Kogi Guber: Court dismissed suit challenging Faleke's nomination

The Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed a suit by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its member Mutiu Okunola challenging James Faleke’s nomination as the All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy Governorship candidate in Kogi State.

The suit complained that Faleke’s nomination constitutes double nomination as he retains his seat as a member of the House of Representatives, representing Ikeja Federal Constituency in Lagos.

The plaintiffs asked the court to compel Faleke to vacate his seat as a member of the House.

Okunola and PDP sought a declaration that the transfer of Faleke’s membership from Lagos to Kogi by INEC automatically terminated Faleke’s membership of the Ikeja Federal Constituency and consequently extinguishes his continued representation of the Constituency in the House.

But, the defendants said the subject matter of the action was academic as it was already decided at the election tribunal and the Court of Appeal where the plaintiffs lost.

In his judgment, Justice Abdulazeez Anka held that the intention of the draftsmen as it relates to Section 37 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) is to the effect that double nomination is as regards one candidate being nominated to contest an election under two different political parties.

The judge said where a candidate is nominated for an election while still holding an elective position under the same political party does not amount to double nomination.

According to the judge, only a member of the same political party that made the nomination can challenge the nomination of a candidate.

Justice Anka held that the issue of whether the transfer of data by INEC of a registered voter from one constituency to another can constitute a ground to disbar a person from holding an office was academic as no law was provided by the plaintiffs’ counsel to show that a candidate or a voter whose data has been transferred by INEC would be disbarred from continuing to hold the office.

BOKO HARAM: CSOs CALL FOR A NEW POST-INSURGENCY NARRATIVE

Members of the African CSOs Coalition.

The African Civil Society Organizations Coalition has called on Nigerians to own the rest of the war as the military has won the Boko Haram insurgency battle, this is according to the statement of participants at the just concluded One Day Civil Society Organizations roundtable/colloquium in Abuja. The summit that has in attendance various civil society organizations in Africa was called for in order to conduct  critical appraisals of the military operations across the country, particularly in the northeast.

While declaring the occasion open, the Honorable Minister of Defence, Muhammad Mansul Dan-Ali commended the patriotism, commitment and efforts of the civil society organizations towards owning the rest of the insurgency war through various public opinion control mechanism and ideological re-orientation of the people of the zone. The Hon Minister promised the support of his ministry to the CSOs.

Earlier in his welcome address, the convener of the occasion, Omoluabi Olabode Adeyemi described the success of the military as a victory for Nigeria, Omoluabi therefore enjoined Nigerians to see the rest of the war as that of the people and all other stakeholders across the country.

Convener Omoluabi Olabode Adeyemi

He however charged the participants at the summit to join hands with the government, religious and traditional leaders in order to permanently win the war and forestall any future occurrence through public opinion control, policy formulation advocacy and civil society engagements in the northeast, Omoluabi Olabode Adeyemi who paid glowing tribute to the officers that lost their lives to the war requested a minute silence in honor of Lt. Col Abu Ali and other gallant officers who paid the supreme price in the interest of our national territorial integrity.                           

Speakers at the event took out time to commend the efforts of the gallant soldiers to bring the insurgency war to an end and  also paying the supreme price for the defense of the territorial integrity of Nigeria. While delivering his speech, the Hon Minister of Information and Culture Alh Lai Mohammed, represented by Mrs Etche, a Deputy Director in the ministry urged Nigerians to join hands with government to ensure peace and security across every part the country.   

At the end of the roundtable, the group came up with a 10 point communique. Among the resolution is a motion to honor the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Genn Tukur Buratai as millennium Hero in view of his administrative leadership that led to the victory of his men at the war front. The summit observed that similar roundtable must take place in each of the geopolitical zone of the country in order to be able to conduct critical appraisals of the security situation and military operations in each zone of the country.

The group also encourage the armed forces to re-appraise the de-radicalization program currently ongoing to meet the realities of recent time and also involve the civil society group. The participants took time out to consider the challenges and plight of the Internally displaced persons who were described as psychologically disoriented and disorganized. The summit requested a very quick reconstruction and rebuilding of their villages and towns in zone order for the displaced people to return home. The event was attended by seventy-two civil rights groups across the country and Africa

Jonathan, wife want Fulani herdsmen out of Niger Delta – Group

A pro-Jonathan group, GoodluckNigeria on Monday expressed a purported resolve by former President, Goodluck Jonathan, and his wife, Patience, to rid the Niger Delta region of Fulani herdsmen, stating that the former first couple’s move is a commendable one.
The group, in a statement by its President, Mr. Joseph Spiff Wilcox, which was made available to journalists in Port Harcourt declared that the resolve of the former Nigerian leader and his wife must be executed to the letter.
They called on all Ijaw sons and daughters to join in chasing all Fulani herdsmen out of the Niger Delta, noting that it was in the best interest of the Ijaw people.
According to the group, “Very soon, we will lead a massive protest across Niger Delta to sensitise our people on the need to resist the movement of all herdsmen in Ijaw land.
“What happened in Agatu must not be allowed to happen in any Niger Delta community. The senseless killing of 75 people in Delta State by Fulani herdsmen must not go unpunished. That’s why we support the move by the former President and his wife to protect our land.
“We align with the thinking of our leader, former President Jonathan and the former first lady to ensure that every part of our region is ridden of all traces of these archaic people whose stock in trade is the killing of our people from the south.
“We also call on all our people to key into this new movement of making sure that Fulani people and their cows do not continue to plunder our land, while we fold our hands and watch helplessly.”
The group, which campaigned for Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election in 2015, vowed to use anything within its power to actualize its aim, adding that Jonathan and his wife deserve the praise of all well-meaning Niger Deltans, serious about the growth and security of the region.

