MAKURDI – A Catechist of the Catholic Church, Christopher Unenger and two others, Aondowase Uma and Ahanbee Uma have been reportedly murdered in two separate attacks by suspected herdsmen at Tse-Oragbo Nyiev council ward and Yelwata all in Guma local government area of Benue State.
Vanguard gathered that the Catechist who was in charge of administration at the Roman Catholic Church in the area, was in company of his in-law Ayem Mbakuughur when their attackers waylaid and killed him.
According to the source, “the both of them were going for early morning Mass when they both ran into the ambushed but his in-law managed to escape alive.” When contacted, Media Director, Catholic Diocese of Makurdi Reverend Father Moses Iorpuu who confirmed the development gave no further details. In the same vein, the two brothers, Aondowase Uma and Ahanbee Uma who were murdered in Yelwata by herdsmen in an ambush were said to be returning from Yelewata Market on a motor bike around 8:pm when they ran into the ambush. According to our source “the armed herdsmen killed the two bothers and also burnt the motorbike their victims were riding on before the attack.” One of the survivors of the attack, Orihyev Nyaga who was reportedly shot on his left hand told our source that he was returning from the market on a motorbike when he ran into a road block mounted by the herdsmen. He said “they attempted to machete me but I managed to escaped but they shot me on my left hand while I tried to escape. I abandoned my bike and ran into the bush to hide but shortly after I went back to the market where i raised alarm.” It was further gathered that the bodies of the two brothers were later recovered by youths of the area and handed over to the Police at Yelwata who deposited same at the mortuary in the area. The latest killing came 24 hours after the condolence visit of President President Muhammadu Buhari to the state. It could also be recalled that 24 hours to that visit last Monday, two Mobile Police sergeants were also murdered in Tse-Orogbo, Guma local government area by suspected herdsmen.
Senator Shehu Sani says he decided to expose how much senators earn because the secrecy was hurting his conscience.
Shehu Sani who who represents Kaduna Central in the Senate, says he decided to burst the bubble on how much lawmakers earn, because it is time to make parliament attractive only to people who can contribute ideas.
Nigeria’s parliament is peopled by former governors and geriatric politicians.
Sani’s revelation has dominated media chatter in Nigeria for a week now.
According to the senator who went rogue, N13.5million is handed to every lawmaker monthly. Each senator is also entitled to N200million for constituency projects.
There is also N750,000 due every senator in basic salary, monthly.
Conscience
Asked why he decided to lift the lid on senators’ pay, Sani told the BBC that the jumbo pay was pricking his conscience.
“I decided to bust it open. It was a moral issue”, Sani told the BBC.
“The national assembly is one of the most non-transparent organs of government. It pricked my conscience and I decided to burst the bubble and open the national assembly to public scrutiny.
“If the expenses payment system was ended, then parliament would only be attractive to people who contribute ideas”, he said.
Nothing new
The Nigerian senate reacted by saying Sani’s disclosure was nothing new.
“The figure Senator Shehu Sani gave out about the running costs of the offices of Senators were contained in the various line items and expenditure heads of the budget of the National Assembly which has been made public”, the Senate said in a statement, Sunday.
“Almost all holders of elective and appointive offices have running costs allocated to their offices and that cannot be said to be part of their salaries”, the statement added.
Nigerians have called the sums outrageous in a country where the minimum wage is pegged at N18,000 and where 80 percent of the population live below the poverty line.
Ask the average Nigerian guy who is active on Instagram; he wouldn’t have a hard time telling you about internet sensation, Roman Goddess.
With the handle, @roman goddess she has over 200, 000 followers and going by the volume of likes and comments all her posts attract, it shows that many of her social media fans are active.
Roman Goddess is so frontally endowed that it would be very difficult for her to pass in front of a man without driving attention. Balanced on a nice hip and big butt, she is a sight for sore eyes.
However, she is not happy at the moment. And that’s because some scammers are defrauding people online with her sexy pictures. Posting several screenshots of the fake accounts on her Instagram page, she warned her followers not to have interactions with them. In one of the posts, she wrote, “I don’t have a Facebook account.”
Responding to a fan, Roman Goddess said, “Many of these scammers are taking advantage of my big boobs and sexy curves to defraud people. I am only on Instagram and my followers know my real account.”
