Nigeria may choke to death, money meant for development being swallowed – Pastor Adeboye

 

Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), on Sunday, said that Nigeria may choke to death over President Muhammadu Buhari government’s continued borrowing.

He lamented that money meant for development was being pocketed by a few people while the masses suffered hunger and starvation.

According to him, the borrowing trend portends grave danger to the future and development of the country.

The General Overseer of RCCG said this during the church’s Special Thanksgiving Service yesterday.

The revered church leader warned that the country may choke to death under the heavy weight of foreign debts.

“There are people who want this nation to choke to death and we read all about it in the newspapers that money meant for the development of this nation is swallowed up even after seeing that the people are hungry,” he said.

“Some of these countries who claim to be our friends want to hug us because they want us to come and borrow money.

“They want us to borrow so much that we would never be able to repay. They keep on saying come and borrow money, we are your friends.

“The Bible makes it clear that the borrower would be the servant of the lender and some of these people who pretend to be our friends manufacture guns and bullets.

“They rejoice when you have problems so that you can come and buy their guns and bullets and use them to kill your own people,” he said.

Presidency warns Adeboye, others over comments on Nigeria

 

The Presidency has warned Nigerians asking President Muhammadu Buhari to take certain actions in order to avoid the country’s break up.

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Enoch Adeboye had at the weekend said it was time Nigeria was restructured or allowed to break up. The view expressed by the cleric has been a recurring one, as many other Nigerians had made similar submissions.

But apparently responding to those views in a statement on Sunday, the Senior Special Assistant to the president on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said Buhari will not be moved by “the recurring threats to the corporate existence of the country with factions giving specific timelines for the President to do one thing or another or else, in their language, ‘the nation will break up’.”

Shehu’s statement read in detail, “This is to warn that such unpatriotic outbursts are both unhelpful and unwarranted as this government will not succumb to threats and take any decision out of pressure at a time when the nation’s full attention is needed to deal with the security challenges facing it at a time of the Covid-19 health crisis.

“Repeat: this administration will not take any decision against the interests of 200 million Nigerians, who are the President’s first responsibility under the constitution, out of fear or threats especially in this hour of a health crisis.

“The President as an elected leader under this constitution will continue to work with patriotic Nigerians, through and in line with the Parliamentary processes to finding solutions to structural and other impediments to the growth and wellbeing of the nation and its people.”

Nigeria at 60: What people fighting for Igbos, Hausas, Yorubas are doing –

 

A former Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi, has said those who claim to be fighting for geopolitical zones in Nigeria, are in reality fighting for a share of the national cake.

Sanusi stated this on Thursday while speaking at The Platform, an annual conference organised by the Covenant Christian Centre (CCC) in Lagos.

The virtual event was in commemoration of the nation’s 60th independence anniversary.

When asked about ways to solve the crisis and restore peace, Sanusi said Nigerians must recognize that irrespective of political office, every citizen must be good representatives of their beliefs, religion and ethnic groups.

“I don’t think that the people who say they are fighting for Hausa, Igbo or Yoruba are really interested. I mean when they get there at the end of the day, it is about them and their families.

“There is nobody out there that is really representing north or south or east. They claim to be if you look out there in the cabinet. In the history of Nigeria, there has never been a government that does not have people from every part of the country.

“So the first thing to recognize is that we must get away from the sense that holding political office is what makes you representative of a people,” he said.

#RevolutionNow protest hits Abuja

 

The Coalition for Revolution (CORE), the organisers of the #RevolutionNow protest, has held a peaceful protest in Abuja.

The group led by a former presidential candidate and Omoyele Sowore, said the protest is against poor governance in the country.

The protesters marched through Area 1 roundabout, chanting different songs with bearing placards with different inscriptions.

The #RevolutionNow protest was first staged in August 5, 2019 with the second edition on the same date in 2020.

It held across major cities in Nigeria.

