10 things you need to know this Sunday morning

Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspaper The Borno State Police Command, yesterday confirmed several persons dead, including two suicide bombers, after two suspected female suicide bombers infiltrated and gained entry into Biu Market in Biu local government area of the state. The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Victor Isuku said, the number of injured persons stood at 53. Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, has claimed he cannot travel to the United States of America, because his visa is still being processed. Atiku also alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari was unable to enter the US for 15 years due to “religious considerations”. The presidency has described former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s claims in a recent interview that for about 15 years President Muhammadu Buhari could not enter the United States on account of his religious considerations is “a fictive concoction”. The presidency described Atiku’s claim as fictive concoction being passed off as truth is mind boggling, coming from a former Number Two man of Nigeria, who should know the truth. The death has been announced of Olomu of Omu-Ara in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Oba Charles Ibitoye He died at the age of 65 after a brief illness on Saturday. The Governments of Britain and the United States of America, have warned their citizens residing or planning to visit Abuja, that terrorist groups are threatening to carry out bomb attacks in the Nigeria’s capital city during the Yuletide. Also, the governments warned their citizens not to travel to Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe , Jigawa and Yobe till the end of the year. The General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has claimed that God himself convinced him that tithing was right for Christians. The soft-spoken cleric in the Sunday, 3 December, 2017 edition of his Daily Devotional, entitled: “Open Heavens”, said the command to pay tithes on one’s earnings simply places a demand on the Christian to trust God. Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has said President Muhammadu Buhari has lost a lot of goodwill and Nigerians will decide if he deserves to continue in 2019. He said he decided not to wait and participate in the APC primary election because the party had become a one-man business and lacks growth. The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has accused the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, of sabotaging development in the state. Wike said the APC had tried several times to stop national and international events from holding in the state. President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday stressed the need for inter-regional cooperation and information sharing towards tackling terrorism across the world. Buhari, who met with King Abdullah II of Jordan during the meeting, said these two factors are important in checkmating the threat of violent extremism to global peace and security. In sport, Former Super Eagles striker, Victor Ikpeba and former coach Austin Eguaveon, have called for the recall of goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to the national team. The duo argued that Enyeama’s experience will be valuable for the team following the seeming hard group the Eagles found themselves.

God Himself Convinced Me Tithing Was Right – Adeboye Speaks Again

The General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has spoken again on the raging tithe controversy sparked by controversial On-Air-Personality, Daddy freeze. This time he said God himself convinced him that tithing was right for Christians. Recall that in a previous reaction to the tithing controversy, Adeboye warned Christians against the dangers of non- compliance to paying of tithe. However, the cleric, on Sunday, 3rd December, 2017 edition of his Daily Devotional, titled: “Open Heavens”, said the command to pay tithes on one’s earnings simply places a demand on the Christian to trust God. Writing on the topic, ‘Tithing Is Trusting’, Adeboye said: “To experience exploits in your life, you must have a personal relationship with God. You must believe that He lives and love Him with all your heart. You must also learn to trust in Him. “The command to pay tithes on your earnings simply places a demand on you to trust God. Your response to this command shows the level of trust you have in Him. “If you can pay your tithes correctly, it shows that you trust God for your livelihood, but if you find it difficult to be faithful in doing this, it simply shows that you trust more in your earning than in God to sustain you. “After I became newly born again and we were taught to pay tithes, I laughed and said in my mind, ‘These people do not know that I am a mathematician. If 100% is not enough for me, how can 90% be enough after I have paid 10% as tithe? Thank you very much! Even though these people are not educated, they still want to use their smartness to take 10% of my income from me. Let them try and take it’. “However, down the line, God convinced me by Himself and I observed remarkable changes in my life.”

I Will Pay 2 Months Salaries Before Christmas & New Year – Governor Abiola Ajimobi

