National Protest: Hilary, other Journalists suffer Police molestation

An independent journalist with DigiVation Network, Hilary Damissah has suffered brutalisation at the hands of some overzealous Nigeria security operatives 

The editor with the organisation despite his visible media identification tag was in the midst of some protesters around the Berger Roundabout area on day three of the hashtag EndBadGovernanceInNigeria national protest when the unfortunate incident occurred. 

Hilary who came out in response to the call of duty to have a first-hand information about the goings-on on that fateful day became a victim of the dehumanisation of the Nigerian Police brutality against journalists.  He was tear-gassed at close range from a Stationed Police Hilux van while trying to take photographs of some protesters and onlookers which the officers considered unacceptable to them. While trying to scamper to safety, he was further assaulted including the use of baton to bruise him as he sustained serious injury and deep cut on his pointer finger. He thereafter managed to scupper to a safe place while gasping for breath before some of the protesting youths came to his aid and rushed him to a medical facility at Games Village, Kaura District of Abuja for medication.

According to an eye witness at the scene of the event, the journalist was unfortunate because some moments before the incident, a combined team of the Nigerian Police and that of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) had informed some of the protesters that the Berger location was not opened or approved for any anti-government protest. According to the security personnel, such an action would be resisted for what they described as “order from above”. “We are here to enforce law and ensure strict compliance to all the directives which forbids any demonstration around this place and anyone who refuses to obey will have themselves to blame” retorted a senior Police Officer whose name tag was not displayed on his uniform the eye witness stated.

It was unfortunate that the journalist experienced the excesses of the Police. One of the protesters who simply identified himself as Aminu further narrated what transpired.  “It was just when some of the demonstrators moved towards the Berger Roundabout bearing various anti-government banners, especially from the Utako axis chanting solidarity songs that the Police man threw a tear-gas canister at him while he was also beaten to near stupor by the very huge officer, he ran towards the on coming crowd before the officer retreated”, he stated.

In a related development, at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, security operatives moved into the venue of the hunger protest in an attempt to force the protesters to disperse. The masked official mounted a post at a strategic position near one of the main entrances to the stadium. After a while the protesters regrouped but this time around the security forces fired gunshots into the air and used tear gas to disperse the crowd and in the process arrested some protesters and journalists some of whom were later released upon self-identification. This hard and uncivil stance of the security personnel is a development which comes after Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff had threatened that the military would take action over the situation if the protests gets out of hand.

 

  

Ekwe youths restrained from burning family house over support for gay practice

Youths of Ekwe community in Imo State, were on July 22, 2024,restrained from burning down the family house belonging to Chief Onukuba for enabling his son’s escape from the community.

The fiercely looking youths numbering about 200 or more were seen chanting war songs and approaching menacingly towards Onukuba's compound with intention to raze it.

The youths who were obviously angry were demanding that the family should produce their son, Innocent who they accused of supporting his nephew, Fabian a young man known for gay practice.

They claimed that when his nephew was caught over gay and handed over to the police in December 2017, it was Mr Innocent and his spouse who applied for his bail and encouraged him to flee from the community.

The youths viewed his action as support for gay; they also added that Mr Innocent and spouse were not unaware that gay practice was culturally forbidden in the community.

It should be noted that offence of Gay, sex of same sex and marriage of the same sex are abomination in the community and in Nigeria and attracts a severe punishment such as in castration, jail and parading such man or woman naked within the whole town and market place, and a heavy fine as a deterrent to others. Not all culprits survive the sacrifice and the ritual. 

It is also an offence to aid such an offender to escape. No wonder in the morning of 22th July, 2024, the peace in the community was shattered by the war songs of the vagilante group and angry youths numbering hundreds and bearing cutlasses, planks and inflammable substance suspected to be petrol, they marched menacingly on to the house of Chief Onukuba demanding for his son so that he would perform the necessary cleansing of the land over his support for gay practice, failure of which has led to several misfortunes and  diseases in the land including but not limited to cholera outbreak, mysterious and untimely deaths and lack of progress in that community since he committed the alleged sacrilege. 

