Two Arrested With 11m Marijuana -

The Oyo State Police Command

has intercepted a lorry with 646

bags of weed suspected to be

marijuana. The police also

arrested two suspects, David

Ndidi and Toyin Adegoke, in

connection with the discovery.

Commissioner of Police,

Mohamed Ndabawa, said the

command acted after

intelligence was received on the

activities of the suspects.

He said “On November 29, a

consignment of weed

suspected to be Indian hemp

was packaged for conveyance

in a truck at a cannabis

plantation in Eleja village, near

Akanran, Ibadan.

The police intercepted the truck

with number plate, Lagos XR

967 JJJ. The value of the weed

is N11m. Ndidi and Adegoke

were arrested while the driver

escaped from the scene. We

are still making effort to arrest

the rest of the people involved.”

Ndidi, 30, told our

correspondent that he was an

assistant to the driver of the

vehicle and that he did not

know that the bags of weed

were marijuana.

“I was hired to assist the driver

and my fee was N10,000. The

bags were locked at the back of

the vehicle and I did not

suspect that they were

marijuana. When police

stopped us, he jumped and ran

into the bush, but I waited

because I did not suspect that

we were transporting

marijuana,” he said.

Toyin told our correspondent

that she traded in orange and

that she came from Ilorin to

buy the fruit in the village when

she was arrested.

She said, “I was buying

oranges to be transported to

Ilorin when I heard gunshots. I

thought they were armed

robbers, so I ran just as others

did. But when I realised they

were policemen, I stopped

because I knew that I was

doing legal business. But I was

arrested despite the other man

(Ndidi) telling them that I was

not one of them. I appeal to the

police to investigate the matter

again and visit my house in

Ilorin. I know nothing about

marijuana and the man

arrested in the truck,”

Read More

Farmer Kills HUGE 15-foot Snake In Ekiti -

The farmer with the name, Bayo

Ibrahim, 23, killed the big snake

around the Ado-Afao-Ekiti

environs of the state. The

snake was said to have been

notorious for killing domestic

animals in the area.

Spectators called it various

names, including “Aminurin”,

“Ojola” and “Ako Monomono”,

which are all Yoruba names for

a massive snake.

The size of the snake attracted

spectators from as far as Odo-

Ado, Oke-Ila, Basiri, Nova Road

and GRA in Ado-Ekiti, the state

capital, to the sparsely-

populated Afao road, turning it

into a Mecca of sorts.

The spectators said: “We have

never seen anything like this”;

“Is this what we have been

living with?” and “This is the

wonder of the year in Ekiti”.

They pushed one another to

catch a view of the snake,

which some said was big

enough to feed, at least 40

sturdy men.

Ibrahim, who hails from Ilorin,

the Kwara State capital, said he

saw three snakes while grazing

his herd close to the road and

killed them with a cutlass.

He said: “I am a cattle rearer. I

saw three snakes in a small

bush and killed them with my

cutlass. I sold two yesterday

for N10,000 each. I have also

sold this last one for N10,000

to that man.

“I have killed about 12 of such

snakes. They always kill our

dogs and goats. But they have

not killed any person. They do

not kill by biting. They roll

round their prey and suffocate

it, until it dies. If you want to

kill them, aim for the head and

do not miss it, because if you

do, it can be fatal. If you are

scared, do not go near it, but if

you are sharp and quick, you

will kill it easily.”

Many spectators said it was

strange to see such a long and

thick snake.

Ajayi Adekunle said: “To me

and most of us here, it is new. I

have seen such snakes many

times in movies, but never in

real life. It will easily kill and

swallow humans. You can see

how big it is. Even a car cannot

kill it. I urge people living in this

area to be careful, as more of

this snake may still be around

here.”

Read More

Truck Rams Into Classroom, Kills 7 Children In Aba -

A truck driver Thursday, at

Ogbor Hill area of Aba, Abia

state, lost control and rammed

into a classroom killing 7

school children.

Fifteen other school children

also sustained various degrees

of injuries during the accident.

They were pupils of Glorious

International Academy located

on 42 Opobo road, Aba.

The truck with Registration

number, Akwa Ibom AA 702

KTA was said to be on its way

to Ovom waterside to evacuate

sand when it lost control and

rammed into the fence of

Glorious International Academy

located on 42 Opobo road.

truck-school

The pupils were said to be

having their morning devotion

in a classroom when the

incident occurred.

According to eyewitnesses

account, the pupils have

concluded their examinations

and were said to have returned

to the school to have their end

of the year party.

When Vanguard visited the

school, police and operatives of

Federal Road Safety Corps were

seen inspecting the scene of

the accident even as

sympathizers were seen in

groups discussing the

development.

Blood stains covered the floor

of the classroom, just as

broken desks, biscuits, plates

which were to be used for the

end of the year party for the

pupils.

Also, some parents and

relations who lost their children

and wards were seen weeping

uncontrollably while others

were making inquiries regarding

the whereabouts of their

children and wards

Read More

Actor Kenneth Okonkwo Dumps His Woman For A Business Woman?

Nollywood actor Kenneth

Okonkwo told us few

months ago that he has

an uncommon sexual

appetite and can go on

with a woman for the

whole day in the

bedroom. He also added

that his woman

"understands".

But it seems his woman

can't take the "huge thing"

again or he is just tired of

giving all his juice to only

her as a source says he

has dumped her for a new

big girl, who is a rich

fashion designer. See

revelations below:

"Ken is very fond of

Maureen, the new

babe. She is a

London chic, a

fashion designer and

has a store of hers

where she sells

wears. She surely

knows how to keep a

man asking for

more.

"From what we are

observing, Kenneth

might want Maureen

as his wife, but we

doubt if Maureen is

thinking in that

direction," a close

insider reveals.

Is it really Kenneth

Okonkwo that did this or

Kenneth Okoli, the ex-Mr

Nigeria? I hope its the

other Ken!

Read More

Graphic photos: 6- man gang arrested for ritual murders in Imo state

The Nkwerre Vigilante

Network this week

arrested a six-man gang

specialized in the sale of

human parts for rituals

and transplant in Nkwerre,

Imo State. The men

confessed to kidnapping

their victims at various

locations in the state and

using their parts for ritual

purposes. Some parts

they sold to people who

needed them for

transplant. Yeah, there are

human beings like this

amongst us.

The men, who are mostly

bricklayers, confessed

that they sell the parts

from N500k to N1million,

depending on the parts in

demand. Two of the ritual

killers were found to be

pastors.

The men took the vigilante

network members and

some policemen to their

hideout which is a forest

in Umugara Village in

Nkwerre. There, police

found the decomposing

corpses of some of their

victims, mostly women

and children.

