The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has suspended its strike action embarked upon on Wednesday to draw federal government’s attention to the plight of its members Following a meeting with officials of the federal government, the union accepted to discontinue the one-day old strike action. According the National President of NUEE, Comrade Joe Ajaero who confirmed the outcome of the meeting to THISDAY, the workers’ grievances were conclusively addressed. He said that all the concerns of the union and it’s members were addressed at the talks which lasted till the wee hours of today. “ We have concluded deliberations and all issues were addressed but we are awaiting implementation. Meanwhile, our strike action is suspended,” Ajaero said. Following the expiration of the 21 days ultimatum issued by NUEE to the Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to implement their demands, and the failure of the minister to dialogue with the union before the ultimatum which lapsed midnight Tuesday, a nationwide blackout was imminent as electricity workers began indefinite strike Wednesday morning. The strike action led to the shutting down of most of the offices of Distribution Companies (Discos) across the country.
PRESS RELEASE NBS CORRUPTION SURVEY REPORT 2019: WHY PLATEAU IS THE 2ND LEAST CORRUPT STATE IN NIGERIA – GOVERNOR LALONG Plateau State Governor, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong has welcomed the 2nd Corruption Survey Report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) which ranked Plateau State as the second least corrupt State in Nigeria. Reacting to the report, Governor Lalong said the development validates the efforts of his Rescue Administration towards entrenching good governance, accountability and transparency in management of public funds. He said “on assuming office, I declared my administration’s zero tolerance to corruption and our determination to ensure that public funds are used strictly for the benefit of the people of Plateau” This he said led him to establish various mechanisms for checking corruption and enhancing transparency in public service. “We were among the first State in Nigeria to adopt the Treasury Single Account (TSA) where we made sure all monies accruing to Plateau State went to a single account for easy oversight and monitoring. We also established the Efficiency Unit that is saddled with the duty of checking all proposals and requests to ensure that they are in line with the vision of the Government and offer value for the people. We put in place the Bureau for Public Procurement which has the mandate of vetting all procurements to ensure that there is no wasteful and exaggerated costs” he said. The Governor also explained that recently, he set up the Project Monitoring and Result Delivery Unit (PMRDU) domiciled in the Office of the Chief of Staff with clear mandate to ensure diligent tracking of Projects and Programmes implementation by all the MDAs. In addition, the State has greatly improved the ease of doing business through the creation of the One-Stop-Shop as well as enhancing land transactions through the Strengthening of the Plateau Geographic Information Systems (PLAGIS) to operate electronically. All these he explained have contributed to increase in revenue generation as most transactions of the State are done electronically thereby removing the incentives for corruption. “This declaration by the NBS of Plateau State as the second least corrupt State in Nigeria is great news for us as it explains why domestic and foreign investors, and foreign envoys are pouring into our State to do business and partner with us for various development efforts. In the last two weeks, I received the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, investors from Switzerland, Austria and Germany and just this morning, the Political Counselor at the US Embassy was in my office. We shall continue to make sure that we sustain this tempo and by the grace of God, Plateau State will be the least corrupt State in Nigeria when this survey is conducted next year” the Governor said. Governor Lalong used the opportunity to thank the people of Plateau State for their cooperation and support to the Rescue Administration in ensuring that there is peace and tranquility which is making development possible.
Dr. Macham Makut Simon ANIPR Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Executive Governor of Plateau State. 10th December 2019.
Some consumers in Jos have called on Plateau Government to check the prevailing re-bagging of local rice by some dealers of the commodity in the city, describing the practice as unpatriotic.
The buyers who spoke with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, said many of the traders were opening the standard sack of the commodity, removing some measures and re-bagging it in smaller sacks and selling it to consumers as standard measure.
They also complained that some of the dealers were selling rice with stones in bags of popular de-stoned Nigerian rice brands, in order to make more profit.
