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Nigerians have continued to condemn the verbal attack on Senator Smart Adeyemi by Senator Oluremi Tinubu after the former lamented the threats posed by the growing insecurity in the country.

Adeyemi is the senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District while Oluremi Tinubu represents Lagos Central Senatorial District.

Both lawmakers are members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The plenary session on insecurity last week which lasted for over an hour had lawmakers complaining about the insecurity in Nigeria and proffering possible solutions.

Adeyemi was one of the contributors to the debate during which he spoke passionately for over five minutes, describing the current state of insecurity in Nigeria as the worst so far.

But Tinubu seemed disgusted by Adeyemi’s comments.

“I’m a party man and I’m supporting APC but it has gotten to a point that as supporters we cannot keep quiet,” Adeyemi had said.

“This is the worst instability we are facing. In fact, this is worse than the civil war.”

While Adeyemi continued venting his anger at the “killing, maiming, insecurity in the country,” Tinubu who sat beside the senator interjected.

“Are you in PDP? Are you a wolf in sheep’s clothing?” Tinubu said, rebuking the lawmaker.

Adeyemi, however, ignored his colleague and fellow party member, stating that there were lots of misinterpretations of what was happening in the country. See Also Sahara Reporters Are You In The PDP, Wolf In Sheep's Clothing? – Remi Tinubu Tackles Senator Adeyemi For Complaining About Insecurity 0 Comments 5 Days Ago

When SaharaReporters reached out to Adeyemi for his reaction to what Tinubu said, he declined to comment on the issue.

Meanwhile, many Nigerians did not find the statement credited to Tinubu funny.

They lambasted her on social media platform Twitter, saying she is more concerned about the 2023 elections than talking about tackling the insecurity in the land.

However, this is not the first time the ordained pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God would be involved in a controversy since becoming a Senator in 2011.

2015: TAKING OVER DEPUTY SENATE PRESIDENT’S SEAT

In 2015, Tinubu raised a storm at the senate when she sat on the chair meant for Ike Ekweremadu, the then Deputy Senate President.

The former Lagos State First Lady, who wanted to second a motion on the approval of the Lagos state development policy operation loan, earned the rebuke of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators, when she stood up to speak while standing in the Deputy Senate President’s corner.

Naturally, this forced her to second the motion from another seat, complaining that her microphone was faulty.

She however returned to the seat of Ekweremadu, who was not present at plenary, after she had seconded the motion.

Tinubu sat giddily in the Deputy Senate President’s seat, intermittently conversing with Aliyu Ndume.

2016: FIGHT WITH DINO MELAYE

In July 2016, there was an altercation between Tinubu and Senator Dino Melaye from Kogi state which saw both lawmakers calling each other names and charging at each other.

According to reports, those who witnessed the incident, which occurred during a closed-door meeting held by the senators, said trouble started when Melaye urged the Senate to descend heavily on members who had offered to serve as prosecution witnesses in the ongoing forgery case against the then Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ekweremadu.

“You should go and tell those who sent you that nobody, I said nobody, no matter who he is, can ever control this Senate,” Melaye was quoted as saying as he pointed at the affected senators, his face contorted in rage.

But when Tinubu was recognised to speak, she rose, and said, “I’m just wondering why whenever Senator Dino speaks in this chamber, he is always threatening people and behaving childishly and at times like a thug.

“I think he needs to know that every senator here represents their constituencies. And that there is no need to threaten anyone.

“We are seeking and working towards reconciliation, yet you are busy issuing threats.”

One of the sources said at this point, Melaye jumped up from his seat and charged towards Tinubu, saying, “Look this is not Bourdillon (referring to the famous Lagos residence of Mrs Tinubu’s politician husband). I will beat you up, ….. impregnate you and nothing will happen.”

Witnesses said as Melaye charged towards the Lagos senator, other senators, especially those from the South-West geopolitical zone, waded in and shielded Tinubu from attack, and then calmed her down.

2016: ALLEGED ATTEMPT TO SLAP ANOTHER SENATOR

Melaye in 2016 also alleged that Tinubu almost “slapped Senator Rafiu Ibrahim” and got away with it.

Ibrahim was elected to the Senate under the platform of the APC from Kwara South in March 2015.

“I know a former member of the National Assembly, who had to go to one of today’s cabinet members to report her, that the next time she was rude to him, he would damn the consequences and take her to the cleaners. I also know that Mark as former Senate President avoided her like a plague.

“Did anyone see how she charged Senator (Musiliu) Obanikoro when she objected to his nomination as minister? Instances abound and these are unbecoming incidences that should not be found in anyone’s character file. But that’s who she is. It will take a ‘real man’to brush aside such invective and pretend an encounter ever took place with her. That’s where Dino missed it. But Remi can be such a menace.

“The same woman almost slapped Senator Rafiu Ibrahim and nobody demanded an apology /response from her or the entire Senate. Why now? The same woman deliberately sat on the Deputy Senate President’s seat to cause uproar yet, nobody demanded an apology from her. Why now?” Melaye had said.