Brace yourselves...they

are horrible photos. See

them after the cut. *viewer

discretion advise

Read More

Graphic photos: 6- man gang arrested for ritual murders in Imo state

The Nkwerre Vigilante

Network this week

arrested a six-man gang

specialized in the sale of

human parts for rituals

and transplant in Nkwerre,

Imo State. The men

confessed to kidnapping

their victims at various

locations in the state and

using their parts for ritual

purposes. Some parts

they sold to people who

needed them for

transplant. Yeah, there are

human beings like this

amongst us.

The men, who are mostly

bricklayers, confessed

that they sell the parts

from N500k to N1million,

depending on the parts in

demand. Two of the ritual

killers were found to be

pastors.

The men took the vigilante

network members and

some policemen to their

hideout which is a forest

in Umugara Village in

Nkwerre. There, police

found the decomposing

corpses of some of their

victims, mostly women

and children.

Brace yourselves...they

are horrible photos. See

them after the cut. *viewer

discretion advise

Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Mandela Passes On

Former South African President

and anti-Apartheid icon, Dr.

Nelson Mandela may have

finally passed on, a senior

African National Congress (ANC)

leader confirmed to

FrontiersNews, in South Africa, a

short while ago.

The 95 years old Mandela,

popularly known as Mandiba,

has been in critical condition for

months and had at several times

been on life support.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is a

South African anti-apartheid

revolutionary and politician who

served as President of South

Africa from 1994 to 1999.

Brief Biography

Rolihlahla Mandela was born

into the Madiba clan in Mvezo,

Transkei, on July 18, 1918, to

Nonqaphi Nosekeni and Nkosi

Mphakanyiswa Gadla Mandela,

principal counsellor to the Acting

King of the Thembu people,

Jongintaba Dalindyebo.

His father died when he was a

child and the young Rolihlahla

became a ward of Jongintaba at

the Great Place in Mqhekezweni.

Hearing the elder’s stories of his

ancestor’s valour during the

wars of resistance, he dreamed

also of making his own

contribution to the freedom

struggle of his people.

He attended primary school in

Qunu where his teacher Miss

Mdingane gave him the name

Nelson, in accordance with the

custom to give all school

children “Christian” names.

He completed his Junior

Certificate at Clarkebury

Boarding Institute and went on

to Healdtown, a Wesleyan

secondary school of some

repute, where he matriculated.

Nelson Mandela began his

studies for a Bachelor of Arts

Degree at the University College

of Fort Hare but did not

complete the degree there as he

was expelled for joining in a

student protest. He completed

his BA through the University of

South Africa and went back to

Fort Hare for his graduation in

1943.

On his return to the Great Place

at Mkhekezweni the King was

furious and said if he didn’t

return to Fort Hare he would

arrange wives for him and his

cousin Justice. They ran away

to Johannesburg instead

arriving there in 1941. There he

worked as a mine security

officer and after meeting Walter

Sisulu, an estate agent, who

introduced him to Lazar

Sidelsky. He then did his articles

through the firm of attorneys

Witkin Eidelman and Sidelsky.

Meanwhile he began studying

for an LLB at the University of

the Witwatersrand. By his own

admission he was a poor

student and left the university in

1948 without graduating. He

only started studying again

through the University of London

and also did not complete that

degree.

In 1989, while in the last months

of his imprisonment, he obtained

an LLB through the University of

South Africa. He graduated in

absentia at a ceremony in Cape

Town.

Nelson Mandela, while

increasingly politically involved

from 1942, only joined the

African National Congress in

1944 when he helped formed the

ANC Youth League.

In 1944 he married Walter

Sisulu’s cousin Evelyn Mase, a

nurse. They had two sons

Madiba Thembekile ‘Thembi’

and Makgatho and two

daughters both called

Makaziwe, the first of whom

died in infancy. They effectively

separated in 1955 and divorced

in 1958.

Nelson Mandela rose through

the ranks of the ANCYL and

through its work the ANC

adopted in 1949 a more radical

mass-based policy, the

Programme of Action.

In 1952 he was chosen at the

National Volunteer-in-Chief of

the Defiance Campaign with

Maulvi Cachalia as his Deputy.

This campaign of civil

disobedience against six unjust

laws was a joint programme

between the ANC and the South

African Indian Congress. He and

19 others were charged under

the Suppression of Communism

Act for their part in the

campaign and sentenced to nine

months hard labour suspended

for two years.

A two-year diploma in law on

top of his BA allowed Nelson

Mandela to practice law and in

August 1952 he and Oliver

Tambo established South

Africa’s first black law firm,

Mandela and Tambo.

At the end of 1952 he was

banned for the first time. As a

restricted person he was only

able to secretly watch as the

Freedom Charter was adopted

at Kliptown on 26 June 1955.

Nelson Mandela was arrested in

a countrywide police swoop of

156 activists on 5 December

1955, which led to the 1956

Treason Trial. Men and women

of all races found themselves in

the dock in the marathon trial

that only ended when the last

28 accused, including Mr.

Mandela were acquitted on 29

March 1961.

On 21 March 1960 police killed

69 unarmed people in a protest

at Sharpeville against the pass

laws. This led to the country’s

first state of emergency on 31

March and the banning of the

ANC and the Pan Africanist

Congress on 8 April. Nelson

Mandela and his colleagues in

the Treason Trial were among

the thousands detained during

the state of emergency.

During the trial on 14 June 1958

Nelson Mandela married a social

worker Winnie Madikizela. They

had two daughters Zenani and

Zindziswa. The couple divorced

in 1996.

Days before the end of the

Treason Trial Nelson Mandela

travelled to Pietermaritzburg to

speak at the All-in Africa

Conference, which resolved he

should write to Prime Minister

Verwoerd requesting a non-

racial national convention, and

to warn that should he not

agree there would be a national

strike against South Africa

becoming a republic. As soon as

he and his colleagues were

acquitted in the Treason Trial

Nelson Mandela went

underground and began

planning a national strike for 29,

30 and 31 March. In the face of

a massive mobilization of state

security the strike was called off

early. In June 1961 he was

asked to lead the armed

struggle and helped to establish

Umkhonto weSizwe (Spear of

the Nation).

On 11 January 1962 using the

adopted name David

Motsamayi, Nelson Mandela left

South Africa secretly. He

travelled around Africa and

visited England to gain support

for the armed struggle. He

received military training in

Morocco and Ethiopia and

returned to South Africa in July

1962. He was arrested in a

police roadblock outside Howick

on 5 August while returning from

KwaZulu-Natal where he briefed

ANC President Chief Albert

Luthuli about his trip.

He was charged with leaving the

country illegally and inciting

workers to strike. He was

convicted and sentenced to five

years imprisonment which he

began serving in Pretoria Local

Prison. On 27 May 1963 he was

transferred to Robben Island and

returned to Pretoria on 12 June.

Within a month police raided a

secret hide-out in Rivonia used

by ANC and Communist Party

activists and several of his

comrades were arrested.

