The head of the Vatican, Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, as the new Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations Office and Specialized Institutions in Geneva.
Nwachukwu role also include Permanent Observer to the World Trade Organization, WTO and the Representative of the Holy See to the International Organization for Migration,IOM.
The 61-year-old Nwachukwu replaces Bishop Ivan Jurkovic, previously appointed nuncio in Canada.
The appointment was contained in a press release from the Office of the Secretariat of the Episcopal Conference of the Antilles dated Friday, December 17, 2021, where Archbishop Nwachukwu is currently serving as Nuncio.
According to the statement, “the Holy Father has appointed Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, titular of Acquaviva and until now apostolic nuncio in Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Jamaica, Grenada, the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Santa Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname, and apostolic delegate in the Antilles; and Holy See Plenipotentiary Representative at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), as Holy See Permanent Observer to the United Nations and Specialised Institutions in Geneva and at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and Holy See Representative at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
“He sincerely appreciates your support during his mission in this region and requests that you accompany him with your prayers and friendship as he prepares to assume the new responsibilities.”
Archbishop Nwachukwu has previously been assigned as Apostolic Nuncio to Saint Lucia, Grenada, and the Bahamas on 27 February 2018; and Apostolic Nuncio to Suriname on 9 March 2018; and Apostolic Nuncio to Belize on 8 September 2018.
The spiritual head of Catholic faithful all worldwide had three weeks ago, appointed another Nigerian Bishop Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo as a member to the Vatican Dicastery for Communications.
Badejo was Bishop of Oyo Diocese before his appointment to the Vatican top position.
The Dicastery of Communications is the administrative department of the Holy See through which the Pope directs affairs that pertain to Social Communications in the Roman Catholic Church.
Those expecting a rowdy session in the National Assembly this week over the refusal of President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the amended Electoral Bill will be disappointed. There are reports many lawmakers are spoiling for war and may attempt to override the president on the bill.
But the magazine has learnt, that senators and House of Representatives will rather find an amicable solution to the issue than set out on a confrontation with the president.
The 30 days window provided by the Constitution for the president to sign the electoral bill expired on Sunday, December 19. The bill which polarized the Assembly and governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC was transmitted to President Buhari on November 19 for his assent.
The new provision in the amended Electoral Act 2021 is expected to replace the old law where political parties were allowed to determine the mode of choosing candidates for elective positions.
Indirect primaries, where delegates are picked to elect party candidates had been adopted in the past by political parties. The process, many contend is not transparent and mostly hijacked by governors who force their candidate on the parties.
Many APC governors are not happy with the new provision where candidates expected to fly the parties’ flag will be elected directly by registered members of such political parties.
The governors were said to have exerted pressure on the president not to sign the bill, to the anger of many lawmakers who reports said will try to override the president by passing the bill into law.
The Constitution provides for 30 for the president to sign a bill sent to him by the NASS or return same to the assembly in case he refused his assent.
Even though the president had yet to return the bill to the assembly, sources in the Presidency told the magazine on Monday, that the bill will be returned to the lawmakers this week by Senator Babajide Omoworare, the Senior Special Assistant, SSA to the president on National Assembly Matters.
Ahead of its return, the magazine learnt that some senators and house of Reps members are already holding meetings on how to resolve the debacle. Some are poised to override the president while many lawmakers said the issue will be resolve amicable “in such a way that will further polarise the ruling APC. There must be a consensus on the matter because our party is already facing series of problem that threatens its foundation, therefore, the Electoral Bill issue is likely to add more fuel to the divisions in the party if not well handled,”a ranking senator from Nasarrawa state told the magazine.
Many APC lawmakers are not ready to go to war with the president on the issue despite the extreme position adopted by some of their colleagues that they must override the president on the issue.
Opeyemi Bamidele, a senator representing Ekiti had last week warned of serious consequence for the nation’s electoral process if the president failed to sign the bill into law.
