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Friday, 26 December 2014

Xmas: Kaduna Christians, Muslimsworship together


In an effort to maintain and sustain
peaceful co-existence irrespective of
religious and ethnic differences,
Christians and Muslims in Kaduna
yesterday seized the opportunity of
Christmas celebration to worship together
in a church.
Pastor Yohanna Buru, Head of Christ
Evangelical Church, invited members of
the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Kaduna
zone, to celebrate the Christmas with
members of his church.
Responding on behalf of the Islamic
Movement in Nigeria, Dr. Shu’aibu Musa
extended a goodwill message from the
Leader of the movement, Sheikh Ibraheem
Zakzaky to the Christian faithful at
Christmas, and called for more
collaboration to rid the society of religious
extremism.
Both Muslims and Christians, he said,
were equally oppressed and therefore had
a common enemy. He called for closer
ties to salvage the society.
However, in his sermon, Pastor Buru said:
“Every man and every society expect a
saviour at the end of time. Both Muslims
and Christians have always been waiting
for saviours in the names of Imam Mahdi
(AF) and Jesus Christ respectively.
The Christian cleric also pointed out that
there was no dispute between Christian
and Islamic books on the re-appearance
of their two great men at the end of time.
He added: “Until their imminent re-
emergence, no politician can salvage this
society from its predicament. This is why
we celebrate Christmas, we rejoice in
anticipation of saviours of the society,”
reading from Luke 2: 1-7 to buttress his
point, he lamented the senseless killing of
innocent people on the basis of religion,
saying in reality, people were from the
same root and lineage.
He urged Muslims and Christians to
reconcile and forgive one another before
the re-emergence of the awaited saviours.
“If we don’t reconcile now, I live to see
how we can be salvaged by Imam Mahdi
and Jesus Christ. Though, I am sure
Imam Mahdi and Jesus Christ will
reconcile us, it is better that we do it now.
They are the melting point, so let us
please live in peace with one another.”
The presence of Muslims in his church on
Christmas Day, he said, should not be out
of place, explaining that it was to
celebrate and anticipate the re-emergence
of the awaited saviours both religions
professed. “We call you here not as
guests, but as brothers and neighbours,”
he stated.
Highlights of the occasion were special
song by Malam Rabi’u Tudun Iya on
peaceful co-existence, songs of praise
and feast.

Jonathan to politicians: Watch yourutterances


Ahead of 2015 general elections,
President Goodluck Jonathan has a word
of advice for politicians: watch your
utterances.
The President said such comments are
overheating the polity, noting that those
politicians do not mean well for the
country.
Speaking at a special Christmas service
held at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church in
Maitama, Abuja, he stressed that
politicians should embark on issues-
based campaigns.
Jonathan said, “As a nation, we have our
challenges, every day, we hear what is
happening to some parts of the country,
including Abuja, bombing by terrorists
and extremists. These are temporary
things, surely God will see us through. It
will surely, come to an end the way it
started.
“All what I request from you is to continue
to pray for the country as you have been
paying. Pray for the victims of terror, we
have widows, widowers and orphans,
some children are just few days old and
their parents have been killed, so what is
their fate? Their communities shattered,
people have to run to different places, but
that is the handiwork of the devil. As a
nation, we will pull through.
“I thank our religious leaders, Christian
leaders and all Christians who constantly
pray for this country, especially for me
and my family and the government for us
to go through. The challenges of the
moment, but for your prayers, probably
something else would have happened.
“God bless this country, even with the
challenges, one would have expected the
economy to collapse completely and of
course, if that happens, people working
with government and some of the people
with the private sector would not have
been receiving salaries or anything. God
is with us and in spite of what is
happening, we are forging ahead and we
will pull through.
“I re-assure you that we will continue to
do more. It is a week to the end of the
year, next year, from January, we will see
all political actors campaigning and from
the middle of February to the end, we will
have the elections at the various levels.
“If a politician wants to take power
whether at the House of Assembly level, at
the House of Representatives or Senate or
governor or president, you don’t sow seed
of discord and enmity because of course,
it will consume you”, he warned.
The President also urged elder statesmen
who have served the country as either
Heads of State or Chief Justice of Nigeria
to utilise their constitutional roles in the
National Council of State meetings, and
advise the government of the day with
their wealth of experience, rather using
the media to lampoon and rubbish the
system.
“As a nation, we know that if anybody
who has the privilege of being a governor
of a state after serving, he becomes a
senior citizen of that state, it is your duty
to assist in-coming government.
“For us who are looking for various
offices, we should just talk about what we
can do for Nigerians, you can market
yourself, but not to sow the seed of
discord.
“For a politician to stand up, who is even
a Christian to say that if he fails election,
he will form a parallel government. What
makes him feel that he must win the
election, even me as a serving president,
what makes me feel I must win the
election, no matter what I think I am?
Nigerians will decide who will govern
them at the state level, or federal level,
state assemblies or the National
Assembly in terms of the federal
constituencies and the senatorial districts.
“It is not for you who is looking for the
office to think that you are the best person
to be there. Are you the most qualified
person even by certificate? Are you telling
me your certificate is larger than that of
others or you even have more
certificates? It is the chance of the people
and the will of God.
“So, let me use this opportunity to plead
with you to continue to pray for us that
God should forgive us our sins and that is
the only way to move this nation forward.
God should give us the wisdom to do
what is right.
“All of us who by divine and the will of
God are still holding sensitive offices, God
should give us the wisdom and the
courage to do what is right for our
people”, he said.
Jonathan thanked religious leaders and
followers for their continued prayers for
peace and unity in the country.
The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan,
read the first lesson drawn from Isaiah 9:
2, 6 and 7, while the President took the
second reading from Hebrews 1:1-12.
In a sermon titled: “The Jewish Messianic
Expectations and 2015 Elections”, the
Primate of the Anglican Church, the Most
Revd Nicholas Okoh, said the 2015
elections were a critical period in the
country.
He reminded political office seekers that
Nigerians have expectations, which
border on peace, freedom, security and
general prosperity.
He urged both serving and incoming
leaders to be guided by the people’s
expectations in their decisions. Okoh also
advised the citizens to base their voting
decisions on the communion good, noting
that if they elect people that don’t care,
their conditions would worsen.
On security challenges, the cleric
emphasised the need for Nigerians to
pray and work together to put “an end to
the reproach.
“We need to stop viewing security issues
as politics. It is everyone’s duty to join in
the fight against terrorists and rescue our
nation.”
The President was accompanied by his
wife, mother, Eunice, and members of the
Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The service was also attended by some
past government officials including a
former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry
Gana.

Tragedy: Midnight inferno razes hospitalin Ondo


A popular private hospital in Akure, the
Ondo State capital, the Ultimate Specialist
Hospital was in the early hours of
yesterday gutted by fire.
Medical equipment and other valuable
items worth millions of naira were
destroyed by the inferno, which lasted for
almost two hours.
It was, however, not certain whether or
not any casualty was recorded, but many
patients receiving treatment at the
hospital were rescued.
Although the cause of the fire incident
which started at 2a.m. in the midnight
could not be ascertained as at press time,
Daily Sun gathered that a power surge
occurred few minutes to the incident.
Daily Sun was reliably informed that
officials of the state Fire Service arrived
the scene of the incident late, hence, the
high gravity of the inferno.
The proprietor of the hospital, Dr. David
Oguntuase could not be reached as at the
time of filing this report.
A similar incident occurred penultimate
Saturday at the Arakale gas company,
Akure.

Police kill 4 armed robbery suspects inKano


Police on Wednesday killed no fewer than
four suspected armed robbers, who have
been terrorising motorists on the Kwanar-
Dangora Road in Bebeji Local
Government Area of Kano State.
Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr.
Aderenle Shinaba, who disclosed this
yesterday in Kano, said the robbers were
killed following an exchange of gunfire,
near the Nigerian Law School, Kano.
“In the course of our special patrol in the
night on Kwanar Dangora Road towards
the Law school, our team had an
encounter with armed robbers and in the
ensuing shootout, four of them died,’’ he
said.
The police boss said items recovered from
the robbers included three .9mm beret
pistol, one .3mm special revolver pistol,
two masks and charms.
Shinaba said the command would not
relent in its effort to ensure a hitch-free
Christmas and New Year celebrations
across the state.
‘’The police are fully determined to protect
lives and property because Christmas is
not meant for criminals but for the law-
abiding citizens. We will not allow
criminals to take over the state as the
special patrol will continue throughout the
period and beyond,’’ he said.
The bodies of the four suspects, the News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said were
displayed at the state police headquarters.