In October 1963 Nelson Mandela

joined nine others on trial for

sabotage in what became

known as the Rivonia Trial.

Facing the death penalty his

words to the court at the end of

his famous ‘Speech from the

Dock’ on 20 April 1964 became

immortalized:

“I have fought against white

domination, and I have fought

against black domination. I

have cherished the ideal of a

democratic and free society in

which all persons live together

in harmony and with equal

opportunities. It is an ideal

which I hope to live for and to

achieve. But if needs be, it is an

ideal for which I am prepared to

die.”

On 11 June 1964 Nelson

Mandela and seven other

accused Walter Sisulu, Ahmed

Kathrada, Govan Mbeki,

Raymond Mhlaba, Denis

Goldberg, Elias Motsoaledi and

Andrew Mlangeni were

convicted and the next day were

sentenced to life imprisonment.

Denis Goldberg was sent to

Pretoria Prison because he was

white while the others went to

Robben Island.

Nelson Mandela’s mother died

in 1968 and his eldest son

Thembi in 1969. He was not

allowed to attend their funerals.

On 31 March 1982 Nelson

Mandela was transferred to

Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town

with Sisulu, Mhlaba and

Mlangeni. Kathrada joined them

in October. When he returned to

the prison in November 1985

after prostate surgery Nelson

Mandela was held alone.

Justice Minister Kobie Coetsee

had visited him in hospital.

Later Nelson Mandela initiated

talks about an ultimate meeting

between the apartheid

government and the ANC.

In 1988 he was treated for

Tuberculosis and was

transferred on 7 December 1988

to a house at Victor Verster

Prison near Paarl. He was

released from its gates on

Sunday 11 February 1990, nine

days after the unbanning of the

ANC and the PAC and nearly four

months after the release of the

remaining Rivonia comrades.

Throughout his imprisonment he

had rejected at least three

conditional offers of release.

Nelson Mandela immersed

himself into official talks to end

white minority rule and in 1991

was elected ANC President to

replace his ailing friend Oliver

Tambo. In 1993 he and

President FW de Klerk jointly

won the Nobel Peace Prize and

on 27 April 1994 he voted for the

first time in his life.

On 10 May 1994 he was

inaugurated South Africa’s first

democratically elected

President. On his 80th birthday

in 1998 he married Graça

Machel, his third wife.

True to his promise Nelson

Mandela stepped down in 1999

after one term as President. He

continued to work with the

Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund

he set up in 1995 and

established the Nelson Mandela

Foundation and The Mandela-

Rhodes Foundation.

In April 2007 his grandson

Mandla Mandela became head

of the Mvezo Traditional Council

at a ceremony at the Mvezo

Great Place.

Nelson Mandela never wavered

in his devotion to democracy,

equality and learning. Despite

terrible provocation, he never

answered racism with racism.

His life has been an inspiration

to all who are oppressed and

deprived, to all who are opposed

to oppression and deprivation.

He won the following awards

during his life time: Nobel Peace

Prize, Bharat Ratna, Time's

Person of the Year,Sakharov

Prize, Presidential Medal of

Freedom, Congressional Gold

Medal, Arthur Ashe Courage

Award, Queen Elizabeth II

Diamond Jubilee Medal, Gandhi

Peace Prize, Philadelphia Liberty

Medal, Jawaharlal Nehru Award

for International Understanding,

Lenin Peace Prize, Queen

Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee

Medal, Nishan-e-Pakistan, Al-

Gaddafi International Prize for

Human Rights, Ambassador of

Conscience Award,International

Simón Bolívar Prize, United

Nations Prize in the Field of

Human Rights, Order of the Nile,

World Citizenship Award, U

Thant Peace Award, Félix

Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize,

Isitwalandwe Medal,Indira

Gandhi Award for International

Justice and Harmony, Freedom

of the City of Aberdeen, Bruno

Kreisky Award, UNESCO Peace

Prize,Carter–Menil Human

Rights Prize, Bishop John T.

Walker Distinguished

Humanitarian Service Award,

Giuseppe Motta Medal, Ludovic-

Trarieux International Human

Rights Prize, J. William Fulbright

Prize for International

Understanding, W E B DuBois

International Medal, Prince of

Asturias Award for International

Cooperation, Harvard Business

School Statesman of the Year

Award

Read More

Change Your Passwords-2 Million Facebook, Google, Yahoo and Twitter Passwords Stolen

This may be a good time to

change your

Facebook, Twitter, Google,

and other

passwords.

CNN Money reports that

hackers have stolen

usernames and passwords

for nearly two

million accounts at

Facebook, Google,

Twitter, Yahoo and others.

The massive data breach

was a result of

keylogging software

maliciously installed on

an untold number of

computers around the

world, researchers at

cybersecurity firm

Trustwave said. The virus

was capturing log-

in credentials for key

websites over the past

month and sending those

usernames and

passwords to a server

controlled by the

hackers.

On Nov. 24, Trustwave

researchers tracked

that server, located in the

Netherlands. They

discovered compromised

credentials for

more than 93,000 websites

including

Twitter, Yahoo, Gmail,

LinkedIn, to name a

few.

Identity theft is a serious

issue and you

never know what sensitive

information you

might have in those emails.

To avoid any

unnecessary headaches

from your

information being

compromised, just

change those passwords

and make it a

habit to periodically change

change them.

Some tips for creating a

strong password

Make sure your password:

Is at least eight characters

long.

Does not contain your user

name, real name,

or company name.

Does not contain a

complete word.

Is significantly different

from previous

passwords.

Contains characters from

each of the

following four categories:

Uppercase letters

Lowercase letters

Numbers

Symbols

Read More

BREAKING: Explosion, Fire Around NNPC Building In Abuja

Information reaching

obascotec from the

federal capital territory,

Abuja, is that a huge

explosion rocked a

popular filling station in

the city centre, just by the

offices of the Nigeria

National Petroleum

Corporation building in

Abuja's Central Business

District on Thursday

afternoon.

The unfortunate incident

has thrown the area into

panic mood as workers

are scampering for safety.

A source at the scene of

the explosion told

obascotec on

phone that the incident

was caused by tanker that

was in the process of

discharging petroleum

product into a Conoil

filling station's reserve

tank.

As at the time of filling

this report, my source say

the fire from the tanker

has spread to the pumps

in the filling station. NNPC

Fire Service who are in

the vicinity do not have

water, making the

situation worse.

Read More

This Naija Twin Sisters Married This Twin Brothers and They've Made Guinness World Record

Nigerian twin sisters who

got married to twin

brothers the same day,

have made the Guinness

Book of World Records as

they were named the 1st

in Africa and the 251st in

the world to successfully

do such. The couple were

joined together at

Foursquare Gospel Church

in Omole, Ikeja, Lagos.

