Posters Comment:

Next what are you guys up to . Do you now work for the US Government ? 

We had just had elections in 2007 that, by most accounts, were possibly worst ever, and the legitimacy of the presidential poll that the authorities had declared won by Umaru Yar'Adua and his running mate, Goodluck Jonathan, hung in the balance.

Justices of our Supreme Court, the final arbiters of the disputed election, immediately became the objects of affection of interested politicians, who proceeded to shower them with cash to make sure they confirmed the legitimacy of the election of Messrs Yar'Adua and Jonathan, according to secret US diplomatic cables leaked to the whistleblower site Wikileaks and made available to NEXT.

According to the cables, filed to Washington by then US ambassador to Abuja, Robin Sanders, the source of this information was none other than the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole.

Following a two-hour meeting with Mr. Bankole on May 5, 2009, Ms. Sanders filed a report to the US State Department in which she said the House Speaker told her he had proof that the venerable justices were bought and paid for with cash supplied by the former governor of Delta State, James Ibori.

According to Mr. Bankole, Mr. Ibori, a convicted criminal, who is being held in preventive detention in Dubai while awaiting extradition to London to face the latest in his many corruption trials, got the then newly appointed federal attorney general, Michael Aondoakaa, to serve as bag man, delivering the cash to the unnamed Supreme Court justices.

Mr. Bankole also told the US ambassador that by accepting bribes to reach a legal condition favourable to President Yar'Adua and Vice President Jonathan, the supreme court justices had "tasted blood".

The cables made exclusively available to NEXT are part of a cache of more than 250,000 US diplomatic reports leaked to Wikileaks, the whistleblower web site now under legal siege in Europe and whose work has caused major embarrassment for the US government.

While the revelation from Mr. Bankole cannot be independently verified by NEXT, the cables themselves are indisputably authentic and the U.S government has never cast doubt on the accounts.

On May 6, 2009, a day after the meeting with the Speaker, Ms. Sanders filed a report to her principals in Washington, detailing her interaction with Mr. Bankole, whom she described as "sometimes elusive, but certainly ego-driven."

"Bankole claimed that he had proof that most of the judges had lined their pockets throughout the entire process of rerunning state elections, including the Supreme Court decision on President Yar'Adua's case in November 2008," the diplomatic cable read.

‘It is not true'

When contacted on Sunday, Mr. Bankole did not deny that he had met with the US ambassador but claimed he was misquoted.

"He could not have said what was attributed to him," Mr. Bankole's spokesman, Musa Ebhomhiana, said by telephone. "He is not an INEC official and could not have said that about the election. But how can you believe whatever Wikileaks says, given the damage it has been doing around the world?"

On his part, Mr. Aondoakaa said Bankole's allegation is ‘rubbish'. "I don't know whether he really said that or why he said it," the former AGF said by telephone. "But let him come out in the open and say it. Then, I will know what to say or do."

Mr. Aondoakaa denied that he passed bribes to the justices. "Yar'Adua is not a man who gives bribe, and Ibori did not give me a kobo to give to anybody. I didn't do anything like that."

The justices involved in the case could not be reached on Sunday.

When contacted, Sunday Olorundahunsi, the chief registrar at the Supreme Court who also doubles as spokesperson for our highest court, wouldn't comment on the statement credited to Mr. Bankole. Immediately our reporter posed his question to him via telephone, Mr. Olorundahunsi terminated the call. He did not answer subsequent calls.

A former Chief Justice of the Nation, Muhammadu Uwais, declined comment on Mr. Bankole's comment, saying he had retired at the time the Supreme Court decided the case.

Justices of the Supreme Court and other senior judges have lately been enveloped in the stench of another election scandal, in which senior judges have accused one another of manoeuvring to reassign judges in a way that friendly justices can determine the outcome of election cases.

The 2007 presidential election was characterized by irregularities and violence and was rated by both international and domestic observers as the worst election ever held in the country.

Dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, two contestants, Muhammadu Buhari of the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) and Atiku Abubakar of the Action Congress (AC) dragged Mr. Yar'Adua to court, asking that the election be annulled.

In February 2008, the Court of Appeal upheld the election. The appellants then took their case to the Supreme Court. The seven-member panel of the Supreme Court concurred with the appellate court in November that year.

The four Judges who voted in favour of Mr. Yar'Adua were Legbo Kutigi, who was the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) at the time; Aloysius Katsina-Alu, the current CJN; Niki Tobi; and Dahiru Musdapher. Justices George Oguntade, Maryam Mukthar and Samuel Onnoghen, in a minority judgment, held that the election failed substantially to comply with the law.

Bribing the Judges

According to Mr. Bankole, the cable reported, the late president was actively involved in the bribery process and made special arrangement to ensure that the judges swing judgment in his favour. Mr. Ibori was the money bag while Mr. Aondoakaa, was the conduit.

Ms. Sanders explained that the disclosure by the Speaker was a confirmation of earlier reports the U.S. Mission in Nigeria had received regarding how the Supreme Court decision was manipulated to favour the late president and his then deputy (who is now president).

"We had also heard during the entire Supreme Court process on the Yar'Adua case that the judges had been heavily influenced and paid off," Ms. Sanders said in her report, quoting Mr. Bankole as saying ‘he had no faith in the transparency of the judiciary'.

There were reports in the media at the time that as much as $30million was spent to bribe the Supreme Court judges. But there was no concrete evidence to back the claim.

The Speaker reportedly said the judiciary had over-stepped its bounds in most of the rerun gubernatorial elections, and had "tasted blood," with its new found power to influence state elections and power politics in Nigeria.

Ms. Sanders also said that the Speaker's revelation was a confirmation of Mr. Aondoakaa's corruption as well as an explanation for why Mr. Yar'Adua refused to fire the former AGF in spite of the widespread calls for his removal.

"The Ambassador asked what this particular minister [the AGF] had on the president," the cable further reported. "Bankole said without hesitation he was the money conduit from Ibori to the Judiciary as regards to the President's Supreme Court case.

