Christianity Invented Hell To Frighten People Into Joining - Retired Episcopal Bishop Says

RETIRED Episcopal bishop Reverend John Shelby Spong has dropped
another religious bombshell by revealing that he believes hell is an
imaginary concept invented by the church to coerce people into joining
it.

Over recent weeks, there have been serious question marks raised about
the veracity of many of the claims made by Abrahamic faiths. Last
week, the Catholic Church said it no longer believes Jesus Christ will
come back, pointing out that he probably made the promise to after
taking too much wine.

This debate has been fuelled further by Reverend Spong, the retired
American bishop of the Episcopal Church who served as the Bishop of
Newark from 1979 to 2000.

He added that religions are out to control people, so hell is
probably another one of its inventions designed to frighten people
into signing up.

Reverend Spong added: "I don't think hell exists. I happen to believe
in life after death but I don't think it's got a thing to do with
reward and punishment.

"Religion is always in the control business and that's something
people don't really understand. It's in a guilt-producing control
business and if you have heaven as a place where you're rewarded for
you goodness and hell is a place where you're punished for your evil,
then you sort of have control of the population."

According to Reverend Spong, Christianity has created this fiery place
which has quite literally scared the hell out of a lot of people,
which is part of a control tactic. He added that God is not a Jew,
Muslim, Hindi, Buddhist or Christian and all these faiths are human
systems created by man.

"I think the church fired its furnaces hotter than anybody else but I
think there's a sense in most religious life of reward and punishment
in some form.
The
church doesn't like for people to grow up because you can't control
grown-ups, that's why we talk about being born again.

"When you're born again, you're still a child but people don't need to
be born again, they need to grow up. They need to accept their
responsibility for themselves and the world," Reverend Spong added.

He pointed out that the idea that the truth of God can be bound in any
human system, by any human creed, by any human book, is almost beyond
imagination.
According to Reverend Spong, his religious traditions only lead him to
God and do not define God.

-NigerianWatch

Passenger Dies Aboard Owerri-Lagos Flight

A middle-aged man aboard Arik Air's Owerri-Lagos flight has been
confirmed dead by doctors on arrival at the Lagos Airport, the airline
disclosed Wednesday.

His body has been deposited in the mortuary by the Police while
investigation into the immediate cause of death is ongoing.

According to a statement by the airline, the passenger boarded the
flight from Owerri in the company of a relative.

The passenger was said to have shown signs of uneasiness midway into the flight.

-TheNation

Young Lady Killed At Biafra Protest In Onitsha

A young lady named Nkiruka Anthonia Ikeanyionwu, 21, from Adazi
Nnukwu Anambra state and schooling at Fedral College of Education
Umunze, Anambra State was unfortunately killed yesterday during the
Biafra protest.

About 4 Dangote trucks were burnt leading to unrest and unfortunately
one person lost her life. Her grieving sister sent in her photos,
asking for justice. They are claiming she was killed by security
forces. Quite sad!

See
it after the cut..
*viewer discretion advised*

Harvest Of Workers' Protests In Imo

Civil servants in Imo State marched through the major streets of
Owerri, on Wednesday, in protest against non-payment of their
salaries.

The workers, who were drawn from 42 parastatals, blocked Okigwe
Roundabout leading to Government House to press home their demands.

Some of the effected parastatals were Imo Marketing Board, Imo State
Library Board, Adapalm, Imo State Council for Arts and Culture, Oguta
Motel, Consumer Protection Agency, Health Management Board, General
Hospitals, Poverty Alleviation Bureau, amongst others.

The workers said that they had undergone a series of verifications
without positive response from the state government, saying that they
were only demanding their salaries, not fighting anybody. "We were
only protesting, in defence of our legitimate rights."

The salary owned workers in various parastatals include, Library Board
9 months, Water Corporation 12 months, Imo Specialist Hospital, Owerri
12 months, Consumer Protection Agency 9 months, Arts and Culture 14
months, amongst others.

The aggrieved workers have been protesting since the past for three days.

Addressing the protesters, one Mr. Kingsley Uju, said that the
government was doing everything possible to settle the arrears of
salaries owned to workers.

Meanwhile, hundreds of customers of the MTN, on Wednesday, vandalised
the telecommunication operator's office in Owerri over the blockage of
their SIM cards (Numbers) by the company.

-DailyTimes

Ihedioha Blasts Imo Govt Over N600 Million Christmas Decorations

The former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka
Ihedioha has expressed shock over media reports that the Imo State
Government had set aside over N600 million for the decoration of
streets in Owerri, ahead of the Christmas celebration.

Ihedioha queried, "Why at this critical period when the citizens are
passing through untold hardship arising from over 20 months of unpaid
salary arrears and pensions, owed to workers in the state?"

A statement by his media aide, Mr. Chibuike Onyekwu, Ihedioha said
that, "despite prevailing widespread disenchantment being expressed by
citizens who have recently called for his immediate impeachment over
the alarming rate of hunger and insecurity occasioned by the inept
handling of issues of governance and unrepentant deceit so far
exhibited by the Okorocha administration, the governor has refused to
repent or address such concerns and other critical issues".

