Dissecting Bishop Oyedepo’s Support For GEJ And Sambo’s Anti-christ Outburst Against Churches.

Dissecting Bishop Oyedepo’s Support For GEJ And Sambo’s Anti-christ Outburst Against Churches And Pastor Osinbajo At The Jigawa State PDP Presidential Rally By Bunmi Awoyemi I was shocked when a man of God, Bishop David Oyedepo who I respect so much said in his church some days ago that his members should slaughter any one that looks like a terrorist.

Bishop David Oyedepo While I am 100% in support of self defense, I abhor tribal profiling and targeting. When this happens, innocent lives are bound to be lost. Then in the 3rd service of his Church on Sunday, January 25, 2015, attended by President Jonathan, my dear Bishop Oyedepo said in a comment directed at President Jonathan “We will open the gates of hell on those who oppose you.When God enthrones you no one can dethrone you”
My Bishop’s support of Jonathan is anchored on the false premise that Buhari is planning to Islamize Nigeria. Nothing could be further from the truth. IBB not Buhari registered Nigeria as a member of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). IBB, Abacha and Abdusalami Abubakar attended OIC meetings. No President of Nigeria has attended OIC meetings in the last 15 years until President Jonathan attended an OIC meeting in late 2014. Buhari never attended any OIC meeting and refused to join the OIC even though he was a military Head of State possessing immense powers. How can the same Buhari now Islamize Nigeria in a democratic setting which has the checks and balances of the National Assembly and the Judiciary?
Is my Bishop aware of what happened a few days ago? At the Presidential campaign rally of GEJ/Sambo in Jigawa state on January 21st, 2015, in the presence of President Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo stated in Hausa : “Buhari ya dauko pastor a matsayin mataimakinsa kunsan coci nawa yake dashi? Yanada coci 5000, don haka karku zabesu. The translation is – “Buhari has selected a pastor as his running mate, do you know how many churches he has? He has 5000 churches, so based on that, don’t vote for them”.
My Bishop, Sambo used religious sentiments in his attempt to divide the country and incite Muslims against Christians. Sambo also said at the rally that the PDP is the most Islamic Party in Nigeria because nobody can be more Muslim than him. He said that his name is Namadi which is a derivative of Namadina, meaning someone from the Medina in Saudi Arabia. At the Rally in Jigawa State Sambo also stated that he goes for the Hajj every year.
My dear Bishop, in Sambo’s determination to whip up religious sentiments and divisions, he stated at the Jigawa state rally that all the security chiefs in the Jonathan administration are Muslims and based on that, those alleging that Jonathan is supportive of Boko Haram are not being fair. He mentioned the names of some key ministers in the Jonathan administration including Defence Minister, Aliyu Gusau, NSA, Sambo Dasuki, Inspector General of Police, Abba whom he emphasized are all Muslims. He also mentioned all the Muslim ministers from Kano, including Aminu Wali, Foreign Affairs Minister and Shekarau, Minister of Education.
Bishop, Sambo then asked if anyone could claim to be more Muslim than him Namadi Sambo. Then he shouted Allahu Akbar (Allah is great several times). To close his speech he recited the AlFatiha, (The Opening, the first seven verses of the Holy Quran, which for Muslims is the Mother of the Book, highly revered by all).
My dear Bishop, Sambo’s outburst against Christians and Pastor Osinbajo would not surprise close watchers of political events in Nigeria but it does reconfirm the outcome of late General Azazi thorough and extensive investigation of Boko Haram and in which he concluded that the PDP founded Boko Haram and finances its terrorist activities.
MY ADVISE TO CHRISTIANS WHO RESPECT BISHOP OYEDEPO
To Christians like me who hold Bishop Oyedepo in great esteem this is my advise to you;
Don’t let any pastor tell you who to vote for. Does Bishop Oyedepo experience the effects of misgovernance? Bishop is on 24-hr power generators and he does not even know when there is power outage. You bear the brunt of misgovernance daily and you should know that voting GEJ is a guarantee of another 4 years of no electricity, corruption galore and insurgency that will claim more lives and disintegrate Nigeria. Vote based on what you know not on religious or tribal sentiments!
