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Gov. Wike financial largesse to churches for political support exposed: Anglican, Catholic, RCCG, Eckankar top list of beneficiaries

by Leading Reporters April 22, 2022

written by Leading Reporters

An unveiled financial records of Rivers State Government House account No. 1010610151 domiciled with Zenith Bank, Government House Rivers State has revealed how the governor of Rivers State and Presidential aspirant under the Peoples’ Democratic Party, Barr. Nyesom Wike recklessly doles out the state’s funds running into billions of Naira to churches in Rivers State for political supports.

Between 2016 and 2021, it is estimated that Governor Wike has doled out over Five Billion Naira to selected churches and societies in Rivers State without approval from the State House of Assembly. Anglican Communion, Lutheran Church, and Catholic Church top the list of beneficiaries of Wike’s financial largesse to orthodox churches. These gifts may have validated Wike’s declaration of Rivers State as a “Christian State”.

Wike had, during a crusade organized by the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Church in Port Harcourt, declared that Rivers is a Christian state. A declaration that incurred the wrath of Muslims and many Muslim groups both in Nigeria and overseas. His pro-Christian and anti-Islamic stand would definitely pitch him against the Muslim dominated North where the governor is currently touring, requesting for supports and votes in his presidential quest. Some Muslim stakeholders have always accused Wike of religious bigotry and sectionalism.

Investigation revealed that Wike is not a fan of Pentecostalism. However, available financial records revealed that Redeemed Christian Church received a large chunk of financial gift from Governor Wike. The money showered on churches by Wike is far much more than what has been deployed by the State Governor to develop human capital in Rivers State, according to financial records exclusively obtained by LeadingReporters.

Beneficiary-Churches, donations and dates:

The first religious organization to benefit from Governor Wike’s gift, upon being elected a Governor was Eckankar. Information gathered revealed that Governor Wike doled at the sum of N80,000,000 to Eckankar as donation to the society on 2^nd November, 2016. Christ Apostolic Church and St. Luke’s Anglican Church, Rumudaolu were gifted the sum of N100,000,000 and N70,000,000 on 22^nd November, 2016 respectively. On the other hand, Cathedral Church of St. Mathias Diobu was given the sum of N200,000,000 on the 20^th July, 2017, while St. Paul Nyemoni Lutheran Church received the sum of N30,000,000 from Wike same 20^th July, 2017.

Others include St. Gabriel’s Anglican Church Bolo which received the sum of N30,000,000 on 12^th September, 2017. Other beneficiaries include Anglican Church, Diocese of Niger Delta North which received in two tranches of N20,000,000 and N37,435,000 on 5^th February, 2018. Another N20,000,000 was given same day to the women wing of Anglican Communion Diocese of Niger Delta North. Wike also gifted a religious school Jesuit Memorial College via the school First bank account the sum of N100,000,000 and N60,000,000 as donation for Okrika Bible Project Fund Raising respectively on 18^th January, 2018.

Rivers Baptist Church received the sum of N80,000,000 from Governor Wike for their conference while Redeemed Christian Church Region 5 bagged the highest donation of N200,000,000 and another N40,000,000 on 18^th January, 2018. St. Anne’s Anglican Church Okujagu Rivers State via its First Bank Account received the sum of N30,000,000 from Governor Wike pro-church activities.

On 12^th November 2018, Rivers Baptist conference gulped the sum of N150,000,000 from the Rivers State Government Account while a total of N167,170,000 was gifted to different Christian religious organizations on 29^th September, 2018, according to findings by LeadingReporters.

The financial records revealed that Governor Wike gifted Bishop and Mrs Winston T. Iwo, via their GTbank account the sum of N10,000,000 and another N10,000,000 on 11^th January and 1^st November, 2019 respectively, while the Anglican Church Communion, Diocese of Niger Delta North was given the sum of N33,594,400 on the 1^st of October, 2019.

Recall that Governor Wike once declared Rivers State a Christian State, not minding the fact that Nigeria is a multi-religious country with Christianity and Islam as major religious sects in Nigeria. However, Governor Wike appointed three muslims in his cabinet an appointment many considered to be a political move to create the impression that Wike is not entirely anti-Islam. Recall that Prof. Ishaq Akintola, the Leader of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has consistently raised alarm against Governor Nyesom Wike’s anti-Muslim position, describing him to have been black-listed to hold any Federal position where Muslims are stakeholders.

