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Oyakhilome got it wrong, COVID-19 vaccine saves lives – NIFROP

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Oyakhilome got it wrong, COVID-19 vaccine saves lives – NIFROP

The National Inter-Faith Religious Organizations for Peace (NIFROP) is appalled by the anti-vaccine stance of the founder of Christ Embassy, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, who has issued messages to discourage people from taking the COVID-19 vaccines.

NIFROP is concerned that “Oyakhilome has taken his showmanship too far without regard for how his campaign of misinformation impacts the lives of people who treat the utterances emanating from him as the dictate of God.”

According to the faith-based group, the sanctity of the pulpit should not be abused in this manner as it is totally unacceptable that persons who should minister healing are teaching rebellion.

NIFROP disclosed this in a statement by its Director of Media, Reverend Samson Edeh. It believes Oyakhilome got it wrong because COVID-19 vaccine saves lives.

The statement read, “It is our view that Jesus Christ could have healed the blind man as recounted in (Jn. 9:1-7) by merely declaring healing but still chose to use mud because the things created by God are meant for the use of mankind in all ramifications including in the restoration of health and prevention of ill health. The vaccines that Pastor Chris ignorantly canvassed against were researched, developed and produced by human beings created by God in addition to being sourced from sources created by God, so how can they be anti-faith as he proclaimed?

“We find it worrisome that Pastor Chris continues to exploit the people in Nigeria owing to the sectarian sensitivities that allow him to get away with capital murder. It is on record that the regulatory agency for broadcasting in the United Kingdom, Ofcom, slammed him with more than N65 million in fines for spreading the same falsehood through his Loveworld Television. Had the institutional framework in Nigeria being as robust as it is in the United Kingdom, this charlatan would have been slammed with fines in the vicinity of billions of naira, given the potential damage that his unsubstantiated claims would cause the populace.

“NIFROP encourages Nigerians irrespective of their creed to continue to take the vaccine and adhere to all guidelines and protocol for managing the spread of COVID-19 virus because it is right to do so.

“We appeal to the clergy not to shy away from exhorting their members to take the COVID-19 vaccine, which requires faith to be effective anyway. Those entrusted with being shepherds of the flock should not become the death of the flock entrusted to them in a bid to be populist compliant. The fact that some hardcore conspiracy theorists are demonizing vaccination against COVID-19 is not enough reason for people who call themselves men of God to go cheap.

“We further call for those who truly worship God to rise up in condemnation of the misleading campaign that Pastor Chris is waging to discourage people from being vaccinated and thus prevent themselves from falling ill or even dying. No true pastor will encourage his congregants to be suicidal irrespective of how attractive such an option appears to those who have become indoctrinated to not see the danger that their spiritual mentor poses to mankind.

“We demand that the relevant agencies in Nigeria follow the path of Ofcom and visit Pastor Chris Oyakhilome with the corresponding sanctions for all the infractions he has committed in Nigeria by putting out the wrong information about the vaccine.”

Recall that the United Kingdom government had fined Pastor Oyakhilome, £125,000 for unsubstantiated conspiracy theories about COVID-19.

Lekki Massacre: Group wants Amnesty International, others sanctioned after US vindicates Nigerian Army

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Lekki Massacre: Group wants Amnesty International, others sanctioned after US vindicates Nigerian Army

Following a report by the United States Department of State on the alleged killing of protesters at the Lekki toll gate, the Centre for African Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights (CALSER) has called for sanctions on Amnesty International, Cable News Network (CNN) and others for misleading the world.

The group said the US has vindicated the Nigerian Army of any wrongdoing during the protest in Lagos, exposing the conspiracy by Amnesty and its cohorts.

The report tagged ‘2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Nigeria’ released on March 30, 2021, said claims that Nigerian forces killed protesters were “unverified”.

It explained that accurate information on fatalities resulting from the shooting was not available at the end of the year.

And speaking on behalf of CALSER, Executive Director, Ayima Aluor, welcomed the U.S’ report as it emphasises that the “bulk of the information in the public space was meant for mischief purposes and not a reflection of the events that transpired at the Lekki Tollgate”.

According to Aluor, AI acted in malaise and must be sanctioned to serve as a deterrent to others notorious for spreading fake news to the detriment of peace and unity in Nigeria.

The group further called on the United States to identify and blacklist staff of AI behind the mischievous report, denying an entry visa to the country for the next 10 years.

While demanding an unreserved apology from the supposed human rights group to the Nigerian Army, CALSER warned sponsors of acts of political violence in Nigeria to desist from their nefarious activities.

Read the full statement below:

The leadership of the Centre for African Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights welcomes you all to the critical press conference in light of the United States Department of State’s recent statement in its 2020 Reports on Human Rights Practices in Nigeria.