The protest, according to Sowore, is to demand reversal of: “anti-people policies implemented by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

“These harsh policies that have burnt a burdensome hole into the pockets of the Nigerian people are coming at a time when citizens are recovering from the adverse effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, a global health crisis that was also mismanaged by the Buhari’s government further plunging already struggling citizens into deeper financial problems.

“It also comes at a time when there is an unprecedented dictatorial-style crackdown on free speech, dissent, activism, journalism and the right to associate and congregate peacefully and protest.

Amongst its demands, CORE clamoured for reversal of the hike in the price of petrol from N148 to N151, an end to: “state-supervised and approved impunity under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari” and the sacking of all service chiefs in the country due to their: “proven incompetence in finding a lasting solution to the Boko Haram insurgency which has claimed and is still claiming the life of Nigerians daily”

Police inspector faces trial for brutalising Punch photojournalist

 

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered immediate detention and orderly room trial of one Inspector Adadu Innocent attached to PMF 22 Ikeja, for hitting and injuring Kayode Jaiyeola, a photojournalist with Punch Newspaper at Maryland, Lagos on Thursday, October 1, 2020 around 11.10am.

The police chief, who was monitoring the deployment and operational activities of officers and men of the command for the enforcement of the order against unlawful gathering and protest by some unpatriotic individuals, raced to the scene and personally moved the injured journalist to a police hospital at Area F, GRA, Ikeja, where the injured journalist was given immediate treatment.

The preliminary findings carried out by the Commissioner of Police and eye witness accounts from senior officers on ground, revealed that the cop suddenly attacked the journalist, without any previous altercation or confrontation.

This propelled the Commissioner of Police to order for his trial in order to serve as deterrent to others who are fond of engaging in unprofessional and unethical conducts.

Odumosu urged the general public to believe in the command’s commitment to sanitizing and reforming the policing system in Lagos State in conformity with the international standards.

Nigeria at 60: Ortom calls for sovereign National Conference

 

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has urged the Federal Government to convene a Sovereign National Conference to chart the way forward for Nigeria.

Speaking during the Interdenominational Independence Thanksgiving Service organized by the State Chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in collaboration with the Benue State Government, he said the teething challenges facing the country culminating in high-level corruption, insecurity, impunity and marginalization necessitated his call.

He said the sovereign national conference would provide the platform for frank discussions to strengthen the unity, peace and security of the country.

The Governor also called for the implementation of recommendations of the 2014 National Confab convened by former President Goodluck Jonathan, pointing out that the conference proffered solutions to the multifaceted problems confronting Nigeria.

He said at 60, Nigeria is in need of leaders who can steer the ship of development for the country and restore confidence in the minds of the people.

Governor Ortom appreciated the State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, for always supporting his administration through prayers, saying the state had crossed many hurdles due to divine mercies.

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has urged the Federal Government to convene a Sovereign National Conference to chart the way forward for Nigeria.

Speaking during the Interdenominational Independence Thanksgiving Service organized by the State Chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in collaboration with the Benue State Government, he said the teething challenges facing the country culminating in high-level corruption, insecurity, impunity and marginalization necessitated his call.

He said the sovereign national conference would provide the platform for frank discussions to strengthen the unity, peace and security of the country.

The Governor also called for the implementation of recommendations of the 2014 National Confab convened by former President Goodluck Jonathan, pointing out that the conference proffered solutions to the multifaceted problems confronting Nigeria.

He said at 60, Nigeria is in need of leaders who can steer the ship of development for the country and restore confidence in the minds of the people.

Governor Ortom appreciated the State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, for always supporting his administration through prayers, saying the state had crossed many hurdles due to divine mercies.

He, however, kicked against the intended regulation of the Church by the Federal Government through the Company and Allied Matters Act, CAMA 2020, saying the legislation would amount to dabbling into affairs of the Church when the government could not manage its agencies well.

Also, CAN Chairman Benue State, Reverend Akpen Leva decried the suffering of Nigerians at 60.

I’ll reach out to people with my music – Laycon

 

Big Brother Naija season 5 winner Laycon has said he would like to extend his success to others.