PRETORIA – A pastor of the Soshanguve Church, End Times Disciples Ministries, has come under fire for allegedly using the unconventional methods of having congregation members strip and then stepping on them to preach.
Images that were posted to the church’s Facebook page on Thursday went viral on social media and across the internet.
In the images, members of the church can be seen stripped down to their underwear and the pastor is seen stepping on some.
There is an image of a church member licking the pastor’s boots and one of the pastor allegedly jumping on members of congregation.
In a caption for the image of the pastor jumping on members, it is implied the congregants felt no pain as God is with them.
The caption reads, “Total Demonstration of God’s Power >No Pain felt in them, meaning God is with us. To God be the Glory”.
The page has since deleted some of the pictures and the pastor could not be reached for comment.
Women of Ozulubu community in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, yesterday, stormed the police headquarters in Awka in a peaceful protest seeking justice and protection of witnesses in the ongoing prosecution of suspected killers of some indigenes at St. Philips Catholic Church on August 6, 2017.
The protesters, in their numbers, wore mourning black clothes with posters of those who were killed by the gunmen, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Justice is what we want, the soul of those killed are seeking justice,” “Samuel wants justice,” “We want police to protect the witness who will appear in court,” among others.
The leader of the women, Mrs. Nonye Onwuzuruike, said they were demonstrating in support of police for arresting the suspected killers of their natives and called on the police to provide protection and security for the witnesses at the court who, she said, were being threatened by unknown persons.
“We want peace in Ozubulu; we have suffered a lot. Let there be peace in Ozubulu, and we want security of the people by letting peace prevail. When the witnesses are in court, they were threatened and we pleaded that they should be provided with security whenever they come to court to testify because they are afraid to appear.
“When justice reigns, there will be unity and we don’t want anything to happen to our sons and relatives on this matter and that is why we are here,” she stated.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday morning summoned and met with the Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris over his reported failure to relocate to Benue after the killings as directed.
The meeting, coming a day after Benue leaders told Buhari that the IGP did not comply with his directive to relocate to Benue over the killings by suspected herdsmen, was said to have held in the morning.
The IGP was said to be the first caller to the Presidential Villa Tuesday morning, meeting in private with the President for about 30 minutes before leaving.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, who was guest of a radio show Political Platform on RayPower 100.5 FM, said the President would first hear from the Inspector-General of Police before taking any action.
Buhari had during a meeting with stakeholders in Makurdi during his visit to Benue State on Monday expressed surprise that the IGP had apparently not adhered to his instructions to relocate to the state when the spate of killings by Fulani herdsmen started.
“But I did not know that the IG did not stay in the state. I am getting to know this at this meeting. I am quite surprised,” the President had said when he was told that Idris did not spend 24 hours in the state.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, confirmed the Inspector General’s meeting with the President in a message sent to select journalists.
The message read: “Police IG Idris was the first caller this morning at the Presidential villa apparently to explain his flouting of the President’s order to remain in Benue at the height of the incidence between farmers and herdsmen.
“President Buhari, who is believed to have summoned the IG, received him in a private audience. The IG left about 30 minutes after without speaking to anyone.
“It is believed that, short of a query, the president demanded for a full report on police operations till date after which he will make further decisions.
“There is a renewed resolve to make sure that the killings and bad security situation in Benue State abates.”
President Buhari, who assured the Benue people of his loyalty, told the leaders that rather than just condemning the IGP, he would prefer to seek an explanation from him.
President Buhari had on January 9 ordered the IGP to relocate to Benue, eight days after suspected herdsmen attacked parts of the state and killed 73 people.
The attacks displaced hundreds, led to tensions on the Benue-Nasarawa border, and outcry by the people of Benue and others worried about the prolonged herdsmen-farmers conflict.
Days after the President’s directive, the Benue State Government accused the IGP of bias and of flouting the Presidential order. This led to a war of words between the state government and the police, with Governor Samuel Ortom calling on the IGP to resign.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, in reaction asked the governor to resign and described him as a drowning man, an action condemned by the Senate.
The Senate called for the removal of Moshood and asked President Buhari to replace the IGP with a more competent appointee.
We the Indigenous People of Biafra have started a movement to help Biafrans achieve self-determination within the framework of law. Under the customary law administration, the Supreme Council of Elders (SCE) is the apex decision making body.