"The Mission was always aware that Yar'Adua would not touch him [the AGF], but also did not believe that the President was unaware of the AG's corruption. Evidently not only was he aware, but also had to use the AG as the avenue to secure the Supreme Court decision, if Bankole's comments are true," Ms. Sanders said.

Reacting to the revelation, Jiti Ogunye, a lawyer and activist said, "If Bankole says he has proof, he should bring it forward. He is the Number 4 citizen of this country. If he has proof and he has been sitting down like a lame duck and is not bringing it out to help the country, what are we to make of him? That is not a statesman. If there is that allegation, the public ought to be helped by the provision of evidence."

Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole yesterday denied reports of accusing President Goodluck Jonathan of multiple voting during the 2007 general elections.

NEXT carried a report yesterday based on a US dispatch leaked by whistleblower site, wikileaks. The dispatch quoted US officials as saying Mr Oshiomhole said the vice president voted four times during the 2007 elections. But the state governor, in a press statement signed by his spokesperson, Tony Iyare said the vice president referred to by his boss was a former military vice president, Augustus Aikhomu.

The presidency also reacted to the story yesterday by accusing NEXT of ‘deliberately waging a malicious campaign of falsehood and calumny aimed at impugning the integrity of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.' The Edo statement said, in parts: "Our attention has been drawn to a story of the NEXT on Sunday ... that the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole told some US diplomats in December 2008 that President Goodluck Jonathan voted four times as Vice President in the April 2007 election.

"It is obvious that there was a clear mix-up in the story as the person in reference is the former military Vice President, Augustus Aikhomu, whose name was tendered in court for voting four times during the epic case to regain the mandate popularly given to Mr. Oshiomhole by the Edo people and not President Goodluck Jonathan. "In addition, what was tendered in court was the electoral register bearing the names of voters in Edo State which had nothing to do with Mr. Jonathan who voted in Bayelsa.

"Why we still ponder over the import of the strange linkage to the President, we are particularly moved not to suspect that NEXT is opening its flanks to the whims of mischief makers or some unscrupulous elements who deliberately wish to drive a wedge between Messrs Jonathan and Oshiomhole...

"We wish to place on record that there was no where either in the tendered court documents or the brief with the US diplomats where President Jonathan's name featured for voting four times. We want to plead that the media should endeavour to verify its facts painstakingly before going to press in order to avoid causing unnecessary disaffection." However, it is unclear why the wikileaks cables quoted by NEXT would be referring to Aikhomu as vice president in 2007.

Call for redress

The spokesperson to the president, Ima Niboro on his part alleged that NEXT was waging a campaign against Mr Jonathan. "In his largeness of heart and magnanimity, President Jonathan ignored all previous attacks on his person and family by NEXT but the newspaper has gone too far this time," Mr Niboro said.

"The Presidency therefore demands a full retraction of the offensive allegation of electoral malpractice against President Jonathan and an unreserved apology to the President published by the newspaper with the same prominence as today's false report. "If this is not done in short order, we will pursue every legal means available to seek redress for the president and the presidency."

comment: funny to notice that so many denials are coming from Edo State these days .

Oba gator kpe eh ! Ise 

Oronto Douglas, the special assistant to the president on strategy, expresses optimism that his boss has done enough to win.

Why Jonathan deserves the votes of Nigerians

Because his story is one that most Nigerians can relate to. It is also one that best illustrates the positive attributes of this nation. He never had opportunity of shoes when he was going to school, just like millions of Nigerians. He had no school bag to put his school notes in. He had to trek kilometres to get to school. Yet he never despaired, in his words. He showed fortitude, like millions of ordinary Nigerians. There are problems besetting Nigerians, but they continue to strive to better their individual lots. So a man of that pedigree, who did not allow the circumstance of his youth to stop him from achieving his goals in life, represents the best aspiration of Nigerians. Of course, he also enjoys the support of God, without which most of his achievements would not have been possible..

There has been a visible hand of God in Jonathan’s life. I think 99.9 percent of Nigerians can identify with that. He is a president that every household can look up to and be filled with hope, that their child who is today selling akara or carrot can tomorrow be president of the country. Mr. Jonathan has also promised to make sure that the infrastructure that will make that possible is put in place in the next four years that he will be in power. His emergence has rewritten the story of who can lead Nigeria. He has shown that Nigeria is a nation for all, rather than for a section or a clique. I also think if you give Nigeria to people who will sell the destiny of the country, then we will be in bigger trouble. The president has consistently said all he has is in Nigeria. He schooled in Nigeria and his children are being schooled in Nigeria. This is not to disparage those who schooled abroad, but it is where your heart is that you will defend at all cost. So in terms of commitment, I can confidently say there are few Nigerians as devoted to this country as President Jonathan. I respect all the other presidential [candidates], but we are saying at this time in our history, this man that has been in office for the past nine months and has laid out plans to rescue the nation is best placed to execute the plan and that man is President Jonathan.

Friction within the PDP following the primaries

The PDP is seen by many as a party whose ticket is halfway to getting to office. But people should know that this is a new PDP, where the most popular and competent candidates are picked to run elections. However, in places where there are constitutional issues, the strategy that President Jonathan and the PDP are adopting is dialogue. I can tell you that with respect to Ogun State, there was a time the president did not sleep for two days. He held meetings with the Jubril Martins Kuye and Gbenga Daniel groups and, at a point, brought all of them together at the Villa. The president is a man of peace and always tells people, “I have no enemies to fight. I want all of us to work together.” You remember that after presidential primaries, which he won, he still went out of his way to drive to Adamu Ciroma’s house to have a discussion with a view to keeping the party together. His view was that a statesman of Ciroma’s stature cannot be ignored. He also wants to be president of all, not president of a section or region.

Criticism of president’s ‘rascal’ comment

In the statement, the president praised southwesterners for their sophistication and high level of education. If a statement regarding that is being taken out of context and used for political purpose, it is unfortunate. The President, as a true statesman would came out to say, ‘I take responsibility for this statement, I offer my sincere regrets in this regard, that what I meant is to celebrate the excellence, greatness and leadership of South-West people. It is unfortunate that one or two individuals are appropriating it and pushing it to mean insulting the most educated and sophisticated people. The president will never insult his elders and leaders. If you knew the president well, he always answers ‘sir’ to anyone who is older than him. He will never insult the elders, leaders and people of the South-West. Take note that the president is educated, he did his NYSC in the South-West, has friends from the South-West and is one person who never forgets. Some of those he did youth service with from the South-West are now working with him.

