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Friday 27 December 2013

Creation of new local councils by Osun

By Gbenga Faturoti – Osogbo

DAILY INDEPENDENT – On Monday, 16th December, 2013, Governor Rauf Aregbesola took residents of the state by surprise when he presented before the floor of the State House of Assembly an executive bill requesting the lawmakers to consider and approve the creation of additional 27 local government development areas from the existing 30 local government councils in the state.
Unlike any other executive bill that usually emanate from the office of the Governor to the lawmakers, Governor Rauf Aregbesola took upon himself to personally present the bill at the floor of the assembly because of the importance his government attaches to it.
The presentation of the bill for the creation of additional 27 local governmentdevelopment areas was sequel to the submission of report of the 7-man local government creation committee headed by Professor Mojeed Alabi, former Speaker of the assembly between 1999 and 2003.
The reports after its submission was also vetted by another 5-man committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Moshood Adeoti to test the appropriateness and justification of the recommendations of the Mojeed Alabi’s committee in meeting the yearnings and demands of the people of the state especially regarding the recommendation of a particular local government area or citing headquarters of such local government in a particular place.
Meanwhile, as a prelude to the required public hearing of the bill to become law, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Nojeem Sallam, shortly after receiving the bill from Governor Rauf Aregbesola at the assembly chamber, called on members of the public to forward their responses on the new bill for the creation of additional local government development areas to the house for necessary parliamentary review and consideration.
This, the political observers in the state believe will make the whole exercise to have direct impact on the lives of the citizenry mostly in the rural areas after they had interacted with members of the local government creation committee on their demands; agitations and expectations.
The plan by the current administration to create additional local government development areas in the state has therefore attracted the affection of a larger chunk of the residents of the state and it is being viewed as an additional value to the popularity and image of the incumbent Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as somebody that keeps promises made to the electorate.
While presenting the bill for the creation of additional local government development areas, Governor Rauf Aregbesola told the 26 member assemblymen that his administration ventured into the creation of new council areas to make the government count and further bring it closer to the people at the grassroots level.
According to him, “we are here today to be part of history that will forever impact on the life of our people. The courageous step we are taking is infulfillment of our avowed belief that the purpose of government is to deliver the greatest happiness to the greater number of the people. There is no gainsaying that the only way a government can deliver the greatest happiness to its citizenry is its level of closeness to the people. It is beyond contention that the closest government to the people should be the local government.
“Can we truly say that the existing local government system we have in the state is a true reflection of the desire of the citizens of the state? Are the councils in all honesty close enough to the people at the grassroots to enable them deliver the required services expected of a local government? The answer of course is No. If they are, why do we have agitations for more local governments?
“The reality, as we have found out since our assumption of office in the last three years, is that many local governments as presently constituted are too large in size as regards the area they cover; the size of its workforce as well as the quality of representation needed at the grassroots level. These have hindered the smooth running of our local governments to the extent that they merely survive to pay salaries and nothing more. The statutory duties of the local governments have been neglected so much that people had actually forgotten their existence within their locality.
Governor Rauf Aregbesola while speaking further on the bill, stressed that his administration in doing this, was committed to complying with the clear provision of Sections 7 and 8 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, adding that the committee was charged with the task of preparing the bill for a law to the state assembly in conformity with Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
While describing the bill tagged: “Local Government Areas (Creation and Administration) Bill 2013” as historic, Aregbesola maintained the newly created local government areas will co-exists with the existing 30 local governments specified in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Aregbesola said: “One significant aspect of the Bill is that the existing 30 Local Governments co-exist with the newly created local governments. As a matter of fact, Section 3 of the Bill clearly provides that pending the passage of an Act of the National Assembly to list them in the constitution as Local Government Areas, the 27 new Local Government Areas shall be 27 Local Council Development Areas (Local Counties) in the State with the names specified in schedule II of the Bill. This provision clearly takes care of confusion that might have arisen should there be a controversy as to the status of the Local Government if the existing and the newly created Local Council Development Areas are lumped together as 57 Local Government Areas in the state. We have done our best to act within the existing law in this regard.
He stated that the bill will be parliamentary system in nature in or der to be cost effective, people-oriented and development based.
“This Bill has some unique features that are meant to make local government administration cost-effective, people-oriented and development-based. To this end, the bill proposes to establish a parliamentary system of government at the local government level. The implication of this is that the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Council would be an elected councillor from the party having majority seats in the council with other relevant qualifications. It is our firm conviction that this will inevitably reduce cost of governance; enhance quality of representation at the grassroots level and ensure smooth running of the local government administration.
“It is clear that despite the acute paucity of funds available to local governments, the amount spent on over-head and personnel already gulps all the council allocation. This proposed system would ensure transparency, probity and a more productive local government administration system in the State of Osun.
“Section 17 of the bill further creates the office of the Council Manager who shall be the Administrative Head of the Local Government Council. He or she shall be designated as “Council Manager” who shall be a civil servant not above grade level 14. The Council Manager shall be the highest level of officer in the Local Government Council.
“In making this Bill, we are not oblivious of the career progression concern of officers above grade level 14 in the Local Government Council. Affected officers in the employment of the Local Government, upon advancement beyond Grade Level 14, shall be deployed by the Local Government Service Commission in conjunction with the Civil Service Commission to any Ministry, Department or Agency of government as they may so deem fit.
Governor Aregbesola also disclosed that there shall be creation of local government economic planning board to re-engineer the local government system in the state in line with Section 7(3) of the 1999 constitution.
The board, according to him, will act in advisory capacity to develop economic blueprint for the local government council; to develop a framework for infrastructural and sustainable development of the council area; to advice the local government council on the enhancement of commercial and trading activities; to develop the parameters for agricultural development and advise on any other ancillary or relevant matter passed to it by the council.
He stated further that the board shall not be an implementation body but its report shall be submitted to the local government council for implementation; and it shall not be involved or take part in the day-to-day running of the local government.
He concluded that when the bill is passed into law by the lawmakers, it shall not only ensure a virile local government system, it would also place the assembly in the hall of fame of progressive and innovative legislatures at all time in the state in particular and nation at large.
Though details of the new local governments and their headquarters were still scanty as at the time of filing this report, it was gathered that the creation affected some old long existing local governments such as Oriade; Ife-South, Ejigbo; Odo-Otin; Iwo; Ayedaade; Irewole; Atakunmosa-East; Atakunmosa-West; Ede-South; Egbedore; Ife-North; Ife-East; Olorunda; Osogbo; Ifelodun, among others.
While responding after receiving the bill from Aregbesola, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Folasayo Nojeem Sallam therefore called the members of the public to forward to the House their response on the new bill.
He opined that this action has been long overdue considering the politics of the state assuring that the bill would scale through with little or no stress considering the fact the assembly is made up of members of a single political party (APC). He noted that the lawmakers in the state have been working harmoniously with the executive to move the state forward.

