The transfiguration of Gen. Buhari - "most hated to most loved."

By Dele Momodu

Fellow Nigerians, miracles shall never end. That is the only way to describe the incredible story of Major General Muhammadu Buhari at this auspicious moment. No one could have envisaged or foretold the huge drama being enacted before our very eyes. It was not as if his popularity and cult-followership was ever in doubt but the general belief and assumption was that it was dominantly limited and restricted to a particular section or region of Nigeria. What was never expected was a cross-over appeal to all areas and segments of our nation.

Paranoid? “APC is Selling a Dummy to The Whole World; Tinubu is The Real Candidate”. Femi Fani-Kayode

There was a time when Femi Fani-Kayode, the spokesman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign organisation was in awe of Bola Tinubu, the APC leader. On one occasion, he listed Tinubu’s name among six others including Muhammadu Buhari, IBB and Atiku ABubakar, who Pres. Goodluck Jonathan had to prostrate to and plead with so he could be forgiven. At another occasion, he tweeted how he was “popping champagne” by Bola Tinubu’s pool side at his residence in Bourdillon, Ikoyi. Nowadays, they are in different camps, and last night Fani-Kayode launched a verbal attack on the APC presidential ticket by insisting that Tinubu was up to no good because he wants to take over power through the back door. FFK alleged that the APC vice presidential candidate, Yemi Osinbajo, has signed a pact with Tinubu to resign if Buhari wins so that Tinubu can take over, and ultimately become president considering what he called Buhari’s health issues.

THE WORD FOR TODAY - 28/02/2015

28 Feb 2015 KNOW WHAT TO FIGHT FOR 'I press on...to win the prize...' Philippians 3:14 The poorest person in the world isn't the one without money, but the one without a God-given vision. Vision requires faith-and focus. Unless you understand what's worth fighting for, you risk: 1) Fighting the wrong battles. 2) Fighting at the wrong time. 3) Fighting when you shouldn't be involved. 4) Fighting because you need to win in order to feel good about yourself. 5) Fighting even though the battle is already lost but your pride won't let you accept it. The most important thing is: stay focused on the goal God has given you. John Mason says, 'Destiny delayed is the devil's delight.' If satan can't defeat you outright, he'll try to distract you with unimportant things, or disqualify you by getting you to make bad decisions. Either way, he wins and you lose. Just because something is good doesn't mean it's right for you. When your plate is full doing what God's already given you to do, learn to say 'no' to everything else. Once you can do that, you free yourself from other people's expectations and the need for their approval. Bear in mind also that 'no' doesn't mean 'never'; often it means 'not now'. When you're spread too thinly, you become mediocre at everything and effective at nothing. When you try to fight on every front, you wear yourself out and fail to win where it counts. Fighting a battle without spoils is like pouring water on a burning shack-unless somebody's life is in danger it's probably not worth it. So conserve your energy for when you have something really important at stake.

Bible in a Year: Leviticus 26-27;  Mark 2;

The Word For Today is written by Bob and Debby Gass.

South East APC congratulates Buhari for repackaging Nigeria

The South East branch of the All Progressives Congress has congratulated Gen. Muhammadu Buhari for raising Nigeria’s profile through his Thursday speech at Chatham House, in the United Kingdom.

Speaking at the Buhari Campaign office in Enugu yesterday, Mr Osita Okechukwu, Spokesman of South East All Progressives Congress (APC) congratulated General Muhammadu Buhari (GMB) for repackaging Nigeria as evident by his excellent speech at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House London.

Nigerian Writers Helon Habila, Teju Cole Receive $150,000 WindhamCampbell Prize

 

Two extraordinary Nigerian novelists, Helon Habila and Teju Cole, were named among the winners of this year’s WindhamCampbell Literature Prizes administered by Yale University, an Ivy League institution based in New Haven, Connecticut. The prize, which is worth $150,000 per recipient, is awarded to “honor and support writers anywhere in the world writing in English.” The administrators of the prize name three winners each in three categories—fiction, nonfiction, and drama. This year, the third fiction award went to South Africa’s Ivan Vladislavić, giving African writers a sweep of the fiction category. 

Home Yams, Diaspora Goats.

