World will end 15 October says Doomsday prophet

World will end 15 October says Doomsday prophet

The conspiracy theorist who initially predicted the world would end on September 23 has reset Doomsday to 15 October. David Meade According to a report by Newsweek, David Meade, a self-proclaimed “researcher”, numerologist and Catholic, believes the end of the world as we know it, as foretold in the biblical Book of Revelation, will take place next month. He said the 23rd was simply a sign of the oncoming of the disaster. Meade on his website clarified his belief that the 23rd is the date of a “historical event” in the skies that would signal the oncoming rapture. Doomsday itself, he says, will begin on October 15. That date marks the beginning of a seven-year period of tribulation. “That’s when the action starts. Hold on and watch—wait until the middle of October and I don’t believe you’ll be disappointed,” he writes. Some things to watch out for are the loss of electrical power across the world, leading to war, famine and other perilous events. To be clear, Meade says, “Nothing is expected to happen in September.” Meade points to the total eclipse on August 21 as a significant event which he believes acts as a precursor to the beginning of the rapture. He says the date marks a 40-day countdown to the beginning of October. “October is the month to watch.” So, why was the 23rd of such significance? As Meade told the Washington Post last week, he deduced that Saturday would mark an important event that would act as a sign for the oncoming rapture. His prediction was based on analysis of verses and numerical clues in the bible. “Jesus lived for 33 years. The name Elohim, which is the name of God to the Jews, was mentioned 33 times [in the bible],” Meade said. “It’s a very biblically significant, numerologically significant number.” Saturday marked 33 days since the solar eclipse. Meade subscribes to the conspiracy that a 10th planet, Planet X or Nibiru, will either cross or collide with Earth, leading to a seven-year period of tribulation, or rapture. This will be followed by a millennium of peace. NASA has repeatedly denied the existence of any such planet, including as recently as September 20. “Various people are “predicting” that world will end Sept. 23 when another planet collides with Earth. The planet in question, Nibiru, doesn’t exist, so there will be no collision.