Currently, 70% of the territory of states like Borno, Yobe and Adamawa are under the firm control of Boko Haram. This is the first time this is happening in Nigeria. Boko Haram bombing and genocide has targeted both Christians and Muslims, churches, mosques and schools attended by both Christians and Muslims. Because of Boko Haram’s control of about 5% of Nigeria’s territory, Nigeria’s map has been redrawn.
When a bomb goes off in a market place it does not discriminate between Muslims and Christians. When the village of the Chief of Defense staff close to Mubi was attacked he did not rescue his fellow christian villagers but he airlifted his relatives out of danger and leaving his fellow Christians to be slaughtered by Boko Haram. The “polithievians,” “executhieves,” “legislooters” and “judishare” officers of Nigeria have only one religion that unites them and that religion is stealing and looting with impunity.
How many of the Pastors that are telling you to vote for Jonathan have children who are unemployed graduates sitting at home; bear the brunt of insecurity; send their children to public school; patronize government hospitals like you do or understand what the members of their religious organizations go through on a daily basis?
Did Bishop Oyedepo speak out when ASUU and ASUP were on strike twice in 4 years thereby leading to the loss of almost 2 years in the academic calender of Universities and Polytechnics?
Did Bishop Oyedepo speak out to condemn the manner in which the almost 300 Chibok girls were kidnapped? Did he condemn the manner in which the President refused to acknowledge that they were kidnapped? Did Bishop Oyedepo condemn the failure of the President to rescue the Chibok girls 9 months after they were kidnapped by the insurgents?
Did Bishop Oyedepo speak out when medical doctors went on strike twice in 4 years leading to the death of millions of Nigerians.
Has Bishop Oyedepo spoken out against the ongoing strike by health workers and judicial workers in Nigeria?
All these strikes have to do with the inability of President Jonathan and the PDP government to abide by industrial agreements signed after extensive bargaining among stake holders and their insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians.
Did Bishop Oyedepo speak out when 16>19, 5>26 and 7>19 in the Governors Forum election, Rivers state house of Assembly and Ekiti State House of Assembly in clear and reckless violation of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria?
Has Bishop Oyedepo spoken out to condemn the legalized looting of billions of dollars of Nigeria’s money taking place under the watch of President Jonathan? Did Bishop Oyedepo speak out to condemn the beating up of a state High Court judge in Ekiti state by the Chief Thug of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose and his gang of thugs?
Did Bishop Oyedepo speak out to condemn the deliberate flouting of court orders by President Jonathan which has become like a recurring decimal in his administration?
Let Pastors like Bishop Oyedepo who don’t know what their members are going through or who are unable to feel the pulse of the masses, stick to what they know how to do best which is feeding Chist’s sheep as Christ commanded them, but let them stay out of politics. Bishop Oyedepo should not try to influence Christians to vote for a failed President like Jonathan. I urge all Christians to vote their conscience to free themselves from the 16 year bondage of the PDP led administration.
Section 95 (3) of the Electoral Act, states that “places designated for religious worship, police station and public offices shall not be used for political campaigns, rallies and processions or to promote, propagate or attack political parties, candidates, their political ideologies or programmes.”
Let my darling Bishop note that his actions on the pulpit violates this law and as a man of God the scripture expects him to obey the laws of the land. We are to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.
Bunmi Awoyemi, Ph.D, the author of this opinion piece, writes in from New Orleans, Louisiana and is a public affairs analyst, lawyer and entrepreneur.