 By Pius Adesanmi

A home always begets its Diaspora. To account for certain pathologies and behavioural traits; to understand why a given Diaspora ticks in a certain way, you must dig and trace their routes all the way back to their roots. More than three hundred years after separation, after the middle passage, after Massa, after the plantations of the Deep South, after the Civil Rights movement, after this and after that, there are still African American ticks you encounter and you say: hello Africa, na your face be dis? Long time! No matter the encrustations of time and new acquisitions of culture and experience, a Diaspora is always a mirror of the home which begat it. The source-culture always survives.

APC Lawmakers Oppose Obanikoro’s Ministerial Screening Due To His Involvement In Election Rigging In Ekiti

Eighteen senators of the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Thursday opposed the nomination of Musiliu Obanikoro by President Goodluck Jonathan for a ministerial position.

Jonathan Gave Us Money—Lagos Igbo Leader

President Goodluck Jonathan Leaders of Ndigbo resident in Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, have confirmed that they were given money by President Goodluck Jonathan during his recent visit to the state to solicit for their support and votes.

78 per cent of voters given PVCs – INEC

The Independent of National Electoral Commission has given at least 54,377,747 persons registered for the 2015 general elections their permanent voter cards.

Losing To Tottenham Is Not An Option – Mourinho

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has warned his team that losing to Tottenham in Sunday’s League Cup final is not an option. The Portuguese is seeking his first trophy in his second spell as Blues boss, having not visited Wembley for a major cup final since winning both the FA Cup and League Cup in 2006-07.

Nigeria's Messiah is Coming! - Prophet

An Ibadan-based popular prophet, Apostle Perez Iyiola Oluyemi has affirmed that President Goodluck Jonathan is not the Messiah Nigeria needs.

The cleric, who doubles as founder of Achievers Rock Commission International and President, Africa Evangelical Council, said Nigerians should expect another “messiah” who will lead them out of their social and economic woes and not the current leader.

Between electoral loss and self-exile

President Goodluck Jonathan

Against the backdrop of insinuations that some members of the political class are planning to flee the country after the general elections, a cross-section of politicians insist they will remain in the country, write PUNCH correspondents

As a result of the rising wave of violence ahead of the February 28 and April 11 general elections, politicians across the country have resorted to the use of non-conventional security organs such as ex-militants and vigilante groups.

A number of the politicians interviewed by PUNCH correspondents vowed not to flee the country if their parties lost the general elections.

Jonathan’s visit to Lagos a waste – Fashola, Ambode

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, and the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in the state, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Thursday, took a swipe at President Goodluck Jonathan for his repeated visits to Lagos ahead of the March 28 presidential election.

They said the President was only being deceived by the state leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party as Lagosians would not vote for him.

Nigerian military rescues two more towns

The Defence Headquarters says it has reclaimed two more towns previously being occupied by the Boko Haram sect. They are Bara in Gulani local government area of Yobe state and Gulag in Madagali local government area of Adamawa state.

To reverse the backward march

By Eric Teniola

Historic continuity with the past is not a duty, it is only a necessity – Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes (1841-1935). 

During the tenure of General Yakubu Gowon from 1966 to 1975, the two best friends of Nigeria were Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia (1892-1975) “power of the trinity” and Alhaji Hamani Diori (1916-1989) the first President of the Republic of Niger. Their frequent visits to Nigeria during that time made them to be regarded as Nigeria’s best friends. In short, their frequent visits to Lagos kept the agile Ikeja airport correspondents on their toes. Those correspondents included Dapo Aderinola now in America, Pastor Jimi Aderinokun, Rabiu Bako, Godwin Esiri, Tayo Falade, Banji Ojewale, Late Sesan Ogunro, Emeli Fonwo, Chief Oloyede, Kunle Egbeyemi, James Bello, Godfrey Odu, Late Kola Adeshina, Kunle Adekoya, Seinde Dagunduro, Toye Akiode, Demola Osinubi and the present Kabiyesi of Akinale in Ogun State, Oba Femi Ogunleye among others.

THE WORD FOR TODAY - 27/02/2015

27 Feb 2015 GOD IS AT WORK WITHIN YOU (2) '...God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.' Philippians 2:13 The Bible says: '...It is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energising and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure...satisfaction and delight' (AMP). We have a tendency to allow a hundred-and-one different things to crowd God out of our lives, so He creates within us the desire to do His will. When you desire to read your Bible, it's God urging you to do it. When you desire to pray, it's God moving you to do it. When you desire to give, it's God motivating you to do it. Jesus said: '...I am the Vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing...If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!' (John 15:5,7 NLT). Note the word 'dwell'; it means to live in and take up residence. So as you live in close relationship with Christ, the desires conceived within you are desires He can fulfil. When you sense that God has put certain desires in your heart, it's important to pray and ask for those things. If you're not sure whether or not they're from Him, pray: 'Lord, I believe You've put this desire in my heart so I am asking You to fulfil it. But I can be happy without it, because I am happy with You. Now it's up to You to do whatever You want.' Have you reached that place in your relationship with God yet?