April 22, 2022 0 comments

Many have already missed the road to 2023

by Leading Reporters April 17, 2022

written by Leading Reporters

By Tonnie Iredia

The next general elections in Nigeria are less than a year away, yet it is still difficult to put a finger on its prospects. Many politicians and their supporters are making noise about 2023, but no one knows if they are on the right path. There are people whose dispositions and utterances give the impression that they are still in 2019 which the nation departed from close to four years ago. One of the common commentaries is that political parties should pick their presidential candidates from the zones that can win election.

Even if the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the originator of zoning is for the wrong reason no longer certain of the efficacy of the arrangement, I hope those supporting good candidates like Governor Aminu Tambuwal are influenced by his liberal mind and capacity to embrace innovation and not where is from. Those supporting anyone only because of his/her zone are travelling backwards beyond 2015.

If Nigeria must get out of its stunted growth and face brighter days, unnecessary attacks on aspirants should stop. The criticism that Atiku Abubakar is forever a contestant is irrelevant if he is qualified and competent. Those who say Asiwaju Bola Tinubu does not appear strong enough for the office of president should review his response that he is not seeking the office of a brick-layer that calls for physical strength.

Those who are visibly angry that someone has the courage to aspire to contest the 2023 election along with his ‘godfather’ should note that the contest is not reserved for godfathers. When Yemi Osinbajo acted as President in 2017, many who affirmed that he did excellently well are surprisingly against him now as if the man is only good as acting President. In any case, the godfather sentiments cannot be sustained in many parts of Nigeria where tradition behooves a man to be happy if his grandson surpasses his own achievements. Although Tinubu, the acclaimed godfather has publicly testified that he has no son old enough to aspire to be president, the godson is still under fire.

In some commentaries, people suggested that Osinbajo was already a loser for wearing black on the day he declared his interest in the 2023 contest. To such commentators of the stone age, black is meant for burial. One wonders what burial ceremonies are holding in courts everyday across the globe where black is the official colour. What the several criticisms against aspirants suggests is that the authors have missed their way to 2023.

In the new scheme of things, Nigerians who seek to hold political offices should be subjected to intense scrutiny but without being parochial. The only viable criticism against the Vice President was the one made by Prof Farooq Kperogi who felt Osinbajo was part of an RCCG plot for theocratic state capture. The prolific writer scored high by providing verifiable evidence in support of his allegation. Those who have points against any aspirant should do same.

Unfortunately, tangible criticisms which can strengthen democracy are palpably scanty while the media is replete with cosmetic issues of zero value. For example, to attack Rotimi Amaechi for making his declaration public at a crowded stadium under the guise of thanksgiving is no point because there is no standard place for declaration. The same is true of those attacking Nyesom Wike, Rivers state governor as too aggressive as if timidity is a more relevant virtue for political ambition. Going by the current state of the nation, an aggressive leader may be needed. While it is true that some aspirants can easily pass for jokers, it is uncharitable to add Peter Obi, former Anambra state governor to such a list simply because he does not ‘have a bullion van.’ What such contemptible attacks show is that not many are set to positively move to 2023 because it is hard to ignore the visible capability of Obi to manage a troubled economy. Having indicated his current preoccupation, attacks on Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele are superfluous

Mindful that a person coerced into an office is not likely to perform well because he could not have prepared for it, this column had earlier sought to identify the political aspirants who bought nomination forms themselves to contest the 2015 general elections. Findings showed that former Governor Godswill Akpabio’s nomination form was allegedly bought for him by some youths to represent the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District. It was the Benue Youth in Diaspora Association (BYDA) that pledged to provide money to purchase the senatorial nomination form for former Governor Gabriel Suswam. Some other Youth leaders from Ado Local Government Area of Benue State allegedly besieged Senator David Mark’s home to put pressure on him to contest the Benue South Senatorial seat. Similarly, it was Enugu Professional Forum that kept pushing former Governor Sullivan Chime to contest his senatorial seat against Senator Ike Ekweremadu who was himself pressured by Enugu Concerned Professionals Worldwide.