Thursday 26 December 2013

The significance of The Jummah

It is a true saying that Allah the Almighty does not like any other act better than Salah (Prayers). The Jumuah Prayers is a congregational prayer offered by the Muslim men and women. On this day the people have to go to the mosque and pray with the Imam (the leader of the community). These prayers include the Khutba that is specially prayed on this day as a preaching in the Islamic tradition. All the localities of the city have to gather in a mosque with true respect and attend the prayers. Women are also allowed to come to the mosque as a special place is provided for them in the mosque where they can offer the Salah with other ladies as well.

The Prophet has also mentioned in his Hadiths that offering five times prayer a day and also Friday Prayer results in the expedition of sins. But only to offer the prayers on Friday and leave the rest does not mean that the Muslim should indulge in sins and think that it would be cleared any how by praying the FridaySalah. It has been mentioned by the Prophet that the best day when the sun has risen is Friday and also on that day Adam had been created by the Almighty. It is so believed that the Day of Judgment would be Friday and so people should be aware and should regret of their sins and turn towards the Almighty with due respect and obliquity.

There are many prayers suggested on this day from the Holy Quran. Some of them are as follows.
  1. Surah Zilzaal - According to the Prophet it is said that praying thisSurah on Thursday night would 15 times will protect him from the pangs of death and Allah will ease his punishments on the day off Judgement. Also if you pray this 4 times the reward given by the Almighty is equal to that of praying one whole Quran.
  2. Surah Aalah - It was the habit of the Prophet to pray this Surah in hisSalah and also on the eve of Jumuah. The Prophet always used to pray this Surah before going to sleep.
  3. Surah Dukhaan - Praying this Surah on Thursday night or on the day ofJumuah, the person will be blessed and 70 thousand angels will pray for him and ask forgiveness for him until morning. All his sins and bad deeds would be pardoned by the Almighty if a person prays this Surah.
  4. Surah Kahf - this is to be prayed on the day of Jumuah, it is said that a person who prays this Surah a shining light is created for him between his place and Makkah. All the minor sins committed by him from last Friday till today would be forgiven.
  5. Surah Jumuah - This Surah is recited especially on this day as many times you can, as it increases your rewards and forgive sins.

How to Prepare Yourself for Jumuah Prayers

It is very essential and a vital aspect for a person who wishes to go for a Salah, to prepare himself and purify himself before going to the mosque.

  1. The first act to start with is to get purified by having a shower and alsoablution should be performed that is called as Wuzu in simple Arabic terms.
  2. Dress yourself with clean clothes. It is very important that you should change your clothes if you have been to the office or anywhere wearing the same clothes.
  3. The application of Itr (Perfume) is also one of the main things or you can apply Kajal or Surma in your eyes as well.
  4. Leaving early from the house towards the mosque and waiting in the mosque for the prayers to begin is one of the good deeds that Allahlikes and so he rewards accordingly.
  5. Give away alms to the poor and give charity in the name of Allah is considered to be a noble act.
  6. Greet your parents and take their blessings on this day.
  7. If you can visit the mosque during the day after the prayers, do not stay behind because each of your step taken towards the mosque is rewarded and your sins are forgiven.
  8. Maintaining decorum and not talking between the prayers is a kind of etiquette one should follow.
  9. If there is a place in the front rows of the Imam you should sit there close to him whenever possible.
  10. A person should avoid stepping over people to get a particular spot in the mosque.
Follow the above mentioned steps to prepare yourself for Jumuah prayers so that Allah showers lot of blessings on you. Be consistent in offering Salah onJumuah, perform good deeds and follow holy Islamic path in right manner.
Among the seven days of the week, Friday is the day when Allah's Special mercies are granted. It is a day of gathering for the Muslims and rewards are increased. Many great events took place on this day, and yet to take place.
I'll try enlightening the significance of The Jummah:
  1. Allah has blessed us a complete surah about Jummah Surah Al-Jumua.
    "O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew." [Al-Quran 62:9]
  2. The day of Jumu'ah includes an hour during which all supplications are accepted. Abu Hurayrah, narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) said:
    "On (the day of) Jumu'ah is an hour during which Allaah gives to a Muslim servant standing in prayer whatever he asks for.”[Al-Bukhaari and Muslim].
  3. The Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ), said:
    The best day the sun rises over is Friday; on it Allaah created Aadam. On it, he was made to enter paradise, on it he was expelled from it, and the Last Hour will take place on no other day than Friday.”[Ahmad and At-At-Tirmithi].
  4. The charity given in this day is more virtuous than the other days of a week. The Messenger (ﷺ) said:
    "Charity given during the day of Jumu'ah is greater (in reward) than any other day."
  5. It is a day on which sins are forgiven, as narrated by Salmaan (Ra.) who narrated that the Prophet, (ﷺ) said:
    “Any man who performs Ghusl on Friday, perfumes himself if he has perfume, wears the best of his clothes, then goes to the mosque and offers as many prayers as he wishes while not harming anybody, then listens quietly while the Imaam speaks until he offers the prayer, will have all his sins between that Friday and the next forgiven.” [Al-Bukhaari].
  6. Dying on Friday, during the day or night, is a sign of a good end, for the one who dies on that day will be protected from the trial of the grave (i.e., Allaah The Almighty will enable such a person to be steadfast during it). The Prophet, (ﷺ) said:
    Any Muslim who dies during the day or night of Friday will be protected by Allaah from the trial of the grave.” [At-Tirmithi and Ahmad].
  7. It was narrated from Aws ibn Aws al-Thaqafi that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
    Whoever does Ghusl on Friday and causes (his wife) to do Ghusl, and sets out early, and comes close to the imam and listens and keeps quiet, for every step he takes he will have the reward of fasting and praying qiyaam for one year.” (al-Tirmidhi, 496)

Wednesday 25 December 2013

Allah the most Merciful, Allah the Creator and Lord of the Universe

Allah is the standard Arabic name for "God". The term is best known in the west for its use by Muslims as a reference to God. Arabic-speakers of all faiths, including Christians and Jews, use the word Allah to mean "God". The Muslim and Christian Arabs of today have no other word for "God" than Allah.
In Islam, Allah is the only deity, transcendent creator of the universe, and the judge of humankind. Some Islamic scholars feel that "Allah" should not be translated, because they perceive the Arabic word to express the uniqueness of "Allah" more accurately than the word "god" for two reasons:
1. The word "god" can take a plural form "gods", whereas the word "Allah" has no plural form.
2. The word "god" can have gender as male god or female god (called goddess) whereas the word "Allah" does not have gender.
Tawhid (Tawheed, Tauheed) is the Islamic concept of monotheism (Oneness of God). In Islam, Tawhid means to assert the unity of Allah. The opposite of Tawhid is Shirk, which means "division" in Arabic, referring to idolatry.

