Rev Fr Mbaka: The Planned Episcopal Sanction and Looming Dangers

*Laity Council blows hot THE Laity Council across the nation has expressed worries over the reported gathering storm by the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria to sanction Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka over his recent comments on the state of the nation.

Their worry according to Dr Paul Obi stems from the erroneous impression the move would give to the public and the international community about the intolerant posture of Nigerian government on freedom of expression. That this would cast a big shadow of doubt about our democratic development and plurality of opinions.

Asking rhetorically, Dr Obi who was flanked by other members of the Laity Council, including Chief Christopher Inalegwu, wanted to know if we are now in Idi Amin Dada era, where 'freedom of expression is free, but freedom after the expression would not be guaranteed'

The council members, in an interview with journalists in Enugu yesterday recalled that "our dear Anthony Cardinal Okogie had in the past bitterly criticized the administration of former Gen Ibrahim Babangida. No one attacked him then, or even now.

Rev Fr Mbaka: The Planned Episcopal Sanction and Looming Dangers

*Laity Council blows hot THE Laity Council across the nation has expressed worries over the reported gathering storm by the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria to sanction Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka over his recent comments on the state of the nation.

Their worry according to Dr Paul Obi stems from the erroneous impression the move would give to the public and the international community about the intolerant posture of Nigerian government on freedom of expression. That this would cast a big shadow of doubt about our democratic development and plurality of opinions.

Asking rhetorically, Dr Obi who was flanked by other members of the Laity Council, including Chief Christopher Inalegwu, wanted to know if we are now in Idi Amin Dada era, where 'freedom of expression is free, but freedom after the expression would not be guaranteed'

The council members, in an interview with journalists in Enugu yesterday recalled that "our dear Anthony Cardinal Okogie had in the past bitterly criticized the administration of former Gen Ibrahim Babangida. No one attacked him then, or even now.

Bishop Ezeokafor Harps on Security

BY ABUCHI IFESINACHI, AWKA

The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor has joined other well -meaning Nigerians in calling on the Federal Government led by president Goodluck Jonathan to pay priority attention to security matters

The Catholic prelate who made the call at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Awka while assessing government's efforts in critical sectors of the nation's economy enjoined them to put more efforts in tackling insurgency in the North-east zone of the country .

He was of the opinion that president Jonathan somehow met the expectations of the people in piloting the affairs of the nation in the out-gone year but equally stressed the need for more priority attention to be paid to the security of lives and property in the country .

He observed that security in the country was something to worry about especially with the influx of Boko Haram elements .

Bishop Ezeokafor stated that security agents should be commended for their resilience because according to him security agents put their lives on the line to be able to restore peace and orderliness in troubled states across the federation .

2015: Amaechi Makes Shocking Revelation, Boasts #Buhari’ll Defeat Jonathan

Ahead of the general elections in February, the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has expressed the
confidence that Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.),
presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, will defeat President Goodluck Jonathan.
Amaechi also said that the APC in Rivers State would win in the governorship, state and National Assembly elections.
The governor, who spoke on Wednesday at the APC rally at Abua Central in the Abua/Odual Local Government Area of the state, described Rivers as a satellite Nigeria, adding that the people of the state had always dictated the voting
pattern of other Nigerians.

Burial Of Igbo War Victims: Cleric Sues For Forgiveness

BY ABUCHI IFESINACHI, AWKA

The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese His Lordship, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor has called on Igbos not to pursue vendetta over their relatives who were slaughtered during the civil war, maitetesine of the 80s, and the other religious uprisings in parts of the North, including the current Islamic terrorism ravaging the North East.

Bishop Ezeokafor in his homily,  during the Ecumenical service to mark this year's Armed Forces Remembrance Day and symbolic burial of Igbos who lost their lives during the civil war, rather called for forgiveness.

He praised the patriotism of those who laid their lives for the unity of this country and urged Nigerians to embrace peace the the unity and progress of the country.

In his address on the accession held at the popular Ekwueme square, Awka, the Anambra state capital, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra stated that the symbolic burial of Igbo war victims became necessary to ensure that Igbo fallen heros and heroines were accorded befitting burial so that their spirits can now rest in peace.

Burial Of Igbo War Victims: Cleric Sues For Forgiveness

The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese His Lordship, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor has called on Igbos not to pursue vendetta over their relatives who were slaughtered during the civil war, maitetesine of the 80s, and the other religious uprisings in parts of the North, including the current Islamic terrorism ravaging the North East.