2015: War in Enugu PDP is over, saysEkweremadu


Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike
Ekweremadu, yesterday in Enugu
declared that the rift between him and
Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime is
over.
Ekweremadu spoke while addressing
thousands of his constituents and
supporters including widows, members of
Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria
(TAN), Jonathan Support Group (JSG),
and Project Monitoring Group (PMC) in
his constituency, Enugu West Senatorial
District; that he had reconciled with
Chime to move the constituency and the
state forward.
He announced that there was no more
division and discrimination between
‘Ekweremadu and Ikeoha Group’, and
‘Sullivan Group’, saying everybody
belonged to ‘Ikeoha Group’ because he
was the senator representing the zone,
including Governor Chime.
Ekweremadu stated that he and his wife,
Dr. Nwanneka called the people together
to use the opportunity to celebrate and
wish them Happy Christmas and a
prosperous New Year and thank them for
their prayers and support throughout the
year.
“We are thanking our governor, there was
a time I had a misunderstanding with
him; but I am announcing to everybody
that we have reconciled, we are now
working harmoniously. Everything is
going well in the state. So, when you get
to your wards, there is no more anything
like Ekweremadu group and Sullivan
group; we are all the same. Everybody
now belongs to Ikeoha group, including
Sullivan because I am the senator
representing everybody, including the
governor.
“We don’t want to see any division, let us
work together, so that things will be
moving well in our zone. I am telling you
that the politics of 2015, Enugu West will
play a major role.
“so, I will like to announce that peace has
returned to Enugu state and that the
peace should be sustained and everybody
should be part and parcel of the joy that
comes with the peace,” he said.
Earlier, Mrs. Ekweremadu had distributed
Christmas gifts including bags of rice, a
wrapper and cash of N10, 000 each to
over 500 widows from Enugu West
Senatorial District. Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike
Ekweremadu, yesterday in Enugu
declared that the rift between him and
Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime is
over.
Ekweremadu spoke while addressing
thousands of his constituents and
supporters including widows, members of
Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria
(TAN), Jonathan Support Group (JSG),
and Project Monitoring Group (PMC) in
his constituency, Enugu West Senatorial
District; that he had reconciled with
Chime to move the constituency and the
state forward.
He announced that there was no more
division and discrimination between
‘Ekweremadu and Ikeoha Group’, and
‘Sullivan Group’, saying everybody
belonged to ‘Ikeoha Group’ because he
was the senator representing the zone,
including Governor Chime.
Ekweremadu stated that he and his wife,
Dr. Nwanneka called the people together
to use the opportunity to celebrate and
wish them Happy Christmas and a
prosperous New Year and thank them for
their prayers and support throughout the
year.
“We are thanking our governor, there was
a time I had a misunderstanding with
him; but I am announcing to everybody
that we have reconciled, we are now
working harmoniously. Everything is
going well in the state. So, when you get
to your wards, there is no more anything
like Ekweremadu group and Sullivan
group; we are all the same. Everybody
now belongs to Ikeoha group, including
Sullivan because I am the senator
representing everybody, including the
governor.
“We don’t want to see any division, let us
work together, so that things will be
moving well in our zone. I am telling you
that the politics of 2015, Enugu West will
play a major role.
“so, I will like to announce that peace has
returned to Enugu state and that the
peace should be sustained and everybody
should be part and parcel of the joy that
comes with the peace,” he said.
Earlier, Mrs. Ekweremadu had distributed
Christmas gifts including bags of rice, a
wrapper and cash of N10, 000 each to
over 500 widows from Enugu West
Senatorial District.

Pope seeks divine peace for Nigeria


Nigeria was among the nations that Pope
Francis prayed for yesterday in his “Urbi
et Orbi’ Christmas Day message, which
he delivered in Italian from the central
balcony of St.
He also prayed for other parts of the
African continent, charging political
leaders to promote lasting fraternal
coexistence. He also prayed for children
who are victims of violence, trafficking as
well as all victims of the deadly Ebola
virus.
“May Christ the Savior give peace to
Nigeria, where (even in these hours) more
blood is being shed and too many people
are unjustly deprived of their possessions,
held as hostages or killed,” the Pontiff
prayed.
“I invoke peace also on the other parts of
the African continent, thinking especially
of Libya, South Sudan, the Central African
Republic, and various regions of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo. I
beseech all who have political
responsibility to commit themselves
through dialogue to overcoming
differences and to building a lasting,
fraternal coexistence.
“May Jesus save the vast numbers of
children who are victims of violence,
made objects of trade and trafficking, or
forced to become soldiers; children, so
many abused children. May he give
comfort to the families of the children
killed in Pakistan last week.
“May he be close to all who suffer from
illness, especially the victims of the Ebola
epidemic, above all in Liberia, in Sierra
Leone and in Guinea. As I thank all who
are courageously dedicated to assisting
the sick and their family members, I once
more make an urgent appeal that the
necessary assistance and treatment be
provided.
His blessing yesterday included hope for
peaceful resolutions of other conflicts
around the world. He prayed for
reconciliation in Ukraine. He condemned
Islamic State fighters who have killed or
displaced Shi’ite Muslims, Christians and
others in Syria and Iraq who do not share
the group’s ideologies.
“I ask him, the savior of the world, to look
upon our brothers and sisters in Iraq and
Syria, who for too long now have suffered
the effects of ongoing conflict, and who,
together with those belonging to other
ethnic and religious groups, are suffering
a brutal persecution,” he said.
The pontiff appealed for compassion for
refugees “so that all who now are
suffering may receive the necessary
humanitarian help to overcome the rigors
of winter.” Tens of thousands gathered
yesterday in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican
City to hear the pontiff’s blessing, which is
customarily global in nature. “Urbi et
Orbi” is Latin, meaning “to the city
(Rome) and to the world.”
The message comes a day after Francis
delivered his second midnight Mass as
Pope. The Pope has used his influence as
the spiritual leader of all Catholics around
the world to affect political outcomes this
year. He played a key role in a historic
breakthrough in U.S.-Cuba relations this
month and urged religious tolerance
during a visit to Turkey in November.

APC, PDP bicker over Ekiti workers’salaries


All Progressives Congress (APC) and
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti
State yesterday traded words over
payment of Ekiti workers’ salaries.
While the APC alleged that the Governor
Ayo Fayose-led administration had not
paid the September and December
salaries, the PDP said payments were
made a few days ago.
Some workers, who spoke with Daily Sun,
however conformed that they got their
payment alerts during the week.
Publicity Secretary of APC in the state, Mr.
Taiwo Olatunbosun, said: “It is ungodly
for a leader to enjoy all the bliss that goes
with Christmas while denying the people
he leads their entitlements at the time
members of their families look up to them
for the yearly pleasure of Christmas.”
But the Chief Press Secretary to the
Governor, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, who refuted
the allegation, said the APC as an
opposition should not be lazy in
extracting facts from the government,
saying the salaries of workers had been
paid.
Olatubosun said by December 18, last
year, all workers had received their
salaries and Christmas bonus in addition
to their leave bonus, while pensioners
were also paid. He alleged that Fayose
only grudgingly asked the banks to pay
workers half of their salary in the night of
December 24 after bitter complaints from
workers.
“It is evil for a leader to deduct N2,000
from the salary of each worker for the
purpose of buying them Christmas gifts,
only to give not up to half of the workers a
chicken smaller than a pigeon worth less
than N800. It is callous to take convention
funds for the delegates of your party
members in the guise that you are
spending it for Christmas gift, only for
you to keep more than half of that money
in your private pocket while your party
members go hungry during this festive
period,” he said.
He added that Fayose had made
avoidable suffering part of his policy to
make life unbearable for Ekiti people,
condemning the putting off of streetlights
in the state capital at night with the
attendant insecurity of life and property.
“On Christmas eve when our people were
supposed to be in celebration mood, Ekiti
frustrated workers were on queues at ATM
points waiting for the salary alerts.
Today, nightlife is gone in the state capital
because there is no streetlight again.
Armed robbers and pickpockets are back
in the state capital terrorizing residents at
night.”
“The governor promised Ekiti people rice
and chicken for Christmas but only gave
one and half ‘congos’ of rice and one
‘oromodiye’ (chicken) that cost less than
N600 and not fit for consumption,” he
said.
Adelusi said: “The APC should not be a
fool in reacting to issues.
They should not be lazy in getting to the
roots of any matter because everybody is
aware that salaries of workers have been
paid. Ayo Fayose is a sensitive and
responsive governor, who has started
distributing Christmas gifts to all
categories of people since Monday.
So, it sounds so unfathomable that a
governor that could do that would now
abandon the workers, who are critical to
this government.
“The APC must realize that no amount of
propaganda would bridge the wide gulf
that existed between it and Ekiti workers
due to highhandedness of the immediate
past government, led by Governor Kayode
Fayemi to workers.”