In a new study, Vander Hoven, a psychologist from Netherlands, discovered the effect of reading the Noble Qur'an and repeating the word ALLAH both on patients and on normal persons.
The Dutch professor confirms his discovery with studies and research applied on many patients over a period of three years. Some of his patients were non-Muslims, others don't speak Arabic and were trained to pronounce the word "Allah" clearly; their result was great, especially on those who suffer from dejection and tension.
Al-Watan, a Saudi daily has reported that the psychologist was quoted to say that Muslims who can read Arabic and who read the Noble Qur'an regularly are enjoying a great chance of protecting themselves from psychological diseases. The psychologist explained how each letter in the word "Allah" affects healing of psychological diseases. Vander Hoven pointed out in his research that pronouncing the first letter in the word "Allah" which is the letter (A), released from the respiratory system, controls breathing. He added that pronouncing the velar consonant (L) in the Arabic way, with the tongue touching slightly the upper part of the jaw producing a short pause and then repeating the same pause constantly, relaxes the aspiration. Also, pronouncing the last letter which is the letter (H) makes a contact between the lungs and the heart and so this contact controls the heartbeat.
What is exciting about this study is that this psychologist is a non-Muslim, but interested in Islamic sciences and searching for the secrets of the Noble Qur'an.
Allah (SWT), The Great and Glorious, says in the Noble Qur'an: "We will soon show them Our signs in the Universe and in their own souls, until it will become quite clear to them that it is the truth. Is it not sufficient as regards your Lord that He is a witness over all things?" (41:53)
"ALLAHU AKBAR [Allah (SWT) is great], Allah (SWT) keeps me going day and night. Without Allah (SWT), I am no one. But with Allah (SWT), I can do everything. Allah (SWT) is my strength."

If we see a beautiful picture painted on good canvas, do we not think that an artist produced it?
If we see an automatic machine, regularly manufacturing articles, are we not led to think that there is an engineer who made, designed and invented its system?
If we see a book written in any scientific field, surely we are aware that an author wrote it?
Surely the picture could not have been created without an artist!
Surely the machine could not work without an engineer!
Surely the book could not be written without an author!
Is it possible to say that this book in your hand was written by chance?
Would you believe it if someone told you that it happened that the paper was scattered by wind, and ink was spilt on it, and thus the book was written?
Basic human sense does not believe such a supposition but rather, makes fun of it. Thus everything needs a maker or a creator; nothing can come into existence without there being an originator: the creator.
Look at the sky and do you not wonder how the bright and beautiful sun sends down its light and heat to the people on earth? Look at the land upon which we live and ask how do plants grow on it?
Look at the water we drink, the air we breathe; the sun when it sets and the night when it comes; then, look at the beautiful stars which are impossible to count, and the light of the moon.
Look, and then think how these wonders were created and who then created them? Are they created by themselves or do they have a creator who made them?
They are as in need of a maker or a creator, as a house which needs a builder to be built; or a chair, on which we sit, needs a carpenter to be made; or a picture needs an artist in order to be painted, or a book needs an author to be written. And certainly Allah is their Creator and Maker Who created everything.
Let us ponder about ourselves and our bodies, and ask: Who created us in this unique way? Who gave us two eyes with which to see? And the tongue with which we talk? And two hands with which we work? And two legs with which we walk? And two ears with which we hear? Who created the food we eat and the water we drink?
Not the farmer who cultivated the crops or the plumber who connected the pipes. Without food and water, one will surely die.
Who gave us the air which we breathe? Without air, surely we will suffocate and die.
Indeed, our Creator is He Who created the heavens, the earth, water, air and the stars. And He is All-Great and All-Powerful. It is He Who created and provided us with all these amenities of life.

God in Islam: Does God Exist? God and Logic, God and Commonsense, Proof of God
It is a well known incident of Baghdad. A person arrived there who was a non-believer in God. He had no proof of his belief nor was he willing to listen to any argument regarding the existence of God. He said that the universe came into existence by itself and continues to exist. Any argument based on Noble Qur'an and Hadith too wouldn't convince him. People went to the extent of telling him that there must be someone who created the universe and runs it. He boasted saying that the entire city was unable to convince him about the existence of Allah (SWT).
The Vizier of Baghdad asked Sheikh Mufeed to handle the situation. The vizier said that the person was visiting the court everyday and he posed his question to the gathering in the presence of the ambassadors from the non-Muslim countries. The inability to give him a convincing reply was causing a lot of embarrassment.
Sheikh Mufeed thus agreed to attend the court for a debate with the non-believing person. The person was very cunning that he wouldn't utter any word when arguments about the existence of Allah (SWT) were advanced to him.
Sheikh Mufeed attended the court and told to the person, "You have claimed that you have contested the claim of all the courtiers about the existence of Allah (SWT) and that they were unable to convince you. Allah (SWT) willing, I shall come tomorrow and give a convincing reply to your question! But you must report at the court promptly at the appointed time. I am wondering if you will absent yourself fearing to face my debate on the subject!"
The non-believing man replied with lot of confidence, "There is no chance of my running away from the debate. In fact, I have the fear that you might try to escape since none of your compatriots has been able to convince me and you may meet the same fate!"
The appointed time arrived the next day but there wasn't any sign of Sheikh Mufeed in the court. Since Sheikh Mufeed had ridiculed the person by saying that he might try to elude the debate by absconding from the court, the man looked around the court and smiled sarcastically. All the courtiers felt belittled that the Sheikh Mufeed had made tall claims but had absented himself from the proceedings.
The Sheikh Mufeed purposely arrived at the court very late. When he arrived in front of the non-believing man, he asked, "Where were you hiding yourself?!"
The Sheikh Mufeed replied, "I would have reached the court on schedule, but as I reached the riverside, I saw a peculiar scene there. It was so astonishing that my feet wouldn't advance towards my destination! I saw a boat in the river that was floating on the water without any sailor. It was coming ashore on one side, picking up passengers and disembarking them on the other side. From that side it picked up passengers and dropped them on this side! When I saw the boat had no sailor I was very astonished!"
The non-believing man had a hearty laugh and said, "How is it that the boat was making the up and down trips without any sailor?"
The Sheikh Mufeed now said, "When you think that a small boat cannot fend for itself without someone to row it, then how do you imaging that such a big universe will function without the One who controls it!"
The non-believing man said that none else had debated with him in this manner! I now bear witness that there is no god but Allah (SWT)!


