Pope Francis against the death penalty: criminals too have the right to life

Christians must work to abolish the death penalty and improve prison conditions, Pope Francis said on Sunday.

After praying the Angelus on Sunday in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis called on all Christians and people of good will to work “not only for the abolition of the death penalty” but also to improve the conditions in prison. These efforts would respect the human dignity of prisoners, he said.

He appealed to the consciences of government leaders to join “the international consensus for the abolition of the death penalty.” He asked Catholic leaders not to hold executions during the Year of Mercy. This would be as a “courageous and exemplary act,” he said Feb. 21.
Rome will host an international convention for those working to abolish the death penalty on Feb. 22. The event is being promoted by the Sant’Egidio Community.

Pope Francis said he hoped that the gathering can strengthen efforts to abolish capital punishment.
“The commandment ‘Thou shall not kill’ has absolute value and concerns both the innocent and the guilty,” he said. Even criminals “maintain the inviolable right to life, the gift of God.”

He said the penal system must always be open to the hope of reintegrating criminals into society.
The Pope condemned the death penalty on Sept. 24, 2015 during his visit to the United States

“The Golden Rule also reminds us of our responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development,” he told a joint meeting of Congress.

Before the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Francis discussed the Gospel reading and the Transfiguration of Jesus. He connected this to his recent trip to Mexico.

The Pope said his apostolic visit to Mexico was “an experience of transfiguration.” He added: “the Lord has shown us the light of his glory through the body of the Church, the body of his holy people who live in that land.”

The Pope spoke with many people during the Feb. 12-18 visit, including families, workers and prisoners.
He said these people gave “a testimony of a clear and strong faith, the testimony of a lived faith, of a faith that transfigures life.”

Removal of 12 VCs is illegal – ASUU

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Tuesday, February 23, in Abuja condemned the recent removal of 12 vice-chancellors of federal universities by the federal government describing it a violation of the law, NAN reports.
Nasir Isa, the ASUU president, stated this while briefing newsmen on the “state of the nation”.

The federal government had on Friday, February 12, announced the removal of the vice-chancellors and appointment of their replacements.
Isa said ASUU National Executive Council received the news with a lot of concern due to its implication for due process, university autonomy and the growth and development of universities.

He said: “Going by the provisions of the Nigerian University Miscellaneous (Amendment) Act 2003, only the Governing Councils are bestowed with the powers of appointing and removing vice-chancellors.

“The latest action in these universities has justified our consistent demand for proper governance structure and process in Nigerian university system.”

The ASUU president on the appointment of a vice-chancellor, said the council would only select the vice-chancellor and inform the visitor.

He said as stated in the University Amendment Act of 2003, 4 (b), the council shall select and appoint as vice-chancellor, one candidate from among three candidates recommended to it and thereby inform the visitor.

Isa said the vice-chancellor could only be removed from office by the governing council on grounds of conduct or inability to discharge the function of the office.

“We, therefore, call on the federal government to toe the path of legality and due process by gazetting the law appointing the councils,” he said.
He said the government should mandate “the councils to immediately commence the process of appointing new vice-chancellors for the affected universities.”

However, Isa noted the removal of the vice-chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria was in conformity with the Amendment Act of 2003. He said the act provides five years non-renewable tenure for a vice-chancellor in the Nigerian university system.

In a related development, ASUU has called on the federal government to exempt federal universities from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy. Dr. Nasir Isa, the president of ASUU, made the call at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

Isa said the TSA has made it difficult for the universities to fulfill their functions properly, especially in research fields.

MUST READ: “I had a divine dream last night and Jesus has sent me with this message to you” – Charly Boy

Veteran musician Charly Boy is out with a new article.
According to him, he had an encounter with Jesus in a dream last night and he has a message to share.
Read below.

Fellow Nigerians,

Jesus Is Real. Be patient and read Biko.

I had a divine dream last night, and Jesus has sent me with this message to you.

It was clear to see that our Lord and Saviour is deeply worried about His Nigerian Creation.
He had instructed me to tell you all, that Nigerians should NOT substitute prayers for hard work. The whole of chapter 2 of the Book of James corroborates this, especially verses 18, 20 and 26. It says faith (prayers, night vigils etc) without (hard) work is dead. No be me talk am o, na the same Bible wey una dey carry.

It was clear in the vision I had last night that Jesus is not happy with Nigerians. Most Nigerians now live in the church 24/7 fromMonday to Monday, wives have abandoned their husbands for night vigils, everyone is praying for miracles and miracles and more miracles. It’s either this or for God to strike their enemies dead and all those who steal their luck.

Jesus is so very upset with Nigerians’ prayer requests and shopping list, always calling His Name for the most trivial matters, things that would come to them naturally without sweat were they not a lazy and an unthinking bunch.
The one that really gets to Him, as He told me, is when some evil men and women parade themselves as God’s messengers deceive their congregation for their own personal aggrandisement, promising heaven, money, husbands, children and wives. Titus chapter 1:10 talks about this.