2019: THREATENED ‘intimacy gadget SENATOR’ WITH SUSPENSION

In July 2019, Tinubu had an open confrontation with another colleague of hers, Elisha Ishaku Abbo from Adamawa state.

Abbo, who was caught on camera assaulting a woman in an Abuja intimacy gadget shop, hadappeared before a Senate committee set up to investigate the incident.

The Adamawa senator said he had refused to allow journalists to interview him over the matter, and did not understand why he came in for the hearing to be “ambushed” by journalists.

Insisting that the hearing be done privately, Abbo had said “I am not addressing the camera, I am not addressing the press.”

Before being allowed to explain this, Tinubu told Abbo he was new in the Senate and could not tell the committee how to handle the hearing.

“You are just joining us. We have a procedure and we are also under law. What we are doing, we are doing as a legislature. You don’t come in here when we invite you, despite you being our colleague, you are on the other side now,” she had said.

“Everybody requires a fair hearing, what is going on with you affects us as a body. You don’t come in here and dictate to us the procedure we are supposed to adopt. You don’t dictate to us, because you undermine us by even trying to do that. You haven’t even listened to us, even if we are going beyond what you expect, you can stop us.

“Do you want us to protect you, or do you want us to defend you, or you want to be on your own? Do you realise that the Senate when we constitute this, whatever the law gives, we can also suspend you?”

Interrupting Tinubu with a protest, Abbo said the senator should not threaten him with suspension.

“Are you threatening me with suspension?” he asked.

“I am a senator like you, I won’t sit here and you threaten me with suspension. With all due respect, you cannot threaten me with suspension, I take exception, ma’am.”

…RCCG leader forced to fly Oyedepo’s aircraft

The Federal Government through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has grounded a private chopper belonging to Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God at the Lagos Airport, investigations by Sunday PUNCH, has revealed.

It was learnt that the aircraft, AgustaWestland AW139 chopper, with registration number 5N-EAA, was suspended from flying over two weeks ago, following the expiration of some of its papers and spare parts.

The suspension, officials said, would also allow the regulator to conduct vital safety checks on its safety-critical components, especially some spare parts that are due for replacement.

Adeboye had, last Saturday during a special meeting with all ordained ministers of the mission at the RCCG, Region 21, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, called for drastic action against corrupt practices in all facets of Nigeria.

The RCCG leader, who flew a chopper to the venue, said he arrived late for the meeting because someone had requested a bribe from him to fly his chopper.

He said he had decided to embark on the trip via his chopper to avoid a possible gridlock on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The 79-year-old mathematician-turned-preacher said, “I don’t give excuses because I have discovered long ago that only failures give excuses. But you must pray for Nigeria.

“Something must be done about corruption in this nation. All I can say is that I am this late because somebody wanted a bribe. And you know if you are expecting a bribe from me, you have to wait forever.

“But the devil has failed. And the devil will continue to fail. I decided to come by helicopter so that there won’t be a traffic jam that would tie me down on the expressway because I know what the devil could do.

“Then, I ran into something else. But by the grace of God, we are here.”

Although Sunday PUNCH could not ascertain who requested the alleged bribe from the revered servant of God, investigations by the paper revealed that the cleric’s chopper was suspended from flying by the regulatory authority over safety issues.

Multiple aviation sources confirmed that Adeboye could not fly his chopper with registration number 5N-EAA to the Ibadan programme but had to fly another aircraft reportedly belonging to Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel).

A top official of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, who is close to the operations of the two choppers belonging to the servants of God, said, “The team relating directly with Daddy G.O. should have told the man of God on time that his chopper had not been cleared by the NCAA and, as such, it couldn’t go on the Ibadan trip. They shouldn’t have waited till the last minute. The NCAA (aviation regulatory agency) that we have now is different from what it used to be. There is a new man in charge who always insists that things must be done properly as far as the safety of lives is concerned. The church’s protocol team should have told him that the NCAA has not cleared the aircraft and it may not clear it within a short time because certain procedure must be followed. As such, an alternative arrangement should have been made.”

The NAMA official, who chose to speak on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, further said, “On that last Saturday morning, when it later became obvious that the jet was not cleared to fly, they had to make an alternative arrangement with Bishop Oyedepo’s chopper. They had to quickly begin that process by filing the flight plan, etc. It was Bishop’s aircraft that Pastor Adeboye later flew to the event. He could not use his own.”

A top official of Omni-Blu Aviation, the airline operating the chopper for Adeboye, confirmed the development.

The official, who chose to speak on condition of anonymity, said a letter from Italy-based Leonardo, the manufacturer of Adeboye’s AW 139 helicopter, requesting the NCAA to grant a time extension on some spare parts that are due for replacement came late.

The spare parts due for replacement have been ordered from the manufacturer but they have yet to be shipped into Nigeria because they are usually produced on demand, according to Omni-Blu Aviation.

As such, the NCAA could not immediately grant the requested extension. Instead, the regulatory agency requested that comprehensive safety checks be conducted on the aircraft in line with standard aviation safety practice.