IPOB protests at UN General Assembly

IPOB protests at UN General Assembly

Abuja—The Federal Government said, yesterday that  it  is aware of sources of funding of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and is taking steps to block them. Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this when he appeared on a live television programme, Good Morning Nigeria on Nigerian Television Authority, NTA. This came at a time   members of IPOB stormed  the  72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York to protest  the military invasion of South-East states and what they called  dehumanization of the people in the zone. This is even as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has taken a swipe at the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, over the latter’s recent statement linking the uprisings by IPOB  to  opposition political parties. FG to block IPOB funding sources According to Mohammed, “terrorists do not publish where their funding are coming from. But we know the countries that are supporting IPOB. We know the sources of their funding though I am not at liberty to disclose them here. “We are taking steps to block them and we are also taking a lot of diplomatic actions in respect of the countries that are supporting them.” The minister said most of the countries supporting the group were doing so based on ignorance, adding that they had been hoodwinked to believing that “Nigeria is a country where Muslims persecute Christians” and a country where there is genocide. “As we speak, IPOB has written letters to many governments outside Nigeria, international parliaments sending fake and cloned videos claiming there is genocide in Nigeria.” The minister charged the international community not to adopt double standard in dealing with IPOB and to be more diligent before making any pronouncements. He said what the countries would never accept in their territories, should not be condoned or encouraged in Nigeria. The minister justified the actions of the military for declaring IPOB a terrorist group as well as its proscription by the South-East governors. He said: “There are a lot of arguments regarding the constitutionality of the action of the military and the South-East governors. “People must realise that we are dealing with issue of national security and I do not think that the military and the governors should fold their arms while the country is set ablaze. “I have heard a lot of comments as to whether the military has the right to declare IPOB a terrorist group. “What the military has done is to catalogue all the activities of IPOB, which are not different from that of terrorist groups.” IPOB protests at UN General Assembly Waving Biafra flags and singing songs, the agitators, who are based in the United States and other countries, said  they were protesting the killings and destruction of properties  during the military invasion in Abia State. APC policies, cause of IPOB’s uprisings—PDP In a statement signed by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the party counselled the APC-led administration to look inward to unravel the horde of difficulties it is currently battling rather than blaming the opposition for same. According to the statement, “the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is constrained once again to respond to the tirade by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who as usual, made an attempt at blaming a superficial opposition for the continuous gaffe of the Federal Government under the leadership of his party, the All Progressives Congress , APC. “We had advised not a few times, that the APC should look inward and seek solutions to its self-induced challenges in government caused by its unpreparedness for governance; but since the party seem set for self destruction, we shall not relent in helping to expose their ineptitude to the Nigerian populace. “It is disheartening that rather than accept blame for its ineptitude, the APC government has continued to blame ‘enemies’ real or imaginary for their woes. “How on earth will a serious minded government blame opposition parties, which they have conveniently labelled ‘looters’ for the activities of IPOB? But we take solace in the fact that the APC might actually know the looters, as the party has clearly demonstrated its penchant for giving covers to people considered as corrupt. “The recent release of 48 houses confiscated as proceed of crime back to a member of the APC who was standing trial for allegations of corruption readily comes to mind. “Much as we will continue to harp on the one sided corruption fight of this administration, we wish to urge the APC to look inwards in locating the looters using their ill-gotten wealth to sponsor separatist agitation against the government of the day.” ….PDP  S-Africa too In a similar vein, Chairman of PDP in South Africa, Mr. Ekos Akpokabayen, also condemned what he described as the use of force to stop agitations in the South-East by the Nigerian Army, noting that Nigerians should avoid agitations that could lead to war. Akpokabayen, who said this in a statement, urged the Federal Government to strengthen the various institutions of governance in the country. His words: “The PDP in South Africa strongly condemns the use of unnecessary force by the Nigerian Army in the South-East region of Nigeria. We at the same time call on our citizens to obey the law  and protest in a peaceful way without inciting violence. People should not  provoke and agitate for war or fighting.” We’ve a moral obligation to keep Nigeria united—Shetima Also, yesterday, chairman of Northern Governors Forum and Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shetima, said Nigerians have a moral obligation to keep the country united. Governor Shetima also commended governors from the South-East for steps taken in dousing the tension following the army’s recent Operation Python Dance II in the zone. He said this, on Monday, when he led three other Northern governors on a peace mission to the South East and paid a courtesy visit on Governor Rochas Okorocha of  Imo State. Shetima said they were on a tour of South-East and South-South states to reassure northerners living in the zones and also to prevent a “mass exodus of Nigerians from one part of the country to the other.” Lack of communication bane of Nigeria— Okorocha In his remarks, Governor Okorocha attributed lack of communication to the problems facing the country. He said there was need for leaders and governors of the country to assure Nigerians of a sense of belonging. Okorocha also commended the initiative of the northern governors to tour the South-East and South-South regions. He said: “let me thank you for this impressive outing and travelling many kilometres to make sure you speak the language of peace. I  must commend you and thank you on behalf of the people of Imo State.” Ohanaeze kicks against frivolous court order on IPOB Apex Igbo organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in a related development   has warned courts in Nigeria not to allow themselves to be used against IPOB. In a statement, yesterday, by President-General of Ohaneze, Chief Nnia Nwodo, he urged the courts not  to undermine the nation’s democratic process by granting frivolous orders against IPOB. Nwodo who noted that the Ohanaeze has credible intelligence that the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has secretly approached courts to obtain an order to designate IPOB as a terrorist group, said that such move was not only illegal, but aimed at furthering the harassment and intimidation of Igbo youths who have been pursuing their constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human rights. IPOB didn’t burn down any mosque —Police Meanwhile,  IPOB  has denied ever burning a mosque at Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, saying it was not a violent organisation. It further said it has no quarrel with Muslims in the country or elsewhere and as such had no reason to burn down their place of worship, as alleged by the enemy. Confrming IPOB’s position, Enugu State Police Command, yesterday, warned residents against spreading rumour and blatant lies capable of jeopardizing existing peace in the state. The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ebere Amaraizu, gave the warning in a statement in Enugu. He, however, said that contrary to the claims, preliminary investigations showed that electrical power surge was responsible for the inferno at the mosque. He said: “The issue is that there was an incident and that incident involved inferno. “When we first heard about it, we moved in with a view to finding out what actually happened.The incident happened at the wee hours of Saturday, September 16 at about 2 a.m. “When we got there, following our preliminary investigations, we discovered that it could have been as a result of power surge. “However, the following morning, we started hearing all sorts of things that are blatant lies. “We need to put  things in their proper perspective to avoid mixing up issues.