Okun People, Who We Are- Ajagun Samuel Opeyemi

Okun is a sub-ethnic Yoruba in real terms and our genealogy is of Yoruba as a nation one of the best ethnic group in Nigeria, I say that with all confidence! OkunLand is one of the greatest not only in Kogi but in Nigeria.
My Reasons!
Reason 1.
We have the most intellectually Professors in Nigeria. Brilliant Academia breaking major records in academy (Prof. Pius Adesanmi) (Prof Olu Obafemi) (Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan) (Prof. C. K. Ayo) (Prof. Prince Micheal Ikupolati) (Prof Ajibero) among others and even politically I boldly conclude on this!
Reason 2.
We are the happiest In Nigeria. We are loving and caring people, our men are strong and our women so beautiful, we respect, we are honest, original, energetic and brilliant, our men in army are brave, we are very talented and innovative, most peaceful, successful and spontaneous in all our ways, most of it we are so grateful and blessed.
Despite the injustice and rubbery that was done to us, somehow we manage to thrive and move on irrespective of the stones thrown at us by the government (APC) with undeserved hardship, especially the non-payments of salaries.
I must also commend some person of Okun who have been making impact and improvements for development; likes of Ambassador Paul Fadunmiyo (ODA President) Mr. Olusuyi Otitoju just to mention few, royal highness with some elders, youth organizations and students body preaching peace and love for our people most especially on last year OKUN SUMMIT that was organized making sure that even in bad situations, hunger and unemployment we are still laughing, happy, peaceful and we are still together. Kudos!
I can go on to list why Okun People is the most Blessed but that is not the angle I am talking from today.
I will talk to the Youth, for allowing politicians to use us, as a thug or to protest just for their own interests,
I have watched and listened to several Okun youth agitating not for the interest of the people but for political purposes and this cannot move us forward as a youth.
My believe is that Okun has all it takes to fix her problems of development, empowerment, roads, employment, healthcare, agriculture as well revitalised industries to create jobs for the teaming young Okun. This can be done not for us but by us. Yes.
The YOUTH!
As far as to blame our politicians, I also think the youth have to change their mindset, and defied the popular my turn to chop money. Our minds have been corrupted by the politician... I think the youth too are part of the problem we are facing. We have been used by the politician at their myopia policies. We need to change our pilitical will and issue a challenge without fear!
CONCLUDING....
Youth of Okun I know you all are happy, but I want you to get angry, don't get angry to fight with guns or being violent, but get ready to fight with your Strong Decisions and Resolve to STAND FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE and DEVELOPMENT OF OKUNLAND.
As for me I have wise up, if you give me cutlass, or any arm to perpetrate evil in OkunLand or Kogi State. Be rest assure that your immediate family is my first target. Its a promise and I will surely fulfill it. So help me God.
It's time for Unity
It's time for Development.
I'm an OKUN Man
I'm a YORUBA Man
God bless the Youth who believe in the Struggle.
God bless Kogi State
God bless Nigeria.

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Paris Club refund: EFCC uncovers N19bn bank account linked to govs

Seven governors have questions to answer in the alleged diversion of part of the N388.304billion London-Paris Club refunds into two accounts opened by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), according to report.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered N19billion in one of the accounts. The other is a domiciliary account, which contains a yet unspecified amount of money.
One of those invited for interrogation has admitted handing over a huge sum of money to a principal officer of the National Assembly after changing it into dollars, according to the preliminary report on the management of the refunds.
According to a source, who pleaded not to be named because he is not permitted to talk to the media, EFCC detectives discovered that while about 2% of the funds was paid to consultants who allegedly assisted in computing what was due to each state, 3% was shared by some governors under “curious circumstances”.
The source said: “The detectives have uncovered the two accounts opened in the name of the NGF and the signatories to same.
“We are looking into circumstances behind such huge deposits from London-Paris Club refunds into these accounts.
“The payment of 2% of the refunds to consultants and 3% to some governors which was rated as “curious” by investigators have been confirmed. We also discovered that some of the governors nominated these consultants.”
The source declined to name the seven governors, stressing that the details will be released as soon as the investigation is concluded.
Responding to a question, the source said one of those questioned actually admitted that he changed some of the funds into dollars and handed it over to a principal officer of the National Assembly.
Besides, he insisted that the EFCC had no any agenda against the governors, adding: “It has no basis to run the NGF down at all, but you should know that the Presidency is interested in how these London-Paris Club refunds were spent.
“We know the governors have immunity, but certainly NGF does not enjoy such constitutional protection. We are looking at what informed the transfer of such funds into the accounts of the NGF and for what purposes.
“Once the purposes are in line with statutory financial regulations and the EFCC is satisfied, the case is closed. But where there are cases of diversion and stealing of public funds, the law will take its course.”
The Federal Government released N388.304billion of the N522.74 billion funds to 35 states as refunds of overdeductions on London-Paris Club loans.
States on top of the list with huge reimbursements are those controlled by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) contrary to their claims of being oppressed by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The big earners are Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Katsina, Kaduna, Lagos, Imo, Jigawa, Borno, Niger, Bauchi, and Benue.
Only Kano State and the FCT did not benefit from the reimbursement.
Ondo was only paid 50 per cent of its refunds (N6,513,392,932.28) because of leadership change in the state which will soon lead to the inauguration of the Governor-elect, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu.
A breakdown of the list of top beneficiaries of the refunds is as follows: Akwa Ibom – N14,500,000,000.00; Bayelsa – N14,500,000,000.00; Delta — N14,500,000,000.00; Katsina – N14,500,000,000.00; Lagos – N14,500,000,000.00; Rivers – N14,500,000,000.00; Kaduna – N14,362,416,363.24; Borno – N13,654,138,849.49; Bauchi – N12,792,664,403.93; Benue – N12,749,689,453.61; Sokoto — N11,980,499,096.97; Osun – N11,744,237,793.56; Anambra – N11,386,281,466.35; Edo – N11,329,495,462.04; Cross River – N11,300,139,741.28; Kogi – N11,211,573,328.19; and Kebbi – N11,118,149,054.10.
The Federal Government reached a conditional agreement to pay 25% of the amounts claimed, subject to a cap of N14.5 billion to any given state.
Balances due thereafter will be revisited when fiscal conditions improve.
“Mr. President’s overriding concern is for the welfare of the Nigerian people. considering the fact that many States are owing salaries and pension, causing considerable hardship,” the government said.
It was reported that the presidency was uncomfortable with the funds management by governors.
A source in the Presidency, who spoke in confidence, said: “President Muhammadu Buhari has lived up to his pledge to ease salary crises in all the states by releasing N388.304billion to 35 states.
“The agreement between the Federal Government and the governors was very clear. While 50 per cent of the amount released shall be used to offset outstanding salary and pension arrears, the remaining 50 per cent would be used for the payment of other obligations.
“Some governors have however reneged on this agreement. Security reports available to the Presidency showed that Governor Ayodele Fayose paid only one month out of eight-month salary arrears.
“The governor went ahead to pay a curious 13-month salary to Ekiti workers. Yet, he got N8.877billion refund.
“Instead of accounting for what he used the loan refund for, he attacked the Federal Government on hardship in the country. The relevant agencies are monitoring development in Ekiti and some states.”
Responding to a question, another source in government said: “It is however unfortunate that some governors underdeclared the refunds made to them. Some of them were also discovered to be giving spurious analysis to cover up the actual figures.
“In fact, some states changed the agreement overnight. A state said the President asked states to use at least 25 per cent of their London and Paris Club refuns to offset salary arrears.”

