Tuesday 23 April 2019

Ajeromi/Ifelodun: PDP Accusses INEC of Plotting Crisis in Lagos

April 23, 2019

Press Statement

Ajeromi/Ifelodun Poll: PDP Accuses INEC of Plotting Crisis in Lagos

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accuses the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of plotting crisis in Lagos state by disobeying the order of the Federal High Court to declare the results of the February 23, 2019 National Assembly elections for Ajeromi/Ifelodun Federal Constituency, which was clearly won by its candidate, Hon. Rita Orji.

The party says by insisting on conducting a supplementary poll for an already concluded election, even in defiance of the ruling of the court, INEC has confirmed fears that it has been compromised to create situations to subvert the will of the people and award the Ajeromi/Ifelodun Federal Constituency seat to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PDP has been made aware of vicious designs by an APC cabal in Lagos to foist their stooge on the Ajeromi/Ifelodun Federal Constituency seat and use him to divert resources and opportunities meant for the welfare of the masses in the Constituency, to finance their wasteful lifestyle.

This practically informs the desperation by the APC to forcefully take over the Ajeromi/Ifelodun seat; a malicious project that has failed and will always fail.

It is not in doubt that Ajeromi/Ifelodun Federal Constituency has always been a stronghold of the PDP. Given the popularity of our candidate and our party across the Federal constituency, even if the election is conducted ten times, our party will always win.

The PDP therefore insists that the already established victory of our candidate, Hon. Rita Orji, in the February 23, 2019 National Assembly, must be declared in accordance with the will of the people.

Anything short of this is a willful assault on our democratic process.

Signed:

Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary

BREAKING: Sri Lanka: CAN Tasks UN on Terrorism

CAN Commiserates With Sri Lankan Government, Families
...Tasks UN to End Menace of Terrorism

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) commiserates with the government and people of Sri Lanka where no fewer than 300 persons, including children and foreigners were killed and over 405 sustained multiple injuries as a result of terrorist bombing of churches during Easter Sunday services.


In this moment of colossal national mourning, CAN, with a heavy heart, stands with the government and people of Sri Lanka.


Though Sri Lankan officials reportedly said they believed that the local Islamist extremist group, National Thowheeth Jama’ath (NTJ), was behind the attacks, ISIS has already claimed responsibility for the dastardly attacks according to media reports. ISIS has gained global notoriety as a terrorist group that derives joy in barbaric persecution of Christians and launching of deadly attacks against them.


The same weekend here in Nigeria, no fewer than 11 were reportedly killed in Benue State during the Easter celebrations. According to reports, no fewer than 20 others died and some 35 others also sustained injuries in other Easter attacks on Christians in Adamawa and Gombe States.

It is a tragic irony that these dastardly acts took place while we were celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ who died for the sin of the world, including those terrorists.

Our hearts are with the families that are affected and we pray for all those who are recuperating in the hospitals and medical facilities for quick recovery. Ultimately, we call on the Lord to console and comfort all the bereaved.

Christians are increasingly becoming endangered species all over the world. No fewer than 200 innocent women, including a teenage student, Leah Sharibu, have been kidnapped by the Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria; sadly, the government appears powerless in rescuing them and protecting the lives of Nigerians.

This Sri Lanka attacks came while the whole world has not yet recovered from the shock of the disastrous fire which ravaged one of France’s most iconic sites, Notre-Dame Cathedral, though the incident was not linked to terror attack.

We call on the United Nations and other global organisations to come to the aid of all the victims in Sri Lanka, France, Nigeria and other countries of the world suffering from similar fate. We urge the UN to take a more aggressive lead in championing a global campaign to stop all forms of terror attacks, not just against Christians, Churches and other worship places around the world, but it should also improve on its provision of relief supports to the victims of terrorism promptly. The situation requires immediate action in order not to get out of hand.

We are, however, comforted by the fact that Jesus, the Prince of Peace, will restore peace to the world, even if the human system fails (as it has always failed) to provide us peace and protection whether the devil likes it or not. Amen.

We equally urge our beloved Sri Lanka brethren, Christians in Nigeria and around the world not to lose faith in God; let us all remain resolute on our faith and confidence in God through Jesus Christ bearing in mind that, the resurrected Christ for whom we pay such costly sacrifices remains our eternal saviour, help, hope, comforter and rewarder.