The scanty crowd at the presidential Kaduna rally

My observation is that the crowd in Kaduna had been sitting there from 7am. As at the time the President and the dignitaries arrived, people were very tired. Take note, they were zonal rallies and most of the people had to return to their homes. People came from Sokoto, Kebbi and Kano and I believe that in a place like that, it is like what happened in Port Harcourt, when the occasion ended, people wanted to go back to their buses and travel. So, if the day is getting dark, you will want to get back home. The zonal rally was organised by the zonal coordinator who is from Kastina. The president won 53 percent of the votes of the North-West delegates at the PDP rally. He may have lost in some states, but he won with 53 percent over all, meaning that he had overwhelming support of the people. Democracy is about majority. At the election proper, what the president needs is 25 percent and he got more than that in majority of these states. Ordinary people in the North-West love Jonathan. Why would they not love him? He relates with them.

Challenges of the northwest for PDP

Every other candidate has work to do in every zone. Buhari has work to do in the South-West. He has work to do in the South-East, South-West and in the North-Central, North-East and North-West. Is it everybody in the North-West that loves Buhari? Nuhu Ribadu has work to do in every single zone. So, the challenges are challenges that are not restricted to one person. Let me just say that we have a lot of people who will like to identify with the president, his history and all that.

Alleged poor performance of the PDP in the last 12 years

The president came to transform Nigeria. We believe the place to start is transforming the PDP and the president has started that work. The PDP as a party has been in office for close to 12 years. There are perceptions about the PDP that may not be salutary to Nigerians. However, the determination of President Jonathan is to transform all aspects of our lives. The opposition has been very careful not to attack President Jonathan as a person. So they have been attacking the PDP. Well, if I was working for the opposition, I would probably adopt that strategy because Jonathan is popular with the Nigerian people. So he is fully aware that the PDP will be attacked and at some point the opposition will also attack him. Look at the statement he made in Ibadan, for example, that was blown out of proportion. I am a beneficiary of Obafemi Awolowo’s free education. If I am advising the president, would I tell him to do anything against the South-West? The president did his NYSC in the Southwest and has a lot of friends in the zone. Would he now do anything against the people?

The alleged mismanagement of the economy by the federal government

The President has been in the office for nine months. He promised what we call the three Es. He looked at Electoral reform, Electricity and Energy security. He believed there cannot be good government if you do not have constitutional and robust process for selecting the leaders who will govern the country. In practical terms of electoral reforms, he decided, ‘let us practicalise what we are preaching.’ When the first bye-election came up in the Edo Central, he said it was one of the first test of free and fair elections. He told INEC and security agencies that what he wanted was one man, one vote; one woman, one vote; one youth, one vote. The president insisted on free and fair election and the ACN won. Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole flew from Benin to Abuja to congratulate and thank the president for standing on the rule of law and insisting on free and fair election. That is the benchmark for this election.

On energy security, it is important that we note that before now, people stay on the queue for hours, while some people sleep overnight in filling stations. People were sleeping three days, three nights in filling stations. Now, that is a thing of the past. Secondly, the same amount you pay for a litre of fuel you buy in Lagos is what you are going to pay if you buy in Maidugiri. There has also been improvement in power generation and this will continue to be improved upon over time.

Walking sensation Ambam click photo to watch 

Little more than a month ago gorilla Ambam was an undiscovered talent living a quiet life in his enclosure at Port Lympe Animal Park.

But like the many You Tube sensations before him, all it took was a moment of magic captured on camera to send him to the dizzying heights of stardom.

Since the 20-year-old silverback western lowland gorilla was filmed walking on his hind legs like a human, he has become a global star with the footage viewed across the world almost five million times.

The first 18-second piece of film reached a massive three million views, but after claims the clip was fake, staff at Port Lympe uploaded a second film which has received almost two million hits.

Visitors now flock to the gorilla enclosure at feeding time in the hope of catching the 34-stone beast having a two-legged stroll.

Phil Ridges, head gorilla keeper at the park, which is located near Folkestone, said staff were totally unprepared for the response.

"Ambam has been exhibiting this behaviour his whole life," he said.

"Just days after uploading the clip the phones were ringing off the hook with people wanting to know about Ambam and we were inundated with requests from around the world for interviews and information.

"We have had a lot of speculation that it is a man in a gorilla suit or that he has been trained to do this but Ambam has not been trained in any way, it is just something he chooses and is able to do."

Mr Ridges said there has been more visitors to the gorillas at feeding time.

"Ambam doesn’t seem to know what all the fuss is about," he said.

"While his bipedal tendencies have captured the imagination of people worldwide we are hoping that his fame will have the more serious affect of highlighting the plight of the critically endangered Western lowland gorilla.

"The charity that runs our parks, The Aspinall Foundation, is well known for its work with gorillas both at Howletts and Port Lympne and overseas where we protect over one million acres and reintroduce captive gorillas back to protected areas of the wild."

Footage of Ambam was filmed by animal researcher Johanna Watson while she was working with the University of Manchester on a project about apes.

Mr Ridges said the behaviour was not unusual for the species.

"All gorillas can do it to some extent but we haven’t got any who do it like Ambam and he is quite a celebrity at the park," he said.

"We think he might use it to get a height advantage to look over the wall when keepers come to feed him.

"Standing up can also help him in looking for food generally in his enclosure as it gives him a better vantage point.

"Ambam can also carry a lot more food if he stands and uses both hands, and walking on two feet also means he doesn’t get his hands wet when it is raining."

