Police Arrest Man Stealing Cash At Bank With Invisible Ring

A man who walked into GTB bank thinking he was all invisible because he wore an invisible ring has been arrested by the Police. The man jumped over the counter and started stuffing a bag with cash, before the cashiers held him. Police where later called in and he was asked why he did that, and he said he thought no one could see him because he wore an invisible ring. How thoughtful!

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Why Jonathan ordered removal of offensive campaign banners

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday ordered the immediate removal of the #BringBackJonathan signs being used by his supporters for his second term bid.

The directive, contained in a statement by the presidential spokesperson, Dr. Reuben Abati, followed worldwide condemnation, with the United States of America’s influential newspaper, Washington Post, describing the use of the slogan as “galling.”

Like many Nigerians, the Washington Post in its editorial, noted that the #BringBackJonathan sign was parodying the #BrinBackOurGirls – the social media campaign used to nudge the world to the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, by the Boko Haram terrorist group in April.

The critics, including the Washington Post, queried the basis for parodying the rescue campaign slogan when Jonathan’s administration had failed to rescue the girls from captivity.

But Abati, in his statement, said the signs were being used without President Jonathan’s knowledge or approval.

He said the President had therefore ordered that the “offensive and repugnant” signs and campaign banners bearing the slogan be immediately brought down.

The statement read, “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has directed that the #BringBackJonathan 2015 signs and banners around Abuja, which he and many Nigerians find offensive and repugnant, be brought down immediately.

“President Jonathan wholly shares the widely expressed view that the signs, which were put up without his knowledge or approval, are a highly insensitive parody of the #BringBackOurGirls hash tag.

“While President Jonathan appreciates the enthusiastic show of support for his administration by a broad range of stakeholders, he condemns the #BringBackJonathan 2015 signs, which appear to make light of the very serious national and global concern for the abducted Chibok girls.

“The President assures all Nigerians and the international community that his administration remains fully engaged with efforts to rescue the abducted girls and that he will not knowingly promote any actions that will fly in the face of the seriousness of their plight and the anguish of their families.”

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FG, Teachers disagree over schools’ resumption date

 Ibrahim Shekarau

The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Federal Government (FG) have disagreed over the new resumption date of September 22 and threatened to go on strike if the FG fails to put in place measures to protect its members and pupils from contracting the deadly Ebola Virus Disease before the resumption of schools.

But the Federal Government says there is no going back on the date since there is no scientific basis for schools to remain shut beyond the September 22 resumption date announced by the Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau.

The NUT National President, Michael Alogba, in a telephone interview   with one of our correspondents on Wednesday, stated that the union would not allow   any of its members to teach until it was scientifically and medically proven that the country was out of the Ebola scourge.

The Federal Government initially fixed October 13 as schools’ resumption date but it later announced the new date , saying that the country was almost Ebola-free.

But the new date drew criticism from doctors, activists and civil society groups who alleged that the government was stampeded into announcing it by some powerful school proprietors.

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives directed its Committee on Education to take another look at the September 22 resumption date in view of the fact that the EVD had yet to be contained in the country.

Before Alogba spoke, the committee Chairman, Aminu Usman, told The PUNCH in Lagos on Tuesday that the committee would meet with the leadership of the Nigerian Medically Association and the Federal Ministry of Education over the September 22 date.

During the interview with The PUNCH, Alogba said the NUT   had already written the Federal Government about its position on the September 22 date.

He   warned that   if the new date was not extended by Monday, the NUT national executive council would meet on Tuesday in Abuja to take a drastic action.

The NUT chairman said, “In any sane society, decision such as this will not be taken until the government and all stakeholders have met and discussed the issue at stake and are sure that the nation is scientifically and medical free from the scourge.

“But this is not the case in our country. When they arrived at the early October 13 date, they wrote us and we agreed with their argument but when this new date was given, they did not because of the influence of some powerful school owners who put pressure on them (Federal Government) to announce the September 22 date.

