Billiri (Nigeria) – President of Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Rev. Jeremiah Gado has stressed the need for African leaders to protect Christians, and desist from persecuting them because of their faith.
According to him, a number of Christians in Africa are currently facing persecution, simply because they believe in Jesus Christ.
In a Christmas message to Africans, Rev Gado recalled how the continent became a protective place to Jesus when he was two read old and His parents from king Herod, tasking Africans to emulate that kind of gesture.
Biblical record in Matthew 2: 13 – 23, shows that king Herod, the ruler of Judea, who was targeting Jesus, ordered the killing of children below the age of two years old, but God sent an Angel who instructed Jesus’ earthly parents to flee to Egypt, in order to protect the life of baby Jesus.
Rev. Gado who said Christmas is about love, tasked Christians to radiate same, which is the basis of the season.
Kaduna (Nigeria) – Member representing Jema’a/Sanga Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Shehu Nicholas Garba, has decried recent spate of killings in Southern Kaduna.
The lawmaker, who represents the areas being attacked lamented that some people were deliberately trying to make the peaceful communities war zones.
In a statement issued to newsmen, he noted, “These recent attacks defy all human logic as there appears to be no immediate trigger.
“That these attacks take place on the eve of Christmas is a demonstration of the total contempt of the perpetrators of the solemnity of this season.
“We had thought that the relative peace which had been witnessed over the past months, arising from efforts of well-meaning individuals and bodies, was going to translate into a permanent peace which our people desperately desire.
“Unfortunately, it appears that some persons or group are bent on perpetuating violence and turning our hitherto peaceful communities into a theatre of war for reasons not yet clear to all peace-loving people.”
He explained that as a representative of the communities and a human being, the incidents are painful and stand totally condemned.
“It was with deep shock and concern that I received the news of the attack on Nindem Village in Godogodo Chiefdom at about 10pm on Friday, 22 December, 2017.
“In this attack, 4 persons were killed and 10 others were critically injured. The dead were buried the next day under the watch of the Security personnel. The wounded are currently being attended to at the Throneroom Hospital in Kafanchan while other severe cases have been referred to JUTH in Jos.
“While we were mourning the deaths at Nindem, at about 10pm on Christmas eve on Sunday, the security personnel received distress calls of another attack at Ungwan Mailafiya in Kwagiri District of Gwong Chiefdom,” he lamented.
He explained that by daybreak on Christmas day, six persons have been confirmed killed, including a child of about six years old and many others injured.
Shehu Nicholas Garba said that in spite of the attacks, they would continue to promote the virtues of peace and harmonious co-existence amongst all their communities.
He therefore appealed to the security agencies to quickly investigate the latest incidents with a view to apprehending and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
“I am also appealing to Malam Nasir el-Rufai, the governor of Kaduna State, to ensure that these latest incidents do not go the way of similar previous incidents, where the perpetrators were never apprehended.
“There is no doubt that the impunity which has followed previous incidents has continued to embolden the murderers whose agenda is yet to be unravelled,” he emphasized.
The lawmaker called on the state government to complement their efforts in rendering assistance to the injured.
“We are calling on all Nigerians and the International Community to take a special notice of the happenings and plight of our communities, which are daily being decimated by forces that the state has persistently failed to unearth.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of the dead and injured at this very difficult time,” he prayed.
The Reps member urged the affected communities to remain calm and avoid embarking on any form of violent reaction while expecting the security personnel to act.
“It is important to stress that while we continue with the celebration of the festive season, let us remain very vigilant and be ready to report any suspicious activities or movements to the security agencies,” he explained.
We are again celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Christmas is the most celebrated day in the world today. In fact, some people begin to plan for it as soon as they go into a new year. In some Countries, like in the USA, billions of dollars are spent annually just on Christmas gifts. Back here, people also spend. A lot of preparations go into this most important annual event. And the pressure is always felt in the society. There is always the expectation of high income, execution of new projects, numerous social events and the reunion of relations and friends. On the negative side, there is always increase in crime and social disorder, ie, robbery, kidnapping, accidents and other social vices. But in all these, one is tempted to ask, how many of us actually know what Christmas is all about? How many understand the significance, timing and the plan of God for this glorious divine event?
