A Catholic priest, Rev Fr Kelvin Ugwu, has called on Nigerians to ignore the recent prophecy by the founder of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Fr. Ejike Mbaka, against the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Mbaka, a fiery Enugu Catholic priest, had declared that Peter Obi cannot emerge as Nigerian President in 2023, saying the Labour Party candidate is too stingy.
Mbaka’s comment is currently generating reactions from the teaming supporters of Obi.
Reacting, Fr Kelvin, a Nigerian Catholic priest serving in Malawi, said in a post on his verified Facebook page that such prophecies had plunged the entire nation into ‘purgatory’ in previous election years.
Mbaka had in 2015, declared that President Muhammadu Buhari was a messiah chosen by God to take the country to its promised land.
But the controversial priest had, however, attacked Buhari’s government over alleged corruption, stating that the president was being controlled by some cabals in the Aso Rock
According to Fr Kelvin, in the past, we have listened to self-acclaimed prophets tell us who to vote for. We tried them many times, but they landed us in purgatory. This time around, we have decided not to follow prophecies.
On the stingy comment by Mbaka, Fr Kelvin opined that Nigerians had “tried candidates that used to share money. We voted for those that will distribute oils, Maggi, indomie, and 1k before the camera, but it landed us in hell”.
“This time around, we have vowed never to listen to any self-acclaimed prophet and their prophecies. We are not saying prophecy is not good, but we are saying that the biggest prophecy from God in the 2023 election is for us to use our common senses, which God gave us.
“Finally, we have also vowed not to give shishi when you don’t merit it. We will not bribe anybody. We will not be wasteful. Shishi you will not see unless we see the importance of the project to the masses”.
Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has emerged as the running mate to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.
Mr. Okowa’s nomination was announced and confirmed by Atiku himself on Thursday at an unveiling event of his running mate held in Abuja.
Following the announcement, Okowa will thereafter be screened by a committee already setup for that purpose.
Recall that Wike, who has been the foreman in the radar of the PDP heavyweights and was speculated to be selected as the vice-presidential candidate of the main opposition party, was rumoured to have been selected as Atiku’s running mate.
But the party, yesterday (Wednesday), dismissed reports that its Selection Committee has settled for the Rivers State governor as the party’s vice-presidential candidate.
The National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said reports in the media that the PDP has picked Wike could only be in the realm of rumour, saying the National Working Committee of the was looking into the matter and consulting, in order to consider the best vice-presidential candidate for the party in the 2023 elections.
As part of moves to press down its process, the NWC of the PDP met in Abuja on Wednesday at 11 AM, where the advisory board resumed intense deliberations.
ABN TV also reported that the PDP selection committee had recommended the Rivers State governor after 13 of 17 members, who attended the meeting at the PDP National Secretariat, yesterday, voted in favour of Wike. At the meeting, three members voted for others, while the chairman, who can only vote when there is a tie, did not vote.
Meanwhile, after the keenly-contested PDP primary, Wike had scored 237 against the 371 delegate votes at the PDP presidential primary secured by Atiku, who won the party ticket.
The winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Yobe North Senatorial District primaries, Bashir Sheriff Machina, says he may be the next Senate President.
In an interview with Leadership, Machina said he had been approached by some people to step down for Senate President Ahmad Lawan, but that he would not.
Lawan had contested the presidential ticket of the party but lost to a former Lagos governor and national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu.
He had been representing Yobe North Senatorial District at the National Assembly for 15 years.
In the interview, Machina said Lawan had no right to the ticket, saying he wanted to go into the National Assembly to improve upon his performance.
“We were lucky that our senator became the Senate President. By becoming the Senate President there’s nothing… Any Senator can be the Senate President. I may likely be the next Senate President. Who knows? I was in the National Assembly long before Ahmad,” said Machina who was first elected a Federal Lawmaker in 1990.
He insisted that he was still in the race and is not willing to relinquish his ticket.
He said, “Surely, I am not going back. I wrote letter to the party to say I am staying in the race. There is nowhere in the party guidelines that says the ticket should at any time be given to some one that didn’t participate in the primary,” he said.
