EBOLA ALERT : EBOLA BERTHS IN USA ... First Ebola case diagnosed in the United States - health officials ... Reuters

REUTERS - U.S. health officials said on Tuesday the first patient infected with the deadly Ebola virus had been diagnosed in the country after flying from Liberia to Texas, in a new sign of how the outbreak ravaging West Africa can spread globally.

The patient sought treatment six days after arriving in Texas on Sept. 20, Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), told reporters on Tuesday. He was admitted two days later to an isolation room at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.

U.S. health officials and lawmakers have been bracing for the eventuality that a patient would arrive on U.S. shores undetected, TESTING the preparedness of the nation's healthcare system.

Frieden said a handful of people, mostly family MEMBERS, may have been exposed to the patient after he fell ill. He said there was likely no threat to any passengers who had traveled with the patient. Asked whether the patient was a U.S. citizen, Frieden described the person as a visitor to family in the country.

"It is certainly possible someone who had contact with this individual could develop Ebola in the coming weeks," Frieden told a news conference. "I have no doubt we will stop this in its tracks in the United States."

The Texas Department of State Health Services said it was working with the CDC, the local health department and the hospital "to investigate the case and help prevent transmission of the disease."

"The hospital has implemented infection control measures to help ensure the safety of patients and staff," the statement said.

U.S. hospitals have treated several patients who were diagnosed with Ebola in West Africa, the center of the worst known outbreak of the virus that has killed more than 3,000 people. The previous U.S. patients were all medical and other aid workers who were diagnosed while overseas and flown to the country in a specially outfitted airplane.

Frieden has said U.S. hospitals are well prepared to handle Ebola patients and has assured the public that the virus should not pose the same threat in the United States as it does in Africa.

Ebola symptoms generally appear between two and 21 days after infection, meaning there is a significant window during which an infected person can escape detection, allowing them to travel. Frieden emphasized that Ebola cannot be spread through the air but only through contact with bodily fluids such as blood, diarrhea and tears.

He said that CDC and other health officials were discussing whether to treat the Ebola patient with an experimental drug for the virus, without specifying which one might be considered. Treatments from Mapp Biopharmaceutical and Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corp (TKM.TO) have been used to treat a small number of patients so far in the outbreak.

Stocks in Tekmira and other small biotechnology companies working on Ebola therapies or vaccines rose on the news of the U.S. Ebola patient in after-hours trading.

A BITTER PILL FOR DSS : DSS To Appeal Court Judgment Asking It To Apologise, Pay El-Rufai N2m .... InformationNigeria

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday said it would appeal the court judgment asking it to pay former FCT Minister, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, N2 million as damages, over alleged illegal detention.
A Federal High Court sitting in Akwa, Anambra, on Monday, had also asked the service to tender apologies to the ex-minister and to be published in two national dailies.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, in Abuja, the DSS said that although it held the service, the Judiciary and its sanctity in high esteem, it would appeal the judgment.
“The Instrument setting up the Service and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of NIGERIA as amended gives the Service statutory powers to detain and investigate any suspect for not more than 48 hours before recourse to a Court of Law.
“In this instance, the complainant was not confined or detained for more than two hours.
“If we cannot intercept, detain and investigate, then we will, with due respect, be operating like any ministry of the Federal Government.
“It is also pertinent to clarify that the Service never imposed a general restriction on movement during the elections as averred”, it said.

YINMU ... LOOK WHO'S TALKING : Synagogue: Fashola to apply the law ... TheNation

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola  (SAN) said yesterday that his administration would apply the law when the ongoing investigation into the cause of the collapsed Synagogue Guest House is completed.

Fashola spoke when members of the Nigeria Institute of Town Planners led by the Commissioner for Physical Planning,  Olutoyin Ayinde, visited him at Ikeja, Lagos.

He said coroner inquest had been instituted by the Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, stressing that investigation on the cause and manner of the collapse would continue.

“I think we must understand that our government has repeatedly said we will investigate it. We will definitely do so. Last week, the Attorney-General empanelled the Coroner’s Court because that is the appropriate machinery of the government to undertake this kind of investigation, especially when people die in such tragic or unnatural circumstances.

“I think we should just allow that process to go on.  I think the investigation will be held if we refrain from any comment about this incident. This is the way that every civilised society proceeds and we must assume that all the necessary provisions of law will be complied with.

“That is our track record here and nothing less will happen in this case. That is the minimum every government must do. People must understand that when accidents like this happen, there are many stages to it. Perhaps, we have got used to what was an inappropriate conduct to get to the scene of crime or accident and to pronounce this is what has happened before the investigation is concluded.

“We are professionals. We are not trained like that. If people are not used to our methods, they must get used to it because that is the way we are going to act. We are going to act methodically. We are going to act in a civilised manner.”

The governor noted that investigations are always painstaking and scientific, adding that Lagos has shown capacity in this area.

He explained that in an incident of that nature, the initial thing to do was to search and rescue, followed by recovery stage.

“We recover and protect the site and all the materials that can be gathered from there. It is from the recovery stage that the investigation stage follows”, he said, warning that it was wrong for non-professionals to assume that those involved in an accident are dead without certification from a medical doctor.