“Anyway, we have written to tell them that if the   Federal Government does not shift the date and provide all necessary safety measures in schools before Monday next week, all NUT leaders will meet in Abuja by 9am on Tuesday to decide our fate by ourselves. “Though I don’t want to preempt the outcome of the meeting but as teachers who have families and who should protect our future, I mean our students, we will shun the classes; we will call for strike.

“What kind of government is this, don’t they know that children can never be as hygienic as adults? Don’t they know that the immunity level of children is not as high as that of adults? Why do you want to open schools when you have not cleared out the virus; when you still have about 400 people under surveillance in Port Harcourt and Lagos?

“You are aware of what is happening at the Obafemi Awolowo University. How are we sure that there is no primary or secondary school pupil that has had   contact with an Ebola patient.

“It’s good that the   NMA (Nigerian Medical Association) has spoken and we have told them too that we would not cooperate with them. That   is why we are going to take a drastic action on Tuesday to protect ourselves and our children.

“I can tell you that we will shun schools; we won’t cooperate with them. In other words, we will embark on strike.”

Also, the Media Concern Initiative for Women and Children said there was no need for the government to rush into the reopening of schools.

Its Executive Director,   Princess Olufemi-Kayode, therefore urged the government to discard the latest resumption date.

She said, “How many children will be able to do proper hygiene in schools? It is like creating a nuclear weapon in our nation. Who are the schools opening for?

“The government is   not being factual with us because there are new cases. For me, my child is not going back to school.”

The Education Rights Campaign and Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit also faulted the directive by the government.

The President of the ERC , Hassan Soweto, who accused the government of   attempting to risk the lives of pupils, alleged that the goal of the directive was to justify political rallies and gatherings by supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said, “ EVD is a great crisis but it is not one that should affect the pupils alone. If the Ministry of Education has decided to fix a day for resumption, it must therefore mean that all the mechanisms needed to ensure the safety of pupils are in place in   schools.

“Facilities approved by the World Health Organisation   for the prevention of EVD have to be provided accross the nation, whether it is private or public.

The President of the MSSN , Lagos State Area Unit, Kamil Kalejaiye, warned that it was dangerous to expose   pupils to risk.

He described the decision to reopen   the schools as “hasty “, saying no visible measures has been put in place to curtail the disease.

Kalejaiye said, “If the pupils resume on september 22, what are the measures that the government has put in place to ensure that EVD will be curtailed. Presently, the government is not telling us the measures. They are only bothering us with the resumption of the pupils. Things must be put on the ground and the risk of allowing the pupils back to school must be assessed.”

The Lagos State Chairman, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Mr. Yomi Otubela, however denied that the Ministry of Education was lobbied to change the resumption date to September 22.

Otubela said there had yet to be a scientific basis for schools to remain shut till next month.

FG defends resumption date, warns against irrational fear

In Abuja, the   Federal Government through the Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, said that the calls for the postponement of schools resumption were caused by “irrational fear.”

Chukwu told journalists after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, that the “irrational fear ”   lacked scientific basis.

He said, “First unlike other countries, there is no community transmission of the disease in Nigeria; not one yet. But we have taken precautions, what we are doing, we may as well have said everybody should just be moving about, but we are taking precautions.

“There is no scientific basis for school resumption to be postponed. There is no community transmission of the disease in Nigeria. That is what separates Nigeria from other countries. It is what I call irrational fear; we don’t need to be irrational about this.”

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Education has said   its meeting with the NMA and   the Federal Ministry of Education on September 15 would address the appropriateness of a review of the September 22 resumption date.

Its chairman   stated that the concerns raised by the NMA over the new resumption date would not be brushed aside.

Usman, who was on a   visit to the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos alongside members of the committee, said since the NMA   had kicked against the new resumption date,   it would be wise for the House   to meet with key stakeholders.

He said, “The NMA has advised government not to allow   students to resume on 22nd of this month. The NMA is made up of professionals and there are certain things they could have seen which may be unclear to us.

“We have invited the officials of both the NMA and the Federal Ministry of Education for a meeting on   Monday for us to look into the issues of Ebola once again. We are going to look into the demands of the NMA and come up with a decision in the best interest of the country.”