God in Islam.
A man went to a barbershop to have his hair and his beard cut as always. He started to have a good conversation with the barber who attended him. They talked about so many things on various subjects.
Suddenly, they touched the subject of God. The barber said: "Look man, I don't believe that God exists as you say so."
"Why do you say that?" Asked the client
Well, it's so easy; you just have to go out in the street to realize that God does not exist. Oh, tell me, if God existed, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. "I can't think of a God who permits all of these things." The client stopped for a moment thinking but he didn't want to respond so as to prevent an argument.
The barber finished his job and the client went out of the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with a long hair and beard (it seems that it had been a long time since he had his cut and he looked so untidy). Then the client again entered the barbershop and he said to the barber: know what? Barbers do not exist.
"How come they don't exist?" asked the barber. "Well I am here and I am a barber."
"No!" - The client exclaimed. "They don't exist because if they did there would be no people with long hair and beard like that man who walks in the street."
"Ah, barbers do exist, what happens is that people do not come to me."
"Exactly!" - Affirmed the client. "That's the point. God does exist, what happens is people don't go to Him and do not look for Him that's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."


The ultimate truth of life.
This is a fictional story, only for the purpose of explanation and easy understanding.
A man who is constantly in trouble, prays to god one day and due to his persistent and dedicated prayer, the god appears in front of him and pleasingly tells him "my dear, do tell me what your doubts are about?"
The man happily starts to narrate this "Oh my merciful Lord, I have a vision, in which I could see my past life and I have doubts on it which I wanted you to clear." Smilingly god tells him to carry on.
The man says thus "Lord, I saw that in my past, whenever I was happy and good things happened in my life, I could see two pairs of foot steps on the path of life. One of them is mine; I could not understand the other pair of footstep which was following me. Whose does these belong to?"
Smilingly god says "Dear, whenever you were having good time and happy, I would silently walk behind you allowing you to enjoy the fruits of your good deeds."
The man then asks "Ok, Lord, I saw that whenever am in troubles or sad times I saw two pairs of footsteps again! And this time, the second pair was beside me all along the path."
Calmly god says "Dear, whenever you were in bad situations of life, I would walk beside you, guiding you through the tough times into the good times ahead."
The man, satisfied with the reply, then looked puzzled and sad; says "But Lord, I also had a vision that whenever am in the worst of troubles and the most toughest times I have ever faced in my life, I saw only one deep pair footsteps all along the path. Why have you deserted me when I need you the most?"
Now god, looks at him lovingly and says "Oh my poor creature, you could see only one pair of footsteps during the worst part of your life because those belonged to mine and I was carrying you all along, on my shoulders! Remember this, I never have and will desert you, my dear" Thus saying the god disappeared!
Conclusion: The ultimate truth of life! Never doubt the almighty and remember that he never ever gives-up on us! We should never say that He has forgotten us or abandoned us.


Doubting God and Words of God.
This is a fictional story, only for the purpose of explanation and easy understanding.
The night fell heavy in the heights of the mountains and the man could not see anything. All was black. Zero visibility, and the moon and the stars were covered by the clouds. As he was climbing only a few feet away from the top of the mountain, he slipped and fell in to the air, falling at great speed. He could only see black spots as he went down, and the terrible sensation of being sucked by gravity.
He kept falling and in the moments of great fear, it came to his mind all the good and bad episodes of his life. He was thinking now about how close death was getting, when all of a sudden he felt the rope tied to his waist pull him very hard. His body was hanging in the air.
Only the rope was holding him and in that moment of stillness he had no other choice other to scream: "Help me God".
All of a sudden a deep voice coming from the sky answered, "What do you want me to do?"
"Save me God".
"Do you really think I can save you?"
"Of course I believe You can."
"Then cut the rope tied to your waist."
There was a moment of silence and the man decided to hold on to the rope with all his strength. The rescue team tells that the next day a climber was found dead and frozen. His body hanging from a rope. His hands holding tight to it. Only one foot away from the ground.
Conclusion: And We? How attached we are to our rope will we let go? Don't ever doubt about the God and words of God. We should never say that He has forgotten us or abandoned us.

Just P.U.S.H!
This is a fictional story, only for the purpose of explanation and easy understanding.
A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and the Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. So, this the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down; his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all of his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.
Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind: "you have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't moved." Thus, giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. Adversary (Satan) said, "Why kill yourself over this?" "Just put in your time, giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough."
That's what he planned to do, but decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord. "Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"
The Lord responded mercifully and compassionately, "Oh my poor creature, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard.
Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. This you have done. Now I, my poor creature, will move the rock."
Conclusion: At times, when we hear the words of God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what God wants, when actually what God wants is just a simple obedience and faith in Him.
By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves mountains.
When everything seems to go wrong ... just P.U.S.H!
When the job gets you down ... just P.U.S.H!
When people don't react the way you think they should ... just P.U.S.H!
When your money is "gone" and the bills are due ... just P.U.S.H!
When people just don't understand you ... just P.U.S.H!
P + U + S + H = Pray + Until + Something + Happens

Allah is in every breath: 
When things are down
And you are out of your mind
Remember just remember
Allah is The All-Kind.

When your life is in darkness
And nothing is right
Remember just remember
Through the darkness, Allah is The Light.

When nothing makes sense
And you're heading for demise
Remember just remember
Allah is The All-Wise.

When times are troubled
And no one seems to care
Remember just remember
Allah won't hurt you, He is The Most Just.

When your heart is breaking
And your pain makes you fall
Remember just remember
Allah sees it all.

When you are weak
And the road seems long
Remember just remember
Seek strength from The All-Strong.

When life is a burden
And everything is unstable
Remember just remember
Allah is The All-Able.

When the way is cloudy
And there is no one by your side
Remember just remember
Allah is The Only Guide.

When no one wants to listen
Or is willing to lend an ear
Remember just remember
Allah is always ready to hear.

When you are poor and penniless
And you are stuck in a niche
Remember just remember
Allah is The All-Rich.

When you are down in your misery
And there is nowhere to run
Remember just remember
You can always run to The One.