Our ideology and adopted road map for pursuing and achieving self-determination for Biafra hinge on Rule of law, Diplomacy, Civil Rights (Human Rights Movement), Mass Media, Political, and every other legitimate process.
SUPEREME COUNCIL OF ELDERS (S.C.E):
This is the highest authority of Customary Government Of Biafra.The National Executive Council is directly accountable to the Supreme Council of Elders.
Every department and principal officers must periodically submit all their programs, projects and activities to the SCE, through the head of Administration.SCE is the final point of conflict resolution, their decision become final.Membership into this honorable apex authority of SCE ,at all-time, will be made up of people of high proven level of integrity and reputation. Those who command respect and influence in their various indigenous ethnic nationalities within Biafra land.
Minimum age to qualify as member of SCE is 60 years.
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC):
This is the executive arm of Customary Government Of Biafra, saddled with the responsibility of the daily running of all Biafran activities.This body shall make and execute policies and programs, plan and strategies all activities of the self determination program, subject to approval of the SCE.It is a 24 member National Executive Council, drawn from 10 departmental heads/representatives, 10 States of Biafra and 4 special Duties as will be assigned.
Departments of Customary Government Of Biafra
Primary functions in Summary:
ADMINISTRATION – The administration department plays a major policy role in establishing norms and standards for the Public Service. They ensure inter departmental relations, service-delivery mechanisms, integrated systems and access, human resources, institutional development and governance initiatives are responsive to the needs of the citizens. It performs office duties including secretarial responsibilities, filing, faxing, creating spread sheets and organizing general information. Administrative responsibilities also include drafting memos and handling the Customary Government paperwork, programs and projects. The administrative Co-ordinators of each Biafra Province reports to the Administrator.
LEGAL DEPARTMENT – This Department will be handled by the legal Representatives of the Customary Government of Biafra.
MEDIA DEPARTMENT – National Executive will identify the media platform(s) that represent the interest of the Customary Government of Biafra and appoint such as the official media of the Government and such media platform(s) will be saddled with the responsibility to adequately inform, educate, enlighten and mobilize the Biafran People globally and as well as informing members of the international community about the right to self-determination and urgent need to support Biafra independence.
DIPLOMATIC DEPARTMENT – This Department represents Biafra Diplomatic Mission to International community, carrying the movement of Biafrans and her ideology into the heart of U.N, A.U, E.U and various selected countries that command respect and power in world politics. To help the Customary Government of Biafra win friends that will help and support the quest for Biafra Independence.
MOBILIZATION DEPARMENT – This is the Field officers of customary government of Biafra They engage in mobilising community of Biafra people ensuring that each community is properly informed about the processes and ideology of Customary Government Of Biafra towards Biafra self-determination. They integrate and ensure proper participation of every Biafra community into all the activities of the Customary Government Of Biafra. This department works closely with Administration and media.
YOUTH DEPARTMENT – This serves as the youth wing of the Customary Government Of Biafra. Their primary role is to mould a viable and responsible Biafra youths, while engaging in community services. They work very closely with the mobilization department as they assist in mobilizing Biafra youths.
WOMEN DEPARTMENT – Virtuous Biafra women are also expected to assist the mobilization department in mobilization of Biafra women. To engage in Biafra women orientation programs and encourages our women to be part of the entire process.
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT – Otherwise known as law and order (Ndi-Nche), maintains law and order and instil discipline among Biafra people.
FINANCE DEPARTMENT – This is to ensure accountability and transparency in handling Biafran funds.The Signatories to the Bank Account will be drawn from SCE, National Executive Council and any other as approved by the Customary Government of Biafra.
They shall be making financial policies and drive for funds and resource mobilization for Customary Government as well as rendering monthly statement of account in line with international financial standard.
RELIGIOUS DEPARTMENT – They shall be intercessors and standing the spiritual gap for Biafra campaign for independence. They shall be responsible in organizing spiritual gathering for Biafra people and Biafra general evangelism.
ORGANOGRAM OF CUSTOMARY GOVERNMENT OF BIAFRA
SUPREME COUNCIL OF ELDERS(SCE)
ADVISORY COUNCIL
(note: The Head is the Chairman)
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Heads of departments
State coordinators
coordinators in diaspora.