To Him be all the glory, power and honour for ever. Amen! Kindly give this Press Statement the wide publicity it deserved on your credible medium. God bless you richly.
Signed
Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, Special Assistant (Media & Communications) to the CAN President, His Eminence, Rev Dr Samson ‘Supo Ayokunle.
Tuesday, 23 April, 2019

Saturday 20 April 2019

EPL Results Today update

English Premier League Results Sat 20th April

MANCHESTER CITY 1 - 0 TOTTENHAM H.

AFC BOURNEMOUTH 0- 1 FULHAM

HUDDERSFIELD 1- 2 WATFORD

WEST HAM 2 - 2 LEICESTER CITY

WOLVES 0 - 0 BRIGHTON &HOVE A.

NEWCASTLE UNITED 3 - 1 SOUTHAMPTON

CAN Sends Goodwill Message @Easter

EASTER GOODWILL MESSAGE


On behalf of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), I congratulate all Christians in Nigeria and beyond on this most auspicious occasion of this year’s Easter, which is a commemoration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour!

The essence of Easter is unquestionable and indisputable. The arrest, trial, crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the greatest event in human history. It is this costly work of redemption on the cross – bearing the curse and death of mankind as a result of sin - that brought man the most powerful experience of spiritual rebirth, the uncommon grace to share eternal life of God. Jesus is thus the eternal ransom, an innocent Lamb of God that took the place of man in eternal condemnation. May His name be glorified forever, Amen.

The celebration of Easter is important to Christians because it reminds us that somebody died or sacrificed Himself so that others might live. It calls our attention to the fact that we can be betrayed, denied or abandoned by those that are close to us. It reminds us that our prayers are answered when God does His will in our lives.
Easter reminds us that the way to elevation is rough and could be fatally painful. Life is all about what we can sacrifice for others’ comfort and not what we can benefit from it. Easter reminds us that death is not the end of all things for Christians. As he rose from death, we shall rise also at the resurrection of the just on the Last Day.

Standing upon this eternal Truth, I am of utmost conviction that whatever is dead in our lives as individuals and a nation will experience resurrection power and come back to life in the name of Jesus because our God is alive. As Jesus rose above death, we shall rise above all our challenges in this nation in the name of Jesus.

Public gatherings like going to meet Jesus at Galilee was common as one of the ways to celebrate Easter many years ago. There was no fear then that some crazy people would come to such gatherings and bomb the place. Easter was celebrated then in the atmosphere of peace unlike the present fear and tension that hover around our social and national security.

In this season and beyond, I advise Nigerians to love one another as Christ loved us and gave His life for us! Lack of love today is the breeding ground for religious intolerance, killings and destructions, which in turn lead to insurgency and other forms of violence with their attendant humanitarian crises such as mass human displacements, hunger, outbreak of sicknesses and diseases, etc, in many parts of the country today.

In the spirit of this season, and as citizens of this country, I urge all Christians, as well as Muslims and non-religious citizens of Nigeria to pursue peace, tolerance and love for one another just as Jesus offered His life to reconcile humankind to God. This is one of the greatest needs today in our dear country and it requires genuine sacrifice to achieve it. This is because it is in the atmosphere of peace that we would have progress as a nation.

The Federal Government is further called upon to secure the nation for the purposes of safety of lives, property and free movement of people. Kidnapping, increasing wave of armed robbery and resurgence of insurgency coupled with relentless attacks by ethnic militia men are a great concern for patriotic Nigerians and an embarrassment to the nation. These issues should be addressed squarely, promptly and fairly.

We thank Mr. President for assuring the nation and its citizens of his commitment to the provision of security for all, irrespective of tribe, religion or political divide. We want to see in no distant time, that this noble promise is translated into action in the most patriotic way.

Once again, Happy Easter to all Christians in Nigeria and the world.

Signed
Rev Samson ‘Supo Ayokunle, His Eminence, the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
20 April, 2019

Saturday 13 April 2019

EPL RESULTS TODAY; SOME ARE UNBELIEVABLE !

EPL Results Today
FULL-TIME Burnley 2-0 Cardiff City

FULL-TIME Fulham 2-0 Everton

FULL-TIME Brighton 0-5 AFC Bournemouth

FULL-TIME Southampton 3-1 Wolves

FULL–TIME Burnley 2-0 Cardiff

Tuesday 9 April 2019

PDP Laments Insecurity in Nigeria, Tasks Buhari

April 9, 2019

Press Statement

Insecurity: PDP Laments Rising Insecurity in the Country, Tasks President Buhari

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) laments the escalated insecurity, particularly the killings, rising spate of kidnapping, banditry and acts of terrorism in various parts of the country, particularly the northern states.