“This kind of behaviour must stop. Unless there is anybody keeping dead bodies in his house and private hospital, we are the regulators and all those bodies come to our mortuaries. So, we must account for them as we will. I understand the public interest in this, but we must act methodically.

The governor attributed incidents of building collapse to human errors and individuals trying to cut corners.

“Although the planning permit stage is also a stage in which some problems can be nipped in the bud in terms of design, calculation for load bearing structure and so forth. You could have obtained a permit to build in a particular way and you are building in a manner that is inconsistent with the approval that you have.

“Are you using the right gauge of steel that you got approval for? Are you using inferior gauge or small gauge? Are you mixing your aggregate and cement according to the approval that you got?”

He added that irrespective of ownership of the structure, the truth remains that professionals breach the rule.

“Government, as an artificial legal entity, is not the one responsible for those collapses. It is individuals like you and me, men and women, who have broken the rules. If the buildings erected by Europeans are still standing 70 or 80 years after they did so, this generation must be provoked to self-examination.

“Why is Cocoa House still standing and the buildings constructed 20 years ago coming down? All the professionals in this field must wake up and do their work appropriately,” he said.

AND WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY ABOUT THIS? WHY CAN'T THESE PROTESTING STUDENTS AND DEFENDERS OF RELIGION BE GUIDED BY LAW : Muslim Students Paralyse University Of Ibadan Over Student Preacher ... PM News, Lagos

Muslim students of the University of Ibadan, UI, this morning paralysed activities during a protest against the institution’s refusal to expel a part four law student, Miss Seun Olubunmi Adegunsoye who preached gospel in the school mosque last Friday.

Adegunsoye of Mountain of Fire and Miracle Church, according to reports, preached at the mosque last Friday to the Muslim faithful.

While she was preaching, the Muslim students mobilised themselves, attacked the lady and beat her mercilessly.

The school’s security men rescued her and took her away for questioning.

Sources saidhe institution’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Olufemi Bamiro, appealed to the Muslim students not to foment any trouble, promising that the issue would appropriately investigated.

However, the Muslim students went haywire when they found out that the institution’s bulletin which was released this morning did not report the incident and the punishment the school authority has meted out to the preacher.

The students who barricaded all the entrances leading to the premier university and carried placards prevented both academic and non-academic staff from gaining access into the school this morning.

Among the inscriptions written on their placard were: “No to terrorism. No religion should be allowed to terrorize us in our country”; “We will not take any unreligious act from any religious group”; “We will do everything possible to protect our religion”; “We will not accept insult from any religion”; “Olubunmi should be expelled from UI because she has done what is wrong”; “Olubunmi should be arraigned before a court of law for preaching in the mosque”.

According to a leaflet signed by a student called Almin, they demanded that Adegunsoye be expelled from the school and charged to court.

Other demands include: Investigating religious leaders behind the lady, carry out medical examination on the lady to find out whether she is mentally sound, ban Christians from preaching in public places in the school, and punish anyone who facilitated her release from the school security net.

Official reaction from the institution could not be sought as at the time of filing this report but it was gathered that the VC would address the press later in the day.

The school’s PRO, Mrs. Joke Akinpelu who was on leave, rushed down to see what was happening but  she was also prevented from entering the school.

Her words, “I can’t say anything now because I am on leave but I have called the VC who will later address the press. As you can see, I can’t even enter but I will see if I can jump the fence to enter the premises and see how we can bring the situation under control.”

AND THE CIRCUS SHOW CALLED "THE SCOAN TRAGEDY" GOES ON: T.B Joshua releases statement to defend authenticity of Synagogue miracles ... YNaij

Temitope Joshua, the founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, has released a statement in response to emerging claims and insinuations that his miracles are fake and usually staged.

Since the collapse of a guest house building in his church, which killed at least 115 people, Joshua has had to ward off criticisms and repeatedly deny accusations of gross impropriety and farcical healing.

Following the claims of a South African journalist, Jacques Pauw, who alleged that Joshua’s miracles were not genuine and the emergence of a subsequent report, which questioned the authenticity of his healing, the pastor has released a statement to address the accusations and defend his ministry.

The statement was released via the church’s Facebook page, on Sunday, 27 September, saying that the widespread claims of ‘fake miracles’ are fabricated and the writers should be investigated.

It read, “The SCOAN released a public statement yesterday, September 26, 2014 regarding a false story published in The Vanguard Newspaper, “Synagogue: We Sealed Off Building Before Collapse – LSBCA” which was a total fabrication intended to divert people’s attention from the issue at hand. The writer needs to be investigated concerning the building collapse.”

“To our surprise, a cover story with even greater fabrications was published today, September 27, 2014 in The Saturday Vanguard, “Are T.B. Joshua’s Miracles Real?” The writer(s) fabricated names of people who do not exist and remained nameless and faceless in order to hide their evil intentions. They need to be investigated.”

The statement also said the stories’ objective was to mislead people and to divert attention from the truth.

