Shocking New Updates on Mrs Stella Odua

The beauty of the Internet is that you can hear the world in thought.
Mrs. Stella Oduah, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, has been the subject of considerable fascination because of grievous allegations of corruption against her for which she was indicted by the House of Representatives.

She was found guilty of misappropriating funds of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, a department in her Ministry, “spending” a scandalous N255 million to buy two luxury cars for her own use.  The cars were far less expensive than the sums she “spent” on them, in Nigerian parlance, she may simply have eaten the money.

I am one of the most fervent advocates of SaharaReporters, which broke the story in October 2013.  If you understand that the principal mission of SaharaReporters (its editorial philosophy is available on the website) is to combat corruption, my support is not difficult to place.
To be sure, SaharaReporters and other serious corruption fighters (and they are very few in Nigeria), make mistakes.  I do not know how anyone can report corruption in Nigeria and not make mistakes.  That may explain why anti-corruption reporters in Nigeria do not carry identity cards.

Corruption in Nigeria is bad enough; to identify yourself in Abuja as reporting it is the equivalent of putting a gun to your own head and pulling the trigger.  Those reporting corruption in Nigeria do Nigeria a favour.
In the government of Mr. Goodluck Jonathan, Mrs. Oduah may be the hardest-working person or the strongest fighter.  That is not the issue.
As Aviation Minister, she may have built 100 airports and renovated another 100.  That is not the issue.
The issue is that, particularly in a government which claims to be “transforming” Nigeria, she was found guilty of shameless acts of greed and corruption.
As it turns out, that was Act One.
Last week, reports emerged that she may also be a certificate forger, in a country where forgery is a crime.
She may well be innocent, but the allegations are extremely disturbing.  First, she claimed to have obtained an MBA, a rather distinguished and specialized advanced degree.
She also claimed to have obtained it from a school which has never had a Masters’ programme, and to have obtained it in the same year in which she was serving in the National Youth Service Corps in Nigeria.  That is, she claimed to have been in Nigeria and the United States at one and the same time.

As it turns out, she could not have obtained the MBA because the institution has never had such a programme.  In other words, Mrs. Oduah must have printed the certificate in Oshodi or Aba or Isale Eko.
Finally—one hopes this is the final entry in the infamous dossier—she claimed to have been honoured with a Ph.D by another institution.
This time, it turns out the ‘awarding’ institution does not even exist.  That certificate may have been printed by anyone, anywhere.

What this means is that we have in the federal cabinet someone who had no compunctions about lying to the Senate or to the people of Nigeria.
Now, to hear some Nigerians speaking on the Stella Oduah story, these allegations are the product of a “conspiracy” and against the Igbo. For my readers who do not know, Mrs. Oduah is Igbo.
In simple language, Mrs. Oduah has been indicted for fraud.  The material evidence examined by the House showed that, contrary to the provisions of the budget under which she was acting, she spent federal funds on herself: excessively, insensitively and irresponsibly.
To the best of my knowledge, she did not take that decision on behalf of her ethnic group.  She took the decision because of the prevailing and debilitating culture of impunity in Nigeria, and because she is irresponsible and greedy.
She took that action because she cared far more about herself than about the people she swore to serve.

In most other countries of the world, Mrs. Oduah would have been punished under the law.  In Mr. Goodluck Jonathan’s Nigeria, she did not even receive an official reprimand.
On account of her impunity, and aided by the weakness of Mr. Jonathan, the Minister attracted considerable public attention, and further media scrutiny.
Some people have not noticed, but the mass media has evolved.  It has now grown to involve players who think that journalism may be too important to be left to journalists.  They call themselves citizen journalists or citizen reporters.  They go where the traditional media would not.  They go where the traditional media cannot.  They take advantage of their passions and emerging technologies to report their world with greater ferocity.  You cannot blame them for reporting crimes you should not have committed.
As difficult as it may be for some Nigerians to believe, some of these reporters cannot be bought with money, no matter how many bales of it are on offer.
That is why, at a time that only the truth could have set the Minister free, it turned out she has been in the lying business for a very long time.
To be fair to Mrs. Oduah, people have always forged certificates. In times past, however, the media, even if it was interested, lacked the resources to dig into these things.  For certificate forgers and assorted official liars, that has changed.  Today, you can print the same certificates or make any claims you wish, but you ought not to complain when you are found out, cruelly.

Some crooks will not be found out, ever.  That has always been the nature of things: some people get away with murder and mayhem.   Some others, alas, only have to spit in the wrong place, or at the wrong time.
When Mrs. Oduah was making her claims, she was not doing so with her ethnic group or her family in mind.  She was driven by her personal ambitions and her greed.  She wanted to get ahead of others.
Mrs. Oduah is an embarrassment to herself, but she has embarrassed her country even more, and she ought to pay the price.  Actually, but for Nigeria’s weak and groveling leadership, she ought to have paid the price months ago.

Anyone who knows Nigeria knows the Igbo are an enterprising and hardworking people.  Oduah’s certificate scandal is a sad comment on all Nigerians who work hard for their qualifications.  It is an affront for anyone to say that in Mrs. Oduah, the Igbo are being victimized for crimes that she committed, or that someone is being paid to report her crimes as a person.
What this really underlines is how pathetic the so-called Transformation Agenda is.  It lacks an ethical foundation, just as it lacks purpose, and is unveiled as the cheap propaganda tool that it is.  Again and again, Mrs. Oduah has provided President Jonathan with the opportunity to go beyond the words people put in his mouth and act like a man who can lead.

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8 Things No One Will Tell You About Marriage

