Nigeria is due for revolution – Tambuwal

Tambuwal

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, has said a revolution is due in Nigeria because of endemic corruption in the country, coupled with the general disaffection of the people  with the ruling elite.

He said the kind of conditions that must subsist in order for any talk of revolution to be taken seriously were widely evident.

Tambuwal stated these in Lagos on Tuesday at the 2013 Distinguished Management Lecture of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered). The occasion had the theme, ‘The role of the legislature on the economic, infrastructural and ethical revolution in Nigeria’, where he was invited as a guest speaker.

He said, “The most compelling reasons for revolution throughout the ages were injustice, crushing poverty, marginalisation, rampant corruption, lawlessness, joblessness, and general disaffection with the ruling elite. You will agree with me that these describe conditions in our nation now, to a very large degree.”

Tambuwal, who was represented by the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Budget and Research, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, said over the years, successive governments made efforts to deal with this menace, but to no avail.

“That these conditions exist is well known to all persons in authority but the results of these successive efforts have failed to yield the desired results. This therefore is the justification for the radical change from the present approach to a revolutionary one,” he stressed.

From the perspective of legislation, according to him, the most critical role that the legislature plays is through the annual appropriation bill, as every year, pursuant to the Constitution, the executive submits its budget estimates for legislative scrutiny.

The Speaker said as representatives of the people, the legislature ensured that the more critical needs of the people got priority attention, as efforts were made to ensure equitable distribution of projects.

He said, “The effort of the National Assembly to handle appropriation to meet the yearning and aspirations of the people has been met with serious resistance; yet it is something we must do.

“It is perhaps important to emphasise that if our economy is to be turned around, our annual budgets must prioritise programmes and projects that deliberately address issues of poverty alleviation,  job creation and security of lives and property.

Earlier in his welcome speech, the President and Chairman of Council, NIM, Chief Michael Olawale-Cole, had said more than ever before, Nigeria needed an urgent intellectual revolution to the many leadership challenges besetting it.

Man arrested for raping seven-year-old girl in Calabar

A 35-year-old man, identified as Bassey Ekpo-Efiok, has been arrested by the Cross River State Police Command for allegedly raping a seven-year-old girl (name withheld) in Calabar.

Father of the victim, Mr. Patrick Eyo-Ita, said the incident happened around 10pm on June 17 at Effanga Offiong Street in the Edibe-Edibe area of Calabar South.

He alleged that the culprit, the son of a former Post-Master General of the Nigeria Postal Service defiled his daughter shortly after he strolled out of his compound while the daughter was asleep.

Eyo-Ita said, “This thing happened between 9.30pm and 10pm. My house was very hot, so, I lay my daughter by the veranda of my apartment. After doing that, I strolled out briefly within the neighbourhood. Unfortunately when I came back about 10pm I did not see my daughter where I lay her but saw the wrapper on which she was lain. I was worried and decided to search for her.”

He said while he was searching for the daughter, he heard her scream from the suspect’s apartment.

“The voice sounded like that of my daughter and I decided to peep into the room where the screaming was coming from. I saw Bassey naked and was on the top of my little daughter. I immediately raised the alarm and within seconds, my neighbours had gathered,” he said.

He said the neighbours made effort to apprehend the suspect but he escaped through a back door.

He said, “When I entered the room to carry my daughter, I saw that blood was coming out of her private part and she could hardly walk. I immediately reported the matter to the police that took her to the Nigeria Police Medical Centre at Akim.”

He said the suspect was eventually arrested on July 1 by policemen from Akim Police Station.

When PUNCH Metro visited the area command on Tuesday, the suspect was writing his statement.

A child rights activist, who facilitated the arrest, Mr. James Ibor, said the action of the suspect was criminal as he had jeopardised the life of the little girl.

When contacted, the acting Public Relations Officer in charge of the state Command, Mr. Hogan Bassey, promised to get the details and call back.

‘I work hard and I can enjoy my money’ – Wizkid defends buying N15m car

Nigerian singer Wizkid replaced his N15million Porsche Panamera car with a brand new one less than two weeks after crashing it in an accident.
There have been heavy criticism from some of his fans since the purchase of the car. Some say he should have donated to support ailing music producer OJB Jezreel, who is in need of about N16million for kidney transplant.
However, the singer says he works hard and can spend his money any way he wants to. Find his response below.



