State House Press Release: President Jonathan Condemns Kaduna Church Suicide Bomb Attack

St. Rita's Catholic Church after the attack

President Goodluck Jonathan

By Reuben Abati

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has condemned Sunday's suicide bomb attack on a Catholic Church in Kaduna.
The President, who was extremely saddened by the explosion, described it as "barbaric, cruel and uncalled for."
President Jonathan noted that the apparent objective of the criminal and unpatriotic elements and forces behind the attack is to set back the progress the Administration has made in the fight against terrorism in the country. "It is obvious that these people do not mean well for Nigeria and its unity and development," he said.
The President however, expressed confidence that the war against terrorism would become more unrelenting as the nation would never give in to the forces of terror and retardation.  He added that the persistence of messengers of evil will not prevail over the will of the government and the people to secure peace and safety.
"Our efforts to deal with all acts of terror and violence would only be redoubled even as the security agencies continue to receive all the support they need from government to reverse this unfortunate and unacceptable trend that threatens the peace and stability of our nation," President Jonathan said.
The President commiserated with the Catholic Church, family and friends of the victims of the bombing, assuring them that government’s resolve to deal with the threat of terrorism remains strong.
REUBEN ABATI
Special Adviser (Media & Publicity) to the President
October 28, 2012
  Saharareporters

Open Letter Of Resignation To Odumegwu Ojukwu

If this letter is found to be authentic, it represents a serious criminal indictment on the  part of the Baifran leadership; it also contradicts the claim by the world renowned scholar, Prof Chinua Achebe  (in his recent book)  that the federal  military government of Nigeria  used starvation as the main weapon to win the civil war.