The party is heavily grieved by the pain, anguish and horror Nigerians have been subjected in the hands of marauders following the failure of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to provide adequate security in the country, despite the huge resources at its disposal.

The PDP also tasks the All Progressives Congress (APC) to give account of the whereabouts of the political mercenaries it imported into the country from neighboring countries, particularly from Chad and Niger Republic during the build-up to the 2019 general elections.

This demand is predicated on fears in the public space of the possible involvement of the imported political thugs, who assisted the APC to unleash violence on Nigerians during the elections, in the heightened acts of banditry in our nation.

Nigerians could recall that the PDP had raised a red flag on the dangers of the heavy importation of unscreened aliens by the APC to involve in its presidential election campaign rallies. The PDP and other well-meaning Nigerians had expressed fears that such aliens could be used by unpatriotic elements to unbridle violent acts against Nigerians.

The party lamented that the Federal Government has failed to exert enough commitment in protecting the lives of Nigerians and curb the bloodlettings and kidnapping of compatriots in Zamfara, Borno, Yobe, Kogi, Kaduna, Taraba, Adamawa, Plateau, Bauchi and other states.
We have been proved right that President Buhari and the APC do not believe in their campaign promises.

The PDP notes that by every indication, the President Buhari-led Federal Government has no solution to the security challenges of our nation, which has festered under its incompetent watch.

This is the very reason Nigerians are anxious for the retrieval of our stolen Presidential mandate, which they freely gave to Atiku Abubakar, at the tribunal, so that our nation can have the benefit of a purposeful government that is alive to its responsibility of ensuring the security and wellbeing of the Nigerian people.

Signed:

Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary

Saturday 6 April 2019

OSUN: APC Plans To Mobilise Thugs To Cause Mayhem - PDP

TRIBUNAL FALLOUT: APC PLAN TO MOBILIZE THUGS TO CAUSE MAYHEM.

The Peoples Democratic Party, Osun State chapter has raised alarm over the impending mayhem being planned by  the hierarchy of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State to start burning houses and properties of PDP leaders in the state.

Hon. Olasoji Adagunodo dropped this hint in a release today .
According to the news, it was reliably gathered that thugs are being positioned at strategic junctions with Okada riders and Lagos based thugs imported to the State  and whom huge sums of money are being distributed to for the attack.

Adagunodo therefore said PDP is now calling on the Nigerian Police and other security agencies that are saddled with the responsibilities of maintaining law and order not to wait until when the issue gets out of hands.

He said losing an election is not enough reason for anybody to start creating unnecessary unrest in the erstwhile peaceful state of the living spring.

He also advised the APC to learn a lesson from the attitude of PDP and her followers who didn't lift a finger on September 22nd, and 27th, 2018 when the party was openly robbed . Adagunodo said at that time when people expected violent reactions from Osun PDP members, we felt that ambition does not worth sending one single soul to the hospital, talk less of taking fellow human life.

He however called on the Osun State commissioner of police to act now by sending her people out to all nooks and crannies of the state in order to protect lives and properties of the citizenry bearing in mind that "NOBODY HAS MONOPOLY OF VIOLENCE."

Signed
Hon Olasoji Adagunodo
Osun State PDP Chairman.

Tuesday 2 April 2019

PDP Hails Court Verdicts On Rivers Collation Result

April 2, 2019

Press Statement

PDP Hails Court Verdict On Rivers Election Result Collation
… Says Declared Results Show Wike Is Clear Winner

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hails the Federal High Court, for saving our democratic process by throwing out the suit by anti-democratic forces working for the All Progressives Congress (APC), in their desperate plot to scuttle the collation of results of the March 9, 2019 Rivers State Governorship election.

The PDP describes the ruling as well as the on-going collation as the triumph of the will of the people of Rivers State, who freely gave their mandate to the PDP and its candidate, Governor Nyesom Wike.

The party notes that the sweeping victory being recorded by Govenor Wike, even in areas hitherto considered as opposition fortresses, clearly exposes the reason behind APC's desperation to scuttle the collation process.

