the DSS facility are normally given superior treatment, compared to what they stand to get at Police cells.
The officer cited series of attacks on security personnel and their facilities in the South-East by IPOB and ESN where many lives of innocent citizens and properties were lost.
“For instance in April this year, the police confirmed that IPOB/ESN militias were behind the attack on Imo Prison with sophisticated weapons such as General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), Sub-Machine Guns (SMGs), AK49 rifles, Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs), Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) after razing the state Police Headquarters with vehicles parked in the premises.
“Nnamdi Kanu even had the gut to celebrate the destruction when he emphasised via his verified Twitter account that no soul deserves to be locked up in Nigeria’s prison. Imagine him now saying he prefered the same prison facility
“His lousy, callous and inciting threats were some of the pieces of evidence that our foreign partners considered in justifying the need for his repatriation to face his trial in Nigeria after jumping bail… Meanwhile, Justice Binta Nyako had revoked the bail granted him and also ordered his arrest anywhere in the world which prompted the action we took for his return to Nigeria.
“Has any country come out to support him or condemn the action we have taken?” the officer asked.
Electoral Act Bill: PDP heads to court, insists on electronic transmission of results
Nigeria’s main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed not allow the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) led National Assembly to “murder democracy” in Nigeria, vowing to head to court to challenge the decision of the senate to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from transmitting election results directly from polling units.
On Thursday, lawmakers spent more than three hours considering over 100 clauses of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, and the majority of the senators, all APC senators, succeeded in empowering the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to determine the electronic transmission of electoral results.
The legislation is seeking to repeal and re-enact the 2010 electoral act, which has been under consideration for years.
During the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, Sabi Abdullahi, deputy senate whip, proposed that the NCC must certify that national coverage is adequate and secure, while the national assembly must approve before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can transmit election results electronically.
But Albert Bassey, senator representing Akwa Ibom north-east, kicked against the motion and said the initial proposal made by the committee should be retained.
“The commission may transmit results of elections by electronic means where and when practicable,” section 50 (3) of the report reads.
This led to a rowdy session which lasted about 20 minutes, after which the senate eventually retained Abdullahi’s amendment after a 52-28 vote, with all APC senators voting ‘No’ and all PDP senators voting ‘Yes.’
Reacting to the decision of the senators at press conference on Friday, national chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus on Friday, the said the amendment passed by the lawmakers cannot stand, as according to him, it is a big scam.
Secondus said the party will take all necessary legal steps to ensure that the “APC scam” is not allowed to stand in any way.
“We have called you this afternoon to join our voices and anger with that of Nigerians and all lovers of democracy in condemning what happened in the National Assembly yesterday Thursday and today Friday,” Secondus said.
“How a representative of the people enjoying their mandate blatantly turned their back on them and toed the line of a political party interest that is clearly against the people.
“By the choice of the All Progressives Congress, APC to put party interest before National interest, they have vividly murdered democracy by the actions of their members in the two chambers of the National Assembly yesterday and today. For us in PDP, today is a Black Friday for democracy.
“It’s an established fact in all democracies world wide that a free, fair and credible election is the tripod of any democracy. The action of APC in swaying their members against Electronic transmission of Election Results clearly undermines and shows in unmistaken terms that APC is not ready to face the Nigerian electorates.
“It also shows that the dilly-dallying of APC all the while in amending the Electoral Act is deliberate as they never wanted from inception to do anything that will deepen democracy in our country.
“This is notwithstanding that the party is a huge beneficiary of Electoral Reform carried out by the PDP administration.
“We therefore, unequivocally condemn and reject the amendment of Electoral Act as passed by the National Assembly and urge President Muhammadu Buhari to fulfil his anti-corruption crusade and see this as corruption and the big scam.
“The PDP will take all necessary legal steps to ensure that this APC scam is not allowed to stand in any way.
“We therefore call on all lovers of democracy who see free, fair and transparent election as vital, to stand up against this fraud.
“Before I end these remarks gentlemen of the Press, may I commend members of the PDP in the two chambers for standing up for democracy when it mattered. History will be favourable to them.
“I would like to also urge the Press as vanguard in the democratic struggle to take up their arms against this anti democratic action.”
How Suspected herdsmen dressed in military uniform struck Again In Igangan, Kill Amotekun Commander, Two Others
Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen again struck late Friday night in Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo state killing four residents.
The attack was however repelled by the swift response of local security operatives.
The Commander of Amotekun Corps in Ibarapa Central simply identified as Muri was among the victims of the attack.
The attackers were said to have stormed the town in two Hilux vans, an 18-seater Hummer bus, and a Toyota Sienna bus wearing military and customs camouflage.
