Saturday, 6 February 2016
Tambuwal marries second wife in Kano [PHOTO] By Wale Odunsi on February 6, 2016
Yuceelanda.com
Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal,
on Thursday took Maryam Mairo Mustapha as his
second wife.
TheCable reports that the 36-year-old lady has
since travelled to Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj.
She left Nigeria after a private wedding ceremony
in Kano.
The event was reportedly attended by only family
members. No elaborate party was held.
Maryam attended Federal Government Girls
College, Kazaure, Jigawa and graduated from
Bayero University.
She was a volunteer for Buhari Support
Organisations in the run-up to the general
elections.
Tambuwal’s media aide, Imam Imam, reacting to
the news said it is “a private matter.”
Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal,
on Thursday took Maryam Mairo Mustapha as his
second wife.
TheCable reports that the 36-year-old lady has
since travelled to Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj.
She left Nigeria after a private wedding ceremony
in Kano.
The event was reportedly attended by only family
members. No elaborate party was held.
Maryam attended Federal Government Girls
College, Kazaure, Jigawa and graduated from
Bayero University.
She was a volunteer for Buhari Support
Organisations in the run-up to the general
elections.
Tambuwal’s media aide, Imam Imam, reacting to
the news said it is “a private matter.”
NFF pledges support for NPFL ahead of 2015/2016 season
Yuceelanda.com
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has
reiterated its support for the organizers of
Nigeria’s elite league division, the League
Management (LMC) in its quest to deliver to
football loving Nigerians a league they will
always be proud to call their own.
While declaring open the 2016 Annual General
Meeting (AGM) of the LMC in Uyo, the Akwa-
Ibom state capital, NFF President, Amaju Pinnick
who was represented at the occasion by the 1st
Vice President of the Federation, Barrister Seyi
Akinwumi assured Nigerians that the Federation
is determined to sustain the new found image of
the league.
At the AGM held at the Le Meridien Hotel, Uyo,
Akinwumi declared that the football house is
dedicated to giving unflinching support to the
league and also give every necessary assistance
to help the league in selling itself to the global
audience.
“Everything we (NFF) need to do to support the
LMC, we will do,” begun Akinwumi. “We want a
seamless League that will sell itself to the world
and we will help towards achieving that. It is
important that the image of the League is
untainted and we will be glad if recent
improvements are sustained and improved upon.”
he added.
The Lagos State FA Chairman who also hinted on
the structures being put in place by the NFF
however warned detractors that there will be
zero-tolerance for negativities in the upcoming
seasons.
“The successes we have seen is because of
collaboration as there is nothing we cannot
achieve with collaboration. I must however add
that we will come down strongly on those who
cause trouble and try to tarnish the image of the
League in any respect.”
Speaking earlier, Chairman of the League
Management Company (LMC) and 2nd Vice
Chairman of the NFF, Mallam Shehu Dikko
thanked all stakeholders for making last season a
success. Dikko acknowledged the growing
interest from all corners which have exhibited
the potentials the league has and can become
one of the best in Africa provided they continue
with the same zeal.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has
reiterated its support for the organizers of
Nigeria’s elite league division, the League
Management (LMC) in its quest to deliver to
football loving Nigerians a league they will
always be proud to call their own.
While declaring open the 2016 Annual General
Meeting (AGM) of the LMC in Uyo, the Akwa-
Ibom state capital, NFF President, Amaju Pinnick
who was represented at the occasion by the 1st
Vice President of the Federation, Barrister Seyi
Akinwumi assured Nigerians that the Federation
is determined to sustain the new found image of
the league.
At the AGM held at the Le Meridien Hotel, Uyo,
Akinwumi declared that the football house is
dedicated to giving unflinching support to the
league and also give every necessary assistance
to help the league in selling itself to the global
audience.
“Everything we (NFF) need to do to support the
LMC, we will do,” begun Akinwumi. “We want a
seamless League that will sell itself to the world
and we will help towards achieving that. It is
important that the image of the League is
untainted and we will be glad if recent
improvements are sustained and improved upon.”
he added.
The Lagos State FA Chairman who also hinted on
the structures being put in place by the NFF
however warned detractors that there will be
zero-tolerance for negativities in the upcoming
seasons.
“The successes we have seen is because of
collaboration as there is nothing we cannot
achieve with collaboration. I must however add
that we will come down strongly on those who
cause trouble and try to tarnish the image of the
League in any respect.”
Speaking earlier, Chairman of the League
Management Company (LMC) and 2nd Vice
Chairman of the NFF, Mallam Shehu Dikko
thanked all stakeholders for making last season a
success. Dikko acknowledged the growing
interest from all corners which have exhibited
the potentials the league has and can become
one of the best in Africa provided they continue
with the same zeal.