“It is our belief that these stories were intended to divert people’s attention from the evil that has been done. Those involved in these stories need to be investigated concerning the building collapse. If they are not directly involved, they will help the investigation. If they are not the ones who did it, they know those who did. Perhaps, they were involved in the building collapse because they claim what is happening in The SCOAN is fake. They are suspect.”

“Please note, all of The SCOAN services are public and broadcast live on Emmanuel TV. Do not be misled and diverted from the truth. No matter how long a lie is sustained, the truth will someday prevail. Jesus is the Truth.”

TO REMEDY AN ELECTORAL FRAUD : David Umaru, APC Drag Zagbayi, PDP To Tribunal ... LeadershipNews

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate in the last Niger East Senatorial By-election, Barrister David Umaru have gone to the National and House of Assembly Election Tribunal holding in Minna, challenging the victory of the PDP candidate, Dr Shem Nuhu Zagbayi.

The petition filed on Friday by the two petitioners has 389 respondents with the winner of the by-election held on the 30th of August, 2014 and supplementary on the 6th September, 2014, Dr Zagbayi, PDP, Independent National Electoral Commission and the resident electoral commissioner as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th respondents respectively.

The 36-page petition posited that the scores ascribed to each of the candidates as shown in the result where Zagbayi scored 92,056 and David Umaru scored 87,405 were not the true reflection of the candidates’ actual scores.

The petition stated that it was rather the product of deliberate wrong entries and collation of figures made by the 3rd respondent’s agents or officers at the polling units, wards and local government areas’ collation centres in Niger East Senatorial District to the advantage of the 1st and 2nd respondents.

The petitioners alleged that there were instances of anomaly in some of the polling units in Bosso, Paikoro, Suleja, Tafa, Munya, Shiroro, Gurara, and Rafi local government areas.

“On the basis of the premises stated above, I know that the 1st and 2nd respondents did not receive the majority of the lawful votes cast at the election conducted on 30th August but concluded on 6th September, 2014 with respect to the office of the Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Niger State and the declaration by the 3rd respondent that the 1st and 2nd respondents were elected by a majority of lawful votes is null and void and of no effect whatsoever,” the petition added.

Based on the units analysis of the votes cast as contained in the petition, David Umar and his party, APC, posited thus: “That if the result of the above stated polling units that were affected by non-compliances are cancelled and deducted, I shall emerge with the highest number of valid votes cast thus: APC 87405-22491 = 64,914; PDP 92056-53837 = 38,219.”

The petitioner, therefore, stated that the 1st respondent was not duly elected by the majority of lawful votes cast at the Senatorial By-election held on 30th August but concluded on the 6th of September, 2014 for the Niger East Senatorial District, Niger State, hence the election of the 1st respondent is invalid by reason of corrupt practices or non-compliances with the Provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

Apart from the irregularities, the petition also stated that “The 1st respondent was not qualified to contest the election having not been properly sponsored by the 2nd respondent in accordance with the Provisions of the Constitution.

The election of the 1st respondent is invalid having not been conducted within the mandatory one month period allowed by Section 76(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended)”.

PREDICTABLE AND EXPECTED RESPONSE ... A MUST READ : CAN leadership: Christian group condemns Cardinal Okogie for criticising Oritsejafor ... PremiumTimes

A group, the Christians United Against Boko Haram, on Sunday in Abuja attacked a former Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Olubunmi Okogie, for criticising the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Ayo Oritsejafor.
The relatively unknown group asked Mr. Okogie, a Cardinal, to “be mindful of his words and avoid being used by enemies of the Body of Christ”.
Mr. Okogie had in an interview with the New Telegraph newspapers said the current CAN president had “fallen from grace to grass,” after it was confirmed that Mr. Oritsejafor’s private jet was used to ferry $9.3 million in cash to South Africa.

Mr. Oritsejafor has admitted owning the jet, but said it was managed by a private company who leased it to another company.

The money has been seized by South African authorities, who said bringing such cash violated the nations laws.
In what can be considered the most scathing criticism of a much maligned CAN leadership under Mr. Oritsejafor, Mr. Okogie said, “CAN leadership today is zero. CAN has no leader.”

“Thank God you are talking to one of the founders of CAN, and I was there as their leader for eight years. Then, the whole country knew that CAN had a leader, not by my own might, but by God.

“Because what we were doing then, we had only one voice. But the problem we have now is that people are struggling for power in unrighteous way. And because he is struggling for power, he can do little or nothing,” Mr. Okogie added.

But in its criticism of the Catholic cleric, the Christians United Against Boko Haram warned that “those who live in glass houses should not throw doyens at the undeserving”.

The statement was titled “Okogie: Those who live in glass Houses”, and signed by Olusola Oyedokun, a deacon and Executive Secretary of the group.

Mr. Oyedokun said Mr. Okogie’s attack on the integrity of the current CAN President was hypocritical and unbecoming of a man of his personality. He expressed disappointment that Mr. Okogie could compare his tenure to that of Mr. Oritsejafor.

“As CAN President under whom a secular Nigeria was taken to the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Okogie has very little moral grounds to stand on to attack the integrity of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor whose name invokes apprehension in those who wish to entrench one religion over the other in Nigeria.