It could not be confirmed at press time if the attackers were real security operatives as sources who spoke with The Nation said the residents initially lowered their guards thinking the men were customs operatives in search of suspected smugglers.
It was gathered that the suspected gunmen arrived in the community around 7 pm on Friday and attacked some areas.
A resident said the attackers stormed the community in large number but could not give actual figure.
The convener Igangan development advocate, Oladiran Oladokun confirmed the attack saying the incident was an attempt to invade the state through the axis, a border community but was resisted by the local security operatives.
Oladokun said although, the suspected herders came in customs and military camouflage to deceive the people and change the narrative that it was security operatives who stormed the town in search of those who engage in smuggling activities, a practice that is alien to the people of the community.
He expressed disappointment over inadequate security despite the recurrence of the attacks.
A community leader, who spoke in confidence said: “Report reaching me now reveals that around 8:00 pm people suspected to be herdsmen again invaded Igangan and shoot sporadically for over 30minutes. Some said they were Customs men as they wore Custom uniform but they were chased by local hunters after killing some people.
“They also passed Igboora and continue shooting and it was reported people died in Igboora too including one Amotekun operative.
“It was reported that the Commander of Amotekun in Ibarapa Central has been killed.”
Contacted, an Amotekun operative in Igangan who craved anonymity explained that the quick intervention of the local security operatives forced the assailants to retreat but not without killing some residents as they escaped through Abeokuta axis.
He said: “It is true. Around past 7 pm, we started hearing a noise around town that attackers have come again, and we quickly rushed out. They were shooting sporadically and heavily around AUD Quarters on their way to the town.
“By the turning to Jabele hotel, they killed a man there. When they saw that we were coming after them there, they turned back and headed towards Tapa. When they got to Tapa, they killed another person.
“When they got to Ayete, they killed one person, when they got to Igboora, they killed the Commander of Amotekun in Ibarapa Central named Muri.
“They wore customs and military uniform as camouflage. They wore a fake uniform. In fact, they passed in front of Operation Burst operatives in Ofiki and those ones didn’t know they were assailants on a deadly mission.
“We suspected them to be herdsmen with the way they operated and shot randomly while carrying out the attack.
“They came in two Toyota Hilux vans, one 18-passenger hummer bus and a sienna bus. They wore both military and custom uniforms.
“I cannot ascertain their numbers because before we got to where they were, as they entered into the town in Igangan, they shot at someone who sat outside of his house at AUD Quarters, that was where everybody took to their heels.
“It was when we were hearing repeated gunshots that we too quickly organised ourselves to face them and when they knew we were coming after them, they changed direction and faced Tapa.
“When they got to Tapa, they killed one person, killed another at Ayete and when they got to Ideere, they shot at a soldier and they killed Amotekun Commander in Igboora.
“We have informed the Police. But Operation Burst operatives are at Ofiki River, they said they taught they were customs and army operatives and that was why they allowed them to gain access into the town but that they didn’t know and they were deceived.
“We even gathered that they also shot at the customs operatives stationed in the axis too, an indication that the attackers are not genuine security operatives but we are not sure if they also have any casualty.”
Recall that, only last month, suspected herdsmen invaded the town overnight killing many people in the process.
Sources within the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have confirmed that N507m has been recovered from Nora Johnson, the Sierra Leonean woman involved in a case of multi-million naira fraud against her former employers, and her co-conspirators.
It was gathered that while Nora Johnson refunded N100m on account of her involvement in the fraud to the EFCC, some of the conspirators in the years-long racket refunded N400m, another accused person refunded N7m on behalf of Nora Johnson.
However, Nora Johnson, according to the EFCC source, reneged on paying the expected balance, which led to her present predicament.
Nora Johnson came into public consciousness days back when she did a video wailing about the confiscation of her house.
It would emerge that Justice A. Lewis Allagoa, Presiding Judge, Federal High Court (Lagos Division) had ordered that the EFCC should take possession of all properties and bank accounts owned by Johnson and five others.
This followed an application on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria by the EFCC, which charged her to court and subsequently led to the interim forfeiture of her assets on the order of Justice A.M. Liman on February 16, 2021.
However, on March 21, 2021, Ms Johnson and the other respondents: Babajide Aremu Johnson, Olabose Ibrahim Falobi, Steve Nnamdi Izebu, Steve Ibem and Bakoliza Limited went to court to suspend or stay execution on Justice Liman’s order. They had sought the following: an order to discharge the interim order of forfeiture of assets, an order discharging the final forfeiture and any other orders as deemed fit by the court.
