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Apostle Suleiman: The Cleric As The Oppressor-in-Chief

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The Source
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Comfort Obi

By Comfort Obi

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Alkali Baba, owes Nigeria an urgent duty. It is to order the arrest and investigation of Apostle Johnson Suleiman. As they say, “His own is too much!”

There are  compelling reasons  why Suleiman Should be a guest of the Police. First on the list is that the IGP needs to  reassure Nigerians that the  Police which he heads can protect both the poor and the rich; That the Police are not for the rich only; that they don’t act on the whims and caprice of the rich;   that they are  not in the pockets of the rich as an oppressive weapon against the poor; IGP Baba needs to protect the image of the invaluable institution called the Police. Baba, also, needs to, as is done in some countries, protect Nigeria’s image,  especially, in the hands of some so-called men of God who have reduced religion to, at once, an oppressive  and a get-rich-quick weapon. A weapon to deceive and destroy. A channel for lies and all kinds of abominable acts. It is time to separate the wheat from the chaff as is done in some  countries.

When you start,, they will scream blue murder, they will try to blackmail you. Ignore, and do your job. Weed the magicians, the jesters, the comedians, the cheats, the liars from the real men of God. Some of these guys are so bad that they fake miracles. They pay people to fake all kinds of illnesses, and pretend they have been cured at the touch of their hands on them. The cripple does not start to walk cautiously, they begin to run at once. The blind knows all the colors immediately, and the dumb reels out hundreds of words within a minute.

Now, Apostle Suleiman has introduced a new dimension.

Suleiman is the Overseer of the Warri-based Omega Fire Ministry, OFM. In more civilized climes, this Apostle should have since  been under investigation for  a number of issues bordering on the scandalous.

It was Suleiman who prayed  that COVID-19 should not come to end. He said it was good for his kind of business. Of course. He said he was making more money than before COVID-19. Of course. When people, women in particular, are at their most vulnerable, they flood worship places for any kind of consolation. He even told us that he purchased another private jet within same period.

And, it is this same Suleiman who, on, at least, two occasions got entangled in scandalous situations over alleged untidy dalliances with women. As I write, another one involving two Nollywood actresses is brewing. A smooth talker, each time, he manages to wriggle  out.

In the instant case,  Suleiman is introducing something akin to yahoo- yahoo into the House of God. And, he should since have been invited by the Police for lying against the Angels of God, for deceiving people, for lying against an innocent Nigerian, and for causing his arrest and detention by the Police.

The story is public, but a brief recap is necessary.

A prosperity preacher, Suleiman took the abracadabra and the antics we read of,  and hear of,  everyday,  from his type,

a notch higher than before.

Here’s what he did.

During two Church programs, Holy Ghost Conference 2021, tagged Harvest of Miracle Money, Suleiman prayed and urged   Angels from Heaven to send money to the account of some of the members. He asked them to confirm.

Right there, some members confirmed getting credit alerts on their accounts from Angels.

Magic? Are there banks in Heaven. Do Angels store money in Heaven? Are they God’s accountants who He asks to dispense money to whom he pleases? And, why would that be exclusive to Apostle Suleiman’s congregation? Are the other Clerics not praying hard enough? Are the bank in Heaven, managed by Angels  the source of Suleiman’s inexplicable wealth?

Apostle Sulaiman
Apostle Suleiman

These were the questions that bothered many, including, perhaps, some members of Suleiman’s congregation who lost out in the abracadabra.

This largesse from Angels bothered, in particular, a YouTuber, Isreal Balogun. He analyzed the video of the miracle, and told Suleiman that he lied. That no Angels sent any money to anybody. That what Suleiman embarked on was a deliberate mass deceit of his congregation. Balogun’s audacity stung the Apostle.

When such truths as told by Balogun became public, the best Suleiman could have done was to ignore; pretend not to have  heard or read about it;  turn a blind eye and a deaf ear so as not to expose himself to more ridicule. When you take note and make noise to cover up, those who neither heard nor read the story go back and look it up. It spreads.