“We are surprise(d) at Okogie for criticizing Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor for opening a University and wonder whether Cardinal Okogie considers education as Haram. To recall that if opening universities was wrong, then the Catholic Church has participated in the wrong doing by being behind Madonna University. It is double standards for Cardinal Okogie to close his eyes to Madonna University and attack Pastor Ayo’s University.”

Mr. Oyedokun, son of a former Deputy National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Shuaib Oyedokun, urged Mr. Okogie not to act on rumour regarding the $9.3 million scandal.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE FULANI MARAUDERS AND THE BOKO HARAM INSURGENTS? : Nasarawa: Gunmen kill 20, burn 70 houses ... PunchNews

Gunmen suspected to be Fulani attackers, on Friday night, killed 20 persons and burnt over 70 houses in Arikya and Anshangwa villages in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that many residents were displaced in the attack which occurred around 11 pm.

The incident took place barely six days after Fulani invaders, numbering over 200, raided Gidan Gambo, 30 kilometres away from Lafia, the state capital, killing 10 people, razing over 50 houses and leaving hundreds displaced.

Abdullahi Buldi, one of the insurgents captured by the youths during the attack on Gidan Gambo, had told journalists that they were hired to attack Eggon communities in the state.

A source, who did want his name in print, told SUNDAY PUNCH the attack at Arikya and Ashangwa was a reaction to the capture of Buldi by Eggon youths.

An eyewitness of the incident, Alaku Alumbugu, who escaped to Lafia, said the Fulani attackers shot sporadically in all directions.

He said, “As I speak to you I don’t know the whereabouts of my family members. The attackers were too many and they were shooting in all directions. I took to my heels.”

Our correspondent saw some of the displaced persons taking refuge at the headquarters of Eggon Local Government Area of the state with their bags and other valuables on their heads. Some had their babies strapped to their back.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Nasarawa State Command, Ismaila Numan, who confirmed the incident in a telephone interview, however stated that there was no casualty and that few houses were burnt.

Numan, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, added that security personnel had been deployed in the area to restore peace and order.

ONCE UPON A C.A.N PRESIDENT ... HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED : Jonathan Does Not Deserve A Second Term – Okogie ... SaharaReporters

Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, former Archbishop of Lagos and first president of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), in this interview with MICHAEL UCHEBUAKU speaks about the politicisation of CAN, involvement of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor in the $9.3 million cash-for-arm deal, among other issues.

How is life in retirement and what is a typical day like for you now that you are retired?

Well, it is still the same life, except that we do not engage ourselves in too much pastoral work as we used to do when on active duty. On a typical day, I wake up in the morning like any other person. I say my prayers, go for my Mass, then do some exercises and go for a walk because of my leg. Then I take my breakfast and after that I sit down and people start coming to see me. And I will be there sitting in my office until 2 or 3pm listening and answering people’s questions. That is what a typical day looks like.

What are your most memorable moments as Archbishop of Lagos?

Doing my duties gave me the greatest joy. Anytime I am with people, each time I am officiating I know I’m doing what God wants me to do, I derive the greatest joy. But now, it’s not that I’m not doing what God wants me to do, but the concentration is more now on my spiritual life. That time was different from now. That time, even sometimes when I would be saying my prayers, I would feel so tired, then I would say, God I know you understand, I would be trying to justify being tired while saying my prayers. I don’t know how I can justify such a thing before God.

But now, I can fully concentrate on my spiritual life without distractions. I became an Archbishop on the 17th of June 1973. I spent 39 years as Archbishop of Lagos. Looking back, I never even imagined that I would become a bishop, not to talk of an archbishop. My entire mind when I was in the seminary was to become a priest. Pure and simple! But when that work comes, what can you do? Since it was the will of God that I become a bishop, no way, I can’t run away. So that’s how it is.

What were your saddest moments as Archbishop of Lagos?

Well, there are a few things that really demoralised me. For example, when you talk to people and you advise them, they don’t take your advice. Then in later years they regret and say, ah, ‘this man said it and I should have done it.’ But it pains me. It pains me in the sense that they think you are a liar. I tried to make them understand this is the way I feel.

I haven’t got the monopoly of wisdom, no, I am only telling you I try to address issues the way I see it, the way the good Lord wants me to say it. And I believe that when I open my mouth to talk, it is God that gives me the inspiration. For example, look at what is happening in the country today. When the Head of State (Goodluck Jonathan) was still the deputy, I have said it several times.

Before he became the Head of State I had an audience with him. We were four in the room. I don’t want to give you the names of the other two people who were there besides me and Jonathan. So after the audience, Jonathan said to me, “Bishop, can you pray for me?” And I said, “Sorry, Your Excellency, what do you want, what do you want me to pray for?” He was shocked and said to me, “What? You’re the first pastor that has asked me this kind of question. All the other pastors, when I ask them for prayer they tell me to bow my head and bow my head and they pray.