It is instructive to state that the events that led to the infamous EndSARS protests across Nigeria indeed opened a Pandora’s Box on the various conspiracies against the Nigeria Army’s efforts in protecting and preserving the nascent democracy in Nigeria.

The Centre for African Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights views the statement as a welcome development for all lovers of democracy because it has indeed exposed the conspiracy against the Nigerian Army by Amnesty International and its cohorts.

The report was quite elaborate and explicit. It stated that the claims made by some organizations such as Amnesty International regarding the number of casualties at the Lekki Tollgate could not be verified.

It is thus our considered view that the Nigerian Army has been vindicated, which by and large reinforces the fact that the bulk of the information in the public space was meant for mischief purposes and not a reflection of the events that transpired at the Lekki Tollgate.

It is said that the likes of Amnesty International indeed went to town with a disjointed narrative meant to mislead the members of the unsuspecting general public towards wiping up sentiments and discrediting the invaluable role towards addressing the mayhem that was unleashed in the polity by some vested interest.

This is on the heels that the report explicitly stated that there is no evidence to back up the claims that, indeed, the Nigerian Army fired live bullets into the crowd of protesters at the Lekki Tollgate. We also wish to state that the conflicting numbers of casualties are the handiwork of paid political distractors hiding under human rights groups’ nomenclature.

The statement further highlighted that accurate information on fatalities resulting from the shooting was not available at year’s end. Amnesty International reported ten persons died during the event, but the government disputed Amnesty’s report, and no other organization was able to verify the claim.

The implication of the above stated is that Amnesty International acted in malaise and a reason why we are demanding an unreserved apology from Amnesty International and other unscrupulous groups for attempting to cause a crisis of unimaginable proportion.

The Centre for African Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights uses this medium to call on the relevant authorities to impose sanctions on Amnesty International to deter other individuals and groups that are notorious for spreading fake news at the detriment of peace and unity in Nigeria.

The likes of Amnesty International must be blacklisted for its mischievous narrative of a massacre at the Lekki Tollgate against the Nigerian Army. We are consequently demanding that Amnesty International and her staff and all persons behind the mischievous campaign against the Nigerian Army regarding the EndSARS protest in Nigeria be denied an entry visa to the United States of America for the next ten years.

This is especially important in light of the new revelation that has exposed the various conspiracies against the Nigerian authorities’ efforts towards the preservation of nascent democracy in the country.

The Centre for African Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights is also conscious that if such anomaly is allowed to thrive, the larger consequences might be too big for Nigeria to bear given the spate of politically motivated tension in the country.

We also wish to use this medium to sound a note of warning to the sponsors of acts of political violence to desist from their nefarious activities as we shall not hesitate to mobilized Nigerians in their numbers to take to the street in a peaceful protest demanding an end to the activities of Amnesty International and other individuals and groups that are spreading fake news and misleading members of the unsuspecting general public.

Thus, our desire that the United States Department of State’s statement should indeed reawaken the consciousness in Nigerians that certainly Amnesty International does not mean well for the country. As such, all must be done to ensure that its highly misleading campaign against Nigeria is nipped in the bud.

This message is also intended for all those acting as proxies for Amnesty International in the country to desist from any further campaign of deceit and illogical conclusions, as Nigerians are now more enlightened on issues of national interest.

The Centre for African Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights would remain at the vanguard of ensuring that individuals and groups with ulterior motives are exposed in the quest for peace and sustainable growth and development.

We thank you all for your time and attention. We desire that Nigeria shall overcome its adversaries within the shortest possible time.

God bless Nigeria.

Access Bank confirms buying $60m stake in South AfrAccess Bank confirms shopping for $60m stake in South Africa’s Grobank

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Access Bank confirms buying $60m stake in South AfrAccess Bank confirms shopping for $60m stake in South Africa’s Grobank

Nigeria’s biggest lender Access Bank Plc says it has invested around $60 million to acquire a stake in South Africa’s Grobank.

The bank’s chief executive officer, Herbert Wigwe who confirmed the development that, it has become the first Nigerian lender to venture into South Africa.

The bank invested both equity and debt in the South African bank, part of a regional expansion to tap into correspondent and trade banking deals on the continent,

Wigwe said Access will expand trade finance capability within Grobank which is currently focusing on the agricultural sector in South Africa.

The bank on Friday said it had received regulatory approvals for the acquisition which is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021.

In August, Access Bank agreed to buy loss-making Cavmont Bank from the Zambian arm of Namibian financial services group Capricorn, for a nominal fee of 1 kwacha ($0.0014).