When you're all alone
And your pain has no end
Remember just remember
Allah is the Most Compassionate.

And when your scars are hurting
And your heart is in fear
Remember just remember
Allah's help is near.

Photo: good bye 2013 *__*


#Abdlmalik


CR7 Ronaldo English Records:

• The highest number of goals scored to win the Premier League Golden Boot for a 38-game season: 31 goals

• Highest strike rate recording in winning the Premier League Golden Boot

Spanish Records:

• The first player to score against every team in La Liga

• The first player ever to score in six consecutive Clásicos

• The first player to score 20 away goals in a single season in La Liga

• Fastest La Liga player to score 150 league goals

• Most goals scored in three consecutive La Liga matches: 9 goals

• Ronaldo is also the players with best goal average per game in Spanish league of all time with 1,08 goals per game (against 0,87 goals per game for messi)

Ronaldo European Records

• The only player to have won the European Golden Shoe in two different leagues (English Premier League & Spanish La Liga)

• First top European league player to reach 40 goals in a single season in two consecutive years

• Most consecutive UEFA Champions League matches scored in: 6 matches

Ronaldo Real Madrid Records

• Most goals scored in a season in all competitions for Real Madrid: 60 goals

• Most goals scored in a single La Liga season for Real Madrid: 46 goals

• Most goals scored in a single UEFA Champions League season for Real Madrid: 12 goals

• Most hat-tricks in a single season for Real Madrid: 7 hat-tricks

• Fastest Real Madrid player to reach 50 league goals

• Fastest Real Madrid player to reach 100 league goals

• Fastest Real Madrid player to reach 150 league goals

• Fastest Real Madrid player to reach 200 official goals

• The highest goal ratio in La Liga for a Real Madrid player: 1.08

• The first Real Madrid player to score in the first four league matches of a season

• The first Real Madrid player to surpass 30 league goals in three La Liga seasons

• Most goals scored on the road in one La Liga season

• Most goals scored in five consecutive league matches: 14 goals

Ronaldo Portugal Records

• Portugal all-time top scorer in UEFA Euro matches: 6 goals (shared with Nuno Gomes)

• Most matches played in World Cup finals: 11 matches

• Youngest player to reach 100 caps: 27 years, 8 months and 11 days

• Best goal scorer of all time (beating Eusébio score)

NOW LETS JUST TALK ABOUT GOALS:

Goals this season in club:

• Spanish League: Ronaldo 16 goals (messi

• Champions League: Ronaldo 8 goals (messi 6)

Goals in 2013 calendar year

• Club: Ronaldo 56 (messi 39)

• Country: Ronaldo 10 (messi 6)

TOTALS (at 20 November 2013):

• Season Totals: Ronaldo 24 goals (messi 14)

• 2013 Totals: Ronaldo 66 goals (messi 45)

• LIFETIME Totals: Ronaldo 395 goals (messi 359)

And the most Amazing is that Ronaldo is NOT a Center Forward like messi! Ronaldo is a Winger... and scores more than any Center Forward in the world!!!

Ronaldo don’t have the amazing Spanish squad (World and European Champions) on his back (because Barcelona midfield is Spanish squad midfield > the best midfield in the world), giving him thousands of juicy balls in the face of the goal.

Messi needs Barcelona to shine (show me another club where messi was good?...lol)

Ronaldo only needs himself to be the best in the world and the best of all time.

Ronaldo is faster, is stronger, jumps higher, has more stamina, he is a more powerfull shooter (a lot more), has two good foots (not only left like messi), he is better scoring free kicks (better skill and power) , and he is better scoring goals with head!

ie: Ronaldo is a far more complete player than messi (messi only is good in dribbling and even in dribbling he allways goes left... left... left... left...left...left...left and finaly goes left and always shoots with LEFT foot).

Tuesday 24 December 2013

A.B.U Post JAMB/UTME screening RESULT

A.B.U Post JAMB/UTME screening RESULT released. Visit Post Jamb site to check. 

http://forms.abu.edu.ng/putme/

Sunday 22 December 2013

“My side of the story also needs to be told





President Goodluck Jonathan has finally replied ex leader, Olusegun Obasanjo on his recent 18-page letter, entitled ‘Before its too late’ to him.

Obasanjo in the missive accused president Jonathan of incompetency and abating corruption.

Jonathan, after a long wait decided to clear the air on the allegation levelled on him by the Otta farmer.

Read the full text of his letter below.



December 20th 2013
His Excellency,
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR
Agbe L’Oba House, Quarry Road,
Ibara, Abeokuta.

RE: BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE
I wish to formally acknowledge your letter dated December 2, 2013 and other previous correspondence similar to it.
You will recall that all the letters were brought to me by hand. Although both of us discussed some of the issues in those letters, I had not, before now, seen the need for any formal reply since, to me, they contained advice from a former President to a serving President. Obviously, you felt differently because in your last letter, you complained about my not acknowledging or replying your previous letters.

It is with the greatest possible reluctance that I now write this reply. I am most uneasy about embarking on this unprecedented and unconventional form of open communication between me and a former leader of our country because I know that there are more acceptable and dignified means of doing so.

But I feel obliged to reply your letter for a number of reasons: one, you formally requested for a reply and not sending you one will be interpreted as ignoring a former President.

Secondly, Nigerians know the role you have played in my political life and given the unfortunate tone of your letter, clearly, the grapes have gone sour. Therefore, my side of the story also needs to be told.
The third reason why I must reply you in writing is that your letter is clearly a threat to national security as it may deliberately or inadvertently set the stage for subversion.

The fourth reason for this reply is that you raised very weighty issues, and since the letter has been made public, Nigerians are expressing legitimate concerns. A response from me therefore, becomes very necessary.

The fifth reason is that this letter may appear in biographies and other books which political commentators on Nigeria’s contemporary politics may write. It is only proper for such publications to include my comments on the issues raised in your letter.

Sixthly, you are very unique in terms of the governance of this country. You were a military Head of State for three years and eight months, and an elected President for eight years. That means you have been the Head of Government of Nigeria for about twelve years. This must have, presumably, exposed you to a lot of information. Thus when you make a statement, there is the tendency for people to take it seriously.

The seventh reason is that the timing of your letter coincided with other vicious releases. The Speaker of the House of Representatives spoke of my “body language” encouraging corruption. A letter written to me by the CBN Governor alleging that NNPC, within a period of 19 months did not remit the sum of USD49.8 billion to the federation account, was also deliberately leaked to the public.