But people like Suleiman don’t do that.They crush. They  flaunt  powers. They flaunt connections.  And in the instant case, Suleiman  had to lie against Balogun for daring to tell him he deceived his congregation.

He reported Suleiman to the   Police, the Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID, FCT, Abuja. Not to God.

I have a relation who is in the irritating habit of telling people: “I have reported you to the Court of God.” In Suleiman’s case, he refused to go to the Court of God. He went to the Police. One of  Balogun’s  offences: cyber-stalking. How?

But the Police went to work, all the same. And here’s what they did.

According to Balogun’s lawyer, Inibeche Effiong,  Balogun was invited and kept for hours before calling him in to write a statement. That’s silent torture. When he was eventually called in, it took another four hours to write his statement and answer questions. Thereafter, he was given bail – very stringent conditions, considering the alleged offence he committed.

He was asked to bring two people with landed property in Abuja to bail him. In addition to that, he was asked to bring a level 14 Civil Servant who should come along with his letter of last promotion. All these, just because Balogun told Suleiman the truth, which is: that no Angels transferred any money to anybody.

Anyway, they got a level 13 officer instead of level 14, and the Police “kindly” accepted. They fulfilled all other bail conditions. But there was a snag. The Civil Servant had only the photocopy of his letter of last promotion. The original was at home. And the Police insisted on that. It gave them the opportunity to throw Balogun into the cell. That was Suleiman’s aim from the beginning.

What country   is this? What did Balogun do wrong? What were the stringent bail conditions all about? What was the result of the investigation? Did the Police speak with the Angels? Did they invite those who got credit alerts to confirm where the money came from? Did they ask the Banks?  And, did they invite Apostle Suleiman to hear his conversations with the Angels? They did none. There must be proof, a recording of the conversation. We need to hear from the Angels.

Suleiman embarked on a show of power. Because he has money, which invariably gave him a measure of clout and influence, he embarked on the intimidation of “a nobody.”

What does the Bible teach him? What does he tell God in prayers? With what he did to Balogun, knowing the truth, how did he sleep for the period Balogun was in detention. And Suleiman had an accomplice in the Police.

I agree with Balogun’s lawyer, Effiong, when he said “There is no reason why the Police should get involved. Suleiman should have gone to Court to file legal action if he felt he had been defamed.”

Sure, for, what is the business of the Police in the  case? If Suleiman felt he was defamed, all he had to do was get his lawyer to write to Balogun, ask him to apologise, take down the post, or have him sued. That is how it is done.

But Apostle Suleiman wanted to show power. He wanted to intimidate Balogun, and he had a willing tool in the Police. That is another job for IGP Baba. He needs to ask his people what their business was in the case. Why they detained Balogun. And, why the stringent bail conditions? If no satisfactory answers are given, he should investigate them along with Suleiman.

I know why Apostle Suleiman resorted to the easy way out. He didn’t want to be interrogated by the law or by anybody. Some men of God are the reasons we are where we are today in the country. They climb the pulpit, and from there, they lie about just everything. They exaggerate. They play to the gallery.Their preachings are influenced. They are corrupted.They stand on the pulpit and lie before God, using His name, without fear.

One of my greatest regrets is that nobody interrogates them (in the Church) after their preaching. It would have been nice to interrogate them, you know, ask them questions on some of the points they made, on some of the stories they told, on some of the predictions they make.

A number of them see nothing but doom. They see nothing but tragedies. They see nothing but death and destruction and disaster. They are scare-mongerers.

They are preachers and prophets of doom. They predict the most frivolous things. They say there will be flood. There will be earthquake. There will be storm. There will be rain. This person will die. That person will die. This person needs prayers to survive. It is only the big men and women that they see. Not the poor. God shows them only the rich, some of whom will run to them for prayers to avert the “looming danger.” They don’t go empty-handed.

Interestingly, when tragedy would befall these Seers and Prophets, they never see them coming. Not one of them has predicted their own  personal tragedies. Or the ones that suddenly befell us. For instance, they never predicted the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has turned our lives upside down and inside out.

What has saved them is that nobody whose false death or ill-health they predicted has sued them.