In his judgment after hearing J.O. Adeyemi Esq, Counsel for the Applicant/Respondent and V.C. Nwokafor Counsel for the 1st, 2nd and 6th Respondents/Applicants, Justice Allagoa ordered that the motion of Ms. Olumide and the other respondents dated March 12, 2021, be set aside.
The judgment, delivered on July 14, 2021, stated further: “That the order of Justice Liman stands in all its ramifications” and “That the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are entitled to take possession of all that property subject of the Order of my Lord A.M. Liman on the 16th day of February 2021.”
Femi Adesina Goofed in His Attack Against Primate Elijah Ayodele’s Predictions
I was surfing the internet on Thursday night after a stressful day at work and because the federal government has banned twitter, I had to enjoy my Facebook app which I have made an alternative whenever I want to read or watch funny and educative posts. I follow several pages on Facebook, most especially those ones operated by political leaders and appointees like Femi Adesina and others, this is due to my love for politics and my never quenched thirst for information that comes from the seat of power.
One of the pages I have followed consistently over the years is that of Femi Adesina, the President’s special adviser on media and publicity. This is because I see him as an intelligent, factual, and interesting person who serves as a leader to every journalists in Nigeria, I mean, He has reached the peak of his career and people really look up to him. Although in recent times, some have called him names for his view on some issues but I have never for once joined bandwagon because I feel they are not being sincere in their criticisms. However, Thursday night actually confirmed what people have always said, I couldn’t believe my eyes as journalism suddenly went down the drain in the hands of its custodian, Mr Femi Adesina, arguably the most envied journalist in Nigeria at the moment.
Mr Femi Adesina as usual made a long paragraphed post titled ‘Some Prophets See Nothing’ talking about Prophets in Africa. He started by mentioning a man who prophesied the victory of England at the just concluded Euro 2020 cup before moving to the main target of his post, Primate Elijah Ayodele of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church.
Primate Ayodele is a very popular man of God who has made several warnings to power, he is known for his courage and boldness in speaking the truth to power, I quickly focused on the post to see what the highly respected writer has written this time around. Shockingly, Femi Adesina went on by stating some prophecies of Primate Ayodele that didn’t come to pass according to him, continued by saying Primate Ayodele is a very good humanitarian and ended with advising him to focus on his philanthropic activities and leave the prophetic ministry.
If Femi Adesina was factual with the prophecies he listed as not coming to pass, there wouldn’t have been need to pay attention but for the sake of excellent journalism, the need to call him to order is highly important.
Let’s take a look at his list of unfulfilled prophecies of Primate Elijah Ayodele which will be quoted below
‘’ Let’s look at all these facts: in the build up to 2015 presidential elections, Primate Ayodele said Goodluck Jonathan would win. The man lost. He said the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) would take Kaduna by a narrow margin. Nasir el-Rufai of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won. Again, he said Yobe, Gombe, Benue, Delta, and Akwa Ibom States would be won by PDP. The APC won three of those States. Who hit the crossbar? You know the answer.
PDP will shock APC in Lagos. It didn’t happen. Boko Haram would bomb South West. Mercifully, it didn’t happen. APC would break, Buhari won’t do second term. You know the truth. And in 2017, when the President was on medical vacation abroad for many months, he said the seat was vacant, and the man would never return. You now know who didn’t speak the truth, who didn’t hear from God’’
To start with, Primate Ayodele never said Goodluck Jonathan would win election in 2015, I wonder where Femi Adesina was when Vanguard Newspapers published a detailed story on how what Primate Ayodele said about Goodluck Jonathan’s fate in his second term bid. The man of God started talking about it since 2013 that Goodluck Jonathan’s victory is dicey and that He will not win. (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/my-warnings-to-the-nation-have-come-to-pass-primate-ayodele/)
On PDP Shocking Lagos in 2015, it seems Femi Adesina was too busy with campaigning to secure an appointment when PDP nearly took Lagos from APC if not for the intervention of some leaders of the party in a crooked way. PDP won seats in the house of assembly which was unusual and till date, every political analyst still maintain that PDP was robbed off that election, was that not shocking enough that PDP shook APC’s stronghold?
On the Kaduna Election that Nasir El Rufai won, Primate Ayodele never said PDP would win, He categorically said it will be difficult for PDP to retain the state, and for the other states Femi Adesina mentioned, it would be best for him to make his findings and provide video proof of Primate Ayodele making these statements because as far as I know, the man of God never said this and as a journalist that Femi Adesina is, wouldn’t it have been proper for him to call Primate Ayodele then to confirm if he said all of these? The official statement from the man of God media office is stating a different thing with the record on prestigious media publications. Funny enough, Femi Adesina used to have a personal relationship with Primate Ayodele, he was even at his church to preach at a time, how come he never resorted to hearing directly from the man of God on these prophecies, or is this one of his pull him down syndrome tactic against Primate Elijah Ayodele as ordered by his paymasters?