The Chairman, Southern Senators’ Forum, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, said The Electoral Act at the end of the day is not about the National Assembly, “it is not about the President or any individual or institution. It is about the people of Nigeria, our democracy, the survival of same and growth of same. It is about moving Nigeria forward.
“Those who felt strongly about the idea of putting a clause in our proposed electoral bill to guarantee direct primaries as a method of choosing candidates of political parties meant well for the country. Some of those who are trying to oppose it also have logical arguments.”
In spite of the restiveness in both chambers over the president’s decision to reject the bill, the magazine learnt that some top aides in the presidency and National Assembly leaders will meet on the issue before the end of the week.
“The meeting will involve the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and leaders of the party. The meeting will take place before the bill is returned, so as to douse tension. The leaders of the Assembly will also in due course meet with the president formally to address the matter amicably in the party way,” a source in the presidency said on Monday.
Despite the massive support for the bill among opposition parties, international community and civil societies organisations, CSO who said it has the potential of turning around the nation’s election process, Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President On Media and Publicity had on December 6 said no ramifications for Buhari’s presidency if he failed to sign the bill into law.
Buhari’s “reputation as somebody who wants to leave clean elections for Nigeria has already been made whether the electoral act is signed or not. It doesn’t distract from that reputation,” Adesina said.
The federal government has disbursed over N100 billion for the promotion of small and medium scale businesses in the country since President Muhammadu Buhari came to power, the Minister of state for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo has said.
The minister disclosed this in a statement, on Sunday, noting that the fund was disbursed through the Development Bank of Nigeria, DBN. The period of disbursement, Keyamo said is between 2017 and 2021, adding that the federal government is poised to eradicating unemployment caused by corruption and other social problems.
According to him, “even though the Federal Government is working hard at check terrorism and all other forms of criminality and violent crimes, it is equally prosecuting the war against mass unemployment.
“I am proud that the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), whose board I am privileged to chair and also directly supervise, is effectively leading that war against mass unemployment. Let me inform you all that the Federal Government has put all plans in place to ensure that businesses succeed in Nigeria.
He said the Buhari government have addressed many unemployment problems since it came to power in 2015, adding that efforts targeted at lifting women and youths from proverty.
Keyamo said, “the present administration has launched a series of funding and capacity development initiatives designed to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
“Since 2017, the Development Bank of Nigeria has disbursed a total of N100 billion through the bank’s 27 participating financial institutions (PFIs), thereby impacting more than 100,000 MSMEs. It is heartwarming to note that 52 percent of loans disbursed in 2019 and 2020 were to youths and women-owned businesses.
“Our goal is to provide them with quick income-generating opportunities because of their roles in providing family support and sound social stability at the very foundation of society,” he said. I am proud to inform you that the Women Employment Branch (WEB) of the Small Scale Enterprises Department of the NDE is responsible for driving initiatives aimed at providing ample opportunities for women with the entire framework of our employment creation processes.
“Our objective in empowering women is clear. We create employment for women to improve their socio-economic status, reduce poverty, create wealth and boost their leadership qualities, so that they can have a say in their immediate community in relevant decision-making processes,” the minister said.
The Nigerian Army has responded to the detention of Hannah Sofiat, a female soldier who was involved in an amorous relationship with a male member of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC in Kwara state. A video clip went viral last week where the soldier kissed the Corps member after he proposed to her. Sofiat has since been detained by the Army authority.
Some human rights activists, including the publisher of Sahara Reporter Omoyele Sowore have demand the immediate release of the soldier.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Sowore said no law prevents anyone from accepting a marriage proposal in military uniform.
He said, “#FreeSofiat HQ Nigerian Army is illegally holding Army Private Hannah Sofiat A, her offence was accepting a marriage proposal from her National Youth Corps Service lover at a Mammy Market in Ilorin. There is no law that prevents anyone from accepting a marriage proposal in military uniform but as it is typical of the pre-civilization Nigerian military, she was clamped into detention at Sobi Military Cantonment in Ilorin, Kwara State.