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has assured that pensioners and workers in the state’s public service will celebrate the coming end-of-the-year festivities with. smiles with the expected refund of the Paris Club excess deduction to the state. Ajimobi made the promise in his address during the Mawlid Nabiyy (celebration of Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) birthday) at the Government House Arcade, Agodi, Ibadan, on Friday. The Governor who said he was pained by the cash crunch that had made regular payment of salaries and pensions impossible, expressed optimism that the state would be able to pay at least two months salaries, out of the three months arrears, before the coming celebrations. With a workforce of more than 40,000, which he said was one of the largest in the country, Ajimobi said that the administration had been very prudent in the management of the dwindling accruals to the state. He said, “Let me assures citizens that we will spend the Paris Club excess deduction refund being expected from the Federal Government prudently. We have that record of spending past refunds and budget support fund judiciously. “Workers and pensioners will celebrate the coming festivities with joy, because we should be able to pay at least two months from the three months arrears we owe workers before the holidays. “We are ruling this state with the fear of God. And I’m confident that those who are yet to come to terms with my positive interventions will sing my praise at the end of my tenure. Those abusing me today out of lack of understanding will celebrate me tomorrow.” He said the essence of the Prophet’s birthday celebration was to remind the people of the need to love and respect one another and fear only the Almighty in all their endeavours. An Islamic preacher, Sheik Muyideen Ajani Bello and the Chairman of the state’s Muslim Community, Alhaji Kunle Sanni, said that Ajimobi deserved all the plaudits he had so far received from the Islamic faithful. udging by what they posited as the governor’s spirited efforts at ensuring that Muslims were not relegated in the state affairs, the Muslim leaders said it was natural that the adherents reciprocated the governor’s gestures. Bello said, “If your (Ajimobi) predecessors had performed well as he is doing now, Oyo State would have developed more than this. That is why I will reiterate my admonition to you to ensure that your successor will be committed to building on your legacies. “Let your successor be someone that fear God like you. We are not interested in the person’s level of education, political weight and other sentiments. The person we want for Oyo State should be someone that will continue from where you will stop.” Sanni then advised those he said were criticizing the Muslim Community for honoring Ajimobi to wait for their turns. He said, “I want to make it clear again that we are not politicians. We are celebrating Ajimobi because of his fair treatment of Muslims. I will advise those criticizing us now to wait for their turns if they want to be governor. If they treat Muslims fairly, they will also be celebrated. “We were not induced with anything other than the governor’s fairness and equity in dealing with us. We did agitate before he permitted our children to wear hijab. He was the first governor to authorize Hijrah (Islamic New Year) as public holiday. What about the large expanse of land he gave us to build our secretariat, among his several good deeds”.

I Will Definitely Beat Buhari In 2019, He Has Wasted A Lot Of Goodwill – Atiku

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has finally addressed the issue of his presidential ambition since his resignation from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He former vice president left the APC and although he has not formally announced the party he will go to, there is high speculation that he will return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In an interview with veteran journalist, Dele Momodu, Atiku said he decided not to wait and participate in the APC primary election because the party had become a one-man business. He said since President Muhammadu Buhari came into power, he failed to take charge of the growth of the party. The former vice president expressed optimism of defeating President Buhari in 2019 saying he has lost a lot of goodwill. He said: “After Buhari won the election, he was no longer interested in the Party that made him President. Every activity stopped and not even the Party Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, could take any decision. “I called Chief Oyegun a few times to tell him our Party was dying slowly but he told me he would not do anything unless he got clearance from the President. At a stage, I gathered about 18 prominent members and began to meet in the hope that we can re-energise Party activities, but some people lied to the President that I wanted to use the forum to launch my Presidential campaign. That forum became simply dead on arrival. No BOT, no NEC meetings, as stipulated in our Constitution. “The Party became a one-man property. Everyone grumbles behind the President’s back but they are too timid to raise a voice against the illegalities being perpetuated. I should be bold enough to know what I want, and can do so at my age, so I decided to leave…” Asked if he was guaranteed of the presidential ticket of the PDP, Atiku said: “Nothing is absolutely certain in this life, but PDP needs a candidate with the brightest chance and that can only come from someone who has major experience, exposure, knowledge about running an economy, who is a Nationalist and not a sectionalist and whose brand cannot be intimidated in anyway by that of the current President. “If PDP picks a weak candidate, then the Party is doomed. Some of those whose names are being touted and bandied about have not grown beyond their immediate domains.” On his perception of the 2019 elections, Atiku expressed optimism that he would defeat the sitting president. He said: “I will definitely beat him this time. He has wasted a lot of his massive goodwill. A lot of people are disgruntled but keeping quiet and lying low. Our youths are suffering terribly and now they are being sold into slavery. Everyone knows my track record of inviting and attracting a good team and giving them the opportunity to work professionally. Nigerians are tired of leaders who cannot think big and work big. Dele, I will be ready from day one…” Asked if he wasn’t afraid of Buhari, Atiku said: “No, definitely not. Buhari is free to contest and I’m free to contest. And Nigerians will make their choice.” According to the group, President Buhari is yet to fully fulfil his electoral promises.