Amaechi spent N30bn on Buhari –Wike


Former Minister of State for Education
and Rivers State governorship flag bearer
of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),
Nyesom Wike, has accused Governor
Chibuike Amaechi of spending a
whopping N30 billion on General
Muhammadu Buhari campaign to be All
Progressives Congress (APC) presidential
candidate.
Besides, he said Amaechi was deceived
by the leadership of the APC to spend the
state fund on Buhari, in the hope that he
would be chosen as the vice presidential
candidate.
He attributed the alleged non-payment of
salaries of civil servants in the state to the
funding of the party by the governor.
Wike stated this yesterday at a “thank-
you” visit to the people of Ikwerre held in
Omagwa, Ikwerre Local Government Area
of the state.
He said: “Do you know why workers’
salaries have not been paid? Amaechi
spent N30 billion in funding the
presidential campaign of the APC. They
allowed him to spend the money and
later, they called him mugu.
“They said we would not make this ‘boy’
who does not respect the president
(Jonathan) the vice president. We should
know that our future is in the PDP and
not the APC.”
But, the state government, through the
Commissioner for Information and
Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari,
has debunked the allegation of Amaechi
funding Buhari.
She described the claim as baseless and
false, saying Wike should provide proof to
back his statement.
Semenitari stated: “It is unbelievable that
a man who wants to be the governor of
this state can make such an unbelievable
statement without any proof.
“We challenge him (Wike) to show proof
that Governor Amaechi spent N30 billion
to fund APC campaign.
“There are some things that are
unbelievable. With what President
Jonathan is giving us, N30 billion is three
months allocation. Is that what he (Wike)
is saying that we used for primary? Rivers
State Government will not dignify such
unintelligent talk with responses. We will
not respond to unintelligent talk; we will
not react to stupid conjecturing.”
Wike, while expressing gratitude to
Ikwerre people for endorsing him to run
for the gubernatorial slot, disclosed that
the PDP had chosen a woman to be his
running mate, adding that she would be
unveiled on Tuesday. He urged Ikwerre
people to vote for President Goodluck
Jonathan, saying APC was not the hope
of Nigerians.
He said: “We are getting women involved
in decision making of the state. The
campaign is now for women to take to the
next level. We have gone beyond the stage
of just sharing wrapper to women as
empowerment. This is a new era in Rivers
State. The fate of Rivers people does not
lie in the opposition APC. We are for the
PDP all the way”
The governorship flag bearer stated that
the legacies Governor Amaechi-led
government had bequeathed to Rivers
people were closure of the judiciary,
House of Assembly, monorail and the N50
billion Karibi-Whyte Hospital.
Wike promised the people that, if voted as
governor in 2015, he would review the
economic value of their lands acquired by
the state government for the Greater Port
Harcourt City (GPH) project.
He urged the people to remain vigilant,
alleging that APC was sewing fake police
uniforms in an attempt to rig the 2015
elections. Wike charged the people to
resist any attempt to compromise the
electoral process by the APC.
A PDP chieftain in Ikwerre Local
Government Area, Ernest Wosu, regretted
that Amaechi failed the people, hence the
decision to support a politician with a
pedigree.

How to Join Illuminati and Become Rich, Powerful And Famous


Illuminati has been popularized in
recent years all over the world by the
media and entertainment industry.
Many popular celebrities have been
seen wearing Illuminati symbols and
some making the tattoos, while others
are using it in their lyrics. Jay Z, Miley
Cyrus, Rihanna, Kanye West, and
Beyonce are all said to be members of
The Illuminati.
I was doing my regular keywords
research this morning and came up
with these keywords " How to Join
Illuminati" on Google search query
suggestions. I decided to dig deeper
and was able to unearth even bigger
surprises - the sheer number of
people in all parts of the world who
are looking for information on How to
Join Illuminati.
The search terms goes as far as:
How to Join Illuminati and become
rich and famous
How to Join Illuminati in UK
How to Join Illuminati in Kenya
How to Join Illuminati in USA
How to Join Illuminati in South Africa
How to Join Illuminati in India
How to Join Illuminati in Pakistan
How to Join Illuminati in Malaysia
How to Join Illuminati in Ghana
How to Join Illuminati in Nairobi
How to Join Illuminati in Zambia
How to Join Illuminati in Nigeria
How to Join Illuminati for Wealth
How to Join Illuminati and become
Rich
How to Join Illuminati for Fame
how to join illuminati and get rich
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The
list goes on and on to include almost
all the cities in all countries of the
world in all Languages. It's equally
amazing how many people out there
who desires to be wealthy and
famous without working for it! Does
such thing actually exist or people are
just chasing shadow?
Well, this article is not about guiding
you on how to join Illuminati but to
expose the bitter truth I discovered in
the course of my search. I visited
some websites and found out how
Fraudsters are using this Illuminati
hype to defraud hundreds of
thousands of people who are looking
for how to join Illuminati and become
rich and famous.
All the above keywords have all
simply been populated by fraudsters
who are experts at taking advantage
of people's ignorance. Public forums
like Topix.com is where they operate
most, posting invitations to any would
be Illuminati candidate to fall into. And
when they fall (which happens on
daily basis) they end up getting
poorer and miserable instead of
getting rich and famous.
But what really is Illuminati?
According to the information available
on Wikipedia - The Illuminati is a
name given to several groups, both
real and fictitious. Historically the
name refers to the Bavarian Illuminati,
an Enlightenment-era secret society
founded on May 1, 1776 to oppose
superstition, prejudice, religious
influence over public life, abuses of
state power, and to support women's
education and gender equality.
The Illuminati were outlawed along
with other secret societies by the
Bavarian government leadership with
the encouragement of the Roman
Catholic Church, and permanently
disbanded in 1785. In the several
years following, the group was vilified
by conservative and religious critics
who claimed they had regrouped and
were responsible for the French
Revolution.
In subsequent use, "Illuminati" refers
to various organizations claiming or
purported to have unsubstantiated
links to the original Bavarian Illuminati
or similar secret societies, and often
alleged to conspire to control world
affairs by masterminding events and
planting agents in government and
corporations to establish a New World
Order and gain further political power
and influence.
Central to some of the most widely
known and elaborate conspiracy
theories, the Illuminati have been
depicted as lurking in the shadows
and pulling the strings and levers of
power in dozens of novels, movies,
television shows, comics, video
games, and music videos.
This is what the The Illuminati has to
say
Selfishness (VOS) or Capitalism: The
Unknown Ideal (CUI), though VOS is
preferred because of its other valuable
essays dealing specifically with rights.
These books are usually kept in stock
at most major bookstores or easily
ordered.
It must be emphasized, however, that
the Illuminati Order is not an
Objectivist organization, per se.
Accepting Objectivism, the philosophy
of Ayn Rand, is not a requirement of
membership. All who support
individual rights--which include the
rights to life, liberty, justly acquired
property, and the pursuit of
happiness--are encouraged to join us!
Why here? Why now?
The Internet offers the means to
reach an amazing number of people
both quickly and easily, which is at
once a blessing and a curse. Many
people have at least heard of the term
"Illuminati," which is good. However,
because of widespread conspiracy
theories, a significant portion of what
they have heard about the Illuminati
Order is incorrect. One of the purposes
of this site is to act against the
misconceptions and disinformation
and set the record straight by
revealing the true nature of the
Illuminati Order.
To begin with, the Illuminati Order
actually supports personal freedom. It
is pro-liberty and many of its
members are outspoken advocates of
individual rights. The term
"libertarian" describes it very well.
Secrecy: Past, Present and Future
A universally accepted theme of the
Illuminati Order is that of being a
secret society. Using this, some have
tried to discredit its authenticity
because it is not as secret as it is
supposedly required to be. So, to be
clear here and now, the Illuminati
Order is only as secret as necessary
in order to exist relatively unimpeded.
It was on this topic that Thomas
Jefferson, one of the Founding Fathers
of the United States, wrote the
following with regard to the Illuminati:
"As Weishaupt lived under the tyranny
of a despot and priests, he knew that
caution was necessary even in
spreading information, and the
principles of pure morality. This has
given an air of mystery to his views,
was the foundation of his
banishment. ... If Weishaupt had
written here, where no secrecy is
necessary in our endeavors to render
men wise and virtuous, he would not
have thought of any secret machinery
for that purpose." This situation is in
a constant state of flux, both in the
United States and elsewhere. Since
the Illuminati Order takes secrecy and
privacy very seriously, it is monitoring
this closely. It will not hesitate to
make any internal changes deemed
appropriate and necessary.
No matter what The Illuminati means
or what they stands for, I want you to
understand that no shortcut to wealth
and fame anywhere in the world. To
create sustainable wealth, you need to
engage in serious business and
vocations and be good at it. Only then
can you smell anything called Riches!

