Posts by solomon2day

The Nigeria Police Force  is determined to shield some of its personnel, who have for long worked hand-in-gloves with some members of the public to intimidate, threaten, attack, blackmail and terrorize the Editor-In-Chief of Governance(https://bit.ly/2YHRGt8)  
 
The officers and men attached to the Iyaganku Area Command and the Felele Police station,have always acted the scripts written by residents of Olorunsogo, Molete, who remain solidly behind their actions. On two occasions, one of which was on Sunday, 25 May, 2008, Mrs. Koloko in connivance with the then Divisional Crime Officer(DCO) the Challenge Police station, Orita Challenge, facilitated the arrest of the journalist. While in the office of the DCO, the journalist was repeatedly  harrassed, intimidated and threatened.

In another plot against the journalist,a letter titled” A Petition Against Solomon Adewumi” and dated 20 November, 2008, was received by the Assistant Commissioner of Police(ACP), Iyaganku Area Command, Mrs. Abiodun Ige on 30 April, 2009.

On Saturday 9 May, 2009, Mrs. Ige ordered the arrest of Solomon on trumped up charges,through one Simon and four other heavily armed policemen from the same command. During the detention of the journalist for eight hours, the policemen repeatedly provided situation report to Mrs. Koloko through the phone.

Curiously, one Chukuwuma Joseph, Bola Adeniran and Mrs. Taiwo Owoeye, a pastor’s wife, who Adewunmi had reported a case of malicious damage against in August, 2008 at the Felele Police station, were now used as witnesses in the case generated by the Police.

Even though the worried journalist informed the then Commissioner of Police, Baba Adisa Bolanta, about this development through a letter titled”Attempts To Pervert Justice” and dated 11 May, 2009, and even made verbal protests, the police response was carefree.

Indeed, the letter was referred to the Provost Marshall’s office at the state police command, under the headship of a Deputy Superintendent of Police, Oseni and one Sergeant I.Oladejo was assigned to handle it. Surprisingly, both opted to cultivate a mutually beneficial relationship with those the letter was written against.

Now desperate to pervert justice, the police moved the duo out of reach, while Joseph Ale, another policeman attached to the Felele Police Station, who midwifed the forceful entry into an apartment in the journalist’s residence, was subtly given the go ahead to instigate Chukuma Joseph and four others against the journalist. Joseph Ale was the Investigating Police Officer(IPO) in a case of mailicious damage reported by Solomon, in August, 2008.

Not done with their sinister plot, on Sunday 9 August, 2009, the police influenced a false report of threat to life by one Mrs. Olawoyin against the journalist at the Felele Police station. One Kehinde was assigned the case to investigate, but she compromised her position as a police rank and file. Mrs. Olawoyin’s husband, a cooperative officer with the Oyo state Ministry of Trade, Investment and Cooperatives, conspired with, a carpenter, Ale and some other policemen to forcefully gain entry into an apartment in Solomon’s residence, while he was being interrogated at the Iyaganku Area command.

 Although this was brought to the notice of the police, the headship of the Felele Police station decided to look the other way. The Edo born Divisional Police Officer (DPO) had always displayed signs of bias in handling cases brought before him concerning the journalist. Interestingly, the DPO has always maintained a symbiotic relationship with all those against the journalist.

In order to actualize a well scripted plot, the journalist was detained from 4.00pm in the evening to 9.30pm in the night, with plans to put him in the cell till the next day. This was, however thwarted by the then Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO), Bisi Okwuobi, who called the DPO to justify his action.

Although the journalist informed the Commissioner of Police of the incident in a letter dated 31 August, 2009 and titled ”Denial Of Justice”, and even met on two separate occasions with the Police Boss, mum is the word from the police.

Greatly disturbed by the attitude of the Oyo state Police Command, the journalist wrote a letter to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, zone11, Osogbo, Osun state, Yesufu Mohammed, titled ”INJUSTICE” and dated 3 December, 2009. After the IPO in charge of the case, one Inspector Odelade, took the statement of the journalist, various excuses characterized his subsequent reactions.

Again on Saturday 14, August, 2010, the same Chukwuma Joseph and his wife, Blessing, in connivance with some night guards in the Olorunsogo, Molete area, brought false allegations against the journalist, physically assaulted him and forcefully gained entrance into his apartment. Forty thousand naira cash and a number of his personal belongings were stolen. After which a report was made at the Felele Police station.

The same Joseph Ale, who has always played a role in the travails of Adewunmi was assigned the case. Ale took Chukwuma Joseph’s statement and conducted a search of the journalist’s apartment alongside the CRO of the police station. Also present were the night guards and the coordinator of the night guards.

Surprisingly, a plain paper without the Nigeria Police Force logo and name was presented as a search warrant. Indeed, Solomon’s request to be shown a search warrant, was met with a forceful entry of his apartment by the policemen. No search warrant was presented by the policemen.However, nothing incriminating was found in his apartment.

Again, another search was carried out on the journalist’s apartment, the same day, by Kehinde, another police man- Olayiwola Ibrahim, Chukwuma Joseph, a night guard and the coordinator of the night guards. Sadly, no search warrant was presented again, while some items were, secretly removed from his apartment. Again, nothing incriminating was found in the journalist’s apartment.