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Jonathan, Obasanjo peace meeting, what went wrong.

THERE were indications last night that the elaborate meeting on Monday geared towards ending the frosty relationship between President Goodluck Jonathan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo ended in fiasco. Vanguard learnt from competent sources at the meeting that President Jonathan and other top leaders of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, who requested for the meeting with Obasanjo, felt disappointed with its outcome and may not push the idea of mending fences with the former leader again One of the sources, who was present at the meeting, told Vanguard that Obasanjo merely accepted to allow Jonathan and other PDP chieftains to visit him as a mark of respect to the office of the President and not to make peace with him. According to the source, Obasanjo deliberately requested two prominent clergymen to be present as witnesses at the meeting to prove the point that it is Jonathan who actually caused disaffection between them by reneging on previous decisions they jointly reached.
It was learned that but for the respect Obasanjo has for the office which he once held, he would not have accepted to  host Jonathan because of his recent provocative utterances against prominent Nigerian statesmen, including him (Obasanjo).The source said Obasanjo was irked by last Sunday’s statement in which Jonathan referred to  some  elder statesmen behaving as ‘motor park touts’, a classification, Obasanjo reportedly took in bad faith. The source said that at the meeting, Obasanjo opened up to those present and the two clergy men he had invited to ask Jonathan whether he had been honest with him and those he had assured he would run for a single term, if they supported him to win the last election. The source said: “It is true that Obasanjo invited the two clergymen to witness the meeting which he grudgingly accepted to host because of the respect he has for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He did not want to turn the president and his entourage down since they requested to see him in his house as part of their rally in the state. “But the truth of the matter is that Baba has not shifted grounds on any issue since he feels that Jonathan has not been fair to him by not adhering to any of the previous agreements reached with him. “What really irked Baba is the reference by Jonathan to some Nigerian elder statesmen as behaving as ‘motor park touts’ a day before begging him to grant him audience in Abeokuta. The man really feels insulted by such unfortunate outburst from the president of a country. “There was no need to enter into any peace deal with Jonathan because similar deals done in the past only resulted in more attacks by him and his aides on Baba only for them to come begging for forgiveness once it is close to election. Obasanjo and Jonathan with members of the party’s Board of Trustees, BoT, met for about three hours in Abeokuta on Monday with a view to settling the differences between the two leaders and to seek his support for the president’s re-election, next month. Obasanjo, who appears upset by the way Jonathan has so far run the country, has often taken to public fora to criticise him, including an open letter entitled “Before it is too late” and a critical book entitled “My Watch” which a court had barred from being circulated. -Vanguard

Happy Reunion? As President Jonathan meets with Fmr President Obasanjo!

ABEOKUTA – HIDE and seek! That aptly captures the processes that led to a closed-door meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

A top supporter of Jonathan told Vanguard at about 8.30 p.m, yesterday, that “the meeting is holding now” and declined further comments.

An unconfirmed report last night stated that the General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and the Founder, Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, were part of the meeting, which began at 7 p.m, last night.

The presence of the religious leaders as witnesses, sources said, was part of the conditions Obasanjo gave to hold any talk with President Jonathan.

The media was awash with expectation and anxiety over what the outcome of the two leaders’ meeting would be. Obasanjo, recently came down hard on Jonathan accusing his administration of squandering $55 billion crude oil savings and reserves. Jonathan had in turn promised to expose what former leaders and heads of state failed to do while in office that stunted the country’s socio-economic growth. He later added that some leaders were behaving like motor park touts, a comment that was perceived to be aimed at Obasanjo.

However, Obasanjo attended President Jonathan’s niece’s wedding in Abuja, weekend, and was well received as he had warm handshakes with President Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan.

Thus, it was not surprising that the speculated Abeokuta meeting raised hairs. At press time, yesterday, there were different reasons the meeting could not hold during the day. One account said the meeting could not be held in the afternoon because President Jonathan snubbed Obasanjo. Another account said the former president avoided the president by leaving his house where the meeting would have been held on hearing that Jonathan had arrived in Abeokuta.

The hide and seek game

Indeed, the former President left his palatial Hilltop building in Abeokuta, immediately Jonathan arrived the state capital.

Obasanjo who was driven out in his black SUV and one security Hilux van, shunned his main entrance and made use of his private gate.

Vanguard was at Obasanjo’s house to cover the expected meeting between the two leaders and observed that some security personnel who had been detailed at the former President’s house suddenly disappeared.

A source close to Obasanjo’s Hilltop mansion in Abeokuta had earlier confided in Vanguard that President Jonathan was not in Obasanjo’s itinerary for the day.

He also hinted that Obasanjo jetted out around 2: 59 p.m few minutes after the helicopter that flew the President to the state, touched down.

Operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) who had earlier besieged Obasanjo’s Hilltop mansion as early as 6a.m in anticipation of President Jonathan’s arrival also left the place at exactly 3.10p.m when it became obvious that Jonathan was not coming.

Jonathan, however, arrived at the M.K.O Stadium in Abeokuta at exactly 3.50p.m and headed straight to the state box from where he later moved out to acknowledge cheers from the crowd who had thronged the stadium venue of the campaign as early as 7. 30a.m.

Asked why President Jonathan ‘dodged’ Obasanjo and refused to visit him despite being in Abeokua, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, said: “Dodge Obasanjo? How? The president just left the stadium now and he is in the presidential lodge in Abeokuta, resting.”

