TRANSVIEW MAGAZINE

Saturday, 5 May 2018

2019: Unless these killings stop, there may be no elections - Pastor Adeboye

The general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye has expressed dismay over the continuous killings in various parts Nigeria. He said the country may cease to exist if nothing is urgently done to end it.

Speaking at the May 2018 Holy Ghost service, the cleric warned that “unless the killings stopped there may not be elections in 2019 in Nigeria,” noting that no nation can survive a religious war and remain the same, Vanguard reports.

The man of God said he was unusually quiet when he heard of the attack by suspected herdsmen on St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Ukpor-Mbalom Parish, Gwer East local government area of Benue state which left two Catholic priests and 17 parishioners dead.

He said when his wife inquired why he was unusually quiet, he replied that: “There is no father who would lose 19 children in a day that will not be quiet. She said what do you mean, because she hadn’t heard the news that in a church, somebody went in and shot 19 people.

“It doesn’t matter the denomination…by the special grace of God, all Christians in Nigeria call me daddy. So when any of them dies, it’s my son or daughter that is dead.”

It will be recalled that on April 24, 19 persons, including Reverend Fathers Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha, who were conducting the morning Mass were gunned down in cold blood, while many sustained injuries, including bullet wounds.

Adeboye called on the Buhari led government to urgently end the killings before it dovetails into a religious war, adding that there may be no elections in 2019 if urgent action is not taken.

He said: “I am going to ask you to join me in prayer, because unless these killings stop, and stop immediately, even Nigeria may not live. I am not talking about individuals now, I am talking about Nigeria itself…a bishop asked me not too long ago, ‘Daddy, has God told you who win the next election?’

“I said, Sir, I am not even sure yet there will be an election. Because unless these killings stop, there may be no elections next year. ‘Are you prophesying Daddy?’ No, no! I am not prophesying. I am just reasoning. Because nobody will want to go out to vote if they are not sure they will be able to return home safely.”

According to him, he has seen war at close quarters and he knows that there is nothing good about war which he described as a terrible thing.

“A nation may survive a civil war, but no nation can survive a religious war a remain the same. That Nigeria may live these killings must stop. So all of you who love Nigeria, I want to rise on your feet, and cry to God with all your heart, and say: Father, let the killings stop that Nigeria may live, please God let the killings stop.”

Earlier the National body of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Sunday, April 29, protested against the spars of killings in the country, particularly, Benue state where two Catholic priests and 17 parishioners were gruesomely killed by herdsmen militia on Tuesday, April 24.

Amid the tight security, most churches in Makurdi observed the protest within their church premises on Sunday as well as putting on black attire as directed by the state CAN chairman, Rev. Akpen Leva. There was an air surveillance by police chopper between 9am and 11.30am, all signals of security against any break down of law and order in the state capital.

Friday, 4 May 2018

APC, PDP cannot lead Nigeria to the Promised Land - Shehu Sani

Senator Shehu Sani (APC-Kaduna Central) has stated that there is a need for the emergence of a new political party which would take Nigeria to the Promised Land, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), cannot.

Speaking at the symposium organised on Thursday, May 3, by the Magodo Associates, Sani said the new party should consist of intellectuals, the working class and youths. The symposium held at the Afe Babalola Auditorium, University of Lagos.

Sani said none of the existing major political parties in the country could do the job; hence, there was need for a new party.

The senator opined that the APC is built around President Muhammadu Buhari; but that this integrity is not enough to govern a plural country like Nigeria.

He stated: “What we have here is one man whose major asset is integrity; but how many within that camp can also beat their chests and say they are as credible as he is?

“We are talking about building a nation and moving it forward, but can just the integrity of the president move the nation to the Promised Land?

“When we are talking about the qualities of leadership, if only integrity and credibility is what you need to be in public office… integrity or credibility is just one of so many things a leader needs, especially in a troublesome country like Nigeria.

“There as lot of things a leader needs. We need a leader that can give every person the confidence that he is going to be fair and just. We also need a leader who is visionary, who can move the country from where it is to where it should be.”

He continued: “The intellectuals need to move forward; you need not be scared of the political terrain. Most people you see in political offices, outside they say they are representing the people, but they represent an individual, a certain power broker.

“The existing dominant political parties cannot lead us to the Promised Land; there is a need for a progressive political class to come together, reach out to the academics, the intelligentsia, the working class, come out together with a party that is run on a certain ideology.”