am not part of Aso Rock cabals – El-Rufai

Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has stated that he is not part of those who decide the affairs of the nation in Nigeria’s power house – Aso Rock.
El-Rufai said despite his closeness to President Muhammamdu Buhari, he was not part of the cabals, who influenced things in the Villa.
Addressing some editors in Kaduna recently, the governor said he had so many things doing and did not have time to join the cabals.
He said, “It is not correct to say I am part of those that influence things in the Villa. Am I very close to Buhari? Yes. I worked very closely with him in the CPC (Congress for Progressive Change) when everyone had given up on him. I know him, I know how he thinks and he trusts me. He knows that I am driven by public interest. Do I participate in federal decision making? I don’t.
“I am too busy addressing Kaduna problems to be part of it. When I am called for an opinion or when I happen to be around, and I have an input or if I see something going seriously wrong; I drive and go and see Mr. President I have heard A, B, C, D.
“I don’t think it is not right, you should consider doing C, D, E. I do that and I drive back to Kaduna. My primary assignment is Kaduna. I am not involved in the Federal Government. People like to say and attribute so much to me, and sometimes it is good for me, it gives me a larger than life image. Is there a cabal?
“There is always a cabal. Even in your own newspaper houses, there is a cabal. Nobody can run an institution without a coterie of two, three, four trusted people. There is always a cabal; the issue is whether it is a positive or a disruptive cabal. Am I a member of the cabal? No, I am governor of Kaduna state; I work for Kaduna state 24/7.”

Scores killed in fresh attacks in southern Kaduna

Scores of people have been killed and many others injured following an attack in Dakin-Kogi community of Kaninkon Chiefdom in Jemaa Local Government Area of Kaduna state by gunmen.
The attack is coming barely two weeks after some Fulanis and indigenes of the communities in southern Kaduna signed a peace accord .
The state police command spokesman, Aliyu Usman, said that the gunmen stormed the village in large numbers on Sunday night, shooting sporadically and destroying houses.
He however said that only two people lost their lives as the armed men were successfully repelled by mobile policemen of “Operation Harmony” and soldiers who were quickly drafted to the area and engaged the bandits in a gun battle.
Furthermore, he added that more security operatives have been deployed to the affected areas in order to forestall further attacks

Buhari’s health sparks fresh debate on leadership in Nigeria

The protracted absence on medical grounds of Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has stoked fears of a full-blown political crisis at the heart of Africa’s most populous nation.
The 74-year-old former army general left Abuja for London on January 19, leaving Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo in charge while he took time off.
But on the eve of his return earlier this month, it was announced that he was prolonging his stay to enable him to collect the results of unspecified medical tests.
Speculation, inevitably, went into over-drive that he may no longer be fit for the top job, and despite multiple claims he is well, the government has struggled to seize back the initiative.
For many, the situation revives memories of the situation seven years ago, when president Umaru Yar’Adua fell ill and later died while receiving treatment abroad.
It also once again lays bare the fragile divide between the majority Muslim north and the predominantly Christian south that characterises Nigeria and underpins political and daily life.
Succession to power at the federal level is seen as a balancing force between the two regions.
In 2010, it was the southern Christian former university professor Goodluck Jonathan who deputised for the northern Muslim Yar’Adua: now it is Osinbajo for Buhari.
When Yar’Adua died, his supporters prevented Jonathan from taking over. The argument ran that the north would be short-changed if a southerner was allowed to complete Yar’Adua’s term of office.
It took a deft move by parliament to get Jonathan to assume power and prevent a major political melt-down.
– What if? –
Buhari has repeatedly had to deny opposition claims that he is seriously unwell with claims ranging from prostate cancer to kidney disease.
Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) even announced on its official Twitter account last year that he had died. The presidency said he had a persistent inner ear infection.
Conversation in Nigeria has in recent weeks has revolved around “what if?” scenarios: what if Buhari were unable to carry on? What if he were to die in office?
What if the north once again lost out on power to the south? How would it affect the choice of candidates for the next presidential elections in 2019?
Political analysts, however, dismiss the possibility of a re-run of the Yar’Adua/Jonathan scenario.
“There is a whole lot of difference between what happened during Yar’Adua’s time and what is happening now,” said Professor Abubakar Sadiq, from the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria.
“There was a leadership vacuum under Yar’Adua because he did not hand over to his deputy… and a cabal bent on hijacking power prevented Jonathan from taking over,” he told AFP.
Yar’Adua’s illness was hidden from the public until he died and his body was brought back to Nigeria in the middle of the night, the political scientist noted.
“Nobody was allowed to see Umaru. But Buhari in his own case, handed over to his deputy. So, there is no way we will have a repeat of that ugly episode,” he added.
– ‘Zoning’ out –
Rotating power — or “zoning” as it’s called in Nigeria — has long been assumed to be part of the constitution and at the heart of the Yar’Adua crisis.
But experts said it never has been and was only PDP policy.
Now Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC) is in power, there is theoretically no reason why anyone of any ethnicity, religion or political affiliation can’t be president.
Osinbajo, a trained lawyer who has long been in charge of economic policy, has widely been seen to be competent, travelling across the country and abroad, and chairing meetings.
“If the unexpected happens, Osinbajo should assume the full mantle of leadership,” said Sadiq.
Politics lecturer Dapo Thomas, of Lagos state university, agreed there was no cause for concern and said the constitution was “very clear” on the succession, should it come to that.
“If the president cannot continue because of ill health, incapacitation or death, his vice will take over,” he explained.
The slew of photographs in recent days of Buhari meeting delegations of well-wishers in London should go a long way to show he was not as ill as some have suggested, he added.
Buhari’s illness had been politicised, he said, adding: “What is happening is dirty politics by mischief-makers… working to ensure that the government fails.”
Buhari, who headed a military government in the 1980s, has been struggling to rid Nigeria of the endemic corruption that has blighted its development and plunged the country into recession.