Folawemi Taiwo Okunniyi

and Febisola Kehinde

Okunniyi are identical twin

sisters from the same

parents from Ondo State.

Their grooms, Chinonso

Akinade Okueze and

Chibuzor Adelakin Okueze

are also identical twins

from the same parents

from Asaba, Delta State.

During the church

wedding, officials of the

Guinnes Book of World

Records acknowledged

that they have never had

any record or history of

twins’ marriage in Africa.

Big congrats to the

husbands and wives!

Read More

This Woman, Mrs Bimbo Adeyemo, Is Missing

She is a Sergeant in the

Nigerian Army and based

in Abuja with her family

(husband and kid). She

went to one of the popular

market in the city on

Saturday and has not

been seen since then.

Please, anyone with info

that could help in locating

Mrs (Sgt.) Bimbo

Adeyemo should contact

the nearest police station.

Thanks!

Read More

See Jim Iyke Balling With The President of Sierra Leon

After shutting down some

streets in the country, Jim

Iyke took out time to chill

with the President

Read More

REVEALED: Is This The Real Truth About Catholic Church?

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE

ROMAN CATHOLIC

CHURCH

SCRIPTURE LIST FOR

VIDEO START ON PAGE 2

**

Scripture Versus Tradition.

The Roman Catholic

Church has always been

identified with Christianity

because it upholds four

fundamentals of the

Christian faith:• The deity

of Christ

• The Triune God

• The virgin birth, and

• The bodily resurrection

and return of Christ to the

earth.

However, Catholic

teaching opposes the

doctrine that is most

essential to the Christian

faith – the doctrine

of justification by faith

alone. The Vatican not

only denies this doctrine,

but also condemns

anyone who believes it.

Other Catholic doctrines

deny that Christ’s work of

redemption is finished and

that His atonement is

sufficient.

For this reason...

ROMAN CATHOLICISM

MUST IDENTIFIED AS AN

APOSTATE CHURCH

AND CATHOLICS NEED

TO BE EVANGELIZED. In

spite of this there are

some Catholics who do

not adhere to all the

teachings of their church

and have had a genuine

born-again experience.

Still, with

over one billion Catholics

in the world and a

growing ecumenical

movement to unite all

religions under

the power and influence of

the pope, the truth about

Roman Catholicism must

be told.

The Gospel of Grace

Reveals: The Gospel of

Roman Catholicism

Reveals:

Jesus Christ, His life,

death and resurrection

(1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

A religious system of

sacraments,

indulgences, purgatory,

and prayers for the

dead (1032;1471-79,

1498)*

Salvation is….

Only through Christ (Acts

4:12)

A gift of God’s grace

(Ephesians 2:8,9)

Attained by Christ

(Romans 5:9)

At the moment a sinner

believes the gospel

(Ephesians 1:13,14)

Secured by God (John

10:27)

Salvation is…

Through the Roman

Catholic Church (846)

Merited by doing good

works

(1815,1821,2010,2027)

By faith plus the law,

sacraments, and good

works (1129,1131)

Attained by man

(2010,2027)

A process from baptism

through purgatory

(161-2,1254-55)

Never assured in this life

(1036,2005)

Sins are expiated by

Christ’s blood (Romans

3:25)

Sins are expiated by

suffering in purgatory

(1030-31)

Salvation glorifies God

alone (Ephesians 1) Mary

and all the saints are also

glorified (1476-77)

The work of salvation is

finished (John 19:30)

This work continues with

daily sacrifices (611,1405)

The Holy Bible scriptures

* Catechism of the

Catholic Church, San

Francisco, CA: Ignatius

Press, 1994.

2. A Word About the

Motivation of Catholics

It is important to realize

that most of the clergy

and lay people that teach

Roman Catholic

doctrine are not deceiving

people with malicious

intent. They are simply

passing on what has been

passed

on to them, sincerely

believing that they have

the truth. Catholics must

believe all dogmas of their

church

or be anathema (eternally

cursed).

Prayer, love, compassion,

and understanding are

needed along with the

power of the Word of

God to penetrate their

hearts. Patience is needed

to untangle Roman

Catholics from the

dogmatic web in

which they are held

captive.

(Colossians 2:8 KJV)

Beware lest any man spoil

you through philosophy

and vain deceit, after the

tradition of men, after the

rudiments of the world,

and not after Christ.

When witnessing to

Roman Catholics,

remember to:

1. Pray before, during,

and after (Colossians

4:2-6).

2. Establish agreement on

truth (John 14:6;

17:3.17).

3. Stay focused on the

gospel (1 Corinthians

15:1-4).

4. Establish the

relationship between the

Scripture and tradition

(Mark 7:7-13, Psalm 119,

2 Timothy 3:15,16).

5. Establish the

relationship between the

teachings of men and the

Word of God (Acts17:11,

1 John 2:27).

6. Persuade them to

repent of their dead works

and turn to Christ alone in

faith alone (Hebrews 6:1).

7. Make disciples of them

by inviting them to a

Scripture study (Matthew

28:18-20).

Most of the information

above was taken from a

tract by, Mike Grendon, a

former devout Roman

Catholic for 37 years and

a graduate of Dallas

Theological Seminary.

** Our Ministry View

FROM THE VIDEO

“IS ROMAN CATHOLICISM

CHRISTIANITY?”

We are often confronted

with the following

question and we have

done extensive research

to

provide you with a fair

and Biblical answer to the

question. We realize when

we deal with such topics

there might be some who

are offended by our views.

As we near the return of

Christ we are compelled

to

clearly and boldly point

people to Jesus Christ

and the Bible as the only

way of salvation and

spiritual truth.

There are 945 million

Roman Catholics in the

world. We are concerned

about their souls.

THE SCRIPTURE TELLS

US THAT IT IS A WISE

PERSON WHO TRIES TO

WIN THE SOUL

OF HIS FELLOW MAN FOR

THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

(Proverbs 11:30 KJV) The

fruit of the righteous is a

tree of life; and he that

winneth souls is wise.

We reflect on this

Scriptures as we sincerely

strive to approach the

subject of Roman

Catholicism.

If Catholics are saved by

following the teachings

and practices of the

Roman Catholic Church,

we

should leave them alone.

If that is not the outcome,

we have an obligation to

witness to them for the

sake

of their eternal soul.

The concern for souls

should be our only reason

for studying the Roman

Catholics; not to win

arguments or debates, but

to give us knowledge to

help deliver them from

deception.

3. We should always

examine our attitudes and

motives when we deal

with this subject or any

other to make

sure that love for the soul

dictates how we deal with

those concerned.

(2 Timothy 2:23-26 KJV)

But foolish and unlearned

questions avoid, knowing

that they do gender

strifes. {24} And the

servant of the Lord must

not strive; but be gentle

unto all men, apt to teach,

patient, {25} In meekness

instructing those that

oppose themselves; if

God peradventure will give

them repentance to the

acknowledging of the

truth; {26} And that they

may recover themselves

out of the snare of the

devil, who are taken

captive by him at his will.