In quick succession, he was detained from 7.00am on that saturday morning, 14 august, 2010, until 2.00pm on Sunday, 15 August, 2010, and hurriedly arraigned before the Iyaganku magisterate court 7 on Monday, 16 August, 2010. With active connivance of the D.P.O OF the Felele Police Station, Solomon was remanded in the Agodi prisons for three days.

Again, he wrote a letter to the AIG, zone11 dated 23 August 2010 and titled”INJUSTICE PART 2”. In the letter, he recounted his experience in the hands of the police at the Felele Police station.

 However, the letter was referred to the Oyo state Police Command, which in turn sent it to the Criminal Investigation Department(CID), Iyaganku. The Investigating Police Officer, Femi Ajibade with the assistance of the journalist invited Chukuma Joseph and others mentioned in his petition. But curiously, after obtaining their statements, Ajibade only searched the apartment of the principal suspect, without visiting the scene of the incident and inviting another principal suspect, Blessing Chukuma.

On saturday, 8 october, 2011, at about 8.45pm, one Yemi Ajala of Kehinde Aderibigbe street, Olorunsogo, Molete, Ibadan attacked and robbed the journalist. The journalist reported the matter at the Felele police station the next morning. When the policewoman on duty would record the entry, she recorded assault as against the robbery the journalist reported. She said that the suspect’s brother, who is a Superintendent of Police and Divisional Traffic Officer of the Police Divisional Headquarters, Iyana Offa, was her ‘Oga’. Indeed the senior police officer eventually showed up at the station to bail the suspect. And eversince the authorities of the police station have refused to act on the matter.

Most recently, a man in his mid forties, Daniel Offiong, who rented a room in a three bedroom flat, pretended to be a taxi driver, to get the accommodation. Although his owns a golf car, painted in Oyo state Taxi colours, he does not use it for that purpose.

 For long, the man, Offiong had been living a suspicious life, while receiving visitors, who are mostly ‘okada riders, in his apartment. Despite the fact that the journalist intimated the Divisional Crime Officer of the Felele Police station of the ways of the man, other considerations beclouded his sense of reasoning. These days Offiong and his cohorts hide motorcycles of suspicious origins in his apartment, with the knowledge of the Police.

While the Landlady of 5 Kehinde Aderibigbe street, Olorunsogo, Molete, has converted the journalist's residence and the drainage in front to a refuse dump, a tenant wh owns a shop at No. 6 of the same street, Mrs. Adesanya(Mama Tobi) on 30 December, 2015 alongside are family members at about 8.30pm in the night, attacked and robbed the journalist, on his way into his residence.

Indeed, the Landlords and Tenants Association Iin Olorunsogo, Molete, Ibadan, led by one Alhaji Adetayo, have for several years played criminally suggestive roles in the Journalist’s travails. Indeed, most house owners in the community are not meticulous, when they want to take in tenants.
 Even, as majority of the youths have been brought up to take crime as a means to an end.

Till date, the Oyo state Police Command have devoted their energy towards ensuring that the journalist does not get justice, while residents of the above mentioned community continue in the vicious cycle of crime and criminality, encircling them.

The unanswered question now is, if the police is incapable of ensuring that a law abiding citizen such as the journalist get justice, who does this helpless citizen turn to ?

The Federal and State Governments in Nigeria are already tinkering with the idea of cutting the salaries of workers in addition to reducing the size of the workforce. This is coming at a time that a sizable number of labor leaders in Nigeria prefer government patronage to pursuing the cause of workers. Sadly, workers have continued to lament that the meager salaries they earn do not take them home at the end of the month. A cross section of Nigerians believe that any attempt to cut salaries and retrench could have very negative effects on the various sectors of the economy. In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke opines

The Federal and State Governments are considering cutting workers’ salaries and also reducing the size of the workforce. Is this the right time for such ?

Cutting salaries can be necessary, if government can transparently publish the details of the expenditure so far of managing the coronavirus pandemic which is yet to be effective for people to sympathize and identify with government.

Equally, government needs to show us various foreign grants given the country as interventions from international sources as well as the donations from sympathetic Nigerians.

This attitude will boost transparency essence in governance for the people’s loyalty and trust to be enjoyed. Suffice it now to say, that the lock down , stay-at-home directive and the partial palliative measures from government as well as the skeletal services rendered by workers must have amounted to a lot of waste on the part of government.

It would be against the natural law of social justice to effect any anti-workers policy, this period when the coronavirus pandemic is yet to abate. What Government should preoccupy itself with presently, is how to get more effective measure in curtailing the alarming rate of the pandemic.

Presently, government's handling of the pandemic without the accompanying positive results from the members of the public must also be of serious concern.

Government has the responsibility of encouraging stakeholders in the religious sphere to promote a Godly state of piety and sacredness of the houses of worship for the clerics to be able to seek and have divine intervention over this matter, with a lot of work that is yet to be done on this by government and all in the religious sphere.