“This unpatriotic act has resulted to increase in the prices of the commodity,” said Mrs Celine Ndu, one of the consumers.
Ndu said the local rice used to sell for between N12,000 and N15,000, but that because of the unwholesome practice, the price had increased to between N17,500 and N19,000 per bag.
Another consumer, Mrs Helen Pam, said that the local brand she used to buy was de-stoned, but that now some unscrupulous traders had adulterated it with stones.
‘’There is nothing wrong with the local rice, but it is unfair to buy a brand and later discover that the content is something else, ‘’ Pam said.
A major distributor of local rice in the state, who pleaded anonymity, said he was aware that their good quality rice was being re-bagged, but that he had no power to stop it.
‘’We expect the relevant regulatory bodies to check this menace because it is unfair to the consumers,” he said.
Another dealer who also preferred to remain anonymous, said some retailers were opening the bags of quality rice and removing four to five measures and re-bagging them.
The distributors, therefore, called on the Government to check the menace, as it was sabotaging its efforts to boost local production of the golden grain.
DSS AND THE 6TH DECEMBER, 2019 FEDERAL HIGH COURT, ABUJA INCIDENT
It has become important that the Department of State Services responds to the serial misinformation being circulated in the media about its involvement in the incident that occurred on 6th December, 2019 at the Federal High Court, Abuja. It is instructive to note that during the court proceeding of the day under reference, Defence Counsel, Femi FALANA (SAN), called the attention of the Judge to a suspicion that the Service was planning to re-arrest Omoyele SOWORE immediately after the court session. The Court discountenanced his alarm and asserted that the Service was law abiding and would not engage in such and subsequently adjourned to February, 2020.
However, when SOWORE stepped out of the court and sighted operatives of the Service within the premises, he ran back into the courtroom. In a bid to shield him from an imaginary arrest, his uncontrollable supporters mobbed him while chanting “you can’t arrest him” thus the pandemonium that ensued.
A critical look at the videos in circulation would convince any objective viewer that there was no DSS personnel during the entire period the Sowore crowd acted out its orchestrated drama. Its personnel were never, at any time, involved in the incident. In actual fact, it was his people who seized him. And from the latest developments, it has become obvious what the intent for such mischief was meant for – simply to serve a propagandist purpose as well as bring the Service to disrepute.
Eye witness and several media accounts have disclosed that the Court had adjourned peacefully without an untoward incident when suddenly the unruly crowd imported into the Courtroom went into frenzy on the mere suspicion that DSS was sighted at the court premises. The eventual re-arrest of Sowore by the DSS was effected outside the courtroom. His lead counsel has affirmed this.
The DSS, as a professional, responsible and law abiding Organization, could not have invaded a courtroom including the one presided over by a respected Judge who is not only handling its case but whose Order was unconditionally obeyed within a 24 hour ultimatum. The Service holds the judiciary in utmost respect and will continue to work with it for national peace and public safety in Nigeria.
It has therefore become unarguable and raises a moral question as to who, between Sowore and the Service, dislikes or disobeys the Courts. In this regard, public attention may be drawn to the 25th July 2019 statement of SOWORE that “I’m not talking of protest. I’m embarking on revolution… Don’t tell me about legal implications or what a Judge will say. I don’t care …” On 5th December when SOWORE was released, he had, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja addressed a group of persons who, he reassured of his cause to create anarchy in the country.
It may be recalled that the Service had on 3rd December, 2019 raised alarm about a plot to destabilize the country. It is quite remarkable that the plot has already started playing out. To ensure this objective is further achieved, some persons and groups are scurrying to seize the opportunity of the misleading court incident and the wrong narrative against the DSS to organize an insurrection in the country. They have continued to falsely curry and mobilize international sentiments and attention, through clear misrepresentation of the facts, for their selfish ends.
