The Most Religious Yet, Most Wicked & Poorest. Why Africa?

 

_By_Martins Chiedozie Ugwu

_Johnmartinsworldonline@gmail.com_

"Attitude or the best of people are not shaped by religion, they are shaped by events, deep understanding of life and their experience including wide knowledge on affairs of life. It takes only the people who are in touch with reality of life to act well and not religion or the type of church the person attend."

Here in Africa, we are awash with a whole lot of idiosyncratic belief or impression maintained despite being contradicted by reality or rational argument, which is a typically symptom of mental imbalance and a reflection of our out of touch with the realities of life. 

Most, if not all religions, have some thematic principles that make them similar to one another, namely concepts of god and love, honesty, altruism, miracle workings and peacekeeping. However, every religion has elements and ideologies that set them apart from the other. These ideological differences may not be overt and easy to discern, but they are present and account for a lot of disharmony and discord most of the time. This is mainly due to irrational and distorted deductions of religious scriptures by some followers which go against the fundamental principles.

Moreover, coexistence of diverse religions in a single community or nation is a comparatively recent trend. From time immemorial, sacrifices and wars in the name of religion are not unheard of, with some of the significant examples being The Crusades, Sati System, Buddhist Burma, Jihadists and the Witch Hunt, which ended thousands of lives. What is even more mind-boggling is the dichotomous function that religion seems to serve, where it imbibes compassion and kindness towards all, but also instigates religious hatred, violence and religious martyrdoms, especially in radical believers.

If really Africa and Nigeria in particular Reflects their religious faith in their affairs of life, I dont think if there is any continent of the world or country that will be better than us. A lot of people are brainwashed into believing that once you goes to church or mosque every sunday or friday that you automatically a child of God and well behaved. This seems to be one of the if not the greatest misconception of man especially here in Africa. It has gotten to an extent that we are judged by our religion. Is not uncommon to see so called christians asking 'which Church do you attend' 'Are you a born again' and all that, as if going to church or the type of one's church or religion defines how good or bad a person is. Experience and Research have proved clearly that the best of people wasn't so because of their religious but their understanding and experience about life including parenting. 

The hard fact remains that nothing about Africa’s deep in religion reflects in our way of life. It seems we are even more akin to worshiping individuals than God himself. 99.9% of religious people in Africa have no fear of God and the outcome is the ups and down in the continent. I mean the level of wickedness and inhuman treatment including insincerity and distrust in our private lives and collectively as a society, don't show a place where there is a single believer. We pretend a lot and seems like pretense is turning to norms here.  If not how can one explain the high religiosity in Africa and yet out of the 55 countries in Africa none can be described as a developed Nation while we are the ones ruling ourselves but we talk so much about religion even pretend it. Where there is peace in Africa is less compare to where there is crises and greater percentage of these crises are fought along religious line. What a shame to religious leaders. 

If truly religion is agent of development, Africa and Nigeria in particular would have been the most peaceful and developed in all the continents and countries of the world but surprisedly reverse is the case. 

This is not the time to ask a lot of questions but to look for answers or solution to issues and questions glaring on our eyes and minds but who cares because they said you shouldn't question the Priest or Imam or question anything you read in the bible or Qur'an, same bible we were told that a lot were omitted and a lot smuggled in to suit the selfish doctrine of the early Christians.

If we must solve our problem as youth, we must first keep religion aside and confront the issues in line with the reality of life.

May God Take The Lead and bring love upon Africans

Together as Youth, we can build a new world in Africa soil. 

……. Join the revolution. 

*Fellow Martins Chiedozie Ugwu is the Former International President of All African Students, Former Country representative of World Students Assembly,

Facilitator, Students for Change Initiative and Chancellor - Noble Youth Organisation of Africa. 

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_Johnmartinsworldonline@gmail.com_

WE TRANSMITTED OFFICIAL RESULTS DIRECTLY TO INEC SERVER — PRESIDING OFFICERS

 

About 13 Presiding Officers (POs) in Borno and Yobe states have told the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja that they transmitted the results of the February 23 Presidential election in their various units and wards to the official server of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). 