(PUNCH)

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Youths, vigilantes kill 80 fleeing insurgents in Adamawa

    Boko Haram members

Youths and vigilance group members in Michika and Madagali local government areas of Adamawa State on Tuesday night killed about 80   Boko Haram insurgents fleeing   the areas.

The insurgents, who had been wreaking havoc on some boundary communities in Adamawa and Borno states, were said to have run into the bush after running out of arms and ammunition.

It was gathered that normalcy had returned to the the LGAs   with   troops stationed in strategic places.

A resident of Michika, Vandi Joseph, told journalists on Wednesday in Yola, that the insurgents were overpowered by youths and vigilantes who shot them to death.

He said, “As I am speaking to you, our youths and vigilance group members ambushed and killed over 80 insurgents who escaped from soldiers and hid themselves in the bush. Our youths and vigilantes saw them and killed them.”

Meanwhile, the Mubi Emirate Council of Adamawa State has refuted media reports that the Emir of Mubi, Alhaji Abubakar Ahmadu, left Mubi and his palace for Yola, following an attack by Boko Haram on the town.

The spokesperson for the council, who is also the Danruwata Mubi, Chief John Elias, said at a news conference on Wednesday, that the Emirate was dismayed by the report.

Elias explained that the Emir who is the Amirul Hajj for the 2014 Hajj operation for Adamawa State , went to Yola to meet members of the delegation over preparation for the pilgrims.

He said, “The Emir did not leave Mubi for Yola as an escape from the insurgents but rather for meeting with members of the 2014 pilgrimages delegation committee which he is the leader. He returned to Mubi immediately the meeting was over.”

The Danruwata Mubi cautioned people to desist from spreading information that had no source and creating panic in the Emirate and the state in general.

He claimed that there was no attack on Mubi and anywhere in Mubi North and Mubi South LGAs as well as Maiha LGA.

Elias,who however said only Michika and Madagali had been affected by insurgency, called on the public to  remain calm .

However, report from Michika indicated on Wednesday night that the attacks on the people might   be linked to the fact that some people   in the town   harboured   insurgents.

An indigene of the town, who gave his name simply as   Daniel said, “Some people who have sympathy for the sect are frustrating   military’s efforts at flushing out the insurgents.”

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OAU student tests negative for Ebola virus

The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, has said that the female student of the institution who was suspected to have the Ebola virus and moved to Lagos State has tested negative to the virus.
The Public Relations Officer of the OAU, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju, said this in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Thursday.
He said, ” The preliminary result of the girl is out and she tested negative. Another test will be done tomorrow. The university will issue a statement on this later today.”
The female student of the university who hails from Port Harcourt, Rivers State was said to have had contact with Dr. Iyke Enemuo who died of the Ebola virus after treating an ECOWAS diplomat in a hotel room.
The OAU student was said to have been put under surveillance in Port Harcourt for 21 days before she was certified okay having tested negative to the virus.
However, on her return to the OAU to resume her studies, she took ill again on Monday and she walked to the university’s health centre where she was admitted.
He confession to have had contact with the late doctor and the symptoms similar to the EVD triggered rumour that she had the virus and the whole university community was thrown into panic.
Some students told our correspondent that the lady was bleeding and showing signs of the Ebola virus.
But the result of the second test now would calm students of the university who had been thrown into panic since she fell sick and was moved to Lagos.

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At Last, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome Opens Up On Divorce Saga

After about one week of keeping mum about his divorce which is currently making headlines, Pastor Christian Oyakhilome has yesterday addressed the allegations leveled against him in the law suit filed by his wife in the United Kingdom.
Speaking on Sunday evening during the monthly global communion service of the church, he described the allegations as “crazy” and “stupid”. He however acknowledged that divorce is unbiblical adding that he could consider the option should his wife insist on it.
He also criticized the media for prying into his private life and urged members of his church to pray for his estranged wife. Read his speech after the cut.