You’re smart. You know life is no storybook. But admit it: Somewhere deep in your subconscious lurk romantic visions of Cinderella, or maybe Julia Roberts. The images may be sketchy and a little outdated, but you can stillmake out the silhouette of the bride and Prince Charming riding off into the sunset.
In real life, sometimes your Disney fairy tale ends up feeling more like a Wes Craven horror flick — and you’re the chick who keeps falling down and screaming for her life. I’ve been there. Let’s face it, marriage is not for the faint of heart. You want to believe your pure love for each other will pull you through. And it does. But it ain’t always pretty.
That may sound grim. But here’s a secret: Sometimes it’s the least romantic parts of marriage that have the most to teach you about yourself, your partner, and the nature of love. Read on for some simple truths that will unlock the surprising treasures and pleasures in your imperfect, unstorybook, real-life love.
Marriage truth #1
You will look at the person lying next to you and wonder, Is this it? Forever?
When you get married, you think that as long as you pick the right guy — your soul mate — you’ll be happy together until death do you part. Then you wake up one day and realize that no matter how great he is, he doesn’t make you happy every moment of every day. In fact, some days you might wonder why you were in such a hurry to get married in the first place. You think to yourself, This is so not what I signed up for.
 Actually, it is. You just didn’t realize it the day you and your guy were cramming wedding cake into each other’s faces, clinking champagne glasses, and dancing the Electric Slide. Back then you had no idea that “for better and for worse” doesn’t kick in only when life hands you a tragedy. Your relationship mettle is, in fact, most tested on a daily basis, when the utter sameness of day-in/day-out togetherness can sometimes make you want to run for the hills. That’s when the disappointment sneaks in, and maybe even a palpable sense of loneliness and grief. It’s not him. It’s just you, letting go of that sugarcoated fantasy of marriage that danced in your eyes the day you and your beloved posed in all those soft-focus wedding photos. You’re learning that marriage isn’t a destination; it’s a journey filled with equal parts excitement and tedium.
Waking up from a good dream to face the harsh morning daylight may not seem like a reason to celebrate. But trust me, it is. Because once you let go of all the hokey stories of eternal bliss, you find that the reality of marriage is far richer and more rewarding than you ever could have guessed. Hard, yes. Frustrating, yes. But full of its own powerful, quiet enchantments just the same, and that’s better than any fairy tale.
MARRIAGE TRUTH #2
 You’ll work harder than you ever imagined
Early on, when people say, “Marriage takes work,” you assume “work” means being patient when he forgets to put down the toilet seat. In your naiveté, you think that you will struggle to accommodate some annoying habit, like persistent knuckle cracking or flatulence.
If only it were that easy. Human beings, you may have noticed, are not simple creatures. Your man has mysterious, unplumbed depths — and from where he sits, you’re pretty complicated, too. You have to learn each other the same way that you once learned earth science or world geography. And getting married doesn’t mean you’re done — it just means you’ve advanced to graduate-level studies. That’s because every time you think you’ve mastered the material, he’ll change a bit. And so will you. As two people grow and evolve, the real work of marriage is finding a way to relate to and nurture each other in the process.
“It’s like losing weight,” says Andrea Harden, 45, of Buffalo, NY. “You want it to be a one-time deal. You lost it, now just live. But then you learn it’s a lifestyle. That’s marriage. The effort is a forever thing.” So don’t be too hard on yourself — or him — on those days when you feel like you’re struggling through remedial math.
MARRIAGE TRUTH #3
 You will sometimes go to bed mad (and maybe even wake up madder)
 Whoever decided to tell newlyweds “Never go to bed angry” doesn’t know what it’s like inside a bedroom where tears and accusations fly as one spouse talks the other into a woozy stupor until night meets the dawn. If this scenario sounds familiar, I’ve got three words for you: Sleep on it.
You need to calm down. You need to gain perspective. You need to just give it a rest. I’ve found that an argument of any quality, like a fine wine, needs to breathe. A break in the action will help you figure out whether you’re angry, hurt, or both, and then pinpoint the exact source. Maybe the fight that seemed to erupt over the overflowing garbage can is really about feeling underappreciated. Could be you’re both stressed out at work and just needed to unload on someone. Taking a break will help you see that, and let go. Or maybe you really do have a legitimate disagreement to work out. Without a time-out, sometimes a perfectly good argument can turn into an endless round of silly back-and-forth, rehashing old and irrelevant transgressions as you get more and more wound up.
Even when you do manage to stay focused and on topic, there are some fights that stubbornly refuse to die by bedtime. And if you stifle your real feelings just to meet some arbitrary deadline, your marriage will surely be the worse for it. “This was a huge lesson for me,” says Andrea. “As women we’ve been trained to make nice. But the whole kiss-and-make-up thing just to keep the peace was eating me up inside. I’d let things build up inside me until I just exploded. Now I wait a while to get hold of myself — let the emotions settle a bit — and state my position. Even if that means reopening the fight the next day.”
MARRIAGE TRUTH #4
 You will go without s*x — sometimes for a long time — and that’s okay
There are few men in the Western world sexier than my husband. And I don’t say this because I know he may read this article. I’ve seen women checking him out when they think I’m not looking. (Honestly, ladies, you don’t have to sneak a peek. I don’t mind if you stare.) That said, there are times that I just don’t feel like having s*x — often for reasons that have nothing to do with Genoveso. (See? Even his name is sexy.) I can’t lie and say this is always okay with him. But the fact is, there are also plenty of nights when he’s not in the mood. So maybe a few days go by when we don’t do it. And then a few more. And….
Sexless periods are a natural part of married life. A dry spell isn’t a sign that you’ve lost your mojo or that you’ll never have s*x again. It just means that maybe this week, sleep is more important than s*x. (I don’t know about you, but between work, 3 a.m. feedings, the PTA, soccer, T-ball, and everything else, I sometimes crave sleep the way a pimply, hormonal adolescent longs to cop a feel.)
And don’t kid yourself; no one in America is doing it as often as popular culture would have you believe. Instead of worrying about how much you think you “should” be having s*x, keep the focus on figuring out your own rhythm. “I used to think, What’s happened to us? We always used to be in the mood,” says 35-year-old Kim Henderson of Oakland, CA, who’s been married for five years. “Now I know better. Life happens. My husband just started a new job. He has a long commute, and we have two small children. I think we’re good.”
The key is to make sure that even if you’re not doing “it,” you’re still doing something — touching, kissing, hugging. Personally, my heart gets warm and mushy when my husband rubs my feet after a long, tiring day. He may not be anywhere near my G-spot, but that little bit of touch and attention keeps us connected even when we’re not having spine-tingling s*x.
MARRIAGE TRUTH #5
 Getting your way is usually not as important as finding a way to work together
I can be a bit of a know-it-all. There, I said it. It’s really not my intention to be hurtful or brash with people I love. It’s just that a lifetime of experience has taught me that in most areas, at most times, I am right about most things. What shocked me several years into my marriage, though, was the realization that the more “right” I was, the more discontented my husband and I were as a couple. See, oddly enough, throughout his life Genoveso has been under the misguided impression that he’s right most of the time (go figure!). So we’d lock horns — often. That is, until I learned a few things.
Namely, that when it comes to certain disagreements, there is no right or wrong — there is simply your way of looking at things and your husband’s. “I used to be very black-and-white earlier in our marriage,” says Lindy Vincent, 38, who lives in Minneapolis. “Now I see that I’m not all right and my husband is not all wrong. There’s more gray in life than I thought, and that’s taught me patience and the value of compromise.”
The more I get to know and appreciate my husband for who he is, the more I respect his positions. That doesn’t mean I always agree with him. But I can see the value in striking a balance that satisfies us both. And instead of harping on how wrong he is, I can usually swallow the verbal vitriol and simply say something like, “I see your point” or “I hadn’t considered that.” After I sincerely acknowledge his view, it seems to become easier for him to hear mine. And because I know I’m being heard, most of the time now, I don’t even want to prove how right I am anymore. Funny how that works, isn’t it?
MARRIAGE TRUTH #6
 A great marriage doesn’t mean no conflict; it simply means a couple keeps trying to get it right
Maybe you think that because of my newfound wisdom, Genoveso and I never fight anymore. Ha! As important as it is to strike a balance, it’s also important to have a big, fat fight every now and then. Because when you fight, you don’t just raise your voices; you raise real — sometimes buried — issues that challenge you to come to a clearer understanding of you, your man, and your relationship. I wouldn’t give up our fights for anything in the world, because I know in the end they won’t break us; they’ll only make us stronger.
MARRIAGE TRUTH #7
 You’ll realize that you can only change yourself
Ever seen the ’80s sci-fi cult classic Making Mr. Right? When the stylish heroine, played by Ann Magnuson, is hired to teach a robot how to act like a human, she seizes the chance to create a perfect guy. A hotshot commercial whiz, she uses her marketing prowess to shape John Malkovich’s android character into her personal version of the ideal man — sensitive, eager to please, and willing to listen.
There is a bit of that makeover fantasy in all of us — something that makes us believe we can change the person we love, make him just a little bit closer to perfect. We may use support and empathy or shouts and ultimatums, but with dogged conviction we take on this huge responsibility, convinced we’re doing the right thing.
Whatever our motives, the effort is exhausting. Transforming a full-grown man — stripping him of decades-old habits, beliefs, and idiosyncrasies — is truly an impossible task. And you will come to realize, sooner than later if you’re lucky, that it is far easier to change the way you respond to him.
MARRIAGE TRUTH #8
 As you face your fears and insecurities, you will find out what you’re really made of
I’ve got issues. Trust issues. Control issues. And others, I’m sure, that I’ve yet to fully discover. I guess I’ve always known I wasn’t perfect. But in more than a decade of marriage, I’ve been smacked upside the head with the cold, hard evidence.
There were clues when Genoveso and I were dating, especially with the trust thing. Early on, I was supersuspicious of him. He used to say things like, “I’ll call you at 8.” Then, just to try to trip me up, he’d call at 8. I knew he was up to something, I just couldn’t figure out what. The same kinds of experiences followed after the wedding. Except occasionally he would actually mess up. And I had no sense of scale when it came to rating his offenses; everything was a major violation. Whether he teased me about a new haircut or came home late, I seethed for days and even let thoughts of divorce creep into my head. I figured, if he loved me — really and truly — this stuff wouldn’t happen.
I’d like to be able to say that this irrational behavior lasted only a few months and I eventually worked it out. Kind of, sort of, is closer to the truth. After years of looking deeply into my soul and talking to good friends and the best sister a girl could ever have, I’ve come to recognize certain things about myself. Not to get all Dr. Phil about it, but I’ve had to examine my history with an emotionally distant dad and a strong-willed mom and face up to all the ways, both good and bad, that those relationships have affected how I approach my marriage.
I still struggle as a work in progress. But I am completely clear in the knowledge that many of the deepest frustrations in your relationship are an opportunity for you to confront yourself. That can be difficult to accept — after all, it’s so much more comforting to keep a running tab of your hubby’s deficits and tell yourself that his failings are the only thing standing between you and a better marriage. But if you let it, this bumpy journey toward self-awareness can be one of the more fulfilling rewards of a committed, long-term relationship — you’ll learn to love your quirks and be compassionate toward yourself, just as you’re learning to do with him.
That’s the strange beauty of marriage: It’s full of hard times and hard lessons that no one can ever prepare you for. But in the end, those are the things that give richness to your life together — and make your love even deeper and stronger than when it began