The scary situation was brought under control when one Barr. Anomneze told the angry youth that police had been involved and they will fish out   Mr Innocent.

When interviewed his mother, she confirmed  that police came in April 2024 looking for Mr Innocent and spouse over alleged support and involvement in the gay activities of the nephew-Fabian. 

She concluded that his son and family are scared of returning to the community.

Ndigbo won’t join nationwide protest; we’re mourning our sons and daughter---Umenzekwe

Honourable (Chief) Modestus Umenzekwe, an All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain, in this interview in Lagos made it clear that Ndigbo, apart from being very busy people, are mourning their sons and daughter and therefore will not join the planned nationwide protest slated for August 1. He also spoke on other national issues.

Welcome sir, I want to use this opportunity to express my heart-felt condolences over the demise of your dear uncle, Rev Father Mike, who you did the final honour by burying him. I pray that his soul will rest in peace and also for the almighty God to give you and family the fortitude to bear the huge, irreparable and irreplaceable loss.

Thank you so much for the condolences

Just within the space of a week or two, Ndigbo lost two prominent individuals, political stalwarts and business moguls, I want to find out, how do you feel?

Thank you so much. The mystery that is associated with death is great and no one can interpret that, even the high level prophets cannot interpret the mystery of death, only God, and that is why in all situations you give thanks to God. But in giving thanks to God, we as human beings, we feel very sad whenever death occurs. In fact I pity our people, the Igbo people this period, we have been thrown into a mourning period, we have been thrown into serious confusion, death has thrown us into disarray that we don't know when to recover.

Imagine Chief (Dr) Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu of all people joining his ancestors now that his services, his wealth of experience in nation building are mostly needed. Look at the track record he has kept while piloting the affairs of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide; where do we start and where do we stop? It is very painful, it is very tragic, in fact, Ndigbo has lost a patriot, a respected elder and leader for that matter. It is very unfortunate.

While we were still grappling with that, a vibrant young man, a senator, incidentally the senator was representing myself talking to you, because he represented Anambra Senatorial District where I belong, Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, he suddenly passed away at the age of 53. That one is very very very tragic. But one begins to wonder, what have we done, Ndigbo? Why are we getting this type of calamity, we are thrown into serious confusion but God knows the best. The two gentlemen were philanthropists, they were go-getters, they knew when to cut their onions, anything concerning nation-building, keeping Nigeria one, they didn't joke with it; anything concerning Ndigbo, they didn't joke with it, but now within a week or two we have lost two of them. Do you know that Ifeanyi Ubah was in my house on the 19th of July, 2024, to commiserate with my family, the Azike Dynasty in Achina, on the death of my revered uncle, Very Reverend Father Michael Ndukuba Umenzekwe Azike, he was physically present; he dined and wined with us, and the whole town of Achina and beyond were there to welcome him. And after all the pleasantries and his words of commiseration he left, he never knew it was the last time we were going to see him.

As you can see, all political activities in Anambra State have majorly shut down by all political parties and all interest groups. Sir Paul Chukwuma, Onwa Umueri, a very big stalwart in APC who also has interest in the governance of Anambra State, has shut down his political activities for the next 30 days. That would tell you the weight; that would tell you how heavy the exit of this gentleman Ifeanyi Ubah was in Anambra State. Even the governor of Anambra State has made a statement, slowing down everything, all the south east governors, they are in mourning mood because we have lost a man in Ifeanyi Ubah, we have lost an elder in Iwuanyanwu, we have lost our speakers, we have lost our philanthropists, we have lost nation-builders, in short, the Igbo nation in particular are in a mourning mood, and Nigeria as a nation has been attacked by death.

Apart from mourning our two illustrious sons, our legendary musician and a respected daughter of Ndigbo, Onyeka Onwenu, has just passed on as we learnt this morning.