No Christmas fun in Bauchi, Borno, Yobe


Christians in Bauchi State celebrated
Christmas yesterday amidst tension and
tight security, following the bomb blasts
that ripped through Central Market, the
largest market in the state capital on
Monday.
Heavily armed security operatives were
seen manning most of the churches in the
state capital where Christians turned up
for the Christmas service.
Although there was no restriction of
movement by the authorities, most
residents indicated that they would not
step an inch from their houses.
“I am going to church, after that I will go
straight home,” Mr. Uchena Maxi who has
since relocated his family to the South-
East, told the reporter.
Some residents said that they would
rather not go to church in view of the
increasing attacks by insurgents of
recent.
“They have attacked markets, schools,
churches, name it. Nobody knows what
their next plan is. So, to avoid problem, I
prefer to spend the Christmas indoors,” a
resident who asked to not to be named
said.
Our correspondent who went round some
of the churches to monitor the situation
noted that there was low turnout of
worshippers in most of the churches in
the state capital.
“Most residents usually travel out of the
state or the state capital to celebrate the
Christmas but this year, it appeared the
number of people who travelled out of
Bauchi was high because our church was
half full,” a middle-aged man who
worships at the Living Faith Church, a.ka.
Winners’ Chapel in the state capital,
informed the reporter.
The resident who preferred anonymity
said he was surprised that for the first
time, a mobile policeman in uniform
patrolled their backyard as part of the
security measures.
“He was not there to worship. He was
going round the place. Later he went back
to meet his colleagues,” he said.
At the ECWA 1 near Abubakar Tafawa
Balewa University Teaching Hospital
(ATBUTH), Bauchi, armed soldiers and
gun-wielding mobile policemen were seen
patrolling the vicinity while a few were
stationed at the gate.
At the St John Catholic Church near
Wunti, the situation was not different. It
was the same situation in churches such
as the Baptist Church located at Yandoka,
and the ECWA Church in Yelwa to mention
a few.
Unlike in the past when the streets
bubbled with activities amidst human and
vehicular movement, most of the major
streets visited such as Yankoda and
Ahmadu Bello Way were deserted.
“I would rather remain indoors and spend
the Christmas with my family. I don’t
want to risk their lives by taking them
out,” Mr Mathew Keffas told Daily Sun.
“Last year I took them to Zaranda Hotel
for a Christmas party. But this year I am
not taking them out because of the
security situation,” Mathew who is a
Customs Officer based in Lagos but has
his family resident in Bauchi said.
Daily Sun investigation also revealed that
the hospitality business might have
incurred huge losses as the insecurity has
chased fun seekers from patronising their
facilities.
For example, when our reporter visited
some hotels, it was observed that the
annual Children’s Christmas party hosted
by them had been cancelled.
The swimming pool of one of the hotels,
which served as the venue of the Children
Christmas party, was deserted with a
handful of children swimming.
A man in his late 20s or early 30s at the
hotel’s swimming pool lamented that the
security situation was having a negative
impact on their business.
Most other joints that served as venue for
social gatherings witnessed notably low
patronage.
The situation is worsened by the fact that
most civil servants in the state received
their salaries just few days to Christmas.
Most of them were seen at Automated
Teller Machines (ATM) trying to make
withdrawals.
They complained that most of the paying
machines in the banks were not working,
frustrating the plans they had to travel or
buy Christmas things.
“I managed to withdraw some money
yesterday (December 24) but even at that,
the Central Market where I normally
bought things has been bombed. I don’t
even know where to start,” Kauna Joseph,
who works with the state Ministry of
Health, lamented.
A lecturer with the Federal Polytechnic,
Bauchi who pleaded anonymity
commended the authorities for making
electricity available since Christmas Eve.
“I have gone to service my generator
because my family and I will remain
indoors. But I am happy that PHCN has
been generous with electricity,” he said.
The situation was hardly different in
Borno and Yobe, two states currently
under Boko Haram siege. In both states,
nothing showed it was Christmas.
Residents said the incessant Boko Haram
attacks and restriction of movement in
the two states by the military authorities,
made the Christmas day appear like every
other day.
“Nothing shows today is Christmas here,”
53-year-old Nehemiah Buba, a Maiduguri
resident, told the reporter. “We can’t even
come out. I have been indoors with my
family and we couldn’t go to church on
Christmas day because of the ban on
movement of vehicles in Borno. This is the
first time in my life that I observe
Christmas indoors, without any
celebration.”
The military in Maiduguri and Damaturu,
the capitals of Borno and Yobe states,
had on Monday announced restriction on
vehicular movement from 6pm on
Wednesday December 24 to 7am Sunday,
December 28, citing intelligent reports
which indicated planned attacks by Boko
Haram during the Christmas period.”
“Security reports at the disposal of the
Headquarters of 7 Division Nigerian Army
indicated concerted efforts by the Boko
Haram terrorists to unleash mayhem on
some parts of Borno State and in
particular, the city of Maiduguri during
Christmas celebration,” spokesman of the
7 Division of the Nigerian Army in
Maiduguri, Colonel Sani Usman said
through a statement made available to
reporters.
He said the measure became necessary to
protect lives and property of the people of
the states from Boko Haram attacks. With
this, all roads within the cities and towns
as well as highways into and out of the
two states were shut down to prevent
entry and exit out of the area.
Streets and roads in Maiduguri and
Damaturu were largely deserted
throughout the Christmas Day. Tunde
Alakija, an undergraduate, said the initial
apprehension of possible attacks during
the Christmas might have also scared
people from walking around, even with
the ban on movement of vehicles, at least
to greet friends and loved ones.
“Anyhow, we thank God. At least
everything is calm,” he stated, adding that
he took some children to the Sanda
Kyarimi Zoological Garden located at the
heart of the city to relax. “They’re children
and they need such things, else they will
miss the opportunity in life because of the
security situation. But in all, there are no
social activities,” he told Daily Sun.
Few churches opened for Christmas Day
service on Thursday, said Mr. David
Olutayo, a church worker. He, however,
said even fewer members turned up for
services.
“It was difficult for most people who live
far from their churches to attend
Christmas Day service, so attendance
was very poor,” he disclosed.
Attendance at the Christmas services at
EYN (Church of the Brethren Nigeria),
Goodnews Church and Anglican Church
located at Wulari-Jerusalem ward was
fair while Baptist Church, The Apostolic
Church, Catholic Church, C&S Church at
the Post Office Area, got fewer members.
Unlike other churches in most parts of the
country that held Christmas Eve or
Christmas Carol service on the night of
Wednesday, December 24, all churches in
Borno and Yobe states suspended such
church services.
The situation in Damaturu, Yobe State
capital, was also the same, as most
people remained indoors. However,
tricycle operators popularly call Keke
NAPEP were allowed to transport
residents within the capital.
“You can only go to any place you intend
to with this means of transportation, and
that’s just within the town,” Abdullahi
Adamu explained.
Meanwhile, thousands of persons
displaced by Boko Haram from the
communities who now take refuge at
various Internally displaced persons
(IDPs) camps in Maiduguri said they
were not celebrating Christmas.
“What celebration are you talking about
when we’ve been cut off from our
ancestral home? I haven’t seen two of my
grown-up sons since July when Boko
Haram raided our community in Gwoza.
How does one celebrate when I am living
like a destitute in my own country,” an
elderly man, one of the displaced persons
at the Christian Centre who did not want
his name mentioned, told the reporter on
phone.
Recounting his ordeal in the hands of the
insurgents and the pain he has been
going through, the man said nothing was
worth celebrating again to him until Boko
Haram insurgents were wiped out of the
North-East, his community restored and
his sons reunited with him. “I don’t even
know if they are dead,” he lamented.
Hundreds of under-aged children
orphaned by Boko Haram are kept at the
centre managed by the Christian
Association of Nigeria (CAN), Borno State
chapter. Their destiny has indeed
changed. Indeed, Christmas can only
make meaning to them when they
surmount the hurdles of life and be
reunited with their parents, said Mr. Eliza
Mamman.