Dakuku’s Prayers To Baal: The Spirit Of Judas And APC Fundamentalism (READ) By Oraye St Franklyn - Feb 6, 2016
Yuceelanda.com
The defeated All Progressives Congress (APC)
Governorship candidate for Rivers State in the
2015 General Elections, Mr. Dakuku Peterside
was widely reported in the media to have visited
Chief John Oyegun, the Party’s National
Chairman along with some party faithfuls from
the State, whom he described as orphans, to
decry their abandonment by the Party hierarchy.
In the said visit, Mr. Peterside, made veiled
allusions to the displeasure of the depleting APC
fold in Rivers State in being abandoned after its
monumental financial contributions to the Party
in the last General Election.
The Governorship candidate also called on the
invocation of the proverbial Federal might to
enable the APC win all the Legislative seats it
may have armtwisted the Elections Petitions
Tribunal to unjustly nullify against known legal
principles.
According to Dakuku, “We have 22 seats in a
House of 32-man membership. Winning all 22
seats will give us 23 seats and that will enable
us produce the Speaker of the House.
“Presently, the Party does not have a two-third
majority in any of the chambers of the National
Assembly…Now the opportunity to up the party’s
numbers in these chambers has come and WE
EXPECT THAT THE PARTY WILL DO ALL THAT
IT TAKES TO WIN ALL 12 House of
Representatives and 3 Senate Seats.”
That Dakuku Peterside wants a Party lacking
leadership and direction; one that has shown a
clear disdain for the people of Rivers State and
indeed the South of Nigeria and is ruining
Nigeria’s economy, to DO ALL IT TAKES TO WIN
in Rivers irrespective of its unpopularity in the
State, surely justifies why he also said, “We are
called all sorts of names including being branded
as traitors and almost live like outcast in our
communities and environments…”, as only
traitors will stop at nothing to see their people
impoverished and enslaved.
One even wonders how a Party which
acknowledges to being polularly referred to as
outcasts can command a legitimate victory in
any election in such an environment. This is why
Dakuku’s visit and prayer to Baal, the authority
that wishes to command unquestionable
obeisance from all Nigerian citizens and
institutions, is against the people of Rivers State
and the security of the future of their children’s
children.
In the said meeting, Oyegun decried the Party’s
loss of oil-rich states like Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta
and Akwa Ibom and intimated on the probe, and
perhaps likely prosecution, of Supreme Court
Justices for delivering judgments against the
APC.
One wonders what other proof does any Nigerian
of South South extraction need to conclude that
the interest of the APC was the oil wealth of the
region, which it intends to stop at nothing with
the help of people like Dakuku to possess and
mine for the sole benefit of exclusionists and
fundamentalists. Why then does Dakuku
Peterside decry the tag of being a Judas and an
outcast? Does he expect to stand against the
legitimate aspirations of a people and not attract
that ire and wrath?
Dakuku Peterside also prayed Baal to, among
other things:
– Purge of vestiges of and sympathisers for the
immediate-past federal government
administration in the leadership of Security
agencies, especially in the Police and Nigeria
Security and Civil Defence Corps and demanded
– That political appointments in all Federal
government Ministries, Departments and
Agencies including ambassadorial positions be
made to reflect the current realities of a change
of government.
Then he pleaded for an appointment with the
high priest himself; raising eyebrows and strong
doubts to claims that the misappropriation of the
commonwealth of Rivers State to the APC had
secured a prime position for the State in the
Party. That appeared not to be the case with the
appeal for an appointment to see the high priest.
What could be more condescending to the Rivers
man than this? After funding a Presidential
election and betraying our own, they are begging
for access? Is it not time for Dakuku to cut the
crap and redeem himself? Since when has the
Rivers man gone cap in hand abegging to those
he feeds?
One would have thought that Dakuku Peterside
would take on the olive branch extended by
Governor Wike of Rivers State and team up to
build a better State. But it does appear that that
will not be the case as the APC is hellbent on
possessing Rivers State and as such will be dealt
a defining blow on March 19, 2016. Nothing will
be more appropriate.
All Rivers people and residents are on the same
page on the fact that the State will not be a
cashcow for the enslavement of our people by
fundamentalists.
The defeated All Progressives Congress (APC)
Governorship candidate for Rivers State in the
2015 General Elections, Mr. Dakuku Peterside
was widely reported in the media to have visited
Chief John Oyegun, the Party’s National
Chairman along with some party faithfuls from
the State, whom he described as orphans, to
decry their abandonment by the Party hierarchy.
In the said visit, Mr. Peterside, made veiled
allusions to the displeasure of the depleting APC
fold in Rivers State in being abandoned after its
monumental financial contributions to the Party
in the last General Election.
The Governorship candidate also called on the
invocation of the proverbial Federal might to
enable the APC win all the Legislative seats it
may have armtwisted the Elections Petitions
Tribunal to unjustly nullify against known legal
principles.