How can you ask me what do I want from God?” So I said, “Sorry o, your Excellency, don’t be annoyed, but this is the right way to pray. I want to be able to concentrate on what you are asking for; to let God open his hand and give this man this particular thing that he is asking for. I can say any kind of prayer for you, but to me, that is not enough.” So he said, “That is okay. Don’t you know I will be going in for the election?” And I said to him, “You have won, that is no problem, but you will not rule.” He said, “What? What do you mean that I will not rule?” And I said, “Yes sir, others will rule. Those around you will rule. They are the ones that will rule in your place.” What is happening now? This is the kind of thing that pains me.

If you consider the example I have given you now, that is how my life is. I don’t want to tell anybody lies. I don’t want to fool anybody. Shakespeare said “flattery is the food of fools”. That is what is going on now with many of our religious leaders. They flatter people because they WANT MONEY. They want to be in the Head of State’s good book. That is what is happening today. One with God is always a majority even if they are going to kill me tomorrow.

When I was in the war front, I didn’t die, not a scratch on my body. It’s a pity Benjamin Adekunle is dead now. God bless his soul. He was my boss. The other one was Godwin Ali. We were all under him. They were real soldiers. I wasn’t a combatant officer, I was only a chaplain, and I did the little that God wanted me to do and came out without problem.

As a former and founding president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), you fought against several perceived attempts to Islamise Nigeria, especially through membership of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC); how do you view Boko Haram and the threat it poses to the country?

We sensed these things coming, especially during the OIC period. Those of us on the Christian side, that was one of the reasons we opposed it. Even though Babangida and all the others, and even some Catholics on the panel saw nothing wrong with it. I still remember telling (Jubril) Aminu and others to be careful, that this will not augur well for the nation.

They said to me, “What do you mean?” Now, look at what we are having. It is not just a question of the Islamisation of Nigeria we are talking of? We are talking of the future of Nigeria. With these things we are bringing up, what will it lead us to in future? Politicians and so-called intellectuals get up and make statements that can destroy the nation. And what does the government do? Nothing.

The government do nothing to them. They allow them to go scot-free. In a civilised nation, they will be called to answer for it. Once you make any careless statement, you must pay for it. You will be called to question. What must a Head of State, the father of the nation be afraid of? If he cannot die for the nation, why is he a Head of State? For example, if I cannot die for my faith, why am I an Archbishop? Why am I a Cardinal? These soldiers calling themselves Boko Haram are doing what they are doing because they believe in it. But it is there in the Quran and in the Bible that you shouldn’t shed blood.

I read it in the paper that somebody said if I don’t win this election, it will be too hot for somebody. And those who are of that opinion are still around, and they are there laughing. So who is at fault? Who is the fool? And we are calling on God, when God gave us a peaceful nation. We want to destroy it. I just pray that sooner or later things will be settled. 2015 is coming. That is another one. So when you are talking of Boko Haram, and the threat it poses to this nation, we caused We caused it. Some years back, during the time of Maitatsine, it took us time before we stopped it.

This is how it is. You don’t play with your armed forces anyhow. You don’t swing your sword anyhow, because it can cut you and cut your enemies. This is what is happening. Look at the number of people that are being killed. Now, if these Boko Haram people even succeeded, what would be the condition of the people in those areas in the north? Will Boko Haram be able to feed them or educate them? Now, look at the education.

Everything is going down daily in the north. Tomorrow now, they would say the south is cheating the north. Can’t they open their eyes to see the future? Can’t they see? So this is the problem. This is what we were fighting for then, when I was president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). While I was president of CAN, I was the leader of the Christian team to the so-called conference.

(Babagana) Kingibe was the intermediary then, begging the Christians and telling us that the Head of State (IBB) is worried. Then when he was knocking on our doors begging and saying the Head of State (IBB) is worried, I asked him, “Who caused it?” Remember that all of us have consciences. We all have a conscience and we are going to answer for it before God.

Do you think the government should consider negotiating with Boko Haram?

My own opinion is this: When you talk of Boko Haram, who are they? How can you say you are going to negotiate with a nebulous group? They have not declared their identity. Are you going to be talking to the air? The people you want to negotiate with, who are they? Have they even given you their own terms? You can’t know or see them because they are nebulous people.

And if you’re bold enough they will come and kill you. And you yourself, you need to know what you are negotiating for? Did you offend them? You are just sitting down and somebody tells you to quit. Look at all the innocent people they have killed, and taken innocent people (Chibok girls) hostage, and there is supposed to be a governor in that place. What was the governor doing, if he has no hand in it? If I were the Head of State, he would be the first person I would arrest.

Where do they (Boko Haram) get their arms from? How did they enter? There are many questions to be answered. And then you are now talking of negotiation. For what? What if they say for negotiation the Head of State should quit? Will he be ready to quit? Or what if they say government should give them so and so people in exchange for the Chibok girls, what kind of negotiation is that? To me, I don’t buy it at all.

Do you think the current leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is actually acting like an arm of the federal government or an appendage of the PDP as some critics say?