Bishop Ezeokafor in his homily,  during the Ecumenical service to mark this year's Armed Forces Remembrance Day and symbolic burial of Igbos who lost their lives during the civil war, rather called for forgiveness.

He praised the patriotism of those who laid their lives for the unity of this country and urged Nigerians to embrace peace the the unity and progress of the country.

In his address on the accession held at the popular Ekwueme square, Awka, the Anambra state capital, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra stated that the symbolic burial of Igbo war victims became necessary to ensure that Igbo fallen heros and heroines were accorded befitting burial so that their spirits can now rest in peace.

Shekau Blames Successive Government on The Level Of Poverty And Infrastructural Neglect In Northern Nigeria

 

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), on Tuesday gained an unusual support as the Islamic Terrorist group in the Northeast, Boko Haram, pledged its total support for the former military ruler.

Boko Haram, in a lengthy press statement circulated through email by its spokesperson and a copy made available to The Nation Newspaper, Abubakar Shekau, anchored its decision on the need to deliver Nigeria, especially the northern region, from the crunching effects of poverty, underdevelopment and insecurity.

It also lamented the unconcerned attitude of the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration at the unrelenting degradation of the northern region environment, taking a hard stance also on the increasing insecurity in the northeast.

President Jonathan, according to Boko Haram, does not deserve a second term in office.

The Islamic terrorist group also commended Buhari for proposing to stabilize the oil market and scrap the office of the First Lady - which it considered to be a drain on the nation’s resources and a conduit through which corrupt government officials stole across all levels of government.

Burial Of Igbo War Victims: Cleric Sues For Forgiveness

The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese His Lordship, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor has called on Igbos not to pursue vendetta over their relatives who were slaughtered during the civil war, maitetesine of the 80s, and the other religious uprisings in parts of the North, including the current Islamic terrorism ravaging the North East.

Bishop Ezeokafor in his homily,  during the Ecumenical service to mark this year's Armed Forces Remembrance Day and symbolic burial of Igbos who lost their lives during the civil war, rather called for forgiveness.

He praised the patriotism of those who laid their lives for the unity of this country and urged Nigerians to embrace peace the the unity and progress of the country.

In his address on the accession held at the popular Ekwueme square, Awka, the Anambra state capital, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra stated that the symbolic burial of Igbo war victims became necessary to ensure that Igbo fallen heros and heroines were accorded befitting burial so that their spirits can now rest in peace.

Borno Senatorial Contest: Peoples Democratic Party Drops Boko Haram Ex-Governor Sheriff

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dropped former Governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff after initially adopting him as its candidate for Borno Central senatorial zone ahead of February general election.
Sheriff's name was conspicuously absent from the final list of senatorial candidates released by INEC on its website. In place of Sheriff, the INEC list contains the name of Muhammad Baba Kachalla, 49, for Borno Central senatorial district.
The PDP didn't give reasons for dropping Sheriff but it is believed that it may not be unconnected with scandals surrounding the Ex-Governor with respect to allegations made by an Australian negotiator, Stephen Davis, alleging Sheriff was a sponsor of the Boko Haram sect. Sheriff has since denied the allegation while the Department of State Security also gave him a preliminary clearance after it paraded some seven men the DSS alleged conspired with Davies to tarnish Sheriff's image. The DSS had however said that it was still investigating Sheriff.
The PDP had soon after the DSS clearance of Sheriff adopted the Ex-Governor as the party's Senatorial candidate for Borno central which Sheriff had represented from 1999 to 2003 under the defunct All Peoples Party (APP) that later became All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) before merger with other parties to become the All Progressives Congress (APC). Sheriff contested Borno Governorship as an incumbent Senator in 2003 and won the elections. He was Governor from 2003 to 2011. He defected to PDP in 2014 after failing to take control of the APC that was formed months before his defection.

Malema, Attacks Jonathan, Says President “Irresponsible” Over Silence On Baga

South Africa’s eccentric youth leader and federal lawmaker, Julius Malema, has launched a blistering attack on President Goodluck Jonathan over his handling of the massacre in Baga, Borno State, describing the Nigerian president as “irresponsible” and suggesting South African intervention against the extremist Boko Haram sect.
Mr. Malema, who leads the Economic Freedom Fighters Party, criticised Mr. Jonathan for rushing out public condemnations of the terrorist attack on a newspaper in France when he has remained silent until date on the bloodbath in Baga, a troubled town in his own country.
The youth leader said the South African National Assembly will consider a motion on a possible intervention in the bloody campaign by Boko Haram that has claimed thousands of lives and has worsened in the last weeks.