According to Dakuku, “We have 22 seats in a
House of 32-man membership. Winning all 22
seats will give us 23 seats and that will enable
us produce the Speaker of the House.
“Presently, the Party does not have a two-third
majority in any of the chambers of the National
Assembly…Now the opportunity to up the party’s
numbers in these chambers has come and WE
EXPECT THAT THE PARTY WILL DO ALL THAT
IT TAKES TO WIN ALL 12 House of
Representatives and 3 Senate Seats.”
That Dakuku Peterside wants a Party lacking
leadership and direction; one that has shown a
clear disdain for the people of Rivers State and
indeed the South of Nigeria and is ruining
Nigeria’s economy, to DO ALL IT TAKES TO WIN
in Rivers irrespective of its unpopularity in the
State, surely justifies why he also said, “We are
called all sorts of names including being branded
as traitors and almost live like outcast in our
communities and environments…”, as only
traitors will stop at nothing to see their people
impoverished and enslaved.
One even wonders how a Party which
acknowledges to being polularly referred to as
outcasts can command a legitimate victory in
any election in such an environment. This is why
Dakuku’s visit and prayer to Baal, the authority
that wishes to command unquestionable
obeisance from all Nigerian citizens and
institutions, is against the people of Rivers State
and the security of the future of their children’s
children.
In the said meeting, Oyegun decried the Party’s
loss of oil-rich states like Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta
and Akwa Ibom and intimated on the probe, and
perhaps likely prosecution, of Supreme Court
Justices for delivering judgments against the
APC.
One wonders what other proof does any Nigerian
of South South extraction need to conclude that
the interest of the APC was the oil wealth of the
region, which it intends to stop at nothing with
the help of people like Dakuku to possess and
mine for the sole benefit of exclusionists and
fundamentalists. Why then does Dakuku
Peterside decry the tag of being a Judas and an
outcast? Does he expect to stand against the
legitimate aspirations of a people and not attract
that ire and wrath?
Dakuku Peterside also prayed Baal to, among
other things:
– Purge of vestiges of and sympathisers for the
immediate-past federal government
administration in the leadership of Security
agencies, especially in the Police and Nigeria
Security and Civil Defence Corps and demanded
– That political appointments in all Federal
government Ministries, Departments and
Agencies including ambassadorial positions be
made to reflect the current realities of a change
of government.
Then he pleaded for an appointment with the
high priest himself; raising eyebrows and strong
doubts to claims that the misappropriation of the
commonwealth of Rivers State to the APC had
secured a prime position for the State in the
Party. That appeared not to be the case with the
appeal for an appointment to see the high priest.
What could be more condescending to the Rivers
man than this? After funding a Presidential
election and betraying our own, they are begging
for access? Is it not time for Dakuku to cut the
crap and redeem himself? Since when has the
Rivers man gone cap in hand abegging to those
he feeds?
One would have thought that Dakuku Peterside
would take on the olive branch extended by
Governor Wike of Rivers State and team up to
build a better State. But it does appear that that
will not be the case as the APC is hellbent on
possessing Rivers State and as such will be dealt
a defining blow on March 19, 2016. Nothing will
be more appropriate.
All Rivers people and residents are on the same
page on the fact that the State will not be a
cashcow for the enslavement of our people by
fundamentalists.
Leaked Military Video Is Damning Evidence Of Genocide Against Shi’ites [GRAPHIC] By Abdul Jummai | Staff Writer - Feb 6, 2016
Yuceelanda.com
A new video has surfaced on LiveLeak showing
the aftermath of the Nigerian Army invasion of
the Shi’ite compound in Zaria, Kaduna in
December 2015.
The person who uploaded the video on the social
media website said it was recorded by the
Nigerian Army and was apparently leaked.
The disturbing video which is graphic in nature
shows dead bodies littered across the compound.
See below the notes to the video.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur
Between December 12th and the 16th, the Nigerian
army under command of General T.Y. Buratai
responded to a stick and stone wielding protest of
irate Islamic Movement youth by killing all those
blocking the road then going further to kill all in
the movement’s Islamic Center and then on again
to kill all the members at the leader, Sheikh
Zakzaky’s residence in Gyellesu and then to kill
more at the movement’s Darul Rahma burial
ground.
Bombs and RPGs were used on these youth in the
urban city location. The people were shot and then
burned and the buildings were demolished.
Graves of the Shia Muslims were further exhumed
and the bodies discarded in what would be praised
by the Saudi Arabia government as the right
approach to dealing with a minority Muslim
population it regards as the enemy.
This video displays the aftermath of the army
campaign on the residence of leader Zakzaky
where he was arrested loaded with 6 bullets, was
beaten and had his eyes busted and then dragged
on his behind before he was detained
incommunicado till date.