For emphasis, it should be noted that SOWORE is facing trial not as an activist, journalist or a politician, but for his resort to call for violence, forceful takeover of government and suspected transnational illegal activities. It is most unfortunate that SOWORE, shortly after being released from custody, based on court order, resorted to acts inimical to security. To this effect, only SOWORE has been re-arrested as his co-defendant, Olawale BAKARE, was not picked up even when FALANA had promised to deliver him to the Service that is not presently interested in him.
Though sections of the populace have been fed with spurious narratives about these developments, Nigerians and the International Community should not be gullible or even vulnerable to the machinations of groups desirous of misleading them.
The Service is committed to the discharge of its mandate of detecting and preventing threats against the internal security of Nigeria. It supports democracy in the country and will do all that is legal to protect it. It will also ensure that efforts of anti-democratic forces are frustrated.
Peter Afunanya, Ph.D
Public Relations Officer,
Department of State Services,
National Headquarters,
Abuja
7th December, 2019
President Muhammadu Buhari has described the death of world renowned evangelist, Reinhard Bonnke, as a particular loss for Nigeria and the African continent.
President Buhari’s thoughts were contained in a statement issued by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, and made available to State House Correspondents in Abuja on Saturday evening.
According to the statement, Evangelist Bonnie, who died at the age of 79 years, reached the rest of the world with the message of salvation, had a particular strong impact on the African continent, especially Nigeria.
He, however, commiserated with the immediate family of the departed preacher of the gospel, the government of Germany, his associates in ministry and all associated with him, praying that God will comfort all that mourn him.
“President Muhammadu Buhari joins Christendom at large in mourning the passing of renowned evangelist, Reinhard Bonnke, 79, describing his transition as a great loss to Nigeria, Africa and entire world.
“The President condoles with government and people of Germany, family and friends of the great preacher and teacher of the Bible, and all his co-labourers in the vineyard, praying that the good Lord will comfort all those that mourn him.
“President Buhari affirms that Bonnke’s crusades in Nigeria, across Africa and the globe strongly accentuated the message of Jesus Christ, and his vision and zeal for the salvation of souls clearly helped the world in understanding the power of love and kindness as universal language.
“The President prays that the Almighty God will accept the soul of the departed preacher, believing that his legendary contributions to the body of Christ in teaching and writing will always be remembered by posterity”, the statement said.
Plateau Regeneration Group at the weekend extolled the outstanding performance of the Member representing Panksin ,Kanke ,Kanam Federal constituency Hon Yusuf Gagdi ,for providing quality legislation to the people of his constituency . Pam Datiri, the Public Relations Officer of the group also called on other lawmakers from the state to emulate the lawmaker . “Gagdi has proven that he is determined to free his constituents from abject and dehumanising conditions of poverty that characterise village communities.” The statement reads that Gagdi has done well in Youth empowerment, tackling poverty and overall good governance since he assumed office . “We commend Gagdi for his all inclusive governance. “ The group noted that through his empowerment programme, many people of the area have been positively touched. “Gagdi has given the people of PKK Constituency effective, qualitative and purposeful representation. He has put food on the tables of many people. The thousands of beneficiaries of his empowerment programme can now take care of themselves and their respective families. This is unprecedented in the history of PKK Constituency”, the message read in part. The youth group prayed for God’s guidance and protection upon the lawmaker and pledged its unalloyed support for him “I call on people of his constituency and Plateau to support him at all times as he has proven to be a worthy leader .” “Let us be fair to Gagdi and encourage him to do more while we should try hard to ignore mischief makers .
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the furious invasion of the sanctity of the Federal High Court by the Department of State Services (DSS) further confirms that Nigeria, under the Buhari Presidency, is finally sliding into a frightening dictatorship.
The party alerts that the invasion of the court is a vindication of its earlier stand that the nation is no longer governed by democratic principles of rule or law and dictates of the constitution.
