September 6, 2022

Matthew Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, has revealed that Nigeria is being governed by irresponsible leaders. 

According to Kukah, there is no problem between the two major religious groups in the country, Christians and Muslims. 

Kukah, who spoke on TVC News Breakfast show on Monday, said the problem of the country is with irresponsible leaders who use religion as a tool of oppression, rather than for liberation. 

“There is no problem between Christians and Muslims. There is a problem with irresponsible leaders who don’t want to govern properly, irresponsible religious leaders who have now seen religion as a tool of oppression, instead of a tool for liberation.

“This has been the thrust of my argument because these are two areas of study. With all sense of modesty, I have spent a good part of my life studying theology and studying religion and society,” he noted. 

The clergyman, while responding to questions on the roles of religion and ethnicity in the politics of Nigeria, explained that the country had failed at building governance that put the welfare of citizens above anything else. 

He said, “If you are watching a football match or any game at all, that’s why there are referees. If the referee does not do what needs to be done and allows supporters to jump onto the field, you can see for yourself that referees are punishing coaches who overreach themselves by stepping even if it is just one inch, into the field. They are punished; sometimes they are taken off the pitch.

“Now, this is really what a state is supposed to be because, without the state, it will be all of us against each other. And that is why the state is called a leviathan. You put so much power so that the state can protect us. The Nigerian state has proved itself to be incompetent, grossly malfunctioning, unwilling to commit to the welfare of citizens as the principal basis of governance.” 

The cleric further asserted that citizens must carry a ‘Nigeria land’ mentality, which presupposes the knowledge of shared interests, adding that the Nigerian system is only about politics, and not science. 

The septuagenarian spoke about the need to have a country where the rule of law is placed over religious or ethnic sentiments, noting that Nigeria operates a democracy and not a theocratic government.

Pastor Blessed, the husband of popular Nigerian gospel singer,  Mercy Chinwo gifted her an SUV as she celebrated her 31st today, September 5.

The excited singer took to Instagram to share photos of the ride she received from her husband.

She Wrote;

”I got the best birthday gift ever

Ya’all pls help me thank my husband @theofficialblessed for me tell him i sent you Thank you SWEET I love you’‘she wrote.

The Federal Government has urged students to apply for UK scholarships.

FG said students can now apply for the Chevening scholarships, an initiative of the government of the United Kingdom. 

The call comes amid the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities. 

This was contained in a letter signed by the Deputy Executive Secretary, Administration of the NUC, Chris Maiyaki, and addressed to all vice-chancellors. 

The commission said, “The National Universities Commission is in receipt of the letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ref. TSW/BRI/V/T and dated 12 August 2022, with the attached Call Letter from the British High Commission Abuja dated 3rd August 2022, on the above subject.

“The British High Commission has announced the call for applications for the Chevening Scholarships to study in the UK, which opened on 2nd August 2022 and closes on 1 November 2022.

“The Chevening Scholarships are fully funded scholarships to individuals from any background, who demonstrate the requisite skills and commitment necessary to bring about positive change.

“Consequently, I write to forward the Call Letter to Vice-Chancellors, for urgent attention and wide circulation in your various universities. Interested individuals are expected to submit their applications via www.chevening.org/apply.

“A detailed information on the eligibility criteria and scholarship specifications can be found on www.chevening.org/scholarships.As was the case in previous occasions, please, accept the renewed assurances of the Executive Secretary’s highest considerations.”

President Muhammadu Buhari has, on behalf of the citizens and Government of Nigeria, congratulated Liz Truss on her assumption of office as new British Prime Minister.

Buhari rejoiced with the former Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom, “whose antecedents in government, politics, and diplomacy will further shape and strengthen relations with Nigeria and other countries.”

The President affirms that the shared ties between Nigeria and Britain remain strong, positive, and mutually beneficial while working with Truss to deepen that relationship in the interest of both countries.

This was disclosed in a statement by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, on Tuesday.

Buhari, however, appreciated the warmth and friendliness of the immediate past Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, wishing him the best in his future endeavours.
Recall that Truss was confirmed as Britain’s new Conservative leader on Monday, taking over from Prime Minister Boris Johnson, one of Zelensky’s greatest backers.

A video has captured the shocking moment a bridge collapsed while being commissioned in South Africa.

In the video, the officials commissioning the project are seen standing on the bridge.

Immediately a female official cut the ribbon to declare the bridge open, the structure gave way and collapsed with the officials tumbling with it.

Onlookers quickly rush to the bridge to help save the officials.

Fortunately, no life was lost.

Watch The Video Below;
   View this post on Instagram         

  A post shared by Lindaikejiblog (@lindaikejiblogofficial)

Amid the ongoing industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, the Federal Government has called on qualified Nigerians to apply for the Chevening scholarships, an initiative of the government of the United Kingdom.

The National Universities Commission, NUC, disclosed this in a letter signed by the Deputy Executive Secretary, Administration of the NUC, Chris Maiyaki, and addressed to all vice-chancellors.

The Chevening Scholarships, awarded by the government of the United Kingdom, are fully funded scholarships to individuals who demonstrate the requisite skills and commitment to positive change.

The statement read: “The National Universities Commission is in receipt of the letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ref. TSW/BRI/V/T and dated 12 August 2022, with the attached Call Letter from the British High Commission Abuja, dated 3rd August 2022, on the above subject.

Consequently, I write to forward the Call Letter to Vice-Chancellors for urgent attention and wide circulation in your various universities”.

The statement advised interested individuals to submit their applications via www.chevening.org/apply.

File photo 

The federal government has been faulted over its decision to stop work on the ongoing construction of the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Eastern Rail Line due to insecurity and incessant vandalism. 

Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo reacting, accused the Federal Government of demonstrating utter disdain and hatred towards the people of the South-East. 

This was contained in a statement on Tuesday by the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike. 

He spoke in reaction to the announcement by Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, Engr. Mu’azu Sambo that the Federal Government has been left with no choice but to halt the ongoing.  

The Minister, while inspecting the work done so far, disclosed that the contractor in charge of the project, China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCEC) had often complained of incessant attacks on its workers around the Abia State axis of the rail corridor. 

Okwu said, “even a child knows that the Minister was economical with the truth with his claims that the project was stopped owing to insecurity, so we can’t be deceived with such hogwash.

“We are all aware of the level of insecurity in the North-East, but it did not stop the Federal Government from doing a rail project to the Niger Republic, another country. But once the South-East is involved, they would always find reason to justify their hatred and disdain for Ndigbo.

“This is seven years of the Buhari administration, yet no rail line project has been done in the South-East, whereas other zones have been engaging train services for quite a long time. It is another sad commentary of how Ndigbo have been relegated by the current administration.”

He urged the Federal Government to stop playing politics with everything, stressing that, “it is more saddening considering that the money being used for these projects is borrowed and the people of the South-East are part of those that are bearing the repayment burden.

“This is why we reject in its entirety the Minister’s assertion and demand that work should immediately commence on that rail line.”