While the Nigerian army officially said only 7
Muslims were killed, the movement reports that
least 1000 were killed, many carted away and
buried in mass graves and a list of 705 missing
has been released to the public. ABU hospital
records showed 295 bodies deposited at their
location alone.
Human rights Watch reported it found evidence of
at least 300 killed and that many were mass buried
by the army without documentation. Hundreds were
also injured to various degrees and others
arrested.
A new video has surfaced on LiveLeak showing
the aftermath of the Nigerian Army invasion of
the Shi’ite compound in Zaria, Kaduna in
December 2015.
The person who uploaded the video on the social
media website said it was recorded by the
Nigerian Army and was apparently leaked.
The disturbing video which is graphic in nature
shows dead bodies littered across the compound.
See below the notes to the video.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur
Yusuf Buratai making remarks after receiving the
report | Nigerian Army Photo
A military source provided us this video of the
recent Zaria massacre in Nigeria.Between December 12th and the 16th, the Nigerian
army under command of General T.Y. Buratai
responded to a stick and stone wielding protest of
irate Islamic Movement youth by killing all those
blocking the road then going further to kill all in
the movement’s Islamic Center and then on again
to kill all the members at the leader, Sheikh
Zakzaky’s residence in Gyellesu and then to kill
more at the movement’s Darul Rahma burial
ground.
Bombs and RPGs were used on these youth in the
urban city location. The people were shot and then
burned and the buildings were demolished.
Graves of the Shia Muslims were further exhumed
and the bodies discarded in what would be praised
by the Saudi Arabia government as the right
approach to dealing with a minority Muslim
population it regards as the enemy.
This video displays the aftermath of the army
campaign on the residence of leader Zakzaky
where he was arrested loaded with 6 bullets, was
beaten and had his eyes busted and then dragged
on his behind before he was detained
incommunicado till date.
While the Nigerian army officially said only 7
Muslims were killed, the movement reports that
least 1000 were killed, many carted away and
buried in mass graves and a list of 705 missing
has been released to the public. ABU hospital
records showed 295 bodies deposited at their
location alone.
Human rights Watch reported it found evidence of
at least 300 killed and that many were mass buried
by the army without documentation. Hundreds were
also injured to various degrees and others
arrested.
TYRANNY: EFCC Arrests SAN Ricky Tarfa For Defending His Client By Ekemini Ekwere | Staff Writer - Feb 6, 2016
Yuceelanda.com
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) on Friday, February 5, 2016 arrested a
top Nigerian lawyer and Senior Advocate of
Nigeria (SAN), Ricky Tarfa for performing his
constitutional duties by defending his client,
Granhoue Sourou Nazaire.
Tarfa acting on the orders of his client, sought a
court order preventing Nazaire’s arrest by the
anti-graft agency. EFCC agents had reportedly
laid an ambush for Nazaire in a Lagos Court in
order to take him by surprise. But Tarfa got wind
of the plot and tried to get a judge to issue an
order barring the EFCC from arresting his client.
Sahara Reporters says that Tarfa has been in
EFCC detention since he was arrested by irate
agents of the commission.
Nazaire is a businessman from the Republic of
Benin.
This action against a lawyer is one more in a
long string of despotic actions by security
agencies under President Muhammadu Buhari.
There has been a consistent attempt to
intimidate the judiciary and lawyers under Buhari
who has declared that he only obeys court
orders when they are in line with his personal
beliefs. He had called on lawyers not to defend
clients with corruption cases at the conference
of the Nigerian Bar Association held in 2015.
This week, the national chairman of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) chairman, Chief
John Odigie-Oyegun called for a probe of the
Supreme Court justices following their rulings on
election petitions this week. The decisions were
in favour of the main opposition party, the
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers, Akwa
Ibom, Delta, Abia, and Taraba. The apex court
ruled in favour of the APC in Lagos, Oyo, and
Ogun States as well.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) on Friday, February 5, 2016 arrested a
top Nigerian lawyer and Senior Advocate of
Nigeria (SAN), Ricky Tarfa for performing his
constitutional duties by defending his client,
Granhoue Sourou Nazaire.
Tarfa acting on the orders of his client, sought a
court order preventing Nazaire’s arrest by the
anti-graft agency. EFCC agents had reportedly
laid an ambush for Nazaire in a Lagos Court in
order to take him by surprise. But Tarfa got wind
of the plot and tried to get a judge to issue an
order barring the EFCC from arresting his client.
Sahara Reporters says that Tarfa has been in
EFCC detention since he was arrested by irate
agents of the commission.
Nazaire is a businessman from the Republic of
Benin.
This action against a lawyer is one more in a
long string of despotic actions by security
agencies under President Muhammadu Buhari.