He tells Encomium magazine:
“I needed to get another one because after the accident, I didn’t have a car and I have to move around. I started taking cabs before I decided to buy this new car to move around. It is needed for work. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong in splashing millions on a car. If someone works hard and decides to spend on something that he thinks is good for him, why not? In fact, I don’t think there’s need to justify whether its is wrong or not. I work hard and I will enjoy my money”

BBA The Chase: Task – Oneal’s touching proposal to Feza

 This particular Task has got people going all emotional about the prospect of getting married, especially when the person proposing is already your partner. It all seemed too real and some wished that it was.
Oneal also went on his knees as he had a speech and a half for Feza, telling her that life was miserable for him before he met her. A blushing Feza couldn’t help but smile at the man in front of her, professing his undying love and wanting a future for them both.
The Housemates stood by cheering the two on with song and dance like they would do in the real world. This Task is proving too real for the Housemates, especially the couples who had decided to call it quits. Now all the feelings they had have flooded back and people will have to reconsider their decisions.
Natasha was very emotional in her Diary Session as she praised Oneal for his heartfelt proposal to the girl of his dreams. She even wished the happy couple well, forgetting that this was all for their Wager. None of it is real Natasha.

Kidnappers Of Wife And Daughter Of Supreme Court Justice Rhodes-Vivours Arrested /Paraded

Kidnappers nabbed by the State Security Service (SSS)

Three members of a gang that allegedly kidnapped the wife, daughter and driver of a justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, in May, this year, were among seven suspects paraded by the State Security Services in Benin City today.
The other suspects paraded were three extortionists who threatened to kill their victim if he didn’t pay up and a musician who was paraded for trafficking in persons.
The State Director of the SSS, Mr. Bello Bakori who paraded the suspects before the Governor and the Press said the suspects had confessed to the crime and that three members of the kidnappers of the Judge’s wife are still at large.
He said Mrs. Rhodes-Vivour and her daughter were kept in a house in Upper Sokpomba, area of Benin City from where the kidnap suspects were arrested. All the kidnap suspects were from Delta State while the trafficker in persons is from Edo State.
The Governor who was miffed that despite Government’s warning that landlords should screen their tenants to ensure that their properties are not used by criminals said the buildings used by the kidnap suspects to hold the Judge’s wife, daughter and driver will be demolished at the appropriate time.
“For the landlords, we have already made the decision that anyone that aids and abets kidnapping will have his structure demolished. Any hotelier who does not follow the instruction of documenting who stays in the hotel and such are used for kidnapping or human trafficking we will demolish it. Nobody has the right to make money out of the pains of Nigerians”, he said.
Oshiomhole expressed joy that the security agencies were able to arrest the gang that kidnapped the wife and daughter of the Supreme Court Justice, saying “this is a major breakthrough. What is important is for criminals to know that there is no more immunity. It is a matter of when, not whether, they would be caught and that the officers and men are determined to do their best and those involved in crime would be brought to justice.
He noted “majority of these criminals, 95% of them are from Delta State. It shows in this business of crime, criminals are very mobile. No State can find a solution as they keep moving from one State to the other. When their colleagues hear that they have been put on trial, they would look elsewhere.”
To members of the public the Governor said :“this is something that people should take into account, that your own relation may well be the source of your problem. Your own cook may well be the source of your problem; your guard may well be the source of your problem. All of us need to be careful and not take anything for granted.
“The lesson from this effort is that when we report to law enforcement agents, they can be arrested, but when we pay ransom, then we are providing additional incentives for the criminals to remain in business. Every ransom we pay is an opportunity for them to do more. For me the message is clear, we must resist paying ransom. We must take law enforcement agencies into confidence. We must trust them.
“Let me use this opportunity to appeal to our parents that we must watch over our children, particularly our daughters. As we heard from one of them arrested, this business is to attract unsuspecting young girls into travel with all kinds of lousy promises. In their innocence, they submit and they take them across the borders and they face all kinds of dehumanizing experiences”.