He said, “The NCAA that we have now is different from what it used to be. It always insists on standard. We don’t want any disappointing situation for anybody, especially for a globally reputed servant of God like Daddy G.O. It appears the man of God was not properly briefed. But we thank God an alternative arrangement was made to rescue the situation. Safety is first and paramount. No life is worth toying with, how much more that of a servant of God like Daddy G.O. As an airline, we won’t compromise safety no matter the pressure.’’

The Omni-Blu official denied knowledge of any bribe request, either by the airline or aviation officials.

He, however, said it was not impossible that some people might have cashed in on the situation to demand a bribe.

“You know some people don’t fear God no matter what. They can even go to the extent of asking a servant of God for a bribe. So, it is not impossible. But on our part, I am not aware of such.”

As it stands, it is uncertain when Adeboye’s chopper will be allowed to fly.

However, findings revealed that NCAA had directed maintenance and safety checks to be conducted on the aircraft.

As such, the operator has secured a date for this at Aero’s maintenance hangar.

When contacted for comments, the Director-General, NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, confirmed that the regulatory agency had suspended flights on the aircraft for safety reasons.

According to him, the NCAA does not often deal directly with individuals or owners of aircraft but the operator.

In this case, he said the NCAA only had business with the operator of the aircraft, Omni-Blu Aviation.

Nuhu said, “There are safety-related issues that must be resolved before the aircraft will be approved for resumption of flights. Safety is the paramount consideration in all approvals given by the NCAA. No matter what, we must not sacrifice safety for flights; that is the whole idea.”

When contacted, the spokesperson for RCCG, Pastor Olaitan Olubiyi, said the matter was being resolved already.

On the bribery allegation, he said the church would not want to take issue with the aviation authorities on the matter.

Olubiyi said, “We will not want to take issue with the aviation authorities but I can assure you that an amicable solution is being found to the issue.”

How I’ve survived women’s pressure in 32 years of being Catholic priest –Revd. Fr. Enyinnaya

The parish priest of St. Bridget’s Catholic Church, Okwuohia, Obowo, Imo State, Rev. Fr. John Enyinnaya, speaks to CHIDIEBUBE OKEOMA about his family background and life as a Catholic priest

Where and when were you born?

I was born on December 27, 1958. I am a twin; I have a twin sister. I was born 24 hours after my twin sister was born, so she is older than me by one day. I was born in a place called Umusioma, Umuarim in the Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State.

Can you describe the kind of setting you grew up in?

I grew up in a very humble family. My parents were not educated, but they loved education. My parents were not rich. My father would often say, “I do not have money in the bank, but my children are my wealth.” But ours was a very happy family. My parents had nine children – four males and five females. I am the sixth child among the nine children and the third male child.

At what point did you decide you wanted to become a Catholic priest?

I was in Primary Six when I heard announcements in church about enrollment in the Catholic Seminary School and I got interested. But the financial status of my family was a concern because enrollment involved money. I knew my father had the desire to send me to the seminary but he didn’t have the money. One day, my father returned home (from an outing) and asked me what I thought about going to the seminary. I told him I had heard the announcement about enrollment and I wished he had money to send me there. Later, one Friday evening, he called me and asked, “Do you still want to go to the seminary?” And my answer was yes. He gave me the enrollment fee and transport fare and that was how my journey to becoming a priest began.

What would you have become if you were not a Catholic priest?

I would have loved to become a medical doctor. When my grandmother was alive, I told her I would be a medical doctor. Till now I still have the desire to become a medical doctor but age is no more on my side. But I do advise sick persons on medical issues, which often works when they apply what I advise. When I was in the seminary, I worked in the clinic and I did very well for four years.

What does it mean to be a Catholic priest?

A lot; sacrifice, self denial. What do I mean by sacrifice? You are going there (into priesthood) not for yourself but for the people, not just for Catholics but for everybody. The sacrifice I mean is you offer yourself for service. Then, another important area is denial – Catholic priests do not marry. Not that you do not have people who admire you, especially the women who always come, looking for how to destroy you. But the office of a priest is prestigious; it is bigger than any other office. There is no retirement for a priest – once a priest is always a priest.

What are the processes for becoming a Catholic priest?

You must be an intelligent child of God; you study hard and have the desire to become a priest. It will reflect in your life and you must follow those who are already priests. If you want to get to the top, you must strive to stand on the shoulders of those who are already at the top. The call to priesthood is a divine calling. In the past, you can become a Catholic priest in 14 years but now it takes nothing less than 18 years. You will spend six years in Junior Seminary; you will spend one year doing what we call prefectery. Then you go for another one year called Spiritual Year. After that one year if you are lucky not to spend an extra year, you will proceed for Philosophy, which lasts for four years. After Philosophy, if you are lucky not to spend one extra year, you will proceed for Theology. All these processes take time and you are being tested over this period. After Theology is ordination and you then spend another one year for Internship – You will stay in a parish or a Catholic missionary school to teach and to understudy the master. It takes time and endurance to become a Catholic priest. So, when you see someone moving on the road as a Catholic priest, doff your cap to him. It is not easy to become a Catholic priest.