I understand that some media houses particularly in Nigeria and maybe in South Africa (I don't know) but there are some of them that have been writing some real stupid things...real stupid things, and errrrhh...frivolous charges...that's crazy.
A man of God...you have to understand something about a Man of God. A man of God is not just someone who worships God or who preaches God. A man of God is directed by God, set on course by God. If you study the scriptures you will not find one Man of God going against God, sinning against God, the only thing you can find is a Man of God, maybe...in two different things  

1. Moses for example, when he struck the rock twice, provoked by the anger of the people, not because he wanted to do something against the Lord. No Man of God does something against the Lord. Are you hearing me? No!...a Man of God is set on course, there is a type of life that he's been given, alright?  

2. Then you have a young man, a young prophet, he wasn't named, he was deceived by another Man of God, and so he went in the direction God says don't go.

That's only the kind of thing you'd find about a Man of God when he misses the message of God or he acts beyond what God said. But a Man of God setting himself in defiance to the word of God and living like they (media houses) are writing those stupid things that I did this, that I did that...You don't know what a Man of God is.. I don't go in that direction. That's crazy. 

I wasn't accused of those things you (media houses) said, nor did I commit those stupid thing that you said...and I don't need to go to that level and such discussions. Jesus Christ was accused by many, with lots of frivolous charges. There would ALWAYS be those who'd like for it to be true, but you know, in spite of the accusations against Jesus, it didn't change who he was!  

There are preachers and there are Men of God. I'm not a preacher, I'm a Man of God...understand the difference. And I go in the way I'm asked to go, it may cause some troubles with individuals, but that's not because I've done something wrong.

And when it comes to Rev. Anita, what I'd say to you is pray for her, don't act like 'why why why is she....' . Married to a Man of God does not automatically make you Woman of God! You can make mistakes, but you know, people expect the wife of a Minister to definitely be at the level of the Minister, and so they may be looked upon and the expectations maybe like that, but it's a positional thing! alright!   

If a Man of God is married, it does not automatically mean the wife of the Man of God is therefore a Woman of God! That's not how it is in the Bible. That's why you don't really find wives of Men of God listed in the bible. How many of them? Who was Peter's wife? Did you ever know her name? You'd never find out! Who was John's wife? Did you ever read the name? What about all the other apostles? How many are registered in the bible? You never find their names, why? Ask God when you find HIM! **Smiles  

So, they are little things, don't try to make something big out of them, and emmm.. we're journeying, doing the things that God's called us to do...Christians should not have a divorce, it shouldn't be, but you see, that doesn't mean a Christian may not take the step. They may do it, but that doesn't make it right. And we shouldn't take one another to court, but when it happens, not because we wanna go there, someone is taking us there.

That's a problem, be wise, stay focused in the Word of God, and don't let those who want to feast on things like this including Christians. You know there are Christians who like things like this, they wanna make something big about it. You should only say those things that are from God, and become honorable in your speech, Alright! ...and judge nothing before the time...be wise, Glory to God.   

So we are going greater and greater and greater by the power of the living Christ. Hallelujah! So, we are not walking in sin and living in sin and hoping we can mix sin and righteousness together, NO!, we are the manifestations of His righteousness, we walk in that light only, and that's the way it's gonna be! Glory to God.

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Monarch’s Marriage Generates Tension In Community

The peaceful Agbor town in Delta State is currently enmeshed in tension following the alleged secret wedding to a white woman by a monarch, the Dein of Agbor, Benjamin Ikechukwu Kiagborekuzi 
Reports said that residents of Agbor and the palace chiefs are worried over the marriage to a white lady by the Dein of the kingdom.
A highly respected palace chief, Alika (surname withheld) told our correspondent that the ruling council has insisted that the Dein, who is in his 30s should get married to a Nigerian from Agbor kingdom according to the tradition.
Speaking further, Chief Alika alleged that the secret wedding is a taboo in the kingdom.
When our correspondent visited the palace, some persons who agreed to speak to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, claimed that the Dein called it a bluff stating that he has the right to do whatever he wants.

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