NERC stops new tariff for residentialelectricity consumers


The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory
Commission (NERC) has frozen the new
tariff for residential consumers till June
2015. This is contained in a statement
signed yesterday by Mr Michael Faloseyi,
the Head of Media.
The statement said the tariff, which was
signed, was a review of the Multi Year
Tariff Order (MYTO) 2 to factor the losses
that were now different. It said the new
price of gas was usually part of the minor
review done every six months.
The statement said the review had raised
the cost of distributing power supply
nation-wide by the 11 electricity
Distribution companies (Discos).
It said the tariff was expected to increase
for all electricity consumers.
“But because of NERC’s commitment to
ensure that consumers are not further
exposed to increased cost until there are
improvements in supply, which we expect
shortly, we have frozen the increment for
six months for Residential consumers
(R2).
“We approved an amendment to the MYTO
tariff basically which means a new tariff
order that continues with the existing
framework but now shows a different
figure for the remaining five year tariff
structure,” it said.
According to the statement, with the
commencement of MYTO 2.1, NERC will
hold electricity distribution, transmission,
generation companies and other market
operators to the terms and conditions of
their licences.”
The measures were being put in place to
ensure that the new owners fund their
operations and improve electricity supply.
It said the rationale behind the
adjustment was to shield ordinary
Nigerians from possibility of rates shock
that could have accompanied the review.
“The review is imperative on account of
the take-off date of January 1, 2015 for
the transition electricity market and the
Memorandum of Understanding between
the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the
Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry,” it
said.

Police record peaceful Xmas


Reports from across the country so far,
have indicated that this year’s Christmas
was celebrated without any ugly incidents,
the Inspector-General of Police, Mr
Suleiman Abba, has said.
Abba, who spoke to newsmen at the Jabi
Lake Resort after he patrolled the FCT,
expressed delight for the incident-free
celebration.
He also confirmed that security agencies
have continued to receive reports of
intended attacks by insurgents, but added
that the plans had been nipped in the bud.
“But the police, as well as other agencies
involved in law enforcement and security
activities have beefed up operations to
make sure that people enjoy the
festivities. This is to make sure that
people celebrate with some sense of
safety in them. I am happy that quite a
number of people are relaxed, enjoying
themselves.
“We are out to make sure that places the
people are likely to visit, including the
roads they use in getting to those places,
are well secured’’, he said.
Abba promised that the police and other
security agencies would put in extra hours
to make sure that Nigerians celebrate the
Christmas and New Year in safety.

Our members are dying daily, Abiapensioners cry out


Deputy Governor, we have virtually met
everybody we ought to meet. Where do we
go to, except to the public that elected this
government to see whether they can in
any way make the government to look at
us with pity”, the pensioners said.
“We are not claiming anything that does
not belong to us, but they should pay us
our dues”, they said.
The union said most permanent
secretaries who retired around 1999 are
still earning N32,000, while those who
retire today are earning about half a
million naira, decrying a situation where
those who are earning N35,000 are still
being owed for up to five months is
pitiable.
“It is a pitiable situation that is worth
crying for, and I do believe that the
government we are crying to, has
conscience.”
The pensioners said the gratuity which
they were supposed to be paid since
1999, is still being owed to them.
“Gratuity is supposed to be paid a
pensioner immediately he retires from
service, it is unfortunate that in Abia
State, it is allowed to fall into arears for
no reason,” they lamented.

Dangote urges young entrepreneurs tostay focused


Foremost industrialist, Aliko Dangote, has
tasked young and upcoming
entrepreneurs to always stay focused on
achieving their dreams despite the many
challenges of doing business in Nigeria.
Dangote, who gave the advice at the
National Summit on Entrepreneurship and
Innovation, with the theme:
‘Entrepreneurship, Job creation and
Poverty reduction,’ in Lagos urged young
entrepreneurs to focus on achieving their
goals of establishing their businesses
instead of dwelling on the challenges
militating against their enterprises.
Dangote, who was represented by Group
Executive Director, Stakeholders’
Management & Corporate
Communications, Dangote Industries Ltd,
Mansur Ahmed, said that all
entrepreneurs in Nigeria face similar
challenges, therefore, focus should be on
finding ways of making the business
succeed and move forward, rather than
dwelling on constraints.
Addressing the young entrepreneurs, he
counseled them to know themselves and
identify their calling saying that ‘success
is in your calling and character’. He
challenged them to build the necessary
skills and competence required to
succeed. According to him, young
entrepreneurs should think big, dream big
and aim high.
Dangote, speaking on the theme of the
summit: ‘Entrepreneurship, Job Creation
and Poverty Reduction,’ said “the theme
is quite apt, as the three terms are clearly
interwoven. Entrepreneurs create jobs and
when people are gainfully employed, the
incidence of poverty is greatly reduced.
“This forum is coming at a time when
Nigeria has been rated the largest
economy in Africa with a gross domestic
product (GDP) of $510billion (well above
South Africa’s $350bn); the 26th largest
economy in the world; and the leading
destination for investment in Africa.”
However, he described the situation as a
curious paradox that despite these
excellent achievements, the level of
unemployment in the country remains
high.
Citing relevant reports, he said, “Reports
put Nigeria’s unemployment rate at about
24 percent. The job creation figure
released by the National Bureau of
Statistics, (NBS) in September 2014,
showed that the economy created
500,224 jobs across the country in the
first six months of 2014.
“More efforts are obviously needed in
view of the large army of unemployed
Nigerians, particularly graduates, roaming
the streets in search of often elusive
white-collar jobs. As you may well
imagine, this has a lot of security
implications for the country.”

FG awards contract for shipwreckremoval


In line with its plans of ensuring safer
ship operations, the Federal Government
has awarded a multi-million naira
contract for the removal of wrecks on the
nation’s waters.
The Director General/Chief Executive of
the Nigerian Maritime Administration and
Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Ziakede
Patrick Akpobolokemi, who made the
disclosure at a recent interface with
journalists revealed that the first phase of
the contract covers Lagos and the South
South areas of the country.
He added that plans are afoot to rid the
entire Nigeria waters of wrecks in line
with the government’s port modernisation
programme.
He also said the agency was challenged
by some ship owners whose use their
abandoned vessels as a trap to arm-twist
the agency into paying compensation for
removing such wrecks.
“They’ll tell you the ship you removed was
still serviceable and as such, we should
pay N10 billion for a ship that was bought
for about N100 million and has worked
for 20 years. Before you know it, they
drag the management to court. These are
some of the issues we face,” he said.
On why the disbursement of the Cabotage
Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) is delayed,
the NIMASA boss said the Federal
Government was carrying out several
checks on the potential beneficiaries,
adding that “when the government is
through with studying the recommended
beneficiaries, they’ll disburse it.”
He further revealed that NIMASA has been
able to achieve full domain awareness of
Nigeria’s maritime environment, utilising
both technology and personnel to attain
the feat.
He explained that the NIMASA Satellite
Surveillance Centre launched last June
had been very crucial to the successes
achieved by the agency in terms of
providing intelligence in the fight against
piracy and other illicit crimes on the
waterways.
“It is now very difficult for anybody to
attempt a hijack or piracy incidents
around the Nigerian maritime domain
successfully as the agency will get the
intelligence before the attack is even
launched.
“I challenge anyone of you here who can
mention one hijack of a ship that has
occurred in the last one year between the
Lagos waters and Republic of Benin.
Remember Nigeria controls about 60 per
cent of maritime traffic in West Africa. Do
you think it is by coincidence or that the
criminals just repented and this was not
planned?”

