CATHOLIC Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has been called upon to “quickly and quietly leave the seat of Caliphate” or immediately stop his “malicious vituperations against Islam and Muslims” and tender unreserved apology to the Muslim Ummah.
The call by the Muslim Solidarity Forum, Sokoto was contained in a press statement. It came amidst allegations by the Department of State Services of a plot to incite religious violence in some states by some elements working with external forces.
The acting Chairman of MSF, Prof Isa Maishanu, while reacting to Kukah’s Christmas message, stated that Kukah, with his statements, was trying to break the age-long peaceful coexistence between the predominantly Muslim population and their Christian guests.
According to the statement, “In February 2020, he (Kukah) staged a demonstration in the heart of Sokoto over the killing of a single Christian priest, presumably, by the Boko Haram insurgents, but did not consider hundreds of Muslims, Fulani herders that were mercilessly killed by the Christian militia in Taraba state in 2018.”
The statement went further to ask the fiery clergy what he thought would happen if the peace-loving Muslims of the seat of Caliphate, responded to his incessant provocative attacks on them and their religion like what happened in Kafanchan 1987, Zango Kataf 1992, Tafawa Balewa in 1991, 1993, 1995 and 2001, Yelwa Shandam 2004, Zonkwa and Jarkasa in 2011?”
Reacting, the Chairman of CAN in Kaduna State and its National Vice Chairman (19 Northern States and Abuja), Rev. Joseph John Hayab, and Executive Director of FJPD, Kwamkur Samuel, said the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Foundation for Justice Peace Development faulted the quit notice served Bishop Kukah by the forum.
Hayab said, “We have tolerated them so that we can continue together and build a nation of respect for others’ opinion. We, therefore, see this call for an apology from Bishop Kukah by this group as a show of disrespect and a display of complex attitude to abuse our tolerance spirit and our desire for a peaceful Nigeria.
“We see this group as agents of blackmail and intimidation who want to infringe on the right and freedom of expression of citizens, which our constitution guarantees.”
In the same vein, Samuel said, “Those terrorising Nigerians daily are so strong that they are rewarded almost on daily basis with ransom even in foreign currency under the supervision of authority while those crying on pages of papers like Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, due to losses, experience and excruciating pains and love for the nation, are easily identified, intimidated and vilified by the same authority that is not able to secure the lives and property of Nigerians.
“I will advise this group of young and energetic Nigerians who are calling for the head of Kukah to join the families of victims of terrorists, kidnappers and bandits in Katsina, Maiduguri, Zamfara and other parts of Nigeria to get to the source and sponsors of killers of Nigerians.”
The future of Africa is on the right tracks all thanks to the selfless and innovative activities The Future Africa Leaders Foundation an initiative of the Rev. Dr. Chris Oyakhilome, with the aim of exploring and expanding the leadership potentials in Africa and for Africa. The foundation was established for identifying, celebrating and supporting young Africans who have demonstrated exemplary leadership by impacting their generation positively through education, youth empowerment and mentoring through other projects aimed at building young people and preparing them for a positive future.
In an event recently in Lagos, the organization showcases some exceptional young people whose selfless contributions to humanity made them worthy to be picked among the top 10 young African leaders between the age of 16 and 23 years from a pool of 30 individuals from 20 African countries to be a recipients of the most sought-after Future African Leadership Awards (FALA) 2020.
The recipients who were honoured with the global recognition awards, which comes with a Star Award Winner that will receive a token amount of $25,000 as a show of encouragement and $10,000 each for other nominees from the founder and chief motivator of the Future Africa Leaders ‘Awards, Rev. Chris Oyakhilome on 31st December 2020 were full of joy and appreciation to God and the organizers they since were going about their functions with no expectation from anybody or even to hope that someone would notice.