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8 Reasons Why Early Morning Sex is Awesome!

Do we even need to explain? We’d do anything to stay in bed a little longer every morning. And what can be better than a quickie? If you have a few extra minutes, you can even cuddle up with your partner without him snoring on you!

1. Of chemistry and connection: Can you think of a better way to start the day? We cannot. They say your day turns out to be great if you start it on a good note. What can beat starting your day with an awesome orgasm? Experts have found that having sex in the morning releases oxytocin which makes you feel more connected with your partner.

2. Just a little bit longer: Do we even need to explain? We’d do anything to stay in bed a little longer every morning. And what can be better than a quickie? If you have a few extra minutes, you can even cuddle up with your partner without him snoring on you!

3. Guilt-free evenings: If you’re in a long-term relationship, we’re sure sex has taken a backseat in your life. How many times have you made an excuse about headaches and working late to avoid sex? Well, now you don’t have to feel bad about being too tired for sex at the end of the day. Having sex when you are perky as ever in the morning means you can use your evenings to cuddle or watch a film together.

4. Lazy sex allowed: You can totally get away with being lazy without offending your partner. Try the doggie-style or spooning position and let him do all the work. Plus, you have an excuse to look bad because you’ve just woken up.

5. Health booster: Research has found out that morning sex improves your immunity by boosting your IgA levels. IgA is an antibody that keeps infection at bay. So say goodbye to colds and flu with regular morning sex. Woot!

6. Time saver: Running late for work? How about jumping into the shower together and getting naughty? This will save your time and water! Make sure you hold onto something so you don’t slip.

7. Last longer: A man’s testosterone levels are highest in the morning after he’s rested and recharged after a good sleep. This means he’s the horniest in the morning and full of energy. Plus, him lasting longer means a guaranteed orgasm for you!

8. No more heart problems: Besides keeping you happy the whole day, morning sex also lessens the risk of a heart attack or stroke. With so many perks and health benefits, make sure you have sex in the morning at least thrice a week.

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Khloe Kardashian Is Pregnant - Mediatakeout.com Claims

The entertainment website ‘Mediatakeout.com’ has just broken  a news that would certainly cheer all you khloe Kardashian fans. They have it that Khloe is finally pregnant ...Phew! Though Khloe is yet to respond to this claim but We sincerely  hope this is true! Read what they wrote below:

MediaTakeOut.com just got wind of what looks to be the FIRST MAJOR gossip scoop of 2014 . . . we learned that Khloe Kardashian IS PREGNANT. That’s not rumor y’all either . . . ITS FACTS!!

We’re told that Khloe announced her pregnancy and asked the entire family to keep the news quiet. Khloe’s momanger Kris is working on the proper time and place to make the announcement.