There has been a consistent attempt to
intimidate the judiciary and lawyers under Buhari
who has declared that he only obeys court
orders when they are in line with his personal
beliefs. He had called on lawyers not to defend
clients with corruption cases at the conference
of the Nigerian Bar Association held in 2015.
This week, the national chairman of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) chairman, Chief
John Odigie-Oyegun called for a probe of the
Supreme Court justices following their rulings on
election petitions this week. The decisions were
in favour of the main opposition party, the
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers, Akwa
Ibom, Delta, Abia, and Taraba. The apex court
ruled in favour of the APC in Lagos, Oyo, and
Ogun States as well.
Shocking Revelations By Military Service Chiefs At Secret Briefing Exposed (DETAILS) By News Release - Feb 6, 2016
Yuceelanda.com
Against the backdrop of recent deadly attacks
carried out in some towns in Borno State by
Boko Haram, the nation’s Service Chiefs have
opened up to the leadership of the Senate why
they have been unable to successfully prosecute
the insurgency war.
They complained of lack of funds to buy
equipment and also, lamented the failure of the
Federal Government to release funds
appropriated for the prosecution of war in the
2015 budget.
These factors were revealed to the Senate
leadership and disclosed by the office of Senate
President, Dr. Bukola Saraki in a statement
yesterday. The closed-door meeting between the
service chiefs and top senators, which lasted for
about two hours on Wednesday was presided
over by the Senate President.
Saraki said several issues tailored at further
empowering the security agencies to win the war
against Boko Haram were discussed in a frank
and open exchange between the two sides.
The military chiefs, led by the Chief of Defence
Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, reportedly
briefed the lawmakers on the various challenges
faced by the military, particularly the state of
their equipment which they said required serious
upgrading and restocking.
“They also complained that their vote in the 2015
supplementary budget has not been released
thereby hampering their ability to fund their
operations. Other issues that came up for
discussion were the need to continuously
increase the personnel in the three branches of
the military and the hindrance posed by the
procurement process which they said is very
slow,” Saraki stated in the statement.
“The military chiefs also canvassed the need for
the review of some laws governing their
operations so as to make them able to respond
to emergency situations they now confront in the
North-east zone as well as conform with global
best practices,” he further noted.
The need for regional support for the fight
against insurgency in the North-East by the
neighbouring countries, resettlement of Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs) back to their traditional
homes, the issue of intelligence gathering and
sharing among the various agencies and
mobilisation of the international community,
particularly through inter-parliamentary efforts in
support of the fight against terrorism in Nigeria,
were also discussed during the meeting.
The Senators assured the military chiefs that
they will fast track the request for the review of
the relevant laws being complained about by
putting them on the Priority Bills list once they
were given adequate information on areas that
need to be amended.
They also promised to take up the issue of
release of funds raised by the military chiefs
with the Ministry of Finance immediately.
Committees on Defence, Finance and
Appropriations have also been mandated to
ensure that the issues raised by the service
chiefs are taken care of in the budget.
The Senators noted that at this point when the
nation had recorded serious gains in the fight
against insurgency, all hands should be on deck
to sustain the tempo against the violent groups.
The meeting was particularly attended by Saraki,
his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Senate
Leader, Ali Ndume, Deputy Majority Whip, Francis
Alimikhena, Chairman, Senate Committee on
Navy, Isa Hamma Misau and his colleague in the
Committee on Air Force, Duro Faseyi. However,
Chairman of Senate Committee on Defence,
Senator Ahmed Lawan was absent.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olonishakin
led the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur
Buratai, his colleague in the Navy, Vice Admiral
Ibok-Ette Ibas and the Air Force, Air Marshal
Sadiq Abubakar to the meeting.
Against the backdrop of recent deadly attacks
carried out in some towns in Borno State by
Boko Haram, the nation’s Service Chiefs have
opened up to the leadership of the Senate why
they have been unable to successfully prosecute
the insurgency war.
They complained of lack of funds to buy
equipment and also, lamented the failure of the
Federal Government to release funds
appropriated for the prosecution of war in the
2015 budget.
These factors were revealed to the Senate
leadership and disclosed by the office of Senate
President, Dr. Bukola Saraki in a statement
yesterday. The closed-door meeting between the
service chiefs and top senators, which lasted for
about two hours on Wednesday was presided
over by the Senate President.
Saraki said several issues tailored at further
empowering the security agencies to win the war
against Boko Haram were discussed in a frank
and open exchange between the two sides.
The military chiefs, led by the Chief of Defence
Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, reportedly
briefed the lawmakers on the various challenges
faced by the military, particularly the state of
their equipment which they said required serious
upgrading and restocking.