“The voluntary withdrawal form was attached to the nomination form which was about 16 pages. Form 15 is withdrawal form, so I simply left it. I didn’t fill it because I felt I was not going to withdraw from the contest. And there is no place in the form that says he must fill all the forms.”
Machina said if Lawan were serious about his legislative role, he would not have gone into the contest for the presidential ticket which he lost.
On whether he could be forced to relinquish the ticket, Machina said such cannot happen in a democracy.
He said although Lawan has not approached him over the issue personally, some persons have been mounting pressure on him.
Machina denied being sponsored by the Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, noting that he was duly elected by delegates despite being the sole candidate.
He said party officials from national secretariat, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials and security operatives were present during the primaries where he clinched the ticket.
As part of the plan to beat the Friday, June 17 deadline given by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to political parties to submit the names of presidential candidates and their running mates, the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu has submitted the name of Kabir Ibrahim Masari.
It was, however, gathered that the name of Masari, who hails from the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari, would later be changed after the party stakeholders must have agreed on a suitable vice-presidential candidate for the 2023 elections.
A party source confirmed to ABN TV that it was true that Tinubu has submitted the name of his running mate, but added that “consultation is still ongoing”
It was further gathered that the move by Tinubu and the ruling party was to meet the statutory requirement and beat the deadline set by the electoral umpire.
However, Tinubu will today meet President Muhammadu Buhari as consultation continues on the issue of his running mate.
There have been strong opposition against the issue of a Muslim-Muslim ticket being mulled by the ruling party.
Though some names had been mentioned as possible running-mates to the former Lagos State governor, it was gathered that no compromise had been reached yet.
A source in the Tinubu’s camp told ABN TV that all the northern governors want the position.
The source added that if Tinubu has his way, he would have loved to pick the former Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima as his running-mate, but he wanted the president and the governors to pick.
The source said: “All northern governors want it. If Asiwaju has his way, it will be Senator Kashim. But he wants the president and governors to pick for him.”
Asked why Tinubu does not want to pick his running mate himself, the source stressed he didn’t want to be a ‘winner takes it all.’
“He does not want to be the winner takes it all. You need to respect the President. PMB did not choose a VP for himself in 2015,” the source said.
One of the leaders of Tinubu Support Group, Hon. James Faleke was at the party secretariat yesterday, but his mission was not known.
But the source confirmed that Faleke was at the party secretariat yesterday to collect INEC’s form for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates to be filled.
Asked if Faleke was there to submit the name of the running mate to Tinubu, the source insisted that no compromise had been reached in the issue of running mate.
“When the decision is made, it would be made known to all and the decision would be made tomorrow (today),” he added.
Bishop Silas Eke of Kingly People’s Assembly, says the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, cannot win the 2023 presidential election with a Christian minority from Northern Nigeria as Bola Tinubu’s running mate.
Eke, in a chat with newsmen on Wednesday evening in Umuahia backed the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu for endorsing Muslim/Muslim ticket.
The cleric urged those opposing the presidential ambition of the former governor of Lagos State Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to crucify Kalu for trying to be a committed party man, noting that the Chief Whip of the Senate spoke like a committed chieftain of the APC without bias.
“Let’s not forget that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu is a chieftain of the APC from a region where the party is not too popular. There is absolutely nothing wrong with what he said. The party stands a better chance to win with a Muslim/Muslim ticket. بوكر I didn’t hear Kalu telling APC to islamize Nigeria. العاب تجيب فلوس I think he is in order.
“Majority of those criticizing his statement are doing so out of emotions. افضل طريقة للربح في الروليت But to the best of my knowledge, there is nothing like emotions in politics. His party wants to win just like the PDP, so I think he just revealed the party’s strategy to Nigerians which is not against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is absolutely in order. Those against him are just being emotional because of the party and its candidate.”
Recall that Orji Uzor Kalu, the Senate Chief Whip insisted that “there is nothing wrong if the All Progressives Congress, APC, decides to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket at the 2023 presidential election”.
He told newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday that the paramount issue was for the APC to win the presidential election.