Ihedioha further said that "preparations for Christmas celebration are
no doubt a tradition for Christians all over the world but it is
ridiculous and, indeed, smacks of insensitivity for this government to
spend over N600 million on decorations when families can no longer
afford their meals and basic needs as a result of non-payment of
salaries, pensions and other entitlements."

"It worries every right thinking Imolite that Governor Rochas Okorocha
has refused to constitute his cabinet six months after election. There
is no local government administration. There is no functional
ministry, department or agency in the state. The Governor has embarked
on several trips abroad to woo non-existent investors with a view to
actualising his failed promises of aggressive industrialisation and
employment of youths.

"Even more worrisome are reports in the media, alleging the theft of a
part of the bailout funds from his son-in-law's residence in Owerri.
These reports are no doubt of great concern to all well-meaning Imo
citizens, particularly when the government has refused to account for
the huge sums that have accrued to the state including more than N26
billion bailout funds. This is in addition to the heart-breaking fact
that the government has refused to probe the alleged disappearance of
the fund."

Ihedioha, therefore, urged Okorocha to retrace his steps and begin to
address the plight of workers, pensioners and other critical issues of
governance, in order to avert the looming economic crises, insecurity
and, indeed, avoid what could be the bleakest Christmas celebration in
the history of the state.

-DailyTimes

MTN Office In Owerri Vandalized

Today in Owerri, MTN subscribers said enough is enough with MTN. They
took laws into their hands and vandalized MTN office located at
Wetheral road.
The blocked subscribers who spoke with reporters said that they came
to MTN Office as early as 6.00am and waited and waited for the staff
to come to work. When MTN workers finally arrived to work, they showed
no respect to the subscribers.

The customers who said they came to register their SIM Cards and
rectify their blocked SIM cards numbers said that the MTN workers
showed nonchalant attitude to them while some were not ready to
perform their duties
.

The protesting customers got so angry and started to destroy the
office. It took the effort of the security men who intervened to
disperse the angry customers.

Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial Stalled Due To Absence Of Judge

The trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the Director of Radio Biafra, suffered
another setback at the Wuse Magistrate Court in Abuja due to the
absence of the judge.

Counsel to the accused person, Mr Dim Udebuani told journalists that
the court registrar confirmed that the magistrate is bereaved and
would not be able to proceed with the ruling on the application filed
by the prosecutor, the Department of State Service (DSS) to transfer
the case to the Federal High Court.

Mr Nnamdi Kanu is standing trial on a three-count charge of criminal
conspiracy, intimidation and belonging to an unlawful society which he
has pleaded not guilty to.

The prosecutor had challenged the jurisdiction of the Magistrate Court
to hear the matter in an earlier application, requesting for the
transfer of the case to the Federal High Court.

Magistrate Shuaibu Usman, after listening to arguments for and against
the application for discontinuance, adjourned the case till December
1, 2015 for ruling.

-ChannelsTV

Motorists Get Free Fuel As DPR Penalises Fuel Stations In Plateau

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Plateau State has
enforced free distribution of fuel to motorist, after it discovered
that some service stations were hoarding the product.

During a monitoring exercise by the DPR on Wednesday, some fuel
stations found selling the product above the recommended government
price of 87 Naira were sealed.

The Operations Controller of the DPR, Caesar Douglas, explained that
some of the marketers have been engaging in illegal activities ranging
from hoarding, selling above government approved prices, as well as
diverting petroleum products and operating without license.

At one of the service stations, the officials discovered that over
4,000 litres of petrol kept in the underground storage tank was not
dispensed to the public, and they were also selling at 145 Naira per
litre.

In November, about 23 fuel stations were sealed off in the state for
various offences during an inspection exercise carried out by the
organisation.

-ChannelsTV

PDP Must Not Die, We’re Benefiting From The Party – Okorocha

Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has stated that the former ruling
party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP must not die.

According to the governor, in a democracy, opposition was very
important. He wished that the PDP stayed as a party to enable it play
the noble role of opposition to the APC – led government.

The governor said the government and the citizenry would benefit more
if the PDP remained alive to play the role of an opposition party.

Okorocha regretted the various factions scrambling for the soul of the
PDP in the state at the moment and urged the leaders to take all the
necessary actions to restore peace in the party to prevent it from
total extinction.

He added that what the PDP in the state needed now was unity among the
leaders and not war among themselves.

He said, "One of the groups is led by one Hon. Ray Emeagha and one
other group is led by Barr. C.O.C. Akaolisa, the former legal adviser
to the State Chapter of the PDP.

"The truth is that the most important thing the PDP leaders in the
state need to do now is to prevent the party from hitting the rock by
peacefully dealing with the multi-faceted factions struggling over who
takes the franchise of the party in the state," a statement by
Okorocha's chief press secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo said.

Okorocha advised some leaders of the party who had for politically
related reasons formed certain motley groups that had been attacking
his government to invest such energy in resuscitating the PDP in the
state.

-DailyPost

Rochas Okorocha Must Be Impeached -- Group

The Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of
Nigeria (AGPMPN) has dragged the Imo state governor, Chief Rochas
Okorocha, to the state House of Assembly to promptly initiate his
impeachment.

The AGPMPN urged the Imo state House of Assembly to impeach Rochas
Okorocha on grounds of misconduct in the state.