Representative of ethnic nationalities of Biafra
Leaders of pro Biafra groups
(Note:The Chairman of NEC is the Administrator who is the head of Admin)
DEPARTMENTS
Media & Publicity(Directorate of Information) (Mgbasa Ozioha)
•Law & Due Process (Iwu na Usoro)
•Social Services & Development (Ijeozi Mmepe Obodo)
•Diplomacy & International Relations (Ako na Mmeko Obodo Ndiozo)
•Admin & Mobilization (Nhazi na Nkpalite)
•Research & Production (Nchoputa na Mmeputa)
•Security & Intelligence (Ndinche na Nlezianya)
DEPARTMENTS
Law & Due Process (Legal) –
Media & Publicity –
Diplomacy – International/Local Relation
Women Empowerment –
Youth Mobilization –
Security and Intelligence – Ndi Nche
Finance –
DIASPORA STRUCTURE:
CONTINENTAL COORDINATOR
ASIA – AFRICA – EUROPE – AUSTRALIA – NORTH & SOUTH AMERICA
THIS ORGANOGRAM IS STILL OPEN TO EXPANSION AND MODIFICATION
WHAT SHOULD BE THE UNITING FACTORS IN THE NEW REPUBLIC?
1. DEFENCE- Having a common military
2. IMMIGRATION – Having one boarder control and immigration services.
3. CURRENCY – Being regulated by one Central Financial Body (Central Bank of Biafra)
4. CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – Having one central administrative government that oversees the overall administration of Biafra (Supreme Council of Elders).
5. And any other as may deem fit by the S.C.E and Uniting Biafra Nations
NOTE THAT THE ABOVE STRUCTURE ARE GRADUALLY BEING FILLED UP BUT A LOT OF WORK STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE.THERE IS ROOM FOR UPDATE AND FINETUNING TO ACHIEVE INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICE .THE ABOVE STRUCTURE IS JUST FOR TRANSITIONARY PURPOSE .
ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDELINES
FOR THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC) OF
THE CUSTOMARY GOVERNMENT OF BIAFRA
A. WHEREAS:
1. The body of all the remnants of Biafra which was officially constituted into a non-legal entity in 2012 and has established its Customary Government with administrative headquarters in Nnewi, Nigeria known as the Customary Government of Biafra headed by the Supreme Council of Elders (hereinafter called the Customary Government of Biafra).
2. The Customary Government of Biafra is not a sovereign entity and shall administer the affairs of all the Biafran People by the application of customary law and private law in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the rules of international law.
3. The Customary Government of Biafra acknowledges that all Indigenous People of Biafra are Nigerians by citizenship while they struggle for independence from Nigeria and shall upon attainment of independence maintain diplomatic and friendly ties with the governments of all nations that love Biafra and shall allow the Biafrans to exercise their fundamental rights under the human rights law regarding the choice of nationalities and citizenships.
4. The Customary Government of Biafra has observed that many Biafrans have different opinions as to the best approach to the Biafran independence struggle and this has caused unnecessary disagreements and in-fighting among them. It has therefore become necessary that all Biafrans must be under proper supervision and guidance by the Customary Government of Biafra to avoid anarchy, lawlessness and bloodshed among the various pro-Biafra groups agitating for the independence of Biafra.
5. Pursuant to the foregoing, the Supreme Council of Elders of Biafra has approved and created an administrative body known as the National Executive Council (NEC) comprising the representatives of all pro-Biafra groups which recognise the legitimacy and authority of the Supreme Council of Elders to run the day-to-day affairs of the Customary Government of Biafra subject to these Administrative Guidelines.
B. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC):
1. By the power of the Supreme Council of Elders of Biafra, an administrative body known as the National Executive Council (NEC) is hereby established to oversee the day-to-day affairs of all Indigenous People of Biafra under the Supreme Council of Elders and shall take decisions for the Customary Government of Biafra subject to confirmation by the Supreme Council of Elders.
2. The National Executive Council shall be composed of the representatives of all the pro-Biafra groups which recognise the legitimacy and authority of the Supreme Council of Elders and shall be 24 members subject to amendment of these Administrative Guidelines.
3. The National Executive Council shall hold their meetings periodically or as frequently as circumstances demand. The meetings of the NEC shall be convened by the Administrator of the Customary Government of Biafra.