Oh, and the father . . . well we’re told that Khloe is “pretty sure” its Lamar’s. But there is an outside possibility it’s Matt Kemp’s. But if we KNOW THE KARDASHIAN’S LIKE WE DO . . . they’ll prolly spin it into a MAURY EPISODE.LOL.

Anyways, when news breaks elsewhere DON’T FORGET where you heard it FIRST!!!

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Thank You to our Readers! Happy New Year

Thank you to all Kemulch Blog readers. We do sincerely appreciate you for being part of us in 2013. We wish you a more prosperous year in 2014! Happy New Year!

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Dear Compatriots,

I greet and felicitate with you all as we enter the year 2014 which promises to be a momentous one for our country for several reasons, including the fact that it is also the year of our great nation’s centenary celebrations.

I join you all in giving thanks to God Almighty for guiding us and our beloved nation safely through all the challenges of the outgoing year to the beginning of 2014.

Exactly 100 years ago today, on January 1, 1914, the British Colonial authorities amalgamated what was then the separate Protectorates of Southern Nigeria and Northern Nigeria, giving birth to the single geopolitical entity known as Nigeria.

For us therefore, today is not just the beginning of a new year, but the end of a century of national existence and the beginning of another. It is a moment for sober reflection and for pride in all that is great about Nigeria.

Whatever challenges we may have faced, whatever storms we may have confronted and survived, Nigeria remains a truly blessed country, a country of gifted men and women who continue to distinguish themselves in all spheres of life, a country whose diversity remains a source of strength.

We pay tribute today, as always to our founding fathers and mothers, and all the heroes and heroines whose toil and sweat over the century made this country what it is today.

As I noted, a few days ago, the amalgamation of 1914 was certainly not a mistake but a blessing. As we celebrate 100 years of nationhood, we must resolve to continue to work together as one, united people, to make our country even greater.

I assure you that our administration remains fully committed to the progressive development of our country and the consolidation of peace, unity and democratic governance in our fatherland.

Despite several continuing domestic and global challenges, for us in Nigeria, the year 2013 witnessed many positive developments which we will strive to build upon in 2014.

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Zambian's BBA The Chase Former Housemate, Cleo [Ice Queen] Is In Nigeria With Her Son [Photos]

The Big Brother Africa former house mate flew to Nigeria over the weekend to attend a friend’s party in Surulere. Cleo looks so stunning in her outfit.

More photos below:

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Rapper Eve Gets Engaged to Longtime Boyfriend, Maximillion Cooper

Rapper Eve's longtime boyfriend, fashion designer Maximilion Cooper proposed to her on Christmas Day, according to a report by E Online.

"The rapper-actress, 35, is engaged to British designer and Gumball 3000 founder Maximillion Cooper, E! News exclusively confirms.

Eve's rep tells us that Cooper popped the question on Christmas Day, the sparkly evidence of which was first spied on Instagram in a photo in which she's surrounded by family—and flashing a diamond ring!"

 

therealeve #familytime!!!! Me and my mom and my lil brother Farrod just got to the English country side. Feel so #blessed to be with my family and sharing my life here. I pray that you bring 2014 in with people you #love. And nothing but #good
Read more at http://web.stagram.com/p/622539854953119143_18900062#W34KJqzX5o2fM2Kr.99

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That's the 2013 Mercedes Benz G Wagon that cost's over N30million. More pics below

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Pastor And His Children Arrested Over fake Currency Productiion in Lagos

The Department of State Security Service, SSS, in Lokoja, Kogi on Tuesday announced the arrest of a syndicate, including a pastor, for the alleged printing and circulation of fake naira notes.
The Director of SSS, Mike Fubara, who presented the suspects to journalists, said the syndicate included 15 others, including the pastor’s six children.
He named the pastor as Godson Akubuiro, the General Overseer of The Mountain of Breakthrough Deliverance Ministry, Lagos.
Mr. Fubara said the SSS in its effort to trace the source of the “worrisome fake naira currency in circulation in the state,” undertook a covert operation to uncover those behind the act.
“This operation took the service close to four months before a breakthrough resulting in the arrest of the 16-man syndicate led by Reverend Godson O. Akubuiro,” the director said.
He said that the operation took security agents to The Breakthrough Church, also known as Land of Solution, located at Agric, Ikorodu, Lagos.
He said that the suspects were being investigated preparatory to their prosecution.
The director said items recovered from the suspects include equipment and materials used in printing fake currencies.
Other items recovered were a large quantity of printed fake notes, cut to size blank currency notes and N1.3 million fake naira notes.
Mr. Fubara urged the public to be wary of the fake naira notes in circulation and report suspects to the service.
Mr. Akubuiro, however, told journalists that he was not using the money for himself but in supporting the less privileged and the needy in his congregation. He pleaded for leniency, saying men of God were often tempted like King David in the bible, who as a man after God’s heart fell many times but was still pardoned by God.
(NAN)

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APC Drops Buhari &39; Picks Tambuwal As Presidential Candidate

VP zoned to South-West, Buhari, others dropped

Barring any last minute change, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, may have endorsed the Speaker of the House of Representatives, The Right Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, as the presidential candidate of the main opposition party in the 2015 general election. National Mirror gathered that other presidential aspirants on the platform of the party, including the former Head of State. Maj.- Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (rtd.), are being persuaded to step down for Tambuwal.

As a prelude to the formal announcement of his candidature, Tambuwal has been advised to formally dump the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which provided the platform for his election into the lower chamber of the National Assembly and defect to the opposition party.

Already, findings showed that Tambuwal had agreed to the condition. Reliable sources close to the party disclose to National Mirror indicated that Tambuwal would meet the condition as soon as the House reconvenes in the New Year.

It was gathered that the leaders of APC in settling for Tambuwal considered that he possessed solid character content to sway the support of Nigerians for his candidature in the presidential election.

It was also learnt that those rooting for Tambuwal in APC were of the opinion that his integrity and pedigree were strong points over candidates of other political parties in the presidential election, especially in the likelihood that the ruling party fielded President Goodluck Jonathan.

Investigation revealed that APC leaders were persuaded by the independent disposition of Tambuwal in the management of the affairs of the House, particularly his courage to shun the interference of the leadership of PDP and the Presidency. One of the APC leaders, who spoke with our correspondent, said Tambuwal’s uncommon courage has endeared him to Nigerians.

“The leaders of APC have settled for the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal as the party’s presidential candidate in the 2015 election.

Although the decision is not public yet but there is a consensus of opinion by our leaders that the Speaker (Tambuwal) be allowed to fly the flag of the party in the presidential election.