Visitors to Port Lympne can see Ambam and the rest of his group being scatter fed daily at noon and 3pm.

video1

He was only a candidate for vice president then but in 2007, Goodluck Jonathan is alleged to have taken matters into his own hands — literally. According to US diplomatic cables leaked to the whistleblower site Wikileaks, and which were made exclusively available to us, Mr. Jonathan helped himself gain the vice presidency four years ago by voting illegally four times. The astonishing accusation against Mr. Jonathan, now a president seeking validation at the polls next month, came from Edo governor Adams Oshiomhole, in a December 2008 briefing with US diplomats.

According to Mr. Oshiomhole, as reported in the US diplomatic cables, the court ruling voiding the supposed election of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Edo governor and declaring Mr. Oshiomhole the legitimate winner would not have been possible without documentary evidence that, Mr. Jonathan, among others, personally rigged the election.

Photo: Oshiomole presenting Benin Art Work to the president

“Oshiomhole told poloffs (‘political officers’ at the US embassy) that it proved impossible to use forensic evidence because of the poor quality of thumbprints and that claims of intimidation also proved difficult to prove in a court of law, but documentary evidence, such as proof that the ‘vice president’ had voted four times, for example, proved decisive in the courts,” the cables revealed.

Little birds

These particular cables from US diplomats stationed in Nigeria and reporting to the State Department in Washington are among a massive trove of documents made available to NEXT in a worldwide exclusive. The documents cover a whole range of people and events in our country from as early as 2003 to the last months of the poorly President Umaru Yar’Adua, whose death in office a year ago ended a constitutional crisis and resulted in the ascent of Mr. Jonathan to the highest office in the land. The cables provide an unusually unvarnished insight into the dysfunctional and ineffectual nature of our government at all levels, the various forces pushing and pulling at the country, and the vileness and rapacity of those we have allowed to govern us. Two unnamed political officers, or “poloffs,” in US diplomatic jargon, visited the governor on Dec. 17, 2008 shortly after his legal victory. It was during that meeting that Mr. Oshiomhole made his explosive claim, as dutifully recorded by his visitors. Their cable originated from the Lagos consulate. In the cable, dated Dec. 29, 2008, Mr. Jonathan, who was vice president at the time, is said to have violated the Electoral Act by voting more than once. The law stipulates a maximum fine of N1 million or 12 months’ imprisonment for violators. At a campaign rally on Thursday, President Jonathan repeated his recent declaration that neither he nor his party had any desire to rig the coming elections. He added that he would advocate transparent elections even at the cost of losing the election.

“I am assuring Nigerians that though I am contesting, nobody must manipulate votes in my favour. Our vote is very important,” he said.

Not so secret

The vote-rigging allegations against the president are known to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), according to a highly-placed source at the Commission. The source, who did not want to be named for fear of a reprisal, revealed that a petition had been filed at INEC since 2007 in which references were made to the fact that the former vice president and other public figures voted several times. The source said that the petition did not single out President Jonathan but used him as a high profile example of the rife multiple registrations that took place in Bayelsa, Mr. Jonathan’s home state, where he had served as governor, and other states in the broader Delta region.

“There was a petition which I was aware of dated November 2007 or so,” the source told NEXT. “It was filed by a pressure group in the South-South who named several people as being complicit in multiple voting. Jonathan was one of the people mentioned.

“We get hundreds of such petitions and most of them are without merit. Also, the truth is we just don’t have the time to look into all of them.”

Local and international observers condemned the 2007 election for being heavily rigged in favour of the PDP, with some classifying it as our worst ever. Even President Yar’Adua, in his inaugural address, acknowledged as much, promising to clean things up by 2011. Several cases are still pending in court over the four-year-old election, with successful upturns recorded in Ondo, Ekiti, Edo and Osun states. Mr. Oshiomhole, who is himself a beneficiary of a successful legal challenge in Edo state, is described in the diplomatic cable as a “refreshing reminder that Nigeria possesses competent and honest leaders”.

During the visit by the US officials, the Edo State governor said that approximately 2,000 volunteers in 120 different polling stations had gone through ballots, result sheets and voter registration records to identify documentary evidence of fraud.

Double registration

A day before President Jonathan announced that “nobody must manipulate votes in my favour”, Attahiru Jega, the electoral commission chairman, revealed that several high profile individuals registered more than once in the recently completed voter registration exercise. Mr. Jega refused to divulge the names of the “high profile double registrants” but said that they could all face prosecution.

Several parties have responded angrily to Mr. Jega’s stark admission that influential Nigerians were planning to rig the forthcoming elections. Ibrahim Modibbo, a spokesperson for the Nuhu Ribadu presidential campaign, said that although the INEC chairman did not mention any names, almost all of the offenders were in the PDP.

“I don’t believe you will find ACN members in this act because we are disciplined people,” he said.

The party’s secretary, Lai Mohammed, denounced Mr. Jega’s decision to withhold the name of the culprits and demanded he publish them.

“If he has the names as he claims, what is he waiting for? He should publish their names and prosecute them,” he said.

The spokesperson for the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), Emma Eneukwu, said the offenders should be taken to court,

“It is a criminal offence,” he said. “If the penalty attached to these offences are handed to the offenders, it will serve as deterrent. There is no sacred cow.

“The issue of multiple registration has been a problem in the country and until somebody is punished we cannot have transparent polls.”

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties(CNPP) spokesman, Osita Okechukwu, challenged the electoral commission boss to publish the names.