  FROM Robert S. Goldstein (Public Relations Representative of Biafra in the United States) (Published in the Morning Post, Lagos, August 17, 1968)
As your Public Relation's Representative in the United States, it is my distasteful duty to tender my resignation based on the following points:
POINT 1 - In November of 1967 when we met in Umuahia, you and your Cabinet were very impressive. You told me of the woes of your little Republic, that thousands of people had died, were dying and more were prepared to die for freedom's sake.
You and your Cabinet told me you believed world opinion would help your cause if you could get your story across.
You expressed the opinion that very few if any people in the United States knew of the plight of the Biafrans.
You asked me to tell the world that Britain had teamed up with Russia in a conspiracy with the Federal Government of Nigeria to murder every Ibo in Biafra. You suggested I use my talents to induce the Press to write about the Biafran side of the war, as at that time all news came out of Lagos.
You will recall I did not take the assignment that day but stayed on several days before deciding to take that job.
To help win the peace
At that time I stated to you and your cabinet that I was taking the assignment making it crystal clear I would try my best to help win the peace not the war.
POINT TWO - I immediately arranged the first world Press conference in Biafra inviting the US Press as well as journalists and television people from England, France, Switzerland, Africa and other parts of the Globe. This was the first news break through. I arranged regular trips into Biafra for the world Press, helped set up stringers, etc., so that your statements and the statements of your Cabinet would be heard.
At that time, I was absolutely positive you were right and your cause was a just one in the best interests of the free world and your countrymen.
POINT THREE - Finally the Republic of Biafra was recognized first by Tanzania, then quickly followed by Gabon, the Ivory Coast and Zambia. Our public relations work was paying off, world opinion was starting to side with us.
Peace talks were arranged at Kampala. I thought that if anyone walked away from the table it would be the Federal Government. But to my dismay it was Biafra that left the Conference. After all the fighting and killing, I knew that peace would not come easy but I could not understand leaving the Peace Conference until the last point was negotiated and the avenue explored.
POINT FOUR - Then urgent telex messages were received from 'Biafra' telling of tens of thousands of people starving in the refugee camps, the villages, the bush country - stating if something weren't done in the next few months over a million women, children and aged would be starved to death. I immediately contacted the Press, urgently petitioned the State Department for action on their part. Food, medicine and milk were sent to the only available ports open for immediate shipment to 'Biafra' via land routes through Federal and Biafra territory, under the auspices of world organizations such as the International Red Cross among others.
Then came the incredible answer from 'Biafra' that land corridors could not be acceptable until there was a complete ceasefire, and that an airlift was the only solution to feed the starving.
You then appeared before the various Heads of State and representatives of the OAU at Niamey in Niger. I fully expected you to at least accept the world help that was offered your starving throngs. However, you delayed, hoping to use these unfortunates with world sympathy on their side as a tool to further your ambition to achieve war concessions at the upcoming peace talks in Addis Ababa. Thus innocent victims continue to perish needlessly of starvation, the most agonising death that can befall any living creature.
POINT FIVE - This was incredible to me. I am now convinced that I have been used by you and your cabinet to help in military adventures of your origin....using your starving hordes as hostages to negotiate a victory.
If at some later date, following the isuance of this letter, you do concede to allow a mercy land corridor...would you expect me to agree to espouse before the world Press the incredible delay of your decision. What explanation could I honestly give for the needless prolongation of this horror.
Inconceivable acts
I pray this communication may in some small way influence you to move affirmatively, allowing the mercy land corridor to be born.
It is inconceivable to me that you would stop the feeding of thousands of your countrymen (under auspicies of world organizations such as the International Red Cross, World Council of Churches and many more) via a land corridor which is the only practical way to bring in food to help at this time. It is inconcivable to me that men of good faith would try to twist world opinion in such a manner as to deceive people into believing that the starvation and hunger that is consuming 'Biafra' is a plot of Britian, Nigeria and others to commit genocide.
POINT SIX - I cannot in all conscience serve you any longer. Nor can I be a party to suppressing the fact that your starving thousands have the food, medicine and milk available to them.....it can and is ready to be delivered through international organizations to you. Only your constant refusal has stopped its delivery.
I am this date, tendering my resignation and am returning to Mr. Collins Obih of the African Continental Bank all the fees you have given me (Letter of Credit No. 354 $400,000 US.)
I have sent your representative in New York a Bond in the amount of 800.000 pounds that I was holding in your behalf. I have also this date, sent the Bond of 200,000 pounds issues by the Central Bankl of Nigeria back to them for disposal.
POINT SEVEN - I am now convinced that one Nigeria is the only solution to peace. I also call upon you Mr. Ojukwu to allow your starving people to be fed. Their well-being is of deep concern to me as well as other right thinking people of the world. Your acting in the utmost haste in this matter is in my opinion the first step toward any lasting peace in your country."