Today, the world watched with shock as operatives of the Presidency-controlled DSS, in a most horrific manner, swooped on the court, held the judiciary to ransom, disrupted proceedings, scared away the judge, chased away lawyers and journalists, attacked and re-arrested persons standing trial within the precincts of the court, in a manner that can only be obtainable in Idi Amin’s Uganda.
The invasion is in a forceful suspension of our constitutional order and a further battering of the judiciary, which points to an emerging lawlessness that can only find space in a military regime.
Without prejudice to the charge against the Convener of the “Revolution Now” movement, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, the PDP holds that, in a normal democracy, it is the duty of the court to determine the fate of an accused, according to the laws and not a resort to brute force by the government to silence persons with dissenting voices.
Our party notes that such a violation, as embarrassingly witnessed in the Abuja court this weekend, is a direct invitation to anarchy and a huge threat to the unity, peace, stability and corporate existence of our nation and the safety of our citizens.
Indeed, this is not the Nigeria our citizens yearn for and it is imperative to restate that Nigeria, under the Buhari Presidency, is fast sliding into a dark country where, laws are suspended, the judiciary is assaulted and citizens are stripped of their fundamental rights.
The PDP calls on well meaning Nigerians and the international community to call the Buhari Presidency to order before its actions derail our nation and trigger a breakdown of law and order in the land.
The international community must have more than a passing glance at the situation in Nigeria as any crisis in our country, God forbid, given our population, is capable of having a negative spill over effect across the African continent and other parts of the world.
The PDP urges Nigerians across board, irrespective of political, religious and ethnic learnings, to unite in condemnation of dictatorial tendencies of the present administration and in defending our democracy and unity as a nation.
SPEECH BY MOST REV. IGNATIUS A. KAIGAMA DURING HIS FORMAL TAKING POSSESSION AS ARCHBISHOP OF THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF ABUJA, AT THE ON-GOING BUILDING OF THE CATHEDRAL OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES, ABUJA, 5TH DECEMBER, 2019.
God is always a God of surprises. Never had it remotely crossed my mind that I would one day stand before a great congregation such as this as the Archbishop of Abuja.
After his very exceptional and wonderful tenure for which we remain happy and grateful to God, I respectfully salute His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, who for nearly three decades has led the Archdiocese of Abuja with Apostolic courage and zeal as he retires after clocking the 75 years as stipulated by Canon Law. I wish him a very tranquil and restful retirement.
My own little page has now opened in the history of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja. My unexpected and unmerited journey to become a member of Abuja Archdiocese began on the 11th of March 2019, when the Holy Father, Pope Francis, kindly appointed me as Coadjutor Archbishop of Abuja Archdiocese. Not too familiar with the term “Co-adjutor”, some people address me as “co-adjucator”, “coadjutant” while some call it, “co-conjugator”.
The Apostolic Nuncio in Nigeria, His Excellency, Antonio Guido Filipazzi, informed me of my appointment by Pope Francis at 9.45am in the Nunciature on 15.2.2019. Noticing my apprehension and agitation while breaking the news to me, the Nuncio used the examples of Abraham and the Blessed Virgin Mary to reassure me that all would be well. Asked, as usual, if I would accept the assignment by the Holy Father, I could not give him any definite answer as I felt slightly disoriented.
With trembling and trepidation, I travelled back to Jos, my mind wandering like a wild cat. Arriving my house in Jos and kneeling in thanksgiving for a safe journey before the Blessed Sacrament, the thought of leaving Jos suddenly dawned on me and I felt like a stranger in my house!