It is indeed a tragedy and a sad moment, but what else can we do other than to hand everything over to God. But as it is now what are you telling Ndigbo, on how to get these two philanthropists, these two business moguls, all of them publishers, what are you telling Ndigbo so that these big shoes they have left behind cannot just be left gaping like that. People must fill the gaps.

I am an Igbo man as well, so I am advising all of us to first of all, go into serious prayer, seek further the face of God, as we have been seeking for God to give us direction and then work as a united body, work as brothers and sisters as we have been doing, in doing that we will be able to sieve out those who will replace them.

Now the southeast development bill has been signed into law. First, what are you telling the president and again what is the content of that bill and what does it aim to achieve?

First of all, it gladdens my heart that the renewed hope agenda of the All Progressives Congress as led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is working. By signing that bill into law, I believe that the policy of reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation has come into play. The southeast will not feel marginalized again, they will not feel alienated again, now they have greater sense of belonging more than they have been having, all the damaged infrastructures in the southeast before, during and after the war will be touched and brought back to life. For me that is one of the greatest achievements of this administration. God will keep the president, I congratulate him, I congratulate the national assembly.

Recalled that this bill started its journey from the seventh or eighth Assembly as moved by Iyom Senator Ekwunife, but now it was reintroduced by the deputy speaker of the House, Hon Benjamin Kalu. The house gave it a nod and the national assembly passed it and today President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed it into law.

Ndigbo and the southeast will keep on praying for him that nothing will happen to him, I believe that he is leading us well, despite the hardship being experienced in the land by both him and every Nigerian. But I know it will be over. I thank God for this administration, I thank God for our representatives at the national assembly, I thank God for the entire Igbo nation, before long they will see something better than this.

What is on the lips of every Nigerian now is the issue of the planned protest, protest against hunger and bad governance, what is your take? Your advice especially to the youths who want to embark on a journey they don't know how it will end.

In as much as I agree that protest is an integral part of democracy it is not necessary now because hunger has been there, some of these things have been there, not caused by Asiwaju administration. It has been there for decades, if we have time we start from 1960 when Nigeria had her independence, we would be analysing it administration by administration, so it is a global thing. Look around the world and see what is happening, we have to be patient with the government; that is just about a year, so I am not in support of the protest.

Mark you that the EndSARS protest nearly crippled this country, because the organizers could not manage it. The hoodlums hijacked it and tried to pull this country down and that was why I have continued to congratulate Babajide Sanwo-Olu because I pitied him, I thought Lagos has gone into extinction during that protest, but he contained it. Look at the quantum of damage, carnage we had at that time. Who knows where this one will lead to? I believe in strong and hard negotiation. You see how labour negotiated their own demands and they came to a conclusion, so when you are protesting to protect somebody you may run into more crises creating more hardship for that person. So I am appealing to Nigerians, I am appealing to the youths, to please, shelve these planned nationwide pretest. It may not help us. It may bring something worse because hoodlums are likely to hijack it, I do not support it.

Yes while we condemn the protest why is it too difficult for the government to open the borders, import foodstuffs, what is hard in doing that? A hungry man is an angry man. There is hunger in the land. What is wrong in opening our borders and then properly manning them with security appropriately?

It is the government that can answer you that question, I am not there. Do you think that they are all fools? Do you think the national assembly is not working? You think the national executive council is not working. Is that what you are telling me? I am not there. And that is why we have them there to represent us. It is better you go to the national assembly, federal executive council, go to the presidency and ask them this question, yes, we have to be very very careful. If we have elected them, let us allow them, they know that the borders are closed and I know that they are doing something about it so that we don't run into other crises. And let me use this opportunity to say something. Somebody came to my office to solicit so that I can help talk to Ndigbo to join the protest, I say no. The southeasterners, Ndigbo, cannot join this protest. Ab initio Ndigbo know how to manage hard situations, they are very enterprising, I have been saying this during election long time ago, and this period they wouldn't want anybody to disturb them. We are mourning, we are thrown into mourning. No right thinking Igbo human being will go into protesting, so we don't need the protest.