Government policy must not drive Nigerians into another state of panic through unwarranted cutting of salaries of workers and retrenchment. Nigeria is yet to reach the sustainable development line as defined by the United Nations. The whole world has tagged Nigeria as the international headquarters of poverty and corruption, while both the Federal and State Governments attest to the fact that most Nigerians are in the pathetic class of the poorest of the poor. An attempt to cut salaries or downsize will ever aggravate this pathetic economic condition, which may spur most people into anti-societal norms and the breakdown of law and order; as is been experienced across the country-insurgency, armed robbery, kidnapping, prostitution, pedophilia, rape and defilement. The source of all these could partly be traced to the physiological needs of the people which government is yet to address, even under a democratic principle of equity and justice.

If government is to make up for its losses during the coronavirus pandemic, the sacrifice must include the drastic downward review of the salaries and allowances of the political class in government and the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, while it could be extended to the salaries of workers in a lower proportion.

Instead of retrenching workers, reforms based on accounts of misconduct,as must have been reported through Service Compact with All Nigerians(SERVICOM) and The Anti- Corruption and Transparency Unit(ACTU) over the years, such workers that could be classified as the dandruff of the system, are to be revisited without prejudice or favor.

Retirement age could be revisited for fresh graduates to be able to have employment in multiples to fill the vacuum of vacancies that must have been created through the exercise. This shall restore sanity in the system.

The aspect of reviving the existing Technical colleges and the re-orientation need to produce capable craftsmen, who would become job creators with the assistance of the Bank of Industry should be given priority.

 Above all, Nigerians must be ready to make sacrifices, that would not open the way for avoidable hardships. To this extent government should embark on cutting all wastage and also blocking all leakages.

Also read-Nigerians No Longer Trust Their Leaders-Prof Olagoke- Click here-https://bit.ly/3hGRaV2

The attitude of Nigerians has been cited as one of the factors responsible for the formulation of oppressive policies by Government.

This assertion was made by the All Workers Convergence(AWC) through its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze.

''Nigerians are coping and managing poverty, why ? because our attitude is encouraging government to oppress us because we fail to speak out and until Nigerians realize that they have a futuristic  duty to challenge bad governance, poverty will continue to be endemic. The citizens should blame themselves for their woes", Comrade Emelieze noted.

In 1975, the reign of terror was directed and supervised by the Ministry of Interior, where a comprehensive list of action was domiciled in Montevideo.

However, events later showed that what befell the helpless citizenry had little or no direction or supervision.

Masterminded kidnappings, torture and elimination were the trend, with government Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDA) becoming active while those saddled with the responsibility of protecting lives and property were always available to carry out the unimaginable.

The separate arms for the state competed for dubious glory of apprehending more subversives and creating a system of sponsored mayhem.

As crime and criminality became the culture, unfortunate relatives of victims met a stone wall at the law enforcement and government offices.

Green Ford Falcon cars became a symbol with different interpretations, while the unexplainable continued unabated. Indeed, the deliberate absence of street lights in most communities across the Nigeria encourage crime and criminality, even as traders, artisans,barbers, craftsmen, market men and women were co opted to do the unthinkable.

Wholesale disappearance of people from all walks of life sent the wrong signals to all and sundry, with the general belief that same had erased any trace of good governance.

Lawlessness and impunity are now the order of the day everywhere in Nigeria as anarchy gradually creeps into prominence. Threats, blackmail, harassment, intimidation and attacks are all tools used to achieve sinister motives in this clime, while fraudsters now play prominent role in government. and governance. Community leaders, Landlords and Tenants Associations and criminally minded residents  also play prominent roles in crime. For instance,  vulcanizer and a woman in her mid thirties, who sells second hand clothing located at a make shift shed beside the gate of the Nigeria Baptist Convention quarters along the Scout Camp road, opposite the neighborhood market in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria, are among several traders who perpetrate acts of criminality on a daily basis with impunity, with the knowledge of law enforcement agents. Indeed, a sizable number of shop owners in residential areas such as Molusi, Olorunsogo, Molete, Felele and several other communities across the country are now involved in grievous crimes in these communities, with the full support of government appointees, elected officials, public and civil servants. The motive which goes beyond the surface appearance is wove around property matters.

Already, the future of most children and the youth is now a subject of debate, as crime and criminality systematically overwhelms their consciousness and existence.

Teachers and the schools have since abandoned their responsibilities of imparting knowledge for obvious reasons, as the country moves farther  and farther from good governance.

Churches  have been advised to abide by the guidelines rolled out by the Presidential Task Force(PTF) on the Coronavirus pandemic for the reopening of Churches and Mosques in Nigeria.

This advice was given by a christian cleric, Pastor Opeyemi Ajayi.

''I advise the church and its leaders to abide by the conditions for reopening. We should all call on the Lord as other nations did at different points in time. God will save the situation, with time peace would be experience worldwide. Let us all call on the author and finisher of our faith and all would be well'', Pastor Ajayi concluded.

The All Workers Convergence(AWC) has described the actions of the Federal Government in the face of the public coronavirus pandemic as a manifestation of its confused state.

The AWC made this known through its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze.

''Nigeria is no likened to a film, where the people and the Government are together confused, nothing is ever real but superficial. Unforutnately, the people are more coonfused that the Government.  Everything is upside down and confusion is the order of the day in Nigeria. Al that has been happening in the ast five years is apologies galore for the failures of Government'', Comrade Emelieze lamented.

An individual is deemed to be truthful, when it is discovered that he or she does not tell lies.

Such a person is trustworthy and classified as a man or woman of honor.