The move by the association is in reaction to the closing down of all
government health facilities in form of concessioning them to private
ownership.

According to AGPMPN, the grounds for this action is based on
violations of public safety of Nigerians in accordance to Section 305
(2)(c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

They claim that the poor state of governance in Imo state and gross
unconstitutional actions of Okorocha have jeopardised public safety,
thus constitute impeachable offences.

This Day reports that in a statement signed by the chairman of the
organisation, Dr Philip Njemanze, the group opined that the closure by
the governor of all public primary, secondary and tertiary health
centres in the state as well as threatening to close down all private
hospitals has had devastating effects on people in the state.

Njemanze said as a result of the governor's action, many people have
lost their lives and others severely harmed.

He added that there was a total paralysis of all primary healthcare
services in all rural areas of Imo state.

The AGPMPN chairman underscored the danger posed to public safety as a
result of the direct actions of the Imo state government.

He therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari to impose a state of
emergency in the state.

"There is a collapse of all health services in the three major general
hospitals and the Specialist Hospital in Owerri. Meanwhile, there are
indications of rising incidence of diarrheal, tuberculosis, malaria
and cholera and total absence of surveillance for the most dangerous
diseases like Ebola, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and yellow fever.


"The state immunisation programmes, antenatal and post-natal care have
been halted in most rural areas. Neonatal mortality, child mortality
and maternal mortality are rising suddenly due to absence of first
responders in the health system in the state.

"AGPMPN in the state drew attention of the general public to the state
of emergency in health that has arisen with fast deteriorating effects
on public safety," the group informed.

It would be recalled that Governor Okorocha's election into office has
been upheld by the Supreme Court. The Apex Court ruled in favour of
Okorocha, dismissing the appeal filed by Emeka Ihedioha, the former
deputy speaker of the House of Representatives.

-naij

Onitsha Protest: Arase Orders Arrest Of Pro-Biafra, MASSOB Agitators

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase has issued a stern
warning to MASSOB and IPOB activists to stop threatening public peace
or face the full weight of the law. The warning followed the
observation by the Nigeria Police Force leadership of the increasing
resort to acts of brigandage by sets of misguided individuals who
apparently are hiding under the cloak of Movement for the
Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Indigenous
People of Biafra (IPOB) to threaten national security and public peace
in parts of South East geopolitical Zone and some other conterminous
States.

"The latest manifestation of this threat is the attempt to blockade
the Onitsha end of Niger Bridge on 1st December, 2015, an action that
caused major hardship to innocent and law abiding motorists, and
citizens. The act also occasioned serious dislocation of business
activities," a statement issued by acting Police PRO, Olabisi
Kolawole.

The Inspector-General of Police noted that the increasing resort to
acts of brigandage of this nature is pointing to a clear attempt by
the brains behind these protests to test the will of security agencies
to restore order and guarantee internal cohesion. For the avoidance of
doubts, the IGP further noted that the restoration and maintenance of
law and public order, and protection of lives and property remain
sacred and statutory Mandate of the Nigeria Police. This Mandate,
according to him, shall be fully executed in the overriding interests
of the nation and vast majority of citizens and residents of the South
East geopolitical Zone.

Consequently, the Inspector-General of Police has directed the
mobilisation and deployment of Police Mobile Force (PMF) across the
country to reinforce security in the State Commands that MASSOB and
IPOB are currently attempting to utilise as launching pad for their
sinister intentions.

The Assistant Inspectors – General of Police Zone 5, (Benin); Zone 6,
(Calabar) and Zone 9 (Umuahia) as well as all Commissioners of Police
in the affected States in the South East and neigbouring States have
also been directed to henceforth maximally exercise their statutory
Mandate in relation to prevention and disruption of any gathering that
threatens public order and national cohesion. Any person or group of
persons so arrested in furtherance to the enforcement of this order
will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

To this end, the Inspector-General of Police advises parents and
guardians to call their children and wards to order as the patience of
the Force is being stretched to the limit. He firmly affirmed that no
individual or group interest can override the interest of the nation
and that democratic values provide for exploration of rule of law to
advance any concern, not the resort to endless and misguided acts of
brigandage, unless there is an ulterior motive as the extant instance
tends to dictate. He concluded by asserting that the Nigeria Police
Force will not fold its law enforcement arms to allow few misguided
elements to continually force hardships on fellow Nigerians either in
the South East or any other part of the nation for that matter.

-PMNews

Faleke Sues INEC, Begs Court To Declare Him Kogi’s Governor-elect

The deputy governorship flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress
in the November 21 election in Kogi State, James Faleke, on Tuesday
filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, demanding his
declaration as governor-elect.

Faleke also wrote Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC
demanding the removal of his name as the running mate to Mr. Bello in
the supplementary election.
Recall that INEC had declared the election inconclusive. It ordered a
supplementary election which will hold on December 5.
Faleke had threatened to go to court following the adoption of Yahaya
Bello by the APC national leadership as the governorship candidate of
the party in the supplementary election.

Mr. Bello's adoption at the meeting of the National Working Committee
of the party followed the death of the former governorship candidate,
Abubakar Audu, on November 22.