No definite time for Buhari’s return to Nigeria – Presidency

Despite increasing agitations over President Muhammadu Buhari’s absence since January 19, 2017, when he left the country on a medical vacation to the United Kingdom (UK), there is no definite answer from the presidency on when he is expected back.
President Buhari was expected back on the February 6, 2017 after an initial 10-day medical vacation, but that was not to be.
His Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, had in a statement at the expiration of the 10 days confirmed ‎that the President would be extending his stay in the UK to “complete the test circle before returning.”
When contacted Mr Adesina yesterday for update, he briefly said “when the President is coming will be made known.”
Recall that President Buhari was expected to resume from his vacation on Monday, February 6, 2017.
However, he wrote to the National Assembly informing the parliament of his desire to extend his leave in order to complete and receive the results of a series of tests recommended by his doctors.
With the Presidency failing to come up with a categorical statement on when President Buhari would return to the country, the development has continued to fuel agitations, with many Nigerians demanding hourly bulletin on President Buhari’s status, as was the case when former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was indisposed.

Is fake news the new normal?

Heard the latest? The Central Bank of Nigeria has been selling the elusive dollar to some end users at 61 kobo/US$1, while the rest of us are busy buying the stuff at over N500/$1 in the parallel market. Goodness Gracious! It is time to fire Mr. Godwin Emefiele as the CBN governor. He should not only be sacked, he should be jailed. This is simply getting too much. Since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office, Emefiele has not only conspired with himself to destroy the naira — singlehanded and cold-hearted — he has even gone to the extent of selling the almighty dollar to his cronies at 61 kobo! The information is right there on the CBN website! Emefiele must go!
Now, I don’t need to do any research to know that what you just read is an excellent piece of fake news. Terrific fake news. I will give just three reasons on the spot. One, the CBN does not sell forex directly to bank customers. Anyone with the faintest idea of how the financial system works knows this for a fact. When you request for forex from your bank, the bank bids at the central bank. If it sails through, your bank debits the naira equivalent from your account and transfers the forex to your designated beneficiary. These transactions, as recorded by the bank and approved by the CBN, are then published in the newspapers and on central bank’s website.
Two, since the CBN does not deal directly with bank customers, will a bank buy $1 at N305 from the CBN and then sell to customers at 61 kobo, thereby making a loss of N304.39 on every dollar? Is that the new attribute of Father Christmas? Even Father Christmas charges a gate fee! Let’s even say the CBN sells directly to end users. Why would it sell at 61 kobo to one customer and at N315 to another and have the audacity to publish the information on its website? Are they that dumb at the central bank? Something like: “Dear Nigerians, we sold $1 at 61 kobo to Chief Kudi and another $1 at N497 to Eze Ekeshi. If you doubt us, check our website. Thanks for your understanding.”
Three, when we started using the naira as national currency on January 1, 1973, it exchanged at 65 kobo/$1. From then, the best rate has been 61 kobo. In fact, only in one year did the naira average 61 kobo to the dollar — and that was as far back as 1981. Are we now saying 36 years after, the dollar would still be sold for 61 kobo? Even when our foreign reserves, including excess crude earnings, hit $65 billion, dollar did not exchange for 61 kobo. Even when crude old sold for $147 per barrel, dollar did not exchange for 61 kobo. Even the generous Hajj rate, Jerusalem rate and DSS rate are more than 61 kobo. On what economic or political basis would it now be 61 kobo?
I did not pay attention to the allegation until I read that Mr. Abubakar Malami, the attorney-general of the federation, had couriered a query to Emefiele based on a petition that a dollar was sold for 61 kobo. The CBN issued a statement dismissing the allegation, insisting that the transactions in question were not conducted in dollars but “in a third currency”. Let us say, for instance, that the bank transaction is in South African rand. Since $1 goes for R13, someone will just take a look at the rate and conclude that $1 was sold for N13. It becomes a scandal, goes viral on the social media and produces a query from the attorney-general. And Emefiele must go!
Nevertheless, I would conclude that there is always a basis for fake news, no matter how tenuous. There is a vacuum that fake news seeks to fill — or create. Since Buhari went on “medical leave”, the fake news industry has been very buoyant. He said he was going away for 10 working days. He, curiously, extended it. The wife, Aisha, went to UK, headed for Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj and then returned to Nigeria. This was a very good tonic for fake news: Buhari has been moved to Saudi Arabia for further treatment. After all, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua swapped Germany for Saudi Arabia in 2009 in his last days. In the final analysis, fake news feeds on something.
I did not buy the Saudi Arabia story in Buhari’s case because if indeed he is critically ill (or bedridden), his wife would not leave for Nigeria. To come and do what? Pack some clothing and toiletries? It doesn’t make sense. When Yar’Adua was terminally ill in 2009, his wife, Turai, was there from the beginning to the end, till her husband was flown back to Nigeria, under controversial circumstances, in February 2010. She never left his side. I don’t know how many women would leave the bedside of their dying husbands and return to Nigeria, no matter what. But in the world of make-believe, the deal is to make you believe everything.