Amuneke Receives A Christmas Surprise


Former FC Barcelona winger and coach
of the Golden Eaglets, Emmanuel
Amuneke got a surprise “44 ballon salute’
as he celebrated his 44, birthday on
Christmas day after the team’s the early
morning session at the NFF/FIFA Goal
Project in Abuja.
Amuneke who got a brace at the 1994
Africa Cup of Nations final against
Zambia was astonished as the NFF’s
Assistant Director(Technical), Coach Siji
Lagunju led the players in a fine rendition
of the famous birthday song:’ he’s a good
jolly fellow.
“This is a coup because all I wanted
today was to train in continuation of our
preparation towards Niger 2015. I’m
really humbled by your show of love to
me on this special day,”a shell-shocked
Amuneke said.
With the morning activities rounded off,
Team Amuneke mostly made up of
Golden Eaglets officials beat Golden
Eaglets’ possible 4-1 in a novelty match
full of fun and drama.
Tayo Egbaiyelo (MON), 2013 World Cup-
winning secretary, got the curtain raiser
for Team Amuneke when he converted
from the spot kick barely 10 minutes into
the 40-minute encounter. Three minutes
later, Golden Eaglets’ medical official, Dr.
Deji Olarinoye (MON) -famously called
NFA,-got the second goal courtesy of
another spot Kick that beat a badly
positioned goalkeeper Clinton Orji.
Meanwhile, winger Ndu Chinedu gave the
opposing side hope few minutes to the
end of the first half with a well-taken goal
as goalkeeper Amos Benjamin watched
the ball sailed into the net.
In the second half, birthday boy and
former Barcelona winger, Amuneke
crowned an impressive day with his
team’s third goal albeit from the spot yet
again.
Golden Eaglets’ defender, Bamidele
Ayodeji who was loaned to Team
Amuneke from the Eaglets’ probable
scored the last goal to the delight of
everyone.
“Today would remain a special day in our
lives because it marked the birthday of
coach Amuneke when we are in camp,”
said defender Lukman Halilu after the
players were feted with food and soft
drinks .
“Coach Amuneke is an inspiration to all of
us because he is a no-nonsense person
who wants only the best for us and by the
grace of God, we shall do our best in
Niger 2015 to give him a present for this
special day,” he stated.
Lagunju, meanwhile, heaped praises on
Amuneke for his sterling qualities both as
a former player and coach.
“I always knew that Emmanuel would be
a great player because he has remained
disciplined and humbled since I first met
him in 1991.Though he would say his
mind when he feel strongly about any
issue, he has remained level headed over
the years.
“I want to use this opportunity to thank all
the technical crew and back room staff
for the unity in the U-17 and may God
bless your efforts in Niger and Chile in
2015,”said Lagunju who star for Leventis
United and Iwuayanwu Nationale in his
heyday.

Babatunde: I’ll return to Eagles


Nigeria international and Volyn Lutsk
player, Michael Babatunde has said he is
ready to do all it takes to return to the
Super Eagles team.
The midfielder, who clocked 22 on
December 24, 2014, was yet to play for
the country since suffering an injury
against Argentina at the FIFA World Cup
Brazil.
While expressing his delight to full fitness,
he said his five – month absence from the
national team did not go down well with
him, he said he is willing to work hard to
get a call up for future games.
“I feel very bad but that is the game for
you. I was injured twice and went for
surgery twice but thank God I’m back on
my feet again,” Babatunde told Goal.
“Football is a game where people get a
chance to exhibit their skills and you
expect the coach to seek for alternatives
in the absence of others.
” Well, I’m not worried whether I will lose
my place in the team or not – it is just a
wake up call for me to get back to my
best towards getting a national team call
up, while i leave the rest for national team
selectors to invite me.”
Babatunde also revealed that his best
moment in 2014 was representing the
country at the 2014 FIFA World Cup which
promising to do better in 2015.
“It is was no easy feat play- ing for my
country at the FIFA World Cup – which I
think is the biggest thing to have
happened to me this year, he continued.
“I would have expected to play more
games in the tournament but for the
injury. All the same, I give God all the
glory.
“Since my return from the Brazil World
Cup, my fans have tasked me to do more
which
I think is my driving force. In 2015, I hope
to do more while praying I stay out of
injury too,” he concluded.

2015: Why Jonathan is favoured to win


Those following this column would have
noticed that I have in the past few weeks
written extensively on the 2015 general
elections, particularly the presidential
polls, the two dominant political parties
that will slug it out for the soul of Aso
Rock and the emergence of the two
foremost presidential candidates,
President Goodluck Jonathan of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Gen.
Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) of All
Progressives Congress (APC). Today, I
will zero in on why I think that President
Goodluck Jonathan is highly favoured to
win the February 14 presidential polls
over Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.
For a start, President Jonathan has made
modest achievements in the past four
years under the peculiar circumstance he
found himself. I shall return to the
achievements later in the article.
Although, the Boko Haram menace
predates Jonathan’s regime, no Nigerian
is in doubt that it has intensified since
Jonathan overwhelmingly won the 2011
presidential poll, which also was greeted
with violence and killings in some parts of
the North. Before Jonathan made public
his intention to contest the 2015
presidential poll and after that the sect’s
murderous attacks have continued
unabated.
Besides the bombings and killings of
innocent Nigerians for no just cause,
some self-appointed Northern elders have
derided Jonathan’s presidency and his
right to contest the 2015 polls based on
the erroneous impression that after the
death of former President Umaru
Yar’Adua, a northerner would have
succeeded him according to their myopic
interpretation of PDP zoning formula.
Despite the fact that most Northerners
understood the imperative of Jonathan’s
presidency and his right to run for a
second term as provided in the 1999
Constitution, these elements still think
otherwise.
Now that Jonathan has emerged the PDP
presidential candidate for the 2015 poll,
such campaign of diatribe might have
considerably eased. If what happened at
the weekend’s fund raising of the PDP is
anything to go by, there is no doubt that
President Goodluck Jonathan, apart from
being the PDP presidential flag bearer, is
also a pan-Nigerian presidential
candidate. In Jonathan, all Nigerians are
united and speak with one voice.
All Nigerians from all tribes and the six
geo-political zones gathered in Abuja and
donated hugely to his campaign fund that
totaled billions of naira. The various
endorsements by civil society groups
from all parts of the country prior to
Jonathan’s declaration to contest the
2015 polls show that Nigerians want
another four years of Jonathan
transformation contrary to what the
opposition has been orchestrating.
There are so many reasons why I think
that Jonathan is highly favoured to coast
home to victory on February 14 and here
are some of them that space could permit.
Jonathan did not inter with the freedom of
individuals and that of the press. He
allowed Nigerians to hold contrary views
opposed to his. He did not interfere with
the freedom of the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) in their
conduct of elections. Opposition parties
won elections in PDP states and
Jonathan congratulated the winners.
Jonathan did not interfere with the rulings
of the courts. He did not use the security
agents against anybody including
antagonistic governors. Despite abuses
by some Nigerians, Jonathan did not
invoke his powers on them in retaliation.
Under Jonathan’s watch, no Nigerian
went on exile and there was no political
assassination; there was no state-
sponsored impeachment. Jonathan is
calm in spite of all provocations. He
listens to Nigerians. Under his
administration, the pump price of petrol
has remained the same.
He handled workers’ strike with maturity
and reason. He restored peace in the
nation’s universities and pumped huge
sums of money (N200 billion) to revamp
them. He built 12 new federal universities,
9 in the North and 3 in the South to
ensure that all states in the country has a
federal university and open more access
to university education to our teeming
youths. The polytechnics and colleges of
education were not left out the funding
largesse. The president also boosted
access to education through the Almajiri
Education Programme.
The pragmatic education programme is
one of Jonathan’s administration
initiatives to improve access to education
and reduce the number of out-of-school
children in Nigeria. Its major aim is to
integrate the traditional Tsangaya and
Quranic School into the formal education
system. Jonathan has done much in road
infrastructure. Some of his completed 32
roads include section 1 of the dualization
of the Ibadan-Ilorin road (Oyo), Vorn-
Manchok road (Plateau), dualization of
Section 1 of Onitsha-Owerri road and
Onitsha eastern Bypass, rehabilitation of
Funtua-Gusau-Sokoto road, Shagamu-
Ore-Benin road and the Aiyegunle-Akoko-
Edo road (Ondo/Edo states).
Nigerian airports under Jonathan have
been remodeled. They now look like
others in other parts of the world. This is
evident at Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu and
Port Harcourt airports. The railways have
received some revamping under
Jonathan’s administration. Nigerians now
commute daily in trains across the
country with modern coaches. Nigeria
has made modest achievements in
industrial revolution under Jonathan.
Besides the rebasing of the nation’s
economy that place us first in Africa with
South Africa taking a second position,
Unilever Plc invested $200 million in
Nigeria, while Procter & Gamble opened $
300 million new plant this year in
Agbara , Ogun State. In the area of
cement manufacturing, our local
production grew from two million metric
tones in 2002 to 28.5 metric tones in
2013. It is also expected that it will reach
39 million metric tones by the end of this
year. The cement industry has attracted $
8 billion in local and foreign investments
and supports about 1.6 million jobs. After
a successful power privatization, the
country now generates over 4000
megawatts (MW) of electricity from less
2000 mw in 2010.
This is why there has been tremendous
improvement in power supply. The only
problem here lack of prepaid metres,
excessive estimate billings or ‘crazy bills.’
The power sector needs to be put more on
track. The agricultural sector has
witnessed great transformation under
Jonathan. We have witnessed new
agricultural policies targeted at increasing
domestic food production and growing
private sector participation in the sector.
Nigeria is now the highest producer of
cassava. Something is being done to
increase our production of rice. There is
the need to still tap our agricultural
potentials. Nigeria’s future will depend
more on agriculture than oil.
If Jonathan could achieve these much
under the prevailing insurgency, he would
have done more if there was no terrorism
in the country. All the money expended to
fight the terrorists would have been
channeled to national development. With
these and other achievements of
Jonathan not mentioned, he will definitely
be voted into power by Nigerians in the
presidential poll.