A man or woman with this virtue commands respect and has integrity in society.

When entrusted with taxpayers money, such persons donot divert same to private use.

Such persons have no affinity with corruption.

The foregoing has a correlation with faithfulness.

A faithful person keeps promises and is faithful to family, friends,community and nation.

Truthfulness and Integrity are some of the prerequisites for a society to experience peace, progress and development.

When public officers abuse their positions-elected, appointed or employed- for other reasons,the society bares the brunt.

In 2004, German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, resigned the leadership of his political party, Social Democratic Party(SDP) trailed by criticisms of his welfare reforms program.

Schroeder had insisted that his administration would not change direction, following mass protests by the opposition party.

He also resigned as the party Chairman as a result of complaints to the party over freeze on pensions and the introduction of medical fees.

As cases of child abuse, trafficking and labor continue to increase in different parts of the world,  with not too encouraging response from Governments of different nations, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke in this interview says that the day is a wake up call for stakeholders to ensure that children are well groomed for future leadership.

What is your message to children as they celebrate the children’s day on May 27 ?

My worries for Government of several nations over issues of festivals and programs and charters of the United Nations for the purpose of human welfare and general development is that it goes beyond the mere ceremonial terrain. Unfortunately, when nations experience traumatic period of wars or ravaging diseases such as the coronavirus pandemic, Spanish flu from 1918 to 1920 and Hong Kong flu of 1968 experiences show that no lesson is ever learnt in a bid to change our psyche on the need to do the needful to better the lot of humanity.

Specifically , the children’s day is expected to pose the challenge of alertness on all stakeholders, naturally billed to take care of children in modelling as a great foundation that must solidified for future leadership. This immediately calls for the need to accept in principle the 17 point agenda of the United Nations on the sustainable development goals, starting from the issue of poverty and hunger, to nip in the board the scary challenges of economic dichotomy that marginalize a majority of the population. For example in Nigeria into the classes of the poor, abject poverty, destitution and the poorest of the poor, recently derisively identified by the government of Nigeria at all levels of governance.

The area of marginalized women, girl child abuse and people with disabilities are all very much inclusive in the trauma of mismanagement.

Within the rank and file of all these marginalized sector of humankind, the arrows of debacle continue to have such children as vulnerable.

The 13.9 million out of school children are equally inclusive. Are these scenarios of cries of the dead from the grave, worthy of celebration through mere celebration by those in the regime of power, affluence and influence, paying lip service to what they vowed to correct during their political campaigns, before they find themselves in the great positions of power.

If truly we want to celebrate our children,the areas of weaknesses and travails of our children, most especially the marginalized ones, are supposed to receive the kind of attention government is devoting to the coronavirus pandemic, with all keenness, facts and figures and vehement struggle, not only to put a stop to its spread, but to find a permanent cure.

Nobody ever knew that the government of Nigerian can be so serious and energetic on matters bothering on threats to life, with all recklessness backing up the funding.

The lives of our children are more sacred and valuable than the coronavirus pandemic or even if we term them to be of equal value for equal treatment and aggression. Children during this period of public health crisis have suffered so much, but only the effects would be visible in the nearest future, when they are to take over the mantle of leadership, with all the set backs we are creating for them today.

For example, all schools shut as a result for the coronavirus pandemic, shall affect the standard of education negatively. The so called online teaching and learning cannot be said to be effective because the environment cannot be said to be conducive for all of them and the monitoring essence is equally low due to the high percentage of illiteracy and ill education of most parents. The general under funding of education is an insult to the intellectuals to the disadvantage of our children. This period, reports of emotional outbursts into psychological trauma are equally on the increase with cases of pedophilia, incest, sodomy, defilement, homosexuality and other cases of sexual abuses, have resulted in the vulnerability of children, particularly the girl child. Kidnapping of children has equally worsened the situation. Fundamentally therefore, children deserve all the care and attention, whereby all stakeholders starting from government on legislative framework for qualitative education that must be accessible to all irrespective of their social status. Also, the health sector must be children friendly, in terms of policies that would promote the rights of children on the issue of employment.

The Federal and State Governments have been called upon to enforce the use of face masks in public places to stem the increasing cases of coronavirus in Nigeria.

This call was made by the Ezendigbo of Ibadan and Oyo state, who also doubles as the Vice President (South) Ezendigbo in Diaspora.

‘’The Federal and state Governments should enact an executive order to ensure the effectiveness of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. It is a welcome development that the Federal and state Governments have relaxed the lock down a bit, but I suggest that the Government should enforce the use of face mask by anyone leaving home for the public’’.

 ‘’Anyone going to the market should put on face mask. Okada riders and their passengers should also put on face masks. Nobody should be exempted, all Nigerians should be compelled to put on face masks, given the fact that they are out in the public. Anyone caught in the public without face mask should be penalized, irrespective of the individual’s status in the society‘‘.

 ‘’This is for the good of all and sundry. It is noticeable that the coronavirus cases are on the increase daily all over the country, therefore urgent measures must be put in place to curtail the spread. A fine of between N1,000 and N5,000 should be made for those who violate the order, this will ensure full compliance. Anybody that is not ready to pay the fine should be prosecuted in the law court. The restriction of movement of people from one part of the country to the other, and one state to the other is still on, but thousands of able bodied young men, excluding women and children, are on a daily basis, been secretly moved from one part of the country to the other. This is suspicious. People are gripped with fear all over the country, all is not well’’.