Fellow Nigerians, Jesus wants His good name back! Naijas have so bastardized the name. He wants Naijas to put the creative and entrepreneurial mind He gave them to work and stop chasing quick fixes. He wants an upgrading of our work ethic.

He wants to see genuine love for our neighbour’s, not lip or eye service kinda love.

He had asked me to warn those in leadership to be mindful of where they are stirring the country to or face His wrath. He said this present administration has just a few good people in it but they must stand firm before they become polluted. Jesus said I should tell them that He’s giving them till the end of this year to make a meaningful impact otherwise….

Incase you’re wondering (like am still dazed myself) why its me Jesus should be talking to when we have the likes of Adeboyes, T,B Joshua, Pastor Kris Okotie, etc. Well, I was surprised too, and as if He read off my bewildered thoughts of “Why Me” on my face, He just gave me this hard look and asked me to go to work at once, calling my attention to Matthew 7:21-23. Go and read it to see what it says.

As a matter of fact, at some point my thought was…does He want me to start a church, why is He entrusting this duty to me, abi Him want me to begin preach? Of course it’s Jesus now; so He knew what I was thinking and replied my inner thought saying as far as He’s concerned, I already have a church, a mega congregation of youth and families that I touch with my messages, that in case I don’t know, I am already preaching and this is why He came to me because He reckons that I have the platform He can use to get the word to the people.

Who then am I not to run the errand of Jesus? So I got up, and began to put pen to paper.
I’m not sure I have successfully communicated the disgust and disdain Jesus expressed when He spoke to me last night but am only hoping that this my gentle appeal to you all goes into the very fibre of your beings like a two-edged sword, and cause a true change of heart and attitude in all and sundry.

Jesus try o, Him still dey send message, if na me CharlyBoy, na hot koboko go land some people kini.
Anyway sha, give Jesus a wiper.

Enugu State University Matriculation Date – 2015/16

This is to inform the general public that the 35th Matriculation Ceremony Of Enugu State University And Technology(ESUT) Comes Up On February 26th, 2016 at ESUT Convocation Arena Agbami.

Families, Friends And Well Wishers Are All Invited.

Thanks

Join Director X, Sesan & Moe Musa at the First Ever Music Video Director’s Seminar

MKN , a media production company specializing in music videos, commercials and promos has announced the first ever Music Video Director’s seminar in Lagos next month.

The MKN Seminar, which is the first of its kind, is expected to hold a capacity crowd of 1,000 people and they have announced top directors
Director X who has directed music videos for Rihanna, Drake, Sean Paul and Jay Z to name a few as well as Director Sesan who has worked with artist including Wizkid, Wande Coal, Davido and Mr. Moe Musa whose roster includes Tiwa Savage, Patoranking and Fuse ODG .

The Conference which has been tagged “Inside the Mind of a Successful Video Director” will take place at The Summit on NERDC Road in Ikeja on March 12th, 2016.

Young and aspiring video directors will get an opportunity to gain firsthand experience from some of the best directors in the global entertainment industry. Students can also take advantage of this once in a life time opportunity with a limited number of low-priced student tickets available on a first come first served basis.

Date : Saturday, March 12, 2016
Time : 11 AM
Venue : The Summit, NERDC Road, Ikeja, Lagos
Ticket : Regular (Early Birds) – N12,000 | Late Registration – N15,000 | At the Door – N20,000 | VIP – N30,000
VIP guests will also be able to attend the After Party happening later that night and mingle with Director X, Sesan and Mr Moe Musa.

Director X most recently worked on Rihanna’s chart-topping “Work” featuring Drake.

For more information visit www.mknseminar.com

Photos: Chimamanda Adichie speaks at a photojournalism exhibit on women empowerment in Paris

Nigerian writer, Chimamamanda Ngozi Adichie is among the special speakers at the ongoing conference and photojournalism exhihit on women's empowerment as the future of Africa at the Museum of the Quai Branly in Paris.

The event hosted by Le Monde Afrique in partnership with the World Bankon strives to raise public awareness on gender inequality and draw attention to successful initiatives that have been proven to work to close gender gaps.

The event includes a photo journalism exhibit by award-winning photographer Stephan Gladieu, interviews, debates, short films and a musical performance – all focusing on the ever important topic of the role of women in the development of Africa.

Other Special speakers include Makhtar Diop, Leymah Gbowee, Erik Orsenna and Magatte Wade as well as many others.

Ali-Modu Sheriff to oversee PDP affairs for the next three months

The leadership of PDP has approved a three months tenure for the newly appointed Chairman of the party, Ali Modu Sheriff. The Nation reports that the decision was taken by an enlarged meeting of the PDP Governors’ Forum, the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), the National Assembly Caucus, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and state caucuses, which held at the Ondo state governors lodge in Abuja today February 23rd.

Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, the Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, said Sheriff was asked to lead the party for the next three months in which he will make preperations for the party's National Convention where new leaders of its National Working Committee will be elected.