The David who would not kill any Goliath

By Femi Aribisala
In the Christian churches of today, the preferred champion is David; it is not Jesus.
Situate Jesus within most Old Testament frameworks and he just does not fit.  Jesus would never kill any Midianite or Amalekite on the way to the Promised Land as Moses did.  He would not have bears kill children that abuse him as Elisha did.  Confronted with Goliath as David was, it is more likely Goliath would kill Jesus than that Jesus would kill Goliath.
Throughout his ministry, Jesus killed no one.  Instead, he healed all those who came to him for healing.  When John and James asked Jesus to call fire from heaven as Elijah did in retaliation against a Samaritan village that denied them free passage to Jerusalem, Jesus rebuked them.  He said to them: “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” (Luke 9:55-56).
Like Father, like Son
Jesus says: “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9).  If so, who do we see when we look at Moses, Elijah, Elisha and David?  We see servants of God who only second-guessed the Father’s will.  But Jesus knows the will of the Father.  He said: “I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38).  What is the will of God, the Father?  God requires his sons to lay down their lives out of love for him.
This requirement defined Jesus’ approach to the world.  He fought no one and defeated no one.  He merely overcame the world.  Jesus was required to live in the world without being seduced by the values of the world.  He lived in the world without gaining or desiring to gain the world.  All the time he was here on earth, he never lost sight of the one reality he expressed emphatically to Pilate: “My kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36).
In this process, even his life on earth became disposable.  Jesus says: “Therefore my Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18).
Since Jesus is the Good Shepherd, his sheep should follow his example.  John says: “As he is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17).  Jesus sends his disciples into the world as lambs among wolves. (Luke 10:3).  He challenges us, not to be giant-killers, but giant-overcomers.  He says: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:21).
War-mongers
However, the pattern of life of Jesus is not the preferred pattern of life of Christians.  Indeed, in most countries of the West, Christians, including the clerics, are the war-mongers.  Pat Robertson, an American pastor, even called for the assassination of a head of state, Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.  Paradoxically, he saw no contradiction between this and his Christian faith.  Another American pastor, Terry Jones, orchestrated the burning of Korans, a move deliberately designed to provoke Moslems.  But Jesus never attacked any other person’s faith except his own.
Evangelical Christians in the United States are the very people most likely to reject the teachings of Jesus when it comes to politics.  They favour punitive justice, including the execution of criminals for capital offences.  They would rather billions of dollars be spent on jet-fighters and not on social welfare.  They prefer granting tax-breaks for wealthy corporations to helping the poor and the needy.  American evangelicals supported the sending of their children to war in Iraq and Afghanistan. In Europe, those claiming to be disciples of the “Prince of Peace” are likely to be the most militaristic. That is not the way of Christ.
Jesus says: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” (Matthew 5:38-yhr 39).  However, Christians do not turn the other cheek; we fight.  Christians today are not pacifists.  On the contrary, we have been responsible for a great many massacres and for genocide.  Christians go to battle.  Christians fight wars.  Christians fight to defend and protect our interests.
The old wine of David killing Goliath is served regularly in Christendom.  We teach this killing to our children.  They act in plays celebrating it.  But the values of Goliath-killing David are anathema to Christ.  David was an ambitious and ruthless politician who initiated, sanctioned, or condoned murder and assassination as a way of eliminating his political rivals.  He authorized the murder of Abner and Eshbaal.  He plotted the death of Uriah.  Even on his death-bed, David was still planning the deaths of two people: Joab and Shimei.
Jesus, on the other hand, does not tell us to kill our enemies.  He does not even tell us to fight them.  Instead he says: “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:44-45).
However, Christians don’t seem to have received this Jesus memo in 2,000 years of church history.  In today’s churches, we go to prayer meetings not to pray for our enemies, but to kill them.  You can get to one meeting and find one thousand prayer-warriors chanting “die; die; die” in alarming frenzy.  Who do they want consumed suddenly by Holy Ghost fire?  “Every enemy of my marriage; every enemy of my destiny; every power planning to wage war against my divine vision; what are you waiting for, die in the name of Jesus!”
Two champions
This leads to the conclusion that, as a rule, Christians don’t know Jesus; the David who did not kill any Goliaths.  But we certainly know the David who killed Goliath.  David was a man of blood who lived by the sword.  Jesus is a man of peace who warns that: “All who take the sword will perish by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52).
When we look objectively at the scriptures, we see two champions.  In the Old Testament it is David; the man who killed Goliath.  In the New Testament it is Jesus, the David who did not kill any Goliaths but was killed by the Goliaths of the priesthood.  But we can only have one champion: we cannot have two.  In the Christian churches of today, the preferred champion is David; it is not Jesus.
But Jesus warns: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25).
Vanguard

Theophilus Ilevbare: Nigerian ‘Pastorpreneurs’, how Christlike?