The implication of this narrative is that the locomotive heading towards 2023 is the same one that has been conveying people to cajole politicians to contest elections since 1979 when a reluctant Shehu Shagari was persuaded to become President. Little wonder that the tricks have not changed. Misguided able-bodied Nigerians are still acting as fronts for old politicians, publicly begging them to show interest in elective positions. More than two years to the end of his first tenure, the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria were on the streets distracting President Jonathan with pleas to seek reelection. At other times such as now, unemployed youths argue that they had to put together the little they had to buy nomination forms for billionaire politicians. Whither the new Nigeria of our dreams?

Two weeks ago, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State formally announced his Presidential ambition naming two Nigerians that would help him coast to victory like M.K.O. Abiola did in 1993. First, he picked Senator Jonathan Zwingina former Director General of the Abiola Campaign Organization as his national coordinator. He then named Hafsat Abiola, daughter of the June 12 hero as the Director General of his campaign. A week later, Abiola’s eldest son, Kola, joined politics. With the Social Democratic Party, (SDP) which bears same name as MKO’s winning party, busy acting as the rejuvenated party to beat, the true representative of the legend is no longer clear more so as Kola declared under another platform – the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). What is clear is that no one has the MKO Abiola’s political spirit of a true patriot and humanitarian warrior who helped all and sundry. The man donated to every good cause unlike now that people donate only close to elections, competing with the trader money scheme.

Nigeria is thus far from the ideals of the past just as her movement ahead is retarded by lethargy in governance and political materialism. Declarations have remained patently promissory – a trend which can do Nigeria no good in 2023. What is needed now is not who can announce what he intends to do, instead all aspirants should be interrogated to explain how they intend to fulfil their electioneering promises. Indeed, when aspirants become candidates ample time must be spent on the details of how each promise would be fulfilled. No one should be allowed to evade election debate, so that each person’s capacity can be sufficiently visible for voters to make informed choices. The strategy, would nullify arguments such as that the true decadence of the nation was not clear when the promises were made.

Every elected candidate must recognize that he/she was voted in to solve problems and not to itemize challenges. In truth, Professor Kingsley Moghalu was a delight to watch on national television two days ago explaining that if elected he would ensure that facilities like good transportation are available before withdrawing on installmental basis, our unsustainable fuel subsidy. That is the narrative for 2023 and those who cannot cope must fall out of the race now.

April 17, 2022

April 17, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

Gov Rotimi Akeredolu Is Not Dead — Media Aide

by Leading Reporters April 17, 2022

written by Leading Reporters

The Ondo State Government has dispelled rumours that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has died.

Governor Akeredolu, left the country for Germany after the APC convention in March.

Releasing different videos showing Akeredolu dancing, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Richard Olatunde stated that it became imperative to fault the media reports.

The rumour about the Governor’s death became widespread on Saturday after a gossip blog posted that Akeredolu has passed on.

The governor who was seen dancing and singing was also observed in a joyous mood and full of praises to God for keeping him alive.

Akeredolu had officially written the State House of Assembly seeking consent before embarking on the annual leave.

April 17, 2022 0 comments

General General

Meet Mr. Fadeyibi “The Hitman from Transcorp Power Ltd” Doing the ruthless bidding of UBA Bank in AEDC

by Leading Reporters April 13, 2022

written by Leading Reporters

Electricity consumers from the Federal Capital Territory; Nasarawa, Niger, and Kogi States are in for rough times owing to a ruthless revenue drive being spearheaded by Mr. Adeoye Fadeyibi, on behalf of United Bank for Africa, UBA.

UBA is a major creditor to AEDC. Technically, UBA owns the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company AEDC as it stands now. This followed several loan defaults by the electricity distribution company via its UBA Account No. 1019269503.

An insider source said that Tony Elumelu routed for Fadeyibi after the later set up structures in Eko Electricity Distribution Company EKDC that saw revenue skyrocketing and operational costs and losses down. Fadeyi’s feat in Elumelu’s Transcorp Power Ltd, Ugbelli where he ramped up power generation of the company from its abysmal 164MW to 634MW within interval of 25 months was too glaring to be overlooked and needs to be replicated in AEDC, by Tony Elumelu’s estimates.

Other accounts the company maintains with UBA include AEDC Impress Funding Account No. 22174094498. This account has become a conduit through which billions of Naira were fleeced under the subheading – Operational impress. For instance, between October and December, 2018, a total of N1,579,015,000 was mopped into the account as imprest. UBA Account No 10176666012 is believed to be another suspicious account with which the erstwhile management of AEDC carried out their acts.