They read the Holy Books, the Bible and the Koran, but they interpret them on face value. Their interpretations are not only tailored toward their selfish yearnings, they are meant to deceive the congregation. They go about with scores of armed security personnel, but ask their congregation to buy “holy water, annoited oil, emblems, handkerchiefs” for protection. They have so brainwashed their followers that everything they say is believed. Every lie they tell is believed. How come God talks only to them so easily, at the drop of the hat?

Nobody should allow these guys demystify God for us. They are trying to, but He  sees through their lies and deceit.

The Suleiman and Balogun incident is a good example. How can anybody believe that Angels from Heaven credited money to anybody’s  accounts? One of two things happened.

It is either Suleiman asked those who confirmed they got alerts to lie, or he got their account numbers and transferred money to them. That ought to have been the beginning of Police investigation. Show us proof, the Police ought to have asked him.

I have an unsolicited advice for Balogun. He should sue Apostle Johnson Suleiman for everything he has got. The time has come to drag these people, and put their outrageous claims to test.

Suleiman’s case will be interesting.

Obi is the Editor-in-Chief/CEO of The Source (Magazine), https://thesourceng.com.  Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Apostle Suleman’s Life Of One Day, One Trouble

By
Bayo Bernard
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0

By Fola James

For Nigerian televangelist Apostle Johnson Suleman, it is one day one trouble, as another alleged amorous relationship with a lady has surfaced threatening his reputation as a man of God, MoG.

The latest revelation by an actress Chioma Ifemeludike, that the fiery preacher and Senior Pastor of Omega Fire Ministry made love to her in a hotel has raised the bar about Suleman’s alleged extra marital affairs, many of his critics said.

Ifemeludike revelation came barely eight months after Mike David, a former Pastor of Suleman’s church, took him to the cleaners, accusing him of having sexual relationship with his wife of many years.

This also came barely one month after a Nigeria, Israel Balogun rubbished him for misleading his congregation that angels will deposit money in their accounts.

For slamming Suleman for fake miracles, Balogun said he received death threats from the preacher’s supporters. He was later arrested by the police, according to him, on the orders off those working for Suleman, but has since been released following the public outcry that greeted the matter.

Ifemeludike, a popular Nollywood actress and Youtuber, said twice she slept with the preacher who paid her N500,000 on both occasions in one of the popular hotels in Lagos.

The actress who is the brain behind the YouTube drama series, ‘Corpers Heaven’, claimed that she had to make the relationship public to clear her conscience.

According to her, she met the controversial Apostle through her colleague, actress, Lynda-Clems Bishop.

She said, “Dear @lyndaclems, I have to tell the world about that hookup you arranged between @johnson_suleman_official and myself on the 20th November 2016 in a hotel at Ikeja, the Apostle secretly gave me his number and we had a second meeting at Oriental Hotels Lagos.

“I’m sorry my conscience can’t hold it anymore. I encourage you to tell the truth as a mother and a Christian, to put the devil to shame and save millions of souls being misled. To my family and friends, I am sorry, don’t judge me.

“Please pray for me so the light of God will continue to expose every work of darkness in my life and the church of God,” she said.

Pastor David had in January this year accused Suleman of having sex with his wife, Ruth, in a hotel room in the presence of her baby. Davids also accused Suleman of breaking his marriage, aside preventing him from gaining access to his children.

David said: “Apostle Suleman has damaged my life. I have not seen my wife and children for two years, and Apostle Suleman says if I ever go near them, he will have me taken out. I have a video where he said he will make me disappear. I don’t want to lose my life.”

But David’s wife dismissed his allegation, accusing his estranged husband of abandoning the marriage; a situation she said made her suicidal. She accused her husband of deliberately trying to destroy the reputation of the Clergy man.

A twist, however, emerged in the scandal after Pastor Davids begged Suleiman for forgiveness.

But that only worsened the case for the preacher as those watching his alleged scandals said the man of God has devised a clever way of cleaning up his ugly tracks.

His critics point to an earlier claim by Pastor Davids that he helped the Edo state-born pastor covered up another sexual mess with a Nigerian born Canada based Stephanie Otobo.