“We challenge Jega to publish forthwith the names of those involved and prosecute them in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act,” he said. “He should immediately ask all the RECs (Resident Electoral Commissioners) to audit the Authentic Finger Identification System (AFIS) so that they can separate the junk and the underaged.”

see attachment or click and judge for yourself 

i think it is a literary slant as he does not explain further 

Adams-Oshiomole-seeks-radical-change.pdf

culled from:

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/5681378-146/story.csp

...Where prayer is monetised 
•Divine wealth –N300,000
•Favour –N75,000
•Breaking curses – N50,000
•Tithe – 20% of income

The consequences of the quest for quick results and the gullible nature of some Nigerians to believe any word spoken by self-proclaimed prophets and preachers came to the fore recently in Onitsha, Anambra State. Sunday Sun discovered a church where members are hypnotised into parting with their hard-earned money in exchange for “miracles”.
Located at Oraukwu community town hall, Silas Works Road, Fegge, Onitsha, is a new generation church, Land of Canaan and Calvary Deliverance Church, where God’s blessings are ‘bought’ for a fee.
Members of the congregation are brainwashed to make special offerings so as to attract God’s blessings.
 At the Land of Canaan and Calvary Deliverance Ministry, the unofficial slogan of the pastor in charge is “pray, pray, pray, fast, fast, fast; God’s favours doesn’t go with praying and fasting, he goes by the price you pay. Pay the price and God will surprise you.”
Fed with this strange orthodoxy, members of the church pay different amounts of money to receive God’s favour. While the pastor smiles to the bank, the congregation wallow in poverty, hoping their moment of abundant wealth is around the corner.
Sunday Sun reporter gathered that prayers for breaking of ancestral curses in the church attracts a fee of N50,000 and above; special prayers for God’s favour, often done by selected “prayer warriors”, who are strict vegetarians, goes for N75,000; sowing of seed for abundant wealth costs N200,000, while fortification of a worshipper against misfortunes and accidents goes for N100,000, among other sundry charges members of the congregation are made to pay.
The Bible, in the book of Malachi, admonishes Christians to give 10 per cent of their earnings to God as tithe so as to attract more blessings, but in the House of Canaan and Calvary Deliverance Ministry, tithe is 20 per cent of one’s income so that “God will answer prayers and requests very fast.”
A former member of the church, Uche Nnebedum, is currently engaged in a mother of all battles with owner of the church, Pastor Ekenechukwu Chukwumerem, in his quest to recover N3.5 million he was allegedly fleeced by the church.
 Narrating his ordeal, Nnebedum, who is the Director of Divine Favour Transport Company, said he had made a vow to recover everything the pastor deceitfully collected from him and also to expose the antics of other warehouse churches so that more people would not fall victim.
 
Encounter with the pastor
Nnebedum told Sunday Sun that he had met Pastor Chukwumerem in the quest for solution to some financial misfortunes he had suffered in his business.
 “I was directed to the church by my own blood relation, Amaechi Nnebedum, who did not know that the pastor was not genuine. I told the pastor that I was looking for solution to my problems and he laid his hands on my head and later said that I was now at the final bus stop. He told me that if I wanted my problems solved, the church would embark on special prayers for me. The prayers, according to him, would be held by a band of dedicated prayer warriors at GRA, Onitsha. The group, he told me, eats selected fruits only and the price is N75,000. I foolishly paid the money and that was the beginning of my ordeal.”
 ‘You need a voice for God to hear you’
Continuing, Nnebedum said: “After paying N75,000,  my problems increased, and when I told the pastor, again, he told me that I needed a voice that would speak for me so that God would hear me quickly. By this, he meant that God had directed that I should buy a complete set of loud speakers and public address system for the church.
“I bought a set of made-in-Nigeria speakers, but he rejected it until I bought imported ones, then he said the heavens had accepted my offering. He continued to brainwash me, telling me that if I could imagine how bright my future was, then I should not relent in doing whatever God said I should do. I know people who hear my story now will blame me or even ask whether I’m a fool, but they won’t know that I was under a spell then. He continued giving me false hopes and I continued sowing seeds and paying special tithes believing that things would soon get better, all to no avail.”
 
I borrowed money to pay tithe
“I continued to suffer in silence, to the extent that I sold my household items and started borrowing money to pay tithes. The pastor told me again that the next step was for breaking ancestral curses, which will cost N50,000. I paid the money and not quite long after that a friend gave me a luxury bus to manage. When I informed the pastor, he said I should sow a seed of N20,000 so that the heart of the friend who gave me the bus will be tender towards me.
“He also instructed me to surrender the first cash proceeds from the bus on its first trip. I did all these only for the vehicle to suffer brake failure on the first trip. It took three weeks before that bus made it to Abuja from Onitsha.
 
“If you are a good sheep, seek counsel from the shepherd”
According to Nnebedum, the pastor always tells the congregation to share everything about their private lives with him so that he could seek God’s view and tell them the outcome, and those who obey this injunction paid dearly for heeding this advice.
“Our greatest mistake was accepting to tell him everything about our lives. Whenever you told him about any problem you are having, he always found a way to convince you to part with more money.
“He convinced me that the luxury bus was a tool for greatness, which God sent to me. Even when the bus continued to break down, I was still spending money on it and also giving more money to him. The bus broke down again while on a second trip to Abuja after I had repaired it. The engine knocked. I complained to him. He became furious and said that I had offended the Holy Spirit by questioning its authority. As a punishment, he said I should do another thanksgiving of N50,000 if I ever want the vehicle to move again so as to placate the Holy Spirit.
 
‘Every word of mine is holyghostic’
“To confirm the efficacy of the pastor’s power, Nnebedum said he defied his directive to do another thanksgiving and borrowed money to repair the vehicle.
 “Immediately the vehicle was put in order, my boys loaded passengers from Abuja to Onitsha only for the vehicle to suffer brake failure again. It lost control and rammed into a culvert in Zuba. Four other vehicles were also hit in the process and I came back to the pastor crying. He told me that every word that came out of his mouth was ‘Holyghostic’ and to solve that problem, I must do a grand thanksgiving. 
“Still blinded by the spell cast on me, I borrowed money to buy a cow, household items, bags of rice, a television set, tubers of yam and another two giant loud speakers. He told me to monetise the cow for N60,000, so instead of presenting a live cow, I enclosed the cash equivalent in an envelope.”     
 