Star Award winner, 22 years old Gwei Michael Wawa from Cameroun is a social activist who is passionate about using technology solution for advancement of Africa. His NGO Youths Empowerment through Science and Technology (YEST), has in collaborations with College of Technology impacted 18,000 youths in Cameroun through 34 conferences and 18 seminars.
Other award recipients are 23 years old Christian Majeed Kwesi, from Ghana who has impacted over 3,000 girls and women and also inspired over 10,000 youth through his different programmes; Elsa Cethia Milandou from Congo Brazzaville, who had worked tirelessly to end the suffering of children and youths, she had launched campaign to sensitize young women against unwanted pregnancy, she also distribute foods, sanitizers and washing gel as palliatives to many home during this COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.
Mary Mukueba Julius is a 22 years old recipient from South Sudan who has helped disadvantaged youths in refugee camps in South Sudan and Northern Uganda, she had provide planting seed and teach the youths about farming, she started agricultural projects in 5 refugee camps, she also started 2 greenhouses which fruits, vegetables and herbs were distributed to 14,382 households to across the 5 camps to help sustain them. Others in the top 10 are; 22 years old Victor Emeka Mba from Nigeria, 23 years old Tebogo Moroe from South Africa, 23 years old Michelle Mumba from Zambia, Avante Susan Mafusire from Zimbabwe, 20 years old Aicha Elhaj Mahamat from Chad and 18 years old Mayamiko Banda from Malawi.
The project coordinator Dr. Jumoke Akinsanya, explained that the project is non-religious and it is opened to people of African descent who falls between the age of 16 to 23 years, she state further that the foundation has been organising the awards for the past 8 years and that apart from providing financial help it also provides training opportunities to the participants.
Wole Soyinka, Nobel laureate, says it is best for his sanity to forget about the existence of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
In an interview with Kaftan TV aboard the Lagos-Ibadan train service, Soyinka said one must forget about the government to have a sense of balance.
“I don’t want to talk about Muhammadu Buhari’s administration,” he said when asked if the train service is a plus to the Buhari administration.
“I think it is best for my sanity just to avoid that overall question. I can take bits and pieces of Nigeria’s present predicament but I think for one’s sense of balance, one must forget the existence of the Buhari administration.”
The professor said the train service would boost commerce in the region, narrating how he spent hours in traffic on a trip from Lagos to Abeokuta, Ogun state capital.
“It is a work in progress but it is a very impressive work in progress considering the difficulty of really executing anything in this country,” he said.
“I think we are looking at a virtual transport revolution which is long overdue. I had an engagement in Lagos which I nearly postponed because of the road but for some time I have been saying wait a minute, this thing (train) is supposed to be running and I checked the timetables and I said if I catch the train in Abeokuta I would be in Lagos in an hour and a half, I would be picked up, run around quickly, do my business and here I am.
“I left Abeokuta this morning, I am going back to Abeokuta to eat my Ilafun (yam/cassava flour) and I am going to sleep in my bed this evening.
“It is marvellous. That is what one has been doing in Europe. Why has it taken so long for that to happen here?”
A statement by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, on Monday in Abuja, said Mr Abubakar, former vice president and presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in the 2019 general elections, took the decision because the Muhammadu Buhari government has destroyed the economy.
”It assumed greater urgency in the last last five years, because this Government has been preoccupied with destroying a legitimate business that was employing thousands of Nigerians because of politics,” a part of the statement read.
Mr Abubakar, who was Vice President between 1999 and 2007, said”there should be a marked difference between politics and business.
The statement further said the former Vice President sold his shares in Intels and redirected his investment to other sectors of the economy for returns and creation of jobs.
Mr Abubakar has been having running battle with the Nigerian government over some remittances Intels ought to make into the government’s coffers.
Let me first out myself. I am a former Employee of FCMB. I worked there for a bit in the securities trading arm, CSL. CSL is a legendary institution that continues to be the corner piece of the Nigerian Capital Market. I was the Head of Local Business.