The subject of Roman

Catholicism is a volatile

subject and no matter

how gently one deals with

the issue,

you are guaranteed to

make a few people mad.

The following statement

made in 1917 accurately

accesses

the situation.

"I am aware that, if I

undertake to prove that

Romanism is not

Christianity, I must expect

to be called, 'bigoted,

harsh, uncharitable.'

Nevertheless I am not

daunted; for I believe that

on a right understanding

of this subject depends

the salvation of

millions." (p. 288 THE

FUNDAMENTALS Volume

III, Reprinted 1993 by

Baker Books.)

The speaker was T. W.

Medhurst, of Glasgow,

Scotland. It was a true

statement in 1917 and

also today. It

came from an article

entitled, IS ROMANISM

CHRISTIANITY? that

appeared in a four volume

set of

books called, THE

FUNDAMENTALS, a series

of articles by ministers

that sought to address

and defend

the basic Christian truths

that are the most precious

to us.

At that time in history

they saw the demonic

floodgate of liberalism

opened and were wise

enough to know that the

war for the truth of the

gospel was happening.

This work was headed up

by R. A. Torrey and its

purpose was to put into

the hands of ministers

and laymen the

information they needed

to defend the gospel.

These men felt the need to

'draw a line in the sand'

on the issue of the Roman

Catholics and let the world

know that it was not

Christianity. In their day

the Roman Catholics were

considered by some as

another form of

Christianity. Medhurst

said:

One reason why Popery

has of late gained so

much power in Great

Britain and Ireland, and is

gaining power still, is that

many Protestants look on

it now as a form of true

Christianity; and think

that, on that account,

notwithstanding tenderly.

(p. .288, THE

FUNDAMENTALS)

The problem that these

men saw in 1917 has

been compounded many

times over through the

years up to

now. The shepherds of the

flock of God have allowed

Satan to kick the sands of

confusion of the clear

insight that these men

shared with the body of

Christ. More than ever

before people today

accept the

Roman Catholics as

another form of

Christianity, and more

than ever before people

who claim that

Catholicism is not

Christianity are

persecuted and ridiculed

as hateful and divisive.

The Bible says that

everyone who lives for

Jesus will be persecuted.

(2 Timothy 3:12 KJV)

Yea, and all that will live

godly in Christ Jesus shall

suffer persecution.

The Bible also says that

this persecution will be a

great blessing for us.

(Matthew 5:10-12 KJV)

Blessed are they which

are persecuted for

righteousness' sake: for

theirs is the kingdom of

heaven. {11} Blessed are

ye, when men shall revile

you, and persecute you,

and shall say all manner

of evil against you falsely,

for my sake. {12} Rejoice,

and be exceeding glad: for

great is your reward in

heaven: for so persecuted

they the prophets which

were before you.

4. WHY ARE SO FEW

CHRISTIANS

PERSECUTED IN AMERICA

TODAY?

The answer is simple:

they are not witnessing

for Jesus and standing up

for the truth of the gospel.

We need to determine if

the words of Medhurst are

true. Does the salvation of

millions of souls depend

on us sharing the true

gospel with our Roman

Catholic friends? Was

John Wesley correct when

he taught that no Roman

Catholic could be saved

by believing what their

church taught?

But I pity them much;

having the same

assurance, that Jesus is

the Christ, and that no

Romanist can expect to

be saved, according to the

terms of his covenant. (p.

220, Volume One,

WESLEY'S WORKS, Baker

Book House.)

We need to pay close

attention to Paul's words

to the church in Galatia.

(Galatians 1:6-9 KJV) I

marvel that ye are so

soon removed from him

that called you into the

grace of Christ unto

another gospel: {7} Which

is not another; but there

be some that trouble you,

and would pervert the

gospel of Christ. {8} But

though we, or an angel

from heaven, preach any

other gospel unto you

than that which we have

preached unto you, let

him be accursed. {9} As

we said before, so say I

now again, If any man

preach any other gospel

unto you than that ye

have received, let him be

accursed.

IN THE PASSAGE ABOVE

PAUL PLACES THOSE

WHO PREACH ANOTHER

GOSPEL

UNDER THE CURSE OF

GOD.

He repeats this fact twice

to give it special

emphasis. We should

think long and hard about

what it means to be

accursed by God. Some

comments on this

passage from scholars

will be helpful. J. B.

Lightfoot comments:

This word is used in the

Old Testament of a

person or thing set apart

and devoted to

destruction, because

hateful to God. Hence in a

spiritual application it

denotes the state of one

who is alienated from god

by sin. (J. B. Lightfoot's

Commentary on the

Epistles of St. Paul,

Hendrickson Publishers)

R. C. H. Lenski spoke

about being accursed:

As the apostle and

representative of Christ

and the Father Paul

pronounces the verdict;

'Let him be anathema!' He

repeats the verdict of

Jesus himself, uttered

against the Pharisees in

Matthew 23:13-39.

Anyone who promulgates

a different and contrary

gospel is eo ipso

"accursed", not because

we say it so, but because

Christ has said so, we

only repeating his

judgement. (p. 41 The

Interpretation of Galatians,

Ephesians, Philippians, R.

C. H. Lenski, Lutheran

Book Concern)

THIS PASSAGE AND

THESE COMMENTS MAKE

IT CLEAR THAT TO

PREACH ANOTHER

GOSPEL IS TO BE

TOTALLY CUT OFF FROM

CHRIST AND TO BE SET

APART FOR TOTAL

DESTRUCTION BY GOD.

WE NEED TO REALIZE

HOW SERIOUS AND REAL

THIS IS.

We now need to

determine: Do the Roman

Catholics preach a false

gospel? The Bible says

that the true gospel is

salvation by grace

through faith alone.

(Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

For by grace are ye saved

through faith; and that not

of yourselves: it is the gift

of God: {9} Not of works,

lest any man should

boast.

IT IS ONLY NECESSARY

TO READ TWO

SENTENCES FROM THE

NEW CATECHISM OF

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

TO DETERMINE THE

TRUTH THAT THE

ROMAN CATHOLICS

TEACH A FALSE GOSPEL!

5. Justification is

conferred in Baptism, the

sacrament of faith. It

conforms us to the

righteousness of god, who

makes us inwardly just by

the power of his mercy.

(p. 482, CATECHISM OF

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH,

The Liturgical Press.

When the Catholic Church

teaches that justification

is conferred in Baptism,

they do so in direct

opposition to the word of

God, which teaches that

we are justified by grace

through faith alone.

(Titus 3:7 KJV) That

being justified by his

grace, we should be made

heirs according to the

hope of eternal life.