Bible in a Year: Leviticus 25;  Mark 1:23-45;

The Word For Today is written by Bob and Debby Gass.

THE WORD FOR TODAY - 26/02/2015

26 Feb 2015 GOD IS AT WORK WITHIN YOU (1) '...God, who began the good work within you, will continue...until it is finally finished...' Philippians 1:6 When Paul wrote to the Philippian believers, he told them God was at work in each of them. What an awesome truth! He wrote: 'I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ's return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation-the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ-for this will bring much glory and praise to God' (vv. 9-11 NLT). You say, 'That's a tall order!' Yes, and you'll never accomplish it through willpower, good intentions or self-effort. You must seek God for direction, submit to Him in all things, and draw strength from Him. Trying to do for yourself what only God can do is like trying to pick yourself up by your own bootstraps; it doesn't work. You must entrust to God the job of equipping you for the work He's called you to do. Yes, you need to do your part, but don't try to do God's part! '...We all...beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory [degree by degree]...by the Spirit of the Lord' (2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV). What is it that changes us? 'The Spirit of the Lord.' He takes the pressure off, and relieves us of the stress and anxiety we so often feel when we try to 'change' ourselves.

Bible in a Year: Leviticus 23-24;  Mark 1:1-22;

© 2015: This devotional is produced by UCB, free of charge through the generosity of our supporters. As a gift to the body of Christ, permission is given to Churches and Christian organisations to copy up to a maximum of 52 daily excerpts per year. Excerpts must acknowledge The Word For Today as the source, give the UCB address and inform that free issues of the daily devotional are available for the UK and Republic of Ireland. The Word For Today is written by Bob and Debby Gass.

Jega To Receive Notice Of Terminal Leave Next week

 TheAll Progressives Congress (APC) senators caucus in the national assembly, says it has received information that Attahiru Jega, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),will be directed to proceed on terminal leave next week.

Still a developing story. More details here: thecableng 

Full text of Buhari’s speech at Chatham House

Despite controversy over his health, the All Progressives Congress flag bearer, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari was at Chatham House on Thursday morning where he met with the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. General Buhari was accompanied to the event by APC stalwarts, including Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, and other party leaders.

GEJ's Campaign Earmarked 20, 000 US Dollars To Hire Anti-Buhari protesters in London

President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign has earmarked $20,000 to hire protesters in London Thursday as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu Buhari, speaks at Chatham House.

According to an internal memo seen by PREMIUM TIMES, the money would be spent on mobilising the crowd, refreshing them and defraying other logistics.

Neither Jonathan nor Buhari is fit to govern the country - Borno Cleric

 

Borno State-based pastor, Kallamu Musa-Dikwa, who accused the Christians Association of Nigeria of collecting N7bn bribe from President Goodluck Jonathan to campaign against the All Progressives Congress Presidential candidate in the March 28 election, has insisted that the CAN collected the said amount.

Musa-Dikwa on Monday in Kaduna insisted that the Jonathan government gave CAN N7bn to campaign against the APC candidate, Maj. Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

He however said that neither Jonathan nor Buhari was fit to govern the country.

Fayose Suffering From Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, needs medical help – BSO

The Buhari Support Organisation has said the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, needs medical help to cure him of his negative obsession with the All Progressives Congress Presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

10 Year Old Nigerian Child Dusts University Maths Test

Esther Okade just scored 100% on a university maths test - at the age of 10.

Britain's Daily Telegraph reported on its website that Okade enrolled in the Open University three weeks ago for a maths degree and is already at the top of her class.

