Mbaka does not speak for the Catholic Church in Nigeria- CBCN

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has distanced itself from the recent remarks made by the controversial Catholic Priest and Founder of Adoration Ministry, Enugu Catholic Archdiocese, Rev. Fr Ejike Mbaka who in his New Year message described President Jonathan's administration as one that has been plagued with bad luck and poor performance.

In an interview with ThisDay newspaper, the CBCN President, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigam, said that Fr Mbaka's remarks does not represent the position of the Catholic Church in Nigeria. He said that Fr Mbaka was just one out of the 30million catholic faithfuls in Nigeria and that the position of the Catholic church on any matter of National importance is communicated only through the CBCN.

"There are more than 30 million Catholics in Nigeria, Fr Mbaka is just one Catholic, if he makes a statement, it cannot be the voices of more than 30 million Nigerian Catholics speaking. So Nigerians should avoid hasty generalisation. Mbaka cannot speak for the church, only the CBCN can speak for the church. Those who are complaining, should go to Fr Mbaka and find out why he is saying what he is saying. I tell you,  even the Canon Law forbid a priest  to engage in partisan politics,” Kaigama said

In a related development, the Catholic Bishop of Abuja Metropolitan, Cardinal John Onaiyekan has said that given the rules of the Catholic church, Rev. Fr Ejike Mbaka ought to be sanctioned following his remarks about President Goodluck Jonathan's administration.

“Mbaka will take responsibilities for his own actions. I do not believe in my mind that the way things are in Nigeria, any Catholic priest has the mandate to decide which of the political contestants should be voted for. What most of us will do is to tell people to vote according to their conscience and then, we tell the authorities to allow people to vote freely and fairly. I wouldn’t be surprised if most people are not happy with the statement he made. From my reactions, you should see that I do not agree with him. I don’t believe a priest should be doing that. But, like I said, Mbaka is a priest of his own type. If he was in my archdioceses, I will have sanctioned him long ago for the kind of things and utterances that he makes. But, he is not under my diocese; he has a Bishop to handle that if there is any need. I hope that people are not thinking that we are sending Mbaka to talk rubbish, how can they think that? If you want to hear anything even not official but at least, authoritative, then, you listen to the bishops. Rather than him and I don’t see any bishop talking that way” the Cardinal said

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University of Florida baller takes a dump on himself during bowl game

You know what they say, sometimes sh*t happens...:-). A University of Florida player named Adam Lane Jr sh*t in his pants (circled) during a game between his team and East Carolina yesterday Jan. 4th. Adam ran the field for a few minutes without noticing what had happened to him until a trainer went to him, handed him a towel to cover up and he was escorted from the field.

He returned to the field about ten minutes later with new white pants. See the Vine video after the cut
click to watch video http://lindaikeji.blogspot.com/2015/01/university-of-florida-baller-takes-dump.html#more

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Four Nigerians Arrested In India Over Internet Fraud

The Hyderabad police in India on Saturday January 3rd arrested four Nigerians including a woman over internet fraud. The police said they recovered a car, money and mobile phones from them

The accused, Peter Austin (29), Eboh Felix (26), Steffi Ebohon (24) and Uzaonicha Daniel Iwenwanne (26), reportedly contacted a student named Mohd Wasiuddin, and told him he’s won some money. The police said the gang managed to convince the unsuspecting victim to deposit money for registration, customs clearance, processing fees and other expenses.

    “Believing the gang members, Wasiuddin deposited about Rs. 35 lakh in different bank accounts operated from Gujarat, Rajasthan and Mumbai, only to realize later that it was fraud” the police in charge said

The police arrested the four Nigerians after posing as another victim and tracing their phone call data record and email conversations.

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Food for the gods! Presidency, others to spend N517.9m on meals in 2015

The Federal Government is proposing to spend  N517.9m this year on meals and refreshments for the Presidency, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, ministries of power and petroleum as well as their parastatals.

The amount is contained in the details of the 2015 budget breakdown, which was obtained by Punchcorrespondents in Abuja on Sunday.

Out of the N517.9m, a provision of N174.54m was made for refreshments and meals for the State House in 2015.

For the office of the President, the budget breakdown revealed that a provision of N142.47m was made for 2015 for refreshments and meals.

For the Vice-President, a provision of   N25.58m was made for meals and refreshments. However, while the State House Headquarters, Office of the President and the Vice President all have a combined budgetary provision of N342.59m for refreshments and meals, the 10 agencies under the presidency had a provision of just N67.4m for the same items.

They are the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millennium Development Goals which has a provision of N8.49m; the Bureau for Public Enterprises, N14.72m; the National Emergency Management Agency,N14m; and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission N20m.

Others are the Bureau of Public Procurement, N5.52m; the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, N3.81m; and the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, N838,758.