Laycon said this during his price presentation by Big Brother Naija organisers and sponsors on Wednesday.

When asked what would be his approach to Nigeria and Africa at large, he said he would use his music to connect to people easily.

He said: “I will use my music to connect people and let them know that you’re not just existing for yourself you are not just successful for yourself but you are successful for a whole lot of other people and you have to enrich their lives and have a positive impact in their lives basically.”

Laycon beat 19 other Housemates to emerge, winner, carting home N85m grand prize, which includes an Innoson branded vehicle and an apartment in Lagos with 30million naira cash price

Other finalists were Neo, Vee, Nengi, and Dorathy.

Nigeria at 60: Atiku Abubakar begs for release of all political prisoners

 

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the last general elections has called on the Federal and State governments to release all political prisoners.

Atiku, a former Vice President, made the call in the spirit of the 60th Independence celebration of the country

Part of a statement, he shared on Twitter on Thursday, said ”In the spirit of our 60th Independence Anniversary, I call on the Federal and state governments, to release all political prisoners and detainees and discontinue the prosecution of such individuals.

“If Nelson Mandela could reconcile with those who imprisoned him for twenty-seven years, we can reconcile with those who have disagreed with us.

Nigeria marks her golden independence celebrations on Thursday, October 1, 2020, where President Muhammadu Buhari announced N161 as the new pump price of petrol in the country.

He also berated previous governments from 1999 to 2015 for criticising his government, accusing them of presiding over the near-destruction of the country.

India congratulates Nigeria on 60th Anniversary

 

Mr. Femi Adesina, the President’s spokesman, confirmed this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

He said the congratulatory message was conveyed in a letter delivered by the High Commission of India in Nigeria from the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, on behalf of himself and the Government and people of India to the Nigerian leader.

The Indian leader noted that India and Nigeria had always enjoyed close and friendly relations, adding that the “engagement is age-old, deep-rooted and multidimensional.”

“India and Nigeria seek healthy growth and prosperity for both nations and share common concerns, priorities, and approaches to major international issues.

”India is taking over as a member of the UN Security Council for the term 2021-2022. During this period, India would like to work towards a New Orientation for a Reformed Multilateral System – NORMS.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Your Excellency for the assistance extended for repatriation of Indian citizens in Nigeria in the wake of COVID-19. I look forward to further strengthening our bilateral ties.”

The Indian President also wished Buhari “good health and well-being, as well as for the continued progress and prosperity of the friendly people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Buhari, Jonathan, Gowon attend Nigeria @60 celebration

 

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, led other dignitaries, including former leaders, to observe special performances commemorating the 60th Independence Day Anniversary.

The performances, mostly military parades, and other entertainment show staged at the Eagle Square in Abuja, were also watched by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; former President Goodluck Jonathan, and former military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd.).

Buhari, who joined the event at about 10 am, was immediately ushered to the soapbox to review the mounted parade after which he was escorted to inspect the guards in a parade in an open car.

President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar gives elbow greeting

 

The parade was made up of the nation’s Armed Forces, including the Army, Air Force, and Navy as well as the para-military forces.

It also witnessed a display of traditional dances and other performances by combined military and civilian artists.

The high point of the ceremony was the Nigerian Air Force display, which had to be scaled down because of poor weather conditions.

The flypast was led by two Agusta helicopters actively involved in combat operations, one of which bore the banner of the theme of the celebration.

The helicopters were followed in echelon by three Alpha jets used for air-to-air and air-to-ground combat operations such as ECOMOG, Northern Mali, Niger Delta operations.

The jets were followed by Air 39ZA also involved in operations in the North East and North West.

The Air Force explained the flypast was less elaborate than planned because of low clouds at the Eagle Square.

The event closed with the signing of the anniversary register by the President, who was accompanied to the signing table by his wife, Aisha; Osinbajo; Jonathan; Gowon; Senate President Ahmad Lawan, and Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, among others.