THE WORD FOR TODAY - 25/02/2105

25 Feb 2015 ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES! '...I am ready for anything...' Philippians 4:13 There's a spiritual disease you need to be inoculated against--hardening of the attitudes. It's a disease that makes you think your opinion is the only right one. And as long as life cooperates with you, you're fine, but when it doesn't, you charge ahead from one brick wall into another, bruised and bloodied, until you quit in frustration. Then you start blaming others, life, the devil, or God. Your faith may be well-intentioned, but faith without flexibility is just failure looming! Experienced kayakers know how to perform the 'Eskimo roll'. It's a technique that enables you to roll 360 degrees under the water and up again without drowning. It's the strategy Paul used to overcome the challenges he faced in life. '...I have learned the secret of living in every situation...' (v. 12 NLT). He didn't acquire it naturally, or learn it at a 'flexibility seminar' or get it from a guru. He learned it in the rough-and-tumble school of patience, persistence, humility, self-denial, dedication and confidence in God. As a result he rolled with the punches of persecution, hunger, poverty, prison, and execution, never abdicating, while demonstrating how to 'rejoice in the Lord always...' (Philippians 4:4 NIV). When faith collides with reality, it flexes and holds on until victory emerges. It's like a tree that bends in the storm, then bounces back. 'I have learned...I am ready for anything through...the One who lives within me!' (Philippians 4:12-14 PHPS). So learn to roll with the punches!

Bible in a Year: Leviticus 21-22;  Matthew 28;

The Word For Today is written by Bob and Debby Gass.

Ekiti: Annals of political debauchery

• By Olatunji Dare

  Ekiti’s stomach-infrastructure governor Ayo Fayose long ago joined the ranks of our compatriots in public life — you know them — who never touch anything without defiling it. He has no shame. He is a compulsive liar.  He holds nothing sacred.

The silver lining in the cloud of postponement

By Wole Soyinka

The “Advertorial” – full front page of a newspaper “ Feb 23, 2015 – sponsored by Mr. Ayo Fayose (aka “No Apology”) deserves to succeed in its aim of putting an end to all dispute surrounding the Ekiti elections of June 21, 2014. After all, its entire page is dedicated to a Press Statement from the US Department of State, which purportedly endorses the results of that election, congratulates the electoral organization, the winner/loser duo, not forgetting the security forces – all for their laudable contributions.

The release could not be timelier, what with the governor’s own exhortations on the virtues of credibility, avoidance of violence, and its special appeal to “ALL THOSE WHO HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE”.

President Jonathan Missed The Point On The Missing N30 Trillion – Chukwuma Charles Soludo

My attention has been drawn this morning to an article entitled: “Jonathan Replies Soludo over “missing N30 trillion” claim”— extracting from Mr. President’s interview as published by Thisday newspaper. ThisDay quoted Mr. President as saying that “Soludo said that under Ngozi’s watch they stole N30 trillion” but that since the sum of the federal budget over the last four years was less than N30 trillion, such an amount could not have been “stolen”.

INEC, security chiefs fine-tune plan for elections

Prof. Attahiru Jega

Representatives of the nation’s security agencies on Monday met with the Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Attahiru Jega, over preparations for the rescheduled general elections.

The PUNCH gathered that the meeting specifically assessed the security situations in the North-East in view of recent successes recorded by the military against the insurgents.

Nigeria’s Elections: Why Ghanaians Worry

In a BBC series of columns from African journalists, Ghanaian Elizabeth Ohene, a member of the main opposition NPP, raises concerns about Nigeria’s future as it battles an Islamist-led insurgency in the north and prepares for tightly contested elections.

How They Mismanaged The Nigerian Economy

By Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai

This year, every Nigerian – all 162 million of us – man, woman and child will “pay” the sum of N27,685 each to help run the Federal Government.

What we cannot afford, government will borrow on our behalf to pay for its activities. That is why the Federal Government, on behalf of you and I will spend the sum of N4.485 trillion (over N4,000 billion) in 2011.

Jonathan Deliberately Allowed Boko Haram to Fester- APC

The APC has said President Goodluck Jonathan bears a huge moral responsibility that will hunt him for a long time to come for deliberately allowing the Boko Haram insurgency to fester, leading to the deaths of over 15,000 Nigerians and the displacement of over 3 million others in the past six years.

The Many Ramblings of Gov Ayo Fayose

By Lanre Shadiya

I schooled in Ekiti for five years and I had, and still have, very close relatives and friends in virtually every town of the State and in diverse sectors of the State’s economy. All of these people I still communicate with almost on a daily basis.

Virtually every one who follows Nigeria’s politics would have known Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose by now. He is the governor of Ekiti State in Southwest Nigeria. Fayose was elected, again in 2014 having been impeached by the Ekiti State House of Assembly in his first tenure as Ekiti State governor.