My brother, I must tell you this; CAN leadership today is zero. CAN has no leader. Thank God you are talking to one of the founders of CAN, and I was there as their leader for eight years. Then, the whole country knew that CAN had a leader, not by my own might, but by God. Because what we were doing then, we had only one voice. But the problem we have now is that people are struggling for power in unrighteous way.

And because he is struggling for power, he can do little or nothing. Power doesn’t come like that. Look at David in the Scriptures. Look at Solomon. Even look at Herbert Macaulay and other early nationalists. You don’t force yourself to power. This is what is happening. Somebody is telling you that if you don’t allow him to rule, you will not rule well. So the person struggling for power is not going to do better. Now, election is coming in 2015 and some people are already saying they must be there. They will not allow the electorate to decide.

They are ready with their moneybags. Where did they get the money from? Where did they get the $9.3m that has been seized by South Africa from? They said it was to buy arms. We have to be very careful in this nation. What is the man (Oritsejafor) looking for? If you call yourself a man of God, then you should rely on God. Why should he be jumping up and down? But because he was not elected, not chosen by God, that is what is happening. Today, he wants to build a university, tomorrow he wants to be something else, next tomorrow he wants to be like other people.

Then why is he there as CAN president? In our day and time, election was done by the groups and we know how we go about it. I think I ruled for two terms, eight years. If there was any trouble anywhere in the country, they would come to the centre. And it wouldn’t take time. We would just come to the centre and solve it and I will speak out and the whole nation would listen. Sometimes, you would hear people say, “Has Okogie spoken?” “What did Okogie say?” There was unity, because that’s what we are looking for.

And we didn’t buy the position. But this time around, because they are rushing to be in power, nobody obeys them. And look at how they are making mockery of themselves and making mockery of “religion”. Is that religion? Today, they are with the federal government. We saw the writing on the wall when we left. The very first person that took over started romancing with Obasanjo. Then one or two CAN presidents tried their best before it got to this present CAN president, Oritsejafor. This is not right. Look at how Oritsejafor has fallen, from grace to grass.

And he is not going down alone, he is also staining the name of the Head of State. Of course, why not? If you eat with those with dirty hands, then you must be dirty. And this is the man that they are saying should come and rule the nation for a second term. They think people are stupid. They have not even answered about this $9.3m, and when the matter got to the House of Reps, they said they should throw it out. Can you imagine? Are they not the ones making laws on money laundering? And this is a case of real money laundering. These are lawmakers.

And they say throw it out, we will not entertain any discussion on this $9.3m matter. Can you imagine! You can imagine that these are the kind of people we have in the National Assembly. And then of course, the relationship between Nigeria and South Africa is strained. Look at the T.B. Joshua building collapse affair, and they think all South Africans are stupid. Just watch and see what comes out of these two affairs. These are bad signs. Tomorrow now, they will say Nigeria is the giant of Africa and the economy of Nigeria is booming, with mouth. The Head of State is a PDP man and he (Oritsejafor) is linked with this rubbish. So what other proof do you want that CAN has now become an appendage of the PDP?

So do you feel now that President Jonathan and Oritsejafor have a case of money laundering to answer?

Of course, they have. In fact, if I have a lawyer, I would sue them. And I am telling you that I will win. If you can tell me that if I carry huge sums of money without declaring it, that you will arrest me for money laundering, then what is this one. They were carrying all that money and it was not declared. It is a clear case of money laundering. Yet, they are the ones making laws against money laundering.

The report that the aircraft which flew some Nigerians and an Israeli to South Africa allegedly to purchase arms belongs to Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor has once again revived the debate about the propriety of ministers of God owning private jets. What is your view about this episode?

As far as I am concerned, why are they men of God? I asked one so-called religious leader, and you know what he told me? He said, “My God is a rich God. So if yours is a poor God, that’s your business.” Imagine! So you can even see that this one can’t be called a man of God. And these are the people that tell you they can work miracles, that they have a direct telephone line to God.

They say they can do this, they can do that, and God is watching all of us. If it were to be in the Old Testament, they would all have been struck down by God. But God is a patient God. We have to be praying for this kind of people, for them to have a change of heart. What are they looking for with jet? Another one said, “Jesus said go into the whole world and evangelise, so how can I go into the whole world, with what? I need a plane to be able to go to the whole world.”

Even the devil can quote scripture. But did Jesus Christ say you should go and steal to go and buy plane? But now they are claiming that they were given the jets as gifts. But why can’t they spend that money on the poor? There are many Nigerians who are begging that they have nothing to eat, and yet you say you’re preaching. Preaching for what? Are there no pastors where they are going? May God not punish us according to our sins.

Do you see indications that there is now a sufficient will to tackle corruption, or that corruption is no longer as pervasive as it was?

Corruption is in every nation but Nigeria’s own is number one. I am telling you. And if we are not careful, this nation will go down the drain. Now, people can’t help you to bring something from that corner without asking for remuneration. Look at so many children and youths who have no school to go to, or no money to pay school fees, and there are rich men who parade themselves up and down the place as rich people. For what? They seem to have forgotten that this life is not the end. Nobody chose his parents, and nobody came into the world with a gold or silver spoon.