The life of celibacy comes with discipline and self-denial, will you say the choice was easy for you to make and live it?

It is not an easy thing but the question is ‘Were you forced to go there?’ It is not an easy thing because Catholic priests are human beings, who also have blood flowing in their veins. In deciding to be a priest you should know this is what you are going to face. But as human beings, at times, we find ourselves falling and rising.

What was your mother’s reaction to your decision to become a priest?

My mother too wanted me to become a priest, though she never said anything about it. But she would always encourage me to join in serving masses in church. She would promise to get me a gift if I joined them in serving masses in church. Everybody in my family supported me to become a Catholic priest and they are still supporting me till date.

Did your mother witness your ordination as a Catholic priest?

Yes, my mother was alive when I became a priest but my father died six months before my ordination. He was sick and hospitalised at the UNTH, Enugu before he died. I know my father is happy wherever he is that his dream of having me become a Catholic priest is a reality today.

How long have you been a Catholic priest?

I was ordained a Catholic priest in 1989; I have been a Catholic priest for 32 years and that is a dream come through.

What do you enjoy most about being a priest?

Everything about priesthood gives me joy. I think nothing but priesthood. I often find myself celebrating mass in my dreams. My life is all about the priesthood of the Catholic Church.

What has been your most memorable moment as a priest?

It was the day I was ordained as a priest. I felt really fulfilled because it was a long journey. I was ordained on August 4, 1989. I was the only one ordained as a priest in my parish. As at that time, the Bishop went from one parish to another to ordain priests and in my parish I was the only one ordained. On that day, the church was filled to its brims. Being a priest is not an easy role, but if you become a priest and you know what you are doing your roads are opened, unless you mess up.

Are there misconceptions about Catholic priesthood and the life of celibacy that you feel should be strengthened?

The truth is that being a priest does not remove one’s human nature. People seem not to understand that priests are human beings too and they are not above making little mistakes. Oftentimes they (priests) are alone and when you are alone, you must be very careful because the devil can come. Some people misunderstand us (priests). But people should understand that priests are human beings. All we need to do is to assist and pray for the priests. We (priests) are alone in the world but Jesus is with us.

Has any woman ever made advances to you or tried to be in a relationship with you?

How can they not make advances to me? I am a very handsome man. They do, but it is left for me as a Catholic priest, who knows what his office means, to say no or yes. If I tell you that no woman has ever made advances to me, I may not be telling you the truth. There are many (women) who appreciate you and want something from you, it is just for you to know who you are. If a priest does not recognise his position, they (women) will mess him up and people will turn him into a butt of jokes.

What is your view on the call for Catholic priests to start getting married?

If other priests like it, let them get married but I, Revd Fr. John Enyinnaya, will not get married. For me, getting married is getting an additional job to the job of a priest. It is either you want to be a priest or a married man. Priesthood is not an easy job because you must give it your whole attention. Priesthood is not a profession, it is a vocation. Remember I said earlier that Catholic priests are like ghosts; they have a lot to do. If you get married as a priest you will be limited in your service to God and mankind. You may get up one morning for mass, and then your child is ill. Are you going to leave the child and go for morning mass? If you leave the mass to attend to your child there will be confusion in the church. So, one must choose between being a Catholic priest and a married man.

What are the mistakes you have made in life?

Will you say becoming a Catholic priest while people were expecting me to get married is a mistake? As far as I know, it is not a mistake. I wouldn’t say I have made any mistakes or done anything that when I look back I wish I could turn back the hand of time.

The only mistake I can say I have made was lying to my father when I was in the seminary; that was the first and the last lie I told my father.

Will you conduct a same-sex wedding if Catholic Church permits it?

Which Catholic Bishop will ever say that? I am sure that the Catholic Church will not permit such an abomination, something that God said is wrong. Even animals abhor such a thing and any human being doing it is crazy, sick and needs to be quarantined. One of the reasons for marriage is procreation. When a man marries a man, how will they procreate?

What is your take on the use of hijab in the missionary school?

That (wearing of hijab) is the Muslim way of dressing and if the Muslims want that, they can have their schools and send their children there to preserve their tradition and religion. But if a Muslim wants to attend a Christian missionary school, then if you go to Rome you must behave like the Romans. Such pupils can keep their hijab and wear it when they go for holidays. It should not bring a quarrel; when you come to school, wear the school uniform and keep your hijab at home. You don’t have to come to a Christian missionary school.

What is your take about the increasing kidnaps of Catholic priests?

People no longer respect God; they now toy with sacred, ordained priests. It is wrong. If I am kidnapped now and you are looking for money, my brothers will not bring any money; my bishop will say, ‘If you kill him, bring his corpse to where we can see it and bury him.’ If you are expecting any ransom to be paid, you will not get any. As a priest, my ransom has long been paid. The moment I became a Catholic priest, was when my ransom was paid. The church has no money. The devil has gone to the church; God will fish them out soon. They are putting their hands in dangerous places and God will expose them.