The last straw that broke the camel’s back
“After presenting all the items, the pastor was very happy. Out of excitement, due to the abundant gifts, he declared to the congregation that God had accepted my offering and that henceforth, my bus would now be called “good night Onitsha, good morning Minna /Abuja”, meaning that our journey would be hitch-free.
“After opening the envelope, he later called my brother on phone to inform me that I should bring extra N30,000 to balance the money for the cow, since, according to him, N60,000 was not enough to buy a cow. The next day, the vehicle was loaded in Minna, heading for Onitsha only for the engine block to blow into pieces in Delta State.
“At that moment, I felt like dying. I had lost the will to live and the people I’m indebted to were already chasing me around because cumulatively, the so-called man of God had drained me to the tune of N3.5 million. 
“My wife, who had been warning me to flee from that church, then saw my condition and invited her pastor to our home to speak to me. After counseling me, her pastor told me to run away from that church because the pastor was a fake man of God.  There and then, an inner power came into me and I made up my mind to go and demand a refund of all I had given him. When I went to his house in Asaba, Delta State, and confronted him, his wife reprimanded me for talking to a man of God that way. When I told her to watch her tongue, she entered into the inner room and suddenly brandished an empty bottle and broke it on my head. With blood gushing from my head, I went to a nearby police station to lodge a report against him. I narrated everything to the police and he was arrested. After interrogation, he agreed to an amicable settlement and promised to refund everything to me. We fixed a date to meet for a final settlement.
 
Complainant became accused
“While Nnebedum was hoping to collect the cash and items given to the pastor within the one week as agreed, the matter took a dramatic turn when Ekene petitioned the Delta State Police Command headquarters and alleged that Nnebedum and policemen from B Division invaded his house and threatened his life, ordering him to surrender all the items Nnebedum had used for thanksgiving. He also questioned whether perishable or imperishable items brought to the house of God for thanksgiving could be reclaimed after weeks from the church.
 “Though, I was the complainant in this matter, I was later summoned to appear at the Delta State Police Command headquarters. I was detained and later released on bail; but the pastor wasn’t done yet. He went further to sue me and the police at an Asaba High Court, asking for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights and an order restraining us from harassing him and his ministry. The matter has lingered because he has not appeared in court, but we are not perturbed.
 
Nemesis on its way
Investigation by Sunday Sun revealed that other members of the church are currently up in arms against the pastor.
As at the time of filing this report, the pastor has removed the signpost in front of the church and has gone underground. When this reporter called him on his mobile phone, the pastor, after acknowledging that he is the pastor in charge of the church, later denied himself. He said he was the pastor’s neighbour when the reporter identified himself and mentioned Nnebedum’s name. He refused to disclose his location and promised to get back to this reporter when the “pastor” returns. But he never did. Subsequent calls to his line were not answered.

1. The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.

2. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry.

3. And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord God, You know."

4. Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!

5. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: "Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.

6. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord."

7. So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone.

8. Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.

9. Also He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord God: "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live."

10. So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.

11. Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, 'Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!'

12. Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.

13. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves.

14. I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it," says the Lord.' "
(Ezek.37:1-14 NKJV)

Addendum:

Jesus tells the story of a man who asked his two sons to go and work in his vineyard. One agreed but did not go. The other refused but later relented and went. Jesus then points out that it is he who actually obeys the Father that inherits his kingdom (Mt 21:28-32). This shows salvation is earned by works of righteousness and not just through vain confessions.

Moreover, we are saved at the end of our walk with God and not at the beginning (1 Pet 1:9). The seed of the word of God may be planted in us initially. However, it might ultimately be unfruitful if it falls by the wayside, on stony places or among thorns (Mt 13:3-9). Jesus says those who endure to the end will be saved (Mt 24:13).

Nigerian anti-narcotic officials have arrested a suspected drug trafficker for overstaying in the toilet during screening of passengers on Turkish airline flight to Turkey. The 39 year old man, Mbah Jude Ifunanya attracted the attention of narcotic detectives by his prolonged stay in the toilet during outward screening of the Istanbul-bound flight. The development raised the suspicion of undercover officers who later detected that the man had swallowed 67 pellets of illicit drug. Result of his body scan obtained at the airport confirmed the ingestion of drugs.

Photo:Ahmadu Giade, NDLEA chairman

Airport Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Alhaji Hamza Umar described the arrest as nemeses. He stated that while under observation, “the suspect excreted substances that tested positive to cocaine weighing 1.110kg”. The suspect who has spent five years in Prague, Czech Republic swallowed the drug in expectation of 5,000 Euros. While accepting responsibility for his action, Mbah said that his prayer was to successfully smuggle the drug to Italy. His travel route is Lagos-Istanbul- Prague and Italy. He hails from Udi town, Enugu State. He explained that he used to work in factories but has been jobless for over three months.

According to the suspect, “I visited Nigerian in October last year for my mother’s burial. When I got back in November, I lost my job that was how I came to spend the end of year at home. I love to work and earn money but frustration led me into drug trafficking. This is my first time. The drug was disturbing my stomach and I could not control myself. I was pressed and in pains so I overstayed in the toilet. May God help me” the father of three children with two wives prayed. He hails from Udi in Enugu State.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Alhaji Ahmadu Giade said that there is a day of reckoning for all criminals. “Drug traffickers are destroying the society through their criminal acts. It is not surprising that everything is now working against them” Giade stated.

Recare Cosmetics International, owners of beauty brands Natures Gentle Touch and HairSavvy, have signed Ex-Miss World and International modelAgbani Darego as a global brand ambassador. As part of the multi-year contract, Agbani is to appear in advertising campaigns, in addition to participating in the company’s  sponsored philanthropic activities.

“She is a talented woman and a role model to many which fits in with Natures Gentle Touch brand values” said Chika Ikenga, CEO of Recare Limited Africa. Ikenga noted that Darego would represent a number of products across the company’s portfolio.”She is also internationally recognized and that is an important link for us to have, since we are a global brand. She truly embodies the spirit of the Natures Gentle Touch philosophy“.

Agbani Darego who has graced the cover of several international magazines joins Natures Gentle Touch Brand Face, Oluchi Onweagba as its spokesperson.

“I am proud to join Recare and Natures Gentle Touch in their celebration of women and their commitment to delivering the best hair care products for our women” stated Darego.

By this appointment, Recare continues its established tradition of partnering with the most beautiful and iconic women of Africa to represent the Natures Gentle Touch brand.