Breaking: Buhari’s health is private even if state’s paying- Lai Mohammed

Breaking: Buhari’s health is private even if state’s paying- Lai Mohammed.

27TH, SEPTEMBER 2017.

Nigeria’s president is under no obligation to disclose his medical condition even if the state is the one paying for his medical bills, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said. Muhammadu Buhari has spent lengthy periods in London since January, sparking speculation about his fitness to govern — and also questions about who was footing the bill. President Muhammadu Buhari The 74-year-old former army general has said only that he required blood transfusions and had never been as sick in his life. Claims from political opponents that he had prostate cancer have been denied but civil society groups still want to know whether tax-payers’ money was used for the private treatment. Buhari’s information minister suggested the silence was not unusual, just hours after the president returned to Abuja from another round of check-ups in the British capital. “It’s not strange at all for a sitting president to be ill and it’s not strange either for the state to take care of his medical bill,” Lai Mohammed told AFP in an interview, without elaborating. “I think there’s so much speculation as to what he’s been treated for. “I think we would rather respect his privacy. If Mr President feels like telling the world his ailment, so be it. I don’t think he’s under an obligation to tell anyone.” The health of Nigeria’s head of state is a sensitive issue. Former president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua fell ill and died while in office in 2010, sparking months of political turmoil. Buhari’s mystery illness also comes as political parties and potential candidates jockey for position ahead of the next presidential election in 2019. Buhari’s women’s affairs minister Aisha Alhassan claimed earlier this month that he had said he would only serve one, four-year term of office. But Mohammed, who was spokesman for Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC) that unseated Goodluck Jonathan at the last vote in 2015, refused to be drawn. “If he’s going to run that’s left to him but right now, his major preoccupation is delivering on all his electoral promises,” he said. Buhari returned to Nigeria in late August after more than 100 days away. He has since been met with a rising tide of support in southeastern Nigeria for a breakaway state of Biafra. The government last week formally proscribed the main separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), after repeated clashes with the security services. IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu is currently on bail pending the resumption of his trial in Abuja next month on charges of treasonable felony. Kanu’s supporters say he has not been seen since the unrest. Mohammed, who said the group had been banned because it had “crossed a line” from legal protest, said he suspected the separatist leader was “in hiding”. But he added: “He’s not being held by government at all.”

IPOB: Kanu not being held by Nigerian Govt, may be hiding – Lai Mohammed

IPOB: Kanu not being held by Nigerian Govt, may be hiding – Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not being held by the Nigerian Federal government. Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kany & The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed This is coming just many days after the Nigerian army clashed with IPOB in Umuahia, Abia state after it launched a military exercise tagged Operation Egwu Eke II or Operation Python Dance II in the south Eastern states of Nigeria. Ever since the clash which many reports claimed the Nigerian army invaded the IPOB leader’s home and allegedly shot dead many of his supporters, the whereabouts of Kanu has been unknown. The Nigerian army has however refuted the claims it invaded Kanu’s home nor killed anybody. In fact, the army accused IPOB members of attacking its personnel with “stones, molotov cocktails, machetes and broken bottles, among others on a military patrol on Sept. 10, 2017.” Kanu is currently on bail pending the resumption of his trial in Abuja next month on charges of treasonable felony. Nnamdi Kanu’s supporters claim the military took away the IPOB leader after the claimed invasion. But in an interview with AFP shortly after the return to Nigeria from London by President Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Mohammed said the IPOB leader could be in hiding. Talking on Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari’s health condition, the Minister disclosed that President Buhari is not in any obligation to disclose his health conditions to anybody even if his medical bills are paid by the state. According to him, “He’s not being held by government at all.” He said Kanu had “crossed a line” with his agitation for Biafra and that he (Mohammed) suspects the IPOB leader could be “in hiding.” On the President, he said, “I think there’s so much speculation as to what he’s been treated for. “I think we would rather respect his privacy. If Mr President feels like telling the world his ailment, so be it. I don’t think he’s under an obligation to tell anyone.” Recall that the South-East governors had proscribed the activities of IPOB in the region after the army’s pronouncement that IPOB is a terrorist organisation. Further on the proscription, the federal government of Nigeria had equally and still insists that IPOB is a terrorist organisation, maintaining that the group had printed its currency and was extorting money from innocent citizens of Nigeria. It gave these reasons for backing IPOB’s categorisation as a terrorist organisation, maintaining, however, that not even the Fulani herdsmen reported to have clashed with and killed farmers, raped women and destroyed farm lands could be placed on the same level with IPOB which it said had carved out a territory of its own within Nigeria. In fact, the federal government had even said it had begun processes of blocking foreign sources of funding to IPOB. Nigeria had equally accused both the governments of France and the United Kingdom of being in support and as well as funding IPOB’s activities in Nigeria but the two governments of France and UK denied the allegation. Recall also that barely 24 hours after the Nigerian army pronounced IPOB a terrorist organisation, the President of the Nigerian 8th Senate, Dr. Saraki condemned the categorisation of IPOB as a terrorist organisation, saying it was unconstitutional. However, after Saraki’s comments, the Federal Government of Nigeria had immediately taken its quest for IPOB’s proscription to court where it obtained a court’s order proscribing IPOB. The order the federal government obtained from a Federal High Court in Abuja, ruled that IPOB is a terrorist organisation. But IPOB had equally approached the court, demanding it to quash the order, saying the court order that said it was a terrorist organisation was a black market order. It argued that the said order violated its right to freedom of assembly, expression and a right to demand freedom as enshrined in the United Nation’s charter on Human Rights as well as other national and international rights treaties to which Nigeria is a signatory. Despite its argument, the Nigerian government maintains IPOB is a terrorist organisation, especially with the signing of the group’s proscription by the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Breaking: Saraki reshuffles Committee Chairmen, Deputies