One thing that attracted me to the firm was its legacy. Its founder, Chief Subomi Balogun, was a hero of sorts to young Stockbrokers like myself. He had built the institution from his boot straps to the behemoth it is today with over 50,000 Shareholders.
My first day at work, I was taken in a ride by the then Managing Director Ladi Balogun on his way to a meeting with Aliko Dangote and in those few minutes he perfectly situated the values that drove the institution. Ethical standards and integrity were the words he kept repeating as he stressed the need for me to join as he attempted to reclaim market share in the Local Securities market.
I stayed with the Bank for over 15 months and having worked in several financial institutions including about four Banks and several stockbroking and Asset Management Firms, I can safely say that the ethical standards at FCMB stand shoulder high above its peers. The FCMB woman is well regarded, with access to the very top to discuss her issues. They even have the FCMB Woman Platform which seeks to build cohesion and gives the FCMB woman the much needed push to fulfil whatever it is is her career goals.
That said, the news of the alleged dalliance between the well regarded MD Mr. Adam Nuru and the former staff leading to the supposed siring of two kids by him while still in her marriage and ultimately leading to her husbands passing has captured the imagination of Nigerians powerfully.
Daily the keen observer is assailed with all sort of social media commentary, memes and the rest on the matter. I hear an online petition has been in circulation with varied numbers being quoted as signatures asking both the FCMB and the CBN to act on the matter. A memo allegedly sent out by Group Managing Director Ladi Balogun quoting that the issue could derail the achievements’ of the Bank in the just concluded year is leaked, fueling calls for his removal.
All these have thrown up very important questions on the ethical behaviors of Bankers and its effect on the Bank’s public image and much more importantly the profitability of the Bank on the one hand and the safety of public funds in its custody on the other. It is also putting the regulator to task on the issue.
But tarry awhile. Why all these fervor on an unsigned petition innocuously posted on social media. How do we move against a Man based on a mere allegation without anybody coming out to own up to the allegations. Up until this point as I write, I have not seen a signed petition accusing the man of all of these allegations. What we are seeing so far are online petitions from people on the back of the anonymous trigger post. Should we now then hang a man based on this? Based on public push which is as is the case quite emotional.
The arbitrariness of this matter and others like this especially on social media is scary. What this portends is that if Nuru falls then anybody can fall based on any story thrown up there just by anybody. Before I am castigated, please note that I am not taking a stand as to Mr. Nuru’s innocence or not or if he breached Banks ethical rules or what not. All I am just saying is that there has been no concrete complaint from either the Mr. Thomas accusing this man of this heinous crime, nor an official complaint from the Woman alleging rape, forceful sex or any type of abuse using his power as a boss over her. We have not even seen DNA certification confirming the parentage of the children. All that is in the public domain are pictures of children who have an uncanny resemblance to Mr. Nuru. Are there sufficient factual and legal evidence to begin to push for the Mr. Nurus head.
In the last five years, Nigerians have witnessed the growth of what some of us have called digital mobs who unlike their physical counterparts who roast with used tyres and bonfires, these ones do their with words on social media. The arbitrariness and disregard for processes and institutionalized structures for arbitration continues to weaken the levers that hold society together pushing us closer to anarchy.
The FCMB I know have well tested and well-ordered structures for getting relieve if your rights have been trampled. I have gone through it as a boss. I had lost my temper during a heated meeting and unwittingly threw a pencil at a junior staff. She went through the process and I faced a disciplinary Committee and was found guilty. The system didn’t care that as at that time I Was number 3 in hierarchy in our subsidiary and that this lady was very near the bottom in hierarchy, I was made to face the music. Same I am very confident would be the case if there is an official approach to this matter by any complainant even if it is me being Mr. Thomas Landlord.
The major issue here is not even Mr. Nuru and his supposed errant private member but our societies’ eagerness to throw caution and common sense into the gutters in matters like this while putting on the toga of arbitrariness in pushing this types of issues. I fear that our institutions for fear of Market share can bow to public pressure and take decisions that would further weaken them and infringe on the human rights of their people.