He argued that it was not possible for a southern minority Muslim and a northern minority Christian to win a presidential election in Nigeria.
“Do you want me to speak the truth? If I am Bola Ahmed Tinubu whose wife is a senior pastor at a Pentecostal Church, I will go for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“The most important thing is for the party to win. We should stop the issue of whether you put a Christian there or not.
“After all if we win, the wife is already a pastor. This is my own opinion, and you cannot deny me my opinion.
Mr Kalu also told newsmen that a party could also play Christian-Christian ticket, depending on the scenario.
He added that it would be almost difficult for the APC to win the election in 2023 if Tinubu does not play Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“I know the Church I go to. There is nothing wrong in a Muslim-Muslim ticket, just as there is nothing wrong in a Christian-Christian ticket.
“Tinubu is a minority Muslim from the south, and if you pick a Christian from the north, it will be a minority Christian, and you cannot play two minorities; it is difficult.
He said, however that his submissions were not those of the APC, but those of Orji Kalu.
“I sit with Tinubu’s wife in the Senate and the wife is a pastor and I have known Tinubu for long and he is a man who can do the work.
“Tinubu is not a man who preaches Islam or Christianity.
“He is a man who goes with everybody and can do the work, I know that most Christians will be hurt with what I am saying, but picking a Muslim or a Christian will not make him the best president.
“It is his conscience which is an open wound that only truth can heal that matters,’’ Kalu said.
Mr Kalu thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for ensuring a level playing ground for all candidates at the APC’s presidential primary election.
He expressed the belief that his constituency and the Southeast that gave Buhari 68 per cent votes in 2019 election would also extend the same percentage vote to Tinubu come 2023 presidential election.
Governor of Kogi State and former presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has hinted that he will relaunch his presidential ambition in the near future.
He made the declaration in a chat with State House correspondents on Wednesday after he met with the President in his office.
Governor Bello, who was at the Villa on a ‘thank you’ visit to the President for allowing him to contest in the presidential exercise, said that what he did with the presidential race is test his might, promising that his next attempt will be supersonic.
The Kogi State Governor further, who urged his followers to support the ruling party across the board in the upcoming elections, appealed to them not to be disillusioned by the loss.
On the possibility of the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, having a Muslim running mate, the governor stated that religion or region should not be a factor for political office.
Renowned Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka has come under fire over his comments on presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi.
Mbaka had said in one of his preachings that Obi can never be Nigeria’s President.
It will be recalled that Mbaka, at his Adoration Ministry in Enugu State, had declared that, unless God ceases to exist, Obi would never smell the seat of the President.
The Reverend Father had stated that, “it was better to have an old man as President than a “stingy young man.”
Meanwhile, there have been calls by some Nigerians to the Catholic Church authority to call the cleric to order.
Nigerians on social media have been reacting to the development:
@Ezigbo_mmadu, ”90% of Nigerians abroad became less religious immediately they traveled because the government of the country they reside in has already provided close to 100% of what they do fast & pray for. Same reason hy Mbaka prefers a bad leader,so that his religious business will keep booming.”
@novieverest, ”Mbaka was not given money by Peter Obi some years ago. Show me a project where I will put money into and see the result. That’s all Peter Obi asked for. Till today Mbaka has refused to rest
@GideonFidy, ”Mbaka supported Buhari the worst president ever bcos they gave him money, Mbaka supported Hope Uzodinma because he got money from him, even if you are BH just give him money and he’ll support you. Nobody rate him again.”
@taqueenobi, ”While other men of God are encouraging voting for the right candidate, mbaka is looking for who will buy our future with money.SHAMEFUL
@PastorBlessid, ”Even Fr Mbaka couldn’t push Peter Obi to do what he doesn’t want to do even when he told him God was involved and related it with winning election.Peter stood on his principles.SHI SHI we won’t give.His tenacity and articulated savviness is 100%.Competence!”
@mrstanlei, ”I was born and brought up in the Roman Catholic church, I have so much respect for Rev fr Mbaka, But as it stands right now, even Pope Francis can’t tell me not to vote for Peter obi talkless of Fr Mbaka, the same man that told us to vote for Buhari.”