Breaking: Saraki reshuffles Committee Chairmen, Deputies

ON SEPTEMBER 26, 20176:27 PM
 Saraki, who made the announcement at the end of Tuesday’s plenary, said that the move was designed to strengthen the institution of the Senate as well as ensure that proper oversight functions were carried out. According to Saraki, the Committee on Public Accounts now has Senator Matthew Urhoghide, PDP, Edo South as Chairman, just as Committee on Trade and Investment will now be headed by Senator Sabo Mohammed while Interior committee now has Senator Andy Uba as Chairman. Culture and Tourism is to be Chaired by Senator Raji Razaki and Local Content by Senator Adeola Olamilekan; Cooperation and Integration is now chaired by Senator Stella Oduah, while Capital Market Development is now headed Senator Bukar Mustapha. Before now, Senator Urhoghide was Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism while Capital Market was chaired by late Senator Isiaka Adeleke. Others are Mohammed Sani, Vice Chairman, committee on Trade and Investment; Ademola Adeleke, Vice Chairman, committee on Communications; Godswill Akpabio, Vice Chairman, committee on Local Content; and Babajide Omoworare, Vice Chairman, committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters. Speaking to Vanguard, Senator Matthew Urhoghide who described the new position as a great challenge, said that the existence of the Public Accounts Committee was constitutional, just as he said that he would ensure that all agencies of government in the three tiers of government account for every kobo or money expended by them. Senator Urhoghide said, ” When you have spent funds, you account for it, the assignment is beyond auditing the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, we will look at the Universal Basic Education, UBEC to state and their existence where public finds have been voted for.” According to him, there must be accounting for public funds, even as he said that the Committee would be up and doing and deliver especially against the backdrop of fight against corruption, adding that the agencies of government must account for the money spent and there must be proper accounting, adding that people must be held responsible for all actions carried out. Senator Urhoghide who urged all government agencies to cooperate with the Senate and the Committee in particular, said, ” I will discharge my duty, I see it as a challenge, I will reshape the landscape of public expenditure.” Meanwhile, the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki on Wednesday swear in Andrew Uchendu as the Senator representing Rivers East following the sack of Senator George Sekibo. It would be recalled that the last reshuffling was in July, 2017, when ‎Kabir Marafa became the chairman of the Petroleum Resources Committee (Downstream) ‎and Oluremi Tinubu, was moved from Women Affairs Committee to the Committee on the Environment. ‎Sulieman Hukunyi was moved to National Identity Management committee as chairman. ‎Adamu Aliero was moved to Aviation as chairman, while Hope Uzodinma got Customs. Barau Jibril got Tertiary Institutions and Binta Masi got Women Affairs. The Public Procurement Committee got Joshua Dariye as its chairman, while James Manager, who was chairman of the Committee on Power was moved to the Solid Minerals committee. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who was Chairman, Committee on Information and National Orientation, was moved to the committee on Power, while Adokwe Suleiman was named Chairman, Information committee. Legislative Compliance committee had Babajide Omoworare, who used to head the Rules and Business Committee, as it’s chairman, while the latter was headed by Baba Garbai. The Federal Character committee had Senator Tijani Kaura as its chairman.