C. OFFICES AND FUNCTIONS:
1. Without prejudice to the offices created under Section 4.16 and Section 6 Order 5, of the Policy Statements and Orders of the Government of Indigenous People of Biafra, Vol. 1, 2014, the following heads of departments are created to perform the administrative functions of the Customary Government of Biafra until further directives are given:
(a) Head of Policy and Strategies
(b) Head of Administration
(c) Head of Financial Management
(d) Head of Security and Intelligence
(e) Head of Media and Mass Mobilization
Functions:
(1) The Head of Policy and Strategies shall draw up the policies, guidelines, rules or regulations for the achievement of the goals of the Customary Government and present same to the NEC for consideration and critical analysis.
(2) The Head of Policy and Strategies is given the power to recruit or employ workers from all pro-Biafra groups which recognise the legitimacy and authority of the Supreme Council of Elders of Indigenous People of Biafra, whether as volunteers or employees by the Customary Government of Biafra on salaries, subject to the staff handbook made by the Head of Administration, and shall delegate duties to the workers to carry out the necessary researches as the basis for strategies and policy formulation.
(3) Upon the approval of the policies, guidelines, rules or regulations by the NEC, it shall be presented to the Supreme Council of Elders of Indigenous People of Biafra for confirmation before implementation.
(4) Where a disagreement arises in the NEC as to the approval of the policies, guidelines, rules or regulations, it shall be decided by simple majority vote among the NEC members. If the vote results in a tie, the Head of Policy and Strategies who prepared the documents shall have the overriding vote subject to confirmation by the Supreme Council of Elders.
(5) The Head of Administration shall implement the policies, guidelines, rules or regulations as approved by the NEC and confirmed by the Supreme Council of Elders.
(6) For effective implementation of the policies, guidelines, rules or regulations, the Head of Administration is given the power to employ workers for the Customary Government, whether as volunteers or paid employees, and shall oversee and control the personnel employed by the Customary Government and shall function generally as the Administrator of the Customary Government of Biafra.
(7) The Head of Administration is given the power to draw up a staff handbook for the personnel who shall work in the service of the Customary Government of Biafra, whether as volunteers or employees on salaries and wages. Where the staff handbook creates a legal obligation under contract or labour law for the workers of the Customary Government, the NEC shall deliberate on it and shall present it to the Supreme Council of Elders for confirmation before implementation.
(8) The Head of Administration shall present a monthly report to the NEC concerning the progress and challenges in running the affairs of the Customary Government. The NEC shall deliberate on the monthly reports and present a quarterly report to the Supreme Council of Elders for necessary actions.
(9) The Head of Financial Management shall use his initiatives to create the necessary systems, programmes and methods of raising finance for the Customary Government of Biafra for the fulfilment of its objectives in the struggle for the independence of Biafra.
(10) The Head of Financial Management is given the power to create the necessary accounting systems and financial management rules to ensure proper accounting records, transparency and public accountability for the Customary Government of Biafra.
(11) The Head of Financial Management is given the power to recruit or employ accounts officers, account clerks and book keepers, whether as volunteers or employees on salaries, subject to the staff handbook made by the Head of Administration, to assist in raising funds and managing the finance for the Customary Government of Biafra.
(12) The Head of Financial Management shall ensure that all money raised for the Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra, whether in cash or cheque, is paid within 24 hours into the bank account designated by the Supreme Council of Elders.
(13) The Head of Financial Management shall present a monthly report to the NEC concerning the progress and challenges in his department. The NEC shall deliberate on the monthly reports and present a quarterly report to the Supreme Council of Elders for necessary actions.
(14) The Head of Security and Intelligence shall maintain peace, law and orderliness among all Indigenous People of Biafra. The powers conferred on him under Section 6 Order 8 of the Policy Statements and Orders of the Government of Indigenous People of Biafra, Vol. 1, 2014, are hereby incorporated into these Administrative Guidelines.
(15) In addition to the powers already conferred on him, the Head of Security and Intelligence shall have the power to recruit or employ workers in his department whether as volunteers or employees on salaries for the Customary Government of Biafra, subject to the staff handbook made by the Head of Administration, and shall deploy them to serve the Customary Government in various capacities.
(16) The Head of Media and Mass Mobilization shall use his skills and initiatives to set up and run the media and mobilization works for the Customary Government of Biafra.