The party immediately forwarded his name to INEC as replacement for
Mr. Audu and that of Mr. Faleke as his running mate.

In the suit filed by his counsel, Wole Olanipekun, Mr. Faleke, a
serving member of the House of Representatives, said contrary to the
claim by the electoral body, the election was conclusive and that as
the running mate to Mr. Audu, he should be declared winner.

The court papers were served on INEC Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Faleke said.

The deputy governorship candidate had written INEC on November 26,
insisting that he was the governor-elect following Mr. Audu's death.

He asked the Commission not to go ahead with the supplementary election.

"In law and logic, no new candidate can inherit or be a beneficiary of
the votes already cast, counted and declared by INEC before that
candidate was nominated and purportedly sponsored," Mr. Faleke wrote
through Mr. Olanipekun.

"Assuming without conceding that INEC is even right to order a
supplementary election, the votes already cast, counted and declared
on Saturday, 25th November 2015, were votes for the joint
constitutional ticket of Prince Abubakar Audu and our client.

"Therefore, no new or 'supplementary' candidate can hijack, aggregate,
appropriate or inherit the said votes."

In another letter to APC Chairman, John Oyegun, Mr. Faleke urged his
party to distance itself from the "Greek Gift" being offered to it to
nominate a new candidate for a planned supplementary election in 91
polling units. He said.

He added that the election had already been won and lost, and that the
party should rather support him in actualizing the mandate already
given to APC and its candidates.

According to the result declared by INEC, Mr. Audu had the highest
number of votes thus leading the 21 other candidates, including the
incumbent governor of Kogi State, Idris Wada, who was the flagbearer
of the Peoples Democratic Party.

-Vanguard

EFCC Arrests Dokpesi Over Alleged Arms Deal

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, says it has
arrested the former Chairman of Daar Communications, Chief Raymond
Dokpesi.

He was picked up in Abuja at about noon on Tuesday and was accompanied
to the office of the EFCC by his son Raymond Dokpesi Jnr., who is the
current Chairman of Daar Communications.

The Head of Media in the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, told Channels
Television that Chief Dokpesi was arrested in connection with money
disbursed from the office of the former National Security Adviser,
Sambo Dasuki.

He said that there was no explanation about what the money was meant
for and it was pathetic that the office of the NSA was used as "a
warehouse to dish out money to people".

He added that very worrisome is that this hard-earned money is taken
from the coffers of the country.

-Vanguard

IPOB, MASSOB Shut Down Markets, Uwazuruike Expelled

Over seven thousands members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB,
yesterday, shut down markets and all commercial activities in
Nnewi, Anambra State in solidarity protest for the release of the
Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, who has been incarcerated
by the Directorate of State Services, DSS, for over one month.

Members of the IPOB mobilized from Onitsha, Asaba, Awka, Ekwulobia,
Awka-Etiti, Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi and Abia states, converged at Nnewi
from where they marched to the house of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu to ask for his blessing even in death.

This came as constitutional lawyer and leader of eminent group of
Nigerians, The Patriots, Professor Ben Nwabueze (SAN), admonished
the groups to have a re-think over their renewed calls for the state
of Biafra.

According to one of the commanders, of IPOB, Mr. Emeka Onwane, the
protest was a warning signal to the Federal Government to make sure
that Kanu, who he said, would appear in court today is released
without further delay.

Onwane said they decided to shut down Nnewi and made sure there were
no commercial and business activities to further press home their
demand for Kanu's release without which he said there would be no
peace in Nigeria.

He said the protest would last for three days, and they chose Nnewi
for the mother of all rallies as it is the home-town of the former
Biafra war lord, late Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu.

"IPOB is looking up to the international community including the
United States, Russia, France and every other countries excluding
Britain which is the enemy of Biafra. We are not talking about Igbo
presidency; we are talking about an independent nation of Biafra. So,
we are looking up to world leaders to help us actualize Biafra," he
said.

The protesters moved from St. Mary Junction to Nkwo Nnewi market, down
to the express way leading to Nnewi Area Command, through Odumegwu
Ojukwu's residence to Owerri Road, Nkwo Nnewi Triangle and later
headed for Awka-Etiti through Nnobi.

Onwane said their journey was an endless one but assured that it would
all be peaceful as they displayed placards with inscriptions as 'Free
Nnamdi Kanu,' 'Free Biafra,' 'No Biafra, no peace,' 'We want Biafra
now,' 'Biafra now or never.'
Strict warning
In Aba, Abia State, members of the group warned traders across markets
not to open for business today.

Vanguard reports that IPOB members visited Ariaria International, Ngwa
Road, Cemetery and Ekeoha markets with public address system
announcing to the traders to shut their shops.
A cross section of traders, who spoke to Vanguard, condemned the order
and appealed to the IPOB members to allow the markets open.

According to them: "They should allow the markets open. Any trader,
who wants to join the protest is free, but a total closure of the
market will hurt us severely."

A trader, Mrs. Nwamaka Nnadi, who also faulted the 'order,' said the
announcement warning traders to steer clear of the markets started on
Sunday, as some pro Biafra agitators were observed in some areas,
'spreading the message.'