More over, the court ruling rekindles the hope by Nigerians on the capacity of the judiciary to uphold the will of the people, particularly, in the overall quest by Nigerians to reclaim the Presidential mandate, which they freely gave to the PDP Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, at the February 23, 2019 Presidential polls.

The PDP notes that it has a water-tight case against the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Election Petition tribunal, for which majority of Nigerians, across the board, are in high spirit that the stolen mandate would be recovered at the Tribunal.

The PDP therefore charges INEC to ensure that nothing encumbers the conclusion of the collation process and announcement of Governor Wike as the rightful winner of the Rivers governorship election.

The party also directs its members and supporters in Rivers state to continue to be at alert to forestall any attempt by anti-democratic forces, working for the APC, to disrupt the exercise.

Signed:

Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary

We Have No Business With Christian Elders - CAN

CAN to elders forum: your stand on visit to Buhari baseless

... 'CAN has no buisness with NCEF

Following the outburst by the National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) over the visit of the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN ), to President Muhammadu Buhari, Director Legal and Public Affairs CAN Barr. Samuel Kwamkur has described the development as baseless.

Reacting to the statement by the National Christian Elders Forum NCEF, Kwamkur said the NCEF which has been disbanded by the leadership of CAN almost a year ago has no right to fault the decision of CAN.

He said it is right for CAN to visit and congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari who has been declared winner of the just concluded 2019 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

I was part of the delegation of CAN, it is getting to one year now since CAN disassociated itself from the activities of the National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF). The decision to visit President Muhammadu Buhari is not supposed to be with their knowledge since they are not part of CAN.

CAN has disbanded NCEF and they have no reason to join issues with CAN. If CAN is going right they will go left. CAN has no business with the elders forum on this matter. Most of the leaders of CAN were in that team who went to see President Muhammadu Buhari. The five blocs constituting CAN was fully represented by the leaders of the blocs.

The Catholic Secretariat was represented by the Secretary of the body alongside other respected leaders from the bloc as against the falsehood that Catholic was not part of the visit.

We visited Buhari as a constituted body, not a political party, neither do we share political interest as an association. We work with the authority that be and if INEC is the constituted authority with the mandate to conduct elections and declare the winner what reasons do we have to say no to it? It means we are been partisan, if we go against the decision of INEC.
Christians are advised to respect authorities. The bible did not say respect the leaders that love you or behave well to you. There is no condition to that admonition in the bible. If you read our speech to President Buhari we stated that we visited because INEC has declared Buhari winner.
There is nothing wrong with the opposition going to court. In fact, we appreciate the moves to avoid crisis after election. If the court later decided in favour of the opposition, CAN will also go and congratulate the person again. We have also taken decision to see the opposition and share with them to encourage the rightful moves.
I do not see why we should be fighting over this. We have been confronting this administration with the truth. How can the elders forum want to summon the CAN president and direct him on what to do? It is not proper.
Signed
Barr Evang Samuel Kwamkur
Director Legal and Public Affairs CAN
2 April, 2019

BREAKING: Rivers Collation Results - Mind blowing

PHALGA RESULTS

PDP: 40, 197
Others: 15,329
Valid Votes: 55,523
Rejected Votes: 1,620
Total votes cast: 57,143

Collation Officer: Daniel Utibe
Ikwerre LGA Results

PDP- 14,938
AAC-5,660

Registered Voters- 152,390
Accredited Voters - 22,885
Valid Votes-  21,760
Invalid votes- 1,125
Total votes cast- 22,885

Collation Officer Ikwerre- Emem Dennis
Out of 13 wards, elections didn’t hold in two wards.
Andoni LGA
PDP: 92,056
AAC: 5,335

OYIGBO LGA
AAC: 32,026
PDP: 8,652
INEC returning officer said result was declared at gunpoint.

Eleme LGA
PDP: 9,560
AAC: 2,748

Opobo/Nkoro LGA
PDP: 6,314
AAC: 3,888

Bonny LGA


PDP: 10,551
AAC: 3,046

Okrika  LGA

PDP 25,572
AAC 3,803

Akuku/Toru

PDP: 25,765
AAC: 36,661

Monday 1 April 2019

NASS 9th Asembly: What They Are Hiding From the Public

Religious Domination Unconstitutional and unprecedented!