In 2016, Suleman became an object of a sex scandal after Otobo also known as Kimora, released a set of damaging snap chat shots on the internet allegedly of herself and the Pastor, whom, she claimed, impregnated and dumped her.

The duo, according to the dancer started an affair in 2015 after Suleman had told her that he was divorced and wanted more male children.

Their affair came to a sour end when Stephanie discovered she was pregnant in September 2016, and informed the Pastor. She said she lost the pregnancy after she was allegedly given a concoction to drink by Suleiman.

Many had criticized Suleman for the alleged scam, so much so that the foundation of his ministry was almost shaken to its very foundation. Davids later claimed he was part of the team that helped to resolve the matter.

With the latest revelation, however, critics of the stylish pastor said he would need to do more to purge himself of the allegation that he slept with a woman other than his beautiful wife.

Ekiti Govt Charges Health Centres To Subject Malaria Patients To COVID Test

By
Bayo Bernard
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Still finding ways to reduce the escalating rise in the number of COVID-19 cases, the Ekiti State Government has directed private health centres to subject patients with reported cases of malaria symptoms to COVID-19 test.

The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Skin Omole, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Ado Ekiti.

He said that the State Ministry of Health came out with the idea in order to ensure that private healthcare facilities comply with best practices and laid down COVID-19 case management guidelines, as well as the protocols for healthcare facility management during a pandemic.

“The State Government has observed that the recent fatalities from confirmed cases were patients who presented rather too late, at the State’s Isolation Centres.

“The recent increase in the number of confirmed cases, and the late presentation resulting in fatalities, has necessitated the urgent need to remind concerned parties of the need for a high level of suspicion and strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols in all private health facilities, to protect both staff and patients, and to reduce community transmission of the deadly virus.

“Sequel to this development, the Honourable Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani issued a letter to the Association General and Private Medical Practitioners, Ekiti State chapter, and subsequently met with them virtually on Saturday, August 21, 2021.

“The meeting was also an avenue to concretise arrangements for the training of healthcare providers on the management of COVID-19 related cases, and to provide rapid test kits to hospitals for quick detection and treatment.

“All these measures already exist in public hospitals, and we are only ensuring alignment of what the public and private health sectors are doing.

“In addition, all private facilities must ensure all patients with fever, cough, catarrh, rapid breathing (tachypnoea) and related symptoms are tested for COVID-19 at their facilities.

“Also, all patients that are not responding to treatment, and who are exhibiting symptoms associated with Covid-19 should be immediately referred to the nearest General Hospital or Isolation Center,” quoting the commissioner for health, Dr. Oyebanji Filani.

“The Government of Ekiti State wishes to remind the general public that Ekiti State is currently experiencing an increase in the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases, with 95 confirmed positive cases in the month of July and 265 positive cases to date, compared to only 14 confirmed positives from April to June 2021.

“This comparative analysis clearly shows that we are in the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the public is advised to adhere strictly to the prevention protocols.

“The State Government also notes that over 97% of positive cases and critically ill persons had not received the COVID-19 vaccine.

“This indicates that taking the vaccine offers a high level of protection against the virus and protects people from severe illness.

“We hereby encourage as many people as possible to get vaccinated as soon as the vaccination exercise commences.

“Ekiti continues to lead as a model sub-national government with integrated and holistic responses to tackle COVID-19 and cushion its economic impact on the people.”

2023: PDP Accuses APC Of Using EFCC To Harass, Cow, Oppress Opposition

By
Bayo Bernard
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0
Uche Secondus

By Akinwale Kasali

Leading opposition Party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has raised alarm over the alleged use of anti graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to harass, cow and intimidate members of the opposition, who have potentials of eyeing the Presidency come 2023.

This allegation is coming in the wake of the arrestof former Abia State Governor, Senator Theodore Orji, who was intercepted by the anti graft agencies on his way to London, United Kingdom at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, Abuja, the country’s Capital.