Other AEDC accounts with UBA include account no. 1019034680. This account, according to investigation was used to sweep funds which were later diverted to yet another UBA account No 1017547366.

Another interesting activity uncovered is a UBA Account No.1017681365, allotted to AEDC WAMBA, Nasarawa State. The account is shrouded in secrecy and may have been used as a veritable conduit for diversion of funds. AEDC Okene Area Office with UBA account numbers 1021027984 and 1017805387 are two of the many accounts of AEDC that were structured to be leveraged to soothe the stealing appetite of the erstwhile management of AEDC.

According to a discreet source, the former management played a conscious, pre-meditated role that paved way for UBA acquisition of AEDC.

Kabba AEDC Account No 1017805387 was another porous and specially structured account allegedly used in fleecing the Federal Government.

Mr. Fadeyibi prior to being drafted to AEDC by Tony Elumelu-led UBA worked as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Transcorp Power Limited, Ugbelli. The company is owned by Tony Elumelu. Mr Fadeyibi career path has as well cut across Eko Electricity Distribution Company where he was the MD/CEC as well as General Electricity.

A discreet source who spoke to LeadingReporters on condition of anonymity said that Mr Fadeyibi is on a mission. A ruthless mission to bend all known rules in the bank’s bid to recover all the monies and loans AEDC owns UBA.

“His mission from his paymaster is clear – Bend all rules, squeeze all sources and get us all the money. Unfortunately, the consumers are the ones to be squeezed in a sector where regulators are in the pockets of the players. It is a pathetic situation”.

The electricity consumers with the capital territory and its neighboring states are in for a hard and sad time as the move by UBA would see them paying for more and getting less in terms of quality service.

“Money, revenue, more revenue and more profits are now the drive force in AEDC”

“The former guys were hired to play the role they played that paved way for UBA to take over AEDC. AEDC is one of the electricity distribution companies that has proved to be viable. UBA management has been eyeing the company and incessant loan was the best way to dive in”.

UBA continued to avail its loan spree to AEDC, targeting that a time would come when AEDC would not be able to meet its financial obligation to the bank, thereby paving way for outright ownership.

“Tony Elumelu understands the viability of AEDC, being someone whose company Transcorp Power Limited is a player in the power sector”. The source said.

April 13, 2022 0 comments

Exclusives

Insecurity: Group asks FG to probe Wike’s special “Rivers State Command Security Operations Account” domiciled with First Bank Lagos

by Leading Reporters April 10, 2022

written by Leading Reporters

A group, League of Patriots has asked the Federal Government and the Nigeria security and intelligence agencies to probe a suspicious account run by Governor Nyesom Wike code named “Rivers State Command Security Operations Account domiciled with First Bank of Nigeria, Lagos, Account No 2022409801. The group said that through its intensive Intel, it gathered that Wike maintains a suspicious account from where he is believed to fund activities that may jeopardize the security situation in the country and thus help him prosecute electoral violence.

The group’s spokesman, Okey Richmond, in a communiqué obtained exclusively by LeadingReporters said that suspicious financial activities on the account with transaction description of “In Favour of Election” suggests that Governor Wike is using State fund to carry out activities that may be at variance with the national security arrangement.

The group said that the time has come to place desperate politicians like Governor Nyesom Ezemuo Wike on surveillance going by his antecedent and his bloodthirsty quest for power.

“Prior to the emergence of this democratic dispensation, insecurity of this scale was absent in the polity. But what we are experiencing these days suggests to a large extent that insecurity are politics-induced and that politicians like Wike may not be free from funding activities that tend to devastate the polity for political gain.

The group promised to help the government at the federal level to expose all they know about Governor Wike financial activities that may expose huge perennial corruption in Rivers State.

“He made himself a demigod and runs the finances of the states as if it belongs to his family. This is time to account for the least money that accrued to Rivers State under Governor Nyesom Wike”. The communiqué read.

April 10, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

Does anyone deserve immunity in Nigeria?

by Leading Reporters April 10, 2022

written by Leading Reporters

By Tonnie Iredia

In 2007, the Nigerian Judiciary turned down a request by the Federal Government to declare the office of Vice President Atiku Abubakar vacant on account of his defection from the then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the Action Congress (AC).

The decision was premised on Section 308 of the Nigerian Constitution which protects a sitting President and his Vice as well as State Governors and their deputies from being prosecuted in court while in office. Atiku’s case therefore helped to underscore the inviolability of the immunity clause.