The POs in their respective Witness Statement of Oath in support of the petition filed by the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, challenging the election of President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Congress (APC), stated that the election body had, during their training, instructed them on how to transmit the results to its server.

The submission of the POs was to lay credence to the petition of Atiku and PDP, wherein they alleged that the INEC pulled down the official results from its server and consequently replaced it with a doctored one to favour President Buhari. The position of the POs, however, contradicted the submission of INEC who had stated in its reply to the petition that results were not sent to its server. All these were, however, contained in Atiku’s reply to the objection filed by APC, who is the 3rd respondent, to his (Atiku’s) petition before the Presidential tribunal, wherein he is challenging the election that produced Buhari.

INEC had declared President Buhari as the winner of the February 23 election, having polled 15,191,847 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Atiku, who polled 11,262,978. But, Atiku in his 139-page petition before the tribunal stated that from the data in INEC’s server, the true, actual and correct results showed that he (Atiku) secured a total of 18,356,732 votes against Buhari’s 16,741,430 votes. 

On its part, INEC stated that there was no result in its server and that the presidential election results were not transmitted electronically. 

However, in reaction to paragraph 29 of the 3rd Respondent’s reply, the petitioners aver that the data and scores in the 1st Respondent’s Server were as transmitted by the 1st Respondent’s officials and those scores are valid, and legitimate. Atiku, through his team of counsel, led by Dr. Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), had listed about 13 Presiding Officers from different wards in Borno State and also attached their witness statement on oath. 

According to one of the POs, “I was employed as an ad hoc staff and trained for three days by the 1st Respondent at the Government College, Maiduguri, Bomo State to serve as a Presiding Officer (PO) at Waliri Polling Unit with Code 003, of Shehun Barna Ward, Bomo State on the 23rd February, 2019 Presidential and National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) elections. ”

 

The training covered the duties of all 1st Respondent’s ad-hoc staff at the polling units and the procedure for the conduct of election which includes accreditation, verification, authentication, collation and transmission of results as well as the use of Smart Card Reader (SCR), amongst others. 

“At the 1st Respondent training, we were specifically instructed that the use of the Smart Card Reader for accreditation, verification, authentication, collation and transmission of results is mandatory and that any election conducted without the use of the Smart Card Reader would be invalid.

“I took part in the conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) elections of 23rd February, 2019 where I served as the Presiding Officer (PO) and I ensured the use of the Smart Card Reader for accreditation, verification, authentication, collation and transmission of votes in my polling unit. 

“At the end of voting, the information on the Smart Card Reader with the results inclusive, were collated by me in the presence of the party agents and other ad-hoc staff of the 1st Respondent after which my Assistant Presiding Officer (AP0-1) transmitted the result electronically in my presence to the 1st Respondent’s server, using the Smart Card Reader (SCR) and the code provided by the 1st Respondent.”

Furthermore, in the witness statements of the Presiding Officer of Daza Primary School Code 001,Daze Marte Ward of Borno State, who was coded as BU; the Presiding Officer of Mustapha Ali Bama, Code 036, Mafoni MCC Ward, who was coded IM; the Presiding Officer of Binkalion Code 003, Maisandari Damaturu ward Yobe, coded as AB and APO of Kafan Sarki Code 007, Yabir-Gujba of Yobe state, coded as AW; they all admitted that the results of the Presidential election were transmitted electronically to INEC’s server. In a similar development, Atiku had insisted that Buhari did not submit any academic certificate to INEC before contesting in the February 23 election.

He added that the claim of APC that Buhari was eminently qualified to contest the election to the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is spurious and devoid of substance as Buhari never submitted any certificates to INEC regarding his educational qualification. According to him, “Having not submitted any certificate to the 1st Respondent (INEC) regarding his educational qualification, the 2nd Respondent (Buhari) did not and could not have complied with the requirement of the law regarding qualification for election to the office of the President. 

“The question of the 1st Respondent being satisfied with the information and materials submitted to it by the 2nd Respondent with respect to the qualification of the latter did not arise because the 2nd Respondent did not submit any certificate.