“They also complained that their vote in the 2015
supplementary budget has not been released
thereby hampering their ability to fund their
operations. Other issues that came up for
discussion were the need to continuously
increase the personnel in the three branches of
the military and the hindrance posed by the
procurement process which they said is very
slow,” Saraki stated in the statement.
“The military chiefs also canvassed the need for
the review of some laws governing their
operations so as to make them able to respond
to emergency situations they now confront in the
North-east zone as well as conform with global
best practices,” he further noted.
The need for regional support for the fight
against insurgency in the North-East by the
neighbouring countries, resettlement of Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs) back to their traditional
homes, the issue of intelligence gathering and
sharing among the various agencies and
mobilisation of the international community,
particularly through inter-parliamentary efforts in
support of the fight against terrorism in Nigeria,
were also discussed during the meeting.
The Senators assured the military chiefs that
they will fast track the request for the review of
the relevant laws being complained about by
putting them on the Priority Bills list once they
were given adequate information on areas that
need to be amended.
They also promised to take up the issue of
release of funds raised by the military chiefs
with the Ministry of Finance immediately.
Committees on Defence, Finance and
Appropriations have also been mandated to
ensure that the issues raised by the service
chiefs are taken care of in the budget.
The Senators noted that at this point when the
nation had recorded serious gains in the fight
against insurgency, all hands should be on deck
to sustain the tempo against the violent groups.
The meeting was particularly attended by Saraki,
his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Senate
Leader, Ali Ndume, Deputy Majority Whip, Francis
Alimikhena, Chairman, Senate Committee on
Navy, Isa Hamma Misau and his colleague in the
Committee on Air Force, Duro Faseyi. However,
Chairman of Senate Committee on Defence,
Senator Ahmed Lawan was absent.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olonishakin
led the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur
Buratai, his colleague in the Navy, Vice Admiral
Ibok-Ette Ibas and the Air Force, Air Marshal
Sadiq Abubakar to the meeting.
‘Catholics Are Bearing Your Shame’: Open Letter To Father Ejike Mbaka (READ) By Jude Ndukwe - Feb 6, 2016
Yuceelanda.blogspot.com
I write you this letter with all sense of humility
and deep respect for you and your calling as a
priest of the Holy Mother Church.
This letter has
become absolutely necessary owing to your
recent political activities which are causing the
Church huge embarrassment. As a Catholic
myself, I, as other Catholics, are now forced to
bear the shame of your recent activities and
asked questions about the transfer policies of
the Church which ordinarily should not have
caused any public inquisition if you had not
caused it to be so.
Fr, it is unfortunate that as a priest of the
Catholic Church, you have allowed your emotions
to take you beyond your allowed limits in
partisan politics before, during, and after the last
elections.
Pray, what is in a transfer of a priest in the
Catholic Church? You were transferred from one
parish to another, an exercise that is a normal
routine in the Church, and instead of you to
move quickly and quietly as expected, you
caused a whole lot of needless hullaballoo and in
an attempt to curry public sympathy, made your
transfer look like anything but usual in the
Church. The razzmatazz and revelry that graced
your movement to your new parish is alien to the
Church! You are gradually eroding the very fabric
that makes the Catholic Church unique and
uncommon among others.
Were you the only priest transferred? Why did
other priests not cry to the public about their
own transfers? Did you reach an agreement with
the Church on the day of your ordination that you
should be exempted from transfers? Fr, you need
not be reminded that you are a priest of the
Catholic Church and not a pastor of any other
denomination. It is no longer news that priests of
the Catholic Church do not belong to themselves
but to the Church wholly, fully and entirely,
hence, you took an oath of not only obedience to
your Local Ordinary, the Bishop, but your oath
also included that of poverty. So, the Bishop
exercises his prerogative to transfer any priest
serving under him to areas where their services
are most needed among other considerations.
Just like you were transferred from somewhere
else to Christ the King Parish, GRA, Enugu, you
have also been transferred to Our Lady Parish,
Umuchigbo, Njinike also in Enugu.
It would be ignorant of me to think that you
actually thought Christ the King Parish, GRA
Enugu would be your parish forever. No priest of
the Catholic Church would ever think a particular
posting of his would last for too long. For
example, in Abuja Archdiocese from where I
write you this letter, there are brother-priests of
yours who have been transferred from the
highbrow area of Maitama to a parish in a
remote village like Yangoji in far away Kwali LGA,
just as there have been priests transferred from
Igu, also a very remote village in Bwari LGA, to
Our Lady Mother of Perpetual Help Parish,
Gwarinpa, and then to Our lady Queen of Nigeria
Pro-Cathedral, Garki, and so on and so forth. Are
you not aware of brother-priests who have been
transferred from the comfort of parishes in
Nigeria here to remote places even in war-torn
and less developed countries like Chad, Sudan,
Mali, Sierra-Leone, Burundi etc.