However, conscious of some likely negative effects, such as abuses by political office-holders, Umaru Yar’adua who became President a few months later, sought to expunge it from the Constitution. Yar’adua pointedly argued during the launch of his anti-corruption campaign that nobody in Nigeria deserved “the right to be protected by law when looting public funds.”

The suggestion was well received in many quarters, especially by those who wondered which party manifesto a Defector-Vice President would execute while in a ‘limbo-office.’ Interestingly, the Action Congress reputed to consist of progressives opposed the proposal on political grounds thereby making it more difficult for possible negative fall-outs from Section 308 to be resolved.

According to the then Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, it was not the immunity clause that was protecting looters but the lack of political will by government to tackle corruption. The immunity clause survived, not because many were persuaded by the reasoning in Atiku’s case, but more because the attempt to sack Atiku was seen as political and not on account of corruption. In addition, Nigerians had assumed that any ill-gotten wealth garnered by corrupt leaders would be legally retrieved later while those found guilty of corrupt practices would be severely penalized.

This assumption has since been disproved especially after a former party chieftain declared that those who defect to the ruling party would have their sins forgiven. Perhaps, no one imagined that the immunity clause which was genuinely inserted in the Constitution to dissuade anyone from distracting the executive arm would be exploited by the same beneficiaries to commit mischief.

The logical reasoning was that as a developing society challenged by infrastructural deficiencies, leaders in the executive arm would have so much to do about development to have spare time to be engrossed in politics. In truth however, many Nigerian politicians are prepared to hide under constitutional protection and technicalities to engage in unwholesome political and electoral mal-practices. It is now obvious in retrospect that office holders who enjoy immunity are able to use the privilege negatively for personal gains which was not the purpose of the provision.

This over-pampering of executives who are not required to reciprocate the goodwill accorded them ought to be reviewed. For example, whereas the constitution stops anyone from instituting legal cases against leaders in the executive arm, the same constitution failed to also bar such leaders, while in office, from initiating same against members of the public. So, they can sue but cannot be sued! They are also free to engage in political immorality which they quickly defend using the instrumentality of the immunity clause.

Even the legal injunction that executives should not be engaged in other assignments except governance has not materialized. The first problem came from a new arrangement in which candidates elected at elections suddenly became designated by their parties as national leaders in the case of President or state leader in the case of governors. The main result of this designation and consequent preoccupation with party matters is that the executives have been diverted from spending ample time on governance issues as if they were elected by the entire electorate to run one political party or the other.

President Muhammadu Buhari as the national leader of the ruling APC has had to take charge of the party at different times. At a point he, had to arrange for a caretaker management when the party’s chairman was removed while he stepped in again recently to stop the party’s national convention from derailing. Governors Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, Abubakar Bello of Niger and Gboyega Oyetola of Osun had to virtually run the national working committee of their party for almost two years thereby relegating the tedious but substantive task of state executives.

While many state governors are now more seen in Abuja than their state capitals dealing with one party issue or another, many have in the last one year traversed the length and breadth of the country on party assignments well ahead of the official time for electioneering. As a result, the original time for governance has been heavily appropriated while expanding the time for electioneering. Yet, the constitution, in anticipation of the numerous projects of development that have to be executed for the benefit of the masses barred everyone from distracting executives.

In the midst of these self/party imposed distractions, some governors are counselled that to be reelected or elevated to higher positions, they have to defect to another party. They hurriedly implement such arrangements ignoring the fact that their current positions were attained through the sponsorship of another political party. If legally challenged, they are able to plead Section 308 of the Constitution. What bothers many about this trend is that it is only the arguments of senior lawyers copiously quoting the Supreme Court that the people hear.

No one considers that some die-hard actors would soon design extra-judicial arrangements to protect their votes from being transferred to another party. In other words, the injustice of defection which converts winners to losers by transferring the votes obtained at elections may soon generate political violence leading to another inexplicable insecurity. To confirm that there is no remorse about the approach, even legislators that the Constitution says should lose their seats upon defection are left untouched. What then is the purpose of voting, if the wishes of the people can be recklessly reversed?

The expectation that somewhere along the line, judicial activism would decisively put a halt to the vicious attack on the spirit of the Constitution is daily fading. At the same time, the justification for defection is becoming more bizarre by the day. The other day, one governor who was defending his defection from one party to another said on national television that he moved to avoid a fellow governor whom he described as a bully. He neither explained the venue of the alleged bullying nor how a governor in another state can stop him from working in his own state.