More:

Agbani becomes brand ambassador for Recare cosmetics

Miss World 2001, Agbani Darego, has been signed on as a global brand ambassador for Recare Cosmetics International, makers of Natures Gentle Touch and Hair Savvy hair products. Speaking on the reason why she was signed on, Chika Ikenga the Chief Executive Officer Recare Limited Africa said, “She is a talented woman and a role model to many which fits in with Natures Gentle Touch brand values. She is also internationally recognised and that is an important link for us to have, since we are a global brand. She truly embodies the spirit of the Natures Gentle Touch philosophy” Ikenga said.

As a part of the contract, the beauty queen would feature on advertising campaigns for the company as well as participating in the company’s sponsored philanthropic activities. Darego, who will be joining Oluchi Onweagba as Natures Gentle Touch brand face said “I am proud to join Recare and Natures Gentle Touch in their celebration of women and their commitment to delivering the best hair care products for our women”.

Tha Suspect releases new video

Capital Hills’ in-house producer and artist, Tha Suspect premiered the video for his collaboration rap single ‘I No Send You’ Femcee version on Thursday, March 3, 2011. The single ‘I No Send You’ which also has an all male version, features rapper Sasha; beauty queen turn musician, Munachi; franchise celebrity crooner, Mo’Cheddah; Eva, Blaise and fast rising femcee, Zee.

Real name, Peter David, Tha Suspect came into the limelight after featuring in rapper Illbliss’s ‘You Go Wound Oh’ before recording his debut single ‘Jawon Si’ in 2008. Since then, he has worked either as an artist or a producer or both on several projects.

2Shotz features Brymo in new single

Hip Hop World Awards winner 2Shotz, real names William Orioha, has released a new single titled ‘Attention’. The single features Chocolate City’s Brymo from Ice prince’s ‘Oleku’ fame and was produced by Blaze for Blaze beatz. The song explores the theme of being ‘blessed’ and not ‘lucky’.

Currently out with his fifth album titled ‘I Am William’, 2 Shotz started rapping in 1992. A one-time member of the defunct group Da Trybe, 2Shotz is known for using Igbo, Pidgin English and English languages in delivering his rap lines.

Terry G out with new single

Free madness crooner, Terry G premiered his latest single ‘Apako’ on Wednesday March 2, 2011. The single ‘Apako’ is laced with his signature beat and was premiered on the online music portal, notjustok.com. Real names Gabriel Oche-Amanyi, Terry started out singing in Church [Redeemed Christian Church of God Praise Palace, Okoba. A one time backup singer for Hip-Hop World Awards Best Vocalist, Faze, is currently in the studio working on his third album.

Lindsay Lohan hopes to regain trust of Hollywood

Troubled actress Lindsay Lohan said she was keen to resume her career, but acknowledged she had a long way to go to regain the trust of the movie industry.

Lohan, giving her first interview since leaving court-ordered rehab in January and being charged with stealing a necklace, told celebrity TV show Extra that she knew her problems have made her a risky bet in Hollywood. “I need to prove that I can be insurable again, because I don’t think I am right now,” Lohan, 24, said in the interview airing on Tuesday.

“I miss being on set...I really do miss it. I know there’s going to be a lot of steps I’ll have to go through to prove myself again and get the trust from people I respect to work with, but I’m willing to do what I have to do to get there because that’s my passion,” she added.

Movie and TV studios take out insurance to cover the costs of delays or abandoned productions, stars with personal problems force insurance rates higher.

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday revealed that he was tricked to attend the reception ceremony recently held in honour of Bode George who regained freedom after completing a two year jail term.

Mr Obasanjo made this known in an interview with newsmen while preparing for his 74 birthday anniversary at his Hilltop Private residence in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, scheduled to hold today (Saturday). He stressed that his attendance of the event was totally in error...

“You got it wrong again. I was not part of the celebration of Bode Goerge. He sent a passionate message to me from prison urging me to attend a family church thanksgiving and I believe that for whatever any family is giving thanks in the church or in the mosque and he invites me and I am able to go there, I will go there, whether it is for marriage, for burial, house warming or christening a child.” Mr Obasanjo said. “But when I got to the church, the atmosphere I found was more than a family affair. And I even took the opportunity to ask the state PDP Chairman that, ‘is this a PDP affair?’ And he told me it was not a PDP affair.

“Because I don’t see what PDP as a national party, as a party that is trying to form a government in Lagos State, as a party that formed government at the national level and in at least 27 states in the country, would be celebrating criminality because whatever we may say, the reason Bode went to prison should be condemned by everybody.

“And I have condemned it but he did not go to prison for political offence. If he had been sent to prison for political offence, then he comes back and all his political associates may get round him and PDP must do something noble and wholesome but in this case, PDP as a party must dissociate itself from celebrating criminality.

“When I asked the state chairman, he said ‘well, you know Area Boys, they do hijack these things.’ If it’s Area Boys, leave it to the Area Boys and not to PDP,” the party’s board of trustee chairman emphasised.

On the Federal Court judgement which pronounced Tunji Olurin as the party governorship candidate in Ogun State, Mr Obasanjo said: “Don’t forget that PDP is a family; there may be a little misunderstanding but we have to go to court for adjudication; the court adjudicates but as soon as possible, the family should come together and forge ahead.

“PDP nationally is a family; zonally is a family; state-wise it is a family; local government wise, it is a family; so the members in Ogun State should put behind them whatever might be their bone of contention.”

He said he had equally told Mr Olurin to extend his hand of fellowship to other people. “I have told him to set up a reconciliation committee. I am the Chairman of BOT of the PDP. As the Chairman of the BOT, I am supposed to be the conscience of the party. Whatever be the rift, I am supposed to find amicable settlement. I have done it in other states, why not in my state?” Mr Obasanjo explained.

A lot of people remember Eric Obuh also known as Vocal Slender a native of Delta State. Vocal Slender was a scavenger turned aspiring artist that was featured on BBC documentary “Welcome to Lagos” last year April. It has been almost one year since the showed aired and his fan base and popularity has skyrocketed. I actually met him through a friend that was working with him in order to help him out of his current situation. When I spoke to Vocal slender I was in admiration of his good spirit, but was saddened to find out many of the future developments we all thought was going to take place actually never came into reality. To find out if his life changed for the better read this interview.