Some of them in areas so remote cars cannot
even get there nor is there electricity, yet, they
went in obedience and without noise. Fr, how is
yours supposed to be different?
You complained about the parish house you are
to occupy as being too small and by implication,
not comfortable for you. The question is, was it
not a brother-priest that just used and left there?
Are you saying that other priests can remain to
serve God’s people perpetually in a one room
self-contained apartment while you enjoy the
comfort of a gigantic parish house perpetually?
Fr, John the Baptist served God effectively in the
wilderness; all the apostles of our Lord Jesus
Christ left all the comfort of family and wealth
and followed willingly and without complaining,
the Son of Man who had no place to lay His
head. Fr, from which part of the scripture did you
get your reason for complaining?
To describe your transfer as a witch hunt is the
most uncharitable comment any priest can make
against his bishop especially in public. You are
not a Pentecostal pastor or a General Overseer
of any church, you are a priest of the Holy
Catholic and Apostolic Church. You own no
church and you own no parish. The gifts of the
Spirit (miracle, healing, prophecy etc) which God
has blessed you with are not the emphasis of
the Church. The Catholic Church places more
emphasis on the fruit of the Holy Spirit which is
what ultimately helps a man to make heaven: “…
Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out
demons in your name and performed many
miracles in your name. But I will reply, ‘I never
knew you. Get away from me, you who break
God’s laws’”. There is no ordained priest no
matter how gifted that has survived a
confrontation with the Church. They go quickly
into oblivion soon after while the Church waxes
stronger. Fr, be very careful!
You lamented about the assets of the Adoration
Ministry and where you were going to keep them
since your new parish is too small to contain
them. I understand your concern especially as I
am also aware of the enormity of the assets
being an archdiocesan official of the Catholic
Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria, Abuja, myself.
However, just like you admitted, you have “given”
the assets to the Catholic Church in Enugu. So, if
you have “given” the assets to the Catholic
Church, why not just hand them over to your
Bishop who knows how most appropriate to take
care of them. Why do you still cry over that
which you have “given” out? More so, you know
that as a Catholic priest, you own nothing! There
is no major asset even including a car that you
can own without the consent and blessing of
your bishop. This is how the Catholic Church is
structured. This is how the Catholic Church
works. So, those assets never belonged to you
ab initio, they have always belonged to the
Church. Just take an inventory of them and hand
them over to the appropriate authorities. They
know what to do with them.
One of the reasons why our priests are not
allowed to own anything of their own is so that
when the call of service comes and they are
asked to go anywhere at the shortest notice,
they would not have to look back at what they
would be leaving behind so that they do not drag
their feet on obeying the call to service. Lot’s
wife looked back and turned to a pillar of salt. Fr,
why are you looking back?
As I end this letter, let me remind you that your
gifts of the Holy Spirit do not come in isolation.
They come with enormous responsibility! Enough
of this ridicule you have subjected the Church to.
Focus your attention on your apostolic calling
and leave politics for politicians. If you are so
interested in joining politics and making your
mark there, you know the right thing to do. Stop
parading about like a colossus that the Church is
so badly in need of. No one man or group of men
can hold the Catholic Church to ransom. Even if
the Lord decides that you answer the eternal call
today, Enugu diocese will never fold up!
I pray that God will lead you aright in all your
endeavours.
Jude Ndukwe is a political analyst who lives and
works in Abuja, Nigeria. He tweets from@
stjudendukwe.
I write you this letter with all sense of humility
and deep respect for you and your calling as a
priest of the Holy Mother Church.
This letter has
become absolutely necessary owing to your
recent political activities which are causing the
Church huge embarrassment. As a Catholic
myself, I, as other Catholics, are now forced to
bear the shame of your recent activities and
asked questions about the transfer policies of
the Church which ordinarily should not have
caused any public inquisition if you had not
caused it to be so.
Fr, it is unfortunate that as a priest of the
Catholic Church, you have allowed your emotions
to take you beyond your allowed limits in
partisan politics before, during, and after the last
elections.
Pray, what is in a transfer of a priest in the
Catholic Church? You were transferred from one
parish to another, an exercise that is a normal
routine in the Church, and instead of you to
move quickly and quietly as expected, you
caused a whole lot of needless hullaballoo and in
an attempt to curry public sympathy, made your
transfer look like anything but usual in the
Church. The razzmatazz and revelry that graced
your movement to your new parish is alien to the
Church! You are gradually eroding the very fabric
that makes the Catholic Church unique and
uncommon among others.