There is a sense in which we can say the Yar’Adua experience influenced perception in the ongoing Buhari saga. Yar’Adau was critically ill in Saudi Arabia. It was reported that he was brain dead. He then granted the BBC an interview to prove that he was still awake. He even wished the Super Eagles success in the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea. But many believed his voice was cloned. It was believed that a “cabal” wanted to create the impression that Yar’Adua was healthy enough to be issuing orders from his sick bed. The attorney-general at the time, Mr Mike Aondoakaa, famously said the president could rule from anywhere.
As a result of this experience, Nigerians have become very sceptical of any bit of information from government. This scepticism provides the perfect setting for fake news. When Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande visited Buhari in London and the pictures were released, a fake news manufacturer grabbed his phone and started typing a “denial” by Tinubu, claiming Tinubu said he was in Ibadan and could not have visited the president. It soon went, as they say, viral. Some still insist Buhari did not speak with US President Donald Trump, that Buhari is unconscious and cannot talk to anybody. All pictures taken with Buhari so far have been declared as “photoshopped”.
Fake news — that art of concocting stories from your bedroom because you have a smart phone with cheap data — is becoming the biggest thing in town. No, it is not new. It was not invented in this generation of social media. We have been living with fake news most of our lives. The SAP riots of 1989, for instance, were sparked off by fake news. Some highly talented rumour mongers printed leaflets claiming that the military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, and his wife, Mariam, had the biggest wristwatch company in Switzerland, the best fashion house in Paris, etc. It was spuriously attributed to Ebony magazine. Riots broke out and several people lost their lives.
Can we do anything about fake news? It is a global phenomenon, as we saw in America last year during the presidential electioneering. Last year, an attempt by Nigerian lawmakers to hold fake news purveyors responsible through legislation was soundly rejected. There was an outcry, with some merit, that the law could be used for censorship. Yet we know that mischief makers who propagate fake news need to be held responsible at some point. But as I have argued before: ultimately, consumers of rumours and fake news will have to determine for themselves what is believable, what is speculative, what is fable and what is mischief designed to mislead the gullible.
My conclusion, though, is that fake news will continue to blossom. Information has never been this free in the history of mankind. It is free as a right — social media is a lawless society. It is virtually free in terms of cost — since your data subscription is for all purposes. Anybody who dreams of a world free of fake news needs to quickly wake up. Every mischief maker with a mobile phone and data subscription can set off a fake story anytime. There are thousands of eager sharers waiting to rebroadcast with the obligatory caveat, “shared as received”. Fake news is going to be very normal in the years ahead. Authentic news will become an endangered species. Quote me.
“Nevertheless, I would conclude that there is always a basis for fake news, no matter how tenuous. There is a vacuum that fake news seeks to fill — or create”
GOD BLESS DICKSON
The people I admire the most are not those who say there are problems. Identifying a problem may be a good attribute on its own, but I prefer those who proffer solutions. Even more to be admired are those who take practical steps to solve the problems. Thumbs up for Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa state for creating 1,200 hectares of land at Pame, in Yenagoa, for the Fulani herders. It may solve a political problem, who knows, and contain the farmers/herders conflict. But it is certainly also an economic masterstroke. The livestock will be healthier and yield more beef and milk both in quality and quantity. The herders, after all, produce the beef we eat in Nigeria. Win-win.
HOPE RISING
With oil production returning to 2 million barrels per day, price hovering around $54 per barrel, and an expected inflow of $1 billion from the eurobond issue (plus a rumoured $2.5 billion World Bank facility in the works), the cup is suddenly looking more like half-full than half-empty for Nigeria. But the dollar at $510, in spite of these positive signals, is no good news at all. The naira has lost too much weight in two years. Nevertheless, what we should all crave at this time is stability. If the naira will fall to N550 and stay there for the next four years, I can live with that more than it falling by N5 every day. With stability, we can plan much better. Hope.
IN MEMORY OF WALI
Today, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, Ambassador Isa Wali will be remembered on the 50th anniversary of his death. He was at various times Nigeria’s high commissioner to Ghana and permanent representative to the UN. A progressive politician of the Aminu Kano school, Wali was a known critic of religious and political suppression, and a campaigner for the underprivileged. His family, in collaboration with the Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative, will hold a lecture and fundraiser in his memory today, with the minister of environment, Hajia Amina Mohamed, delivering the keynote. The memory of the upright is always blessed. Remarkable.
CORRINGENDUM
In my article, “The Drama Republic of Nigeria” (February 12, 2017), I wrote that even if President Buhari had not written to the national assembly that he was going away, “Osinbajo would still have legally started acting as president after 21 days”. I attributed this to the amendment of the 1999 constitution to correct the Yar’Adua scenario when Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan could not act because there was no letter to that effect from the president. In fact, the proposed amendment did not sail through. The position of the constitution remains that the president has to write become the VP can be acting president. Apologies.