Apart from mourning our two illustrious sons our legendary musician and a respected daughter of Ndigbo, Onyeka Onwenu has just passed on as we learnt this morning. And people are troop out to do protest, we are mourning our sons and our daughter. And we have gone back to the trenches to think about how to assist the federal government to come out of the quagmire

There is also an angle that queries why the people are protesting now when in fact this administration has lasted just one year, they argue that the protest is coming too early in the life of the administration.

That is what I have been saying, it is too early to start judging this man and his administration. He is taking hard decisions that will bring something good in future. When there is no pain there is no gain. That is the summary of the whole thing. You have to go through pain in order to gain.

Let us use Kenya as an example, the people made requests and they did not give them, after the protests, government turned around and still gave the citizens those things they were requesting, now why allow people to die and property lost before giving the people what they wanted? 

Look we are not Kenyans, handle your family let me handle my family, our population is not even the same thing. Let Kenyans solve their problems. Our problems are not the same, so at times when you draw these examples like this they don’t match.

If you go into this thing you will find out that the problem Nigeria is facing is not the problem Kenya is facing, our population is more than that of Kenya, let Kenyans be in their home, and let Nigerians be in their home.  All I am saying is let Nigerians allow President Tinubu and his team to guide us. I do not know Asiwaju as someone who is careless and rascally, I know him as a goal getter; I know him as a listener. I know him as an administrator, a seasoned accountant, well read and well-polished, an international politician and giant, and he came in from the business world, let us allow him. Somebody asked me, is he going to go for second term, I say yes, he is going to go for second term. He has not said so but we are saying he will go, because these hard decisions he is taken will lead him to the second term when they start manifesting.

Some other leaders would say if I took it now it will cause me my second term, nothing will cost you anything. He will go for second term. Today I am hearing he has directed NNPC to sell crude oil to Dangote, in Naira too. He has signed the southeast development bill, northwest development bill, he signed N70,000 minimum wage, and a lot of other things, let them exercise Patience. 

It is not easy for me talking to you, and I am sure it is not easy for you either, nor for Asiwaju, it is not easy for everybody but let us keep calm, allow him and pray to God to give him wisdom, the knowledge to pick the right persons; to work with the right people in order to take Nigeria  to the promise lane.

 

 

SCOAN holds inaugural Youth Convention

About three thousand youths drawn across different frontiers gathered together to participate at the weekend for the inaugural Youth Convention at the SCOAN'S headquarters Ikotun-Egbe Lagos under the auspices of TBJoshua Foundation.

With the theme: "Legacy of purpose - investing in a life that outlives us", the convention also drew  various experts from different professions to educate and inspire the youths for laudable lifestyles and greater heights. 

Declaring the convention open,

SCOAN leader, Pastor Evelyn Joshua stated that youths are the future leaders and it's too dangerous not to properly guide the youths in the right paths of life that would engender impactful and purposeful life in the society. 

In an age when the youths are facing critical challenges including the miasma of distorted souls where the ethical, social and cultural foundations are being gradually destroyed, Pastor Evelyn Joshua admonished the youths to open their hearts for the transformative and impactful benefits of the convention in the reshaping of their lives for impactful and enviable life in the society. 

Legacy of purpose, according to her was an offshoot of the legacies of SCOAN'S founder, Prophet TBJOSHUA to "ensure that the leaders of tomorrow are properly grounded in morals, social, educational, careers and skills acquisition, to guide, encourage and be empowered to be better focused in life". She also implored them to be closer to God and let His word be the standard of their lives 

The Director of TBJOSHUA Foundation, Sarah Joshua said the Foundation was established not only to preserve the life and time of the great man of God on earth but also to invigorate and rejuvenate his legacies for a better humanity. She also stated that 30 youth participants at the convention would be given scholarships as well as in small and medium businesses to be empowered. 