So even if you have a gold or silver spoon, you are going to go empty handed. A wise man lives life in a simple way. That is how I am. Even Fela told them the truth, even though they said he was mad and called him all sorts of names. Naked you came into this world, and naked you will go back. These are people that are supposed to rule and govern this nation. What is happening? Money is exchanging hands.

Now, they are asking the nation and the national assembly to approve so and so huge sum of money for them to borrow. They think people are stupid. Whatever you do as the Head of State without the permission of the people, you will pay for it. Those who were ministers and Heads of State before, some of them are in Abuja today begging for job, because if you get ill-gotten wealth, you will spend it anyhow. It is an ill wind that blows no one any good.

With the next election just a few months away, what would you say of the president’s ambition to seek re-election?

You can deduce that from what I have said before. You can even see from all that is going on, that some people have been saying that he even signed for one term. You see, if I were in his shoes, I would hide my head. I am not a prophet, just like I told him that day, but that is what my mind is telling me. And nobody knows what is going to happen. Even, nobody knows who is going to be alive to see 2015. So, one has to be very careful.

Talking about election, what kind of election are we even going to have in Nigeria? Is it going to be free and fair and just? Tell me what election we have had in Nigeria that is free and fair? Is it not mouth that they use in saying it is free and fair?

WHY DO I HAVE THIS CREEPY FEELING THAT C.A.N IS NOW A POLITICAL PARTY? ... I MAY BE WRONG : Playing politics with Pastor Oritsejafor ... By Rt. Rev. Dr. David Bakare

The persistent attacks on the person of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), by opposition politicians suggest a calculated campaign to discredit him.

*Oritsejafor

Since none of these politicians intend to run for his job, one must ask what agenda they are pursuing and why. Politicians seldom act without calculation and premeditation, so we must look beneath and beyond the deluge of criticisms to understand what forces are at play.

The latest to join in the gratuitous attacks is the Senate Minority Leader and former Governor of Benue State, Senator George Akume. The bone they will not let go of is the cash-for-arms aircraft that landed in South Africa. Despite the fact that the parties involved have stated their roles and, the acceptance by both the Nigerian and South African governments that no blame or guilt can be attached to Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the campaign of calumny against the CAN President has been relentless.

When one hears politicians speak of their propriety in matters religious, it is best to run for cover. George Akume has sought to present himself (by implication in contrast to Pastor Ayo) as righteous in his guardianship and promotion of “the tenets of the teachings of Jesus the Christ”.

The rancour accompanying the cries suggests that the opposition want their pound of flesh. On the face of it, their intentions are clear to see, to discredit Pastor Ayo; their motives deserve closer scrutiny. Since they cannot have Pastor Ayo’s flesh, whose flesh are they clamouring after?

George Akume has chosen to disregard the legal and legitimate and instead resort to an exploration of what he describes as a “case of criminality involved in the questionable misadventure”. His language is deliberately mischievous, bordering on the slanderous. He plays fast and loose with the idea of “vicarious liability” and clearly only has a passing familiarity with the concept.

Pastor Oritsejafor is not and has never in any way, shape or form been involved in the “murky waters of international arms trafficking”. For George Akume to insinuate without substantiation is the kind of language that should not emanate from a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, let alone the Senate Minority Leader.

Indeed, given Akume’s exalted position in our upper legislative house, rather than indulging in idle speculation, he has a duty to bring to the attention of the nation’s law officers any information he has on the flouting of the laws of the land. If he has no such evidence, he should learn to keep a civil tongue in his mouth. People who live in glass houses ought not to throw stones.

If, as we suspect, the object of the thinly veiled attacks by the political opposition is not Pastor Oritsejafor, then his reference to vicariousness takes on added meaning. If the political opposition wish to lay into the President, they should not go by way of the President of CAN. CAN has been vociferous and volubly engaged in the security affairs of the country of recent because those affairs have directly and continue to directly impact CAN’s primary constituency, the body of Christians in Nigeria.

The Body of Christ should not shirk from that duty and responsibility merely because those that are not in office would rather we not support efforts to restore a semblance of justice and normality to the North of the country.
Long live Nigeria!
God bless Nigeria!

CASTING SPELLS FOR 2015 ... THAT ANNOYING CREATION OF MORE POLLING UNITS : Allocation of new polling units: Senate stops INEC ... VanguardNews

In what appears to be a submission to common sense and logic, the Senate has told Professor Attahiru Jega, National Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to suspend the now controversial allocation of new Polling Units, PUs.

The Senate, through its Committee on INEC, sent the advisory to Professor Jega on Thursday, September 23, 2014.

The letter, titled CREATION OF NEW POLLING UNITS BY INEC and signed by the Committee Chairman, Senator Andy Uba, pointed out that “there appears to be a general misconception that has generated controversies over the commission’s intention”.

It, consequently, advised “that the commission postpone the proposed exercise at this time, until after the 2015 general elections to allow for further review, adequate stakeholders consultation and buy-in of your good intention”.

The letter reads:
Creation of new Polling Units by INEC
“The Committee wishes to use this medium to express its confidence in the capacity of the Commission, in its drive to improve the electoral system in the country.