Jammeh’s missing: Tracing The Gambia’s disappeared

Pensioner Sarjo Manneh celebrated more joyfully than most when former leader Yahya Jammeh agreed to leave The Gambia in January.
After a decade, he believed he might see his son again. But nearly a month later, he is still waiting.
His son Chief Ebrima Manneh, a journalist for a pro-government newspaper, went missing in 2006 during a summit held in the tiny west African country.
Agents of the feared National Intelligence Agency (NIA), which reported directly to Jammeh, appeared at the offices of the Daily Observer and took him away.
His colleagues and family have never seen him again.
In 2009 The Gambia’s then attorney-general Marie Saine-Firdaus told parliament that Manneh was not in state custody, while others including the current chief of police claimed he was living in the United States.
Jammeh’s stunning electoral defeat in December — after 22 years in power — triggered the release of many political prisoners — but not the journalist.
“My hope is shattered,” his father told AFP.
– ‘Criminal action in court’ –
Despite the crushing sorrow he feels, Manneh is shaking off the fear that kept him from fighting a symbiotic system of secret police and trained killers that took an unknown number of lives.
“I want to institute criminal action in court against Yahya Jammeh and those responsible for the disappearance of my son,” Manneh said.
Gambian diaspora media regularly published lists of the unsolved crimes concerning the missing, appealing for details and circulating years’ worth of rumours about the most high-profile cases.
And there are nascent signs the new government of President Adama Barrow is determined to bring closure for families like the Mannehs, even while mired in a financial crisis and faced with reforming a state that Jammeh’s critics say catered to the interests of one man.
Interior Minister Mai Fatty, one of the most vocal Jammeh opponents within the new administration, has said a body will be set up to look into forced disappearances and to investigate “black sites” that may still be holding victims.
“The responsibility lies on us to give an explanation to our people,” he told AFP.
Pro-regime figures may still be holding Gambians incommunicado.
“Some people may still be held and are not known because the previous government has so many detention centres that were not disclosed to the public,” Fatty said.
– Jammeh’s ‘death squad’ –
Barrow has promised to reform the NIA, changing its name, replacing its chief and promising training for staff whose work would be limited to “intelligence gathering, analysis and advice to the relevant arms of government”.
“An appropriate commission will be established to conduct inquiries into disappearances,” he said.
Almost every sector of society was targeted by the NIA and the “Junglers”, a group of around 40 men described as Jammeh’s death squad.
Tumani Jallow, a 24-year-old soldier with the elite State Guards battalion that personally protected Jammeh, had an elevated status in Gambian society, but when the NIA came this suddenly meant nothing.
After he was arrested in September 2016, taken to NIA headquarters in Banjul, and then whisked to an unknown location, Jallow’s family are painfully aware he may never return.
“He and two of his colleagues in the Gambia Armed Forces were arrested by state security agents shortly after the arson attack on the ruling party’s headquarters,” said his brother Buba Sawo.
“We have searched for him everywhere, but the NIA said he is not in their custody,” Sawo told AFP. “We are pleading with the current administration.”
Fredy Peccerelli, a world-renowned forensic anthropologist who has helped nations as varied as Guatemala and Sri Lanka identify scores of victims, told AFP the process would probably take several years.
Work on genealogy, forensics, testimony and any documentation from the prison system would be required, along with the funds — potentially from international donors — to pay for it.
– ‘Large scale torture’ –
The Gambia would have to decide whether to have open hearings, amnesties for those who provided information, or other incentives for whistleblowing like lesser sentences, Peccerelli said, referring to the truth commission Barrow has promised.
Such testimony could also be key in any future prosecutions. Since Jammeh left for exile last month, arrests of high and low profile regime targets have begun.
Suwandi Camara, a former fighter for Liberian warlord Charles Taylor, and accomplice Bubacarr Jarju have been charged with abducting a Gambian lawmaker and a businessman in Senegal with intent to murder them.
General Bora Colley, former head of the country’s notorious prison system, was arrested in Senegal last month, though later released without charge.
The biggest fish so far, former interior minister Ousman Sonko, was arrested in Switzerland in late January.
Under investigation for crimes against humanity, Sonko could face prosecution in Switzerland where authorities are under pressure from rights group TRIAL to prove he authorised what they called “large-scale torture that political opponents, journalists and human rights defenders suffered”.
For Adama Kujabie, a relative of Jammeh’s whose father nonetheless fell into the hands of the NIA in 2006, a day in court cannot come soon enough.
“Those responsible for this heinous crime should face justice,” he told AFP, urging an investigation to answer his single, desperate question: “Is he alive or not?”

How I credited church account for Atewe – Witness tells court

The first persecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Nkem Ahidjo, yesterday told a Federal High Court, Lagos, that Maj-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe paid N35million into the account of the Living Faith Church, popularly known as Winners Chapel, out of the N8.5 billion he allegedly diverted.
Atewe, who served as the Commander of the Military Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, in the Niger Delta before his retirement, is facing 22 counts charge, together with others, before Justice A.O. Faji.
The other defendants in the case are the former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, Kime Engozu and Josephine Otuaga.
The EFCC accused them of conspiring among themselves to divert N8.5billion from Operation Pulo Shield between September 5, 2014 and May 20, 2015, using six companies.
The six companies are Jagan Ltd; Jagan Trading Company Ltd; Jagan Global Services Ltd; Al-Nald Ltd; Paper Warehouse Ltd; Eastpoint Integrated Services Ltd and De-Newlink Integrated Services Ltd.
They have been arraigned on three occasions and had on each occasion pleaded not guilty to the offence.
Led in evidence by the EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, Ahidjo, who introduced himself as a businessman, who deals in stationeries, printing and general contracts, said he carried on his trade under his five companies based in Abuja.
He added he was a registered contractor with the National Assembly, the National Population Commission (NPC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to which he made supplies.
He claimed to have known Atewe from Villa Church in Abuja, where they both worshiped, when the retired general was still a Guards Commander.
Testifying, he said: “Each time I received it (money), I would call a BDC operator, named Jimoh. I knew him before this time. “He would change the money. I would pay him the naira equivalent and take the dollars. Once I changed it, I would wait for instruction either from Atewe or Kime.
“That was what we continued to do until the end of the transaction in 2015.”He said he received a total of N4, 915,163,103 within the period, out of which about N4.1billion were converted to dollars and delivered to Engozu, who in turn issued a receipt for each payment based on Atewe’s instruction.

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Ahidjo said of the remaining amount, he was instructed by Atewe to transfer N35million to Winners’ Chapel; N103million to INP Ltd; N170million to First Investment Ltd; N99million to Lord Fem Ltd; N88million to Ocean Gas; and N297million to Cisco Nobot.
Asked by the prosecutor the purpose of the transfer to Living Faith Church, Ahidjo said: “I don’t know what it was for; it was on the instruction of Atewe.
“All these monies, I don’t question what they were meant for. It is not my money, so I can’t question what it was for. Atewe asked me to act on instruction.”
The witness said he cultivated a good relationship with Atewe to the extent that he attended “midnight church” in Atewe’s house in Abuja three times a week.
Ahidjo narrated to the court how Atewe moved to Bayelsa State between July and September 2014, where he served as JTF Commander.
“He invited me to Bayelsa State and I went. He told me that the Federal Government gave JTF a grant for security and building of barracks and if I had any company into which account money could be paid.
“And being somebody I knew very well from Guards Commander to Major General, I provided the companies that I listed earlier,” Ahidjo said.
He said on a second invitation and visit to Atewe in Bayelsa State, Atewe told him that three payments were about to be made into his accounts and as soon as they were made, he should acknowledge the payments and await further instructions.
He said within two to three days of the meeting, he started receiving the payments and accordingly informed Atewe, who asked him to hold on till he (Atewe) returned to Abuja.
The witness said upon Atewe’s return to Abuja, he invited him to his office at Niger Barracks, where he introduced Engozu, who is the 3rd defendant, as the person that would take delivery of the money from Ahidjo.
Ahidjo said in view of the volume of the monies, Engozu advised him to change the money from naira to dollar before delivery, and he according contacted a Bureau de Change operator, named only as Jimoh.
Justice Faji adjourned till March 21, 2017 for Ahidjo to continue his evidence.