@uggoprince, ”Truly this election is revealing.From pastors, priests, politicians, activists, everyone. Imagine Father Mbaka don’t want you to vote Peter Obi because he wasn’t successful in manipulating him into giving to his ministry with the name of God.God is alive.”
@GeneralKingslee, ”Someone should tell the Catholic Bishops to please caution Rev Fr Mbaka to desist from attacking the person of Mr Peter Obi and face his ministry work.”
Photo from L-R: Mrs Ikwunze, Mr Ifeanyi Okali and Mr Ikeunze
Photo from L-R: Mrs Ikwunze, Mr Ifeanyi Okali and Mr Ikeunze
Mr & Mrs Chibuzor Ikwunze of Umuagu, of Ohuhu in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State who lost four of their children in Abia last year have thanked the management of ABN TV for amplifying their voice and bringing their plight to public notice.
Mr & Mrs Chibuzor Ikwunze
The couple lost their children who were on a holiday at the home of Mr. Sunday Okechukwu Ogba, a family friend in Umueze Umuakanu Community Umuahia North Local Government Area after allegedly eating barbecue meat, popularly known as suya and fruit juice.
The children were between the ages of 3 to 12.
At a thank you visit in ABN TV office in Umuahia on Wednesday, mother of the deceased children, Mrs. Ikwunze commended ABN TV for rallying support for them at their trying times and letting the public know what they were passing through.
She said it had not been easy for her and her husband to cope without their four children.
She expressed gratitude to God for keeping her and her husband, praying that God will have mercy on them and bless them as well.
She also revealed that a lot has happened since after the incident, praying God to expose the mystery behind the death of her children and other members of the host family.
“I and my husband can’t tell the cause of the incident it is only God that sees all and will expose those behind the evil act,” she said.
Her husband Mr Ikwunze while speaking thanked God for protecting them, stressing that it has not been easy on them.
He said with the support of friends and well wishers, God has sustained the family. He also said the result of the the autopsy has not been released to them yet.
Ikwunze in his words; “I thank the Management and Staff of ABN TV especially the director for his love and care towards my family,He is a friend,good man and caring father indeed. He goes extra mile in the media job and if other journalists could imitate his life style there will be a better Nigeria.”
He also thanked Member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency of Abia State, Hon Sam Onuigbo who was the first government official to identify with the family and the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji for the love they showed to the family as well other individuals that have reached out to them in one way or the other.
The Director ABN TV, Mr Ifeanyi Okali in his response thanked the family for appreciating the modest contribution of the medium in reporting the incidents up till the burial of the kids.
He commiserated with them and prayed God to bring succour to the family.
Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has said he went into the race for the presidency in 2023 under the All Progressives Congress, APC, just to hone his skills as a politician.
Although he lost out in the primary election that produced former Lagos State Governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu as presidential flag bearer, Bello said the lessons learnt from the contest has been well assimilated and will prove useful in future political endeavours.
The Governor made these remarks, shortly after he met President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, to thank him for allowing a level playing ground for all the contestants during the recent primary polls.
Recall that while the permutations for who will emerge as flag bearer of the ruling party raged, Bello had remained adamant that he would not step down for any candidate.
He was reported to have walked out on one of the stakeholders meetings involving the APC Governors from the North and had insisted that it would take only the President to compel him to step down for any of the aspirants.
He was later seen visiting Tinubu to declare his full support for his presidential ambition and even donated a fully furnished campaign office to aid the presidential flagbearer.
“I came today to see Mr. President to express my appreciation for allowing me to participate in the just concluded national special convention that elected our standard bearer. As a president, the leader of our party, my leader, my father, and mentor.
“I deem it necessary and courteous enough to come and appreciate him for giving me that opportunity. Even so far, to serve the good people of Kogi State as executive governor the first and even in the second term so far, and in various capacities that have served the party, my state and the nation And to further express to Mr. President, I am 100% loyal to him and to the party. And Mr. President was pleased. He appreciated me and encouraged me to continue to pursue what will make this country great. So basically, that’s why I’m here today.