Sani also pointed out that “fighting corruption cannot be the only objective or the idea and only focus of a government.”

Senator Shehu Sani in a related story described the All progressives Congress (APC) as a reluctant party.

While delivering a lecture at a programme in Abeokuta, Ogun state, Sani said the APC had contradictions within its fold. Also describing the Peoples Democratic (PDP) as a timid opposition, Sani said the party has failed to play its roles in the present administration.

He said the only reason PDP was formed was to pursue the military out of power in 1999 while APC aimed at driving the former president Goodluck Jonathan out of power in 2015.

Thursday, 3 May 2018

2019: Arewa youths to hold mock election for Northern presidential candidates

Mock elections would be held for all the presidential aspirants from the North including President Muhammadu Buhari, leaders of the the Arewa Consultative Youth Movement (ACYM) announced on Thursday, May 3.

The development was made public by the ACYM president, Comrade Kabiru Yusuf, as he delivered his acceptance speech. Yusuf said the poll would be conducted in order to get a presidential candidate that shared the same vision with the youths.

Our source notes that other presidential aspirants listed are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe state; Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state; former Governor of Kaduna state, ‎Senator Ahmed Makarfi; former Governor of Kano state, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; and former Governor of Jigawa state, Sule Lamido.

Yusuf stated: “Several politicians and aspirants from the North have indicated interest in the forth-coming 2019 presidential election. We shall, in due course, conduct a mock election with a view to feeling the pulse of the youth from the North and eventually deciding on a most prospective candidate.

“The mock election will soon commence on our website and will last for ‎a period of 60 days before the announcement of results. I enjoin all of us to think critically about this before we make our choice and also mobilise for him.

“There cannot be a better chance for us to contribute to give Nigeria the kind of leadership it deserves in this 21st century. The abject poverty and insecurity ‎in the North must be tackled head-on, and it is our responsibility.

In a related development.Senator Ahmed Makarfi, former chairman, national caretaker committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was urged to run for the presidency in 2019, by the Arewa Concerned Youths and Development (ACYD.

The chairman of the group, Ibrahim Suleiman, who addressed a news conference comprising representatives from the 19 northern states and the Federeal Capital Territory, stated that they had agreed unanimously, to back Makarfi for the nations’ top political office.

The conference was convened to highlight Makarfi’s various strides in the political field.

Tuesday, 1 May 2018

FG.Bans importation, Production of Codeine

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has been directed by the federal ministry of health to ban with immediate effect further issuance of permits for the importation of codeine as active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough syrup preparations.

This was contained in a statement on Tuesday, May 1 by the minister of health, Professor Isaac Adewole.

The minister stated that cough syrups containing codeine should be replaced with dextromethorphan, which is less addictive. He said that the directive became necessary due to the gross abuse of codeine in the country.

Isaac, who also banned sales of codeine-containing cough syrup without prescription across the country, directed the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria and NAFDAC to supervise the recall for labelling and audit trailing of all codeine-containing cough syrups in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, House of Representatives at plenary on Thursday, December 21, 2017 asked the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to immediately place a ban on the dispensing and sales of codeine across the counter nationwide.

It was reported that the reps took the decision following the high rates of cases of drug abuse in some parts of the country.

The House further told the agency to ensure that the drug was sold on prescription.

BBC Africa Celebrates Clean Nigerian Police Officer

A Nigerian police named Julius Adewale Adedeji is being celebrated by BBC Africa as the most dedicated police officer.

According to reports by BBC Africa, Adewale Adedeji has never collected a bribe since he resumed his duties with the Nigerian police.

They wrote on their Twitter: "Julius Adewale Adedeji is said to have never taken a bribe. He has been celebrated as Nigeria's 'most dedicated police officer."

Adedeji has been watched, and in some several occasions set up but he never compromised his principles.

He said he was shocked when he got a letter that invited him for an award as the best dedicated police officer.

He said: "I was just performing my duty, I didn't know that I was being watched, and I thank God that it's being recognized, and I feel like putting my best more and more.

A copy of the letter was submitted to my office for my information, so that when I read through it I was wondering, could this be true, I saw it sai they wante an institution where they can shame those that are not doing well and encourage those that are doing well within the Nigerian police, i felt great.

The Interviewer asked; has people ever offered you money, thinking you were asking for a bribe,

He replied, absolutely even today a person offered me some money and i said no, no, why would you do that, I am only doing my job.