The eighth reason is that it appears that your letter was designed to incite Nigerians from other geopolitical zones against me and also calculated to promote ethnic disharmony. Worse still, your letter was designed to instigate members of our Party, the PDP, against me.

The ninth reason is that your letter conveys to me the feeling that landmines have been laid for me. Therefore, Nigerians need to have my response to the issues raised before the mines explode.

The tenth and final reason why my reply is inevitable is that you have written similar letters and made public comments in reference to all former Presidents and Heads of Government starting from Alhaji Shehu Shagari and these have instigated different actions and reactions. The purpose and direction of your letter is distinctly ominous, and before it is too late, my clarifications on the issues need to be placed on record.

Let me now comment on the issues you raised. In commenting I wish to crave your indulgence to compare what is happening now to what took place before. This, I believe, will enable Nigerians see things in better perspective because we must know where we are coming from so as to appreciate where we now are, and to allow us clearly map out where we are going.

You raised concerns about the security situation in the country. I assure you that I am fully aware of the responsibility of government for ensuring the security of the lives and property of citizens. My Administration is working assiduously to overcome current national security challenges, the seeds of which were sown under previous administrations. There have been some setbacks; but certainly there have also been great successes in our efforts to overcome terrorism and insurgency.

Those who continue to down-play our successes in this regard, amongst whom you must now be numbered, appear to have conveniently forgotten the depths to which security in our country had plunged before now.

At a stage, almost the entire North-East of Nigeria was under siege by insurgents. Bombings of churches and public buildings in the North and the federal capital became an almost weekly occurrence. Our entire national security apparatus seemed nonplussed and unable to come to grips with the new threat posed by the berthing of terrorism on our shores.

But my administration has since brought that very unacceptable situation under significant control. We have overhauled our entire national security architecture, improved intelligence gathering, training, funding, logistical support to our armed forces and security agencies, and security collaboration with friendly countries with very visible and positive results.

The scope and impact of terrorist operations have been significantly reduced and efforts are underway to restore full normalcy to the most affected North Eastern region and initiate a post-crisis development agenda, including a special intervention programme to boost the region’s socio-economic progress.

In doing all this, we have kept our doors open for dialogue with the insurgents and their supporters through efforts such as the work of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and the Peaceful Resolution of the Security Challenges in the North-East. You also know that the Governor of Borno State provided the items you mentioned to me as carrots. Having done all this and more, it is interesting that you still accuse me of not acting on your hardly original recommendation that the carrot and stick option be deployed to solve the Boko Haram problem.

Your suggestion that we are pursuing a “war against violence without understanding the root causes of the violence and applying solutions to deal with all the underlying factors” is definitely misplaced because from the onset of this administration, we have been implementing a multifaceted strategy against militancy, insurgency and terrorism that includes poverty alleviation, economic development, education and social reforms.

Even though basic education is the constitutional responsibility of States, my administration has, as part of its efforts to address ignorance and poor education which have been identified as two of the factors responsible for making some of our youth easily available for use as cannon fodder by insurgents and terrorists, committed huge funds to the provision of modern basic education schools for the Almajiri in several Northern States. The Federal Government under my leadership has also set up nine additional universities in the Northern States and three in the Southern States in keeping with my belief that proper education is the surest way of emancipating and empowering our people.

More uncharitable persons may even see a touch of sanctimoniousness in your new belief in the carrot and stick approach to overcoming militancy and insurgency. You have always referred to how you hit Odi in Bayelsa State to curb militancy in the Niger Delta. If the invasion of Odi by the Army was the stick, I did not see the corresponding carrot. I was the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State then, and as I have always told you, the invasion of Odi did not solve any militancy problem but, to some extent, escalated it. If it had solved it, late President Yar’Adua would not have had to come up with the amnesty program. And while some elements of the problem may still be there, in general, the situation is reasonably better.

In terms of general insecurity in the country and particularly the crisis in the Niger Delta, 2007 was one of the worst periods in our history. You will recall three incidents that happened in 2007 which seemed to have been orchestrated to achieve sinister objectives. Here in Abuja, a petrol tanker loaded with explosives was to be rammed into the INEC building. But luckily for the country, an electric pole stopped the tanker from hitting the INEC building. It is clear that this incident was meant to exploit the general sense of insecurity in the nation at the time to achieve the aim of stopping the 2007 elections. It is instructive that you, on a number of occasions, alluded to this fact.

When that incident failed, an armed group invaded Yenagoa one evening with the intent to assassinate me. Luckily for me, they could not. They again attacked and bombed my country home on a night when I was expected in the village. Fortunately, as God would have it, I did not make the trip.

I recall that immediately after both incidents, I got calls expressing the concern of Abuja. But Baba, you know that despite the apparent concern of Abuja, no single arrest was ever made. I was then the Governor of Bayelsa State and the PDP Vice-Presidential candidate. The security people ordinarily should have unraveled the assassination attempt on me.

You also raised the issues of kidnapping, piracy and armed robbery. These are issues all Nigerians, including me are very concerned about. While we will continue to do our utmost best to reduce all forms of criminality to the barest minimum in our country, it is just as well to remind you that the first major case of kidnapping for ransom took place around 2006. And the Boko Haram crisis dates back to 2002. Goodluck Jonathan was not the President of the country then. Also, armed robbery started in this country immediately after the civil war and since then, it has been a problem to all succeeding governments. For a former Head of Government, who should know better, to present these problems as if they were creations of the Jonathan Administration is most uncharitable.

Having said that, let me remind you of some of the things we have done to curb violent crime in the country. We have reorganized the Nigerian Police Force and appointed a more dynamic leadership to oversee its affairs. We have also improved its manpower levels as well as funding, training and logistical support.

We have also increased the surveillance capabilities of the Police and provided its air-wing with thrice the number of helicopters it had before the inception of the present administration. The National Civil Defence and Security Corps has been armed to make it a much more effective ally of the police and other security agencies in the war against violent crime. At both domestic and international levels, we are doing everything possible to curb the proliferation of the small arms and light weapons with which armed robberies, kidnappings and piracy are perpetrated. We have also enhanced security at our borders to curb cross-border crimes.

We are aggressively addressing the challenge of crude oil theft in collaboration with the state Governors. In addition, the Federal Government has engaged the British and US governments for their support in the tracking of the proceeds from the purchase of stolen crude. Similarly, a regional Gulf of Guinea security strategy has been initiated to curb crude oil theft and piracy.

Perhaps the most invidious accusation in your letter is the allegation that I have placed over one thousand Nigerians on a political watch list, and that I am training snipers and other militia to assassinate people. Baba, I don’t know where you got that from but you do me grave injustice in not only lending credence to such baseless rumours, but also publicizing it. You mentioned God seventeen times in your letter. Can you as a Christian hold the Bible and say that you truly believe this allegation?