“The claim of the 3rd Respondent at paragraph 498 of its reply that the declaration sworn to by the 2nd Respondent before Commissioner for Oaths at the Federal Capital Territory High Court Registry on 8th October, 2018 as being distinct and separate from the general form of affidavit explaining the whereabouts/location of 2nd Respondent’s academic qualification documents is utterly ridiculous especially as both documents were submitted to the 1st Respondent by the 2nd Respondent simultaneously and without factual backup by any known certificate of qualification of the 2nd Respondent.

“The issue of qualification of the 2nd Respondent to contest election to the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a mandatory statutory and/or Constitutional requirement that cannot be waived by the petitioners as erroneously averred in paragraph 499 (d) of the 3rd Respondent’s reply.”

Atiku, however, challenged Buhari to produce the originals or Certified True Copies of his purported certificates obtained from Elementary School, Daura and Mai’adua, Middle School, Katsina and Katsina Provincial Secondary School and all other institutions pleaded in paragraphs 500 and 501 of 3rd Respondent’s reply.

Atiku further added that his petition is competent and meritorious and the return of the 2nd Respondent by the 1st Respondent is undue and wrongful. 

He added that the 3rd Respondent’s reply does not answer the points of substance in the petition, but same is full of extraneous facts, contradictory, diversionary, evasive, speculative and vague assertions.

The former vice president also stated that he is a bona fide Nigerian.

“Contrary to the allegations contained in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the 3rd Respondent’s reply, the petitioners state that the 1st petitioner is a citizen of Nigeria by birth and thus qualified to vote and be voted for and returned in the election to the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, held on Saturday 23rd February, 2019 going by the relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). 

“That all averments concerning Germany, British Cameroons, League of Nations and Plebiscite are false and misleading in relation to the 1st Petitioner and, therefore, completely irrelevant more so that the 1st Petitioner is a Nigerian by birth within the contemplation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). “The averments in the aforesaid paragraphs are indeed fabricated, contrived, made in bad faith and designed to embarrass the 1st Petitioner,” Atiku said.

(NEW TELEGRAPH)

ATIKU IS NOT COMING ANYWHERE'– Keyamo mocks Atiku's supporters

Festus Keyamo, SAN, the Spokesperson of the President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organization, has mocked supporters of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Keyamo said that those believing that Atiku would defeat President Buhari at the tribunal and take over power have been deceived.

Members of the PDP and supporters of the former Vice President have been trending ‘Atiku is coming’ on social media to remind Nigerians that the 2019 election is not over yet.

However, the senior lawyer noted that such persons have been tricked to believe the impossible.

Keyamo tweeted on Saturday night, “‘Atiku is coming’ reminds me of the victims of ‘419’ who some smart guys keep telling new stories after a ‘deal’ has collapsed & who keep falling for the new stories.

“And like real ‘magas’ they’ll even abuse you when you seek to help by telling them Atiku is not coming anywhere!”

Information Commissioner Dedicates Award To Gov Okowa

....When Public Official Does Well, We RecognizeThem.

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba

Recognizing outstanding public officials and other none state actors, in recent past had being our thematic focus.

Comrade Okonta Emeka Okelum,founder and editor in chief, Asaba Post News Wire ONLINE pointed out.

This time and in line with our focus on Good Governamce and Sustainable Development, our focus landed on one of Governor Sen Dr Ifeanyi Okowa finest commissioners.

Delta State Commissioner for Information, Chief Patrick Ukah (right), today, Thursday, at his office received the prestigious annual Outstanding Media Leadership Award from an online media outfit.

Asaba Post News Wire (ONLINE) today, presented the award to Delta State's Information Commissioner
In recognition of his outstanding information management prowess of SMART Agenda, with which his impactfull leadership prowess had over the years effectively impacted Deltans.

While presenting the award, Comrade Okonta Emeka Okelum, founder and online publisher, Asaba Post News Wire ONLINE, notes that the commissioners leadership strides has enhanced good governance and sustainable development in Delta State.

Appreciating the award, the information commissioner, dedicated the award to the state governor.

I dedicate this award to delta state governor, Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa.

I am grateful to our amiable governor over this golden opportunity to serve the state government and the people of Delta State.