Were you the only priest transferred? Why did
other priests not cry to the public about their
own transfers? Did you reach an agreement with
the Church on the day of your ordination that you
should be exempted from transfers? Fr, you need
not be reminded that you are a priest of the
Catholic Church and not a pastor of any other
denomination. It is no longer news that priests of
the Catholic Church do not belong to themselves
but to the Church wholly, fully and entirely,
hence, you took an oath of not only obedience to
your Local Ordinary, the Bishop, but your oath
also included that of poverty. So, the Bishop
exercises his prerogative to transfer any priest
serving under him to areas where their services
are most needed among other considerations.
Just like you were transferred from somewhere
else to Christ the King Parish, GRA, Enugu, you
have also been transferred to Our Lady Parish,
Umuchigbo, Njinike also in Enugu.
It would be ignorant of me to think that you
actually thought Christ the King Parish, GRA
Enugu would be your parish forever. No priest of
the Catholic Church would ever think a particular
posting of his would last for too long. For
example, in Abuja Archdiocese from where I
write you this letter, there are brother-priests of
yours who have been transferred from the
highbrow area of Maitama to a parish in a
remote village like Yangoji in far away Kwali LGA,
just as there have been priests transferred from
Igu, also a very remote village in Bwari LGA, to
Our Lady Mother of Perpetual Help Parish,
Gwarinpa, and then to Our lady Queen of Nigeria
Pro-Cathedral, Garki, and so on and so forth. Are
you not aware of brother-priests who have been
transferred from the comfort of parishes in
Nigeria here to remote places even in war-torn
and less developed countries like Chad, Sudan,
Mali, Sierra-Leone, Burundi etc.
Some of them in areas so remote cars cannot
even get there nor is there electricity, yet, they
went in obedience and without noise. Fr, how is
yours supposed to be different?
You complained about the parish house you are
to occupy as being too small and by implication,
not comfortable for you. The question is, was it
not a brother-priest that just used and left there?
Are you saying that other priests can remain to
serve God’s people perpetually in a one room
self-contained apartment while you enjoy the
comfort of a gigantic parish house perpetually?
Fr, John the Baptist served God effectively in the
wilderness; all the apostles of our Lord Jesus
Christ left all the comfort of family and wealth
and followed willingly and without complaining,
the Son of Man who had no place to lay His
head. Fr, from which part of the scripture did you
get your reason for complaining?
To describe your transfer as a witch hunt is the
most uncharitable comment any priest can make
against his bishop especially in public. You are
not a Pentecostal pastor or a General Overseer
of any church, you are a priest of the Holy
Catholic and Apostolic Church. You own no
church and you own no parish. The gifts of the
Spirit (miracle, healing, prophecy etc) which God
has blessed you with are not the emphasis of
the Church. The Catholic Church places more
emphasis on the fruit of the Holy Spirit which is
what ultimately helps a man to make heaven: “…
Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out
demons in your name and performed many
miracles in your name. But I will reply, ‘I never
knew you. Get away from me, you who break
God’s laws’”. There is no ordained priest no
matter how gifted that has survived a
confrontation with the Church. They go quickly
into oblivion soon after while the Church waxes
stronger. Fr, be very careful!
You lamented about the assets of the Adoration
Ministry and where you were going to keep them
since your new parish is too small to contain
them. I understand your concern especially as I
am also aware of the enormity of the assets
being an archdiocesan official of the Catholic
Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria, Abuja, myself.
However, just like you admitted, you have “given”
the assets to the Catholic Church in Enugu. So, if
you have “given” the assets to the Catholic
Church, why not just hand them over to your
Bishop who knows how most appropriate to take
care of them. Why do you still cry over that
which you have “given” out? More so, you know
that as a Catholic priest, you own nothing! There
is no major asset even including a car that you
can own without the consent and blessing of
your bishop. This is how the Catholic Church is
structured. This is how the Catholic Church
works. So, those assets never belonged to you
ab initio, they have always belonged to the
Church. Just take an inventory of them and hand
them over to the appropriate authorities. They
know what to do with them.
One of the reasons why our priests are not
allowed to own anything of their own is so that
when the call of service comes and they are
asked to go anywhere at the shortest notice,
they would not have to look back at what they
would be leaving behind so that they do not drag
their feet on obeying the call to service. Lot’s
wife looked back and turned to a pillar of salt. Fr,
why are you looking back?
As I end this letter, let me remind you that your
gifts of the Holy Spirit do not come in isolation.
They come with enormous responsibility! Enough
of this ridicule you have subjected the Church to.
Focus your attention on your apostolic calling
and leave politics for politicians. If you are so
interested in joining politics and making your
mark there, you know the right thing to do. Stop
parading about like a colossus that the Church is
so badly in need of. No one man or group of men
can hold the Catholic Church to ransom. Even if
the Lord decides that you answer the eternal call
today, Enugu diocese will never fold up!
I pray that God will lead you aright in all your
endeavours.
Jude Ndukwe is a political analyst who lives and
works in Abuja, Nigeria. He tweets from@
stjudendukwe.
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