Also, former Senate President and former Kwara State Governor, Bukola Abubakar Saraki, has been a frequently caller at the EFCC office, as he had been, on at least, two occasions, invited and detained on allegation of corruption and diversion of State funds.

Saraki, also has his eye on the Presidential seat, having been an aspirant in the 2015 Presidential Election under the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, before jumping ship and back to base, to the PDP fold.

The PDP also stressed that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration is using the EFCC to hound and harass its leaders in a renewed move to cow and weaken opposition formation ahead of the 2023 general elections.

It also added that aside Theodore Orji and Bukola Saraki, it has harassed Rabiu Kwankwaso and Seriake Dickson over what it termed alleged trumped up charges whereas APC members with similar allegations have been left to wander off.

In a statement issued by Kola Ologbondiyan, its National Publicity Secretary, the PDP stated that no amount of intimidation, harassment and use of anti-graft agencies to clampdown on its leaders on trumped up corruption charges, can cow or make the the party to surrender or abdicate the mandate “already given to it by Nigerians to lead in the effort to rescue our nation, come 2023.

“The APC knows that it has been rejected by Nigerians having failed woefully and that there is no way it can win elections under any condition.

“As such, it seeks to use the state apparatus of power to decimate and muzzle opposition and dissenting voices and foist an anti-democratic situation on Nigerians.

“Part of this heinous plot by the APC is to use the EFCC to bully, harass and hound PDP leaders, who are rallying Nigerians for the task ahead, with a view to coercing them to abdicate the mandate of the people and join the APC.

“This explains why the EFCC and other security agencies have been harassing PDP leaders such as former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former PDP state governors, including the former governor of Abia state, Senator Theodore Orji, former governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, his Kano State counterpart, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and other key PDP leaders, on trump up charges, while their counterparts in the APC with similar allegations as well as others who had defected to the APC are moving around freely.

“Even corrupt officials of the APC administration, who are looting our national treasury, are doing so freely, under Buhari’s watch.

“Furthermore, our party has been made aware of plots by the APC administration to use the EFCC to further harass outspoken PDP chieftains in a bid to muzzle our party, force a one-party state and deny Nigerians a voice to challenge the atrocities of the APC and its administration.

“We alert Nigerians of how many of our leaders are being harassed by emissaries of the APC in a bid to get them to compromise their stand against the corrupt and inept APC administration.

“If the APC had done well; if it had not devastated Nigerians and brought so much pain to the people; if the APC had managed our national resources well instead of engaging in unbridled treasury looting, stealing over N15 trillion naira and turning our nation into poverty capital of the world; if APC had not compromised our national security and threw our nation open to bandits, insurgents and terrorists, would it not be celebrating by now instead of this plot to force the people to submission?

“In all, the APC should know that their evil enterprise cannot bend our leaders or sway Nigerians to jettison their determination to oust the APC from office at all levels across the country, come 2023.

“Nigerians already know that they are saddled with a “failed President” and his ‘failed APC’ for the remaining of his second and final term which will end in 2023.”

The PDP, however, called on the EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, to quickly insulate the Commission from APC’s “manipulative enterprise, which ruined the former leadership of the commission, especially as this clampdown cannot save the APC in 2023.

Bandits Release 15 Abducted Bethel Baptist High School Students

By
Bayo Bernard
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

There seems to be hope for the remaining 65 abducted students of Bethel High School, Damishi, Kaduna State, following the release of 15 students from the Bandits captivity.

Confirming the release of the 15 Students, Joseph Hayab, chairman of the Kaduna state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said that the students were released on Saturday night by the bandits.

On July 5, 2021, bandits had invaded the school located some few kilometers away from Kaduna metropolis and abducted 121 students.

The Kaduna CAN chairman said the remaining students still in captivity are now 65.

Hayab said there would be no reunion ceremony for the freed students, adding that their parents will simply pick them up and go home.

The bandits had said that the students would be released in batches when they freed the first batch of 28 on July 25, 2021, after they were said to have collected a ransom of N100m.

After the release of the 28 students in July, the bandits were said to have demanded another N80m for the release of the remaining 80 students.

It was learnt that an undisclosed amount of money was paid before the 15 students were freed.