Another speaker, Evangelist Ope Adeyeye, spoke glowingly on theme "Legacy of Purpose" and how it perfectly captured TBJOSHUA's exemplary life, noting: "life on earth is meaningless without a purpose because it's only a purposeful life that can invent in others that could outlive them.

The Convention which featured music, dance, drama and lots of other captivating activities also   featured an ex-cultist who shared the evils of wrong friendships, companionship, and associates that brought to the fore the illusions and delusions of over ambition, fame, power and living above our means and how God's mercy saved him for other youths to learn in earnest.

One of the most interesting moments of the convention was the panel for discussions. It provided opportunities for questions and answers where the challenges of youths today were critically dissected and demystified. The forum provided a clear roadmap and guidance for the participants not to go astray in their journeys of life.

Moderated by Woye Olagbaju, a versatile Mining Engineer, it featured important successful professional personalities such as Vimbai, an international media guru, Dr Oluwaseun, Human Resources giant, Moji Oguntoyinbo, a banker of repute, Professor Ade Ayodeji, an educationist, Barrister Deji Olabiwonnu Ikeja NBA branch Secretary and Mrs Nneka on Tourism. 

The convention was electrifying with tingling and tantalizing memories of the participant.

To Nike Adeyemi, "it's wonderful to be here. I enjoyed every bit of it. This kind of program should continue. I hope they would soon organise another one".

"Every youth in Nigeria need to go for this convention. It's educative and very inspiring" said Kolawole Shojonwo.

For Ben Olamide, "this is an experience that cannot be forgotten. Very nourishing and enriching. Thank God for TBJoshua and SCOAN. We need more of it in Nigeria".

In closing, the Convention Principal Organizer, Promise Joshua, expressed gratitude to SCOAN youths in Akure, Ghana and supporters across the world for the event. She expressed optimism of its impacts on the participants assuring them of greater things to come with the future youth convention by the SCOAN which she emphasised "has come to stay". 

SCOAN by this Convention has made a strong statement: that Nigerian youths must not be left in the vagaries and reckless life with the unhealthy social winds blowing across mankind in the world today like  sheep without the shepherd. A stitch in time saves nine.

 

Umenzekwe mourns Business mogul, Publisher, Ifeanyi Ubah, says Igbos have lost a rare gem

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain, Honourable Chief Modestus Umenzekwe (Onwa Achina), has expressed shock at the news of the demise of the business mogul, Publisher and Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District, Ifeanyi Patrick Ubah.

Umenzekwe while bemoaning the death of Ubah stated that the entire Igbo nation has lost a rare gem.

Umenzekwe made his heart felt in a chat with journalists in Lagos on Sunday, July 28, 2024.

He said he received the news of the death of Ubah with rude shock. “I received with rude shock the news of the sudden demise of Senator Ifeanyi Patrick Ubah, the Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District where I belong.”

Umenzekwe added that Ubah’s death has become one death too many. “This is one death too many, it is becoming very incomprehensible for the Anambra South Senatorial District, Ndigbo, Nnewi Community and Nigerians at large.

“Ndigbo has lost a rare gem,” Umenzekwe stated.

He disclosed that the last time he saw Ifeanyi Ubah, he was hale and hearty. “Senator Ifeanyi Ubah was with me at Achina on 19^th July, 2024, when I buried my uncle Reverend Father, Father Mike. He was full of life, hale and hearty. Surprising after about a week he died in London. “This is a great loss to the Igbo nation, the political family of APC has been thrown into a mourning mood, as well as his immediate family and Nnewi community.

“I commiserate with the family, I commiserate with Ndigbo, I commiserate with Anambrians and the entire national Assembly for this irreparable and irreplaceable loss,” Umenzekwe stated.

Umenzekwe averred that the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah was not just a man with large a heart, he was a nationalist, a philanthropist and a fighter. “Senator Ifeanyi the much I knew him, was a nationalist, a philanthropist, a fighter, and a goal-getter. He was almost everywhere, he had a large heart with which to help people. His representation at the Senate was healthy, in short, Ndigbo has lost a man, Nigeria has lost a man, the national assembly has lost a committed and dedicated member. The vacuum is there already waiting to be filled up. May the good Lord grant his soul eternal rest, Amen.

