News

Soludo, Priest Trade Words Over Prophecies

Published

2 years ago

June 7, 2022

Editor

The Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has reacted to a prophecy by the Spiritual Director of Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, Reverend Father Emmanuel Obimma, that Fulani terrorists would attack him (Soludo).

Obimma, popularly known as Ebube Muonso, had in his prophecy, said he saw herdsmen with tribal marks invading Anambra Government House while the governor was running out in a pool of blood.

The priest, who was addressing his congregation in a viral video, said there was the need to pray for the state and Soludo, as he also said the governor should pray for himself.

The cleric also said the governor, who was sworn in on March 17, generally, was performing below expectations; especially in security and waste management.

Ebube Muonso, had criticised Soludo over the poor management of waste in the state, adding that the governor was yet to show Ndi Anambra that they did not make a mistake voting for him at the last governorship poll.

The cleric also reminded the governor of his promise to make Anambra look like Dubai and America; and that he must not fail the people of the state.

He also noted a number of issues that needed attention, including gunmen and insecurity issues as well as other prophetic declarations.

But Soludo in his response, said although the priest had the monopoly power of the pulpit, such a monopoly demanded a responsibility on the part of the cleric to exercise caution and maturity on how he uses such power.

Soludo in a six-point write up which went viral online, said, “I don’t believe these political or phantom ‘prophecies’ are designed to play to the gallery.

“That’s not my upbringing and faith as a Catholic. You have my contact and assuming that anything was ‘revealed’ to you as a threat to my life, do you really believe that the best way to communicate it is on your pulpit?

“As an orthodox Catholic, I was brought up not to join issues with any man of God. I have been in the public arena for two decades and I appreciate comments and criticisms from the citizens, including the men of God.

“I welcome your comments, advice and even criticisms as such help us to do better because we are certainly not perfect.

“I am writing to you, in the exercise of my duty (as a member of your Laity),to also advise you – but not publicly on the pulpit as you chose to do.

“In your prophecy, you are certainly entitled to claim that you ‘saw’ anything, and to call for prayers. I need all the prayers in the world and I believe that thousands of people of goodwill are praying for us and for Anambra.”

The governor said the man of God, through his adverse comments, failed to acknowledge the huge efforts being made to confront the challenges in the state by his government.

According to him, when no governorship candidate could campaign freely in the entire Anambra South Senatorial District before last year’s election because the zone was totally taken over by unknown gunmen, no one heard Ebube Muonso’s voice.

The governor added, “I was almost a victim. No one heard your voice. In my inaugural address I devoted paragraphs to address the issue. And Ndi Anambra from all over the world are calling in solidarity and offering support.

“I wish God will also ‘reveal’ to you the identity of the criminals so that we take them out. I know that you are a man of God and I deeply respect all of God’s anointed, but making incendiary and wild claims about security under the cover of the pulpit should be moderated.

“Father, I expect you to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. We admire you and the thousands of your followers deserve leadership and direction.”

PUNCH.

News

Economic Hardship: Pastor Suspends Collection Of Offerings Church[VIDEO]

Published

24 mins ago

May 19, 2024

Editor

A pastor in Lagos state has caught the eyes of Nigerians after announcing the suspension of offering collection in his church.

In a trending video, the pastor could be seen telling his church members that henceforth, offerings will no longer be collected because of the situation of the country.

He stated that in these times that people spend more money to buy petrol and pay more for transportation, it would be unfair to collect offerings from them.

He said until the petrol price is reduced, his church will not collect money from its congregation. He called on all pastors to stop collecting offerings from their congregation.

Watch the video below:

News

Shettima Launches NEDC’s School Enrollment Drive Programme

Published

14 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Editor

Vice President Kashim Shettima has launched the Accelerated Senior Secondary School Education Programme (ASSEP) initiated by the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) in collaboration with the office of the VP to enhance child enrollment drive in schools within the North-East sub-region.

Speaking during the launching of the programme in Bauchi on Saturday, the VP said that consequences of the nation’s action and inaction were evident in all indices used to assess development.

He said while primary education provides a foundation, secondary education is a bridge, adding that the Northeast sub-region has been the victim of inability to enforce a uniform policy to drive school and the persistent cultural perversion to formal education in the country.

“We in the Northeast occupy a quantum of position in ranking of essential services. Education being a key sector of this country, this is especially pronounced in the post primary education, while the Northeast secondary school enrollment drive stands at 19 percent, far below the nation’s 39 percent,” he said.

Earlier, the Managing Director of NEDC, Mohammed Alkali, said that the primary education completion level of 85 per cent in the Northeast is among the best in Nigeria, but secondary school enrolment is a mere 15 per cent, the second worst nationally.

According to him, due to the challenges in the post-primary education segment, JAMB UTME applications and admissions into tertiary institutions in 2019 were the lowest for the Northeast compared to other regions.

He added that, nationally, the Northeast has the lowest number of teachers and the highest percentage 55 per cent of those available are without literacy skills.

The MD also revealed that the challenges in the post-primary education segment include weak quality indices and a wide demand-supply gap driven by economic and cultural factors.

“The Accelerated Senior Secondary Education Programme seeks to boost the post primary education rating across the North East region through improved enrolment into tertiary institutions.

“It’s also to improve skills development as well as the elevation of teacher quality. It would pay special focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and communication.

“These would foster creativity and critical thinking; motivates and inspires young people to generate new technologies and ideas to learn from inquiry-based tasks,” he said.

Alkali also explained that the programme would also raise awareness about after-school possibilities and the potential for diligent students to become successful and prominent contributors to the North East region and Nigeria at large.

He expressed gratitude to the Federal Government especially, the Vice President for the deep interest and commitment to human development in the North-East.

News

Edo Police Break Silence On Operatives Fighting Dirty In Viral Video

Published

14 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Editor

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

The Edo State Police Command says a trending video showing two operatives of the command engaging in a fight is a handiwork of mischief makers.

In the video which has gone viral on the internet, two policemen are seen fighting themselves, while a voice commentary in the background claims they are from the Igueben Decisional Police Station headquarters in the state.

A writeup also attached to a version of the video sighted by Info Daily also claims that the policemen were fighting because of sharing formula of money collected from motorists on the highway. The writeup also claims that the incident happened yesterday, May 17th, 2024.

But reacting to the viral video in a statement issued by SP Chidi Nwabuzor, Police Public Relations Officer, the command said contrary to the claim, the incident happened in 2020, adding that disciplinary measures were taken against the erring policemen.

The statement which issued electronically to newsmen in Benin on Saturday evening partly reads: “Edo State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that it’s aware of a video trending on the internet showing two policemen that engaged themselves in a fight in public spaces and wishes to state as follows that;

“The now trending video happened in April 2020 in a community called Ebelle in the Igueben local government area of Edo State.

“The two erring policemen, namely; (i) F/NO.491112 CPL Ozimeade Aidonojie and (ii) F/NO. 516384 PC Salubi Stephen were attached to Ebelle Police Divisional Headquarters.

“They defaulted, tried in an orderly and upon conviction dismissed from the Force for the offence of discreditable conduct contrary to Paragraph ‘E’ Sub Section 111 of the Police Act and Regulations 370 Cap. P19 of Federation of Nigeria 2004.”

Nwabuzor in the statement reiterated the state Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, commitment to “making Edo State a desired secured state where the law abiding citizens and the general public go about their lawful businesses in making Edo State economic hubs of Nigeria without fear or intimidation.”