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/09/breaking-saraki-reshuffles-committee-chairmen-deputies/

IPOB: MACBAN frowns at Saraki's statement, calls for probe

- Senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki, is still facing criticisms for his stance on the proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organisation

- One of such organisations not happy with Saraki is the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN)

- The group is the umbrella body for all Fulani herdsmen operating in Nigeria

Fulani herdsmen under the aegis of MACBAN, has urged the federal government to commence probe into the activities of the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, to ascertain if he was among those sponsoring Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB.

The national coordinator of MACBAN, Garus Gololo, who made the call in Makurdi, the Benue state capital, while speaking with newsmen, noted that the activities of IPOB in recent times demonstrated that it was more of a danger to the unity of Nigeria than the clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers.

According to him, the statement made by Saraki, faulting the proscription of the group by the federal government, was inciting and a clear signal that Saraki might be supporting the agitation by IPOB to divide Nigeria.

Saraki had last week faulted the proscription of IPOB as a terrorist organization. Photo credit: Senate President's media team

He also said Saraki was no longer fit to lead the Senate by making such a statement.

He further argued that Saraki ’s presence in the National Assembly was a threat to the unity and oneness of Nigeria.

His words: “I think it is a high-time the federal government commenced full scale investigation into Senator Bukola Saraki’s activities in the Senate. I doubt if that man has the interest of this country, Nigeria, at heart.

“For the number three citizen to be saying different things from the government, which he is fully part and parcel of, shows that Saraki hates Nigeria, Buhari and Fulani herdsmen and as such, his leadership is in doubt and he should step aside.

“We can’t continue to have someone in power that would declare support for a group agitating to break up Nigeria. We are for one Nigeria and in unity we stand.

“The ability of the government to declare IPOB as a terrorist group has saved the country from a premeditated war that could have led to the collapse of the unity and peaceful coexistence of Nigeria.”

He described the proscription of IPOB as a terrorist group as a ‘’right step in a right direction.’’

Saraki had last week condemned the ban on the activities of IPOB by the southeast governors and its classification as a terrorist group by the Nigerian military.

He stated that the army's decision to declare IPOB a terrorist group did not follow due process.

He, however, commended the military effort in restoring peace to Abia state and all other southeast cities after the crises with the IPOB.

I feel for Biafrans, only God can help you now - IPOB’s US coordinator

I feel for Biafrans, only God can help you

now - IPOB’s US coordinator

- The Biafran agitation has generated tension all over the nation - This has been fueled by the violence allegedly perpetrated by members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) - A leader of IPOB seems to have given up on the struggle A United States of America-based IPOB leader, Candy Stallworth, seem to have abandoned the Biafran struggle. Stallworth who is IPOB's mobilisation leader in the US, lamented over the fortunes of the group via her Facebook page on Monday, September 25. She wrote: “Attention, Trump, U.N, America, this is the mentality of the overseers of Biafrans, look how they attack me a Christian and American now I know why you stay silent! I feel for Biafrans who are not heartless only God can help you now!”

Candy Stallworth on his facebook page said,

on Monday

Attention , Trump ,U.N, America , this is the mentality of the overseers of Biafrans , look how they attack me a Christian and American now I know why you stay silent ! I feel for Biafrans who are not heartless only God can help you now !

Stallworth has been facing criticisms from IPOB members who feel that she has abandoned their cause. Her Facebook page was filled with insults from the group members, many of which accused her of deceiving them. Some accused her of being a false informant... While others advised their fellow members to stay away from her... Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari is set to order the forfeiture of assets belonging to IPOB to the federal government following the designation of the group as a terrorist organisation. Sources quoted at the Federal Ministry of Justice said the president is expected to appoint an administrator, who would oversee the forfeiture of IPOB’s assets, home and abroad, to the federal government. According to the sources, the forfeiture of IPOB’s assets would no longer require any court order since the group had been designated a terrorist organisation.