Israel Akanji, President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), had earlier said no ransom will be paid for the release of the students

South South, Benue States Insist No Room For Grazing Sites

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

South South Governors Forum, and Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state have tackled President Muhammadu Buhari over his order to review 368 grazing sites in 25 states in the country.

The governors expressed shock at the decision of the Federal Government to go ahead with the plan to review the establishment of grazing sites, despite the stiff opposition to it by the people of Southern Nigeria.

On his part, Governor Ortom said he was disappointed with members of the committee which recommended that grazing reserves be established in parts of the country.

“They are the real enemies of Nigeria. Theirs is hypocrisy of the highest order. Members of the committee should know that posterity will judge everyone according to their deeds here on earth. Above all, there is God.”

Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum and Delta State Governor Okowa, noted that President Buhari’s decision subtly reminded him that governors had the authority over the lands in their states.

Governor Okowa, who spoke through the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, said the state House of Assembly had already passed into law the anti-open grazing bill.

“We are in a country of law and the law has given governors the control of land in their states. The governor is the one who gives the Certificate of Occupancy to every individual and allows them to have full ownership of the land.

“We are convinced that very soon, the Federal Government will begin to have a rethink, knowing well that it is not legal for Mr President to be the one to map out land in the states.”

In a state by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ortom,

Terver Akase maintained that  “If President Buhari must actualize his cattle agenda in Benue State, he should be ready to kill all of us! We know that grazing reserves and cattle routes are the only project that the President has for Nigeria, but Benue is not interested in such a project.

“Governor Samuel Ortom has repeatedly stated that there is no land for grazing reserves or cattle routes in Benue State.

“Though the Federal Government craftily concealed the names of states where Mr President has ordered that grazing reserves be foisted on the people, we wish to categorically state that no part of Benue will be allocated for grazing reserves or cattle routes!

“The stand of the Governor is not personal; it is the collective decision of Benue people.  There is no gazetted land or cattle route in Benue State. Our state should be counted out of the proposed grazing reserves programme.

“They introduced Cattle Colonies, Ruga and National Water Resources Bill, but Nigerians rejected all the policies.

“The latest push for grazing reserves and cattle routes is surely the final onslaught against majority of Nigerians who must be deprived of their God-given lands to accommodate foreign herdsmen moving into the country for the occupation agenda.”

President Buhari had on Thursday approved the recommendations of a committee to review with dispatch 368 grazing sites in 25 states in the country to determine the levels of encroachment.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement titled, ‘President Buhari approves review of grazing reserves in 25 states.’

Ekiti Mourns As Former Administrator, Gen Adetunji Olurin Dies

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
General Adetunji Olurin

By Akinwale Kasali and  Ayodele Oni

A former Commander, ECOWAS Monitoring Group, (ECOMOG), General Adetunji Idowu Olurin Is Dead. Olurin reportedly died in LUTH on Saturday morning.

He was aged 76.

General Olurin, of the popular Olurin family in Ilaro Yewa, served Nigeria and ECOWAS in many capacities among which are ECOMOG Commander, Military Administrator of Oyo State, Civilian Administrator of Ekiti State and Chancellor of Nigeria’s first University of Education, TASUED.

Olurin was the Commander, 1st Mechanized Brigade, Minna, GOC, 3rd Armoured Division, Jos.

He has also lectured on peacekeeping at the International Peace Academy, the National War College, and United Nations seminars in Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal.

Olurin was a recipient of many honours including the United Nations Peace Medal and the Knight Commander of the Humane Order of African Redemption (KCHOAR), Liberia’s highest national honour award. He is an honorary paramount chief of the Republic of Liberia.

In a tribute, the Governor of Ekiti State,  Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has expressed his condolences on the death of former Administrator of the State.

Gen. Olurin, served as Sole Administrator of Ekiti State for six months between October 19, 2006 and April 27, 2007 during the state of emergency imposed by the Olusegun Obasanjo Administration in the wake of political crisis that engulfed the state at the time.