Nigeria is home to some of the largest churches, fastest growing denominations and some of the wealthiest pastorpreneurs the world over. No surprise we’re considered the most religious people on earth. This tag, like our crude oil, is fast becoming our bane as a Nation. Opulence of founders of these churches achieved through compulsory and somewhat forceful tithing, seed sowing and constantly skinning of their flock and taking its milk. Properity preachers they’ve become, relegating salvation and righteous christian living to the backburner. No surprise that our thieving politicians have found a safe haven in churches where they share stolen loot with pastorpreneurs in return for fervent prayers to turn away the prying eyes of relevant anti-corruption agencies. So much dust has been raised in the past when stolen funds become seeds in God’s house without ascertaining how it is acquired, our pastorpreneurs , just don’t care!
The Pastorpreneur is part CEO and part pastor and they are considered Christian businessmen. It is a concept that combines business practices, like that of an enterpreneur, with religion. An enterpreneur unites all means of production to get products for Profiteering, constantly shifting economic resources out of an area of lower and into another of higher productivity and greater yield. So have the Pastors of megachurches turned.
They use members and workers of the church as a means to attain their unholy ambition, while their wives and children are made to function in strategic church position to ensure seeds sown are properly remitted, constantly changing their ministerial headquarter from one megacity to another to gain more affluent members.
Today, the work of the ministry has been turned into a money spinning venture. Prosperity preachers who never fail to emphasise tithing at every opportunity. They tell you if you want to be blessed beyond measure give beyond one-tenth of your earning, some even ask you to sow your lifes! Unsuspecting members empty their pockets and when in dire need of a miracle their bank account, almost going abegging thereafter, while the already super rich pastorpreneur lives like a royalty. The sensibilities of the average Nigerian churchgoer have almost been washed away by the antics of these so called-pastors. They inordinately compete among themselves; who has got the biggest megachurch auditorium. They move around in siren blarring elaborate motorcade, splashing thousands of dollars on posh cars, purchase, maintenance and cabin crew of private jet(s), multi-million naira investment across all major sectors of the economy, typical of accomplished enterpreneurs.
Though seldom, Politicians when in church, are ushered to the front row, given all sorts of titles and mundane recognition, rolling out drums as they step out for thanksgiving, one begins to wonder if it is a political rally.
It is unscriptural and sad that members sow seeds into Mega church projects like elite secondary schools and universities which on completion eighty percent of thesame members who sowed cannot afford to pay tuition of such schools in this or another lifetime! How they’ve been so blind folded and tricked overtime remains a mystery to close observers.
Scripture succintly noted that Believers of today were first called christians in Antioch because they possessed the very nature of Christ. The way and manner they went about their business was mirrored in the exemplary life of Jesus Christ, modesty, humility and righteousness were his watchword. Christ’s early ministry from birth to ascension was characterised by certain tenets which himself admonished his disciples and followers alike to adhere. ‘Set your affections on things above’ the Bible says, but the very Men who are supposed to lead the flock of christ by example now milk them dry. Messages of Salvation, holiness, baptism by fire has now been left for the ‘small boys in the ministry’, those who have not attained mega status. Our supposed ambassadors of Christ have joined our thieving politicians or so it seems.
How many megachurches that are worth billions of naira have responsed to the victims of the recent flood disaster in 14 states? Churches don’t pay taxes, If they now make billions and make big time investments, how about social responsibilty? How do megachurches in Nigeria contribute to the development of their immediate community, touching the lifes of the needy? Isn’t that christlike? How about making investment in areas that will have a direct impact on church members? A friend muted the idea that three mega churches in Nigeria can come together and start an agricultural revolution by so doing creating employment, putting food on the table of the have-nots and giving the agricultural sector a short in the arm. Won’t christ up there be impressed?
DailyPost

Policemen batter journalist for taking their pictures while they drank

Police officers attached to the wife of Enugu State governor, Mrs. Clara Chime, attacked a photojournalist with the News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Mike Agada, on Friday evening.
It was gathered that the officers attacked Agada at the interment of an in-law to one of the special advisers to the governor, at Amebota Village, Ukana, in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The journalist was brutalised while performing his official duty at the funeral ceremony, with Mrs. Chime and other top government functionaries in attendance, when the mobile police officers descended on him, smashed the camera into pieces and severally punched and kicked the photojournalist
One of the police officers, Corporal Joshua Ethoti, corked his gun and threatened to ‘waste’ the journalist.
Investigation revealed that the policemen beat up Agada on the suspicion that he took their picture while they were drinking.
Dailypost learnt that the smashed Nikon D300 professional camera and SB 800 flashgun values N700, 000 in the market.
Enugu state Police Public Relations Officer of Enugu State Command, Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed that the matter had been reported to his office.
He said, “Yes, I got a call from somebody in NAN who said he was manhandled by mobile policemen attached to the Governor’s wife. I told him that he should write a petition to the command and also send a copy of the petition to the Chief Security Officer to the Governor and the Chief Press Secretary, since the policemen involved are attached to Government House. You know that we don’t condone such things.”
The police boss said necessary action would be taken after investigation.
DailyPost