Access is restructuring itself into a holding company and has received approval from Nigeria’s central bank

APC support group roots for Tanko Al-Makura as Chairman

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APC support group roots for Tanko Al-Makura as Chairman

The All Progressives Congress’ Coalition for Credible leadership has thrown its weight behind the candidature of Senator Tanko Al-Makura as the chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC.

The group made its position known at a press conference Wednesday in Abuja.

Speaking through its national coordinator, Nasiru abdullahi, the group noted that Senator Tanko Al-Makura remains a square peg in a square hole.

The group maintained that Al-Makura remains the only bridge with the capacity to unite the party across board.

While agreeing that the Buni-led caretaker committee is living up to expectation, the group noted that it is time to move the party forward in other to consolidate in 2023.

Full text of the briefing reads below…

Ladies and Gentlemen, it has become necessary for us to lend our voices and support to our great party the APC for the roaring achievements so far and call for sustenance.

We are here today to express our gratitude to Almighty God for preserving Nigeria as one indivisible country despite various storms and tides against our smooth sails to a greater and glorious nation.

We wish to also express our gratitude to the founders of this great party for coming together to birth a golden child that is salvaging our country Nigeria from imminent collapse.

The All Progressive Congress is a product of good thinking founded on scientific principles to solve Nigeria’s leadership problems, purge the country of the Hydra headed monster called corruption, usher in a new era and give Nigerians credible leadership.

Today, we believe the President and Commander-in-Chief His Excellency, Mohammadu Buhari GCFR is achieving these objectives tremendously.

We wish to use the liberty of this medium to commend the Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention committee led by His Excellency Mai Mala Buni for his untiring effort in ensuring the party’s Registration/Revalidation exercise is done within the stipulated time and proactively setting up mechanism in making sure we have a crises free convention come June 2021.

The forth-coming National Convention of the party is unique in more ways than one. It will handle issues that have long run effect on the party including the 2023 General Election and the new leadership that will sustain the implementation of the APC manifesto. Therefore, it is the prime duty of every member of this party to ensure that only credible leaders emerges victorious from wards to National executives.

We believe the APC controlled Federal Government has not disappointed Nigerians, given the fact that, the country has for the very first time witnessed serious developmental strides across sectors.

As a people therefore, we must show commitment by supporting and complimenting the effort of Mr. President in his quest to laying a solid and final foundation that will take us permanently to the next level.

And for us to achieve this, we must have the fortified panoply of    determined unity and fraternity regardless of our intra-party interests and unanimously endorse the candidature of Distinguished Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura as our next National Chairman. For there can be no satisfactory alternative or substitute for Sen. Al-Makura.

We are therefore, calling on members of our great party to see Sen. Al-Makura as that unifier and bridge builder that will offer better service to the party and the country in general if given the opportunity. His emergence will not only guarantee a sustainable, lasting peace and unity but building a better APC.

We must emphatically at this point make it clear that we are not out to defect or malign any interest but to show the incredible leadership qualities of Sen. Al-Makura and how he is the party’s best shot at stabilizing and containing intra-party disequilibrium for equality, Progress and Development.

Sen. Al-Makura is a man with nobler attitude and has always stayed truth to his principles of credible leadership at any given opportunity. A highly patriotic, organized, focused and visionary leader who knows what to do at the right time and has been in the political realm for a long time.

He was elected state youth leader of the defunct NPN in the old Plateau State, He also represented Lafia/Obi federal constituency at the 1988/89 constituents’ Assembly. His charisma got him elected as the third Executive democratically elected Governor of Nasarawa State on the platform of the CPC defeating the incumbent Governor of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP),

Sen. Al-Makura was able to manage his victory despite having just four (4) out of the twenty four (24) members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly (NSHA) and survived nine (9) impeachment attempts by the opposition party in his first term in 2014 using the Nasarawa State House of Assembly (NSHA) yet his resilience and doggedness kept his boat afloat. He was the only CPC Governor to join the negotiation table for merger and formation of the golden child the APC.

It is worth mentioning that, the two out of the three legacy parties (ANPP and ACN) have produced National Chairmen through H.E John Odigie Oyegun and Comrade Adams Oshiomole respectively, Therefore, it is only fair to say that in the interest of justice, equity and fairness the office of the National chairman be zoned to the North and exclusively for the CPC bloc whom have never occupy the office before to have the chance through H.E Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura for stability, equality, progress and development.

Thank you.

 

Catholic Church rejects hijab in Kwara mission schools

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Catholic Church rejects hijab in Kwara mission schools

Catholic bishop of Ilorin Diocese Most Rev. Paul Olawoore has condemned the imposition of the use of hijab in Kwara mission schools.

“I don’t want any confrontation that will inflict pain or any kind of injury on anybody. Neither do I wish that anyone should lose his or her life on this issue,” he said.