After troubled reflections on the implications of my appointment, but knowing that it is neither an office one campaigned for nor influenced by powerful god fathers, but a doing of the Lord, I called the Apostolic Nuncio on Sunday 17.2.2019 to pledge my obedience and humble acceptance of the appointment by the Holy Father. I wish to thank the Holy Father for the confidence reposed in me by entrusting the pastoral leadership of the Archdiocese of Abuja to me and I hereby renew my pledge of loyalty and filial devotedness. To His Excellency the Apostolic Nuncio, I express my gratitude for your generous words of encouragement and support as I count on your fraternal collaboration as well as the support of my brother Bishops in the Abuja Ecclesiastical Province and indeed all members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
Life is said to be a series of beginnings. This is another new beginning for me. God knows better why he asked the Pope to look in my direction. When I was appointed the Archbishop of Jos some nineteen and a half years ago, after only a little over five years as the pioneer Bishop of Jalingo Diocese, someone in a goodwill message sympathetically and I would say, skeptically said that I would not have the physical and spiritual energy of my predecessor in Jos. By this present appointment, the temptation to feel grossly inadequate returned forcefully to me, but I convinced myself that I was being appointed to Abuja to humbly serve even despite my shortcomings and limitations. I trust and depend on the grace of God which will support me day by day, because God is our hope and our help.
My predicament is that I have always been given heavy assignments, namely, to succeed people who are many times more experienced and more gifted than I am. My predecessor in Jos, the Servant of God, Archbishop Gabriel Gonsum Ganaka, was a person I referred to as an “Ecclesiastical guru”; as CBCN president, I succeeded Archbishop Felix Alaba Job, a veteran in pastoral affairs whom I call a “mobile archive” (he does not easily forget pastoral or statistical information) and my immediate predecessor here, Cardinal Onaiyekan, an intellectual colossus. I lack their outstanding credentials (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:1-16). However, I have the conviction that the Lord uses leaders to build, not by human wisdom and power but by His grace. I may not be exceptional but I assure you that we shall continue to pray and work together for social cohesion, spiritual and pastoral progress.
My earnest prayer is that the Lord will take control and guide the course of events in Abuja Archdiocese during my tenure. May He guide and bind in redeeming love the priests, the religious and the wonderful lay faithful of Abuja Archdiocese, moulding us more into a strongly united and indivisible family in His service, so that at the end, we shall receive the crown of glory and hear the words of Mt. 25:34, “Come and enter the kingdom of my Father”. I pray and hope that we will be able to trust one another, be friends and colleagues and be a happy family together.
With the cultural, ethnic and religious diversity of Abuja, we need to make more conscious effort to promote dialogue, harmonious coexistence, reconciliation and peace both ad intra and ad extra, through constant meetings, interactions, fervent prayers, which I believe are the antidote to disunity, polarization and fragmentation.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja in the Federal Capital should be a home to all and should belong to all and not be seen as a colony of a specific group or region. We must always champion the common good rather than sectional interests. Everyone living or working in Abuja Archdiocese should find a home in our Church. Whether you are the majority or minority, whether you are many, few or alone, please, feel at home in our Church, family of God.
God has given us multiple gifts and talents, which everyone should use effectively and selflessly for the benefit of our Archdiocesan family and humanity. You have always supported the physical growth, development and expansion of parishes, schools and other socio-pastoral projects. Please, do not be tired. There is still work to be done. Our beautifully designed new cathedral is not yet completed. The best retirement gift we can give our highly esteemed Cardinal is to complete this project. I am confident that with the support of everyone; men and women, young and old, rich and poor, we can complete it as well as the other plans His Eminence informed me about, namely, the building of a permanent Archdiocesan Secretariat, a permanent Archbishop’s house, etc.
I know very well that before my announcement as the Coadjutor Archbishop of Abuja there were speculations, conjectures and guesses and even wishful thinking about whom to expect as the new Archbishop. Even after my appointment, some were perhaps shocked and some may still be thinking about what should have happened or worrying about what will be. These anxieties are natural, but they must now give way to our unity of purpose and mission. Let all we do be dominated by true fraternal spirit, mutual acceptance and understanding.
My thesis is that by the grace of God, we all have something to contribute in building our Archdiocese; we can add a few blocks (spiritual and physical) to the many blocks John Cardinal Onaiyekan and before him, late Dominic Cardinal Ekandem, have built together with you since the creation of this jurisdiction.