‘’The Federal Government should allay the fears of Nigerians that there is no hidden motive behind this movement of able bodied men from one part of the country to the other, by making a nation wide address. It is not the best for Government to be silent during this period. State Governors should continue to address people in the states on a weekly basis, appealing to them to see the need to obey the orders for the good of everyone, until the coronavirus pandemic is over. They should do this with maturity and with firm resolve to remind the people of the dangers inherent in flouting the order and the consequences for flouting the order. Look at the streets, only very few people are moving about in the public with face masks, majority are out there without face masks, this is very dangerous’’.

‘’In Rivers state, I like Governor Nyesome Wike for been a Governor of action and discipline, but I also feel that the bulldozing of two hotels by the Governor is an action taken too far.

It would have been better if he had acted with human face by either sealing up the hotel or seeking legal redress, the bulldozing of the hotels is unchristian like. If he had sealed up the property or sought legal redress, it would have been better’’, Eze(Dr)Anozie concluded.

 Tuesday 19th May 

We are supposed to be by now better in understanding of the scripture for self realization. It is in clear terms, we should all be able to attest that sins always bring about the wrath of God. And that the best for the atonement of sins is in our determination to go and live by the culture of soul purification to refrain from evil thoughts, occultism and abuse of terrestrial and subterranean power.

 Furthermore, we need to go into body preservation from sins and crimes to sanctify the body by refraining from indulging in illicit ecente, such as fornication, adultery, bestial acts, incest, drug abuse, human trafficking and the sponsorship of clandestine gangs.

These are preconditions to live exemplary lifestyles which can satisfy the conditions for the use of the houses of God, to seek God’s favor and for ease of beneficially impacting on the society for peace and development. Let us emulate Jesus Christ and the Holy Prophet Mohammed on this. Ramadan Kareem.

Wednesday, 20th May 

Let us realize that this is a period of harvesting the fruits of the planted trees in the month of Ramadan which marks the significance of Iti’Kaf or spiritual retreat an an esoteric research into identifying the very day to meet with God during the glorious night of power, Laelaetul Quadri, for a successful exercise of this, we must totally and committedly refrain from sins and crimes as well as all forms of evil deeds. This is because according to the Bible-James 13 : 15 ‘’ When a person is been tempted, he should not say, God is tempting me, evil cannot tempt God and God himself does not tempt any person. It is the evil things a person wants that tempts that person. His own evil desire leads him away and holds him. This desire causes sins, then the sins grows and bring death’’. This should be taken as a statement of truth that is fundamental to every human life. Holiness for Allah brings about an ease of complying with the concept of the fear of God, which is the import of the whole Ramadan fasting exercise. Let us live a modest life. Ramadan Kareem.

Thursday, 21st May

This year’s Ramadan admonishes for human consistency in goodness. This demands that we must realize that there must be limit to which we van continue to indulge in sinful acts.

The Holy Quaran 4 : 137 refers ‘’ Those who believe reject faith and go ion increasing in unbelief. All will neither forgive them nor guide them on the way’’. This is because in another verse of this chapter states clearly, ‘’Allah accept the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and repent soon afterwards, to them Allah turn in mercy for Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom’’. 

The scripture continues to emphasize on consistency in goodness in the follow up of this verse of the Holy Quaran, where unmistakable affirmation is made.

 Quaran 4 : 18 sates ‘’of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil, until death faces one of them, and he says’’ now have I repented indeed’’, nor of those who die rejecting Faith ; for them have we prepared chastisement most grievous. Let us use this to rebuild our character into discipline and morality to Path find the lost glorious value of integrity’’. Ramadan Kareem.

Friday, 22nd May

The essence of the content of Ramadan is to ensure that we are less passionate about the world of materialism, but to build self and community with high level of spiritual state of piety based on holiness for God. Like in the electromotive force for system energisation or latent heat of energy increases human immunity against life hazards.

This is the essence of religion in every society.

Unfortunately, where sufficient heat is not supplied, we can’t realize the latent heat of energy; hence water would remain liquid without going into vapor or remain solid without going into liquid form.

The inability of our faith based house of God to be scripture compliant in teaching and learning makes the adherents and the society to remain morally decayed because Jesus Christ said that man shall not live by bread alone. People’s lives depends on what God has in stock for them. This is why the Holy Quaran 91 : 7–10 says ‘’ by the soul and proportion and order given to it and its inspiration as to its wrong and its right, truly he succeeds that purify it and he fails that corrupts it’’. Let us be spiritually rejuvenated to goodness. Ramadan Mubarak.

Saturday, 23rd May

After Ramadan what are the expectations to justify the rigors of the exercise, I have the joy to declare the death of the coronavirus pandemic, most especially in Nigeria. Much as we appreciate government’s efforts in stopping curtailing the spread, religious people must be joyous enough that divine intervention has justified our claim that the solution rests with God, the houses of God are expected to be open for use, but with caution against waywardness and frivolities because we are expected to be scripture compliant and refrain from evil deeds, thoughts, words and acts, with clear mind full of love for our fellow human being. The sanctity and sacredness of the Churches and Mosques are germane, not to further attract the wrath and anger of God.