#Opinion: President Buhari and his London visitors- Dele Momodu

Fellow Nigerians, let me warn quickly that a new circus has come to town and there is a theatre of the absurd ongoing in the city of London. The patrons are very important personalities from Nigeria who have turned the supposed illness of our dear President Muhammadu Buhari into a stage play. At the rate these medical tourists are going, Nigeria may be empty of all its fat cats as they jostle to pay obeisance lest anyone accuses them of nonchalance and of plotting against the President or wishing him dead. Yes, we can be that petty in this clime.
When President Buhari suddenly left our shores, several weeks ago, he did what our late President, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua failed to do which was to send a simple letter to the National Assembly about his intention to go on vacation or for medical treatment, or whatever, and hand over authority to his Vice President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. At least, it shows President Buhari had learnt a useful lesson from the experience of his brother and we must praise God for little mercies. What else could he have done? I think he should have improved on this uncommon performance by telling Nigerians he’s been battling with some debilitating ailment for some time which necessitated his having to travel regularly and sometimes suddenly. For God’s sake, it is not a crime to fall sick. We all do, in various degrees, from time to time. At over 70 years on the surface of this earth, no one would expect President Buhari to be in the most perfect state of health. It is a miracle that he survived the harrowing vicissitudes of life after he was thrown into a dungeon in 1985 during the military coup that toppled his dictatorship. He also had to contest some bloody elections a record four times before fortune smiled at him. Naturally, all of these events would have combined to conspire against his health.
So why should he be ashamed of telling the world that his health is failing and that he would have to attend to it as frequently as possible? No one needs to consult a doctor or a prophet to know our President is not very well at this moment and that he deserves our understanding and prayers. Even if we thought otherwise, his London visitors have virtually confirmed our worst fears. Aso Rock media gurus who have been regaling us with tales of how well and fit the President is should have worked harder on their powerful friends to stay in Nigeria and wait to flood the airport whenever it pleases God to bring him back in one piece to Nigeria. Rushing to London to mark register is absolutely unnecessary and a total waste of scarce resources. The London visitors have wittingly or inadvertently attracted more attention to the President’s frailty.
I have taken time to study some of the pictures that have emerged from the President’s shrine in London and most of them did not do justice to whatever it is some people are trying to cover up by fire by force. The pictures have shown clearly why the President cannot just yank himself off from London and return home pronto as his tedious job demands. It is very obvious that the President is no longer in London of his own free volition, even if he ever was at some point. Someone should please beg the Good Samaritans to allow the President receive his medical treatment in peace and hopefully recuperate handsomely and adequately. Only his immediate family should be allowed access to him at this moment. The visitors actually make it look like they are on an espionage mission to ascertain the true state of the President’s health in order to plot, position and manipulate what seems an impending power game, sooner or later. At the very best of intentions, the visits represent a free photo opportunity for the new and sudden emergency friends of Buhari.
Where’s the coterie of acolytes who fell over themselves to display unsolicited affection when the President was sick and flown to Saudi Arabia? If President Buhari is in perfect condition, as his ubiquitous media handlers want us to believe, they should allow him enjoy his vacation and return home when he pleases instead of fighting over the pages of newspapers and the airwaves singing discordant notes on how he may arrive today or tomorrow or claiming that his return is delayed by the uncompleted servicing of the Presidential jet when there is more than one such jet and, in any case, it is not a crime to charter a private jet on this one occasion, or beg one of his wealthy party members or friends to send a comfortable plane to pick him up and return him home in perfect comfort. I’m sure they would be too happy and proud to do him that favour. Also, I know it is easier for the NTA to do a regular live broadcast from London whenever our President misses home to assure us there is no cause for alarm. The President and his team seem to forget the importance and pre-eminence of the ordinary Nigerian citizen in all this debacle. They elected the President. He is answerable to them. It is to them he needs to turn to in order to allay their fears about his health and rumoured death. He can do this by even a one minute video broadcast.
What we are witnessing right now is a negation of what Buhari ever stood for. Our President was known to be a man of very modest means and humble existence. His attraction during the campaigns and what made him readily sellable to majority of Nigerians was the abhorrence of ostentatious living as well as adherence to a disciplined and Spartan life. Many observers are wondering what has gone wrong that our President seems to have become totally oblivious to happenings around him. Nigerians trusted and still trust President Buhari. He should not let his supporters lead him astray and betray that trust. He must continue to show that he knows that he is accountable to the people first and foremost and the only way to do this is to come clean about his state of health and when his doctors say he can return, whether now or later.
This is certainly not the loud change we promised Nigerians two years ago. There is defalcation, decay and decadence everywhere. Budgets are still being padded left right and centre. Atrocious sums are apparently being spent on frivolities while Nigerian workers are gnashing their teeth everywhere. Our airports remain as hopeless as ever, nearly two years into the life of this government. We are still dishing out endless excuses about why provision of adequate electricity supply has remained rocket science in Nigeria. Government officials continue to run abroad for medicals in flagrant disobedience of instructions to stay at home. The voodoo economists have not been able to arrest the freefall of the naira against the American dollar. The list of woes is ad infinitum. This is DEFINITELY not what we assured our people when we went on the blistering attacks against President Goodluck Jonathan and his carpetbaggers.
We knew the journey won’t be easy but didn’t expect it to be this bad. There are some basic things that should have been easily fixed in one year of active governance. We should have put elevators and escalators in our airports. The jetways at Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos should have been modernised and upgraded. The odoriferous washrooms and the stench that oozes and welcomes citizens and visitors to Nigeria should have been permanently sanitised and deodorised. There is no basis for arguing these facts. Some of those saddled with the task of helping Buhari achieve his lofty dreams have failed the man and their country, and even God. I picked on those simple and visible projects in order to show the hopelessness of our situation despite the loquacious change we bandied two years ago. If I were to embark on more important things, I would weep uncontrollably and probably not complete this piece, especially, as I crisscross many poorer and less endowed African countries and marvel at their inspiring productivity. It is that bad! Are we to blame Jonathan again for the miserable states of our airports and the pitiable conditions of our infrastructure?
The solution is not farfetched as I have preached for many years. A nation that sacrifices its best brains on the altar of ethnic balancing, religious sensitivity, greed and avarice, nepotism and jingoism can never prosper. What we need to do urgently is to reverse the dangerous drift towards perdition. We all know the solution to our calamitous problems but are too timid and irrational to take on our challenges. We are surrounded by seat-warmers and unrepentant gamblers who treat our dear beloved country like one big casino.