“Our leaders believe that the Speaker has what it takes to win the presidential election and Mr. Speaker has been told to dump his party, PDP and move into APC to enable him to scale the hurdle. Tambuwal has agreed to that and he is expected to declare for APC with some other members of the House in the first quarter of New Year.

“In deciding on Tambuwal, his originality and independence in the handling of the affairs of the House were taken into consideration. Nigerians are impressed that Tambuwal shunned entreaties by the leadership of PDP and the Presidency to make the House an appendage of the executive arm of government.

“The Speaker has no doubt endeared himself to a lot of Nigerians by his sterling leadership qualities and APC believes that such qualities are required from any Nigerian aspiring for the highest political office in the country,” added the source, who did not want his name mentioned. Buhari and other presidential aspirants on the platform of the party were being persuaded to step down for Tambuwal.

According to him, Buhari and others were made to understand that the interest of the party superseded the ambition of any individual within the party.

He added that other presidential aspirants in the party have been advised to bury their interest to enable the party present “a credible and marketable presidential candidate to Nigerians.”

“The APC is working on all the presidential candidates and they are being persuaded to step down for Tambuwal, who is considered suitable for presidential election. Already, Gen. Buhari and others have displayed uncommon understanding and they are likely to embrace and accept Tambuwal as the flag bearer of the party in the presidential election,” the source added.

A reliable source in the APC also confided in National Mirror that the leadership of the APC had zoned the presidential ticket of the party to the North while the vice-presidential ticket had also been zoned to the South-West which had in turn zoned it to the Ekiti/Ondo axis.

National Mirror reliably gathered that while a young Muslim northerner is the preferred choice, the vice-presidential candidate, will be an elderly practicing Christian. The source told National Mirror that three candidates had actually been penciled down for the vice- presidential slot in the South-West.

It was learnt that Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, who was in times past a frontrunner as likely vice- presidential candidate was knocked off with the zoning of the slot to the Ekiti/ Ondo axis of the South- West geo-political zone.

APC leaders were also of the view that a Muslim- Muslim ticket like the 1993 presidential election, where the late business mogul, M.K.O. Abiola chose a Northern Muslim, Babagana Kingibe as his running mate would not fly in today’s Nigeria.

Also not working in Fashola’s favour was the alleged frosty relationship between him and his predecessor and national leader of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was said not be comfortable with a Fashola vice presidency.

A former governor of Ekiti State and a serving governor on the region were also considered but dropped on account of their relatively “young” age.

National Mirror also reliably learnt that the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, after meeting with the leadership of the APC insisted on the choice of a “practicing Christian” as a vice presidential candidate of the party.

It is yet to be known which office would be zoned to the South East and South-South geo-political zones in the political calculations of the APC, but analysts opined that the South East may be pacified with the presidency of the Senate while the South-South may end up with the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, 29 members of the House of Representatives, National Mirror learnt authoritatively yesterday, would defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC, between January and February 2014.

A member of the House from Jigawa State, who is still in the ruling PDP, disclosed this to National Mirror yesterday. It was also gathered that about four lawmakers who have lost out with the party in Benue State have concluded plans to take the leap in January.

“Yes, we are still PDP members, but I can’t guarantee that in January we would still be there. It is only Jigawa, many other states too. We are not less than 29 moving in January,” he said.

He however, did not confirm that the Speaker, Tambuwal would defect to the APC in January. This was just as about 15,000 members of the PDP in Bogoro, Dass and Tafawa-Balewa local government areas of Bauchi State have also dumped the ruling party and decamped to the APC.

In a related development, over 1,000 members of the PDP and other political parties in Ikosi-Ejinrin Local Council Development Area, LCDA, of Lagos State also yesterday decamped to the APC.

Thirty seven members of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of the PDP had already defected to the opposition, APC, giving the opposition a slim majority in the lower House.

With this development, the APC now controls the lower House with a majority of 172 members while the PDP has 171. But to change the structure of the House, the APC needs 181 members.

There are 360 members in the House. Should the 29 members move to join the APC in January, the party would have about 200 members of the House, far more than the required number to control the House.

In Bauchi, members of the PDP in Bogoro, Dass and Tafawa- Balewa local government areas, led by the lawmaker representing the federal constituency, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, at a rally, which took place at the famous Watal Hotel in Tafawa-Balewa Local Government Area, the headquarters of the federal constituency, dumped the ruling party for the opposition.

The defection attracted eminent politicians, diplomats, youths and women, including serving political appointees of Isa Yuguda. Speaking at the occasion, Hon. Dogara said that his defection to the APC followed PDP’s perpetual injustice and lack of internal democracy and insensitivity to the plight of the people, adding that the PDP-led government has failed to fulfill its campaign promises to his constituency.

He lambasted the PDP administration for operating as a military junta without regard for the people, noting that the government has failed to curb the lingering security crises in the North-East.

His words: “I cannot continue to stay in the PDP, which has failed to execute any single project in my constituency since the advent of democracy, despite bankrolling President Goodluck Jonathan and Yuguda’s victory in my constituency in 2011 despite my area being a PDP stronghold.”

Also speaking, the leader of the defectors, Michael Kogos, said that their decision to dump the PDP followed the party’s failure to carry the people along; lack of internal democracy as well as the lingering crisis in the party at all levels.

Kogos said that the APC has come to stay in Bogoro, Dass and Tafawa-Balewa local council areas of the state in support of Hon. Dogara, whose giant strides were commendable.

The defected PDP members accused the Yuguda administration of blurred vision and failure to consolidate on the work of his predecessor, Adamu Mua’zu.

It would be recalled that last week, about 15,000 members of the PDP were confirmed to have dumped the party for the opposition APC in the state, a development which the state PDP secretary described as “bad omen for the party.”

But the state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Alin Ardo, said, the defected member of the House of Representatives would soon return to the umbrella.

He debunked claims that the PDP government has not executed any single project in his constituency, thus warranting his defection to the APC, saying that the federal and state governments have been up and doing in the area.

In Lagos, the PDP chairmanship candidate for the Ikosi-Ejirin LCDA in the 2011 local government election, Segun Ogunsanya, led the PDP defectors who were received into the APC by a former Commissioner for Health in the state, Mr. Leke Pitan; former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Joko Pelumi and the APC chairman in the LCDA, Elder Lateef Sangosanya, to the APC. Speaking on the rationale behind their move, Ogunsanya, described the decision to dump the PDP as the best thing to do, following the developmental strides embarked upon by the incumbent chairman, Prince Olusegun Adetola.