Nice one! Child Comedianne, Emmanuella Wins Pan Africa Comedy Award In Australia

Nice one! Child Comedianne, Emmanuella Wins Pan Africa Comedy Award In Australia

 Nigerian Comedienne, Emmanuella has been honoured by the Australian Government with an award for her outstanding comedy shows. Emmanuella was crowned the read more............
Princess of Comedy by the Australian Government while Uncle Mark Angel himself was also Honoured with a leadership Award. She has become the the youngest recipients of the Afro-Australia Music & Movie Awards (AAMMA). The event took place in Sydney, Australia. She won 2 awards – Best new comedienne & Princess of Comedy.
The AAMMA AWARDS was established by Scrim Entertainment (owned by Daniel Okoduwa) to celebrate Artists of African origin irrespective of borders or National identities. Other recipients in the past includes Hollywood icon Vivica A Fox, Ramsey Nouah, Anne Kansiime, Desmond Elliot, Pascal Atuma, TUFACE Idibia, John Dumelo, Mercy Johnson, Monalisa Chinda, Awilo Longomba, Emerson Bockarie, Jimmy B, Ejike Asiegbu and many others . The organisers described the talent of Emmanuella as simply phenomenal. Mark Angel Comedy Won Best Subsaharan Channel In The Just Concluded Youtube Awards.

Sea pirates kill 2 in Bayelsa

Sea pirates kill 2 in Bayelsa

— 26th September 2017

Barely 72 hours after sea pirates attacked and killed three security personnel in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, another group of the pirates, operating in Brass Local Government Area have killed two persons. According to investigations, the sea pirates, along the Brass waterways, were said to have laid ambush at Okoroma community for the commercial boats conveying passengers to various communities in the area.  An eyewitness account said the boat was close to the Obama flow station when the sea pirates emerged from a nearby creek and asked all the passengers to have their hands up and surrender all in their possessions. It was gathered that after dispossessing the passengers of their valuables, the pirates, while fleeing, began to shoot sporadically thereby killing two of the passengers instantly while others sustained various degrees of injuries. The eyewitness disclosed that the names of those killed as Pale, a male from Akipelia in Ogbia Local Government Area and one Doris, a female from Delta State. Member of the state House of Assembly representing Brass constituency 2, Hon. Alfred Belemote, while commenting on the incident on his facebook page, called for security presence along the Brass waterways to curb the incessant attacks from sea pirates.

Why Ekiti tops NECO exam results

Why Ekiti tops NECO exam results

— 26th September 2017

Once can be a mistake but two or more cannot be happenstance. This is the way I received the positive news of Ekiti coming tops at NECO examinations again in 2017. The state had achieved the same feat in 2016. In popular football lexicon, Ekiti has scored a brace; another win next year and it will be an ace!

Many are those who are surprised at this achievement by Ekiti and the reasons are not far to fetch. While it is generally acknowledged that Ekiti people are “book worms”, having the highest density per square metre of professors in the whole country, not many expected this kind of a feat under the administration of someone like Gov. Peter Ayodele Fayose. The Ekiti governor is better known as the master of “stomach infrastructure”

It would have been more like it if Ekiti had recorded the NECO feat under the erstwhile APC-led government of Dr. Kayode Fayemi. Not only does Fayemi parade a Ph. D., compared to Fayose’s HND, the former governor, who is now Minister of Steel Development, is generally seen as an academic of international repute. So, it was expected that Ekiti would soar educationally under him. Indeed, that was one of the promises made by his government; but, alas, it was not to be! Instead, Ekiti ranked among the least successful educationally during Fayemi’s tenure. Despite the fact that Fayemi’s second deputy governor after the demise of Adunni Olayinka was a University professor; it did not impact positively on the fate of Ekiti in the educational sector.