Budget 2015: Let government unlock non-oil revenues


This is the first time – since the fall of the
First Republic – that Nigeria’s federal
government considers the option of non-
oil revenues as index for the national
budget. Before now, crude oil price per
barrel had served as benchmark for
budgeting because it was the major
source of revenue for the economy. As it
were Nigeria’s economy was simply a
crude oil driven one. No one ever thought
that the country would come to this day
when there would be the need for a
diversification let alone diversifying. And
so, as I watched Madam Ngozi Okonjo-
iweala (the coordinating minister for the
economy and minister of finance) on AIT
Wednesday 17th December, 2014
announcing this piece of information, I
thought to myself: indeed, hard times are
here!
One thing I’d like to mention here before I
continue is the fact that the government of
Nigeria has never told anyone the truth;
no, not even to their selves! Was it not
madam Ngozi who many weeks ago
repeatedly told Nigerians that the fall of
oil price per barrel on the international
market is not cause for panic? Why is
government reverting (or should I say
resorting) to non-oil sectors for revenues
now? Is this not a clear enough sign that
all may not be well after all? This is why I
quickly mentioned that government has
never been truthful on any matter. I
remember some years back in 2009 to be
precise, when then Mr. Chukwuma
Soludo’s Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
told Nigerians that they were immune to
the effects of a global meltdown that
began the year before. I argued then in
my article (Daily Sun August 10th, 2009)
that Nigeria had no industrial ground to
withstand the crisis when countries that
were ten times more industrialized than
her were crying. It did not take long for
the effects to begin to show on the
economy.
The idea of partially basing the nation’s
over 4 trillion naira budget on Non-oil
revenues is a good one. However, there is
what to be done before such revenues can
be freely generated. It seems to me that
the system necessary for supporting this
idea is practically not-in-place and, you
can not roof a house without first building
the rooms. Government had hinted that
Nigerians must brace up to pay their
taxes as there shall be improvements on
the nation’s tax administration system.
But is it all about taxing the populace?
What about creating the enabling
environment for businesses to survive
and pay tax? Citizens who owned private
aircrafts, yachts, luxury automobiles etc
have also been mentioned as potential
revenues sources.
This brings us to the issue of
understanding the meaning of non-oil
revenue and how to generate it.
As the name implies, non-oil revenue is
any money or income that is not derived
directly from the oil economy. It can be
property tax, market tax, motor park tax,
agricultural produce tax, customs duties
etc or any tax that is not from the oil and
gas sector of a nation’s economy; and
can also be referred to as Internally
Generated Revenues (IGR). Even though
successive government have used this
form of revenue to supplement what they
have at hand in running the economy,
government’s recent announcement have
indeed stated in clear terms the change of
status from supplementary to main
source of revenue generation and this
entails a quest for fresh knowledge on
how to organize as well as effectively
manage the system amongst other
equally important factors
It is not enough for government to
announce a plan such as this without a
proper framework to support it.
Government’s Vision 2020 agenda had to
die the way it did because then Minister of
National Planning, Alh. Shamsudeen
Usman made Nigerians to understand
that up till that moment, no practical
framework was on ground to support the
idea. Perhaps this same mistake would
reoccur if we do not find out and deal
head-on with certain realities on the path
that this government has decided to tow.
No sane government would want to incur
the wrath of her citizens when every
frivolities are been accounted for as
government expenses. So, no matter how
effective the tax administration is and no
matter how willing the populace are to
cooperate, citizens want to see taxpayer’s
monies channeled to productive ventures
and not to sinkholes like legislator’s
furniture and sitting allowances,
centenary celebrations, printing of
centenary one-hundred naira bills or
sponsoring of Nigeria’s football
contingent to go and achieve nothing etc.
This kind of revenue can not cater for
long escort convoys neither will it finance
the long entourage who travel with Mr.
President to international conventions.
And with the massive corruption in the
local, state and federal tiers of
government today, this revenue will surely
finish even if it accrues on a monthly
basis.
Nigerians are yet to understand why the
price of petroleum products have
remained unchanged despite the obvious
fall in the price of crude internationally. Is
it that the foreign refineries which refines
and sells oil to this country still incur the
same cost now that the barrel sells for
less than sixty-five dollar as it did when it
sold for more than seventy dollars? The
reality is that with a drastic reduction in
prices of PMS and AGO, the Nigerian
economy would be the better for it.
Government must device a way to
strengthen the naira in order to improve
on the standard of living as well as get
value for every kobo collected as tax.
Remember that in this economy,
petroleum products have multiplier
effects.
The real estate sector is renowned as a
multi-faceted economic stabilizer. With its
tremendous impact on any economy, the
building industry contributes by
employing all shades of professions and
generating tons of money for the
economy. Therefore urgent care must be
taken to make this sector viable. For
instance, Nigerians can not claim
ignorance of the fact that building sites
suddenly sprang up overnight with the
announcement of a reduction in the price
of cement by Messrs Dangote Cement Plc.
This is to say that commodities with
electric or multiplier effects such as
cement, steel rods and roofing sheets etc
should be cheapened in order to boost the
sector and consequently pour in revenues
to the government and, not vice versa.
While commenting on the budget, the
Minister did mention that government
considers reviewing previous customs
waivers. Whether the review was upward
or downward, we were not told but
looking at the dicey situation at hand, I
would suggest that whatever review that
is necessary must be done with a view to
reviving maritime economy and not
sending away the little commercial
activities that we have there already. A
downward review of custom duties will
certainly pour in more revenue into
customs purse than an upward review will
do. In like manner, the telecoms and
electricity tariffs should be reviewed
downward in order to create more
chances for businesses to survive. Small
and Medium-scale businesses spend
lump sums on customs duties, telecoms
and electricity tariffs every year while
struggling to survive and may not find it
funny paying heavy taxes. They should be
enabled to grow.