How Primate Ayodele's prophecies on Bangladesh, minimum wage, Cholera outbreak in Lagos State were fulfilled.

It is now obvious that the prophecies of the  Founder and Leader of INRI Spiritual Evangelical Church based in Lagos State, Primate Elijah Ayodele, on Bangladesh, Minimum wage in Nigeria and cholera outbreak in Lagos has all been fulfilled.

In his book 'Warnings to the Nations' launched on July 6, 2024, Primate Ayodele said  "In Bangladesh there will be protest in the country. The country will experience flood, bomb blasts, political assassination and train derailment. Let us rebuke political tension in the country. They will want to form a new government as people will kick against the present government. The country will face earthshake and landslide."

Today the prophecy was fulfilled as thousands of Bangladesh citizens trooped out in protests against the government even as they invaded the country's prisons.

Talking about the demand by the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, Primate Ayodele disclosed in a trending video that what they are demanding, the government will not be able to give them. In the video released months ago, the Servant of the Most High God said that the minimum wage would be pegged at between N65,000 and N70, 000.

He also warned Lagos State of the outbreak of Cholera long ago, the video is in the public domain too.

Primate Elijah Ayodele has carved a niche for himself as a man who sees tomorrow as almost, if not all his prophecies have been fulfilled, including but not limited to the assassination attempt on the life of the  former American President, Donald Trump, stepping down of Joe Biden from the 2024 presidential election in the USA, Israel attack on Yemen, among other fulfilled prophecies.

 

‘Trump is not the answer to America’s 2024 Presidential Election,’ Primate Ayodele, predicts assassination on his life

It is now obvious that the Republican Candidate for the 2024 Presidential Election in the United States of America, Donald Trump, is not the answer to America’s problems.

A careful perusal of the latest edition of the prophetic book of Primate Elijah Ayodele, Leader and Founder of INRI Spiritual Evangelical Church, ‘Warnings to the Nations’, which was unveiled  at the 30^th Anniversary of the iconic book, July 6, showed that all the travails been experienced by Trump has been foretold by Primate Ayodele.

In the book Primate Ayodele perfectly prophesied that there would be assassination attempt on a onetime president or a President. Of course the assassination attempt on Trump last Saturday during a rally made the prophecy to come to pass.

He added a caveat by stating that if Joe Biden, the current President and candidate for the Democrats is not changed Donald Trump will win the election. 

He added further that if Trump wins, foreigners will suffer.

He stated that Donald Trump is too desperate to win the election with warning that if he wins the election racism will be on the high side and blacks in America will not be favoured. “Donald Trump is desperate to win this election and if he wins this election there will be increase in racism, the blacks in America will not enjoy his government, and then there will be too much of lies in Donald Trump government.”

He also stated that America will suffer a lot of setbacks as result of Trump winning the election even as he stated that America will break and lose her unity. “And America will suffer a lot of setbacks, and that unity in America will break, America will break. Donald Trump will do something that will make the politics of America not to be as stable as it is before. Donald Trump is not the answer to America’s 2024 Presidential Election.”

All the prophecies of Primate Ayodele concerning Trump has all manifested including his arrest and the assassination attempt on his life.

Speaking further he said “I foresee that if Trump wins the election in the USA, then he will turn many things upside down, and so many things will go wrong. Apart from this, the quality of political power in the US will be downgraded. Donald Trump is not even the best candidate and not even Joe Biden.”

The book also contained prophecies about Kenya which has come to manifestation. Primate Ayodele in December, 2023 revealed that Ruto should not sleep, that a protest is brewing and can remove him from office. 

“The protest can remove him from office. He should do what is needful before it is too late. The uprising in Kenya can remove him from office”

He also said let's pray against assassination of a sitting president, and one time president.