The meeting, last night, however ended at 9.53 pm without official statement from both parties.
Jonathan woos Ogun voters
At the Abeokuta rally, President Jonathan promised to create additional eight million jobs for Nigerian youths in the next four years, if re-elected.

While referring to Gen. Mohammadu’s Buhari’s assertion that if elected, he would ensure that all guilty corrupt persons are jailed, Jonathan said: “It is my prayer that a time will come in Nigeria that there will be no single prison in the country.”

He then told his audience: “You have a choice to vote for those who will build more prisons for you or my administration which will build more schools for you.”

Schools and Wealth creation
He said his administration was already working with eminent Nigerians in private sector to make the mission a reality, saying that the party was out to fight poverty through wealth and job creation.

The president said that the Federal Government had set up a technical committee to that effect which was headed by Vice-President Namadi Sambo to work the modalities for the creation of at least two million jobs every year. He explained that the Federal Government was also working with Tony Elumelu, Chairman UBA and other investors from the private sector in order to achieve the goal.

He said: “We are out to create jobs, our target is to create not less than two million jobs every year. We are working with the private sector. Tony Elumelu is part of them and when we are talking about Elumelu, you know we are talking about a serious investor.”

While explaining that PDP had changed the face of Agriculture in the country, President Jonathan declared that the PDP-led Federal Government would integrate Commercial Agriculture into the Secondary schools’ curriculum to create wealth, more jobs and to reduce the country’s balance of payment deficit on imported foods.

We’ll win war against terrorism, says Jonathan at Mapo Hall

Meanwhile, President Jonathan has said his commitment and method of tackling corruption was not dependent on the number of people his administration tries or jails.

Though, he said his government has tried many Nigerians to show that it did not support corruption, he said the number of people tried on corruption-related offences would never stem the tide of the hydra-headed problem.

He said this at the ancient Mapo Hall, Ibadan, venue of his campaign rally, yesterday.

According to him: “If I try 10 million Nigerians and jail 5 million, that does not stop corruption problem. Let me re-assure Nigerians that we will win war against terror. My commitment and method of solving corruption is not in terms of the number of people I try or jail.”

President Jonathan, who used the forum to reel out the achievements of his administration, noted that his government had empowered over one million people through its various intervention programmes.

Other achievements, he said, include ongoing reconstruction of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, power projects, Ibadan Airport renovation, Ibadan-Lagos-Kano railway line rehabilitation, among other empowerment projects cited in Oyo State.

This came just as the president urged Nigerian women to vote him in for another four years to liberate themselves or risk being restricted to the kitchen by the opposition.

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El-Rufai slams Presidency Over New Emir Of Kano.

Former Federal Capital Territory Minister, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has condemned the Presidency and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for trying to stall the emergence of former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, as the new Emir of Kano.

El-Rufai said that despite the presentation of the staff of office and a certificate of appointment by the Kano State Governor to the new Emir, it was still doubtful if the President and his party would give up the fight to stop his emergence.

In several tweets posted on his Facebook, El-Rufai noted that the ‘’Jonathanians” had lost the battle to stop Sanusi’s appointment as the new Emir of Kano.

In one of the tweets titled Next Jonathanian Steps, the former minister said: “Now that the Jonathanians have lost the war against my brother HRH SLS, will they give up graciously or try new tricks? They will not give up!

“They still have the Jonathanian SSS to manufacture fresh falsehood. They have hundreds of hungry Wendell Simlins to tweet and post their drug-induced fabrications for villa cash hand-outs.”

In the same vein, the Chairman, Buhari Vanguard, Comrade Jasper Azuatalam, said the minor riot in parts of Kano earlier on Sunday was instigated by a certain party to stop the presentation of Sanusi as the next Emir.

Jasper noted: ”While the king makers and traditional rulers in Kano were busy deliberating and observing all traditional rites to choose the next Emir of Kano, the PDP went ahead to congratulate one of the contenders, to the throne, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Ado Bayero and announced him as the next Emir of Kano.

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Kidnapped Chibok Girls Plead For Release In New Video.