(Romans 3:24 KJV) Being

justified freely by his

grace through the

redemption that is in

Christ Jesus:

(Romans 5:1 KJV)

Therefore being justified

by faith, we have peace

with God through our Lord

Jesus Christ:

(Romans 4:16 KJV)

Therefore it is of faith,

that it might be by grace;

to the end the promise

might be sure to all the

seed; not to that only

which is of the law, but to

that also which is of the

faith of Abraham; who is

the father of us all, The

Bible clearly teaches that

human words can play no

part in our justification.

(Galatians 2:16 KJV)

Knowing that a man is not

justified by the works of

the law, but by the faith of

Jesus Christ, even we

have believed in Jesus

Christ, that we might be

justified by the faith of

Christ, and not by the

works of the law: for by

the works of the law shall

no flesh be justified.

(Romans 3:28 KJV)

Therefore we conclude

that a man is justified by

faith without the deeds of

the law.

(Romans 4:4-5 KJV) Now

to him that worketh is the

reward not reckoned of

grace, but of debt. {5} But

to him that worketh not,

but believeth on him that

justifieth the ungodly, his

faith is counted for

righteousness.

The Catholic Church does

teach the importance of

faith for salvation, but

they say that faith alone

is not enough for

justification. The Catholic

position on justification

could fairly be described

as:

Justification = Faith +

Works

The Bible states plainly

that if you are trying to be

saved by 'faith plus

works' the true gospel of

justification by grace

through faith alone is

cancelled out and made

void.

(Romans 11:6 KJV) And if

by grace, then is it no

more of works: otherwise

grace is no more grace.

But if it be of works, then

is it no more grace:

otherwise work is no more

work.

(Galatians 2:21 KJV) I do

not frustrate the grace of

God: for if righteousness

come by the law, then

Christ is dead in vain.

(Galatians 3:10-11 KJV)

For as many as are of the

works of the law are

under the curse: for it is

written, Cursed is every

one that continueth not in

all things which are

written in the book of the

law to do them. {11} But

that no man is justified by

the law in the sight of

God, it is evident: for, The

just shall live by faith.

(Galatians 5:4 KJV) Christ

is become of no effect

unto you, whosoever of

you are justified by the

law; ye are fallen from

grace.

6. Not only does the

Catholic teaching

proclaim salvation and

justification by faith plus

works but they also place

those who teach salvation

by grace through faith

alone under the papal

anathema.

This word 'anathema' is

the same word used in the

Galatians 1:6-9 passage

(previously quoted) in

which the explanation of

the word meant to be 'cut

off' or 'accursed'. The

Roman Catholic Church

says because we teach

justification by grace

through faith in Jesus

Christ alone we are to be

'anathema'.

The Council of Trent

made this clear:

If anyone says that the

faith which justifies is

nothing else but trust in

the divine mercy, which

pardons sin because of

Christ; or that it is that

trust alone by which we

are justified: let him be

anathema. (quote from

Council of Trent, p. 47,

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING

TO ROME, Harvest House

Publishers.)

FROM EVEN A VERY

BRIEF STUDY OF THE

ROMAN CATHOLICS WE

ARE FORCED TO

MAKE SOME SERIOUS

CONCLUSIONS.

1. The Roman Catholics

teach and preach a

different gospel than the

true gospel of justification

by grace

through faith alone.

2. Preaching a different

gospel proves the Roman

Catholic Church a false

religion, and not true

Christianity.

3. This places the Roman

Catholic Church under the

curse of God according to

Galatians 1:8-9, cuts

them

off from Christ and places

them under the judgment

of God.

4. If Christians take the

great commission

seriously they will prepare

themselves by study and

prayer to

share the gospel with our

Roman Catholic friends.

More links to information

about Roman Catholic

Church:

http://

www.ianpaisley.org/

tiara.asp?

printerfriendly=true

We hope this has

informed you of some

very important issues

concerning the differences

between the

Roman Catholic Church

and true Christianity.

Your Servants in Jesus,

David and Donna Carrico

FOLLOWERS OF JESUS

CHRIST MINISTRIES

P.O. Box 4174

Evansville, IN 47724-4174

(812)477-6338 (Fax same

no.)

E-mail:

fojcministries@cs.com

Web Site:

www.ritualabusefree.org

Read More

This Female Corper, Ayobami Jaiyeola, was Kidnapped in Lagos; The Guys Want N10m

She was declared missing

on the Social Media on

Tuesday, but I can tell

you that Ayobami Jaiyelo,

a female corps member,

has been kidnapped by

one of the dangerous

gang terrorizing Lagos

and environs.

"On Friday, she

suddenly left the

house and walked

outside the main

gate of the estate.

We have not heard

anything from her

since then. Her

phones were here so

there was little we

could do. We asked

the security guards

at the gate if they

noticed anything, but

they said they only

saw her walking out

and no vehicle was

seen nearby."

But her kidnappers have

contacted her family

members for a N10m

ransom. A relative said:

“We did not speak

with Ayobami, but

someone called with

a private number

demanding

N10m. When we

tried to ask further

questions about the

state of our

daughter, the man

terminated the call

abruptly.”

The Lagos State Police

Command has

commenced investigation

into the kidnap of the 29-

year-old lady. She was

last seen while leaving

her elder sister’s house at

Dideolu Estate in the

Oniru area of Lagos in the

evening of Friday last

week.

The relative said the

matter was initially

reported as a case of

missing person. He

said, “We reported the

matter to the Maroko

Police Division, as well as

the state command

headquarters.”

But on Wednesday

afternoon, a man, who

refused to identify himself,

called Ayobami’s elder

sister on phone and

demanded N10m as

ransom.

The victim, who graduated

from the University of

Maryland in the United

States, was said to have

returned to the country in

January for her youth

service. Her place of

NYSC primary assignment

is the Lagos State

Ministry of Works, Alausa,

Ikeja.

Her family is begging that

she should be released,

the police say they are on

top of the situation.

Read More

Yes, My Husband Is 5yrs Younger Than Me ––Segun Arinze's Ex-Wife Ann Njemanze

In the next 40 years, we'll

have many sixty

something years old men

whose wives will be old

women of about 80years.

That is the reality facing

us now with ladies getting

pregnant for and getting

married to guys who are

5, 10 or even 15 years

younger. Below is what

Actress Anne Njemanze

told a reporter:

"Yes he [my

husband] is younger

with a few years. My

husband and I do not

share up to 5 years

difference and he is

not bothered about

it ."

It would be recalled that

Ann got married to Silver

Ojieson in Lagos on

Saturday November 9,

2013.

Read More

WOW! "If I See Pastor Chris Okotie In Heaven, I'll Leave Heaven

Many people, especially

Catholics in Nigeria have

been reacting to the

statements credited to the

maverick and

controversial Pastor of

House Hold of God, Chris

Okotie, that Catholics will

go to "Hell Fire" due to

their way of worship,

which he claimed is not in

accordance with what the

Bible teaches the

Christians.