The vice chairman of the party in Lagos State, Alhaji Akanni Seriki Bamu, urged the new APC members to ensure that the expected dividends of democracy are enjoyed by the people, assuring that there would be no form of discrimination against the new members of the party, as they would have the same rights as the old members of the party.

It would be recalled that the latest defection is the third time politicians of various parties will be decamping to APC in Ikosi-Ejinrin LCDA

Source :Nationalmirroronline.net

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Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s New Year Message For Nigerians [Read]

 

 FOR NIGERIA, THIS NEW YEAR WILL TRULY BE NEW!

Nigerians must enter the New Year determined to succeed although much around us signals failure. As a nation, we are destined to be better than we now are. Today, we slump in a low place but that is only for now.  Our nation is crippled but not broken, confused but not lost. Given into the hands of enlightened progressive leadership, this nation can become a fertile land of prosperity, of law, of peace and dignity for us all.

The coming year shall be one of decision. To be for change or against change? To want more of the same or to join the team that desires change? Shall we continue as we now are? If so, failure will be our sole destination and darkness our only compass. As for me, I reject this end as well as the means that lead to it. We have gone far enough down the unlit road. We want no further part of it.

The advent of a new year is time for people and nations to resolve themselves to a greater future. As a people, let us resolve no longer to live in a land that functions as its inferior self. Let us resolve that we no longer dwell in a society of unfair advantage, excessive poverty and parochial divisions that threaten to distract us from the common goal of our common good. Let us resolve that we shall no longer tolerate a government more interested in its longevity and welfare than in yours. Let us resolve to create a Nigeria based on justice, democracy, fair opportunity and decent living conditions for all regardless of ethnic origin, religion, region or social station. Let us devote our hands to reshaping Nigeria into a place where no one is excluded and all are seated at the national table. Let us turn Nigeria from its present condition of a plantation owned by the few and worked by the many into a humane community of shared responsibility and shared benefit.

2013 proved we cannot pretend nothing is wrong when most things are wrong. If we allow things to continue in this shoddy way, we shall find ourselves walking toward the open jaws of national disaster.
We must resist this ugly fate by substituting it with a renewed faith that we can improve our nation. I feel the storm of change building up.  If you listen closely, you hear a faint and distant sound. This distance sound means us well, and, I tell you, this sound will not always be distant or soft. Inevitably, it approaches. The closer it gets, the louder and stronger it will become until no other sound will be heard in the public square. This happy noise has been held from us far too long. Pray for its timely arrival; it is the din of political and economic change.

This is why we formed the APC. The APC is a vehicle to generate and accelerate the process of change towards the most beneficial end for the greatest number of our people. We are not here to mimic the PDP. Why would a living being mimic a ghost or water mimic mud?  We may not be perfect but we are dedicated to wellbeing of something far greater and more important than ourselves. We seek a better Nigeria for all Nigerians. Thus, we are no more like the PDP than a broom is like the dirt it sweeps away. We do not copy the deafness of the ruling party. We shall orchestrate a new music of enlightenment, progress and hope for this country.
As it moves nearer, the sound of imminent change will become music to the many. Those in power will dread it because the tune they want to hear comes not of the people’s happiness but from their misery.

This is why the strange government that resides in Abuja can applaud itself for economic growth when the majority of people suffer caustic poverty. The growth they commend is restricted to them and their cronies. The rest of the nation stagnates. Children’s bellies swell not from feast but from near famine. Schools close. Businesses are shuttered. Jobs evaporate. The streets fill with the frustration of the unemployed and hopeless. Homes, stores and factories are dark. There is no light. Yet, these people commend themselves for steering the economy to pleasant waters. They are mean captains who care not for the conditions of the workmen below deck.

In effect, they think they have done their job by making themselves richer at the expense of the rest of the people. Then, they have the nerve to ask that we applaud this misdeed. They believe they have already taken Nigeria to the promise land. This means they intend to keep things as they now are. They believe the economy should be permanently structured in a way the vast majority of Nigerians squirm under the boot of poverty while they relax in the nectar of luxury. This is an unfair, crooked deal. We reject it and, as the drumbeat of change marches closer, it will drown out their lame excuses to make way for a fairer economy.

Two recent events demonstrate how low we have sunk and why 2014 must be the year of change. Recently the media published reports of a letter from the CBN governor alleging a $50 billion dollar shortfall in revenues NNPC deposited into the federation account.  After a frenzied dash to reconcile the irreconcilable accounting books keep by this government, it was reported that only approximately $11 billion was unaccounted!  We have dropped so far that somehow losing $11 billion is now a sign of fiscal rectitude! This is tragic. In an atmosphere of good governance, this amount would never grow legs and walk away unnoticed. If it did, senior officials would have been duly escorted to the police station for criminal investigation.  Under this administration, the matter is swept aside as if a minor thing, like a broken tea cup on the floor. If this government can treat a missing 11 billion dollars like a minor accounting infraction, much more than a teacup needs to be swept away.  This robber government needs to feel the broom and the sweep of change as well.

Regarding Boko Haram and our challenges of domestic security, President Jonathan gave a recent statement that showed no urgency or initiative.  Instead, he told Nigerians to be happy because things could be worse.  At least, we are not like Syria or other war-ravaged lands, he said. In the face of the nation’s greatest security challenge since the Civil War, this is the presidential policy: to lay low and measure your failure relative to the failure of other nations. As long as other nations suffer conditions worse than ours, we should accept our fate and commend government for allowing only one of our legs to be amputated and not both. Jonathan’s hands-off, laissez faire approach to civil insurrect does not commend itself to national greatness or wise statecraft. It is a lazy and dangerous policy he promotes. This nation will not improve simply by being content that we are not as bad as other nations. That is not way of improvement. It is the excuse of a leader grown too comfortable with failure.

The coming year will present Nigerians a stark choice. The APC is a new party. It offers a chance to return Nigeria to her best path. We realize the Nigerian public has been stung so many times by false promises that the people will not give their trust quickly.  Given our political history, this is only wise and prudent.

Beginning this new year, the APC will show the people the vast difference between us and the PDP. They are a conservative and elite network of under-the-table deals and backroom governance. We are its open and progressive alternative. We mean the people well and do not work to keep them in the dark. We will show the comparative differences in several ways. First, we shall demonstrate our commitment to democracy by exercising internal democracy and transparence on our party deliberations. Second, we shall communicate to the people at the grassroots level as well as the national level. You will see and hear from APC members and leaders at the local, state and national levels.  We will create venues and platforms that you may communicate your concerns to us as well.