Champions League history must be made - Samir Nasri

Manchester City need to create their own Champions League history to help the club's fans fall in love with the competition, says Samir Nasri.

City entertain Barcelona in the last-16 first leg on Tuesday bidding to make the quarter-finals for the first time.

Neither side are favourites - Luis Enrique

Man City v Barcelona

Barcelona are not clear favourites to beat Manchester City and reach the Champions League quarter-finals, says coach Luis Enrique. The Catalan club are aiming to reach the last eight for a ninth straight season, while City have never gone beyond the last 16.

THE WORD FOR TODAY - 24/02/2015

24 Feb 2015 TAKING YOUR PLACE IN GOD'S FAMILY 'God places the lonely in families...' Psalms 68:6 Life in God's family can be challenging. To enjoy and fulfil your role as a family member you must understand three things: 1) Your rights. When you trusted Christ as your Saviour you became a member of God's redeemed family (John 3:3-6). That means you have the right to be accepted, loved, protected, respected, provided for, trained, equipped, and rewarded. Regardless of your past mistakes, God guarantees you these rights, so embrace and enjoy them. 2) The rules of the house. Without the rule of law, you end up with anarchy. And it's the same in a family. Can you imagine what would happen if the kids ran the house? Well, God's family isn't a democracy. You don't get to vote on the rules. God has established unchanging principles in His Word that guarantee His blessing. 'If you are...obedient, you shall eat the good of the land' (Isaiah 1:19 NKJV). 3) Our responsibilities to one another. You're called to accept, love and help your brothers and sisters even when they're selfish, immature, critical and irresponsible. Remember that God's family is still 'under construction', but it's much better than any other alternative! You need to participate in regular family life and activities. Early church believers met together 'daily' (Acts 2:46); as a result they survived all satan's attempts to destroy them. So support the life and mission of your church family with your tithes, talent and time. Don't just be a taker; '...God loves a cheerful giver' (2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV).

Bible in a Year: Leviticus 19-20;  Matthew 17:51-66;

The Word For Today is written by Bob and Debby Gass.

Open Letter To Coca-Cola By An Angry Consumer

 The ongoing Coca-Cola “Share A Coke” campaign has really gotten loads of consumers worked up as they are yet to find their names on a Coca-Cola bottle. A Consumer @dj_staffy wrote an open letter to them on their Instagram page. It’s hilarious! The dude is really pained. LOL

Okonjo-Iweala’s homily on public corruption

Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

THE Finance Minister’s acknowledgement of the need by the Federal Government to expedite action on the war on corruption in order to stop leakages and maximise the dwindling oil revenues is imperative to Nigeria’s future. But it is also certain to fail unless senior cabinet ministers like her climb down from their high horse and admit the lack of political will by the Jonathan government to clean up the Augean stables.

The Road to May 29

By Tolu Ogunlesi

Few things are more emblematic of the exasperating complexity of Nigeria’s politics than the recent postponement of the elections. This is my attempt at a summary of the situation: the Peoples Democratic Party, alarmed by the unprecedented momentum of the All Progressives Congress, wanted the elections postponed, to give it time to perhaps do some catching-up. The APC, clearly owning the momentum – as seen from the turnout at its rallies -was dead set against a postponement, and was willing to overlook all imperfections within the electoral process. The Independent National Electoral Commission, on its part, insisted that it was ready for the elections. We have now come to realise that it was not being truthful. There were about four million Nigerians for whom it had not made PVCs available. It hadn’t tested the card readers, hadn’t adequately trained its staff and observers.

The political armed robbery in Ekiti

By Sonala Olumhense

You know, if the Ekiti gubernatorial rigging conference of June 20, 2014 were a television or stage story from one of Nigeria’s great dramatists, it would have been a rib-cracking success.

The trouble is that both the event—as audiotaped by the courageous Captain Sagir Koli of the 32nd Artillery Brigade—and the frightful aftermath, are real.

It is time for Nigeria to downgrade its diplomatic relationship with USA

By Akhigbe Samson

The dynamic nature of diplomatic relations in the international system is an established fact, Nigeria however continues to tilt towards a static methodology in the practice of its foreign relations. The behaviour of nations in the 21st century is being determined by many factors; ironically, very few of these factors are a spill-over from the 20th century. While the 20th century international system was largely determined by rigid political structures like the Alliance System, the World Wars, the Cold War, rise of new nations (especially in Africa) among others, the 21st century is being defined by socio-economic factors rather than political factors.