Top Delta state female government worker beaten and raped by driver

 It was a tragic experience for a Delta State top female government official, as she was attacked, beaten and allegedly raped by three dare-devil men.
The incident happened at the victim’s (names withheld) residence in DDPA area of Asaba, the state capital.
It was gathered that the government’s appointee was left in coma after been attacked by a man believed to be her former driver and two others.
However, nemesis caught up with the culprits as they are now cooling their feet in police custody.
But DSP Charles Muka, the Public Relations Officer of the state’s police command maintained he is yet to be briefed on the ugly incident.
An unannounced visit to the victim’s three-bedroom apartment, revealed that the place had been deserted.
Giving an eye-witness account, a close source said, ”On the fateful day, the victim’s driver had reported to duty as usual.
He was soon joined by his predecessor, who had earlier been sacked by the madam. Nobody suspected anything was going on inside the house because of the high fence. But at about 10 p.m., the two drivers drove out of the compound in the madam’s jeep with 50 litres of fuel and never came back. Having regained consciousness at about 4 a.m, she struggled and managed to get to her neighbour’s gate to seek assistance. When she knocked at the gate, I peeped through a small hole and found out that she was the one, I opened the gate and discovered she had matchet cuts all over her body.
It was at that point we raised an alarm and rushed her to hospital,” he said. Continuing, he said there was blood stain on the walls in the victim’s apartment, adding that the blood on the floor had congealed.” They broke her head, raped her and mutilated her body. The plot was to kill her, but God intervened.”
Another source who doubles as a neighbour said that the attackers might have carried out the dastardly act as their own pound of flesh to the victim as she has always been too hostile to her domestic staff.
“Nobody stays here with her. She lives alone. Whenever the driver comes to pick her, he is not allowed to go into the house. He always hangs around the gate. Sometimes, he would sit on that stone and doze off. Her house girl too had to run away because of the way madam maltreated her. There was a day she poured hot water on the girl because of early morning tea,” she said.
However, following a tip-off,  security operatives of the state trailed the suspects to Abakiliki, Ebonyi State, where they had gone to dispose of the vehicle and were subsequently arrested
DailyPost

Owolabi Adenola David: The Aluu in us all ..