On Buhari’s seat becoming vacant, Primate Ayodele never meant death for President Buhari, infact Primate Ayodele ordered Nigeria to pray for President Buhari’s health when he was away. This was even published on a popular website (https://thewhistler.ng/i-see-nigerian-flag-flown-half-mast-cabal-dethroning-osinbajo-primate-ayodele/)
so we wonder where Femi Adesina got his version from.
Talking about the All progressive congress breaking, if truly Femi Adesina is informed, even the blind man knows APC has broken into pieces, it has not just being admitted publicly. We see the national leader of the party kicking against policies made by the acting national chairman, we saw how this played out during the party’s registration, another crisis is also rocking the party’s national congress which has been shifted twice, how then can we describe this as togetherness?
On Boko Haram bombing South west, that prophecy was just made this year as a warning to awaken the security system of the south west in general, if a man of God has made some revelations or warnings, the fact that it is yet to come to pass doesn’t mean it won’t and why should Femi Adesina expect bombings in South west. Who should go and start praying to God to avert if it not him? It’s unfortunate that everything Femi Adesina mentioned on this post of his are nothing but false. It’s sad that one of the longest serving journalists in Nigeria has given himself out to hearsays and unconfirmed reports to attack a man of God who does nothing but reveal God’s mind and warnings to nations beyond Nigeria and Africa.
The main reason for his post was to talk about the recent prophecy of Primate Ayodele that talked about Nigeria breaking before 2040. Femi Adesina beastly described the prophecy as one that wasn’t heard from God and assured that Nigeria will survive beyond 2040, the question is, How can a man who doesn’t see beyond his nose, a mere man who operates in the physical realm be sure of what will happen in the next minute not to talk of many years to come? A prophet sees things long before they happen, Femi Adesina should not read prophecy like novels or articles. These are very important warnings and instead of praying to God, he is out there attacking Primate Ayodele for speaking God’s mind, may God forgive him.
He also frowned at Primate Ayodele’s negative prophecies, explaining that prophecies are supposed to edify the soul. Maybe we should ask him if he didn’t hear about Prophet Jeremiah’s prophecy to Judah in the bible or Prophet Elijah’s many prophecies that were not palatable. A prophet says what he sees, not for anyone’s edification but for the name of God to be glorified.
Of course, I know for sure that Femi Adesina would never have soiled his reputable journalism career for this cheap campaign of calumny against Primate Ayodele whose tentacles have spread far and wide by God’s grace, he has only sacrificed himself as a tool to shut down every one speaking truth to the power but unfortunately, even if the whole media team, joined by all appointees of the Presidency come together as a force against Primate Ayodele, they will flee in seven ways because no one dares touch God’s project ‘’Touch Not My Anointed And Do My Prophets No Harm’’.
For the record, Primate Elijah Ayodele is the only prophet in Africa to consistently produce an annual book of prophecy titled Warnings To The Nation since 1994. The 27th edition was launched on Saturday, 10th Of July, 2021. He is also the only prophet to have over 10,000 fulfilled prophecies with a compendium published for record purposes. Primate Ayodele isn’t someone that will be easily pulled down by this unprofessional article by Femi Adesina, it can’t even touch the hair on his body but there’s really a need to call Femi Adesina to order before he loses track.
Let’s even talk about the recent fulfilled prophecies of this man of God. Primate Ayodele had warned that He foresees assassination of an African leader, this came to pass in Haiti recently, in the newly released Annual book of prophecy which was compiled from March to June, Primate Ayodele noted that there will be destruction of lives and properties in South Africa if Zuma’s case isn’t handled well, we all know what’s happening now, the sudden change in leadership of GTBank was mentioned in this book, in the areas of sports too, Primate Ayodele accurately prophesied the outcome of Euro 2020 and COPA America semi finals and final matches during live services on his facebook page, this was not recorded, it was a live broadcast before the match were played, they came to pass exactly how he said it (See his facebook page here https://web.facebook.com/inrievangelical) , these are just 0.01% of Primate Ayodele’s prophecies.
Finally, I would love to advise him to remember that South west remains his home after President Buhari’s tenure ends, He has allowed himself to be used as a weapon against his people for too long, the remaining years of his in power should be to retrace his steps and not cause more damages for himself, if not for his sake but for his family who are also full of shame on his behalf.