LAGOS—President Goodluck Jonathan has reportedly seen a new video released by Boko Haram, where the abducted school girls of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, spoke about their ordeal in the hands of the insurgents for the first time and pleaded with him to secure their release.
The girls were reportedly ill and are in camps located in Chad, Niger and Cameroon, with one of them nursing a broken wrist.
The footage, not released publicly but seen by the London-based The Mail on Sunday was taken in a jungle clearing a month after their abduction.

A screengrab taken on May 12, 2014, from a video of Nigerian Islamist extremist group Boko Haram obtained by AFP shows girls, wearing the full-length hijab and praying in an undisclosed rural location.

More than 250 girls were taken in a raid on their school in Chibok on April 14 by Boko Haram terrorists.
However, Cameroon’s military reportedly killed about 40 Boko Haram militants in the country’s northwest last weekend, a government radio reported yesterday, a day after Nigeria labelled the Central African nation the weakest link in its fight against the extremist sect.
The clashes leading to the killing occurred in the town of Kouserri, which borders Nigeria and Chad.
Cameroon, a clog in the wheel
The Federal Government regards Cameroun as not cooperative as Niger and Chad in the fight against Boko Haram.
After a security summit in Paris two weeks ago, Cameroon said it deployed 1,000 troops to its border to help contain the increasingly deadly group.
A series of suspected Boko Haram attacks in four villages in Nigeria’s restive North-East killed several people, residents said Sunday, in the latest violence blamed on the Islamist insurgents.
The military was not immediately available to comment on the raids in Borno State, the hardest hit area during Boko Haram’s five-year extremist uprising, which has killed thousands.
All of the targeted villages are in the Gamboru Ngala district near the border with Cameroon, where Boko Haram killed hundreds in a gruesome attack earlier last month.
The video, according to The Mail of London, indicated that the girls looked healthy, as eight of them, dressed in their home-made school uniforms of pale blue gingham, pleaded for release while standing courageously in front of the camera.
They were reportedly clearly scared, upset and trying to be brave, with each walking in turn to a spot in front of a white sheet fixed to a crude frame between the trees.
According to The Mail, four of the girls can be heard clearly in Hausa language stating that they were taken by force and that they were hungry.
The video indicated that a tall girl, aged about 18, said tearfully that “My family will be so worried”, even as another spoke softly, saying ‘I never expected to suffer like this in my life.”
Similarly, a third girl was captured in the video as saying ‘they have taken us away by force’, while the fourth complained of not getting enough food.
Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, reportedly released the new video of the kidnapped girls praying after their conversion to Islam.
The video, taken by an intermediary on May 19, has been shown to President Goodluck Jonathan and was intended to serve as ‘proof of life’ for the girls and to encourage the President to accede to the terrorists’ demands.
Two earlier videos showed the girls seated on the ground, dressed in hijabs, reciting the Koran,with Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, declaring he would sell them into slavery, or marry them off to their kidnappers, if members of his sect were not released from prison.
The Mail said pressure from the international community and criticism of the President’s slow response to the kidnapping have led to a series of contradictory pronouncements from his government. Ministers have declared they will not negotiate with Boko Haram, or consider the release of prisoners, while official spokesmen have said ‘the window is always open for dialogue’.
At a Paris peace summit, several West African countries neighbouring Nigeria vowed to join in ‘outright war’ against the terrorists. Britain, France and America pledged their support and have sent teams of military experts and advisers to the region. Intelligence sources have told The Mail of several rescue attempts, one  involving the release of suspected low-level Boko Haram members detained without charges or trial.
Two attempts were aborted at the last minute when the terrorists took fright while delivering a group of girls to a safe location.
Last week, Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh said the government knew the location of the girls and claimed that police and military had been ‘following them’ since the abduction. He refused to divulge details, saying it would put the girls in further danger.
The Mail claimed that Badeh’s announcement may have been the result of government officials seeing the new, unpublished video and may have been able to persuade Boko Haram’s intermediary to provide details of the location. It is believed the hostages have been split into at least four groups.
The report said one Dr Stephen Davis, an Australian who has advised three Nigerian presidents on how to negotiate with the country’s militant groups, has spent the past month trying to help free the girls.
Most Chibok girls not held in Nigeria
‘The vast majority of the  Chibok girls are not being held in Nigeria,’ he said.
‘They are in camps across the Nigerian border in Cameroon, Chad and Niger. I say the “vast majority” as I know a small group was confirmed to me to be in Nigeria last week when we sought to have them released.’
Saying the Federal Government has been engaged in negotiations with Boko Haram’s spiritual leader Abubakar Shekau in a bid to secure the girls’ release, the report quoted the Australian describing how fraught the negotiation process has been.
‘One of that small group of girls is ill and we had hoped we might convince the commander of the group holding her that she should be released so we could give her medical treatment,’ Dr Davis said.
‘There are other girls who are not well and we have come close to having them released but their captors fear a trap in which they will be captured in the handover process.
‘One girl has what I assume is a broken wrist as they demonstrate to me how she holds her hand. I have been told that others are sick and in need of medical attention.’
A military source said: ‘This has been a race against time from the minute they were captured. As soon as the girls left Nigerian soil, it was always going to be more difficult.
‘The government made no attempt at a rescue until a month after they were taken. Now the situation gets more serious by the day.
‘Any sort of attempt to get to them would have to be cleared by the  governments of the other nations.’

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Obasanjo, Jonathan, Fashola, others bid Otedola final farewell

THE remains of former Lagos State Governor, Sir Michael Otedola, have been buried. He was buried yesterday in his home town, Odoragunshin, in the Epe Local Government Area of the state. The burial was preceded by a funeral Mass held at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ibonwon.

The church programme was attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife Dame Patience Jonathan, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Governor Babatunde Fashola, his wife Dame Abimbola Fashola, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Hon Abike Dabiri, Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) boss Aruma Oteh, Minister for Agriculture Adeshina Akinwumi, former Zenith Bank boss Jim Ovia, business magnate Aliko Dangote, among others.

The funeral Mass was officiated by Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins of the Lagos Archdiocese, together with Bishop Emeritus, Anothony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie; former Archbishop of Ibadan, Rev Dr Felix Alaba Job; and other priests with clergymen from various denominations in attendance. The sleepy community was awoken by the unusual presence of the dignitaries in the area.

The residents, including a large number of physically challenged people trooped out in their numbers to catch a glimpse of the visitors. It was an opportunity for some of the residents to make brisk business. Commercial motorcyclists and commercial drivers smiled home as they picked visitors from one part of the town to the other. It was equally an opportunity for many politicians across the state to register themselves in the minds of the people and most importantly, the decision makers in their different political parties.

They strategically placed banners with their photographs at different parts of the area to welcome the visitors and bid the deceased farewell. A large number of armed and stern-looking securitymen stood at strategic positions to forestall a break-down of law and order. Delievering his sermon during the Holy Mass, Monsignor Otenhi extolled the virtues of the late governor and exhorted the congregation to live a life worthy of emulation. “Our beloved father lived a life worthy of emulation. He was a devout Christian who dedicated his life to the service of God and humanity.

“Today, he has gone to be with his creator. One day, it would be our turn. We should strive to live a life worthy of emulation so that when our time comes, people would have good things to say about us just as they are saying about our departed father today,” he said. President Jonathan, in his brief remark, extolled the virtues of the late governor, while assuring Nigerians that: “Serenity would soon return to the country.” The president, in his condolence message to the deceased family, said: “It is with great sadness that I write to condole you on the passing of your dear father, Sir Michael Otedola: a consumate nationalist.

Your father brought a characteristic level of uncompromising diligence and commitment to excellence to bear on every facet of his service to God, country and community, a rich legacy which should be an enduring source of pride to you and the entire members of your family in your moment of grief.

“On behalf of my family, the government and the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I write to express my heartfelt condolences to you, the entire members of the larger Otedola family and the government and people of Lagos State where he served meritoriously as governor, on the passing of this titan. May Almighty God grant succour to all he left behind, even as He grants his soul eternal rest.”

The Vice President Namadi Sambo described the deceased former governor as an elder statesman who served his people with a sense of humility, saying: “It is with deep shock and total submission to the will of the Almighty God that I received the sad news of his demise. ” He will be remembered by all as an elder statesman, distinguished politician and devout Christian who served his people with a sense of humility and touched many lives through his just and exemplary leadership.”

Former President Obasanjo, in his condolence message, described the deceased as a rare breed “who combined the sterling qualities of patriotism and firmness of purpose requisite for high office with the domestic virtues of modesty and loyalty. An extra- ordinary person and unforgettable personality, quality and integrity were his imprints.” Lagos State Governor Fashola said the deceased’s accomplishments and the records of his administration amply reveal his accommodating nature and predilection towards politics without bitterness and acrimony, adding “this endeared him to friends and political adversaries alike as he showed by example that it was possible to accommodate diverse shades of thought and opinion.

His distinctly dignified comportment outside political office is no less worthy of emulation.” Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, noted that the fact that the deceased attained a ripe age has not in any way “lessened the pain, nor the magnitude of the death of a patriach who devoted his life to the service of his creator and the benefit of humanity. “Everyone who knew Sir Michael Otedola testifies to his disciplined lifestyle and gentle disposition,” he said.

His Osun State counterpart, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, said the deceased while alive was was a humble, energetic, enterprising and astute politician. He said: “The lesson that can be drawn from his passage is that while we are alive, we should all strive to serve our people and God, our creator in in the belief that we shall all account for our deeds when we return to our creator.” The First Lady, Dame Jonathan, said: “Though his death was painful, we should take solace in the fact that he left good legacies which are evident in the quality of the children he left behind. He will be remembered for living a worthy life and for making indelible impact on humanity during his lifetime.”

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“I can assure you that the next Democracy Day will witness a new government.”- President Goodluck.

At the 2014 Democracy Day Inter-denominational Church Service in Abuja. The Nigeria's President in his speech said “I can assure you that the next Democracy Day will witness a new government.”
   He also made notes on the issues of terrorism and insecurity as spearheaded by the Islamic Sect, Boko Haram to bring his Government down, he however pointed out that it would not affect the credibility of the 2015 Elections.
   “I remember when I was in my village this morning to collect my permanent voter’s card, a journalist asked me whether there will be elections in Nigeria, and I told him there would be elections in this country.
“This country will continue to move forward in spite of some of the setbacks we are witnessing,” the President said.
He thanked all the religious faiths for their prayers for the Government and the country which has kept the country in unity.
“Without your prayers, it would have been worse. With your prayers, our girls will be seen by our security men.
“All these distractions were planned to bring this government down. Since they failed, terror will also fail.
“Forces of darkness will never prevail over light. I call on all Nigerians to continue to pray and, with God on our side, we shall overcome,” he said.
President Jonathan thanked God for the 15 straight years of democracy in the country, saying it is the best form of government.
He said his administration’s ‘Transformation Agenda’ was not a mere campaign promise, but had yielded visible dividends and positive developments in every sector in the past three years.
The President listed some of the benefitting sectors to include rail, roads, airports, agriculture, petroleum, power, industry and housing.
In the message delivered by Pastor Goodheart Ekwueme pointed out the Biblical Allusion Mordecai to Nigeria's Crisis, Book of Esther, chapter 4 verse 13 in the Holy Bible..
“It is when the time is darkest that God chooses to reveal its glory and I believe Nigeria will arise. A new Nigeria is about to be born.
“Nigeria is simply experiencing child labour, which will give way to the birth of a great nation,” he said.
NAN reports that congregational prayers were offered for security, peace and development, as well as for the victims and families of recent bomb blasts.
However, Prayers were also said for the successful search for and rescue of the Chibok schoolgirls, as well as for President Jonathan and his family and the three arms of government.
The service was attended by the First Lady, Patience Jonathan, the President’s mother, Madam Eunice, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, cabinet ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, service chiefs and presidential aides.

Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill into Law Signed by President Jonathan

“I certify that this Bill has been carefully compared by me with the decision reached by the National Assembly and found by me to be true and correct decision of the Houses and is in accordance with the provisions of the Acts Authentication Act Cap. A2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. I assent,” The assent note read.
“The President has signed the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill into law. This has foreclosed any pressure on President Jonathan not to assent to the bill.
“We received inquiries from some foreign embassies on why the bill was signed into law. But we told them that our cultural values do not tolerate same sex marriage.
“Also, we made it clear that since most Nigerians were opposed to the bill, the parliament acted in line with the wish of the majority. We are in a democratic setting, the President has no choice than to bow to the wish of the people.
“These embassies were shocked but there is no going back. We hope they will also abide by the decision of Nigerians,” a source close the President revealed.

According to some abstracts, obtained by The Nation, the Act reads:

“A marriage contract or civil union entered into between persons of same sex: (a) is prohibited in Nigeria; and (b) shall not be recognized as entitled to the benefits of a valid marriage.
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The Act also stipulates the volume of the sanctions awaiting the violators of the new law.

“A person who enters into a same sex marriage contract or civil union commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 14 years imprisonment.
“A person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organizations directly or indirectly makes public show of dame sex amorous relationship in Nigeria commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 10 years imprisonment.
“A person or group of persons who administers, witnesses, abets or aids the solemnization of a same sex marriage or civil union of supports the registration, operation and sustenance of gay clubs, societies, organizations, processions or meetings in Nigeria commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 10 years imprisonment.
“The High Court of a State or of the Federal Capital Territory shall have jurisdiction to entertain matters raiding from the breach of the provisions of this Act.”

Why President Jonathan Was Hospitalized In UK For Chronic Stomach Pain (READ SHOCKING DETAILS)

Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan, has reportedly remained hospitalized at an undisclosed London hospital to which he was taken early today after complaining of chronic stomach pain.

“The President woke up to get ready for the business of the day only to complain of serious stomach pain”, one presidency source said.
The personal doctor to the President, Fortune Fibresima, reportedly administered some medicines but as the pain escalated, Mr. Jonathan was reportedly rushed to a hospital.  Presidency officials hoped he would be released to participate at an Investor’s Council Meeting taking place at the Hilton Hotel in Central London, about five minutes from the InterContinental Hotel where the Nigerian president is lodged.  The meeting is the objective of his visit.

Several presidency sources have confirmed to SaharaReporters that the President and several government officials partied heavily into the early hours of this morning as they celebrated Mr. Jonathan’s 56th birthday.
The Nigeria leader is accompanied on the trip by several Ministers and officials, but three state governors who were invited to accompany him did not show up.  They include the Governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan, who opted to go to Poland.  He was reportedly afraid the London Metropolitan Police might pull him aside for questioning concerning his role in the money laundering fraud that led his cousin and predecessor as governor, James Ibori, into jail in the United Kingdom.
Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang and his Borno State counterpart, Kashim Shettima, were also both invited on the trip both they did not show up.
Last February, during another visit to London, Mr. Jonathan came down with an intestinal disorder described as Amoebic Colitis and he underwent testing at the London Clinic on Harley Street.  It is unclear if his new troubles are related to that experience.
President Jonathan is said to have a taste for ogogoro, a local gin that is widely-enjoyed in the riverine areas of Southern Nigeria.  Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati has however denied that alcohol is served in the presidency.

NAIJ

Breaking News: President Jonathan is sick.

President Goodluck Jonathan

The president’s spokesperson confirmed the illness.
President Goodluck Jonathan fell ill while in London on an official visit and had to seek medical attention, his spokesperson, Reuben Abati, has said.
Mr. Jonathan is in London for a meeting of Nigeria’s Honorary International Investors’ Council.
Mr. Abati said the president became indisposed and could not be present at the opening of the meeting on Thursday. He said the President has since been examined by competent medical practitioners and “he has been advised to rest for a few days”.
Mr. Abati did not state the ailment the president was diagnosed of or the hospital he visited.
“The Presidency wishes to assure all Nigerians that President Jonathan’s condition is nothing serious and that the medical attention he has sought is only precautionary,” the spokesperson said.

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President Goodluck Jonathan Approves The Appointment Of Four Permanent Secretaries.

The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had on Tuesday approved the appointment of four permanent Secretaries into the Federal Civil Service.

In a statement signed by the Director (Communications) in the office of Head of the Civil Service, Dr Tope Ajakaiye. Reports gathered that the new appointees are: Abbas Mohammed (Kaduna); Adelakun Saheed Kayode (Lagos); Bukar Mohammed B. (Yobe) and Magaji Abubakar G. (Zamfara).

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Bukar Aji said “The new appointments have been made to fill the slot for Yobe State which became vacant following his appointment as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
“It is also the retirement from service of permanent secretaries representing Lagos, Zamfara and Kaduna States that have created vacancies for their slots, he added (NAN).

2014 Budget Postponed by President Jonathan Again!

Last week tuesday, due to the Senate and House of representatives not adopting the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, it was suspended for a week.

Reports gathered that a week was sheduled for the next meeting but news reaching us now is that President Goodluck Jonathan has suspended the meeting. The President wrote to the Senate Assembly and also the House of Representatives and the Senate indicating his decision to postpone the budget presentation today as it was earlier fixed.

Details shortly.