What he inadvertently confirmed was that he loathes how the so-called unnamed bully operates during party meetings. But why should a governor, an otherwise statesman, be occupied with party matters? When the court declined to remove him from office, he publicly celebrated “victory” whereas what happened was that the court couldn’t find an approved punishment for his unwholesome conduct.

Except the country finds a way of reversing the trend, defectors would increase shortly thereby retarding national growth and development. So far, the way the cases in court challenging the politicization of governance are being handled suggests that the reprehensible conduct will not be addressed soon as all eyes are turned towards only the letters of the law. With the fast approaching primary election for which everyone is already in the mood for campaigns not much can be done in the area of pushing for an amendment to Section 308 of the Constitution.

The direction to look towards in the circumstance is for our Supreme Court to help shape our public policy by using its powers of interpretation to positively expand the provisions of the section in such a way that the genuine intention of the drafters of our Constitution is attained. For example, considering that the judiciary has said that votes scored at an election belong to political parties, the executives wishing to defect should be allowed to do so but without taking away votes which still belong to their erstwhile parties.
April 10, 2022

April 10, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

Why IELTS Should Be Scrapped for Nigerians, Other Anglophone Nationals

by Leading Reporters April 8, 2022

written by Leading Reporters

The past weeks have witnessed an intensified effort to stop foreign universities from requesting International English Language Testing System (IELTS) from Nigerians. A petition by a public policy organisation, Policy Shapers, has gathered over 75,000 signatures. Those reacting to the petition are asking the UK Home Office, which is believed to be primarily in charge of the test, to either reform it or stop it for Nigerians and other anglophone countries.

Nigerians seeking to study in foreign countries often find themselves in need of an IELTS test. For instance, in the United Kingdom, where most universities require IELTS, apart from their travel cost, the test application fee is another burden many international students bear when processing UK student visas. Some employment-based travels also require the test.

Some of the concerns raised include the cost of the test, which is almost three times the minimum wage in a country like Nigeria, and the validity of the exam result, which only lasts for two years. Many also question the need for a country like Nigeria, where English is lingua Franca and used as the language of instruction from primary to university level.

The average cost of IELTS test ranges from 83,000 Naira (200.5 USD) and 89,500 ($216.2 USD) in Nigeria. This is almost three times the national minimum wage which is 30,000 Naira monthly. There are 11 IELTS test centres across Nigeria run by the British Council, a 2020 ICIR report shows. Up to five test dates are scheduled monthly, with an average of 120 people writing the test at a centre on each day.

Given the frequency of the test dates and an average number of candidates, at least 5.15 billion Naira must have been paid by Nigerians to the Council in 2020. Furthermore, the test can only be taken in 12 centres in the country, requiring many candidates to travel a long distance to participate. The transport fare is extra financial burden applicants bear.

Nigerians aren’t the only ones paying a high cost for IELTS; other Anglophone countries face the same challenge. In Uganda, where the test application fee is the highest in Africa, each applicant pays $317 to take the test. This is over 1,000% of the country’s minimum wage of $1.70. Zimbabwe, Malawi, Kenya, and Namibia are some of the African countries that pay higher for IELTS than their minimum wage.

The shelf life of the test result is another concern. IELTS result becomes invalid after two years. This means those who do not use it within the timeframe will have to re-register the exam paying the high amount again if they don’t relocate within the given timeframe. The #ReformIELTS campaign on Twitter trended with people comparing the English proficiency test with its French Test (TOEFL), which cost much lower and last for life. The convener of the campaign, Ebenezar Wikinar, lamented the motive behind the short validity, stating “there’s no way that my English knowledge would expire.”

While some want the test to be reformed, others are questioning its necessity for Nigerians and other Anglophone nationals who communicate in English in their everyday lives. While Nigerians and nationals of other British colonies in Africa are required to take the IELTS, citizens of Bahamas, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, St. Kitts, and Nevis Dominica, Trinidad, and Tobago, and 10 other nations are exempted from taking the test. This further questions the organiser’s criteria for eligibility for an exemption.

In October, Policy Shapers wrote the Home Office for explanations on why none of the Anglophone countries was listed as its Majority English Speaking Countries. Three months after, the UK replied saying, “to be included on the Majority English Speaking Country (MESC) list, we must have evidence that most people in the country (more than half) speak English as a first language.”