(17) The Head of Media and Mass Mobilization is given the power to recruit or employ workers, whether as volunteers or employees on salaries, subject to the staff handbook made by the Head of Administration, to assist in the media and mobilization work for the Customary Government of Biafra.
(18) The Head of Media and Mass Mobilization shall present a monthly report to the NEC concerning the progress and challenges in his department. The NEC shall deliberate on the monthly reports and present a quarterly report to the Supreme Council of Elders for necessary actions.
(19) All the members of the Supreme Council of Elders, Heads of Departments, Workers, Staff and Officers of the Customary Government of Biafra, whether full-time or part-time, shall be remunerated by the Customary Government of Biafra just like every other government in the world pays its workers. For this reason, the Supreme Council of Elders of Indigenous People of Biafra shall make an Order for the payment of the customary taxation called “utu-isi” in Igbo language for the achievement of the goals of the Customary Government of Biafra.
Heads of Working Committees:
National Orientation Agency ………….
Social Welfare Commission ……………
Job Creation Agency ………………………
Dispute Resolution Commission …….
Members of Working Committees:
Additional 15 Members from all the eligible pro-Biafra groups to complete the 24-member NEC as approved by the Supreme Council of Elders
Administrative Guidelines approved by the Supreme Council of Elders of Biafra this 22nd day of February 2016
Signed:
Dr Dozie Ikedife, FRCOG, FICS, OON, JP.
Deputy Chairman, Supreme Council of Elders
For: The Customary Government of Biafra.
Southern Nigeria is an empty enclave with no gumption. Since 1993 till date, I have come to the sad realisation that whatever the North rejects or accept goes in the country and the South could only grumble and remain silent afterward. Tell me just one advocacy or agitation that originated from the South, even at the National Assembly level that was not defeated eventually. If and when it succeeded, the North would boast that they gave it to us as compensation.
1999 Obasanjo presidency was said to be a form of compensation. They boasted that Jonathan was a mistake. In 2015, by all crooked means the North corrected the mistake of Jonathan. They have also never stopped boasting that Southeast presidency could materialise only at their behest. What more can I say.
The North have always been holding the whole country to ransom because of their connivance with some hungry southern elements who would not mind selling their mother for a cheap pot of soup. If you don’t know about these hungry rats, at least check the social media, you will find some of them there. They are always there pushing all manners of narratives in favour of the northern Oligarchs. Interests that are at variance with that of the generality of Nigeria.
Are southern intellectuals the hungriest in this country? Hardly will you find a northern intellectual pushing for southern interests. Do you know anyone of them on the social media? Only our southern people does this type of yeoman’s job. They are so shameless. No gumption in the south. Maybe this is the reason we never agree on any issue down here. Maybe we are only using our so-called diatribe to cover up for our lack of gumption.
I am so worried to death wondering at the level of debates and what is going on in our state and senatorial zone, especially as the era of politicking hits up. I keep wondering if our people and their leaders actually understand what the issues are really in this country and
what the debates and controversies are centred on. Do we still remember what the foundations of independence and unity of this nation is centered on. The North only accepted independence for the nation at their convenience and terms, and so it was, then the military incursion, was only accepted at their terms and convenience, and when it suits them; but when others led it, it was vehemently opposed and resisted and all hell came down. So it was with the return to civil rule, etcetera.
Today some people have been sacrificed for agitating for resource control, population demography transparency, restructuring, return to parliamentary democracy and regional government, extecetra, but when it suits the north they will come up with whatever they deem fit and we in the south will cotow and can only grumble even if we are dissatisfied. So it has been and so it is, but it all ends here and will not go further anymore. And that is why our representation at the National Assembly will have to be formidable and topnotch as from this moment. There is no more time for gerrymandering and selfish shallow-minded politicking that leads no where for our people and our fatherland. We have an opportunity for fresh-start, and we will begin with putting our best foot forward with Attorney Charles Onyirimba at the Nigeria Senate to represent Okigwe senatorial zone come 2019, and have that as a foothold to move the hands of time and nation-building to our favour and equilibrium stage for all.