The Holy Quaran 10 : 21 admonished all on this ‘’when we make mankind taste on some mercy, after adversity has touched them, behold they take to plotting against Our signs say : ‘’swifter to plan is Allah verily, Our messengers record all the plots that he make’’.

While going out of the training sessions offered by Ramadan please reflect on this practically : ‘’come, I will rehearse what Allah has really prohibited you from’’; Join not anything with him : be good to your parents; kill not your children on a plea of want; and-will provide sustenance for you and them;-come not nigh to indecent deeds, whether open or secret; take not life which Allah has made sacred except by way of justice and the law : thus doth he command you, that you may learn wisdom and come not nigh to orphan’s property except to improve it, until he attains the age of full strength; give measure and wait with full justice ;- no burden do we place on any soul but that which it can bear;-whenever you speak, speak justly even if a near relative is concerned; and fulfill the covenant of Allah : thus doth he command you that he may remember’’.

This is a standard form of exemplary lifestyle. Ramadan Mubarak.

Prof. Sabitu Olagoke

Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide,Wakajaiye, Ibadan, Nigeria

Thursday 14th May 2020

The Ramadan agenda on I’’Itikaf or spiritual retreat into the mosque generally when Jumat services are observed is equally a very good point of study for human rumination. Three things are expected to happen while spending the last 10 days in and around the premises of the mosque.

Pondering over sermons and reading to a comprehension level the verses of the Holy Quaran for ease of application to the real life situation and for necessary attitudinal adjustment.

This is reminiscent of the power therein contained in the sermon as explained in narrative in the Quaran 10 : 57. ‘’ O mankind there art come to you an admonition from your Lord, and a healing for the diseases in your hearts, and for those who believe in Guidance and Mercy’’.

While observing this at home, because of the lock down, let us all strive to get spiritually elevated to the height of this Quaranic verse. Ramadan Kareem.

Friday 15th May

 The injunctions God on the sacredness of Friday can equally be observed at your home before and after the afternoon Solat-Zhuur.

The consciousness of the the heart and mind while the period of Jumat is approaching is equally a process of achieving the fear of God. It is equally with Godly reward-studying the Quaran needs to preoccupy one before observing the afternoon Solat and after it, one is allowed to venture into serious supplications for God’s intervention. The gains of the reward of observing Jumat service , virtually, through the mind and basically by the four Rakats of Zhuur will make one achieve the first fundamentals of sermon which would have been enjoyed by Khutbat of the Jumat service, if there had not been a lock down. All these are implied as embedded in the verses of the Holy Quaran on the significance of the Jumat service. Quaran 62 : 9–10, states ‘’ O ye who believe ! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday, the day of assembly hasten earnestly to the remembrance of Allah and leave off business and traffic that is best for you, but if ye but knew ! And when the prayer is finished then may ye disperse through the land and seek for the bounty of Allah-and remember All frequently that you may prosper’’.

It is imperative for any human being not to be carried away by the distractions of the situation, most especially when it comes to matters concerning our relationships and duties with and towards God.

May the almighty Allah continue to protect us from the harshness of the COVID 19 pandemic. Ramadan Kareem

Saturday 16th May

Let us remember that religion is a school of life for socio-spiritual rejuvenation of the adherents to have tranquility of the mind and a secured environment, in order that an individual would be able to maintain and sustain man/God perfect relation. But this is only achievable through imbibing the culture of the fear of God, as socially translated by Jesus Christ in John 4 : 34, ‘’Jesus said ‘’My food is to do what the one, God sent me and wants me to do. My food is to finish the work that he gave me to do’’. This is an exemplary lifestyle. recommended for all human beings most especially the Muslims as contained in the Holy Quaran 2 : 208–209. ‘’O ye how believe enter into Islam wholeheartedly, and follow not the footsteps of satan for he is to you an avowed enemy. If ye backslide after the clear signs have come to you, then know that Allah is exulted in Power, Wise.’’ Let us be an example to others. Ramadan Kareem.

Sunday 17th May

Salam, three things are germane to meet up with the goal of Ramadan fast in establishing for mankind the culture of doing things aright without transgressing and according to respect for ethical values, the demand for societal development through transparency and accountability, minding the fact that apart from human auditing, the almighty Allah is always fast without fatigue in bringing every individual to pay for the account of his deeds or misdeeds, actions and inactions. Three important articles of faith are fundamental to develop the ability deliver without deceit and destruction.

1. The practical use to which we put the teachings received from the scripture.
2. The processes of actualizing our desired status, aims and objectives. The bottom line revolves on , are they through illegitimate means ? Haram or legitimate means-Halal ?
3. The unconscious evaluation of us through our character by our neighbors-bad or good ?

Sermon offers us the opportunity to SWOT analyse ourselves and make amends.

Meditation in isolation or retreat would help us esoterically into the hidden treasures of life for us to have a close contact with the almighty Allah, while our concern through counseling others for good would bring about divine favor and the authority to live by what we profess.

However, the almighty Allah does not want us to be bags of deceit and disbelief, otherwise our prayer request would not be entertained.

Quaran 17 : 82 refers ‘’we send down stage by stage of the Quaran that which is a Healing and a Mercy to those who believe : to the unjust it causes nothing but lose after lose’’.

 let us be modest and moderate in our affairs. Ramadan Kareem.