Third, and most importantly, we will highlight the ideological and substantive policy differences between the progressive us and the elitist them. Where the PDP has imposed trickle-down economics reminiscent of a 1980’s Reagan-Thatcher-IMF road show, we seek an economy of genuine and broadly shared growth where the laboring wage earner and small businessperson benefits proportionally to the powerful financier and big corporate power.  We will draw clear distinctions between how this administration conducts itself and what we see as the correct national government stance on fiscal and monetary policy, agriculture, national security, human rights, jobs and labor, housing, infrastructure, education and health.  By the end of the year, you will know the APC stands in a different place than the PDP.  The PDP is selfish; thus, it stands by itself.  The APC stands with and for the people.

Thus, we look forward to the approaching year. It will be a turning point in Nigeria’s political history. The people will be given a clear choice between the types of politics and policies they can follow. The people will be given two competing visions for the nation: The PDP’s vision of stumbling along as we are or a progressive vision where the people have greater input in their own governance and, thus, derive more benefit from that governance. The choice will be yours.
2014 also will be the year of an even greater change foretold. For it shall set the stage for year after. May 2015 be the fateful year when we affirm and empower into the actual governance of this land the change Nigeria so deservedly needs.

To all Nigerians, I pray for God’s blessing and a most productive and historic New Year.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
National Leader, APC and former Governor of Lagos State
December 30^th, 2013

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A Serenade For Y'all lovers [Video ]

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The Real Reasons Why I Left the PDP – Amaechi

Ahead of the 2015 presidential election, the Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, has said that the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) can never win elections in the country except by rigging.

Amaechi made this remark on Friday, while speaking to newsmen in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The governor said with the exodus of PDP members to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party was on its way out of power.

According to a Nigeria Eye report:

He said, “Most of you may have known that I have since left the PDP to a better party called the All Progressives Congress because the PDP is a drowning party and the facts remain that PDP is a drowning party.

“Watch out before March if we don’t have the numbers that we are looking for. So, you can’t call us opposition anymore because there are three arms of government and only two are electable; the executive and legislature.

“Yes, the PDP has the national executive, but we are inching close to having the legislature. Who then would be called the opposition if we have it?”

Amaechi, who predicted that more governors would defect to the APC in 2014, disclosed that one of the reasons why he left the PDP was as a result of the attempt by President Goodluck Jonathan’s wife, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, to interfere in the governance of Rivers State.

He also cited the ceding of Rivers resources to other states, the absence of Federal Government projects in the state and bad governance as the reasons why he dumped the PDP.

“But the basic reason why we left is the resources of Rivers State. I have told all of you on several occasions that the wife of the President was not elected the governor of Rivers State. I am the governor of Rivers State and husband to Judith Amaechi.

“I left because of the attempt by the wife of the President to micromanage governance in Rivers. I said no, you can’t; so that if I fail, they will not say the wife of the President failed, Governor Amaechi failed. I am accountable to God and to men and women,” he added.

Amaechi, however, said Nigerian politicians were averse to telling the truth and blamed Nigerians for the lack of interest in knowing the truth.

Recalling his claim that the Federal Government could not account for the sum of $49.8 bn and N2.3 trn oil subsidy, Amaechi said governors, at a time, refused to collect their states’ monthly allocations for three months.

He said, “When the politician reel out numbers, you should hold him accountable to the numbers he has reeled out. If you don’t hold them accountable, he will just say anything he likes.

“When I said the Federal Government could not account for $49.8 bn, they said, Amaechi, how did you know and I pulled out the letter and said the authority is the CBN governor.

“So, let him deny it. When I said they could not account for N2.3 trn for oil subsidy, they say what is your source? I was in the meeting with the President. We told the President that under General Obasanjo, the total oil money was N300 bn. The first year of President Goodluck Jonathan, 2011, oil subsidy became N2.3 trn. Did we buy more machines, expanded Nigeria?”

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5 Signs She Won’t Make A Good Wife

If your girlfriend is constantly nit-picking about your appearance, your characteristics and mannerisms, she will not keep her habits from its full blown manifestation, post-marriage.

1. She’s Commitment-Phobic

If your girlfriend tends to get cold feet even with the thought of marriage, then it is the first sign that she might not be the best person for the role. Given that you’ve been in a relationship for an extended period of time, the right woman should be ecstatic at the prospect of waking up next to you for the rest of your life. If she feels otherwise, then you might have a potential problem there. Speaking beyond marriage, if your partner is rather flighty and indecisive about her other commitments like appointments and haircuts, you should take this as a cautionary tale for the future.

2. She’s Jealous

While it is cute to feel possessive about your partner, if the jealousy starts getting in the way of how you live, it is another telling sign overshadowing your concept of happy endings. Girlfriends who call you every other second to enquire about your whereabouts, who you’re with and what not, might become worse post-marriage. If you constantly have to reassure your love to her, then the relationship might not be worth the long haul. While one understands that it is natural to be insecure, rampant insecurity, only tells upon the future prospects.

3. Differing Sex Drives

While every man dreams of having a sexually feisty partner for a wife, sometimes things don’t always work out that way. If your girlfriend doesn’t match up to your sexual drive, chances are that after marriage this will become a potential problem. As much as the naysayers shake their cudgels against it, but sexual satisfaction is food to a marriage. Without optimum ‘food’, the marriage will not survive.

4. She’s Disapproving of Your Friends and Relatives

If your girlfriend tries to cut you off from your family and friends, chances are that her behaviour might worsen manifold after marriage. The right partner should be able to accept you with all of your friends and family, no matter how annoying or tyrannical they might be.

5. She Wants to Change You

If your girlfriend is constantly nit-picking about your appearance, your characteristics and mannerisms, she will not keep her habits from its full blown manifestation, post-marriage. The ideal partner should be able to love you in entirety and care for you no matter what you look or act like. If her fixation to change everything about you is apparently annoying now, then it will become more so after marriage.

It is better to test the waters before taking a plunge, rather than diving headlong and regretting it later. With these signs, you’ll be able to judge if your beloved girlfriend is marriage-material or not

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Prof.Wole Soyinka’s Daughter, Iyetade, Dies At 48

Wole Soyinka and dauhter Iyetade Soyinka.

Daughter of Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka, Iyetade Soyinka has passed on at the age of 48.

She died at the University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital after a brief illness. Jahman Anikulapo, an aide to Wole Soyinka, made this known in a statement released on behalf of the family.

Anikulapo’s statement described the deceased as “affable, intelligent and sometimes capricious,” adding that she “struggled with her health in recent years.” Despite her health woes, the late Iyetade Soyinka “greeted every day with a smile and doted on her two children.”

Soyinka is survived by two children, both parents, numerous siblings, nieces and nephews.