Read More

Scores Killed As Boko Haram Attacks Air Force Base In Maiduguri

Suspected Boko Haram

terrorists, Monday morning,

attacked the Composite

Group Air force Base and

other places in Maiduguri,

the Borno state capital.

The siege which started at

about 3am shook the town

as sporadic gunshots and

other Rocket Propelled

Grenade Launchers fire

were heard, with ensuing

airstrikes in Maiduguri and

Jere metropolis till 8 am.

Sources said during the

attacks on the Air force

Base and other targets,

including the Maiduguri

International Airport, several

people were killed as the

terrorists, numbering over

300 planted explosives in

targeted areas in the state

capital.

Also attacked are, the newly

constructed trailer park,

along Damaturu- Maiduguri

road, military check points,

residential and public

buildings, which according

to the source led to high

casulities among the

terrorists and security

agencies.

An eye witness who resides

in Gomari airport area, just

few metres away to the Air

force Base said, ” I saw 5

military operational vehicles

conveying dead bodies to

the hospital at about 6am,

the dead bodies were

suspected to be security

agents killed during the

attack”.

It was also gathered that,

over a hundred terrorists

were killed by military

airstrikes in the counter

offensive.

Read More

SEE the Nude Photo that Crashed Actress Uche Iwuji's Marriage

This is really very shameful.

Why will a marriage woman

engage in such? See the

explicit photo below...

Read More

Comedian Saka Rejects government appointment from Jonathan

Saka says he's not happy with

Mr President because he has

not improved the lives of many

Nigerians. Lol!

Read More

ASUU to Parents: Keep Your Children at Home, Strike is Still On

The Academic Staff Union of

Universities, ASUU, has warned

parents not to endanger the

lives of their wards and children

by sending them to their

university campuses, as

directed by the Federal

Government.

“Don’t risk the lives of your

children and wards. Keep them

at home because ASUU will not

teach. Soldiers and the police

deployed by the Federal

Government will not teach.

Wike can come and teach in the

universities. It is a huge joke to

sack lecturers. Our strike must

not be in vain. Our students

must see the results."

ASUU, which also directed all

its members not to sign

attendance registers in their

institutions, lashed out at the

Federal Government for lack of

consistency in its statements

on the ongoing strike.

The Supervising Minister of

Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike,

had at a news conference in

Abuja on Thursday, threatened

that any ASUU member that

failed to resume on or before

December 4th would be

sacked.

Wike also directed vice-

chancellors to advertise

vacancies (internal and

external) in their institutions.

He told the vice-chancellors to

open attendance registers for

lecturers that resumed in their

universities.

The Government then directed

the Inspector-General of Police,

Mohammed Abubakar, to

deploy policemen in all the

federal universities.

But the Chairman, University of

Ibadan chapter of ASUU, Dr.

Segun Ajiboye, said parents

should keep their children and

wards at home as no academic

activity would resume until the

strike is properly called off.

Ajiboye added, “It is funny. We

thought we are in a democracy.

I assure Nigerians that we

know what the law says about

the strike. Our job is statue

backed. We are not threatened.

We do not trust the

government. The record of the

government is clear. This

government is dishonouring

agreements. Our members are

resolved to pursue this to a

logical conclusion.

“If ASUU could withstand

Babangida, this government

cannot threaten us. We have

worked this road before, the

only thing that will work is

peaceful resolution. It is sad

that government wants to sack

us because we are asking for

the resolutions. We are ready

to be sacked but government

should learn from the University

of Ilorin experience. We are

going to stay the course.”

ASUU President, Dr. Nassir

Fagge, urged the lecturers to be

resolute. He said:

“Comrades, can you see the

unfolding drama? Now

Jonathan says they didn’t give

ultimatum. That the vice-

chancellors did and Wike

became their trumpet. But

NUC’s (National Universities

Commission) ultimatum is by

the Federal Government to us

to resume or get sacked.

“Wike’s press address says ‘FG

has directed’ not ‘VCs have

directed.’ Be calm, stay

resolute. By God’s grace, we

are on course.”

Read More

Pastor Chris Okotie's Bombshell: Why Catholics Will Go to Hell

I don't know what has come

over our big-grammar pastor o.

Lol...

"All Catholics in the world will

go to hell because they worship

Satan and are led by an Anti-

Christ Pope who is a friend to

the devil", Nigeria’s

controversial preacher and

former presidential candidate,

Chris Okotie, told his

congregation on Sunday,

leaving members bewildered.

“ They don’t believe in heaven.

They believe in purgatory, the

purgatory that they invented,”

Fifty-five year old Okotie, while

preaching in his Household of

God Church in Ikeja area of

Lagos on Sunday, said the

Catholic church is “a

counterfeit church set up by

Satan” and that Catholics “bow

to idols and crucify Jesus every

Sunday when they eat bread

claiming they are eating Jesus’

body.”

Pastor Okotie stressed: “They

are not Christians and have

never been.”

“They don’t know Jesus. They

believe that when they eat

bread on Sundays, they are

eating the body of Jesus. It’s

ritual,” he told his stunned

congregation.

According to Simon

Ateba, Okotie said Pope Francis

is an Anti-Christ who does the

job of the devil and that time is

fast approaching when the

Catholic church will pledge

allegiance to Satan.

“The pope is an Anti-Christ and

the Catholic church will soon

declare for Satan. This is the

end of times,” Okotie erupted.

He advised members of his

church to come to the rescue of

Catholics and evangelise

them. This, he said, was not

out of disrespect but out of

respect for the word of God.

He said those who know the

truth should bring it to those

who do not know it in the

Catholic Church.

Okotie said one of the Catholic

most revered Popes, Pope John

Paul 11, surrendered the

Catholic Church to Mary, the

earthly mother of Jesus Christ,

instead of Jesus himself. He

said even the current Pope

Francis has also done same.

He said Catholics are not

Christians and do not worship

the same Christ that he

preaches in his church, at least

the one spoken about in the

Bible.

Okotie said he did not write the

Bible but it was clear to him

that those in the Catholic

church were lost and were

heading to hell fire.

“That church, the Catholic

church has been there for

Satan and at the right time,

they will declare for Satan,”

Okotie said.

Okotie who has been married

twice and divorced also twice

said a beauty pageant will take

place in his church next

Sunday to select the most

beautiful woman in his church.

He also said that Nigeria’s

famous preacher Prophet T.B.

Joshua is the son of the devil

and his followers will go

straight to hell.

But funny enough, in recent

years, the same Pastor Okotie

has been saying that God has

anointed him to be the

President of Nigeria. That

prophecy has not come to pass

in 2 presidential elections that

he participated in.