1985, Three young men , Lawal Ojuolape (30), Bernard Ogedengbe (29) and Bartholomew Owoh (26) were taken to bar-beach. Those days that was the place where condemned criminals faced the firing squad. What was the offence of these three young men you might ask?.They had been found guilty of drug trafficking. Death penalty for drug traffickers was a decree that the Buhari/Idiagbon military junta introduced after they had seized power from Shagari. There was public outcry,people pleaded for their lives to be spared. International organisations jointly called for the halt in their execution but to no avail. Buhari insisted that discipline must be instilled! death was the way?
That faithful morning they were led with their hands and legs bound. Eye witnesses say when they were tied to the spot in which they were to be shot,the three of them started singing. They sang a religious song that made the excited onlookers cry. As the bullets ripped through their body,hitting vital organs and their blood splattered through the air,Nigeria killed Nigerians. The most controversial of the three killed was Bernard Ogedengbe,whose crime was committed before it even became a capital offence that carried the death penalty. Buhari refused,he didn’t bulge.
5th march 1986.
Mamman Jiya vatsa was executed under charges that he plotted a coup. You will probably be asking yourself why this should be included in this piece,well he was given the death penalty by Babangida and they had been best friends. Infact they attended the same schools,married friends. For pete’s sake Mamman was Babangida’s bestman at his wedding. For him to have been executed without enough evidence shocked many. Nigeria killed Vasta.
19th october 1986.
Dele giwa one of the greatest investigative journalist Nigeria has ever had got a visit from the federal government,it was a mail and was handed to Billy,Giwa’s son. Billy handed the parcel to his father. The parcel “bore the seal of the Presidency, was marked: “To be opened by addressee only.”  Receiving the parcel, Giwa said “this must be from the Presidency.”
Giwa had placed the parcel on his laps while it was being opened. The parcel exploded and torn Dele giwa body into shreds from his lower abdomen down. Giwa’s died on the way to the hospital. Nigeria killed Giwa.
Fast forwarding to october 2012,the social media went alight with the news that some undergraduates from the university of port harcourt had been killed. Different reasons for their lynching was described by blogs,tatafos and imaginations. They were Lloyd, Tekena, Ugonna and Chidiaka. They were killed in a place called Aluu. After much investigation and interviews, it was concluded that they were neither cultists nor thieves like was earlier stated. They were just young boys,friends and family who had visited a debtor to collect their money but had solicited the help of a known ‘hard guy’ in the campus to help them with the easily collection of the money. The debtor on seeing them and imagining what their intentions might be, cried out calling them thieves. The Aluu peeps rushed out of their houses to apprehend the so called ‘thieves’ but on realising the matter was out of hand, .Mr ‘hard guy’ had brandished a weapon and escaped,leaving the four guys at the mercy of the Aluu’ans. The rest is they say is history…
This is where it gets interesting, it was not the first time a thief or someone labelled a thief had been killed by being burnt in Nigeria. Infact its a frequent occurrence. I remember as a primary school student in lagos,Festac town seeing many burnt corpses lying on the street of festac. I remember clearing being in a ‘danfo bus’ with my mum on our way to mile2 and just before the bus-stop,seeing a thief was already being saddled with the tire ready to be ignited,my mum had scolded me to look at her and not remove my gaze or I will be dealt with seriously. I could hear some moaning in the bus, a sigh here and there. Some people said ‘that’s what’s good for them’, while others condemned. I thought my mum was looking at me too but looking closer at her eyes, she was blank. Out of her lips came ‘Jesu….Jesu…Jesu kristi’.
So was it because they were students?, are the lives of students more valuable than illiterates?,Or was it because they were young?,should only the old be killed?, or was it because they were innocent?, should all the guilty be burnt to death?
We condemn the people from Aluu like we are innocent ourselves, like the Aluu people invented that form of punishment. How many people participated in the killing of those. guys?..maximum 13 or lemme say 15. Yet we condemn the entire village as murderous people. A thief was killed in a market in warri just this past week,let’s condemn those in warri!. Let’s condemn those in Amuwo odofin for many have died there. Let’s condemn those in Aba!, please we should not forget Funtua in katsina. Let’s condemn ourselves. We have failed each other,we have not defended our neighbours,our brothers. If the crime committed by the people in Aluu was that they didn’t stop the killing but looked on while those young men were being killed then we are all guilty of that offence.
By God, Buhari is guilty of that offence and idiagbon, his vice. Babangida is guilty of that offence so also maryam his wife. ACN,PDP,CPC and co that hire thugs are guilty. We are all guilty of not speaking out against oppression not just to us but to people around us. We go along with the tide as soon as we realise that we haven’t been affected directly,but hello! Take a peek outside Nigeria,u will see that Nigerians have all been judged. We are both the oppressors and the oppressed. We are both the killers and the dead,u and I!
Our parents didn’t fight for their peers then :Giwa,Ogedengbe,Vatsa and co were killed and after a while the pain becomes jokes and gists around bars and hotels. Schools and churches. We are following in their footsteps. Cynthia Osokogu’s death is already being forgotten,how many of us are following the case of the killers in court? How many of us ask questions and demand answers? The Aluu4 will very well be swept under the carpet soon just like Otedola n Rilwans bribery case while you and I await the new Iphone to be launched or Davido’s new video.
We all have a drop of Aluu in us,but by writing this piece I have reduced mine a little.
What will you do?
DailyPost