The allegation of training snipers to assassinate political opponents is particularly incomprehensible to me. Since I started my political career as a Deputy Governor, I have never been associated with any form of political violence. I have been a President for over three years now, with a lot of challenges and opposition mainly from the high and mighty. There have certainly been cases of political assassination since the advent of our Fourth Republic, but as you well know, none of them occurred under my leadership.

Regarding the over one thousand people you say are on a political watch list, I urge you to kindly tell Nigerians who they are and what agencies of government are “watching” them. Your allegation that I am using security operatives to harass people is also baseless. Nigerians are waiting for your evidence of proof. That was an accusation made against previous administrations, including yours, but it is certainly not my style and will never be. Again, if you insist on the spurious claim that some of your relatives and friends are being harassed, I urge you to name them and tell Nigerians what agencies of my administration are harassing them.

I also find it difficult to believe that you will accuse me of assisting murderers, or assigning a presidential delegation to welcome a murderer. This is a most unconscionable and untrue allegation. It is incumbent on me to remind you that I am fully conscious of the dictates of my responsibilities to God and our dear nation. It is my hope that devious elements will not take advantage of your baseless allegation to engage in brazen and wanton assassination of high profile politicians as before, hiding under the alibi your “open letter” has provided for them.

Nevertheless, I have directed the security agencies and requested the National Human Rights Commission to carry out a thorough investigation of these criminal allegations and make their findings public.

That corruption is an issue in Nigeria is indisputable. It has been with us for many years. You will recall that your kinsman, the renowned afro-beat maestro, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti famously sang about it during your first stint as Head of State. Sonny Okosun also sang about corruption. And as you may recall, a number of Army Generals were to be retired because of corruption before the Dimka coup. Also, the late General Murtala Mohammed himself wanted to retire some top people in his cabinet on corruption-related issues before he was assassinated. Even in this Fourth Republic, the Siemens and Halliburton scandals are well known.



The seed of corruption in this country was planted a long time ago, but we are doing all that we can to drastically reduce its debilitating effects on national development and progress. I have been strengthening the institutions established to fight corruption. I will not shield any government official or private individual involved in corruption, but I must follow due process in all that I do. And whenever clear cases of corruption or fraud have been established, my administration has always taken prompt action in keeping with the dictates of extant laws and procedures. You cannot claim to be unaware of the fact that several highly placed persons in our country, including sons of some of our party leaders are currently facing trial for their involvement in the celebrated subsidy scam affair. I can hardly be blamed if the wheels of justice still grind very slowly in our country, but we are doing our best to support and encourage the judiciary to quicken the pace of adjudication in cases of corruption.

Baba, I am amazed that with all the knowledge garnered from your many years at the highest level of governance in our country, you could still believe the spurious allegation contained in a letter written to me by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and surreptitiously obtained by you, alleging that USD49.8 billion, a sum equal to our entire national budget for two years, is “unaccounted for” by the NNPC. Since, as President, you also served for many years as Minister of Petroleum Resources, you very well know the workings of the corporation. It is therefore intriguing that you have made such an assertion. You made a lot of insinuations about oil theft, shady dealings at the NNPC and the NNPC not remitting the full proceeds of oil sales to the of CBN. Now that the main source of the allegations which you rehashed has publicly stated that he was “misconstrued”, perhaps you will find it in your heart to apologize for misleading unwary Nigerians and impugning the integrity of my administration on that score.

Your claim of “Atlantic Oil loading about 130, 000 barrels sold by Shell and managed on behalf of NPDC with no sale proceeds paid into the NPDC account” is also disjointed and baseless because no such arrangement as you described exists between Atlantic Oil and the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company. NPDC currently produces about 138, 000 barrels of oil per day from over 7 producing assets. The Crude Oil Marketing Division (COMD) of the NNPC markets all of this production on behalf of NPDC with proceeds paid into NPDC account.

I am really shocked that with all avenues open to you as a former Head of State for the verification of any information you have received about state affairs, you chose to go public with allegations of “high corruption” without offering a shred of supporting evidence. One of your political “sons” similarly alleged recently that he told me of a minister who received a bribe of $250 Million from an oil company and I did nothing about it. He may have been playing from a shared script, but we have not heard from him again since he was challenged to name the minister involved and provide the evidence to back his claim. I urge you, in the same vein, to furnish me with the names, facts and figures of a single verifiable case of the “high corruption” which you say stinks all around my administration and see whether the corrective action you advocate does not follow promptly. And while you are at it, you may also wish to tell Nigerians the true story of questionable waivers of signature bonuses between 2000 and 2007.

While, by the Grace of God Almighty, I am the first President from a minority group, I am never unmindful of the fact that I was elected leader of the whole of Nigeria and I have always acted in the best interest of all Nigerians. You referred to the divisive actions and inflammatory utterances of some individuals from the South-South and asserted that I have done nothing to call them to order or distance myself from their ethnic chauvinism. Again that is very untrue. I am as committed to the unity of this country as any patriot can be and I have publicly declared on many occasions that no person who threatens other Nigerians or parts of the country is acting on my behalf.

It is very regrettable that in your letter, you seem to place sole responsibility for the ongoing intrigues and tensions in the PDP at my doorstep, and going on from that position, you direct all your appeals for a resolution at me. Baba, let us all be truthful to ourselves, God and posterity. At the heart of all the current troubles in our party and the larger polity is the unbridled jostling and positioning for personal or group advantage ahead of the 2015 general elections. The “bitterness, anger, mistrust, fear and deep suspicion” you wrote about all flow from this singular factor.

It is indeed very unfortunate that the seeming crisis in the party was instigated by a few senior members of the party, including you. But, as leader of the party, I will continue to do my best to unite it so that we can move forward with strength and unity of purpose. The PDP has always recovered from previous crises with renewed vigour and vitality. I am very optimistic that that will be the case again this time. The PDP will overcome any temporary setback, remain a strong party and even grow stronger.

Instigating people to cause problems and disaffection within the party is something that you are certainly familiar with. You will recall that founding fathers of the Party were frustrated out of the Party at a time. Late Chief Sunday Awoniyi was pushed out, Late Chief Solomon Lar left and later came back, Chief Audu Ogbeh and Chief Tom Ikimi also left. Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo left and later came back. In 2005/2006, link-men were sent to take over party structures from PDP Governors in an unveiled attempt to undermine the state governors. In spite of that, the Governors did not leave the Party because nobody instigated and encouraged them to do so.