We, the priests, must be known for who and what we are. We are not big men or rich men competing with lay people or politicians. We should let the light of Christ shine in and through us. We should be the salt of the earth, bringing good taste not sour taste. This exhortation applies too to all the religious.
As priests we know that our role is to lead the People of God after the model of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. It is about servant leadership, in simplicity, humility and holiness. It means celebrating the Eucharist with reverence and not introducing unnecessary practices, visiting the sick at home and in the hospitals, those in prison, being attentive to the plight of the poor and empathizing with them, and being the voice of the voiceless without being partisan.
To my good friends, family, associates, acquaintances, I need your understanding and support. It is easy in contemporary Nigeria where some religious leaders preach prosperity and flaunt incredible wealth in the midst of biting poverty, to see my position as the Archbishop of Abuja in terms of worldly elevation or promotion and even to compare it with the position of a powerful and affluent Senator or Minister. My duty is spiritual and pastoral. I neither have a salary nor have I accumulated material things in my over thirty eight years of priesthood. I have always depended on charity and donations from benefactors which I in turn distribute to the needy or to promote the cause of the Church. I say this because when I was the CBCN president, some people thought that all the money collected in Catholic Churches across the country ended up on my table and so many requests for financial assistance kept pouring in!
The Catholic Church is always willing to contribute to the growth and development of our nation by spiritually and morally supporting our elected political leaders and public officials to focus on serving in truth and justice our nation and its about 200 million people. In exercising my prophetic duty, I will respectfully seek to dialogue with government leaders about the common good; remind our leaders to remember the poor, the youth, the widows and orphans; to remind them of the words of both our national pledge and anthem: “to serve our fatherland with love and strength and faith; with heart and might; one nation bound in freedom, peace and unity.” I will pray with them and dialogue on how our youth can be better helped. I will continue to stress the need to protect the lives and property of all Nigerians and to provide jobs for our teeming youth used by ethnic, religious and political bigots for violence, cultism and other anti-social practices.
Our political leaders should be faithful to the words of their oath of office; to serve rather than be served; to be closer to their people not only during election times, but to always feel their pain and agony rather than being tucked away in air-conditioned offices or travelling in jets or helicopters to avoid the deplorable roads that are left unmaintained for years or just simply poorly built. The tendency for leaders to surround themselves with weapon-wielding security personnel or trained security dogs and becoming inaccessible and insensitive to the needs of the ordinary people must be avoided and they should ensure that the poor, the children, the teenagers, the youths, the widows, the orphans, those in the periphery are not deprived of social amenities or unjustly treated.
To my new family, please help me to be the shepherd of the flock of God that is entrusted to me, to watch over it, not simply as a duty but gladly, because God wants it; not for sordid money as 1 Peter 5:1-4 says, but because I am eager to do it. I look forward to collaborating with you the laity, female and male religious, priests, other Christian denominations, and the Muslim community.
I will count on the Auxiliary Bishop of Abuja, Most Rev. Anselm Umorem, MSP, as a fraternal ally. He has been on ground for some years now. I will continue to draw from the wisdom and wealth of experience of His Eminence John Cardinal Onaiyekan, who even after retirement is still looking dynamic and energetic to kindly help me as I continue with the relay race. I hope that he will always help where and when his help will be needed.
I hereby reconfirm for now, the previous appointments made by His Eminence: the Vicar General, the Chancellor, the Consultors and the Deans. I request you to support my spiritual and pastoral initiatives. In the coming days I shall hold separate meetings with the clergy, female religious and leaders of laity, women, youth organizations, etc.
With the words of Philippians 2:2-4, I exhort all of us to be united in our convictions and united in our love, with a common purpose and a common mind, avoiding selfish personal interests and parochial sentiments. “There must be no competition among you, no conceit; but everybody is to be self-effacing. Always consider the other person to be better than yourself, so that nobody thinks of his own interests first but everybody thinks of other people’s interests instead.” Be patient with me. I am a slow learner. It will take me time to know things, places and people.