Please in conclusion, where is Mrs Thomas in all of these for only she can solve this problem. Her position would either indict or free Mr. Nuru, she has to answer some very salient questions – was she in an affair with Mr. Nuru while at FCMB, was she in that affair willingly or not and who truly is the father of the child and where she has no answer to the last question, would she willingly take a DNA test on this matter.
My advise to FCMB is to stand firm by its rules, do not be pressured to take hasty decision by a fickle social media crowd who will move on to the next hot gist, while you would have destroyed not only the career of a man who is possibly innocent and in the same vein destroy the fabrics that hold your institution together. Seek the facts and base your decision on those facts.
I wish you a fruitful review of the matter. But will I close my account with FCMB ‘cos the MD has two children with a married staff? I think not. Thank you.
One of the most read news platform, The Street Journal – (thestreetjournal.org), an online newspaper delivering knowledge-driven journalism in the pursuit of Nigeria’s progress has named Reverend Father Mathew Hassan Kukah, the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto as the Man of the Year 2020.
In an era where clergymen, with the exception of a few, are not afraid to speak the truth boldly, either to the political, religious or social circles, this fiery preacher, one who doesn’t mince words and says it as it is, without care about whose ox is gored, especially as it concerns President Muhammadu Buhari‘s APC-led administration, Kukah, has always said what many may be too afraid to say for fear of a backlash or a clampdown and with these qualities he was meritoriously picked by the editorial team of the newspaper.
To boot, Kukah had led the Christian body under the aegis of Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria in 2018, to visit Buhari in Aso Rock to tell him to his face about how fast his goodwill had depleted owing to the glaring failures of his administration precisely in the area of security, economy and freedom of expression. The Bishops had expressed their disappointment with the state of the nation and told the president that Nigerians were angry as a result of bad governance in the country.
When Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello, attempted to ridicule the visit by saying some people were angry (in reference to the Bishops), the church’s coffers was depleting because people were no more getting stolen money to pay tithes, Kukah didn’t take the insult lightly and took Bello to the cleaners.
After being prodded to speak on the matter, he said, “This Bello is a character that nobody heard anything from until he suddenly, accidentally found himself in power. Frankly, people of his calibre do not deserve our response. It is also a measure of the kind of people who have strayed into power. It is a tragedy of what we call leadership now in Nigeria. People who have come with no antecedents; they just come out of the woodworks and occupy an office.”
Kukah has continued in this manner without derailing. In a letter to President Buhari in 2018, he pointed out that his administration had brought back ethnicity with a vengeance with Nigerians being so alienated from one another like never before.
“Before your eyes and in your hands, our country, our communities, our people are all in a state of stupor. The bogeyman of religion, region and ethnicity, which we thought we had overcome has come back with a vengeance. You are too distant from your people. There is a sad feeling that you do not share in the pain and suffering of your people,” the Bishop quoted in his letter to the President.
Bishop Kukah once compared Buhari’s administration to the dreaded terrorist group ravaging West African countries, Boko Haram and concluded there is no difference between the two. According to him, the Nigerian government is using different methods to achieve the same goal of Islamic dominance like Boko Haram. He said the only difference between the two is that Boko Haram makes use of a bomb to achieve their aims.
“They are using the levers of power to secure the supremacy of Islam, which then gives more weight to the idea that it can be achieved by violence. With the situation in Nigeria, it is hard to see the moral basis they have to defeat Boko Haram. They have created the conditions to make it possible for Boko Haram to behave the way they are behaving,” Kukah said.
At another time, Bishop Kukah described Buhari’s government as the most nepotistic narcissistic one in the history of Nigeria. He stated that the Buhari’s regime had been marked by supremacist and divisive policies that has pushed the country to the brink.