Deeper Life Church Suspends Kumuyi’s Son, Wife Over "Indecent Wedding" In Jamaica

John and Love Kumuyi

The leadership of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry has suspended the son of the General Superintendent of the church and his wife, John and Love Kumuyi from carrying out any activity in the church over their recent controversial wedding in Jamaica.
John and Love wedded in Jamaica on 15 June, 2013 and thousands of members of the church have reacted sharply while condemning the wedding gown worn by the wife and other aspects of the wedding that were at variance with the church’s standard.
She was decked in attires quite different from the acceptable standard set for Deeper Life members by the church.
Love was arrayed in flowing gown with a veil to match, while lots of people said her hair wasn’t natural and that she applied lipstick as part of the make-up.
Also at issue was the hiring of a Limousine which conveyed the couple to their destination after the wedding. And a huge cake was cut during the wedding contrary to the church’s tradition.
Due to the myriad of controversies generated by the wedding on social media, Facebook, especially by members of Deeper Life, the church decided to place the couple on suspension to give them time to pray and seek forgiveness from God for their action.
On Saturday, at Deeper Life’s monthly miracle and revival programme held at the Deeper Life Conference Centre, DLCC, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, John and Love’s suspension from church work was announced to the over 50,000 Deeper Life faithful at the event by Pastor Philip Oluwi, a key leader in the church.
Oluwi, certainly is acting on the instruction from the General Superintendent of the church, Pastor William Kumuyi, to suspend the couple for the embarrassment they brought upon the church during the wedding, emphasizing that the standard of Deeper Life regarding wedding and moderacy had not changed.
“The church, Deeper Life, remains committed to the biblical practice and standard of almost 40 years Christian dressing and still remains and does not compromise on biblical Christian dressing.
“Hence, deviation warrants the displeasure and frown of God and the leadership of the church. John and Love are now under discipline,” Oluwi announced to the entire congregation, an action that helped to calm the nerves of many Deeper Life faithful.
Also, the couple has apologised to the church for the embarrassing way the wedding was conducted. The letter was read by Oluwi and re-read severally to church members by the Church’s Secretary, Pastor Jerry Asemota.
The letter addressed to the Church Secretary, with the heading: “Letter of Apology,” expressed the deepest regret of the couple for bringing the church into disrepute.
The letter reads: “We unreservedly and wholeheartedly state that we did not intend and do not intend that our act or omissions in any way undermine the great work that God has done through the Deeper Christian Life Ministry through our father in the Lord, the General Superintendent.
“We also use this medium to profusely and sincerely apologise to the General Superintendent (Kumuyi) of the church for the embarrassment and heartache our action has caused him; more so as he had earlier declined to be at the event. We acknowledge that we may have benn distracted by cultural differences as we both have lived outside Nigeria for nearly two decades.”
The letter added: “This notwithstanding, we fully accept that having been nurtured, taught and brought up with the sound teaching of the word of God, we should have been able to draw the line which we failed to do. We have now realised the far reaching effect of our actions and omissions and do plead with the church for forgiveness and also appeal that any action that should be taken be directed at John and Love, as we take this time to prayerfully reflect on our actions.
“We take full responsibility for what has happened and this action should in no way be blamed on the General Superintendent or the leaders of the church in Nigeria, United States, Jamaica, or United Kingdom and beyond.”
However, P.M.NEWS investigation revealed that John and Love’s wedding was not conducted in a Deeper Life Bible Church. It was also not conducted by pastors from the church as Deeper Life Bible Church in Jamaica has not been licensed by the country’s government to join couples in wedlock, according to the laws of Jamaica.
The wedding was taken to another church where the ministers in the unnamed church conducted the wedding and joined them in holy matrimony.
Besides, Deeper Life leaders that came from Nigeria were said to have disapproved of the earlier gown Love was to wear for the wedding, while another was hurriedly sewed the night before the wedding.
Church leaders were said not to have seen the new dress until the couple was marching into the church and by then, it was too late to take any action as the wedding was not conducted in a Deeper Life church.