Do you do any other thing outside priesthood?

I am a lecturer at the Imo State College of Education. I teach in the Department of Christian Religious Knowledge. Even when I was at St. Paul’s Parish, Osu I was the principal of the school that I established. When I was at Arondizuogu, I was also the principal of the school. I was also the one that established it.

How do you combine priesthood and lecturing?

A priest is also a teacher, there is no combination. Even while I was a parish priest at Arondizogu, I was still doing my programmes. When I was at Arondizuogu, I went to Kaduna for public complaint communications, I did radio and television programmess and also did counselling. I also went to ABSU for my master’s and PhD. The most important thing is to manage your time. Oftentimes when we say we don’t have time, what is missing is the initiative to manage our time well.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is enmeshed in the crisis of zoning its National Working Committee (NWC) offices and when to conduct its National Convention.

The National Convention is due for June but the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee is yet to start the processes of the Convention. Earlier this week, a list appeared on some social media sites, stating that the party has zoned the presidency to the South, while the National Chairmanship was zoned to the North.

It went on to share other offices between the South and the North. But the Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Senator John AkpanUdoedehe, described it as speculation. “People who are interested in running for one office or the other can speculate.

As far as I am concerned, the last Caretaker Committee meeting we had, we did not discuss that. That is not what we are concerned with now. What we are concerned with is data collection; how to collect data without making mistakes.”

However, sources within the party told Sunday Telegraph that the Caretaker Committee was planning to complete the tenure of the sacked NWC, led by the former Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. The Oshiomhole-led NWC would have ended June 2022 but was terminated in June 2020.

By the APC constitution, the tenure of a Working Committee is four years, as Oshiomhole was voted in as APC National Chairman in 2018. The Caretaker Committee that was constituted in June last year with a mandate to conduct a National Convention, but got an extension of its tenure for another six months in December last year.

But a party source said that the Committee is pushing for another extension that would make them complete the tenure of the sacked NWC next June, 2022. It was learnt that some stakeholders are already planning a showdown, as they claim no National Executive Committee (NEC) was in place to grant an extension of tenure to the Committee.

According to some of them who spoke on the condition of anonymity, since the organs of the party have been dissolved, the party has no more NEC, which is in position to grant extension to the Caretaker Committee.

It would be recalled that the Caretaker Committee in December last year presented a proposal to NEC to dissolve all the organs of the party from the ward to the national levels and constitute caretakers committees in all the states’ party chapters.

The stakeholders said the Caretaker Committee did not envisage that there would be need for them to look for another extension when they proposed for the dissolution of the party organs.

One of them said: “They proposed that all the organs of the party should be dissolved and they got that but now they want extension of tenure. There is no NEC to sit to grant that.”

Also, the Progressive Governors Forum’s Director General, Salihu Lukman, warned against the extension of the tenure of the Caretaker Committee, but called for the conduct of a Convention to usher in new NWC.

Another source also revealed that beyond the conduct of the National Convention, the Caretaker Committee was faced with the crisis of zoning the NWC positions.

According to the source, the Caretaker Committee believed that if the National Chairman was zoned to North-East, a former Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, would come with the assistance of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN.

The source said the party leadership does not want Sheriff as its Chairman. Sheriff was Acting National Chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and he was removed in a controversial circumstance after the party had a series of crises.

The source also said that the party was constrained by zoning the National Chairman to North Central because of the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, who has indicated interest for the Presidential ticket of the party.

According to the source, the North Central might get the Vice Presidential slot of the party if the National Chairmanship was not zoned to the geopolitical zone. However, a group from the zone (North Central) recently asked Bello to drop his Presidential ambition, so that the party could zone the National Chairmanship to the geopolitical zone.

Speaking on the tenure extension for the Caretaker, another chieftain of the APC said that the President should be very careful not to attract a legal battle against the party from members.

According to the source, if the tenure of the Caretaker Committee was extended without NEC, people would go to court to challenge it. The source advised that the APC governors should come in and save the party as the only known body of the party for now.

His words: “Let the Progressive Governors Forum meet and address the crisis that is about to erupt in APC. It would be wrong to extend the tenure of Caretaker Committee without NEC or the Committee on their own decides to extend their tenure.

This would attract a legal battle that might jeopardize the chances of the party in 2023.”

The Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide (a.k.a Winners’ Chapel) David Oyedepo yesterday said he would not take COVID-19 vaccine jab, saying he is not a guinea pig.

The cleric expressed his disapproval for the vaccine during the church’s Covenant Hour of Prayer programme held at Faith Tabernacle – Canaanland, Sango Otta, Ogun State.

Over 160,000 Covid infections and more than 2,000 associated deaths have been recorded in the country in the last one year, according to statistics by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

Nigeria commenced nationwide vaccination on March 5 after receiving 3.9 million doses courtesy of COVAX, the global alliance against COVID-19.

As of April 16, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) said 1,081,548 doses of the vaccine have so far been administered across the country.

Oyedepo had previously kicked against the lockdown directive and dismissed warnings that places of worship are vulnerable with respect to the spread of COVID-19.