They were surprised."

Trump’s government to repatriate N190bn loot traced to US

President Muhammadu Buhari's visit to the United States has yielded the finalisation of negotiations to repatriate more than $500 million (about 190 billion Naira) of Nigeria’s looted money traced to the host country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the attorney-general and justice minister, Abubakar Malami, confirmed this in Washington DC, adding that he and his US counterpart would be meeting on Tuesday, May 1, to finalise the agreement.

In the report, Malami explained that the technicalities involved were being taken care of by both officials of the Nigerian Governments and also from the US side.

"On the part of assets recovery, we have made considerable progress through this visit.

“There’s goodwill by the two presidents to have a road map for the repatriation of illicit funds and assets traced to the U.S. as proceeds of illicit transactions.

“This illicit funds and assets are to the tune of 500 million dollars and above for immediate repatriation.

“We are looking at the shortest practicable time for it to be repatriated.

“There is political commitment demonstrated by the two presidents.

“The over 500 million dollars is not all the recovery, it is only for the immediate repatriation while we continue with our efforts to recover more," Malami said.

NAN reports that Malami defended Nigeria’s human rights record, saying the Buhari’s administration is the first in the history of Nigeria to pay compensation for human rights violations.

He said in April, 2018, the federal government paid N135 million for the eight Apo traders who were found to have been victims of extra judicial killings by the Nigeria Police.

“Of the police officers indicted, two were sentenced to death. The payment of compensation was also as a result of the recommendation by the National Human Rights Commission and government did not appeal against it,” he said.

He noted that Trump approved of what Buhari’s administration is doing.

“Trump said Buhari is a great leader; he said he has a great respect for him; and he said Buhari has cut down on corruption,” Malami said.

Meanwhile President Muhammadu Buhari approved the recruitment of 6,000 additional policemen as part of fresh measures to address the nation’s security challenges including the farmers/herdsmen clashes across the country.

Prince Louis' birth certificate released

The birth certificate gives the young prince's full name, His Royal Highness Prince Louis Arthur Charles of Cambridge.

He was born in Praed Street, Westminster, on 23 April 2018.

The certificate lists his mother Catherine Elizabeth and his father, Prince William, and gives their usual address of Kensington Palace.

It was signed today by Prince William.

The youngest prince shares one of his names with his father and brother, who both have the middle name Louis.

And he has taken his grandfather's name Charles as a middle name. He will also share the middle name of Arthur with his father.Louis was born at 11.01am on 23 April, in the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital and weighed 8lb and 7oz.

William will be taking time off to help Catherine with the new arrival.

It comes just before their daughter's third birthday. Charlotte turns three on Wednesday, her first birthday as an older sister and a middle child.

The Cambridges waited four days to announce the name of their newborn, with William teasing the difficulty in choosing one at a number of events soon after the birth.

There will be no additional childcare for Prince Louis, as William takes time off to help Catherine and their current nanny.

As the third child of Prince William, Prince Louis of Cambridge is fifth in line to the throne.

Royal wedding coin commemorates Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's big day

Designed by the Royal Mint, which was granted a private sitting with the couple at Kensington Palace shortly after they announced their engagement, the coin shows the couple in a "relaxed and informal" setting.

The couple are seen "looking lovingly into each other's eyes", highlighting "the easy familiarity and connection between the royal duo", said Royal Mint chief executive Anne Jessopp.

:: Royal wedding 2018: The ultimate guide

"It has been an honour for the Royal Mint to work closely with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to create the authentic royal wedding coin celebrating this most British of celebrations," she said.

"I have been in post as CEO of The Royal Mint for just a couple of months, and already The Royal Mint has celebrated the birth of His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Cambridge, and now a royal wedding, so it's a very exciting year for The Royal Mint in terms of royal moments."An uncirculated version of the coin is priced at £13, a silver proof coin is on sale for £82.50, and the gold proof version will set you back £1,980.

Harry and former Suits actress Ms Markle will tie the knot on 19 May at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, after getting engaged following a 16-month romance.

The Royal Collection Trust has released an official Prince Harry and Meghan china collection, which will be sold at the Queen's Gallery shop at Buckingham Palace.

Unofficial commemorative merchandise - tea towels, mugs, magnets, shopping bags, car stickers and more - is on sale across the world as people count down to the big day.

Harry previously featured on an Alderney coin by the Royal Mint in 2005 to mark his 21st birthday.