Pledging their loyalty

But traders under the aegis of South-East Amalgamated Markets Traders
Association, SEAMATA, yesterday, stated that they were in total
support of the pro-Biafra groups but condemned the invasion of
markets by the agitators.

The traders said that contrary to media reports that they were
against Biafra agitation, they were indeed in support of the efforts
to restore Biafra through non-violence and not through violent
agitation as obtained in the recent protests embarked upon by the
agitators during which they forcefully entered into the markets and
harassed the traders for opening their shops.

President-General of SEAMATA, Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo in a press
statement he jointly signed with the Secretary-General, Mr. Temple
Udeh, noted that in as much as the traders support the movement for
the state of Biafra, they were in total condemnation of a situation
where the pro-Biafra groups but condemned the invasion of markets by
the agitators.

The traders said that contrary to media reports that they were
against Biafra agitation, they were indeed in support of the efforts
to restore Biafra through non-violence and not through violent
agitation as obtained in the recent protests embarked upon by the
agitators during which they forcefully entered into the markets and
harassed the traders for opening their shops.

President-General of SEAMATA, Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo in a press
statement he jointly signed with the Secretary-General, Mr. Temple
Udeh, noted that in as much as the traders support the movement for
the state of Biafra, they were in total condemnation of a situation
where the pro-Biafra agitators/protesters allowed themselves to be
infiltrated by some miscreants who cashed in on the protest to loot
and do all sorts of things in the markets.
SEAMATA further stated that the invasion of the markets by Biafra
supporters in the name of protest which led to vandalization and
destruction of shops, vehicles and other valuables belonging to their
fellow Igbo was not only condemnable but unacceptable.

He added: "To set the record straight and for the purpose of clarity,
the traders are not challenging the constitutional right of peaceful
assembly of any one. We only condemn the attitude of the protesters
(or miscreants that infiltrated them) that went into markets, chased
the traders out and closed the entrances to the market".

Uwazuruike expelled

In a new twist, the crisis rocking the MASSOB which led to the
factionalization of the group, with Chief Ralph Uwazuruike leading one
group and his National Director of Information heading another group,
yesterday, deepened and led to the alleged expulsion of Uwazuruike and
installation of Uchenna Madu as the new national leader of MASSOB.

The installation of Madu took place after the national officers
including the zonal and regional administrators of the group formally
announced the expulsion of Chief Uwazuruike as MASSOB national leader
in an event that was witnessed by even non-MASSOB members.

While Madu became the new leader in acting capacity for six months,
Ugwuoke Ibem Ugwuoke, emerged the National Secretary.

MASSOB warned Uwazuruike "to stop parading himself as MASSOB leader or
using Ojukwu's name to dupe Ndigbo or garner personal fame to pursue
his political ambition."

The members also indicted the sacked MASSOB leader of allegedly
defrauding the members through "the introduction of the Biafra
international passport, a gross and dubious means through which he
generated about N100 million for himself.

"The over N40 million realized from the dedication of the Biafran war
veterans home in Okwe, built by MASSOB members, was diverted to
Uwazuruike's personal purse," the group alleged.

No to secession

But speaking yesterday in Lagos at a press conference to announce the
4th Goddy Jidenma Foundation bi-annual Public Lecture, entitled:
'Leadership, Responsibility & Good Governance,' holding on Wednesday,
December 3, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA,
Victoria Island, Lagos, Professor Nwabueze, who blamed the nation's
leadership problem, for the renewed agitations for the state of
Biafra, however, advised the protesting youths that the answer to
their genuine grievances did not lie in secession.

According to Nwabueze, who was flanked by the Principal Solicitor, Zik
Chuka Obi & Co and Dr. Ije Jidenma, Executive Secretary, GJF, and wife
of the late Goddy Jidenma, clamping down on pro-Biafra protesters or
sending them to prison is not the solution to the problem. This was a
problem that led us to war. What did we achieve by that war? Did we
achieve Biafra? We didn't. Is there any basis to think that it can be
realised this time? Are we more prepared for it now than we were in
1967. Certainly not, we aren't prepared for it."

Speaking further, he said: "However, we must not condemn the people
that are agitating. The present administration must look at the root
cause of their protests. These people protesting are all young people.
Some of them have not been employed for over 10 years after graduating
from the university.

"In my own time, graduate unemployment was unknown. There was nothing
like that. The unrest we are witnessing today is caused by this
anomaly.

"Tied to this, the recent actions of President Buhari contributes to
this unrest. Buhari made 24 key appointments, not a single one came
from the South-East. What do you expect the youths from that area to
feel. They will feel that they have been deprived of that sense of
belonging. They will feel that they don't belong to Nigeria. If by the
President's actions, he's saying they don't belong to Nigeria, then,
they will start agitation for Biafra, where they can belong.

"People may describe this feeling as an illusion, but I must say that
the feeling is already there. You can't say to a man who is aggrieved
that he has no right to be aggrieved. Address the source of the
grievances. Correct your own approach to leadership. Make them feel
that they belong. That's the answer. The answer is not clamping them
to prisons."

The former Nigerian Secretary of Education, however, advised the
leadership of MASSOB and IPOB to change their names, noting that the
names they currently bear act as a clog in the wheel of their causes.