The cleric had also said he would lay his bare hands on COVID-19 patients brought to him for prayer, while he also claimed about 114 members of his church testified to have been healed of coronavirus.

At the programme yesterday, Oyedepo said it was immoral to force people to take the vaccine.

The bishop said the church had the answer to some of the challenges facing the world, while he added that his job is to expose the devil and its agents.

Oyedepo said he had never seen “a generation where people are forced to take vaccines. It is inhuman; it is immoral sir. I’m not a lawyer, but I do not think it is legal. You can’t come to my house and want to give me injections.”

He rhetorically asked: “On what? Did I invite you? They are confused. But the church has the answer. Did you see any outbreak of virus here? How will it enter the gate? Will it come through the air?

“How? One woman just got down after that injection in Kaduna. What kind of life? Are human beings now turned to guinea pigs? The world is confused but the church is lighted.

“So the triumph of the church will humble the pride of the world. They don’t know what to do sir. In the last days, the church will be reigning in power and glory. That is God’s agenda.

“No apologies. There is a big, big bird in our land, saying ‘don’t take it, they are deceivers’. Let me see someone who will come and inject me. By who?

“Are you going to tie my hands? How? Did I invite you? I know you are quiet, you will hear more of it. My job is to expose the devil and tell his agents, ‘get off, we are not guinea pigs.”

Former governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose has revealed that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos state did everything he could to make him dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) but he refused to do so.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with DAILY INDEPENDENT, Fayose who said President Muhammadu Buhari has destroyed the APC, said he also shared the views of Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike who likened the ruling party to a cancer.

According to him, as a member of PDP, he supported the governorship ambition of Governor Kayode Fayemi in the Ekiti governorship election of 2009 and even campaigned for him because he wanted the PDP candidate, former governor Segun Oni who made life a living hell for him to be kicked out of office.

Based on his open support for Fayemi, he said Asiwaju Bola Tinubu did everything to make him join the APC but he rejected the offer, saying he will quit politics the day he leaves PDP.

He said “ I want to quote Governor Wike. He said somebody has malaria, you want to dash him cancer. That is the same way I will represent it. APC is a cancer to the nation, even to the people that brought the party to power”.

“I listened to Pastor Tunde Bakare on television few days ago. Those things coming from Pastor Bakare does not represent the man supporting Buhari since 2011. The same applies to many of them, even in Northern Nigeria. When the head is sick, the whole body is in trouble. President Buhari has destroyed that party”.

“Let me say it very clearly. I am not in APC, I will never be in APC and even if I get angry inside this PDP, we will fight it together and I will still remain in this party. What will make me leave this PDP, that means I have retired from politics”.

“In 2009, I supported Governor (Kayode) Fayemi openly. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu did everything, asking me to come to APC but I said no. Who will be my leader in Ekiti APC if I join? Is it this Fayemi that we are talking about? Or will it be former governor, Niyi Adebayo? Yes, Adebayo was governor before me. He was governor in 1999 and I became governor in 2003 but the truth is, it is good for them to be on their lane and I also will be on my lane”.

“Former governor Segun Oni gave me horror when he was in office as governor and to show him that the world is not about him, I supported Fayemi then in the governorship election”.

“Let me say to you, I am a clear character. What benefit will I derive by joining APC? Most of the governors today preserve themselves by clinging with Buhari before 2019. I never did that. in Nigeria today, I am one of the people that APC will not forget in their life”.

“ I stood my ground against APC not because I hate anybody but because what I was saying about them has played out overtime. I am not somebody who will say what he is not convinced about”.

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to “direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to investigate allegations that N106bn of public funds are missing from 149 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), as documented in the 2018 annual audited report by the Auditor-General of the Federation.”

SERAP said: “Anyone suspected to be responsible should face prosecution as appropriate, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any missing public funds should be fully recovered.”

SERAP also urges him “to direct Mrs Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning to create a system of public announcements to name and shame the indicted 149 MDAs, including those that reportedly failed to remit over N55bn of their revenue; awarded contracts of over N18bn for services not rendered; and spent over N23bn without any supporting documents.”

In the letter dated 17 April 2021, and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “The reported missing public funds reflect the failure of the indicted MDAs to ensure strict compliance with transparency and accountability rules and regulations, and the failure of leadership of the MDAs to foster institutions that uphold the rule of law and human rights.”

According to SERAP, “Recovering the alleged missing public funds would reduce the pressure on the Federal Government to borrow more money to fund the budget, enable the authorities to meet the country’s human rights obligation to progressively realize Nigerians’ rights to quality health care and education, as well as reduce the growing level of public debts.”

The letter, read in part: “SERAP urges you to ask Mrs Ahmed and Mr Ahmed Idris, the Accountant-General of the Federation to explain why they allegedly failed to ensure strict compliance with relevant legislation, rules and regulations across all MDAs, despite the warning and recommendations by the Auditor-General.”