I am very grateful for the many goodwill messages received assuring me of prayers to succeed. Special thanks to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, who sent me a goodwill message and to the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, who called me on phone. I thank my brother Bishops for their unending support, prayerful wishes, goodwill messages and for being physically present here or through their representatives.
The presence of dignitaries in large numbers is gratefully acknowledged and appreciated: I recognize and truly appreciate the presence of Traditional Leaders, government functionaries, Christian leaders, Muslim leaders, distinguished personalities, etc. A special welcome to His Eminence, Philippe Cardinal Ouedraogo, the President of SECAM, being represented here by Archbishop Bonaventure Kwofie of Accra, Ghana. My special regards to my two Governors, one of my State of birth, Gov. Darius Ishaku Dickson and the other of my adopted home state, Plateau and Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Barr. Simon Lalong. They have been not only my Governors, but truly brothers. Please allow me to use Dame Pauline Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs, the legal luminary, Mr. Damian Dodo, SAN, the Walter and Winifred Akpani family, as points of contact to those other brothers and sisters who were and are strongly committed to helping me succeed in my priestly life and service. I would like to pay tribute to the wonderful people I have worked with in the Archdiocese of Jos, the priests, religious, laity and indeed the good and generous people of Plateau State. I also thank God for the Bishop, priests and people of my home diocese of Jalingo whose Bishop I was from 1995 to 2000.
Kindly allow me to be a bit partial by mentioning the Jukun Supreme leader, His Majesty, The Aku Uka of Wukari, Dr. Shekarau Angyu Masa-Ibi, Kuvyon II and the traditional ruler of Jukun Kona land, His Royal Highness, Augustine Njenmang Vengkani. I acknowledge and appreciate also my fellow members of the Dialogue, Reconciliation and Peace Centre, Jos, made up of Muslims, Christians, Community leaders and youths.
I thank the organizers of this event headed by Bishop Anselm Umoren for their sacrifices and selflessness. I thank Archbishop Valerian Okeke for his inspiring reflections in the homily. I am so grateful to the security agents, gentlemen of the media, Church organizations and pious movements and many people who worked and are still working behind the scene.
To all who have come, I invoke God’s powerful blessings on each of you. In Latin we say, ora pro nobis mutuo (Let us pray for one another). Peace be with you all and safe journey to your respective destinations.
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Friday morning re-arrested the convener of #RevolutionNow, Omoyele Sowore, and his co-defendant Olawale Bakare on fresh charges.
He is currently being detained at the DSS office in Abuja.
The DSS is yet to disclose the reason for the re-arrest.
Sowore was re-arrested following an earlier attempt by DSS operatives to arrest him inside the courtroom of a Federal High Court in Abuja.
His re-arrest comes barely 24 hours after he was released alongside his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare.
They were released at exactly 7:15 pm on Thursday, hours after Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, had expressed displeasure over their continued detention by the agency.
Subsequently, Ojukwu ordered that the defendants be released within the next 24 hours and adjourned the case till Friday, December 6, for a report of compliance.
Prince Rotdunna Sekat, a social media critic and youth activist felicitate with Chief Noel Donjur, chief of Staff to Governor, Simon Lalong, on his birthday. In a message made available to our correspondent in Jos, Prince Sekat described him as a man of his word, discipline and hard working. “You are a man of your word Sir and your coming on board as Chief of Staff to Governor Simon Lalong has brought a new lease of life to governance in the state, especially the monthly staff meeting of government house staffers that you introduced makes staff to feel a sense of belonging and to also share their problems with you with ease. “As you celebrate your today, I join the people of Plateau State and millions of Nigerians to wish you Happy Birthday sir and may God continue to strengthen you and give you long life and prosperity.
MiddleBelt Reporters 