Read More

PDP In Edo Offers N250,000 Compensation To ‘go And Die’ Widow

The Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP) Edo State, has

condemned the inhuman

treatment meted out on a

widow by the State

Governor, Comrade Adams

Oshiomhole.

The PDP in rescue of the

widow has asked the widow

to come to their office and

get the sum of N250,000 to

help cushion the effects her

siezed goods will have on

her.

This was contained in a

press release signed by the

state chairman, Dan Orbih.

PRESS RELEASE

Edo PDP watched with

consternation Governor

Adams Oshiomhole’s brutal,

inhuman and merciless

treatment of a widow street-

trader whose wares he

ordered seized and who he

unfeelingly told to ‘…go and

die’ even as she knelt down

in fervent protestations and

appeals to his pity on a

helpless widow.The

governor’s actions are

appalling, insensate,

disgraceful, indecent, cruel

and below board.

It is clear that he does not

care much about the well

being of the people as he

pretentiously avowed.

Our hearts go to that

hapless widow in this her

time of travails and through

her, to other widows who

have been oppressed by the

unfriendly policies of the

administration in Edo State.

The PDP, Edo State will not

let any Edo person ‘to go

and die’ if it can help it,

especially not hardworking

people like that widow who

are engaged in lawful

enterprises that are, in

themselves, not easy to

carry on.

To this end, our party has

instituted an endowment

fund for all widows and

oppressed people in the

state and by this release,

we invite the widow

captured in the video of the

encounter with Governor

Oshiomhole to come to the

PDP Secretariat on No. 70,

Sapele Road, at 11am on

Tuesday December 3, 2013

to receive a first-installment

sum of N250,000.00 to

cushion the pain, trauma

and loss occasioned by her

mistreatment and the

seizure of the items she

sells.

Governance is about the

people and as a responsible

National Institution, Edo

PDP cannot be

unconcerned about the

wrong treatment of

indigenes of the state to

whom the present

administration promised

heaven just to win their

votes.

We will continue to stand in

the gap to ensure that Edo

people are deservedly fairly

treatment.

If Governor Oshiomhole

believes that Edo People

sinned by voting him into

office, let him remember

that he will account for his

actions, if not to the people

because he apparently does

not think much of them, but

to God Almighty in the short

or long run.

We thank all those who

have been humanely

concerned about the plight

of the widow and have

stood out vehemently

against the crying shame

that was the insensitive

action of a governor who

seems bent on repaying

electoral favor with

ingratitude.

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Read Simon Kolawole's Exposé On The APC and nPDP Merger

Maybe I am seeing things

that many observers

cannot see yet. Or maybe

I am deluded. But I will

continue to say that the

current blossoming of a

viable opposition is going

to be one of the greatest

catalysts for democracy

and development in

Nigeria. With the defection

of five PDP governors to

the APC, we are now

entering a phase in our

democracy where the

ruling party and the

opposition are almost

evenly matched, at least

on paper.

I, for one, had been

impatient with the PDP

governors because they

had been threatening

endlessly to defect to the

APC. Governor Murtala

Nyako (Adamawa) had

made it a daily habit to

announce that he was on

his way to the APC office

in Yola to pick

membership form. That’s

a done deal now.

But there are two broad

reactions to the latest

development...

Some are so excited.

They say it marks the end

of the 'evil' PDP and the

imminent enthronement of

'progressives' to “save

Nigeria” from misrule. To

these people, I say: calm

down. You don’t move

from being a “bad”

governor to a “good”

governor simply because

you defected from one

party to the other

yesterday. You don’t

suddenly become

Nigeria’s saviour because

you left PDP for APC after

a disagreement over the

national cake.

Like I have always said,

the PDP crisis is a falling-

out among a committee of

friends. It is not about

potable water or education

or healthcare. It is pure

power play. It is about

2015 elections. Who gets

the presidential ticket?

Who will be the running

mate? Whose son will be

governor in Adamawa

State? Nyako’s or

Bamanga Tukur’s?

On the other side, you

have people unfairly

condemning the

opposition. They said APC

is doomed to fail, that it is

a congregation of crooks,

that the party is just

driven by the lust for

power with all kinds of

characters jumping on the

bandwagon. Someone

pointed out that APC is

filled with people who

never see eye-to-eye on

matters such as fiscal

federalism, quota system,

federal character, state

police, “true federalism”

and all that.

To this group, I say:

what’s your problem? To

start with, we cannot

change government

democratically without

these politicians. I can

write all that I like on this

page every Sunday, but it

is politicians that are in

charge. Therefore, if we

want to change Nigeria

democratically, we need

these same politicians we

condemn. Change their

thinking and you will

change the fortunes of

Nigeria.

Let me say this again and

again and again: I do not

believe PDP is a party of

sinners and APC is a

party of saints. I do not

believe only PDP rigs or

only PDP is filled with

corrupt and inept leaders.

I would love to say that in

order to earn some

applause, but my

conscience will not allow

me. Nigerian politicians,

no matter their party,

language and religion, are

basically the same. Let

me be clear about that.

That is why they find it so

easy to swap political

parties from time to time

without feeling out of

place, without having to

battle any contradictions.

They are at home

anywhere they find

themselves.

It is the same set of

people that are circulating

and re-circulating in the

political space. Let’s not

kid ourselves.

Having said that, however,

let me quickly state my

position and then

conclude. I wrote, over

two years ago, that 2015

is going to be the tightest

election ever. I still stand

by my postulation. The

dynamics are already

pointing in that direction. I

cannot categorically say

that PDP will lose or APC

will win, but I can

confidently say that it is

not going to be a piece of

cake for either party. In

the past, PDP went into a

general election knowing

it was going to be a walk-

over, mainly because of a

heavily fragmented

opposition. Winning

PDP’s ticket was as good

as winning the election,

and the battle for PDP’s

tickets was, in many

instances, fiercer than the

actual election.

That effectively meant the

PDP had no incentive to

deliver the goods. It was

all too easy for them.

This puts the emerging

strong, viable opposition

into perspective. Under

normal circumstances,

President Goodluck

Jonathan should now

become desperate to

deliver democracy

dividends in order to win

public support ahead of

the 2015 elections. He still

has enough time in his

hands. On its part, the

APC should be raising the

game through well-

articulated alternative

policies and programmes,

showing off their

credentials in states they

currently govern as the

basis for Nigerians to

choose them ahead of the

PDP. Invariably, the

parties will have to sweat

for every vote.

Okay, there is the rigging

factor. I have discounted

that. Nigerian politicians

are, genetically, election

riggers. There will be

balance of rigging, as it

were.

Now, if my calculations

turn out fine - that is,

Jonathan rolls up his

sleeves and delivers more

democracy dividends and

APC raises the ante by

trying to outperform PDP

in the states - then

Nigeria and Nigerians will

be the unintended

beneficiaries of this new

wave of politicking. And

that way, our democracy

will begin to deliver

development. Hopefully

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