“SERAP also urges you to direct Mrs Ahmed to publish full details of the yearly budgets of all MDAs, and issue regular updates that accurately detail their expenditures, including by making any such information easily accessible in a form that can be understood by the public.”

“The Auditor-General stated that the alleged infractions by the 149 MDAs could have been prevented if the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and the Accountant General of the Federation had heeded his warning to ensure strict compliance with relevant legislation, rules and regulations across all MDAs.”

“SERAP is concerned that the alleged missing public funds have hampered the ability of the MDAs to meet the needs of average citizens, as the missing funds could have helped your government to invest in key public goods and services, and to improve access of Nigerians to these services.”

“Investigating and prosecuting the alleged grand corruption documented by the Auditor-General would improve the chances of success of your government’s oft-repeated commitment to fight corruption and end the impunity of perpetrators. It will improve the integrity of MDAs, as well as serve the public interest.”

“Any failure to promptly investigate the allegations and prosecute suspected perpetrators would breach Nigeria’s anti-corruption legislation, and the country’s international anti-corruption obligations.”

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, the Incorporated Trustees of SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”

“SERAP has carefully analysed the recently released 2018 audited report by the Auditor-General of the Federation and our analysis reveals the grim allegations that N105,662,350,077.46 of public funds are missing, misappropriated or unaccounted for across 149 MDAs in 2018.”

“According to the Auditor-General, 35 MDAs failed to remit N48,551,274,468.35 of generated revenue, and N5,418,780,747.23 of statutory deductions including value added tax, withholding tax, and stamp duties in 2018, thereby ‘depriving the government of the much-needed fund to pursue its agenda.’”

“Similarly, 25 MDAs awarded contracts amounting to N18,369,595,564.47 in violation of the Public Procurement Act (PPA), 2007, including disregard to due process, irregularity in payment for contracts, excessive pricing of procurements, payment for services not rendered, and payment in full for uncompleted projects.”

“Another N23,486,881,920.49 was spent by 48 MDAs without following the rules and regulations relating to spending procedures and policies, and without any documents to support such spending. Furthermore, 11 MDAs paid N8,389,842,637.88 for store items that were not taken on store charge. The Auditor-General fears that the items may be ‘missing/misappropriated.’”

“In addition, 18 MDAs paid N354,223,774.67 as cash advances to staff without duly retiring the money, contrary to the Financial Regulation 1405 and Financial Regulation 1420. According to the Auditor-General, ‘unretired cash and personal advances may be a deliberate attempt to divert public funds for personal use.’”

“Moreover, 12 MDAs spent N371,750,964 as cash advances, above the approved threshold of N200,000.00, contrary to the Treasury Circular Ref. No. TRY/A2&B2/2009OAGF/CAD/26/V, which requires all local procurement of stores and services costing above N200,000.00 to be made only through the award of contracts.”

“There are several other infractions documented in the report, a copy of which can be obtained from the Auditor-General’s office. The 2018 audited report therefore suggests a grave violation of the public trust. These damning revelations also suggest that the indicted MDAs lack effective and credible internal processes to prevent and combat corruption.”

“Our requests are brought in the public interest, and in keeping with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended]; anti-corruption legislation, and the country’s international obligations including under the UN Convention against Corruption; and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party.”

The letter was copied to Mr Malami; Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC); Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); Mrs Ahmed; and chairmen of the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly.

Mrs. Dede (Surname withheld), in this heartbreaking interview tells JOSEPH UNDU how her ex-husband forcefully slept with her and her maids. She also narrated her ordeal with the man who asked her to swear by a wooden carved idol in the midnight that no-one was sleeping with her and how she almost killed him in self-defence over persistent domestic violence. Excerpts.

Mrs Dede

Tell us briefly about your background.

My name is Faith (Surname withheld). I got married to my ex-husband when I was 18 years old, and at 19, I had my first baby.

I got married as a child. I knew nothing but all through the marriage it was trouble, it was war. I had so many issues where I was beaten up for voicing out my opinion. I had issues where he would forcefully sleep with me, I have issues where when I had maids he would sleep with them and I can’t do anything. I have had so many bad issues at so many points. And anytime I cry to my mother and tell her I want to leave the marriage, my mother, being a pastor, would encourage me that, divorce is not of God. That, I should keep staying in the marriage. You know, my family members keep pushing me to stay back in the marriage despite the fact I was going through so many difficult things.

What is the actual problem with your husband?

My ex-husband is a drunkard. He would come home drunk everyday. He would beat me up, and I dared not ask why. So many times he would force me to swear an oath that no man was sleeping with me. He would wake me up in the middle of the night and told me to start swearing with a wooden carved idol. I went through so many things that I couldn’t stand. Then, because of the custom of Nigeria, everybody kept telling me to stay because of my children.

At that point, what did you do when everything became unbearable for you?

You know at a point I got so depressed and I was tired of the beating. I told myself the only way to come out of this situation was to kill this man in self defence and be free. Nobody would tell me anything. I convinced myself, I was going to kill him. But when I thought about my children, the laws of the land among others, something kept ringing in my mind and telling me not to do it. No, don’t do it, don’t take a life! I remember that night I returned back the knife I had put under the pillow. I had to return it back to the kitchen because I just couldn’t do it. I was so frustrated and when I made up my mind after he beat me the last time that I was leaving, he started threatening me saying “if you leave me, you are finished.”