Olawoore, who is also the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kwara, said it was time to join hands to show the world that peaceful coexistence and tolerance was the way to go, rather than apportioning blame or accusing one another derogatorily.

CAN’s director of ecumenism and interfaith dialogue Rev. Fr. Ralph Ajewole denied reports that Christians in the state had agreed to the use of hijab in government grant-aided missions schools, describing them as lies.

He said, “We insist that the Catholic Church rejects and condemns the use of hijab in our mission schools. No matter how hard anyone tries to change the narrative, we stand with CAN that the use of hijab is totally rejected in schools built and owned by Christians.”

The Catholic cleric also described as unpleasant government agents’ forceful breaking of schools’ gates under the watch of armed men.

Ajewole said the grant-aiding of schools began in 1974 under the then military governor of the state, Col. David Bamigboye, adding that it was never a complete takeover.

He expressed displeasure over the dilapidated state of facilities in government grant-aided schools, saying that the state government had not been doing much to care for the schools.

Ajewole therefore called on the government to hand off the grant-aiding of mission schools and return them to the original owners.

Gunfire in Niger’s capital days before inauguration ceremony

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Gunfire in Niger’s capital days before inauguration ceremony

Gunfire erupted in Niger’s capital near the presidential palace early Wednesday, prompting fears of a coup attempt and further instability just days before the country’s new president is due to be sworn into office.

The shooting began around 3 a.m. and went on for more than 15 minutes, residents of Niamey said, but calm returned to the city afterward.

The U.S. Embassy in Niamey put out a security alert saying it would be closed Wednesday “due to gunshots heard near our neighborhood.”

“All personnel are encouraged to stay home until further notice,” it said.

The gunfire comes just two days before new President Mohamed Bazoum’s inauguration on Friday and as Niger faces a growing threat from Islamic extremists near its troubled border with Mali.

Just over a week ago, gunmen on motorcycles attacked a series of villages in the volatile border region, leaving at least 137 people dead in the deadliest violence to strike Niger in recent memory. Those attacks came on the same day that the constitutional court certified Bazoum’s electoral victory.

In January, at least 100 people were killed in villages, the same day that Niger announced the presidential election would go to a second round on Feb. 21.

AstraZeneca vaccine not from Bill Gates, Fani-Kayode says after vaccination

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AstraZeneca vaccine not from Bill Gates, Fani-Kayode says after vaccination

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has said that the AtraZeneca vaccine in Nigeria is not from American billionaire, Bill Gates.

Fani-kayode made this known on Tuesday after receiving his first jab of the coronavirus vaccine.

Recall that the ex-Minister had last year attacked Gates and wife, Melinda over a portion of their “plans and remarks” about the Coronavirus pandemic.

But reacting to a backlash after taking the vaccine on Tuesday, months after he described same as evil and “Gates Killer vaccines”, FFk said the the tech entrepreneur has no connection with the jabs shared in Nigeria.

”The Covid vaccines we are taking in Nigeria are not Bill Gates’ vaccines and neither are we being used as Guinea pigs. These ones are tried & tested, have already been approved & have been administered successfully throughout the world. This is the Oxford Azrazeneca brand,” he wrote on Twitter.

“There is a world of difference between what we are being given in Nigeria & the exploratory vaccines that @WHO had wanted to test Africans with which we spoke against & resisted last year.Most importantly Bill Gates& his foundation have no connection with Oxford Azrazeneca.

“I would not touch anything Bill Gates with a barge pole for obvious reasons. Mark it.”

Don’t spend $1.5bn on ‘non-profitable’ Port Harcourt refinery, Reps tell FG

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*Don’t spend $1.5bn on ‘non-profitable’ Port Harcourt refinery, Reps tell FG*

The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has asked the Federal Government to review its plan to rehabilitate the Port Harcourt refinery with $1.5bn.

Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, in a statement, on Tuesday, described the refinery as “non-profitable”.

Elumelu said the figure was outrageous and heavily inflated.

“This over-bloated $1.5bn cost has again brought to the fore, the prevailing unpatriotic proclivity of treasury looting and criminal diversion of public funds through inflated contracts by officials of government for their selfish interests.

“It’s completely unexplainable that the sum of $1.5bn, belonging to Nigerians, is to be funneled towards the rehabilitation of a non-profitable refinery, which has already been slated to be handed over to private hands,” he said.

NEWS UPDATE; Buhari Proceeds On Medical Trip To London

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NEWS UPDATE; Buhari Proceeds On Medical Trip To London

PRESS/NEWSPAPER REVIEW: Press Talk 30th March. 2021

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PRESS/NEWSPAPER REVIEW: Press Talk 30th March. 2021

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