Governor Fayemi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, described Gen. Olurin’s death as a great loss to Nigeria, Ogun State, his home state and Ekiti, which he helped stabilised during the six-month emergency rule.

He described the late General as a selfless statesman, courageous soldier and an altruistic patriot who served his country diligently while in active service and during his retirement.

The Governor pointed out that the deceased discharged his duties as the Sole Administrator of Ekiti State with a great measure of fairness and firmness  and left some legacies he would be remembered for in the annals of history of the Land of Honour.

Dr. Fayemi said although the late Gen. Olurin was a soldier, he was a man of the people who was very much concerned about their welfare and ever ready to solve problems brought to his attention.

The Governor noted that Gen. Olurin brought his humane nature and professionalism to bear during his tenure as the Military Governor of the old Oyo State and while on peace- keeping assignment as the Field Commander of ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) in Liberia.

According to him, the history of how a lasting peace was achieved in the then war- torn Liberia would not be complete without a worthy mention and glowing chapters written on the sterling contributions of the late General Olurin.

He expressed sadness that Gen. Olurin’s demise came just few weeks after the death of a distinguished daughter of Ekiti, Mrs. Abike Sonoiki, who served during the emergency rule as  Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

The Governor prayed God to grant the family and associates of the deceased the fortitude to bear the loss, urging them to be consoled by the legacies of service, selflessness and excellence he left behind.

“On behalf of the Government and good people of Ekiti State, I commiserate with the immediate family and associates of our amiable General Olurin. Our prayer is that God will grant the deceased eternal rest and grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.” the Governor said.

Ife/Modakeke Killing: We Are On Top Of Situation – Govt, Police

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Ife and Modakeke

By Ayodele Oni

Osun State Government has allayed the fears of a possible resurgence of the Ife/Modakeke crisis, just as the State Commissioner of Police led a detachment of officers to the areas.

The State Government, in a statement,  appealed to the people of the areas not to allow criminal elements to seize any situation to unleash mayhem on the people.

The statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Mrs Funke Egbemode, informed that government has also ordered immediate deployment of armed policemen with support from the army in the troubled areas to forestall possible breakdown of law and order.

Mrs. Egbemode, spoke after a meeting of Government officials with heads of security agencies, where the situation in Ife and Modakeke areas was critically examined.

“Government, while sympathising with the families of those that died in the unfortunate incident, also called on security operatives to get to the root of the circumstances leading to the death of the deceased.

“It also counselled residents and citizens not to take the laws into their hands.

“Mr. Governor personally spoke to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi and the Ogunsua of Modakeke, Oba Moses Oyediran Oladejo and they both assured him of their commitment to peace by ensuring that the people from both areas also continue to remain peaceful and law abiding.

“As Government, we are resolved to do everything possible to protect citizens from actual and potential threats.

“To this end, we have ordered immediate deployment of security operatives to restore law and order.

“We have also directed security operatives to arrest and prosecute any person found fomenting trouble and to fish out those responsible for the killing of the five farmers.

“Government enjoins all citizens to be peaceful and to be law abiding as all efforts shall be made to protect them and their property.”

Spokesman for the Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Olawoyin, in a statement said that “The Commissioner of Police, Osun State Police Command, CP Olawale Olokode, psc in his usual pragmatic approach to tackle crime and criminalities wishes to assures the residents of Alape via Modakeke area of adequate security coverage as he personally lead the Police Response Team and Tactical Unit of the Command to the scene of the incident where about five (5) people were fiercely murdered in the early hour of 20th August, 2021, in order to restore normalcy.

“The CP appeals to the residents of the area to remain calm as the Command is resolute to get to the root cause(s) of the dastardly act and the perpetrator(s) will be brought to book.

“The Commissioner of Police urges the residents of the area to avail the Command credible information that will fast track the arrest of the perpetrator(s) of the evil act.”

Breaking: Oyo Former Governor Is Dead

By
Bayo Bernard
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0
General Adetunji Olurin

A former military administrator of Oyo state, General Adetunji Olurin is dead. Olurin served as Sole Administrator of Ekiti State following declaration of State of Emergency by the then President Olusegun Obasnajo civilian administration, during the Governor Ayo Fayose administration.
He also contested for the Governorship of Ogun State in 2011.
The Ilaro Ogun State- born Army General had a successful career in the Nigerian armed forces before he retired.