“You can start from any level, as a youth, as women; as Nigerians, you can start from any level. My own first level is governorship, and God made it. And again, I attempted the presidency, now, let us not give up hope. We must continue to try. I have learned a great lesson from this first trial. And I’m never beaten twice,” he stated.
Commenting on the clamour for a Muslim/Muslim ticket, he said Tinubu was an experienced politician, hence would know how to pick a running mate that would give him the edge to win the elections.
His words, “The flagbearer, Senator to Bola Ahmed Tinubu is an astute politician. He understands the game well and he knows how to win a contest, especially at this level. I’m confident that himself, Mr. President, our party leaders and elders of our party will come up with a selection that is going to sell the party and the candidature of our party and ensure that victory, whether Muslim Muslim ticket ot Christian; whether from Northeast or wherever, I am confident that the party can come up with someone who will assist in the already victory that we are envisaging ahead of us. So whether it Muslim or Christian, we’re all Nigerians.
“It’s been long that I have been advocating that we should de-emphasize our fault lines; that which divides us; let us rather dwell on what unites us more. So that is my position.
“Well merits and balance, equity, fairness and justice. When you put all of them together as a political party, what comes to mind first is how do we win this election? If we don’t win this election where do you now come about your fairness, equity and justice for Nigeria.
“So, merit is very key; I’ve always been an advocate for merit because certain challenges that are confronting us today in this country, we need those who will come and solve this problem. If this place is not secured, we won’t be here today. Those that are here today, securing the Villa, securing this press room are not selected based on religion.
“They’re not selected based on region, they are selected based on competence, capacity to be able to protect this villa. So we need those who will be able to solve all of these challenges that are confronting us today in Nigeria”.
The Abia State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) says it received the news of the unfortunate abduction of one of her members, Mr Chuks Onuoha, by gunmen with great shock, utter bewilderment and despondency.
Mr Onuoha, a former Abia State Correspondent of The Sun Newspapers, was kidnapped at his Umungasi Ohuhu family home in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State at about 10 p.m Tuesday night, (14/6/2022), according to family sources.
This ugly development has left the Council at a loss as to why kidnappers would pick on a poor journalist whose only wealth is the byline he gets in the media which has no attachment to any fat bank account, Chairman NUJ Abia State Council, Comrade Victor Ndukwe and the Secretary, Comrade Adaeze Ralph Igbokwe said in a statement on Wednesday.
The council says journalists are change agents who ensure that society functions with correct information to engender socio-economic development.
They said their members are like people who bear enlarged scrotum but would eagerly prefer to labour with every amount of commitment to ensure that the pimple on the face of the man on the street is treated while enduring the excruciating pain of his enlarged scrotum. موقع المراهنات العالمي
The statement added, “The Council fears that Journalists are fast becoming endangered species in the state in the evolving trend as this is the third of such ugly story.
“Assuming but without conceding that Mr Onuoha may have offended anyone in the course of discharging his journalistic functions, resorting to jungle justice or taking the law into one’s hands is never the way to go, it is an ignoble act in this age and era of civilization. The law courts are there. Or, better still, any person aggrieved by any perceived professional misconduct of a journalist is encouraged to report the journalist to the Union which would apply its constitutionally approved correctional method and measures in handling such issues.
“We hereby passionately appeal to his abductors to quickly release him unharmed to enable him to reunite with his agonizing family. سباق الحصان
“We also call on all security agencies in the state to swiftly swing into action to secure the release of Mr Onuoha, even as the Council urges the government to deploy all its security apparatchik for the rescue of Mr. Onuoha and to institute water-tight security measures that would eradicate the menace of kidnapping which seems to resurging in the state.
“We urge society to strive to create the environmental ambience capable of encouraging the journalist to practice his or her profession without let or hindrance. A society where journalists are not allowed to discharge their onerous responsibility of galvanizing society for socio-economic transformation and political advancement is doomed.
Former Chief of Staff to the Abia State Government and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Sir Mascot Uzor Kalu, has extended warm birthday...