We Have Made Our Choice Between Buhari And Atiku – Northern Elders Forum

Dr Paul Unongo who is the chairman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has said that the north is undivided in its choice between President Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar. In an interview with The Sun, the NEF chairman said the north has decided to stick with President Buhari because he was a tried and tested leader unlike Atiku who he described as being desperate to be president. He said: “What has Atiku got to offer Nigeria? Atiku would be in one party for two hours and he would abandon it and join another one for three hours and when he does not get what he wants, he jumps into another party. And now he is like saying Atiku must be president, Atiku must be president of Nigeria. There is no single person in Nigeria that must be president. I think money tries to make some people mad; they think they can buy anything they want and everybody. “The North has no problem whatsoever and it is not only the North that elected President Buhari in the last presidential election. Buhari got average of the votes in virtually all parts of the country. Remember that Buhari contested for the primaries with Atiku and he beat him in that election thoroughly. Atiku did not even come second. Kwankwaso, the former governor of Kano State got more votes than him. People who are thinking that Atiku can do something when he joins the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) are making a mistake. Nigeria has passed that way and left it behind for a long time ago. We are not impressed by Atiku who jumps from one party to the other and say oh! I have a lot of money and I must be president. Nigerians are not going to put such people in power. “We love Buhari, a man of integrity and principle; you can predict him and when he says a thing, you can be sure that what he is saying is true. Buhari would win Atiku any day, anywhere and any time. On the assumption that the progressive north would support Atiku and that the conservative would be behind President Buhari, Unongo said: “I do not know who are the progressive North and the conservative North. My name is Paul Unongo and I am a Northerner. I have gone to the prison 24 times. I think I am a progressive. I just finished a lecture praising late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe on his memorial lecture in Lagos. I am also the convener, leader and chairman of the Northern Elders Forum. So, where do I belong? Between me and Atiku, who is a progressive and who is not? I can tell you that Nigeria’s democracy is waxing stronger. “If the PDP likes, let them field Atiku. If he contests with Buhari, he would win Atiku by 9 o’clock in the morning. Buhari is a tested and trusted principled leader. We are not for sale and the presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not for sale. The presidency is not for the highest bidder. “We in the North have no problem on who to choose between Buhari and Atiku. We are not divided. I used to say to everybody in Nigeria that we in the North are more radical than the South. We can accommodate both Buhari and Atiku but the North is mature politically and they know where to go and we are going to go where we should go. But we are not going to vote to bring the PDP back to power. “The economy was knocked down by the previous administration and Buhari promised that he would bring it up and he did. The security situation in the country was terrible so much that the Boko Haram sect was taking over some parts of the North and Buhari promised that he would address the situation and he did. Nobody would contest that he has addressed substantially the issue of security in the country. He said he would fight corruption and today, they are recovering piles and piles of money including dollars even buried underground. Nobody had done that before. He promised these three and has delivered on all of them. Everybody is seeing what he is doing. There is no doubt that he is better than Atiku and I can assure you that we would stay with President Buhari.” When asked whether the north might miss out on the presidency if a strong candidate from the south emerges, he said: “I can predict exactly what the South would do. In the last presidential election, if you count the votes in the three geo-political zones of Southwest, Southeast and South south, Buhari still had the majority of the votes. We are going to repeat that in the 2019 general elections because the candidate that the PDP is trying to bring is not the type that you can compare with Buhari.” He said since President Buhari came into power, he failed to take charge of the growth of the party. The former vice president expressed optimism of defeating President Buhari in 2019 saying he has lost a lot of goodwill.

“I Just Increased My Tithe To 30 Percent, Satan Go And Die” – Apostle Suleman Reveals

The issue of members of the Church of God paying tithe has been the latest of argument that has surfaced on Twitter and it appears that the argument isn’t about to end anytime soon. Popular man of God, “Apostle Suleman” took to his twitter page to reveal that he just increased is own tithe from the normal 10 percent God ordered them to collect to 30 percent. See what he tweeted below:-

Nigeria Was Built, Shaped By Young Men – Yemi Osinbajo

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has said that Nigeria as a nation was built and shaped by the youths who were determined to build a formidable and united country. He also advised youths in the country to take their destinies in their hands by taking up leadership roles through innovative ideas. Osinbajo gave the advice at the 2017 National Youth Convention of the Church of the Lord Prayer Fellowship, with the theme, “Unfailing Love’’, on Saturday in Abuja. The Vice President, who was represented by the Chaplain of the Villa Chapel, Sheyi Malomo, said that now was the time for youths to start thinking of leading the nation. According to him, “people like Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu, who led the civil war, were in their 30s when they succeeded in making Nigeria one country. “There is this popular saying that youths are leaders of tomorrow but I would like you to know that the tomorrow we are talking of is now. “This is because the youths are leading in the world now, both in ideas and innovations and that is why we have the Facebook developer, Mark Zuckerberg, who is in his 30s. “One of the things that you need to do as youths is to start to take responsibilities and rise up with commitment to God,’’ he said. Quoting from the book of 2 Corinthians, chapter 13 verse five, Osinbajo urged Christian youths to always examine themselves in order to be able to understand their responsibilities. He also charged them to be committed to the nation’s course in terms of political participation, adding that youth population constituted the highest voting population in Nigeria. He advised them to be fully committed to the political process in the country by making sure that they got their voters cards.

President Buhari Fires Back Over Atiku’s Comment On US Ban

The presidency has described former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s claims in a recent interview that for about 15 years President Muhammadu Buhari could not enter the United States on account of his religious considerations is “a fictive concoction”. This was contained in a statement issued Saturday evening by Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adesina. He said: “This fictive concoction being passed off as truth is mind boggling, coming from a former Number Two man of Nigeria, who should know the truth. “At no time was President Buhari, as a private person, ever forbidden from entering any country in the world. “Rather, the rest of the world has always held Muhammadu Buhari as a man of sterling qualities, strong on integrity, transparency and accountability. The same testimony is still borne of the Nigerian President by many world leaders today. “It is curious that former VP Abubakar had been asked why he had not visited America for over a decade, something that had been a stubborn fact dogging his footsteps. “Instead of answering directly, he begged the question, saying Buhari also had been disallowed from entering the same country for 15 years, before becoming President. “We hereby make it resoundingly clear that what the former Vice President said only exists in the realm of his imagination. If he has issues to settle with American authorities, he should do so, rather than clutch at a straw.”