He was 78 years old.

More details later…………

 

Porous Nigeria Borders, Lack Of Information, Impediments To Tackling Insecurity – Fmr Reps Member Akinlaja

By
Ayodele Oni
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Chief Joseph Akinlaja

By Ayodele Oni

Veteran labour leader and former member, House of Representatives, Chief Joseph Akinlaja has listed some impediments against tackling insecurity in Nigeria.

Chief Akinlaja, a two time Reps member for Ondo East and Ondo West identified compromise by officers manning the different points of entry into Nigeria that allow illegal entry of weapons into the country; the officers and operations to thwart the efforts of bandits and terrorists that are compromised.

According to him, the citizens who know and can identify the bandits and terrorists yet do not disclose the information to appropriate authority also compromise the fight against insecurity.

He was speaking, while delivering a lecture titled “Insecurity: Roles of the Society and the Media,” in Akure at the public lecture and award nite, organized by Corespondents Chapel of the Ondo state Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ).

“Interestingly, these same individuals turn around to expect there should be peace and calm everywhere. Where are those weapons from, what are they meant for.

“These acts are perpetuated by those whose moral upbringing is suspicious. Those who have lowered their level of moral uprightness and for these reasons see nothing absolutely wrong in these acts.”

The veteran labour leader listed Causes of insecurity to include “unemployment; corruption; imbalance in development; weak judicial system; illiteracy; inadequacy of basic amenities, whether social or infrastructural; narcotic/psychotropic substances; open borders; influx of arms especially, small arms and light weapons; inadequate distribution of wealth; ethno-religious animosity and shrinking socio-cultural value system, etc.

“Socio-cultural value system

Almost on a daily, weekly and monthly basis, security agencies kill or arrest large numbers of criminals and bandits. Focusing on terrorism alone, since the very serious crackdowns on Boko Haram terrorists, several thousands of the fighters have been killed and some of their enclaves have been destroyed.

“But, is it not curious that since the spate of killings of the terrorists and destruction of their enclaves, they keep striking?  Certainly, there is a stream or reservoir that is bolstering their ranks. This is evident in the number of suicide missions conducted particularly by teenagers.

“It is said that as citizens whether individual or corporate, if everyone accounts for every family member and upholds the tenets of moral, religious, cultural, societal and traditional values, there would be no terrorists, bandits, robbers, arms smugglers, child traffickers, cattle rustlers, militants, corruption etc.

“Subsequently, the work of the government, military and security agencies would be easier. There is a social orientation campaign which says, ‘‘if you see something, say something’’

“I found this to be profound, instructive and lucid, and suffices for everyone to key into this. Once our societies are populated with good moral and religious behaviours, the fight against insecurity would be easier to win. Once absolute peace is restored, the atmosphere would be created for our youths to unleash their creative potentials and the economy would grow at exponential rate.

Chief Akinlaja observed that the roles of the media in tackling insecurity, are limited by “lots of challenges, ranging from poor welfare package for media practitioners, lack of continuous and constant training and retraining exercises for media workers, the tendency of journalists to be self-censored for fear of victimization by their employers to reluctance of citizens to give information for fear of being attacked.

“As the fourth estate of the realm, the media determine dominant values, perceptions and attitudes of the society by its impact on it. The importance of the media in addressing national security in a democratic setting cannot be overemphasized as it is the bridge between the people and its societal activities.

“For any activity to get noticed, it must be reported by the media. The media must therefore make national security part of its principal agenda so as to make positive impacts.

“Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended entrusted the media with the power to monitor governance and uphold the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy as enshrined in Chapter 2 of the Constitution.

“The media need to set agenda for themselves in tackling insecurity. It must also provide platforms to the religious leaders to preach and admonish against criminal acts of any kind especially terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, ritual killing etc. This will not only make security issues attract attention but also raise citizens’ consciousness to security and crimes matters.”

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