May her soul rest in peace

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Business Tips and Tricks for 20-Somethings -[Video]

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Nollywood actress and CEO Fancy Nancy Collections Chika Ike was on Saturday honoured with a Chieftaincy title in Amoli Kingdom Enugu State alongside her colleague Oge Okoye. She was honoured  for her contributions to the growth and development of  Igbo land and for being a role model for both young and old women in Igbo land.

 She was given the title 'AKWA UGO 1' of Amoli Kingdom. So next time you see her don't forget to address her properly - Chief!!! Congratulations Chief Chika Ike

More Photos >>>

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Hell and Heaven are Not Real,All Religions are True, Satan Is Only a Metaphor - Pope Francis Declares

For the last six months, Catholic cardinals, bishops and theologians have been deliberating in Vatican City, discussing the future of the church and redefining long-held Catholic doctrines and dogmas. The Third Vatican Council, is undoubtedly the largest and most important since the Second Vatican Council was concluded in 1962. Pope Francis convened the new council to “finally finish the work of the Second Vatican Council.” While some traditionalists and conservative reactionaries on the far right have decried these efforts, they have delighted progressives around the world.

The Third Vatican Council concluded today with Pope Francis announcing that Catholicism is now a “modern and reasonable religion, which has undergone evolutionary changes. The time has come to abandon all intolerance. We must recognize that religious truth evolves and changes. Truth is not absolute or set in stone. Even atheists acknowledge the divine. Through acts of love and charity the atheist acknowledges God as well, and redeems his own soul, becoming an active participant in the redemption of humanity.”

“Through humility, soul searching, and prayerful contemplation we have gained a new understanding of certain dogmas. The church no longer believes in a literal hell where people suffer. This doctrine is incompatible with the infinite love of God. God is not a judge but a friend and a lover of humanity. God seeks not to condemn but only to embrace. Like the fable of Adam and Eve, we see hell as a literary device. Hell is merely a metaphor for the isolated soul, which like all souls ultimately will be united in love with God” Pope Francis declared.

In a speech that shocked many, the Pope claimed “All religions are true, because they are true in the hearts of all those who believe in them. What other kind of truth is there? In the past, the church has been harsh on those it deemed morally wrong or sinful. Today, we no longer judge. Like a loving father, we never condemn our children. Our church is big enough for heterosexuals and homosexuals, for the pro-life and the pro-choice! For conservatives and liberals, even communists are welcome and have joined us. We all love and worship the same God.”

One statement in the Pope’s speech has sent traditionalists into a fit of confusion and hysteria. “God is changing and evolving as we are, For God lives in us and in our hearts. When we spread love and kindness in the world, we touch our own divinity and recognize it. The Bible is a beautiful holy book, but like all great and ancient works, some passages are outdated. Some even call for intolerance or judgement. The time has come to see these verses as later interpolations, contrary to the message of love and truth, which otherwise radiates through scripture. In accordance with our new understanding, we will begin to ordain women as cardinals, bishops and priests. In the future, it is my hope that we will have a woman pope one day. Let no door be closed to women that is open to men!”

In addition to the Pope’s sweeping calls for tolerance and a new progressive understanding of Catholicism, he condemned racism, raising his voice and pounding the podium in front of him. Pope Francis spent over an hour castigating anti-immigrant politicians, parties and individuals. Wagging his finger sternly with righteous indignation, the Pope shouted “Racism today is the ultimate evil in the world. When Italians, Spanish or French turn back the boats of African migrants seeking a better life, are they not like the inn keeper who told Mary and Joseph that there was no room for them and the infant Christ? These migrants are children of God and we are commanded to love them!”

His voice loudly echoing through St. Peter’s basilica, the Pope stated “those who would dare to turn immigrants away, be they legal or undocumented, turn their backs on Christ himself! A racist is not a true Christian. A racist casts aside his humanity to become a beast, a demon! He is the embodiment and personification of evil, a Satan!”

To a chorus of thunderous applause, Pope Francis stated “because Muslims, Hindus and African Animists are also made in the very likeness and image of God, to hate them is to hate God! To reject them to is to reject God and the Gospel of Christ. Whether we worship at a church, a synagogue, a mosque or a mandir, it does not matter. Whether we call God, Jesus, Adonai, Allah or Krishna, we all worship the same God of love. This truth is self-evident to all who have love and humility in their hearts!”

In a announcement that shocked many people, Pope Francis warned that “those who seek to deny a home to the migrant, to the African and the Muslim, risk their membership in the church. We will consider excommunication for those whose souls willingly dwell in the darkness and evil of intolerance and racism. Satan himself is a metaphor or a personification, for the collective evils of mankind. Today, these evils manifest foremost as racism, intolerance, religious persecution and bigotries of all kinds.”

A couple of prominent Catholic cardinals have responded to Pope Francis’ declarations by leaving the church. Cardinal Arinze of Nigeria asked, “what do we stand for if we declare that truth is relative? On the contrary, truth exists independently of our personal feelings. All of this talk of love and tolerance is hollow if we have no identity of our own, if we stand for nothing. I charge that Francis has become a heretic, and that he is not a valid Pope. Indeed, Francis is no longer even a Catholic. The seat of Saint Peter is vacant. I am now a Sedevacantist. I should have become one long ago. The Vatican has embraced ecumenism in the past, but worse than that, it has now embraced moral relativism on abortion and homosexuality. At the same time it is embracing moral absolutism in favour of illegal immigration and cultural genocide against Europe.”

In his most controversial statement, Cardinal Arinze said “Islam has overrun my own country, and now it threatens to overrun Europe. Some parts of Nigeria now live under Islamic Sharia law. Catholics there are no longer free to practice their faith publicly. Francis is a fool if he thinks that his liberal immigration policy will end well. He has betrayed western civilization. Vatican City will one day become a giant mosque if things continue in Europe along their present course. Those in the West who ignore this truth, do so at their own peril.”

In an angry and vitriolic rant revealing deep self-hating tendencies, the African Cardinal Arinze stated “There is nothing wrong with Europeans who want to protect their borders. The problem is that there is not enough border control and the immigration policies are far too lenient in Europe. Is it racist to desire to preserve one’s own home? Why is it racist to want to preserve your own culture and a future for your people and your children? Have white people gone stupid today?”

This much is clear, the Catholic Church has made a decision to rejoin humanity and to reject intolerance and extremism. The church has lost a few narrow-minded bigots, with reports of some small parishes and a few cardinals and bishops defecting, but Pope Francis has gained the friendship of the world. Pope Francis deserves praise for taking a humane stand in defence of human rights and against bigotry.

Credit to diversity Chronicle

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