He also said that where it not for the governor's committment and political will towards attaining indicators and targets of sustainable development goals and deliverying on good governance yardsticks, he would not had being recognized today by our online media outfit.

The Information Commissioner also challenged Asaba Post News Wire to continue and maintain their current pace of developmental journalism, urged the media platform to shurn yellow journalism, uphold sound ethics of progressive journalism.

Asaba Post News Wire ONLINE committed to continue doing their best and seeking for more partnership opportunities with the Information Ministry.

SOURCE: ASABA POST NEWS WIRE (ONLINE)

We Say Congratulation Sir.

H.E. KB OTUARO @ 51: GOV OKOWA'S DEPENDABLE PARTNER IN PROGRESS - FRED OGHENESIVBE.

Deputy Governor of Delta State, Barrister Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, has been described as a visionary politician and reliable partner in progress with the State Governor, His Excellency Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.

Executive Assistant on Communications to the Governor of Delta State, Dr Barrister Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe in a congratulatory message to mark the 51st birthday anniversary of Kingsley Otuaro said the unity of purpose and the strong determination of both leaders to build a new prosperous Delta of our dreams brought about the huge and enviable successes recorded in the first tenure of the award winning Okowa administration.

He noted that Otuaro is a God fearing leader, and as a Senior Deacon in Christ Embassy Church, he invoked biblical inunctions and divine instructions to work and still working in uncommon love and synergy with the Smart Governor, making Otuaro the best deputy governor in Nigeria; as can be seen from his perfect hatred for primitive accumulation of wealth and other social vices inimical to progress, good conscience and equity.

Oghenesivbe, a member of the International Communication Association (ICA), and Fellow of the Civilian Institute of Democratic Administration (FCIDA), commended  Deacon Otuaro's humility and work ethics, especially his non-confrontational relationship with Gov Okowa and leaders of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He prayed God to grant Otuaro excellent health, long life and abundant grace filled with prosperity; and as this administration changes gear towards a socioeconomic "Stronger Delta State."

DELTA APC LEADERS ARE CARELESS ABOUT THE KILLING OF FARMERS IN ABRAKA BY FULANI HERDSMEN - FRED OGHENESIVBE.

...SAYS OGBORU, SENATOR AGEGE LOVES SELF CENTERED POLITICS MORE THAN PEACE AND SECURITY IN DELTA STATE.

Executive Assistant on Communications to the Governor of Delta State, Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, has berated the leaders of Delta State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), especially Chief Great Ogboru and Senator Ovie Omo Agege, over what he called "stomach infrastructure politics" to the detriment of peace and security in the state, especially Abraka in Delta Central Senatorial District.

He attributed the resumed killings by Fulani Herdsmen in Abraka and its environ to the perceived carelessness, deep silence and regrettable negative attitude of Ogboru and Senator Agege; as can be seen from their narrow minded desperation to align with the alleged criminal activities of Fulani Herdsmen in the state, so as to be in the good books of APC national government and the Buhari caucus in the Presidency.

Oghenesivbe, a full member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and a Barrister-at-Law, in a statement condemning the docile approach of Delta APC and its leaders towards the unlawful murder of farmers in the state by Fulani Herdsmen under the Buhari failed government, noted that Ogboru, Senator Agege and other APC leaders failed woefully in their assigned responsibilities as political leaders and Representatives of the people, for not condemning the criminal activities of the herdsmen, simply because Mr President is a core Fulani by tribe and a major stakeholder in livestock and cattle business.

He said the self acclaimed "Peoples General" of Abraka in Ethiope East LGA, in the person of Chief Great Ogboru, ought to use his political influence to stop the unlawful killing of his people by joining forces with controversial mace runner, Senator Ovie Omo Agege, adding that it is the absolute responsibility of the federal government to secure the country as entrenched in the constitution, being the only arm of government granted the "exclusive control" of the police and other security agencies.

"Chief Ogboru and Senator Agege have been blinded by self centered stomach infrastructure politics, to the extent that they kept deaf ears and sealed lips to the brutal and rampant unlawful killing of several harmless and innocent sons and daughters of Abraka, the ancestral hometown of Ogboru, in Ethiope East LGA.