However, most Nigerians are not satisfied with the answer, with many questioning the type of evidence needed by the UK to know that Nigerians deserve a spot on the list of countries exempted from the test.

There is enough evidence showing the proficiency of Nigerians in English. For years, the country has been ranking high on the EF English Proficiency Index, currently standing 29th out of 112 countries ranked globally and 3rd in Africa. In addition, out of more than 140 countries that sat for IELTS in 2018, Nigerians reportedly had the sixth-best performance.

Olusegun Akinfenwa writes for Immigration Advice Service, a UK-based law firm that offers global immigration service and representation. By Mindmingles

April 8, 2022 0 comments

Life Style Africa & World

Pope Francis may be the last Pope according to 1595 prophesy by a Benedictine Monk

by Leading Reporters April 7, 2022

written by Leading Reporters

For thousands of years, people all over the ancient world claimed to have the powers of foresight. In 1143, The Prophecy of the Popes was created – listing the future attributes of the 112 pontiffs succeeding St. Peter. This 900-year-old prophecy predicted that Benedict XVI would be the 111th pope, therefore, if it is correct, the current Papal Conclave will bring about the end of the world.

In 1595, a Benedictine monk named Arnold de Wyon published Lignum Vitae – in which he claimed to have “discovered The Prophecy of the Popes,” which were originally written by St. Malachy, the Archbishop of Armagh in 1143. In 1871, Abbé Cucherat, in his book The Prophecies of the Succession of the Popes , tells us that in 1139 Malachy was “summoned to Rome Pope Innocent II to receive two wool palliums for the metropolitan sees of Armagh and Cashel.”

While in Rome, Malachy is said to have experienced a “vision of future popes,” which he recorded as a sequence of cryptic phrases describing their personality traits. St. Malachy allegedly gave his manuscript to Innocent II and the document remained unknown in the Roman Archives until its discovery in 1590.

Examining the Papal Prophecy

The first pope listed after St. Peter was Ex caſtro Tiberis, who is noted as having lived in a “castle on the Tiber.” Regarding the final Pope, de Wyon claimed that Malachy wrote an apocalyptic statement which translates from Latin as:

“In the extreme persecution of the Holy Roman Church, there will sit. [sic] Peter the Roman, who will nourish the sheep in many tribulations; when they are finished, the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the dreadful judge will judge his people. The end.”

When the text was discovered in 1595 it caused great intrigue and carried an air of legitimacy because so many of Malachy’s descriptions matched those of previous Popes. To many, the resignation of Benedict XVI in 2013 indicated the beginning of the End of Days – also as prophesied.

However, not a shred of tangible evidence exists to associate Malachy with the prophecy, and the “original document” that de Wyon claimed to have “found” in the Vatican Secret Archives has never been seen by anyone else, ever. Soon after its discovery, many Catholic scholars deemed it as a contemporary forgery, however many others have continued to believe in the document’s authenticity.

Skeptics argue that historically when people had prophetic visions they told a lot of people, but Malachy apparently didn’t mention his vision to a soul, nor did his biographer, St. Bernard of Clairvaux; who documented several of Malachy’s other alleged miracles. And, depending on how you interpret the prophecy, Benedict XVI is not the 111th pope! Ten antipopes are listed among the “112 Popes” – so it is argued that Benedict XVI was the 101st pope.

Proving the Prophecy as a Forgery

Among the historians who maintained that the prophecies were a late 16th‑century forgery, Spanish monk and scholar Benito Jerónimo Feijóo y Montenegro wrote Teatro Crítico Universal between 1724–1739. In an entry entitled ‘Purported prophecies’ he observed a “high level of accuracy in the descriptions of the popes until the date they were published” … then, a “high level of inaccuracy after the publication date.” Friar Benito Jerónimo Feijóo y Montenegro was a Spanish monk and scholar who led the Age of Enlightenment in Spain and debunked myths and superstitions. This observation convinced him the prophecy was “created just before its publication.”

Having established that the prophecy was most probably a hoax, why were the prophecies created in the first place? A theory was forward by a 17th-century French priest Louis Moréri in his encyclopedia Le Grand Dictionnaire historique which suggested “supporters of Cardinal Girolamo Simoncelli created them in a bid to support his bid to become pope in the 1590s.” His evidence was in that the prophecies predicted the pope that would follow Urban VII was “Ex antiquitate Urbis” (“from the old city”), and Simoncelli was from Orvieto, which in Latin is Urbevetanum “old city” (Miller, 1981).