Man set Abuja hotel ablaze, commits suicide

A man believed to be in his early 60s, has set himself ablaze in a rented hotel apartment in Nyanya, a satellite town of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The incident which occurred early hours of Thursday, also saw the entire hotel burnt, even as the deceased, Dr. Isaac Ojukwu, was equally burnt beyond recognition.
Narrating the ugly incident to newsmen in Abuja on Friday, the owner of the burnt Hotel and Associate Professor at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Sylvanus M. Itodo said it still remained a shock, how an adult would just take his own life, without known cause.
“We were all sitting together that fateful night (Wednesday night) before he left to watch football match and I also left the hotel premises by 11pm, to go and sleep.
“It was around 12am that I received a phone call from one of the boys in the hotel, crying, that my hotel was under fire. Before I could get down here, the flame was everywhere; and it took the efforts of the Federal Fire Service to prevent the inferno from escalating to the surrounding houses”, Itodo lamented.
Our investigation revealed that, the deceased, who hailed from Ohuhu in Umuahia area of Abia State, has been staying in the apartment, Boundary Plaza Hotel, Nyanya, for the past 5 years.
Though it was gathered that he was married to a German woman with kids, it was, however, revealed that, none of his family members, including the wife or children, had paid him a visit all through his stay in the hotel.
An eye witness account by his direct neighbour, Ohize Yakubu, who has been living in the hotel apartment since the day of his wedding in 2013 said, those lodging in the hotel made frantic efforts to pull the deceased out of the building but he struggled and ran back into the burning room.
“We went to watch Arsenal and Bayern match that night, I came back to the hotel and Dr. Isaac came in 5 minutes later. After some minutes, I started hearing strange sound from his room, which is directly opposite my room. He was not shouting loud enough, all I could hear was ‘yeh’, ‘yeh’.
“At first, I was scared to open door, because I didn’t know if it was a robbery attack, until I heard and recognised the voice of one of our neighbours, beckoning on Dr. Isaac to open door and come out, shouting fire, fire.
“Then I asked my wife to take my son and rush out of the building while I joined other neighbours and we forced his door open, we met him standing in the sitting room while fire was burning in the bedroom. He was unhurt, we then held his hands and asked him to follow us, all of a sudden, he struggled his way from our hands and ran into the burning room.
“At this point, everyone ran back as the inferno had started escalating and all my belongings got burnt. My wife only escaped with my son. I was engaged in the process of rescuing Dr. Isaac, and lost all my belongings in the process”, Yakubu narrated.
In the case of Mr. Promise Nkwachukwu Okem, a young man who arrived Nigeria from Ghana, one month ago, he was able to pick a few things from his room (downstairs), before the fire degenerated into the zone.
He, however, said, two ladies who just finished serving the NYSC and searching for jobs, were not that lucky, as they could not pick anything from their rooms, save for their night gowns. “They could not pick anything from their rooms”, Okem said.
As at the time of filing this report, no one could explain in clear terms, what could have gone wrong with the deceased, to have warranted him taking his own life.
Even though the corpse has been deposited at the Asokoro General Hospital by the Police, the family members are yet to arrive Abuja.
A source at the hotel also revealed that the deceased had early this week, moved all his belongings, including clothes, to another chalet within the hotel premises, saying he would love to change his room.

Deacon Suyi Otitiju Bagged Okun Outstanding Personality Award.

The National Coordinator of Okun Development Initiative (ODI) Deacon Suyi Otitoju was honored last weekend by Okun Youth Leader’s Forum as one of the Outstanding Personality of the year 2016 in Okunland.

The ceremony which held at his residence in Abuja is in continuation of the Okun Youth Outstanding Personality Lecture Series which was earlier held on the 25^th December, 2016 at Kabba.

The lecture tagged ‘’Okun youth and the future of Okun land’’ availed the distinguished personalities the opportunity to dissect and redefine the expected role of the youth in building a better future for Okun land.

The President of the Forum, Alamoh Kehinde Samuel in his address described Okun youth as the most energetic and hardworking youth in the country even though the current political equation in Okun land does not favor the youth constituency.

The question begging for answer is to what extents are Okun Youth engaged in making decisions that could affect Okun’s future? Any community whose youths are apathetic to where her destination is heading to should be described as a community with no tomorrow and it’s such a shame that Okun Youth are not encouraged to be involved in Okun’s affairs he said.

He also emphasized that the Okun Youth Leaders Forum do not patronized politicians with Awards or engage in giving undeserved awards to people for monetary gains, financial muscle has never been criteria for giving award.

Our decision to confer an award on you today was borne out of our appraisal of your relentless efforts and contributions to the security, development and unity of Okun land as evident in the success of the all-inclusive Okun Summit organized by Okun Development Initiative(ODI) in collaboration with Okun Development Association(ODA).

We wish to say the summit is first of its kind in Okun land, a welcome development and deserves commendation. This Award is expected to encourage you and others to do more in this regard, he concluded.

Deacon Suyi Otitoju in his remark thanked the Okun Youth Leader’s Forum for the honor bestowed on him and dedicated the award to all hardworking executives and members of ODI and to the good people of Okun land.

This Award is a special one because it’s coming from Okun youth whom we believe will take over from us in the nearest future. We are happy that they are watching us and willing to continue where we stop and as such we must not failed, he said.

He advice the youth to be more united as a group in preparation for the future and desist from any form of social vices that can becloud their sense of reasoning. The youth should endeavor to partner with other groups in Okun land for optimum output.

"I am also happy you mentioned that you do not engage in award giving business because this will not help your group but you should rather be engaged in community development projects. You should be well behaved, protect your integrity always and leave everything to God in prayers" he also concluded.