So, what did you do then?

I ran away with my children. By then, my mother knew it was really bad after I went to confess to her that I was going to commit murder. She knew I was at my tipping point, and she told me “if it’s this you want to do, well, we can’t force you to stay there.” I remembered the day I made up my mind I wanted to go, I ran with my children. He kept calling me, kept threatening me that I cannot disgrace him, that I should return his children or else he would kill me. I ran away from Abuja. Then, I was in Benin and my two eldest children were in boarding houses, so it was just my last son. So, I ran away to Benin to go and hide with a friend of mine. For one full year, it was trouble all through. I had to change my number. When he couldn’t reach me, he was threatening my mother, insulting her and sending emails to me, threatening that he would kill me if he found me. All of a sudden, I couldn’t hear from him again and I thought he had become calm. And because Benin was tough, and I don’t really know anybody there, I decided to come back to Abuja. Two months later, I came back. I was going into the small apartment I was able to rent one day when two people rushed towards me. I thought they wanted to steal money from me because I was just coming from the ATM. They dragged me on an untarred road close to my house, beat me up and kept saying, “prostitute, prostitute, go back to your husband.” I knew right then that, they were not robbers because they didn’t even take my purse. I knew they were from him. The next day, my mother told us to go to the police station, because I was having bruises on my body. Picture evidence is still there. Even now, it’s not as if I am safe, I am just trying to lie low. I closed all my social media contacts such as Facebook, WhatsApp and others.

Are you now free from him?

I still don’t feel very safe, but I am just living my life and hoping for the best. Why I am doing this publication is for people to be aware of what is happening and for me to have all these things on record because of tomorrow.

When these people attacked you, where were you then?

I was in Abuja in the house I rented at FedEx Housing, Kubwa. That was mid-July last year. Right now, I don’t know exactly where he lives, because we are not in touch. I was married to him for 19 years and I have three children for him. Right now, I am responsible for everything since I left him four years ago. He doesn’t send money or pay any obligation.

So, what do you really want now?

I just want my story to be out there, because I know so many women go through all these. I want it to serve as an example. Like ‘don’t take a life’ that I experienced. Domestic violence is real, leave if it is too much for you, Leave! I also have a lot of evidence that I didn’t even bother to tell anyone. I had picture evidence like the time when I was beaten up. I just feel like, let me come out now and talk about these things. Nobody knows tomorrow, and people would be like ‘why didn’t you come out to say anything,’ so I just want to come out so that everybody will know what has happened to me.

Are you still interested in the marriage, if he changes and apologies to you?

Absolutely Not! My life is very important. If I go back to the marriage, I am just going back to die! Even if he repents tomorrow, we don’t have to be together. Affection is no longer there. And you have to be with somebody because you care about them. If you don’t have affection for them, it cannot work. I don’t have one single affection for him. There is no need for us to go back together for anything at all. My children are grown up so they are fine. It is not as if they are small and still need a father figure, they are on their own now. My last son is 14 years, so my children are grown up now.

Were you forced into the relationship with him or you just went into it and things turned out this way?

I wasn’t forced into a relationship, I met him when I was 18 years old and he came to me and wanted to marry me. I thought he was joking, he kept pressuring me. At that time, I didn’t know anything but I looked very mature for my age and then he said he wanted to meet my mum. I took him to meet my mum and he told my mum he wanted to marry me. That was how we got married, I wasn’t forced at that time. I thought I knew what love was and I thought I knew about a person’s character but obviously at 18, my judgement about humanity was clouded. I wasn’t really exposed to know the difference between what was right and what was wrong.

Going forward, what is your advice to other women passing through abusive relationships or marriage?

I will advise other women not to stay in abusive relationships or marriages. Apart from the injuries it does to the woman, it also injures the children as well. Right now, I can tell you that I am trying to build up my children’s mental health from all the abuses their father did to me. I am trying to erase those thoughts from their heads and it is really difficult. As long as you keep tolerating that, you are not just hurting yourself, you are hurting the children the things you are exposing them to. You are hurting them mentally, and hurting the person they will become tomorrow. They grow up to see these things. Some boys see these things and emulate the characters. They feel it is okay to beat a woman. Some girls see it and swear never to get married again because of the troubles their mother goes into. So, I will beg women not to tolerate these things. Do not let a man turn you into a punching bag and suffer yourself and your children. Please leave if you are going through difficulties and domestic violence, your life is important.

Do you have any other advice?

Well, basically that is all. I just want my story out there to encourage people that I am alive. I am doing well, I am on my own now, though I still don’t feel very safe. But I believe in God and I believe he is going to protect me. I still get threats from now and there. He insults me frequently, telling me I will never be happy and that I will never do well and all those things but I ignore it. I believe solely in God for my life and for my children’s life.