Writing extensively about the prophecy being a forgery, M. J. O’Brien, a Catholic priest who authored an 1880 monograph on the prophecies said: “These prophecies have served no purpose. They are absolutely meaningless. The Latin is bad. It is impossible to attribute such absurd triflings … to any holy source. Those who have written in defence of the prophecy have brought forward scarcely an argument in their favour. Their attempts at explaining the prophecies after 1590 are, I say with all respect, the sorriest trifling” (O’Brien, 1880).

What Does the Hoaxed Prophecy Say of Today and Tomorrow?

If the list of descriptions is matched directly to a list of historic popes since its publication, Benedict XVI (2005–13) corresponds to the second last noted pope, described as “Gloria olivae” (the glory of the olive). And the final prophecy predicts the Apocalypse: “In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church, there will sit Peter the Roman [as bishop], who will pasture his sheep in many tribulations, and when these things are finished, the city of seven hills [i.e. Rome] will be destroyed, and the dreadful judge will judge his people. The End.”

Pope Francis was not born Peter – his name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio – and he is showing no signs of preparing to bring about the end of the world. Well, I hope he isn’t!

Newscredit: Ancient Origin

April 7, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

Bank of Agric MD Regains Freedom After Family Paid Ransom of N100m

by Leading Reporters April 7, 2022

written by Leading Reporters

The Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Alwan Hassan has regained his freedom, LeadingReporters can authoritatively report. His release was said to have followed a ransom of N100m paid to secure his release.

The terrorists bombed the Abuja-Kaduna bound train on Monday last week, killing many passengers and abducting many others.

The MD who was travelling to Kaduna was abducted alongside many others who are still being held captive for ten days now.

Before he was released, terrorists released a video showing the Agric Bank Managing Director standing between them.

The terrorists could be seen in military camouflage and in veiled faces to hid their identity, while fully armed.

In the video, terrorists broadcast to the Nigerian government to do the needful to ensure the release of other captives.

In the about one minute and twenty one seconds video broadcast, the terrorists told government that they don’t need money, but “government should do the needful”

“We are releasing this captive, Alwan Hassan, just because of the month of Ramadan and his plea because of his age.

We are not interested in money but the government knows what we want and if they don’t act fast to secure the release of the other abductees, we would not have any regret for our action”, one of the terrorists said in the video.

The Bank of Agric Managing Director who was directed to Bank of Agric MD Regains Freedom After Family Paid Ransom of N100m to government in the video, pleaded with the Nigerian government to accede to the need of the terrorists so that other captives can be released.

‘’There are many captives with our abductors here and out of pity, they decided to release me and due to the month of Ramadan, I am appealing to the government to save the lives of others with them,’’ Alwan Hassan said.

Though, the terrorists said they didn’t need money, a close family source involved in the negotiation confirmed that a sum of N100 million was paid as ransom.

The terrorists have since confirmed that they were responsible for the Abuja-Kaduna bound train attack on March 28.

April 7, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

2023: Political appointees contesting should resign before April 11, Ovie Omo-Agege

by Leading Reporters April 6, 2022

written by Leading Reporters

The deputy senate president, Ovie Omo-Agege, has called on all political appointees vying to contest at the 2023 general elections to tender their resignations before April 11.

Mr Omo-Agege made this call through his chief of staff, Otive Igbuzor, on March 30, in an internal memo titled “Resignation of all political appointees,” seen by our Media team.

“I write to draw attention of all political appointees who are delegates to the state house of assembly, house of representatives, senate, governorship and presidential primaries election, including those who are holding positions at the party to please put in their resignation letters,” partly reads the memo.

Several political appointees have declared their intentions to contest at the 2023 polls without relinquishing their present positions.

Recently, campaign paraphernalia of the central bank governor, Godwin Emefiele, Justice Minister and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, vice president Yemi Osinbajo and others, have emerged, without them resigning their positions.

The internal memo said the resignation had “become expedient as a result of these provisions of the recently amended Electoral Act,” adding that “All resignation letters should get to the office of the deputy president of the Senate not later than 11th April, 2022.”

April 6, 2022 0 comments

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