1999:
Obasanjo, Christian - President
Enwerem, Christian - Senate President
Buhari, Muslim - Speaker
Uwais, Muslim - CJN

2003
Obasanjo, Christian - President
Okadigbo, Christian - Senate President
Na'Abba, Muslim - Speaker
Uwais, Muslim - CJN

2003
Obasanjo, Christian - President
Pius Anyim, Christian - Senate President
Na'Abba, Muslim - Speaker
Uwais, Muslim - CJN

2003:
Obasanjo, Christian - President
Wabara, Christian - Senate President
Masari, Muslim - Speaker
Uwais, Muslim - CJN

2007:
Yar'Adua, Muslim - President
Mark, Christian - Senate President
Etteh, Christian - Speaker
Kutigi, Muslim - CJN

2007:
Yar'Adua, Muslim - President
Mark, Christian - Senate President
Bankole, Muslim - Speaker
Kutigi, Muslim - CJN

2011:
Jonathan, Christian - President
Mark, Christian - Senate President
Tambuwal, Muslim - Speaker
Katsina-Alu, Christian - CJN

2015:
Buhari, Muslim - President
Saraki, Muslim - Senate President
Dogara, Christian - Speaker
Mohammed, Muslim - CJN

2019
Buhari, Muslim - President
Tanko Mohammed, Muslim - CJN
Lawan, Muslim - Senate President ?????
Gbajabiamila, Muslim - Speaker ?????

WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS:

A critical study of Chapter 14 (13 and 14) of the 1999 Constitution  (As Amended) underscores this truth
(3) The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few State or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.
(4) The composition of the Government of a State, a local government council, or any of the agencies of such Government or council, and the conduct of the affairs of the Government or council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to recognise the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the people of the Federation.

Reflect Religious Balance In Your Leadershop - CAN tells Lawmakers

LET THE INCOMING LEADERSHIP OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY REFLECT RELIGIOUS BALANCE - CAN

The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) congratulates all the newly elected members of the National Assembly on their victory at the recently conducted general election. It is our prayers that God who granted you the victory will not let you down. You will experience a successful tenure of office. You will not disappoint God and the people who gave you the mandate.
As you prepare for your inauguration,  CAN urges you to balance the appointments of your Principal Officers across religious divides to avoid domination and marginalisation of any kind in the interest of equity, justice, and fair play as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
We, from the Christian Association of Nigeria, recognize the importance of the National Assembly to the stability and growth of our polity. It is in this regard that we call for ethnic and religious balance with depth in picking the leadership of that great institution of democracy. To ensure that this happens is to remove any apprehension and suspicion harbored towards the leadership of this country.
Although both the Senate and the House of Representatives have several principal officers but our focus here are the Senate President, the Deputy Senate President, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker. As it has been the practice since 1999, whenever the Senate President is a Christian, the Speaker of the House has always been a Muslim and vice- versa. And the same thing happens to their deputies.
Our quest becomes imperative due to the existing order in the two other arms of the government. Today, both the President and the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria are Muslims and our appeal is to let either the Senate President or the Speaker be a Christian to address the religious dichotomy. This will give all Nigerians a sense of belonging irrespective of their religious affiliations.
And a critical study of Chapter 14 (13 and 14) of the 1999 Constitution  (As Amended) underscores this truth
(3) The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few State or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.
(4) The composition of the Government of a State, a local government council, or any of the agencies of such Government or council, and the conduct of the affairs of the Government or council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to recognise the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the people of the Federation.
CAN calls on the 9th National Assembly members to address both the religious and the North and South dichotomies in the interest of equity, justice and fair play. We assure our lawmakers of our prayers as they make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Federation.
We also urge both the Presidency and the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to support the position of the Association in its quest to find an enduring peace, unity and development for our Fatherland. Doing this will go a long way in fixing some of the problems confronting our country today that are rooted in religious, tribal suspicion, domination and marginalisation at every level of the government.
In as much as we agree that merit should not be sacrificed in every appointment, but there are Christians who are equally credible and capable of running the affairs of the National Assembly and other key positions in the government if given the opportunity. Those who had and still serving in one office or the other are our living proofs.
Once again,  we rejoice with you and congratulate you all. We give you the assurance of our spiritual support to this all important arm of the government. CAN is also willing and ready to collaborate with the Leadership of the National Assembly when the need arises.
God bless Nigeria.
Signed
Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, Special Assistant, (Media & Communications), to the CAN President, His Eminence, Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle.
1 April, 2019.