As an insider, I can give reasons why this was so. To start with, Fayemi’s ill-motivated and poorly-conceived examination for teachers in Ekiti alienated the teachers from his government. Whereas the Fayemi administration said the examination was meant to upgrade teachers, the general belief in the state was that it was a ploy to sack teachers en-mass. This led to a face-off between teachers and the Fayemi administration and the downing of tools by the aggrieved teachers until the government backed down. But the harm had been done! The general belief was that Fayemi’s backing down was tactical and deceitful, meant to allow him win re-election before coming down hard on Ekiti teachers. That accounted in part for why Fayemi woefully lost his 2014 re-election bid.

The face-off between Fayemi and the teachers had a deleterious effect on Ekiti’s educational sector. Without job security, how can teachers give their best? The cat-and-dog game between teachers and the Fayemi government impacted negatively on students. It was a clear case of when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers; the grass this time around was Ekiti’s educational sector. Little wonder, then, that Ekiti recorded some of the worst results in the education sector under the Fayemi administration.

Another setback suffered by the education sector under Fayemi was the issues affecting the Federal Government’s counterpart funding of education in the state. The Fayemi administration reportedly played monkey game with SUBEB funds, as a result of which Ekiti was suspended from accessing Federal funds for educational development. This caused a lot of stagnation and rot in the state’s educational system, leading to frustration on the part of teachers and loss of interest in their studies on the side of students. It took the coming of the Fayose administration to pay back the backlog of counterpart funds the Fayemi administration reportedly misapplied. A judicial commission of enquiry set up by the Ekiti State Government is already looking into this and other sundry matters.

It is indeed ironic that it is under Fayose that Ekiti has blossomed educationally. When Fayose was first elected governor in 2003, he met the educational sector in comatose, with Ekiti ranked 34th and 35th in WAEC and NECO out of 36 states. Fayose immediately called an education summit under the leadership of Chief Afe Babalola, proprietor of the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD); the results came quickly, with the state moving up to 8th and 7th position in WAEC and NECO nationally by 2006 when Fayose was forced out of office. In the South-west that year, Ekiti led the entire pack. With Fayose’s exit, Ekiti regressed again into the backwoods and backwaters, such that by the time Fayose returned as governor in 2014, only 25 percent of the candidates presented for WAEC examinations had five credits, including English and Mathematics.

Fayose called another education summit in 2014 and the results were also quick in coming. In 2015, Ekiti recorded 36.5% in WAEC, coming 11th in the Federation; 42% in 2016 (the same 11th position nationwide) and 73.86% this year 2017. The state’s position nationwide is still being awaited.  In NECO examinations, Ekiti recorded 58% in 2014; 74.5% in 2015 (coming 10th); 96.48% in 2016 and 85% this year 2017; coming first nationwide on both occasions.

Fayose put the first step right when, during his campaign to return as governor, he promised that, if elected, his government would not sack teachers en-mass.  He has kept to that promise. With job security, teachers are eager to give their best. In addition, the Fayose administration has introduced a lot of programmes and incentives to encourage teachers; one of such programmes is the “Best Teacher in Ekiti” award, which has become a yearly ritual with car and cash gifts to deserving teachers. Teachers no longer feel neglected and rubbished; their rewards are no longer in heaven but here and now. Another factor working in favour of the education sector in Ekiti is the accessibility of Fayose to every sector of the society; I personally have lost count of how many times I had been opportune in company of others to meet with the governor. He explains himself and also fields questions from the people, providing prompt and effective solutions to problems. No red-tape and no bureaucracy! This sense of belonging fires the patriotic zeal of teachers to bend over backward to make the state proud.

When, years back, the state’s educational fortunes dipped, we felt really sorry and embarrassed. Our fore-fathers, who were world-acclaimed academic giants, must have stirred in their graves. Now that Ekiti has bounced back and is riding high, all hands must continue to be on the deck not only to maintain the feat but to also ensure that we climb higher still. Among others, Ekiti students came first in the Genius Illumina International Competition, 2016; 1st in the National Junior Water Price Competition held in Sokoto, 2016; 1st in the 2016 edition of the Inter-State STAN National Quiz Competition; Overall Best Science Student in the 2016 STAN-organised competition; 1st in JETS Inter-State Science Quiz Competition, 2017; 1st, ANCOPPS-organised South-west debate competition for secondary school students in February 2017 held at Akure, Ondo state; and 1st, Young Nigerian Scientists’ Presidential Award 2017. This, indeed, is the golden age of educational attainments in Ekiti state!