“The Nigerian military must release Sofiat asap and apologise to her for illegal detention. #RevolutionNow.”
But reacting to the issue, the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, told The PUNCH that the female officer violated military laws by getting involved in a public display of amorous relationship with a paramilitary trainee – a corps member.
The Army spokesman, however, did not say whether the female soldier will be dismissed from the military over the act.
Nwachukwu said the female soldier violated the Nigerian Army’s rules and regulations guiding the codes of conduct of military personnel when deployed for duty, noting that the soldier’s action amounted to taking advantage of her trainee. The female soldier, the Army spokesman said, displayed indiscipline which is frowned at in the military.
According to him, “the female soldier in question violated the following rules of the NA: fraternisation while on official duty at the NYSC camp. That is, indulging in an amorous relationship with a trainee.
“Personnel must have served for three years before he/she can qualify for marriage. She disobeyed the Armed Forces of Nigeria standing guidelines and directives for the use of Social Media. Indulging in romance while in uniform.
“Her conduct was prejudicial to good order and military discipline. All the above, if proven are in violation of extant laws with attendant disciplinary and penal implications.
“As a personnel, her task was to train the Youth Corps members and not to indulge in amorous relationship with any of them. These rules were put in place for the purpose of proper administration and discipline in the Army. If I may ask, what if the soldier was a male? How would the public have perceived his action? Definitely, it would have been perceived as taking advantage of a female Corper, a trainee, put in his care for training.”
He said officers are bound by the military rules which they have sworn to obey
“the Nigerian Military like all others, has its disciplinary codes, distinct from that of the general society. All personnel have voluntarily undertaken to be bound by this code.
Last month, the Nigerian Navy detained, for several days, comedian Abdulgafar Ahmad, aka Cute Abiola, for posting a video of himself in military uniform on social media. He has since been released.
The two main political parties – Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and All Progressives Congress, APC, are currently caught in a rotational Governorship debacle in Cross River state.
Chieftains of both parties from the Southern Senatorial District of the State, citing an unwritten charter of equity by the three Senatorial Districts – North, Central and South- insist its the zone’s turn to produce the next Governor when the incumbent, Professor Ben Ayade’s two-term elapses on May 29, 2023.
However, some interests in both parties hold a different view. According to them, going by the rotational principle, the three zones have had their turns with the election of South’s Governor Donald Duke in 1999, Governor Imoke (Central) in 2007 and Ayade (North) in 2015.
Iyorchia Ayu, PDP National Chairman: How will he resolve the Cross River guber impasse?
In their view, the next Governor could come from any of the zones the Governorship having gone round the three zones.
In the PDP for instance, it is increasingly becoming clear that zoning is not on the party’s 2023 menu list.
Already, the Senator representing Cross River Central in the Senate, Professor Sandy Onor, has declared his Guber ambition and from the look of things, it appears he has the backing of the State’s chapter of the party, the reason perhaps, Cross River Chairman of the opposition party, Barrister Vena Ikem was present at the declaration.
Senator Onor’s Guber ambition, watchers of Cross River politics say, is a frontal assault on Senator Gershom Bassey’s ambition to succeed Ayade.
Senator Bassey, who represents Cross River South in the Senate has long hoped to fly the PDP flag in the 2023 governorship election in the state.
A former Chairman of Etung Local Government Area of the State, Senator Onor is allegedly being bankrolled and egged on by Governor Nyesom Wike of River state who was also a former Local Government Chairman.
Both men were said to have struck friendship in the course of their activities at the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) where they held important positions.
Senator Onor’s Guber insistence on the PDP ticket may, however, be the party’s greatest undoing as reliable sources told this magazine that several PDP eggheads from the Southern senatorial district, including Senator Bassey, will decamp to the APC should the PDP deny the zone the ticket.