"I have said it in the past that there is something wrong with the
name that pro-Biafra groups are using for their cause. As the pioneer
Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a position I held for 25 years,
I had meetings with the leader of MASSOB, Ralph Uwazurike, where I
told him the honest truth, that look, you may have something up, but
the name MASSOB, defeats your cause. Therefore, you must change the
name. How can you be talking about actualisation of a sovereign state
within a sovereign state. That's treasonable. The name alone is
treasonable.You can see that the authorities are charging the leader
of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu and others for treason. Although, I have called
for his immediate release and have asked that he comes to see me when
he's released. I want to see him. The name should be changed. MASSOB
is there, IPOB is also there. So, which is which? The name should be
changed," he insisted.

-Vanguard

Ex-president Jonathan Escapes Attack From Militants | Photo

Goodluck Jonathan, the immediate past president of Nigeria, has
narrowly escaped the death in Bayelsa state today, November 30.



Some suspected men accused of working for the All Progressives
Congress in the state drove into Jonathan's convey.

The militants, who stopped and drove into a short motorcade
transporting the former leader of the nation from the Julius Berger
bridge area of the state capital Yenagoa, trailed and chased the
motorcade to the entrance of the private house of Jonathan in the
Kpansia area of the town, before they were crushed and detained by a
combined team of security operatives attached to the ex-president.

Members of the arrested band have been taken to the Bayelsa state
police command for further investigation and interrogation.

Last year Jonathan and some top government officials escaped an air
crash at the Minna Airport, when a presidential jet developed a
technical fault, while they were aboard.

Another accident with former president happened at the Armed Forces
Remembrance Day ceremony in Abuja as one of the soldiers in the firing
party mistakenly pointed his rifle at GEJ's direction.

Goodluck Jonathan was serving as president from 2010 till 2015. In
March presidential poll he was defeated by Muhammadu Buhari.

-Naij

I Will Never Fight 'Pretender' David Haye -- Tyson Fury

World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury says he will never defend his
titles against fellow Briton David Haye.

Fury shocked the boxing world by beating Wladimir Klitschko on
Saturday to secure the WBA, IBF and WBO belts.

But Fury has not forgiven Haye for pulling out of two scheduled fights
against him in 2013 and causing him "mental and physical torture".

"David Haye will never get a fight against Tyson Fury after what he
did to me," said the Manchester boxer.

"I remember him saying that he'd never give me a payday. Well, the
shoe is on the other foot now.

"If he gets a mandatory shot with any of the governing bodies, I'll
vacate the title. Let him go and fight Fred Flintstone or Joe Bloggs
and make no money.

"I don't care if he says I can make £10m by fighting him, it's not
about money for me.

"I knew how much boxers got messed about at the highest level. But
there were times [when Haye pulled out of the fights] that I didn't
want to box any more.

"He is a pretender, a fraud and he is getting no opportunities from us."



Haye feels "like a young fighter" as he prepares for Mark de Mori fight
Haye, who lost to Klitschko in 2011, recently announced a comeback. He
has not fought since beating Dereck Chisora in 2012 and underwent
major shoulder surgery in 2013.

The 35-year-old, a former two-weight world champion, will fight
Australia's Mark de Mori in London on 16 January.

Haye told BBC Sport on Sunday: "Tyson Fury is the number one in the
division now. Mark de Mori is ranked number 10, I need to work my way
up to two, to number one contender, to get to Tyson Fury.

"If people want to come and support me on this journey to Tyson Fury
then feel free, because it's going to be a fun ride."

A fight between Fury and Haye appeared to make perfect sense and could
fill Wembley Stadium. And as is always the case in boxing, it could
still happen, despite Fury's outburst.

Fury's first defence is likely to be a rematch against Klitschko.
Immediately after their fight the Ukrainian said he would trigger a
rematch clause, although there is a chance he will decide that at 39,
his best days are behind him.

Aside from Haye, another prospective opponent for Fury is American
Deontay Wilder, the WBC title-holder. Victory over Wilder would make
Fury the first undisputed world heavyweight champion since Lennox
Lewis in 2000.

And while Olympic champion Anthony Joshua will not be ready to fight
for a world title for a couple of years yet, a clash with Fury is
already a mouth-watering prospect.

-BBC

God Can Still Surprise You

As the end of the year approaches, there may be a number of things
that we have prayed for but which we are yet to get answers to. Does
it mean God has forgotten us?
Definitely not. Does it mean those prayers will no longer be answered?
With God, all things are possible.

Our confidence is found in Luke 21 vs 23: " Heaven and Earth shall
pass away but my words shall not pass away".

Since we also know that God is not a man that tells lies, we should
remain steadfast and keep faith
alive. Keeping faith alive does not mean that one should begin to look
like one that is mourning. On the contrary, keeping faith alive should
make one radiate joy. It should mean that people will see the
glory of God in your life.

It also means taking time to study the word of God, pray and fast.
All of these are not done to impress any human being but to bring you
closer to the God of man with whom nothing is impossible.

Keeping Faith Alive

Keeping faith alive can be demonstrated in several ways.

The first is prayer.
For whatever we are trusting God for, prayer is crucial. The
word of God makes it clear: " Ask and you shall be given".
Don't get tired of praying.
Break your sleep to pray. Find time to attend important
prayer meetings.
You don't have to get hooked to a particular church. Once you
identify a genuine man of God hosting a programme, endeavor to
attend.

Demonstrate Faith

How do I mean?
A single lady believing God for a husband could purchase a bridal
veil and begin to make prophetic declaration into it.

Take authority in the word of God according to Genesis 2 verse 18: "
And the Lord God said , 'It is not good that the man ( woman)
should be alone;
I will make him an help meet for him.'" (King James version).

For the couple trusting God for children, they may also buy a few baby
things and begin to make prophetic declaration into them.

This seems too far from reality but I have seen it work for a couple
who waited for over 20 years to have children.
The woman travelled abroad on study leave and, because she was
expectant though married for about six years without a child, she
went to buy a lot of items for new babies.
(They can be purchased in Nigeria too). She would wake up anytime
after 12 midnight to make this declaration: " I am a mother of
children. God has said I should be fruitful and multiply. I will
have my own children. These items I have bought , I will not give them
to any body. My own children from my own body will use them.".

She persisted . Though the babies did not come until about 15
years later, they came all the same. Not only did God give her a
Samuel, he also gave her a set of twins. Some of those items which
she kept on keeping in good condition have been used by her own
children.

Another way of demonstrating faith is by sowing seeds into the
children's department of your church. Don't see it as a waste.
Don't be discouraged by thoughts like, " I don't have a baby yet, why
should I contribute?. Perish such thoughts and take positive action.
Whoever mocks you will rejoice with you in Jesus name.

One of the preachers at the Holy Ghost Service of the Redeemed
Christian Church of God, while preaching said, " For you to be
fruitful, you must be seed full".

Is your business going down? Are you in a situation where you used to
make a lot of money and suddenly everything has gone down?
Don't give up. Pray and call upon the Lord that maketh rich to have
mercy upon you. Pay your tithes and serve the Lord.

Favour

Having done all these, we need the favour of God. Why?
It is the favour of God that gives us what we do not deserve. Remember
that millions are
praying daily to our Father. Therefore, it is favour of God that
singles you out.

Our authority for the Lord's favour is found in Psalm 102 verse 13: "
Thou shall arise and have mercy upon Zion ( mention your name here)
for the time to favour her, yea the set time is come".

Repeating this severally could provoke God to answer speedily. By the
grace of God, your prayer will not go into the voice mail. (Apologies
to Pastor J.T. Kalejaiye of RCCG).

Testimony

Let's lift up our faith with the testimony a pastor of the Redeemed
Christian Church of God gave at the RCCG Holy Ghost Service.

According to the pastor, he had been married for about nine years
without a child. Just before December 2012, doctors told the couple
that the wife was not responding to treatment and nothing could
happen. His words, " It was like the world will end but we believed in
God". Now, this is the limitation of medical science but God is
UNLIMITED.

He said: "To the amazement of doctors, she got pregnant in January 2012 ".

Another surprise for the couple was that all the tests done in Nigeria
did not show that she was carrying a set of triplets. In the United
States where the wife went to put to bed, doctors said "children
are formed but we are not sure of what we see".

Again, that is a demonstration that a miracle is beyond scientific
explanation.

To shorten this story, the woman, who was said not to be responding to
treatment, gave birth to a set of triplets to the glory of God in
August 2012.

After delivery, according to the pastor, his wife developed some
complications which doctors could not identify but she kept calling on
the God of Adeboye to see her through and let her return to Nigeria
with her children.

Now, this is a clear case of the enemy at work. The same forces that
didn't want her to have children were determined to stop her from
nursing her babies but God rose for her.

Suddenly, doctors identified the complication and she had a surgery.
As narrated by the husband, the doctors said, "if the complication
had not been identified within a week, she would have been unable to
carry her babies".

To the glory of God, the woman, her husband and the triplets returned
to Nigeria safe and sound.

Are you saying, "Oh, that is a pastor?" Dismiss that thought. A
pastor is a human being like you. They have challenges and have
breakthroughs. You too can.
Keep faith alive, take necessary actions and a joyful home is yours in
Jesus name.

-Vanguard

Subsidy Theft Allegations Against Us Are False — Oil Marketer

An oil marketer, Adaoha Ugo-Ndagi has told a Lagos High Court sitting
in Ikeja that the N1.9 billion subsidy fraud charge preferred against
her and three others were false.

Ugo-Ndagi, Managing Director of Ontario Oil and Gas Limited, who was
testifying before Justice Lateefa Okunnu, maintained that the
allegations was an attempt to settle old scores between Ontario and
two other key players in the industry.

She urged the court to discharge and acquit herself, Ontario and Mr
Walter Wagbatsoma, the Executive Director of the firm, of the
nine-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining property by false
pretences, forgery and uttering.

Led in evidence by the defence counsel, Mr Edoka Onyeke, Ugo-Ndagi,
said she had never met the third defendant, Mr Fakuade Babafemi, a
staff of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Authority (PPPRA),
until they were arraigned in court.

She said:"I have never seen him in my life before. The first time I
met him was when we were brought before the court.

"So, how can somebody now claim that we conspired with him to forge
documents to fraudulently obtain subsidy from the government?"

The witness maintained that the company imported 19 million and 15
million litres of Premium Motor Spirit in the third quarter of 2010
and the transaction followed the stipulated guidelines of the PPPRA.

According to her, the documents used for the transactions were signed
by all the relevant agencies including the PPPRA, Department of
Petroleum Resources,DPR, Navy, Immigration, Customs, Ontario surveyors
and surveyors representing Obat and Integrated tank farms.

She said it was therefore strange that the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) relied on Shore Tank Certificates signed only
by both tank farms and their surveyors to institute a criminal charge
against the defendants that they imported 12 and 10 million litres
respectively.

The witness said:"I was not surprised that these tank farms were used
by the EFCC to try and substantiate their charge against us.

"Issues of discrepancy happens everyday in the industry and parties
find ways to resolve them. We have had issues with them in the past
and have even taken one of them to court for selling our product
without authorisation.

"So,If there were issues in the transactions, the tank farms ought to
have notified us but nothing like that was done."

She further told the court that their accusers failed to produce the
waybills and truck out tickets used for the transactions to
substantiate the allegations.

"Both of them could not produce their waybills. They could not produce
the tickets. Everybody who handled these operations miraculously
disappeared,"Ugo-Ndagi, said.

Earlier in a cross examination by the prosecution counsel, Mr Rotimi
Jacobs, SAN, the witness re-affirmed that on several occasions,
players in the industry do have variations in figures, which most
times resolved.

The matter was adjourned till Feb.8,2016 at the instance of the
defence for continuation of cross examinations of the witness.

—Vanguard

Buhari Cancels Weekly FEC Meetings

The federal executive council (FEC) meeting, which used to hold weekly
since 1999, will now take place once in two weeks, TheCable reports.

President Muhammadu Buhari has decided that meeting every Wednesday is
surplus to requirement, a senior government official told TheCable.

"And FEC will no longer be all about awarding contracts but a serious
discussion of policy issues and appraisal of ministerial performance,"
the official said.

FEC has been held just once since the appointment of ministers, with
the only meeting taking place on November 11 — the day they were
inaugurated.

There was no meeting on November 18, and Buhari was in Ikenne, Ogun
state, for the burial of HID Awolowo on November 25.

Buhari will not be in the country on December 2 because of his
international commitments.

It is still not clear when the next meeting will hold.

"The president believes once he had given you a job, you have to
deliver. He was very painstaking in picking the ministers and he is
convinced he has picked a very good team, so it is now left for them
to deliver the goods with minimal supervision," the official said.

"FEC meetings will now be for brainstorming on policies and
performance review, not just contracts."

In the past, decisions on such matters as purchase of cooking stoves
and waste bins were discussed at FEC and announced to the world by
ministers at media briefings after the meetings.

-TheCable

Lagos To Prosecute TB Joshua, Others Over Death Of 116 Persons

The trustees of ‎the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) will
tomorrow be arraigned before a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja over
the collapse of a six-story building in the church on 12 September,
2014, which led to the death of 116 persons.

Senior Pastor of the church, Prophet T.B Joshua is one of the
trustees. The trustees will be arraigned before Justice Lawal Akapo
alongside the engineers that constructed the collapsed building.

A statement by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs of the Lagos State
Ministry of Justice, Bola Akingbade confirmed the scheduled
arraignment.

Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos had dismissed
the fundamental human rights enforcement suits filed by the engineers
who constructed the collapsed six-story building to stop their planned
trial.

The engineers; Mr. Oladele Ogundeji and Mr. Akinbela Fatiregun, had
filed two separate suits before Justice Buba seeking an order
restraining the police from inviting, arresting or prosecuting them
over the victims' death.

The Lagos State Government, had set up a Coroner Inquest to unravel
what went wrong, and via a verdict delivered on August 7, 2015 by
Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, the Coroner had indicted the engineers
and recommended them for investigation and prosecution for criminal
negligence.

The engineers had filed the suits following the Coroner's verdict,
which attributed the building collapse to structural defect.

The engineers had specifically rejected the Coroner's verdict,
describing it as "unreasonable, one-sided and biased."

But Justice Buba, in his ruling on the defendants' preliminary
objection, held that the engineers "had not made out a case of
infringement on their fundamental rights even on the merit of the
application," and dismissed their applications.

The judge, who noted that the Coroner Law was an enactment of the
Lagos State House of Assembly, which is constitutionally empowered to
make laws in the state, said "the Federal High Court could not dabble
into the affairs of the state and start dishing out injunctive
orders."

On the prayer by the engineers asking for an order of perpetual
injunction restraining the Lagos State Attorney General or any officer
under his authority from initiating or commencing criminal proceedings
against them based on the verdict of the Coroner, Justice Buba held
that such request was ungrantable in the circumstance of the case
under review.

The judge added: "The Coroner's inquest is not a court of law; it does
not find anybody guilty, it only recommends. The Federal High Court
cannot tamper with the Coroner Law, which is a Constitutional
enactment of the Lagos State House of Assembly."

Shortly after the verdict, the State Government had assured that the
affected persons would be swiftly charge to court. The assurance was
contained in a statement issued by the Attorney General and
Commissioner for Justice in the State, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem.

-PMNews