Monday 18th May

From time immemorial till date, Muslims have been going to Mecca, and Christians have been going to Jerusalem for spiritual rejuvenation because they consider the places clean fit for prayer efficacy. Muslims in addition, go for Umrah or lesser hajj.

However, we must all be warned that spiritual tour of such dimension must never be likened to tourism. Even though they would be opportuned to visit many places of historical importance.

Since the almighty Allah is everywhere, spiritual retreat in Mecca-I’’Itikaf is not supposed to be different from the one observed in the local mosque, in one’s own country because God does not appreciate humankind based on the differences i their social status and degree of affluence.

However, the status of may local mosques and other spiritual centers are devil controlled, making them to be highly unsuitable for nay spiritual retreat.

A return from Mecca or Jerusalem therefore, demands that we should work on the spiritual status of sacredness for our worship centers. Quaran 9 : 17–18 refers ‘’it is not for such as join gods with Allah, to maintain the mosques of Allah, while the weakness against their own souls, to infidelity, the works of such bear no fruit, in Fire shall they dwell. The mosque of Allah shall be visited and maintained by such as believe in Allah and the last day, establish regular prayers and pay Zakat. It is they who are expected to be on true guidance’’. Say not to profanity but uphold sacredness.

Examine yourself through correct assessment and evaluation to measure the degree of the state of your piety.

Make necessary amends today. Ramadan Kareem.

Prof. Sabitu Olagoke

Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide,Wakajaiye, Ibadan, Nigeria

The All Workers Convergence(AWC) has called on the Federal Government in Nigeria to give cogent reasons why the looming sack of Federal workers cannot be postponed.

The AWC made this call through its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze.

‘’The question workers in Nigeria are asking in all these notification of the implementation of the Oronsaye report, is that the workers that shall be affected are they not working ? Is Nigeria broke ? Where is the billions of Dollars in the foreign reserve ? This is the period that Government is supposed to be protecting lives and livelihood. Why should it now focus on the implementation of the Oronsaye report. Workers in the country need answers to all these questions’’, Comrade Emelieze concluded.

Sense of responsibility means the duties or work assigned to an individual is done properly and promptly.

People who occupy public offices must ensure that all they are entrusted with, is properly taken care of.

Work is done carefully, whole heartedly and efficiently.

Those in public offices should realize that their acts of commission or omission could affect others, either negatively or positively.

Cultists who pose as okada riders have continuously terrorized residents and commuters along the Molusi, Olorunsogo, Molete, Scout camp, Felele areas of Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria.

The cultists led by one hoodlum, popularly known as Brother Bayo,an okada rider always on blue hooded top to shield his identity, a vulcanizer, and a spare parts seller, whose shops are at the ASAS bus stop junction of Molusi street, have their base at the ASAS bus-stop/Molusi street junction.

The criminals intimidate, threaten attack and dispossess unsuspecting members of the public of their valuables, at night, since there are no street lights in theses areas.

Expectedly, the residents and other members of the public are helpless,while the connivance of respected members of these communities with the hoodlums has greatly frustrated actions against them.

Sadly, the law enforcement agency saddled with the responsibility of ensuring sanity in this category of transportation focus on pecuniary interests at the expense of a safe society.

The declaration of the Director General of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control(NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu that Nigeria is desperately in need of test kits to curtail the further spread of the coronavirus pandemic has exposed the nature of the appointees of the ‘’Powers that Be’’.

In other words, indecision has exposed the unpreparedness of the Government to curtail the pandemic.

In another perspective, does the Director General mean that Government does not have the financial capacity to purchase the kits or Government is stylishly calling out for donations ?

Lock downs without accompanying palliatives is not only faulty but suspicious .

Ignorance, illiteracy and idleness are among the major obstacles militating against winning the war over the pandemic.

The Federal and Kano state Governments should take the health situation seriously, while other state Governments should learn from unfolding events.

The Oyo state Government has been advised to ensure that the palliatives to be distributed to poor and vulnerable Nigerians cuts across all the ethnic groups in the state.

This advice was given by the Eze Ndigbo of Ibadan and Oyo state, who is also the Vice Chairman(South) of the Eze Ndigbo in Diaspora, Eze Dr. Alex Anozie.

‘’As the Head of Igbos in Ibadan and Oyo state, I believe in justice for all Nigerians and all ethnic groups in Ibadan and Oyo state and I believe that whatever the Government decides to do, whatever palliative steps they decide to take for the benefit of all, they should do it and let all ethnic groups enjoy the benefits. So, I do not want to come out and begin to shout ’see my people Ndigbo’, when I know that the problem that is on ground is affecting everybody. So what I am saying is that whatever the Government intends to do, should be for the benefit of Ndigbo, NdiYoruba, NdiHausa and all other ethnic groups residing in Oyo state. And again, I want to remind all through this medium, that I and my group constitute the legitimate leadership of the Igbos in Ibadan and Oyo state, as ruled by a court of competent jurisdiction. And no other superior court has given another judgment vacating that judgment which states that I and my group constitute the legitimate leadership of Igbos in Ibadan and Oyo state’’.