Multiple APC and PDP sources swore that the APC is already dangling its guber ticket before Senator Bassey. “He is under pressure from the APC to cross over and effortlessly grab its ticket. Senator Bassey is, however, still weighing his options”, one of the sources informed.
Another PDP stalwart from the Senatorial District who pleaded anonymity told The Source: “Watch out, the PDP will bleed if its Guber ticket does not come South. Many of us are waiting to see how things pan out but one thing is clear, any party that short- changes the South will be buried in the South”
The “burying” may have started in earnest. Last week, three PDP bigwigs from Cross River South- Architect Bassey Ndem Eyo, an industrialist and a former Commissioner for Lands in the state, Barrister Edem Ekong, a former Commissioner for Lands under former Governor Liyel Imoke and a former member of the State House of Assembly, Orok Duke- renounced their membership of the party and joined the APC.
The three ex PDP members emphatically declared at the defection rally attended by Governor Ayade that they left their former party because it was not ready to cede its 2023 guber ticket to their Senatorial zone.
However, Cross River South may be in for a shocker if it thinks the APC ticket is for its own for the asking.
Governor Ayade’s pro-zoning speech at the defection rally will not likely dissuade APC’s governorship candidate in the 2019 election, Senator Owan Eno, from reactivating his ambition.
Senator Eno who represented Cross River Central in the Senate between 2015 and 2019, this magazine reliably gathered, will formally declare interest in the 2023 contest in January or February next year.
Ayade at the defection rally: “I will keep to my words. 2023 is a harbinger of peace, equity and justice so that every one of us will have a sense of equity and a sense of balance to maintain and sustain our politics. This will enable everybody to know his turn at every given time”
Though the Governor spoke in response to defectors who unambiguously said they were defecting to work for rotation of the Governorship seat to Cross South, some APC chieftains from Cross River Central insist there was nothing in the speech that indicated Governor Ayade endorsed power shift to Southern Cross River.
“Our Governor made a general comment about zoning or rotation. He didn’t say A or B will produce the next governor. Of course, rotation is starting afresh in 2023 and it can start from any of the three senatorial districts. It was in that sense that Governor Ayade spoke”, he said.
Stunned by the rivers of blood flowing unabated in the country, especially, in some Northern States, opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has expressed shock at what it described as the insensitivity of President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to the frightening situation.
In a very strongly worded statement on Sunday, December 19, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP said it was horrified that in the midst of the horrifying situation, especially the “escalated killings, the APC Ieadership found it appropriate to proceed to Katsina for the turbaning of Yusuf, President Buhari’s son, as a District Head.
Said the statement: “Is it not unpardonable that while the APC had failed to show empathy on the gruesome murder of scores of travelers who were burnt alive in Sokoto State, the massacre of over 15 worshipers in Niger State, other compatriots felled in Kaduna, Katsina and other parts of the country in the last few days, its leaders and officials in Government had the time to attend the turbaning ceremony of President Muhammadu Buhari’s son in the same troubled Katsina State.”
The party said it was both provocative and vexatious that “the APC leaders would party while the Nation burns.”
It accused the APC of complicity in the worsening insecurity in the country.
“The manifest numbness of the leaders to bloodletting as well as the failure of the APC, as a party, to proffer any tangible solution or forcefully take its government to task on security, validate apprehensions on APC’s reported complicity in the worsened insecurity in our nation in the last six years”
The PDP urged President Buhari to demonstrate empathy and leadership by visiting the affected States “in line with his campaign promise to lead the fight against terrorism from the front instead of always pushing his responsibilities to others.”
Following is the full text of the statement.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vehemently condemns the indefensible insensitivity of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a party in power, to the escalated killings in Sokoto, Niger, Katsina, Kaduna, Plateau states and other parts of the country by terrorists.
“The manifest numbness of the APC leaders to bloodletting as well as the failure of the APC, as a party, to proffer any tangible solution or forcefully take its government to task on security, validate apprehensions on APC’s reported complicity in the worsened insecurity in our nation in the last six years.
“Is it not unpardonable that while the APC had failed to show empathy on the gruesome murder of scores of travelers who were burnt alive in Sokoto state, the massacre of over 15 worshippers in Niger state, other compatriots felled in Kaduna, Katsina and other parts of the country in the last few days, its leaders and officials in government had the time to attend the turbaning ceremony of President Muhammadu Buhari’s son in the same troubled Katsina state?
“Is it also not provocative, vexatious and indeed the height of heartlessness that APC and its leaders party while Nigeria burns?
“Such callous assault on the sensibility of Nigerians which amounts to dancing on the graves of the victims of the attacks further exposes the APC as a party that is completely unfeeling to killings, attaches no value to lives and has no commitment towards the fight against terrorism in our country.
“The PDP, standing in solidarity with Nigerians, calls out the APC to come clean on its alleged connection to killings, the benefit it derives from violence and bloodletting and why it attaches no value to human lives.
“Nigerians can recall that despite demands by the PDP, the APC and its leaders have failed to account for the “political mercenaries” they reportedly imported from neighboring countries as thugs, gangsters and hoodlums to unleash violence on Nigerians during the 2019 elections. The APC has also not explained the continued presence of a self-confessed terrorism apologist in its government.
“The least Nigerians expect of the APC is to forcefully give its government a marching order to develop wholesome strategy to proactively tackle insecurity, including targeting the source of fund to terrorists, many of which were revealed by a foreign government, yet the APC government refused to take action.
“Unfortunately, the APC as a party of selfish and blood thirsty “political bandits” does not have the commitment,APC readiness or capacity to do so.
“Furthermore, the PDP charges President Muhammadu Buhari to demonstrate leadership and empathy by personally visiting the troubled states in line with his campaign promise to lead the fight against terrorism from the front instead of always pushing his responsibilities to others.
“The PDP again commiserates with victims of the horrific attacks. We also urge Nigerians not to resign to despondency but continue to support one another and remain focused as we scale up our collective efforts to rescue and rebuild our nation from misrule.”
Former President of the Senate and 2023 Presidential aspirant, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim has congratulated Zanna Mustapha on the award to him by the CNN as one of the top ten heroes of 2021.
In a message of felicitation, the Peoples Democratic Party presidential aspirant said Mustapha’s honour demonstrated the fact that any good work done to advance the cause of humanity would certainly be recognized.
The message, signed personally by Anyim urged the CNN Hero not to relent in his service to humanity.
Said Anyim, “I must say that watching the video clips of the great event gives me a new understanding of dimensions of how reward for selfless service could come.
“Your recognition by CNN shows that though your services may be hidden in one corner of the globe, as long as it promotes humanity, it will be recognized across the globe.
Zanna Mustapha
“When you started the school – FUTURE PROWESS ISLAMIC FOUNDATION, you never intended it for any special recognition. You were rather driven only by your passion to identify with the needs of humanity.”
Anyim went on to say, “On your way to New York, you stopped by my house and we shared the joy of this great honour which you merited by your own uniqueness as a lover of humanity without boundaries.
“But today, God who gave you the heart to serve humanity has rewarded you openly. I am so excited and proud to be associated with you.
“Congratulations my brother. May Almighty Allah continue to uphold and elevate you as you serve humanity”, the frontline presidential aspirant concluded.
Former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has commiserated with former Anambra State Governor, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, over the passing on of his wife Njideka Ezeife, describing her death as a sad loss.
Dr. Jonathan in a message of condolence to the former Governor and the people of Anambra State stated that the late Mrs Ezeife played a key role in the growth and development of the State, having served as the First Lady to the first elected governor of the State.
The former President stated: “I am deeply saddened by the news of the passing on of your dear wife, Mrs. Njideka Ezeife, who transited to eternal glory after a brief illness.
“The death of a close relation is always a painful experience for which, as mortals, we are encouraged to draw solace from God’s abiding grace and abundant love.
“Mrs Ezeife was a well-loved and devout woman who diligently served the people of Anambra State and humanity and left behind worthy legacies that will continue to endure.
“May God sustain your family with the strength to bear the loss and grant her soul eternal rest. On behalf of my family, I convey our deepest condolences.
A Group within the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC), in Ekiti state, that is championing the zoning of the Governorship candidate to the South Senatorial District, has alleged that political office holders in the administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi are being levied to fund the ambition of one of the Aides of the Governor.
The Aide, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, former Secretary to the State Government resigned recently to contest the 2022 election as a Governor.
There has been insinuation that Mr Oyebanji is an annoited candidate of Governor Fayemi, but this has been denied.
Dr Fayemi had said at a get together for political office holders from the State, which was held in Abuja, that he would show interest in his successor as being done in Lagos State.
Dr Fayemi hinted of his intention to pick a candidate that would continue with some of his programmes after his exit in October 2022, expressing hope that his successor would be from his party in order to continue some of his projects.
“I hope I am able to do my third term through whoever that would be coming. That is the magic of Lagos,” he said.
Soon after the resignation of Mr Oyebanji, he went to Abuja to pick the nomination form to contest for the Governorship.
On his return, political office holders from local government councilors to appointees in the state were through a directive instructed to receive him at the boundary between Ekiti and Ondo state from where he drove in a convoy to the APC secretariat in Ado Ekiti.
He has been touring Local Governments in the State for consultations with leaders of APC during which political appointees in area visited are being rallied to meet him.
Apart from this, State Government facilities including State Media and vehicles have been deployed to be used for movements and other campaign activities of the former Government scribe.
Ekiti South Development Agenda has, however, flayed these, especially compelling councilors, supervisor and advisers to pay a sum of N30,000 and N20,000 respectively to welcome the aspirant popularly called BAO, to their Local Governments.
The Coordinator of the Group, Mr Afuye stated that “We have reliable information that some Local Government functionaries, Supervisor, Councilors, Advisers are compelled to pay a certain amount to welcome BAO.
“Welcoming BAO should not be an Avenue of extortion of the People, if the anointed BAO doesn’t have enough support why is he contesting?
“The person who anointed him should have enough in stock for him, why extorting Councilors, Supervisor and the Advisers ?
“it’s very bad and I want you to know that no matter what, they’ll fail. People should desist from the act of extortion.
“The Ekiti South LG/LCDA supervisors, councilors and advisers should not pay the money if they are being forced.
“No matter what they do, the people will vote for the candidate of their choice, which is a Southerner, no matter how they constrain them to do anything for their anointed candidate.”
On a day Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State addressed Stakeholders of the All President Congress, APC, and assured them of his resolve to take care of the security of the State, gunmen dared him. They, also dared “Ala” Owerri gods.
The gunmen hit smack at the heart of Owerri Municipal in the morning of Saturday, December 18, 2021, and for good measure, abducted the Chief Priest of “Ala” Owerri, Reginald Ejiogu. Abducted, too, with him, is the village Chairman of Umunwagbara in the Municipal Council, Sunny Unachukwu. The abduction of the Chief Priest of “Ala” Owerri, has been described as a sacrilege – as much a sacrilege as kidnapping a Traditional Ruler. He was the “eyes of the gods.”
The two, according to reports, were kidnapped at Christ Church Road, by Ihugba Street.
The circumstances surrounding their abduction are not clear. But reports say both anger and fear are the words to describe the mood in Owerri Municipal. A good number of the youths are, at once, embarrassed and upset. Said one of them who pleaded anonymity, “this is like a slap on our faces”
At the time of writing this, neither the Community nor the Police has issued a statement on the incident.