“This President has displayed the greatest degree of insensitivity in managing our country’s rich diversity. He has subordinated the larger interests of the country to the hegemonic interests of his co-religionists and clansmen and women. The impression created now is that to hold a key and strategic position in Nigeria today, it is more important to be a northern Muslim than a Nigerian.”
And only recently, in his 2020 Christmas Day message titled: ‘A nation in search of vindication’, Kukah did not spare Buhari. He said that if a non-northerner was occupying the office and does only a fraction of what Buhari has done, there would have been a coup.
He said, “This government owes the nation an explanation as to where it is headed as we seem to journey into darkness. The spilling of this blood must be related to a more sinister plot that is beyond our comprehension. Are we going to remain hogtied by these evil men or are they gradually becoming part of a larger plot to seal the fate of our country?
“President Buhari deliberately sacrificed the dreams of those who voted for him to what seemed like a programme to stratify and institutionalise northern hegemony by reducing others in public life to second class status. He has pursued this self-defeating and alienating policy at the expense of greater national cohesion.
“Every honest Nigerian knows that there is no way any non-Northern Muslim President could have done a fraction of what President Buhari has done by his nepotism and gotten away with it. There would have been a military coup a long time ago or we would have been at war. The President may have concluded that Christians will do nothing and will live with these actions.
“He may be right and we Christians cannot feel sorry that we have no pool of violence to draw from or threaten our country. However, God does not sleep. We can see from the inexplicable dilemma of his North.”
Naturally, his message drew the ire of a section of the country. While some of them accused the respected Bishop of stoking the fire of a coup, others accused him of beating the drumbeat of war. Still, others asked for his arrest as his speech was akin to being a treasonable offence and still yet, others asked him to either drop his cassock and join politics or just mind the business that pays him.
While there is no denying that certain messages from some quarters should be assessed based on the purpose it serves, there is no denying that Mathew Bishop Hassan Kukah’s messages always provide a critical analysis of the Nigerian situation while attempting the jerk the drivers of the nation back to reality. His messages which are true and fair aren’t expected to pander to Buhari’s ego but to lay bare the facts with the hope that things can be done better.
Having noticed a consistent pattern with the Bishop, there is obviously no stopping him and until the Buhari’s administration changes course for the good of the country, he will be back with more hard hitting speeches.
For this singular reason, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah has been selected to be The Street Journal Man of The Year 2020.
A group identified as ‘JUSTICE FOR TUNDE THOMAS’ group has launched a petition on change.org calling on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to sanction the managing director of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Adam Nuru over what they described as indecent behaviour.
The group allege that the banker is responsible for the breakdown of Tunde Thomas’ marriage which eventually led to Tunde’s death a few days ago.
The story as posted on the website read, “Tunde Thomas died recently like about a week or two ago from depression. Apparently, kids from his marriage to Moyo Thomas belongs to his wife’s boss, Adam Nuru, the current MD of FCMB, with whom she was having an affair with.
Tunde and Ex-Wife Moyo
“Moyo Thomas left Tunde to go to America with the kids. When she got to America, she told him the children were not his. The shock of this revelation caused Tunde to suffer from stroke which he later recovered from,” the group said.
Continuing, the group said, “This is a case of gross misconduct based on ethical grounds and an unjustifiable economic oppression by the elites (Adam Nuru) against the less privileged in the society.
“The FCMB MD has been doing everything possible to sweep this case under the carpet. We implore the Central Bank of Nigeria as the apex regulator and the board of FCMB to investigate this for the integrity of the bank and Nigerian banking industry.
“This is a case too many. While this is not the full story, the minimum will be an investigation into this unethical conduct by the current MD of FCMB Bank Adam Nuru”
Close sources say Tunde eventually met someone else he was going to remarry but apparently didn’t recover from the issues surrounding his first marriage issues. So just about a week ago, after Tunde had just been made director for the MFB he works for, he got back from work and had cardiac arrest just two days to the introduction ceremony of his pregnant girlfriend.