‘’Therefore, we believe that the Oyo state Government is a law abiding Government which we are sure would never, never allow anybody or group to deceive it. The court judgment is the highest authority as far as the Nigerian constitution is concerned. So, we expect the state Government, been a law abiding Government to reach out to us as the legitimate leadership of Igbos in Ibadan and Oyo state. So whatever is happening, whatever the Government intends to do, all Nigerians in Oyo state should benefit from the palliative measures. We thank God for giving our Governor fast healing from the coronavirus pandemic, same also goes for the Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital(UCH) and a few others. We shall continue to pray to God that very soon we shall overcome the coronavirus pandemic. It shall become a thing of the past. Those who are yet to be healed, we pray that God should heal them fast.’’

‘’Let me also use this medium to appeal to all and sundry to keep strictly to both the Government’s directives and those of medical experts towards curtailing the spread of the coronavirus pandemic’’, Eze(Dr.) Anozie concluded.

Nigerians in different parts of the country have continuously complained about  the methods adopted by several state governments in the distribution of palliatives to the people.

Recently the Federal Government through the Ministry of Finance, in a tweet, pleaded for ventilators from American billionaire and Industrial Engineer, Elon Musk, to curtail the spread of the coronavirus, but subsequently deleted the tweet when Nigerians expressed reservations. This is in spite of the donations, running into billions of Naira by well meaning individuals and corporate organizations. Begging has since become a way of life among Nigerians and also in government circles. In this interview, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen in Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke says that the poverty of knowledge and ideas was the driving force behind the Federal Ministry of Finance’s decision to beg for ventilators. Excerpts :

What is your reaction to the move by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Finance to beg for ventilators from American billionaire and Industrial Engineer, Elon Musk ?

What we presently have in Nigeria in the telecommunication industry is 4G. The present pact is on 5G that was what that was on the discussion table when the coronavirus pandemic came into being. And the pandemic started ravaging the world. This brought about the make shift solutions of social distancing, the shutting down of work places, religious houses and places where crowd effects are prevalent. The use of face masks and disinfectants among other preventive measures were introduced to combat the pandemic, in the face of the present public health crises, the 5G masts were launched in the United Kingdom. The health effects of this are more deadly than the coronavirus because the radiation would have a direct negative effect on an individual aside from the disturbances as a result of vibrations.

COVID 19 therefore becomes more of a diversionary problem that would not allow the people to agitate against the installation of 5G masts in several countries of the world.

The poser before us as human beings now is on why the commercial aspects of life is the priority of powerful nations of the world rather than the welfare of the people. Some schools of thought believe that the intention is to decimate the population of the world with people above 60 been at more risk of the negative effects of biological weapons of destruction.

Another poser is on the claim that several of the victims of the pandemic lost their lives while a sizable number survived the scourge. If it is not a political game against the massive population of the world, government’s claim of some people recovering from the coronavirus pandemic must be with the evidence of the drugs or vaccine used for it to be recommended generally, otherwise we must stop toying with lives of the people through unnecessary political gimmick. Nigeria’s case is a peculiar one, where before the public health crises we live a life of begging and insufficiency trailed by poverty of knowledge and ideas. This must have informed the Federal Ministry of Finance begging the American billionaire, Elon Musk for ventilators. When a need involves a corporate entity protocols of due process need to be followed. This action has brought to Nigeria another article of embarrassment which would have been avoided if normal process was followed. Even now, records of beastly political scores are been settled in the face of the scourge on the pages of newspapers. In this period of travail, one expects that we should close ranks and face the task of preventing the further spread of the coronavirus, while our professionals are expected to adopt the World Health Organization’s standards of combating the pandemic.

Nigeria is expected through all levels of government to use this crises period to address our areas of need cutting across educational institutions, the health sector and other areas that have direct application to the improvement of the the people’s welfare. It won’t be proper for us to commence another round of agitations to demand for the needful after we might have come out of this problem.

Students must not go back to school to discover that their teachers have commenced another round of strike. The general poor conditions of the nation needs to be surgically addressed in this period of searching for solutions we must not limit our efforts to the challenges of coronavirus and 5G mast installation radiation challenges. What should be the concern of every stakeholder is the prevention of the scourge and in avoiding blood money from what can adversely affect millions of Nigerians.

Above all, there is nothing bad in seeking for help but we must not continue to attack blindly without substance because some people are now of the opinion that anything from China is coronavirus infected to, avoid misleading ourselves let our professionals stand on quality and standards for any product we may generate or receive from abroad and let our transactions go beyond hypocritical social media effects. Due process followed would save us from any embarrassment.

The All Workers Convergence(AWC) has called on the Federal Government to make provision for  Financial  and Social welfare packages for Nigerians as the coronavirus ravages the land.

This call was made by the AWC through its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze.

‘’Th AWC calls on the Federal and state Governments to see how families and individuals can get financial support, free medical care and subsidies for utilities within this period, electricity and communication should ve provided Free of Charge for Nigerians. The Federal Government must also provide adequate protection for all those on essential services, who will daily meet up with the needs of the people. More importantly, since Government at all levels have ordered the closure of work places, they should ensure the early payment of salaries to workers and all necessary welfare packages including the further downward review of the pump prices of petroleum products. In conclusion the AWC is calling on all leaders to be more responsible to citizens in this trying period’’, Comrade Emelieze stated.