"It is even more worrisome and indeed very sad to note that Ogboru never at any material time issued press statement condemning the criminal activities of the Fulani Herdsmen, not to talk of seeking the intervention of Mr President, his APC President, in the matter.

"It follows that the 'Peoples General' must of a necessity be stripped of his rank as he cannot function in that office, which is why Ogboru must stop parading himself as the war general of Abraka people. He has performed abysmally in that capacity to the detriment of the people he ought to fight and defend to a logical conclusion.

"I am not inviting Ogboru and Senator Agege to perform the functions of the state CSO neither did I request both of them to arrest and prosecute these criminal terrorists called Fulani Herdsmen.

"Agege and Ogboru owe URHOBO nation the duty to condemn the killings of our people and affected Deltans in other Senatorial districts. They also failed to effectively use their political influence as chieftains of APC and Buhari government to stop the killing of some innocent and law abiding Deltans especially in Abraka.

"IF OGBORU AND AGEGE CANNOT JOIN IN THE STRUGGLE TO BRING PEACE TO ABRAKA IN URHOBO NATION, THEY DONT DESERVE TO PARADE THEMSELVES AS LEADERS IN URHOBO NATION.

"For failing to do the needful, Delta APC and its leaders must apologise to Deltans and find courage to commend the state government and the governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, for the huge investment on peace and security in the State.

"Okowa administration worked so hard to boost oil production through multifaceted strategies, funding and organized several stakeholders meetings; thereby increasing the nation's wealth through foreign earnings.

So much resources went into procurement of equipment, vehicles and other logistics and it is only fair for APC Delta to appreciate this administration giant strides in peace building and security in the state," the statement added.

FULANI HERDSMEN KILLING OF INNOCENT DELTANS: BUHARI, IGP, CP DELTA MUST ACT NOW - OKOWA'S AIDE, FRED OGHENESIVBE.

Executive Assistant on Communications to the Governor of Delta State, Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe has called on President Muhammadu Buhari, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Abubakar Adamu and Police Commissioner in Delta State, Adeleke Bode to urgently use their good offices to stop the criminal activities of Fulani Herdsmen and killing of harmless and innocent Deltans in their farmlands.

His appeal is contained in a statement condemning the killing of over eight people in Abraka, Ethiope East LGA and three youths in Ukwuani, in the state.

Oghenesivbe noted that the impunity of these Fulani Herdsmen may cause breach of peace, law and order in the state if the relevant authorities; Mr President, IGP and CP Delta, fail to order the direct combing of the affected communities, arrest and prosecute the murderers, who have caused pains, sorrows and agony to the deceased families.

He faulted the IGP and Delta State Commissioner of Police, for folding their hands and do nothing about criminal activities of the herdsmen as can be seen from obvious negligence of duty resulting in "no arrest and prosecution" of the lawless boko haram insurgents parading themselves as herdsmen.

"Herdsmen do not rape women, young girls and kill people in farmlands, such criminal activities rest in the domain of terrorists such as Boko Haram; who are parading themselves as Fulani Herdsmen in Delta State and around the country.

"The Chief Security Officer of the State, Gov Ifeanyi Okowa, has limit as to his control of security operatives in the state due to the exclusive constitutional right of the federal government in the control of the police and other security agencies.

"As it is today, the state Commissioner of Police takes direct instructions from the Inspector  General of Police while the IGP is answerable to Mr President, pointing to show that Gov Okowa merely interacts with the CP and other heads of security agencies on how to better secure the state, assist security agencies financially, provide vehicles and equipment without corresponding powers to absolutely control their official activities, actions and inactions.

"It follows that as Chief Security Officer of Delta State, Gov Okowa cannot issue orders that may bind or direct the heads of security agencies  when it comes to complex and politically motivated criminal activities of some blood tasty Fulani herdsmen in some communities in the state.

"Our people are running out of patient and it is morally and constitutional expedient for Mr President, the IGP and CP Delta to confront these criminals parading themselves as Fulani Herdsmen before our people lose their cool and result to self help and jungle justice," Oghenesivbe said.