The General Overseer and Founder of Rhema Deliverance Mission, Bishop Arthur Nwachukwu is dead. He was aged 79, throwing the entire Christian community, especially his ministry and the people of Anambra State into mourning.
The well revered Bishop died at the early hours of Monday 28th December, 2020 after a brief illness, according to information from his family.
He is the father of popular Lagos Prophet, Anene Nwachukwu who oversees Rhema Deliverance Mission, South West, while his elder brother, Prophet Chidozie oversees Abuja and northern wing of the fast growing ministry.
Bishop Arthur Nwachukwu lived a very fulfilled Christian life that affected all that came in contact with him positively.
The General Overseer who until his death presided over the ministry from his Umunya, Anambra State Headquarter of the church is survived by his wife and five sons who are prophets in different branches of the church
Come December 22th has been slated for DREAMFO CALABAR Christmas WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS EVENT.
It is day set aside to amplify the gift and benefits of our Widows and Widowers in our society especially Calabar chapter.
The theme for 2020 is tagged “EXCEPTIONAL DREAMFO CALABAR CHRISTMAS WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS MEMORABLE EVENT”. This year’s theme is on the following demands:
– A gift giving event for the benefit of widows and widowers
– Donate towards Dreamfo Calabar Widows and Widowers Christmas event
– Help Widows and Widowers in need at this festive season
DREAMFO both from home and diaspora lent her voices to the activity by taking out time to celebrate the Widows and Widowers of her branch members.
Saying further, according to the organisers when speaking with Oluwaseun Trust BethNews as her official media director says all Dreamfo Widows and Widowers are very important and needed gift giving in this season as many of them were encouraged
to assert their power as change-makers, with the little things/ empowerment God has granted them in their immediate environment to inspire their friends and others.
This event would also make an amazing time getting to interact with one another, whilst learning about the essence of celebrating themselves as Dreamfo Widows and Widowers.
DREAMFO enjoins everyone to support Widows and Widowers in our society especially this period of pandemic.
Mr. Steven Tuinstra CEO, President and Founder International Service Group (ISG & Partners) has revealed how the organisation has been creating employment for the unemployed in Africa.
Speaking in a statement issued by the outfit’s Media Director, Moses Owopade, Tuinstra said ISG creates employment in Africa by funding the government’s infrastructural projects as well as fund private sector in establishing new business.
According to the CEO, ISG supports the private sector in setting up new companies who can in turn employ staff adding that with a financially strong private sector , the concern create economic growth in Africa.
Apparently advocating for financial freedom for the Africa continent, Tuinstra said ”you cannot develop Africa and create a better life for the ordinary people when you dictate your political views and tell the governments of Africa how to run their country”
Continuing,Steven Tuinstra who has lived and worked almost two decades in Africa, and also lived, worked many years in various other countries in Europe and America,said there is a big difference between African culture and Western culture.
The CEO explained that it is very important to solve the infrastructure problem in Africa by cooperating with the various governments in Africa.
”It is crucial that the infrastructure projects can support themselves, this is necessary to not get the governments into financial trouble.
”At the moment, the governments have run into financial problems regarding their infrastructure projects that cannot support themselves, partly due to the corona pandemic. This must be prevented in the future. When governments take out loans of financial institutions, they must strictly fulfill their loan contracts. Otherwise Africa will never get rid of the infrastructure problem”.
Tuinstra said “It is essential that African governments and financial institutions conclude loan contracts where both parties are sure that they can be fulfilled. Then it is no longer necessary to have these meaningless discussions about colonialism.
”ISG & Partners has a unique construction model to actualize this on EPC + F basis.
”By solving the infrastructure problem in Africa we support the private sector in setting up new companies who can in turn employ staff. With a financially strong private sector we create economic growth in Africa. The governments need the private sector to develop Africa and reach a higher economic standard.” he concluded.