The charge that I was involved in anti-party activities in governorship elections in Edo, Ondo, Lagos, and Anambra States is also very unfortunate. I relate with all Governors irrespective of political party affiliation but I have not worked against the interest of the PDP. What I have not done is to influence the electoral process to favour our Party. You were definitely never so inclined, since you openly boasted in your letter of how you supported Alhaji Shehu Shagari against Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe and others in the 1979 presidential elections while serving as a military Head of State. You and I clearly differ in this regard, because as the President of Nigeria, I believe it is my duty and responsibility to create a level playing field for all parties and all candidates.

Recalling how the PDP lost in states where we were very strong in 2003 and 2007 such as Edo, Ondo, Imo, Bauchi, Anambra, and Borno, longstanding members of our great party with good memory will also consider the charge of anti-party activities you made against me as misdirected and hugely hypocritical. It certainly was not Goodluck Jonathan’s “personal ambition or selfish interest” that caused the PDP to lose the governorship of Ogun State and all its senatorial seats in the last general elections.

You quoted me as saying that I have not told anybody that I will seek another term in office in 2015. You and your ambitious acolytes within the party have clearly decided to act on your conclusion that “only a fool will believe that statement” and embark on a virulent campaign to harass me out of an undeclared candidature for the 2015 presidential elections so as to pave the way for a successor anointed by you.

You will recall that you serially advised me that we should refrain from discussing the 2015 general elections for now so as not to distract elected public officials from urgent task of governance. While you have apparently moved away from that position, I am still of the considered opinion that it would have been best for us to do all that is necessary to refrain from heating up the polity at this time. Accordingly, I have already informed Nigerians that I will only speak on whether or not I will seek a second term when it is time for such declarations. Your claims about discussions I had with you, Governor Gabriel Suswam and others are wrong, but in keeping with my declared stance, I will reserve further comments until the appropriate time.

Your allegation that I asked half a dozen African Presidents to speak to you about my alleged ambition for 2015, is also untrue. I have never requested any African President to discuss with you on my behalf. In our discussion, I mentioned to you that four Presidents told me that they were concerned about the political situation in Nigeria and intended to talk to you about it. So far, only three of them have confirmed to me that they have had any discussion with you. If I made such a request, why would I deny it?

The issue of Buruji Kashamu is one of those lies that should not be associated with a former President. The allegation that I am imposing Kashamu on the South-West is most unfortunate and regrettable. I do not even impose Party officials in my home state of Bayelsa and there is no zone in this country where I have imposed officials. So why would I do so in the South West? Baba, in the light of Buruji’s detailed public response to your “open letter”, it will be charitable for you to render an apology to Nigerians and I.

On the issue of investors being scared to come to Nigeria, economic dormancy, and stagnation, I will just refer you to FDI statistics from 2000 to 2013. Within the last three years, Nigeria has emerged as the preferred destination for investments in Africa, driven by successful government policies to attract foreign investors. For the second year running, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Investments (UNCTAD) has ranked Nigeria as the number one destination for investments in Africa, and as having the fourth highest returns in the world.

Today, Nigeria is holding 18 percent of all foreign investments in Africa and 60 percent of all foreign investments in the ECOWAS Sub-Region. Kindly note also that in the seven years between 2000 and 2007 when you were President, Nigeria attracted a total of $24.9 Billion in FDI. As a result of our efforts which you disparage, the country has seen an FDI inflow of $25.7 Billion in just three years which is more than double the FDI that has gone to the second highest African destination. We have also maintained an annual national economic growth rate of close to seven per cent since the inception of this administration. What then, is the justification for your allegation of scared investors and economic dormancy?

Although it was not emphasized in your letter of December 2, 2013, you also conveyed, in previous correspondence, the impression that you were ignorant of the very notable achievements of my administration in the area of foreign relations. It is on record that under my leadership, Nigeria has played a key role in resolving the conflicts in Niger, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Guinea Bissau and others.

The unproductive rivalry that existed between Nigeria and some ECOWAS countries has also been ended under my watch and Nigeria now has better relations with all the ECOWAS countries. At the African Union, we now have a Commissioner at the AU Commission after being without one for so long. We were in the United Nations Security Council for the 2010/2011 Session and we have been voted in again for the 2014/2015 Session. From independence to 2010, we were in the U.N. Security Council only three times but from 2010 to 2015, we will be there two times.
This did not happen by chance. My Administration worked hard for it and we continue to maintain the best possible relations with all centres of global political and economic power. I find it hard therefore, to believe your assertions of untoward concern in the international community over the state of governance in Nigeria

With respect to the Brass and Olokola LNG projects, you may have forgotten that though you started these projects, Final Investment Decisions were never reached. For your information, NNPC has not withdrawn from either the Olokola or the Brass LNG projects.

On the Rivers State Water Project, you were misled by your informant. The Federal Government under my watch has never directed or instructed the Africa Development Bank to put on hold any project to be executed in Rivers state or any other State within the Federation. The Rivers Water Project was not originally in the borrowing plan but it was included in April 2013 and appraised in May. Negotiations are ongoing with the AfDB. I have no doubt that you are familiar with the entire process that prefaces the signing of a Subsidiary Loan Agreement as in this instance.

Let me assure you and all Nigerians that I do not engage in negative political actions and will never, as President, oppress the people of a State or deprive them of much needed public services as a result of political disagreement
I have noted your comments on the proposed National Conference. Contrary to the insinuation in your letter, the proposed conference is aimed at bringing Nigerians together to resolve contentious national issues in a formal setting. This is a sure way of promoting greater national consensus and unity, and not a recipe for “disunity, confusion and chaos” as you alleged in your letter.

Having twice held the high office of President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I trust that you will understand that I cannot possibly find the time to offer a line-by-line response to all the accusations and allegations made in your letter while dealing with other pressing demands of office and more urgent affairs of state.

I have tried, however, to respond to only the most serious of the charges which question my sincerity, personal honour, and commitment to the oath which I have sworn, to always uphold and protect the interests of all Nigerians, and promote their well-being.

In closing, let me state that you have done me grave injustice with your public letter in which you wrongfully accused me of deceit, deception, dishonesty, incompetence, clannishness, divisiveness and insincerity, amongst other ills.

I have not, myself, ever claimed to be all-knowing or infallible, but I have never taken Nigeria or Nigerians for granted as you implied, and I will continue to do my utmost to steer our ship of state towards the brighter future to which we all aspire.

Please accept the assurances of my highest consideration and warm regards.

GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN