It was a black Sunday, December 26, 2021 as armed men in uniform invaded St Peter’s Anglican Church Eziama Obaire in Nkwerre Local Government Area, Diocese of Orlu in Imo State and roundly desecrated God’s sanctuary. The officiating priest had barely concluded the celebration and administration of the Holy Eucharist, ready for the end of year thanksgiving, when armed men stormed the church. The Nigerian Police latter explained that it was for the purpose of effecting an arrest.
Much as we are not concerned or interested in the reason for this invasion, which is unprecedented in the more than 160 years history of the church in this state, we are gravely worried and disturbed that worshippers were greatly frightened, worried, confused and completely disorganized by the presence of heavily armed security operatives in the church service thereby disrupting the worship of God’s people. That the police jumped inside the church in a gestapo style when the service was in full session is reprehensible, primitive, and highly condemnable. We are at a great loss why the police decided to throw caution to the winds and completely ignore internationally acclaimed rules of engagement and civility in this matter.
The sporadic gunshots outside the church building sent worshippers scampering in different directions, signaling an abrupt and chaotic end of the service.
While the church is in support of and have always been praying for the success of our security personnel in the daunting task and challenge of securing lives and property in our dear state and every effort at bringing the perpetrators/sponsors of this crime against humanity to book no matter how highly placed, we warn that such acts as the one in issue are capable of worsening the security challenges we are currently facing.
The Church will in the next few days engage the Nigerian Police in a dialogue to truly understand the reasons behind this dastardly act and how to avoid a repeat occurrence. While this process is on, we urge all Christians to continue in prayers for God’s mercy on all of us and peace in our land.
Most Rev. Onuoha is the Archbishop, Anglican Province of Owerri.*
I read with surprise and disappointment comments made by the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, during an appearance on Channels Television wherein he said:
“As former Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, I was told by the security in a meeting chaired by the former President, including the former Minister of Finance, that at every point in time, the Government must leave money behind in case Nigeria goes to war that would last for six months.
“By the time we came, they didn’t leave money behind that could last us for three weeks. And I was speaking at that time as the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum.”
The Minister’s comment is rather unfortunate and not supported by facts readily available in the public domain. As a member of the Federal Executive Council that handed over to the current administration, I am disturbed that this urban myth of “empty treasury” is still the subject of conversation by a senior Government member.
Also, I am confused about what the Honourable Minister means when he says, “By the time we came in”, as he was not appointed Minister until six months after the May 29 Handover. Since he was not a Minister on the handover date, it may be pertinent to present him with the facts again.
Rotimi Amaechi
On May 29, 2015, President Buhari inherited a foreign reserve of $28.6 billion, according to official data still present on the website of the Central Bank of Nigeria, as well as $5.6 billion Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas Limited dividends. Also, a 2015 budget of over 4 trillion Naira was handed over to the incoming administration by the outgoing Jonathan government.
Furthermore, the Jonathan administration left a total of $2.2 billion in the Excess Crude Account on May 29, 2015. (As verified by the Ministry of Finance both by the immediate past minister and the incumbent).
To further create context, I would like the Minister of Transport to note the country’s economic indices after 1849 days of President Jonathan’s Presidency from May 06 2010, the date he took over from President Umaru Yar’Adua to the Handover date of May 29, 2015.
On May 29, 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari inherited an economy that, by the testimony of the World Investment Report, prepared by the Geneva-based United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), was the number one destination for foreign direct investment in Africa. In the five years of President Jonathan, Direct Foreign Investment stood at about 35.25 Billion Dollars. You can compare this to the 11.55 Billion Dollars Direct Foreign Investment received from 2016 to 2020.
The Jonathan administration handed over a $550 billion economy (largest in Africa and 26th globally) and a diversified economy.
On May 29, 2015, President Jonathan left behind an economy with a stable currency, where the Naira exchanged for ₦199 to $1, and Nigeria had a single-digit inflation rate. Today, after 2406 days of the current administration headline inflation rate hovers above 15%.
Under President Jonathan, the unemployment rate stood at 7.5% (better than European Union) today. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, six and half years after Governor Amaechi’s government came in, unemployment is 33%.
Before the government came in, Nigeria’s poverty rate was 32% as of May 2015. We need not compare it against 71% today after 78 months of President Buhari’s administration.
Our External debt as of May 2015 stood at $7.3 billion, the Gini coefficient (degree of inequality) was not different from China’s as of 2015. In 343 weeks and four days of the current administration, our external debt has ballooned to $37.9 billion as of September 2021. It is important to point out that over 48% are bilateral and commercial loans.
With the facts above, I am sure that the Minister of Transport will rethink his fixation on the past and focus on the clear and present danger of an economy on the path to Argentina – sovereign debt default.
In the face of declining revenues, available public data revealed that external debt servicing gulped $1.82 billion between January and September 2021; this is 43.9% higher than the $1.27 billion spent in the corresponding period of 2020.
In the same period of January to September 2021, Domestic debt servicing rose to N1.74 trillion from N1.53 trillion recorded in the same period of 2020.
These issues should worry the Honourable Minister, coupled with unlocking the asphyxiating gridlock that Apapa port has created in the economy.
2406 days after, a clear 557 days (1 year five months) more than President Jonathan governed Nigeria; this administration’s economic policies and heightened insecurity have left the country comatose.
Minister Amaechi and the APC government should stop this perennial blame game and focus on redeeming its tattered image by signing the electoral bill passed by a legislature it controls.
Osita Chidoka former Corp Marshal, was the Minister for Aviation under President Goodluck Jonathan
As 2021 gradually comes to a climax, Nigerians are waiting patiently for President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the 2022 Budget, as most State Governors have presented their budgets for the New Year to their various Legislative Arms in their States.
Following the anxiety that has greeted the 2022 Budget, President Buhari is set to sign the 2022 Appropriation Bill on Friday, 31st December, 2021.
According to the Presidency, the budget has been transmitted by the National Assembly.
Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, confirmed this to Channels Television on Tuesday in Abuja, stressing that the 2022 budget has been transmitted by the National Assembly and the President will sign the bill into law by 10am on Friday morning.
This comes barely a week after the House of Representatives and Senate chambers of the National Assembly passed a budget of N17.126 trillion, increasing the benchmark price of crude from $57 to $62 per barrel.
The dreaded Cult Group that once terrorized suburb areas in Lagos and Ogun State has resurfaced in Agege Local Government area of Lagos State and its environs, causing fear and panic.
The underaged criminally minded Groups have, since the past week, wreaked havoc in the area, robbing residents in daylight, attacking and inflicting injuries on their victims and members of rival Cult groups.
Residents are scampering for safety as the Awawa Boys Cult Group unleash terror on their victims. Shops are under lock and key, as residents move around in fear.
A Youth-based Group in the Agege LG, under the aegis of Concerned Citizen’s of Agege Local Government, lamented that the insecurity that rocks the area is second to none,and is calling on security agencies in the State to come to the aid of Agege residents.
The Group lamented that the Chairman of Agege Local Government, Hon. Alhaji Ganiyu Egunjobi, has remained silent and failed to address the insecurity issue of the LG.
It added that for several weeks now, the LG Chairman has been absent at various functions in the LG, raising concerns over his whereabouts.
According to the Group, “We requested for the whereabouts of the Council boss after his non-appearance at various official functions for several weeks, and his continued silence over the insecurity issues that has led to loss of properties with residents unable to move around and sleep with their two eyes closed.
“We need to know the whereabouts of the Council boss. He was absent at Stakeholders Forum; the Vocational Students Graduation; the Local Government Retirees send- forth program; and the Agege Youth Week (THEME: Youth Impact in Security).
“He has not been physically present in all the above mentioned. As concerned citizens of Agege Local Government we need to know the whereabouts of our amiable Council Chairman. Agege is our Community and we have a right to know his whereabouts.
“Nevertheless, we have the menace of Awawa boys to contend with. They operate in large numbers, at times in daylight, robbing and inflicting injuries on their victims.
“We no longer have a secure and safe society in Agege Local Government. We urge the Council Boss to take concrete measures in tackling the persistent security challenges in Agege Local Government.”
The history of the dreaded Awawa Boys Group started in Agege, years ago, with boys aged between 12 and 20 walk together in large numbers gate-crashing parties and dancing. All disc jockeys knew their preferred tune.
If one didn’t settle them with food and cash, the host and guests were at risk of suffering bodily harm.
They have cult signs and marks on their bodies to show allegiance, and members are recruited from all the communities in the State and beyond.
Intelligence report by the Police revealed that they used their teenage girls to target men after which they would dispossess their victims of all their cash and valuables.
It would be recalled that during the reign of Muazu Zubairu as the Lagos State Police Commissioner, the Command arrested 34 arrowheads of the Awawa Group in one swoop through Operatives of Operation Crush who raided their hideouts within Agege area of the state after credible intelligence.
They were forced to move out of Lagos State as the State Police Command unleashed terror on them.
Now, they are gradually regrouping and causing havoc in Agege and its environs.
The Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC), has put on alert its Leaders across the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT about a possible nationwide Protest by January 27th, 2022.
The planned protest is hinged on the possibility of the Federal Government increasing the pump price of Petroleum products in the New Year.
NLC General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, in a letter dated December 20th, 2021, explained that the planned action against the Federal Government’s intention was sequel to the decision of the NEC reached at its meeting on Friday, 17th December, 2021.
According to the NLC scribe, other crucial decisions were also taken at the meeting of the highest decision making body of the Union.
“It is in furtherance of the said decisions that we write to inform you that 27th of January 2022 was picked as a day that Congress led protest rallies will hold in the 36 States of the Federation, against the plans of the Federal Government to increase the Pump Price of Petrol.”
The letter further requested State Chairmen of the NLC to convene a State Executive Council (SEC) meeting to map out strategies to ensure the success of the planned action in their respective States.
They were, also, urged to reach out to Civil society allies in their respective States for mobilization.
It added that a central working committee member of the NLC will be on hand on the day of the rally with the protest letter to be submitted to the Governor of each of the 36 States of the Federation.
There have been reports that the Federal Government is set to increase the pump price of petrol in the new year to as much as N340 per liter.
The increment, according to Government spokesmen, is premised on total withdrawal of subsidy on petrol.
Petrol sells currently in the country for between N165 and N170.
Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) has extended a gesture to parents whose wards are in final year classes in public schools in the State. He has approved funds for the payment of the 2022 West African Senior Secondary Schools Certificate Examination (WASSCE) registration fees.
Details of the approval, as announced by the state Ministry of Education indicate that only students in Senior Secondary School class three, in all Public Secondary Schools in the State are to benefit.
The Ministry of Education, Science & Technology confirmed the receipt of Mr. Governor’s approval of a sum of N515 Million Naira to cover the registration fees for all eligible Candidates and WAEC Charges for all Public Secondary Schools across the State.
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
The Commissioner, Mr Olufemi Agagu described the gesture as historic and thanked the Governor for his magnanimity.
According to him, the gesture was borne out of Mr. Governor’s desire to uplift the standard of education in the state, as well as his resolve to assist indigent students in achieving their educational pursuit.
Mr Agagu noted that the gesture would go a long way in ameliorating the burden of parents, and urged all stakeholders to support the Governor in his efforts at uplifting the standard of education in the State.
The Government, earlier this year approved and paid in full, the 2021 WASSCE registration fees for all SS3 students in Public Secondary Schools in the State.
It was gathered that not less than 15 thousand students spread across 180 public secondary schools are expected to benefit.
Further checks in the State revealed that each student in private secondary schools is expected to pay between N60 thousand and N80 thousand before such can be registered for the external examination.
The State Government has made it clear to parents whose children attend private institutions that its regulatory control of such institutions do not cover payment of fees.
Prof. Banji Akintoye, one of the strong voices and arrowhead of the Yoruba Nation agitation has unveiled a Mobile App called ‘Pajawiri’, in local parlance, which means ‘Emergency’, to track activities of Kidnappers and Fulani Herdsmen in the South West.
The renowned historian and leader of the umbrella body of Yoruba self-determination group, Ilana Omo Oodua, said the Mobile App is designed to track kidnappers and kidnapped victims in the South West zone of the country for immediate rescue.
Akintoye made the intention of launching the Mobile App and what it tends to achieve at an event in Ibadan, Oyo State Capital.
According to him, the application will expose criminal elements wherever they are with their victims, once the victims have the application installed in their phones, either on or off.
He said the security system, which can be downloaded on Play Store, also, has another system called ‘Afinihan’ that can be used by those without android phones to link up with those with the full application.
We have now proven to the world that we cannot be captured nor be subdued. We are too intellectually sophisticated to be subdued.
“It is these innovations and intellectual powers that we will deploy to get ourselves out of the quagmires of Nigeria,” the 86-year-old said, according to a statement by his spokesman, Maxwell Adeleye.
Continuing, he said, “Those in possession of the ‘Pajawiri’ app on their telephone, will be able to activate the app instantly, whenever they find themselves in danger. By activating the App, they will be able to alert their families, their friends and their neighbours that they are in danger and that they need help.
In that way, no Yoruba person needs to be alone anywhere on their farms, schools, market places, shops and anywhere else. Any person who finds himself threatened by danger and who is in possession of Pajawiri will be able to alert other persons for help.”
Akintoye had been seen at Yoruba Nation rallies with embattled agitator, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, before the latter’s arrest on July 19, 2021, at an airport in the neighbouring francophone West African nation.
Akintoye, who joined the event virtually from the Benin Republic, said the emergence of Pajawiri is evidence that the Yoruba people are too intellectually sophisticated to be subdued crime and curtail it to become minimal.
Former President Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo has debunked the allegation by Elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, that he hates the people of the Niger Delta.
In an open letter to Clark in response to Clark’s allegations (Clark), of his hatred for Niger Deltans, he reiterated that he had no iota of hatred for the Niger Delta Zone and its people.
Clark, Leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Ijaw National Congress, called out Obasanjo over what he termed adisappointing display of hatred against citizens of the oil-producing states in the country.
The elder statesman was reacting to Obasanjo’s recent attack on the National Secretary of the INC, Ebipamowei Wodu, during a peace and security summit convened by the Global Peace Foundation and Vision Africa in Abuja.
In his open letter titled, ‘My disappointment over your unprovoked outburst against the people of the Niger Delta region’, Clark highlighted alleged display of double standards over resource control by Obasanjo.
However, Obasanjo, in his reply, explained that as President, he followed positions provided by the Constitution in appointments and Resource Control.
In the letter dated December 28, 2021, and titled, My response to the open letter by Clark’, he said, “I have never shown any anger, distraught with Niger Delta region nor any part of Nigeria.
“Some of the languages you have deployed to describe me in your letter are offensive, uncouth and I totally and completely rejected them, I am not inconsistent, hypocritical, unstatesmanly, and nor am I anybody’s lackey.
“You use your own yardstick to judge others. I hope you think and adjust. Negotiation achieves better results than dictation. Revolution for sea-change may rarely happen and then we may continue to languish in frustration and regret with dire judgment in posterity.”
Contrary to speculations in Ekiti State that the outgoing Governor of the State, Kayode Fayemi, has chosen his successor to enable him continue from where he will stop, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele has debunked such claims.
Bamidele representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District at the Senate stated that Governor Fayemi has not endorsed any aspirant in the All Progressives Congress, APC, for Ekiti 2022 Governorship election, appealing to Ekiti people to ignore such talks.
He made this remarks while addressing APC Local Government Executive, elders and members in Otun-Ekiti, the Headquarters of Moba Local Government Area.
In his words, “if they are deceiving you, don’t deceive yourself . Governor Kayode Fayemi has not endorsed anybody. I have right to drop Governor Fayemi’s name because I have been his friend for 40 years. But I don’t want to tarnish his good name because it will look as if he wants to impose on the people of Ekiti state. I am here to appeal for your votes during the party’s primary in January.” he explained.
Eulogising Governor Fayemi, Senator Bamidele said God has anointed him (Fayemi) to turn around the fortune of Ekiti State for good through developmental programmes and policies.
Bamidele explained that he understands the feelings of the common man on the streets of Ekiti State.
His words: ”I have seen a lot in life , I understand what the common man feels on the streets because I have been in that condition before.
“I have been buying cars for people since 2001, there is no local government in Ekiti state that I have not bought car for anybody, with what I have achieved in lif , God has done well for me the only thing I am pursuing in life is the kingdom of God. Because of my experience in life, I have touched many lives in Ekiti land and I promise to do more when i become the Governor of the State in 2022.”
Bamidele also visited Ilejemeje, Oye and Ikole local governments to solicit support ahead of APC’s primary election for Ekiti 2022.
After spending four years in the captivity of Boko Haram, there is no hope that Leah Sharibu with regain her freedom, her parents have said.
ah Sharibu was one of the 110 female students of the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, who were abducted on February 19, 2018, by Boko Haram terrorists.
While others were released by the terrorists following negotiations, Leah, then 14 year-old, is still being held captive because she refused to renounce her Christian faith.
The Buhari administration said it has not given up hope that the abductee can still be rescued.
But her parents Nathan and Rebecca Sharibu, told The Punch they have lost hope after all legitimate efforts to free her from her abductors failed.
The parents spoke through the spokesperson for and Executive Director of the Leah Foundation, Dr Gloria Puldu.
According to Puldu , “Thank you very much for your concern. Let me tell you how the family has agreed to spend this Christmas. They said they were tired of speaking, crying and pleading with the government of Buhari, which is deaf to every call.
“So, it is agreed that they should remain silent and just call for continued prayers. They said they were tired of routine calls, which hurt so much that they had to just call on anyone who wished to stand with them to do so only in prayers.“We wish to respect the family’s wishes. We have only sent out Christmas greetings by calling for prayers.”
Meanwhile, the Gideon and Funmi Para-Mallam Peace Foundation, on Sunday, released a video calling for the release of Leah.
A renowned peace advocate and Executive Director of the organisation, Rev Gideon Para-Mallam, appealed to Buhari to facilitate the release of Leah.
He said, “Celebrating her fourth Christmas in captivity, I decided as I have always done every Christmas since 2018, to release a video appealing to all in Nigeria and the world to work assiduously for her release and the release of more young girls and women who remain in captivity.
“Silence is no answer to this present challenge! Leah is not just a citizen of this nation. She belongs to a family! Oh what pain her parents, father Nathan, mum Rebecca, and brother Nathan, other siblings and the entire family!
“Their hearts must be bleeding as Leah’s has bled all these years because of this involuntary separation. Oh God, my Ebenezer, arise with healing and deliverance in your wings and set your daughters, Leah, Alice Ngaddah, Grace Tuka, Lilian Gyang Daniel, Praise, Mwanret, Hauwa, Jamaba, Caroline, Christiana, Jummai, the three other Graces, and others too numerous to mention by name, free.”