Our fathers started this enterprise called Nigeria and her organised private sector, but today we have been bullied to the backwaters of every human endeavour in the country. We have moved from being number one citizen to number two, to three and today, we are number nobody, and as if that is not bad enough we are no longer needed but must stay on in the union, even at the danger of continuous looking over our backs as hunted and hounded people. Our entrepreneurs and business people are today fetchers of wood and drawers of water, only fit for the peripherals of business endeavours of buying and selling. Our Ibetos and Innosons are never good enough to be a Dangote or something in that line. Our young ones will have to score 99 percent in the same examination to qualify alongside their wards who scored 15 percent or less, and few years down the line together they all graduate, with theirs securing instant public sector jobs and would have made it to the level of permanent secretary position before any of our lucky ones would be attending job interviews organised by this same wards of theirs that couldn’t even make the good grades while in the same class with our young ones. This is totally unjust, unfair and unsustainable and what the issues are, and what the debates should be centred on, and not swimming on swallow murky waters of mediocrity.
This is in deed an epoch, a historical making Development change in the Catholic Church of our time.
Please read and see for your self:
MAJOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NIGERIA
Friends a major major development has occurred in the Catholic Church in Nigeria in the last 10 days which has gone largely unannounced and I believe a lot of people are oblivious of. In fact the Catholic Church in Nigeria will never be the same again with this major shift. I am not referring to the heroic and honorable resignation of Bishop Okpaleke as his sacrifice of love for the faithful of Ahiara, no, far from it.
Now this is it. On 28th February 2018 Pope Francis announced the creation of a new catholic diocese in Nigeria. The Pope named Simon Faddoul as the first Bishop. But this diocese is not like any other we have come to know that exists in Nigeria. Here are the peculiar facts about this diocese:
1. The name is Eparchy of Our Lady of the Annunciation. This is the first thing that is unusual. Normally as we have come to know dioceses are named after the cities where they are erected each e.g diocese of Minna, diocese of Makurdi, diocese of Enugu, diocese of Abeokuta etc. This new diocese is named after Our Lady. This diocese is also called Eparchy and not diocese. So how come?
2. The diocese is so named because it belongs to the catholic church of the EASTERN RITE. The catholic church in Nigeria has been that of the Western (Roman or Latin) Rite and consequently majority of the faithful know little or nothing about our Brethren in the other half but that will no longer be the case going forward.
3. The new diocese will be erected in Ibadan where it will coexist with the Archdiocese of Ibadan which is of the Western Rite. The Eastern Rite name their dioceses as EPARCHY while the Western Rite call them DIOCESE. Both Eparchy and Diocese are on the same level just as an Admiral (navy) and General (army) though belonging to different services and differently called but equal in all statuses.
4. The new Eparchy is of the MARONITE order who have roots from Lebanon.
5. Bishop elect Simon Faddoul will be consecrated and installed on Saturday 7th April 2018 after Easter celebrations.
6. Once the Bishop settles into office he will begin putting structures in place for the formation of men for the Catholic priesthood. Once arrangements are completed he will start accepting candidates and putting them through the seminary.
7. Now this is a big one. Bishop Faddoul can accept men MARRIED and UNMARRIED as seminarians. The married seminarians on successful completion of studies will be ordained to the catholic priesthood while still married and will become married priests living with their wives and children. For the unmarried seminarians Bishop Faddoul will again ask them to choose at the end of their seminary studies whether they wanted to be married or not. If they choose to be unmarried then Bishop Faddoul will administer the oath of celibacy on these seminarians and ordain them as priests of the Catholic church. These priests will never marry again just like priests of the Western Rite we are used to. However if the unmarried seminarians say they want to be married then Bishop Faddoul will allow them to go and get married how long it takes and then come back to him with their wives. Bishop Faddoul will then ordain these now married seminarians as catholic priests who will exercise the FULL functions of a priest while living with their wives and children. It should be noted that when a married priests wife dies before him that priest can NO LONGER marry. Canon 1087 forbids those with Sacrament of Sacred Orders from receiving the Sacrament of Matrimony.
8. The implication for the Catholic church in Nigeria is that Bishop Faddoul’s priests married or unmarried will be very much welcome to celebrate Mass in any catholic church including those of the Western Rite. Therefore soon we will be having a married priest preside over the Eucharistic celebration at any Cathedral or Catholic church in Nigeria.
9. This is a very positive development in our church as it serves as a teaching point for us catholics of the Western Rite to get to know more about our brothers and sisters of the Eastern Rite.