Source: Punch

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Religion Must Never Be Used To Divide Or Oppress Others – Buhari

 
The Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammed Buhari, (retd), yesterday, said religion should not be used to divide the country, but should rather strengthen the corporate existence of Nigeria.

The former Head of State spoke at the 8th edition of the Annual Lagos Thanksgiving Service under the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola, in Ikeja.

“This is how it should be. Religion must never be used to divide or oppress others or gain unfair advantage. All my life, I have always held the belief that all Nigerians must be free to worship God according to their beliefs,” he said.

“I am honoured to participate in this year’s edition of the Lagos Thanksgiving Service. And commended Fashola and his wife, Mrs Abimbola Fashola for this kind invitation.

“I am glad to know that this year’s service has brought together Nigerians of all faiths just to thank and praise the Almighty God for his mercies.”

Speaking further, Buhari noted that “The duty of government is not religion, the duty of government is to ensure peace, security of all Nigerians ,regardless of tribe, race or religion. And this is a commitment all of us must make in this service.”

Also speaking, Fashola said it was high time the people focused more on their common humanity and those things that they share together and focus less on their differences.

“Our languages, our religion, our ethnic origins are accidents of our birth and not the essential content of our humanity. If our creator wanted us to be the same it is not difficult for him to do so.

“Your faith is not better than mine, and if you think it is, I cannot quarrel with your opinion. You must respect my right to practice mine. That is why we gather today in the Centre of Excellence to thank and praise God together, Christians of different denominations, Moslems with different affiliations and traditionalists, because we are all grateful. That is the Spirit of Lagos,” Fashola said

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Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) eduction Of Fuel Pump Prices

Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has expressed shock that the Federal Government was yet to effect a drastic reduction in the pump price of fuel despite the continued fall in global oil prices.
President of the TUC, Bobboi Kaigama, in a statement to welcome Nigerian workers to the New Year, therefore called on the government to immediately reduce the pump prices of petroleum products to ameliorate the suffering of the masses.
“On the recent drop in the price of crude, account has it that following the unexpected drop in the prices of crude, government is planning to employ some austerity measures to cushion the effect on the economy.
“The labour movement and some fore-sighted well-meaning Nigerians had for several times called on government to make utmost use of the excess dollar we got by diversifying the economy to no avail. Unfortunately, our politicians are only interested in rushing down to Abuja for monthly allocation.
“Yes, our economy has just been rated the biggest economy in Africa. How do we agree with that when in practical terms when the lending rates, cost of living and doing business are unreasonably high?
“Additionally, the hasty and deliberate devaluation of the naira which has also brought untold hardship to the real sector and all other facets of the economy have to be addressed as congress will not tolerate cases of job losses arising from government’s insensitivity.

“It becomes pertinent to warn against such move now to avoid worsening the spate of insecurity in the country today, which was occasioned by the gross mismanagement of the economy. No wonder, unemployment figures remain high; unimaginable crime rates, poverty, epileptic energy sector and inexplicable high tariff have become our lot,” the statement read.

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26 Boko haram members killed in Cameroon, others escape to Nigeria

26 members of Boko Haram were reportedly killed in an ambush by Cameroonian soldiers at Moza-Wara in Cameroon yesterday January 4th. Cameroonian investigative journalist Chief Bissong Etahoben said other militants who survived the attack escaped to Northern Nigeria

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Photos From Lagos Countdown 2014 | Wizkid, D’Banj, 2face, Olamide, Banky W, Reminisce, Yemi Alade & More

 Over 200,000 Lagosians were treated to great entertainment, fun and excitement at the Lagos Countdown powered by Star Beer on December 31st 2014, which held at Eko Atlantic City, VI Lagos.

Lagos Countdown Grand Finale had a series of thrilling musical performances from some of Nigeria’s biggest names such as 2face, D’banj, Wizkid, MI, Seyi Shay and many more.  A massive firework display also lit up the Eko Atlantic skyline for almost an hour with impressive configurations.

We have photos of their performance. Check them out below



2face

Annie Idibia and Tayo Faniran

Banky W

Daddy Showkey

Dammy Krane

D’Banj

DJ Jimmy Jatt

Fade Ogunro

Governor Fashola

Gbenga Adeyinka

Olamide

Omawumi

Oritse Femi

Orlando Julius

Reminisce

Seyi Shay

Sir Shina Peters

Sir Victor Uwaifo

Sound Sultan

Wizkid

Yemi Alade

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Photos of Wizkid & Tola Odunsi Test Driving His New N38m Bentley

It is no longer news that Wizkid splashed over $200,000 (N38million+) on a new machine for himself to kick start 2015.

The 24 year old star today went to Tola Odunsi’s crib with his new whip and Tola rode the convertible Bentley with the Star Boy music chief the passenger on the occasion.

Wizkid Bentley

 

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