“The Committee has always been in full support of the reforms and policies the Commission has introduced in furtherance of its mandate to deliver free, fair, credible and acceptable elections in Nigeria. The Committee will continue to lend its support to policies and programmes that the  Commission intends to embark upon towards realizing such reforms.

“The Commission’s intention to reconfigure the existing Polling Units to improve the election – day voting experience of the electorate is indeed a laudable and commendable exercise. “However, the exercise is coming at a time that the 2015 general elections are imminent and there appears to be a general misconception that has generated controversies over the  Commission’s intention.

“Consequently, the Senate  Committee would like to advise that the Commission postpone the proposed exercise at this time, until after the 2015 general elections to allow for further review, adequate stakeholders consultation and buy-in of your good intention.

“The Committee will like to reassure the Commission of its full support on any of its policies or programmes that will further the Commission’s goal to enhance the quality of the electoral process to sustain our fledging democracy”.

Controversy had ensued after Sunday Vanguard published  INEC’s introduction of 30,000 new Polling Units, PUs, and allocated some across the country in a manner that suggested that the exercise  was skewed in favour of Northern Nigeria.

The allocation showed that whereas some states in the North, which recorded less number of registered voters during the Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, got more additional PUs, some states in the South, with much more registered voters during the same CVR exercise, got less.

Of the 12 states in the country that got more than 1,000 PUs from the 30,000, only Lagos was a southern state.  The other 11 states are from the North.

That was not all.
It was also discovered that INEC was yet to receive the total number of registered voters in at least 12 states of the country but still went ahead to carry out anticipatory allocation of PUs.

In addition, the Post-Business Rule Figures (the term used for the final phase of validity for the registration exercise and on which basis Permanent Voter Card, PVC are being issued and which were used for Ekiti, Osun and the coming Adamawa State guber election and which would be used for next year’s election) was not employed in allocating the PUs.

The figures that were used for the allocation were the Post-AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System) which represent a lower cadre of validity in the chain.
And although the INEC Chairman had come out to defend the Commission’s actions, a cross section of Nigerians raised concerns on the propriety of the process.

More knocks for Jega
Meanwhile, NIGERIANS in Diaspora, yesterday, slammed Jega for his perceived ethnic agenda on the PUs.

Chairman, GEJ 2015/Igbo Presidency 2019- Home and Diaspora Support Group, Chief Lambert Igboanugo, in a statement made available to Sunday Vanguard, said, “It will be difficult if not practically impossible to consider him (Jega) a sellout on the issue of integrity until the new lopsided Polling Units, PUs, saga. We roundly condemn Mr. Jega’s action as a hatch job that can never hold water considering the fact that Southern Nigeria has not disappeared yet.”

Igboanugo, leader of the Nigerian community in The Netherlands, who commended Sunday Vanguard for exposing the scheme, said, “A lot of genuinely concerned Nigerians raised serious issues on his proposed lopsided new polling units craftily designed to favour the North come 2015 General Elections.”

“ GEJ 2015/Igbo Presidency 2019- Home and Diaspora Support Group commend all the personalities and Nigerian institutions that have lend their voices to condemn this outright abuse of office with sinister agenda before we have a demagogue as an umpire.”

JISOS ... WHAT IS THE WORLD COMING TO? : Love Portion Saga: Son Impregnates Mother In Delta ... LeadershipNews

A 19-year-old Abel (surname withheld) recently promoted to SS 3 in one of the secondary schools in Asaba, Delta State has allegedly put his mother in the family way after he had a carnal knowledge with her few months ago.

Reports said that the boy, popularly called Ekenem, was said to have consulted a native doctor, who allegedly prepared a love charm for him to use on his mother and one of the matrons in the college where he is a boarding student.

Although sources said the act committed by the boy still remains a misery to those in the know, but the father of the boy, a Port Harcourt based businessman was said to have reported the matter to the police.

DSP Celestina Kalu, police public relations officer in the state, who confirmed the report, disclosed that the boy has been arrested over threat to life and other related acts, adding that the police were still investigating the circumstances of the pregnancy.

As it were, it was reliably gathered that the husband of the woman has been away for some time outside his Port Harcourt operational base, saying that he was not in anyway responsible for the pregnancy upon interrogation.

But the victim, the suspect’s mother while speaking to journalists said, “I did not know how it all happened, but all I can say is that a young man who looked like my son suddenly found his way into my room at wee hours and I was speechless”, adding that the whole exercise had remained inexplicable.

Expectedly, when it was discovered that it was not the husband who was responsible for the pregnancy, the doctor who carried out the pregnancy test on her but did not want his name on the print said, “upon completion of the pregnancy test, the suspect confided in him of the love charm that was used on the mother”.

Speaking at the police headquarters to journalists, the suspect said, “I am deeply sorry for all that has happened, I did not mean to do this. I saw myself falling in love with her after the love charm prepared for me. I have to confess because I know by so doing, God will touch her mind and I know she will forgive me. I suddenly found that I was making love to mum when I thought the charm will not work, and upon the revelation I threatened to kill her and the matter was reported to the police”, he said.