The Ogoni endorsement of Wike


All over Rivers State, the people
irrespective of their ethnicity and location
have taken a decision to embrace
inclusive development driven by a sound,
committed and River-centric politician for
the envisaged growth of the state. The
decision has been taken to do away with
unnecessary acrimony to divert the
attention of the people from the obvious
developmental deficiencies across the
state and focus on the enthronement of a
leader, prepared and equipped to deliver.
That is fundamentally the reason behind
the several endorsements of Barrister
Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, Rivers State PDP
Governorship Candidate from all ethnic
groups in the state and from all walks of
life. Barrister Wike during his meet the
PDP delegates’ tour of the 23 LGAs of the
state got intra-party endorsements from
across the state which led to his
overwhelming victory at the governorship
primary on December 8, 2014.
With the governorship primary over, the
endorsements have taken an inter-party
outlook. Rivers people from all other
political parties especially the APC have
whole-heartedly joined the winning train
in the interest of the development of
Rivers State. This played out on Thursday,
December 18, 2014 at Bori, the
headquarters of Ogoniland when Ogoni
leaders and people from all political
parties, traditional institutions, socio-
cultural organizations in unison endorsed
Barrister Wike to take over from the
outgoing administration in the state and
right all developmental wrongs in the
state.
To put paid to tricks of sponsored
analysts, Ogoni leaders insisted that the
event be beamed live to Nigerians on
national television.
Therefore, Nigerians watched as several
thousands of Ogoni people endorsed
Barrister Wike, handed him the Ogoni flag
and placed a demand on him to use his
political skills and his infrastructural
implementation experience to salvage
Rivers State. They agreed to disregard all
ethnic sentiments being sponsored by the
outgoing administration in the interest of
the state.
It was publicly agreed at the epoch-
making event that the era of deceit is
effectively over and the era of
development has been ushered in. The
leaders and people of Ogoni anointed
Barrister Wike and handed him the
leadership of Rivers State, symbolized by
the handing over of the Ogoni flag to him,
which he flew across the streets of Bori
as a sign of his commitment to live by his
avowed promises to make a difference in
the state.
It is necessary to outline the key Ogoni
leaders who publicly presented the
position of Ogoni people to work for and
overwhelmingly vote Barrister Wike,
President Jonathan and all PDP
candidates in the year 2015.
In his address, Ogoni leader and PDP
Rivers South East Senatorial Candidate,
Chief Olaka Nwogu said that the decision
of Ogoni people to vote Nyesom Wike was
borne out of the fact that he is a sincere
and development conscious leader who
will not fail the people.
Former Rivers State Finance
Commissioner, Mr Kenneth Kobani urged
the Ogoni people to continue with their
support for Barrister Wike as it would
attract the needed democracy dividends,
rather than the divisive politics that
characterised the outgoing
administration.
Mr Dum Deekor, PDP House of
Representatives Candidate for Khana/
Gokana Federal Constituency noted that
Ogoni people are working hard for a
Jonathan/Wike overwhelming victory in
2015.
Mrs Sarah Ntor-Ije, President Ogoni
Unique Mothers declared that all women
groups in the area have jointly endorsed
Barrister Wike, President Jonathan and all
PDP candidates for the 2015 elections.
Former Tai LGA Chairman, Chief Ejor Ejor
stated that the Ogoni endorsement of
Barrister Wike was borne out of the desire
to ensure that Rivers State become a
developmental cynosure of all Nigerian
eyes. He said that Rivers State cannot
survive another four years of exportation
of resources of the state to sponsor
opposition politics.
The Ogoni Governorship Aspirant,
Dumbari Dimkpa who came second
during the PDP Governorship Primary
announced his endorsement of Barrister
Wike. He stated that members of his
campaign organization have fused with
other PDP members from Ogoniland and
across the state to work for a Wike and
PDP victory in 2015.
The Thank You tour by Barrister Nyesom
Wike attracted thousands of Ogoni people
from Tai, Eleme, Gokana and Khana LGAs
of the Ogoni ethnic nationality.
During the Ogoni endorsement, Rivers
State PDP Governorship Candidate,
Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike assured
the Ogoni people of the state that he
would ensure that they experience
massive infrastructural and human
development when he assumes office as
the governor in 2015.
The governorship candidate of the PDP
stated he was in the area to specially
thank the people for backing him during
the PDP governorship primary on
December 8.
He stated that the votes of Ogoni
delegates from the four councils of the
area pushed him to victory and ensured
that the march towards a developed
Rivers State premised on the unity of all
ethnic nationalities was set in motion.
Barrister Wike declared that with recent
political happenings in the state, it was
now obvious to the Ogoni people that their
future remains in the PDP as they have
been deceived and dumped by the
Outgoing administration in the state.
He regretted that while some Ogoni
leaders were deceived to fight President
Jonathan, the outgoing governor who
promised them that they would succeed
him abandoned the Ogoni people at the
eleventh hour and chose his crony.
According to him: “PDP remains the only
hope of the Ogoni people. It is the only
party collectively owned by the people
where leaders emerge through internal
democracy. In the APC, one man sits
down and singlehandedly appoints the
governorship candidate. Of course, he
betrayed the Ogoni people.
“I am part of the Ogoni people. My
administration will be for all communities
and ethnic nationalities of Rivers State.
Our people will once again witness
inclusive governance, where no group will
be shut out. I will work with all
stakeholders, both Federal and State to
ensure that we address all environmental
and infrastructural challenges in the
area”.
He said that Ogoni people now know
those who love them and those who
merely use them for cheap politics, saying
that President Jonathan has started the
process of implementing the UNEP report
and the construction of a major road in
Ogoniland. He urged the people to vote
PDP candidates in the forthcoming
elections.
The New Rivers Vision 2015 championed
by Barrister Wike is a developmental
blueprint targeted at moving Rivers State
forward in the areas of infrastructure,
human capital development, education,
tourism, health, industrialization, rural
development, inclusive governance and
productive synergy with the Federal
Government and neighbouring states to
deliver on the en-visioned expectations of
the people.
The blueprint also lays premium on
economic development, strategic
international relations, judicious usage of
state resources, accountability, youth and
women empowerment, sports
development, agricultural revival and the
development of ethnic friendship to rebuild
Rivers State.
Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has
explained his vision for a new Rivers State
to leaders and peoples of all ethnic
groups and non-indigenes in Rivers State,
hence the groundswell of support for him
to salvage the state in 2015. No other
candidate has done this, hence their resort
to blackmail and campaign of calumny.
However, as we have always maintained,
the moving train of the Rivers people
cannot be stopped by a few misguided
sponsored gossips as it is focused on
getting to its destination –Government
House, Port Harcourt otherwise known as
Brick House.
•Nwakaudu is Special Assistant (Media)
to Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, PDP
Governorship Candidate, Rivers State.

The ECOWAS Common External Tariff


THE launch, last week, of a Common
External Tariff (CET) for West African
nations by Heads of State and
government of member-countries of the
Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS) is a major step towards
economic integration in the sub-region.
The adoption of a common external tax
regime in the sub-region, which is
expected to take effect from January, next
year, is the outcome of the regional
body’s 46th Ordinary Session which held
in Abuja last week. This move
undoubtedly signifies a bold resolve to
bring the 2006 decision of the member-
states to facilitate growth through a
common tax administration into reality.
We heartily support this move. It is,
indeed, a crucial milestone on the road to
the creation of a customs union for West
Africa. Far-reaching benefits could come
from this initiative if unnecessary
bureaucracy is not allowed to impede its
implementation.
With this development, significant
improvement in the implementation of the
ECOWAS Trade Liberation Scheme (ETLS)
is hopefully in the offing. It should also
check the dumping of inferior goods in the
West African sub-region. Although the
concept of a regional customs union has
been in the pipeline for decades and has
now been formally adopted, its
implementation still requires strong
political will.
Without doubt, a common external tax
regime is a healthy development. For
instance, under the scheme, goods
imported into a Francophone country will
not necessarily be cheaper or more
expensive than those entering another
Anglophone country such as Nigeria or
Ghana. What is required in addition to the
political will of the regional leaders is
unity of purpose.
If this plan comes on stream, it would be
an effective instrument for harmonising
the import policies of member-states.
This will, in turn, strengthen the
framework for the realisation of a
common market.
In addition to the expected improvement
in customs revenue within the sub-region,
we expect that key sectors of member-
countries will get a fair measure of
protection as the plan will boost national
productivity through a remarkable
reduction of customs duties on items such
as raw materials for industrial production.
Nigeria should be a key beneficiary of
this, as the country is the fastest growing
economy in the region and one of the
fastest in Africa, the present economic
downturn notwithstanding.
To actualise the immense benefits of a
common regional tax administration, all
hands are required on deck. The heads of
government of member-states should,
therefore, walk the talk and make the plan
a reality. Available statistics show that
West Africa is at the moment one of the
fast growing regions in Africa, with
economic growth of an average of seven
percent last year, and Nigeria’s record a
6.5 percent growth in GDP in the same
year (2013).
It is, however, worrisome that much has
not been done to address the challenges
of insecurity of life and health, such as
the dreaded Ebola Virus, before the
effective date which is just a few weeks
away. Member states should step up
awareness campaigns on the plan among
their populace and the government
agencies that hold the key to the
successful implementation of the
economic integration programme.
Tackling the challenges posed by
terrorism, diseases, piracy and other
obstacles is crucial, as peace and security
are critical to the success and
sustainability of any programme that will
earn the confidence of the people.
In this connection, we charge ECOWAS
countries to accelerate their efforts on the
implementation of a common tariff regime
in the asub-region.