First of all, let’s look at the connection of the event with December 25th. Was Jesus really born on December 25th? Virtually, biblical scholars have proposed every month on the Calendar. So why do we celebrate His birth in December? The tradition for December 25th is actually quite ancient. Hippolytus, in the second century A.D. argued that this was Christ’s birthday. Meanwhile, in the Eastern Church, January 6th was the date followed. But in the fourth Century, John Chrysostom argued that December 25th was the correct date and from that day till now, the Church in the East, as well as the west has observed the 25th of December as the official date of Christ’s birth.
In modern times, the traditional date has been challenged. Modern Scholars point out that when Jesus was born, shepherds were watching their sheep in the hills around Bethlehem. Luke tells us that an angel appeared to “Some Shepherds staying out in the fields keeping watch over their flock by night” (Luke 2:8). Some scholars feel that the sheep were usually brought under cover from November to March; as well, they were not normally in the field at night. But there is no hard evidence for this. In fact, early Jewish sources suggest that the sheep around Bethlehem were outside year-round. So you can see, December 25th fits both tradition and the biblical narrative well. There is no sound objection to it.
Admittedly, the sheep around Bethlehem were the exception, not the rule. But these were no ordinary sheep. They were sacrificial lambs. In the early spring they would be slaughtered at the Passover. And God first revealed the Messiah’s birth to these shepherds – shepherds who protected harmless lambs, which would soon die on behalf of sinful men. When they saw the baby, could they have known? Might they have whispered in their hearts what John the Baptist later thundered, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” Of course, we can’t be absolutely certain of the day of Christ’s birth. But an early winter date seems reasonable. And December 25th has been the front runner for eighteen centuries. We can blame the ancient Church for a large part of our uncertainty. You see, they did not Celebrate Christ’s birth at all. To them it was insignificant. They were far more concerned with His death and resurrection. And some still hold the same view today. But I believe both are important, for without the birth, there wouldn’t have been the death. Or what do you think? Enough of this history Please, let’s move forward.
Now, since creation, God has orchestrating world affairs to set the stage for the arrival of His Son. In the meantime, He used prophecy to keep alive people’s hope for a fresh beginning and a new relationship with Him. So, many Messianic predictions are recorded in the Old Testament that the likelihood of one man fulfilling them all was slim. However, Jesus Christ’s birth, life, and death happened exactly as the prophets foretold. Isaiah proclaimed, “Behold, a virgin will be with Child and bear a Son, and she will call His name – God with us” (Isaiah 7:14). Micah told the Jewish people that their leader would come from the tiny town of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). The timing of Messiah’s arrival was revealed to Daniel, who recorded the timeline in his writings. (The word ‘week’ in Daniel 9:25-26 actually has the meaning of ‘Seven years’ just as in Genesis 29:27). God Himself gave a direct prophecy in Genesis 3:15, when He told Satan “from now on, you and the woman will be enemies, and your offspring and her offspring will be enemies. He will crush your head.” It was an indication that Christ would defeat him. A careful comparison of Jesus’ life with the prophecies of scripture leads to only on conclusion: Jesus is the promised Messiah, who brings every willing person into a new covenant relationship with the father.
The hope of a coming Messiah sustained the Israelites through Centuries of chaos and Captivity. That Messianic hope is still available in our day through the one who came, died, and rose again to save us. Those of us who have received Jesus Christ as Savior have an unbreakable covenant relationship with God and the promise of eternity with Him. Have you received Him as your Lord and Savior??? God bless you! Compliments of the season!
Gombe (Nigeria) – The traditional ruler of Kaltungo chiefdom, Northeast of the country, the Mai Kaltungo Sale Muhammad Umar has organized a durbar to mark the yuletide activities tagged ‘Pan-Mana’ .
The event is part of efforts in promoting peace and unity among his subjects
The durbar, held on Sunday in Kaltungo town had in attendance, Emir of Dutse Jigawa State, Mohammadu Nuhu Sanusi; Emir of Dukku, Haruna Abdulkadir Rasheed II; and Emir of Tula, Abubakar Tare Buba II; as well as prominent sons and daughters of the chiefdom.
The Mai Kaltungo said the event was organized in order to bring the people together with a view to ensuring peaceful co-existence as well as to share in the joy of the season together.
While welcoming his subjects back to Kaltungo from far and near to celebrate both Christmas and New Year, he urged them to imbibe the spirit of sharing and to live in peace with one another .
The Mai, who was accompanied by hundreds of well dressed teenagers, disclosed that the palace was always committed to grooming of children from the community through the provision of conducive libraries equipped with computers.
“We have the museum and we have all these facilities there just for children and people to know how to operate. At the palace, we have such center with two computers and many textbooks that are highly advanced for both secondary schools and starters in education,” he said.
He added that some of the books made available to the children were shipped from the United States, having being donated by children homes.
“The Pan-Mana is an occasion for all of us to come together for peace and unity and to share our common heritage,” the Mai Kaltungo said.
Speaking at the event, the Emir of Dutse, Muhammadu Nuhu Sanusi, who was the royal father of the day, commended the people for the prevailing peace in the area, urging them to continue to support the Mai Kaltungo in sustaining the peace.
The crowd who witnessed the durbar, were thrilled by horse riders who also dressed their horses embroidery.
The All Progressive Congress-led administration has made up its mind on obtaining foreign loans amounting to $30 billion for Nigeria. It is soliciting the support of every imaginable expert in actualising its objective. According to President Muhammadu Buhari, the foreign loans would be invested in critical infrastructure including power, health, roads, ports and education, amongst other things. In submitting the request for approval to the National Assembly late last year, the President did everything within his ability and power to justify the need for foreign loans.
A fortnight ago, while presenting the 2017 budget, he gave the same excuses and reasons as responsible for the collapse of the economy that ALL his predecessors, from Aliyu Shehu Shagari to Goodluck Ebele Jonathan had proffered. That is, that the falling oil prices in the international market in addition to the elites’ penchant—wastage, the dysfuntioning character of the economy and consumerism. Add these to his swan song—corruption—and the script are tidied up. Like his predecessors, the president and his motley crowd arrived at the same elitist conclusion for the solution to the ills of the economy that they heaped on the GEJ administration: go to the international money market, cap in hand—forget the Nigerian hit song, Giant of Africa, and in a lowered voice source for loans!
Now, typically of the Nigerian elite, during his speeches on the economy last year, especially at the NASS, he did not say ANYTHING about the negative side of the loans to be obtained. With the drumbeats sounding so loquaciously across the length and breadth of the country, everything points at a done deal.
Nigeria will obtain the loans. Whenever it comes to our economy being in dire straits, and there is no liquidity—which the elites need, the Nigerian elites will bury their differences in attempts to be solvent. This is one of those instances. Forget about Transformation Agenda, forget about Change; they are two sides of the same coin. Remember, President Muhammadu Buhari spent over 35 years in the military, which is an elitist institution where he was trained by the US and Britain, and indoctrinated in the Euro-Western traditions. He may disagree with the way and manner the elites have managed the economy; but that does not mean he does not believe in western liberal economics and its principles. From his pronouncements in the last 15 years, there’s nothing that indicates that he disagrees with its basic principles. Therefore, typical understanding and rationalising, conclusion and solutions to our economic crises by our elites are the same. It is the same song and the same dancers. The music may be the same, but the dance steps may be slightly different. Why? Because the lyrics are the same; and have the same impact on the soul!!
Whether heaven will fall or not the loans would be sourced; and whether we like it or not, the NASS will endorse the action. They will back the president for two main reasons. First, they would not want to be seen as a barrier for “bailing out the economy.” Second, as elites themselves who are historically bereft of creative ideas when it comes to economic recession or depression, they also do not believe there are options to loans. They obviously do not care about the consequences. This did not start today. From the Shagari administration to Jonathan’s (with the exception of OBJ), every administration has sourced one form of foreign loan or the other for Nigeria as a way out of economic doldrums.
At this point in time, let us assume that the president does not know the negatives, and that he was coursed into the loan deal. Let us assume that as a person, he does not like taking loans or borrowing, even though he once obtained a bank loan to build his house. Finally, let us assume, too, that he does not fully appreciate the historic weight the loan will put on his shoulders. We should ask the question: is President Buhari a victim of circumstance? Was the loan idea his, or was it forced on him by his “advisers” steeped in the Euro-American economic tradition that glorify borrowing relative to GDP? What, however, posterity (or is it history?) will remember him for is that it was during his time that the destiny of unborn generations (as at 2017) was mortgaged. Every child born from last year will wear the tag “I’m a Debtor” until they are 40 years old when, if possible, the loans would have been repaid.
What President Buhari did, and is intending to do is not new. He and his administration are towing the same path as some of his predecessors. After wrecking the economy following a historic looting spree, the Shagari administration went to the Breton Woods institutions for a loan package. In different manner, Generals Ibrahim Badamasi and Sani Abacha racked up debts totalling over $30 billion in the 1990s. Before former President Olusegun Obasanjo left office in 2007, he cleared ALL debts piled up by previous administrations. Unfortunately, when the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan motley crowd took charge, they logged up debts of over $20 billion in six years. After inheriting GEJ’s log, President Buhari is now trying to top it up.
President Buhari, in his request to the lawmakers, did not tell them and Nigerians that he was piling up more debts for the present and future generations of Nigerians. He did not tell Nigerians that his administration had foreclosed ALL possible options/alternatives in addressing the present economic crisis. He did not tell Nigerians that his administration was mortgaging the future of our children and their own children. He did not tell Nigerians that the next two, but possibly three, unborn generations, would be born into bondage. In fact when they come into the world, there would be a fixed amount of money debited against their accounts as human beings born in Nigeria because of loans taken on their behalf without being consulted.
The Talakawa were not, are not, and will not be consulted about the upcoming loans. The only instance the Talakawa will be relevant is when they are used as numbers to convince the creditors to grant us the loans. The figures will be used as reference. Today’s unborn generations will be born into economic servitude; into slavery. These children will be required by the Breton Woods institutions to pay back loans taken on their behalf, even if they were not consulted.
Whether the rest of Nigerians like it or not, the present administration will obtain the loans. Whether you are a supporter of PDP or APC, it does not matter. Our opinions and feelings are as irrelevant as they are unnecessary; they do not count. Unlike during the time of General IBB, the government will not organise a referendum to find out whether Nigerians are in favour of the loans or not. This is why history will record this administration as one that plunged us into another nightmare scenario of indebtedness. The elites—whether in the ruling APC, or PDP where some of them migrated from—business, or academia will have another bazaar even if different from those of the past. This is because they are the ones that will benefit directly and or indirectly from the loans that are going to be obtained. They will either be the contractors, technocrats, or consultants, etc. Also, whether the loans are going to be judiciously utilised or not does not matter to the ruling classes. Let the money come first. In any case, what happened to the loans sourced for the country in past? Were they properly/judiciously utilised?
As a people, we are back on familiar path. Any time we have economic crisis, the first thing the ruling classes resort to is what they believe is the easier way out: take out a loan. Rather than look inwards for more creative, independent and rewarding solutions, they resort to the easy way out because they are bereft of ideas, and the fact that they prefer a quick fix approach. That is, even if at a high cost to the nation; and even when it means mortgaging the interest of future generations.
The argument for or against loans whenever we have an economic crisis is not the issue. The ruling classes will, as a group, always agree that there is a crisis and that there is a need to address it. Because they are bereft of ideas, they will conclude that we do not have the knowledge or capacity to fashion/initiate and or develop creatively home grown solutions to our problems. Interestingly, the purpose of ingraining a colonial mentality in Africans was to make us believe we were inferior/nincompoops or fools that were incapable of rational thinking let alone solving basic puzzles or problems. Today, in the era of imperialism, the non-Euro American people, that is, Africans, Asians, Arabs, etc. are also being made to believe that they are the same and are expected to behave in the same manner by their own brothers, the so-called experts. Our elites, and now especially our president, the NASS and other APC cheerleaders across the nation are telling us that we cannot solve our economic crisis; that foreign loans are the way out. Further to that, they are always agreed that the only way out is to take out a loan. But a loan is a loan. Whether it is a soft loan or a hard one, it is the same thing. All loans have strings attached whether they are bilateral or multilateral; private commercial loans or government to government loans. The creditor gives the conditions and the debtor has to agree to them otherwise there will be no loan/deal.
What the Buhari administration intends to do with the $30 billion-plus is debatable. What is not, however, is that the projects are not going to be properly executed/completed, even if only 50%, by the end of the present administration’s tenure. In a country known for abandoning projects, of what wisdom will it be to start a project that the administration won’t be in a position to execute? Meanwhile, typical of Nigeria, the administration officials will not want the loans tied to projects; they will prefer the monies to be credited in Nigerian accounts so that they can help themselves. Management of the loans will be by Nigerian officials; the same technocrats and officials in the relevant ministries, departments and agencies that have been around since time immemorial. There may be a few retired here and there, but the majority are still around while the corrupt attitude and culture in the relevant MDAs are still there well ingrained and well entrenched.
The bolekajo economics enunciated by hardcore neo-liberal economists during the OBJ-GEJ administrations is obviously responsible for the present crisis. The central plank of their philosophy, copying the dogma of Western Europe, was everyone to himself and God for us, and the survival of the fittest in a jungle of no rules. It was a contest of survival where privileged Nigerians, armed with state power, held sway under the banner of global neo-liberalism. Because they are the intellectual arm of the ruling classes, they are not being prosecuted. Those who benefitted from the rogue policies of the two administrations are not being punished. Now, it is the Talakawa that are being inflicted with pain and hardship. The president, in similar style as his predecessor, Mr Goodluck Jonathan, has arrogantly told Nigerians that he knows how they feel, and that he sympathises with them; that he feels for their unpleasant condition.
Bolekajo economics is premised on the individual; that is “I”, “me” and “you” as against “we” and “us.” This framework emphasises individualism and as such the national cake or interest is not seen in the national all-inclusive sense, but in the sense of individual interests. Sometimes when the group interest of some of the privileged individuals converge, they pool themselves into a group, like a political party through which they then pursue group interests. In this case, a group interest is made to become national interest.
Under a bolekajo economic premise/philosophy, solving economic crisis means looking beyond the shores of the land for solutions. This is because the neo-liberal economists holding sway in Nigeria today were taught in universities steeped in Euro-American tradition. This same tradition holds that Africans do not have a history; what they have is romantic folklores. The context of the text books that they are tutored in are basically Euro-American centrism. Africans and African economies are neither mentioned nor treated as case scenarios. In fact the central plank of the neo-liberal thought/philosophy is that one drug cures all diseases; or one cap fits all heads. That is, the neo-liberal approach and or solutions (aka Structural Adjustment Programmes, SAPs, of the 1980s) are ready-made universal solutions to all economic crises whether they are in Africa, Asia, Middle East and or South America.
That explains the Buhari administration’s belief that solving the present economic crisis demands an easy way out: large-scale borrowing from outside. According to this way of irrational reasoning, the only aspect of the solution that has internal component is the sacrifice of the Talakawa; the proverbial hewers of wood and drawers of water for the privileged.
Despite what these bolekajo economists would preach and force on Nigerians because of their privileged positions in government, the fact remains that common sense tells us that solutions to our problems are within our borders. The crisis was engendered out of the greed of the ruling classes. Although some of the king-pins may run away to Europe and elsewhere to enjoy their loot, the fact of the matter is that solutions are with us here. For example, do we have to turn to Europe and America to cure us of a consumerist culture? Do Europeans need to tell us that we should produce what we want especially when and where we have comparative advantage? Do we need foreign loans to mechanize our agriculture? Do we need foreign loans to catalyze our agriculture—farm/land preparation, extension workers, roads, improved seeds, storage and processing plants/facilities, etc? Do we need foreign loans to stop import and consumption of alcoholic beverages? Do we need foreign loans to reopen the collapsed textile industries which are capable of wiping out unemployment in Nigeria?
Fadason is former editor of New Nigerian Weekly and can be reached on 08091634680
Kaduna (Nigeria) – Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has urged Christian faithful to remember to spread love to their neighbours and remember the underprivileged as they celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
In a message to mark Christmas, Dogara said the Lord Jesus Christ is an embodiment of sacrificial love to the point that He gave His life for the redemption of mankind.
He further stated that when Nigerians begin to exhibit unconditional love, Show Sacrificial Love to one another, the impact will bring about a positive change that will lead to unity and development which will move the nation forward.
“As we celebrate the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, let us all remember that it is a time to spread the love of Christ with family, friends, neighbours and the underprivileged in the society.
“We should bear in mind that the greatest command Jesus gave to his followers is love one another. Not only does this have spiritual benefits, it will also make Nigeria a better place because love overcomes all things including hatred, violence and other vices,” he said.
The Speaker therefore wished all Nigerians happy celebration.
Kaduna (Nigeria) – A presidential hopeful, Iheanacho Ezeakor, has said that all the lofty dreams of Nigeria can be realised with determinations by the leaders.
According to Ezeakor, Nigerians can make the country great if youth take the lead in leadership.
Ezeakor stated this while speaking at a Youth Summit held in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
“Enough is enough,” Ezeakor declared, adding, “the youths in Nigeria have all it takes to lead this nation, but unfortunately they are not given the opportunity.”
He called on the youth to rise up and take their destinies in their hands. “Our youths are excelling in other countries, why can’t they excel here?” he added.
Iheanacho, who decried how the old brigade continue to be recycled, said ”There is a song that the young shall grow, but it appears our young ones are not growing in this nation.
“Since independence, the governance of Nigeria has been revolving around some sets of faces. This trend must stop. During every political campaign, year in, year out, politicians keep promising good roads, light, water among others, to enable them get votes.
“Yet, we don’t have all these basic amenities unlike what is happening in Singapore, Malaysia and other developed nations.”
Also speaking at the summit, a leader of thought, Haruna Waziri, from Kaduna State also lamented that the governance of Nigeria has been rotating around a particular group of people since independence.
Waziri called on the youths to support any young person with ideas and direction for Nigeria to run for the presidency in 2019.
”At the summit held in Enugu and Lagos recently, we the youths made our decision known, that Iheanachor will be supported to run for the 2019 presidency,” he said.
“We still stand by our decision, because we have continued to observe that he has vision to make this country great again.
“The issue of giving our graduates a token at the end of the month is something that we must do away with in Nigeria. It is working in other countries and has helped curb rate of crimes. It can work in our nation too,” he opined.
Kaduna (Nigeria) – Four persons were allegedly shot dead, while eight others seriously injured in an attack by an unknown gunman at Nindem village of Godogodo District, Jema’a local government area of Kaduna State, northern Nigeria.
Commander of Operation Safe Haven in the area (Army unit stationed in the area), Colonel Idong Ekpeyong, who confirmed this to newsmen on Saturday in Kafanchan said, the group of people were observing Christmas carol at a village square when the assailant launched the bloody attack killing four persons instantly.
According to the Commander, troops of the Operation Safe Haven responded to a distress call over the attack and conducted a rapid operation in suspected locations and apprehended a number of people who are still under interrogation.
He confirmed that the victims and survivors were conveyed by the troops to Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Hospital, Kafanchan, where the injured are receiving medical attention.
Colonel Ekpyeyong said investigation into the event was ongoing in collaboration with the Police.
He however said additional enforcement has been effected in the area to prevent likelihood of breakdown of law and order.
AFRICA PRIME NEWS reports that since killings recorded early this year, the area had been peaceful until Friday night.