How were you picked to be on the BBC documentary?

I was in the dump entertaining my friends, a lot of the guys were dancing to my song, among the crowd were some white men, they walked up and told me that they will like to film me working and singing that is how they began filming me for the documentary.

Did you think the BBC documentary accurately showcase your life?

Yes, the documentary did. They were able to introduce me to the world.

What happened with CokoBar , are you guys still working together?

I no longer work with CokoBar because he is not truthful. He made a lot of promises but he didn't keep them. He promised that he will give me 400 pounds, he promised a remix of my song ( owo ti ya pa) with Wande Coal,and also promised a musical video. The music video wasn't of good quality so they couldn't air it. Even after my performance in Manchester he didn't pay me, and I know that they paid him.

Has your life improved since being on the BBC?

Life is so hard now, I don't have a house of my own to sleep, I stay with friend, and sometimes it gets so difficult I feel like I am killing myself to live.  I hope that sooner or later my life will change for the better. If I was able to travel to London with CokoBar and was signed on to a label, my life would have improved by now, when I was in the dump I never begged to eat, but now I beg to eat. All the information that CokoBar put out on the internet was to make people believe he has done so much for me, but he never lived up to the promises he made.

How has your music career grown since being on the documentary?

First, I thank GOD for all he has done for me, the documentary has helped my career. Some of my friends who saw what I was going through have decide to help me with my music. Now my music is being played on all radio stations. If not for the documentary I would have still been working on the dump site by now.

What are some future developments for your music?

I would like to release my album, and set up a studio so my brothers can work on there songs, and a record label.

How can the Nigerians support your efforts in the music industry?

They can help me by giving me advice, by encouraging me, by helping me get on different shows, and by telling the world my story. All I need now is there support, so that I will not go back to the dump, I feel I have let all my friends in the dump down, because they believe if I make it they too can make it, but I know my GOD will not let me down.

Five students were killed and several others reportedly injured during a riot by students who wanted a share of the ₦15 million distributed by the Akwa Ibom State governor Godswill Akpabio. The tragedy occurred yesterday at the Government House Uyo and the Ibom Hall where undergraduate students and unemployed graduates gathered at the instance of the state governor.

The inability of some unemployed graduates, students of the University of Uyo, Uyo City Polytechnic and Akwa Ibom State College of Education to get a share of the money led to a stampede.

Mr. Akpabio had announced a ₦10 million largesse for undergraduate students who were supposed to get their money at the Government House. His running mate in the gubernatorial election, Nsima Ekere, was billed to distribute the rest ₦5 million to unemployed graduates who converged at the Ibom Hall.

Trouble started with the rumour that organisers of the event have taken away ₦4 million out of the ₦10 million given to the students. After waiting for more than four hours for the remaining ₦6 million to be shared, the students started a protest.

The protest turned into a stampede as security agencies tried to remove them from the premises. In the ensuing scramble, gunshots were fired by the police and the protesting students responded by hurling stones at the police officers.

At Ibom Hall, a few fortunate unemployed graduates got ₦1,000 each but the rest had to run away when they heard the gunshots. Matters worsened when the protesting students were joined by others in the adjourning streets of Oron and Wellington Bassey road leading to sporadic shooting which extended into the night...

During a telephone interview, Essien Udoma, the Student Union President of the University of Uyo, confirmed that they were invited by the state governor to collect ₦10 million but people under the aegis of Concerned Students for Gosdwill Akpabio, the organisers, made away with ₦4 million.

He said seven students comprising three each from the Akwa Ibom State College of Education and Uyo City Polytechnic, and one from the University of Uyo have been hospitalised in an undisclosed hospital. He refused to say how many were killed in the riots.

In what amounts to a reaction, the state government has banned all groups from gathering at the Government House for any reason. The commissioner for Information and Social Re-orientation, Aniekan Umanah, said any such rally should be taken to the PDP secretariat.

Is it still no sacrifice ? 

No sacrifice no sacrifice at all .....

its the heart of pdp letting people die  ....

"elton john"

Ambrose Alli University Sex-For-Grades Update: Dr. Otubu Fired; Judith Okosun Suspended For Six Semesters

 

Dr. Peter Otubu and Judith Okosun

Judith Okosun, the 400-level Mechanical Engineering student at the centre of the July 2010 sex-for-grades scandal at the Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma, Edo State, has been suspended for six semesters.

In a report, THE NEWS said that Engr. Peter Otubu, the lecturer whose demand of sexual favours in exchange for good grades led to the crisis, was fired by the University, this was confirmed by the university authorities today. 

In July 2010, Saharareporters broke the story of the scandal.  Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who is the Visitor of the institution, immediately demanded an investigation and report. 

The university, which Ms. Okosun’s lawyer claimed to have been informed of the incident from the beginning, although its spokesman denied it, set up two committees.  The student was found guilty of “breaching her matriculation oath”.

Also, the university offers no guarantee that another randy lecturer will not be waiting with a new grading “system”, or to exact vengeance.

Dr. Otubu’s case was instructive according to the university vice chancellor who rendered an account of his past to the NEWS magazine, as stated here: “Professor Sam Uniamikogbo, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, explained why Judith was also sanctioned. “The student was aware of the university’s rules and regulations and once any student violates any of the rules, that student will be disciplined,’’ he told TheNEWS.  The rules, said the Vice-Chancellor, forbid students from taking laws into their own hands, as Judith seemed to have done. Uniamikogbo is, however, still shocked by the conduct of Otubu. Prior to the scandal, the V-C said, Otubu was considered chaste; having helped the university authorities bust a lecturer who habitually demanded sex from married undergraduates. ‘‘It was Otubu that we put on the case. The married woman was told to play along. Otubu helped us to arrest the lecturer at the hotel to which he had invited the woman. I could never have imagined that a man we thought was clean and a veritable role model would be involved in this kind of scandal,” Uniamikogbo said ruefully...

The university terminated Dr. Otubu’s appointment on October 26 2010.

A source at the university told SaharaReporters that Judith has gone to court to challenge her wrongful rustication from the university.