FG files 11 count charge against Moro, three others

The Federal Government today filed an 11 count charge against former Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, and three others before the Federal High Court, Abuja. The charges marked FHC/ABJ/CR/42/2016, were filed by the EFCC on behalf of the Federal government.

The charges include money laundering, obtaining money under false pretext from prospective job applicants during the last Immigration recruitment exercise.
Those joined in the suit as defendants are the ministry’s ex-Permanent Secretary, Anastasia M. Daniel-Nwaobia, F. A. Aleyebami and Drexel Global Technology Limited.

Buhari appoints new executive secretary and board for NEITI

Buhari has approved the appointment of Waziri Adio as the executive secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI)

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Waziri Adio as the executive secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and a new National Stakeholders Working Group (NSWG) also known as Governing Board for NEITI.

The appointment was announced on Tuesday, February, 23, in a statement by the director of press in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Bolaji Adebiyi, The Cable reports.

According to The Nation, the new governing board includes the Minister of Solid Minerals Development – Chairman, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance – Member, Group Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) – Member.

Others on the board are President, Miners Association of Nigeria, representative of the Civil Society Organizations, president, Nigeria Mining and Geosciences Society, President, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG), Hannatu Musa Musawa (Journalist), representative, North-West Geo-Political zone.

Lawan Gana Lantaiwa (Consultant), Representative, North-East Geo-Political Zone, Bernard B. A. Ver (Accountant), representative, North-Central Geo-Political Zone, Mrs. Anne Adaeze Onyekwena (Representative, South-East Geo-Political Zone), Emmanuel Chiejina (Lawyer), Representative, South-South Geo-Political Zone, Gbenga Onayiga (Journalist), Representative, South-West Geo-Political Zone, are also members of the board.

Adio was a communication consultant and publisher of Metrolope Magazine until his appointment.

He held various editorial positions in Thisday Newspaper between 1995 and 2003, and was the special adviser, Research and Strategy, office of the Senate President, from August 2003 to October 2004.

He was appointed Communication Specialist by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2004, a position he held until 2007 when he left to serve as Director of Communications, NEITI from May 2007 to June 2008.

He also holds an MSc in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Massachusetts, US, 2009.

JAMB Gives Candidates 48 hours to Complete Registration

Matriculation Board (JAMB) has given candidates who could not upload and complete their registration process as at February 5, could do so within 48 hours starting from 12 midnight of Tuesday, February, 2016.

The board, in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by its Head of Media, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, said that its website would be open to candidates from 12:00am on Tuesday to 12:00am on Thursday for candidates to complete and upload all late registration.

JAMB said the new development does not cover fresh candidates who are yet to begin the registration process.

The statement said all arrangements have been made for the commencement of the 2016 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME).

Candidates are also urged to print their examination slips for the schedules of their date, venue and time allotted to them and other necessary information, the statement said.

Nollywood actor Festus Aguebor is dead

Nollywood has been thrown into another deep state of mourning following the demise of a veteran Nollywood actor, Festus Aguebor known for his white beards.

Ace producer, Fidelis Duker announced on Facebook the passing away of the actor who was popular for his roles in movies such as ‘The King and I’, ‘Family Contract’, ‘Rituals’ and ‘A Kiss from a Rose’.

The former Director Guild of Nigeria (DGN) president wrote: “Adieu talented and veteran Actor Fesyud Aguebor …..remember your brilliant delivery of Chief Odeku in my 2002 movie, Family Contract starring Desmond Elliot, Chioma Akpotha, Steph-Nora Okere, Afolabi Bolasodun Makinde, Grace Evaly, amongst others …. May your soul rest in peace. Amen(sic).”

Duker however did not disclose the time or cause of death.
He was also popular for his role as the grandpa in family series, Household.
May his soul rest in peace.

NCC urges reasonable use of the internet

The Nigerian communications Commission (NCC) has warned Nigerians that the cyberspace is not aan venue to promote hatred as there are laws guiding against such.

This was made known by Mr Tony Ojobo, the director of public affairs of the commission on Monday, February 22 during a discussion on what the new media has to do with cybercrime act.

The programme which was part of the week-long Social Media Week was geared towards examining the issue of cybercrime and how it affects the new media.

Ojobo who was part of the discussant explained that a lot of laws were available which internet users have failed to familiarize themselves with. He noted that people misuse the cyberspace by making xenophobic, comments, hate speech which are contrary to what is allowed.

He cited an example that if a person receives contents that contained child pornography and shares with other persons using the internet; the person is likely to go to prison even though he did not produce the material.

Speaking with naij.com, The NCC public affairs director encouraged the use of the cyberspace with sense.

“Developed countries don’t want regulation of the internet but it is necessary in developing countries to prevent cyber-crimes. Nigerians are not reading the law which is why media users, bloggers and journalist are sometimes sent to prison when they don’t get their facts right.”

Ojobo explained that the laws were not there to deny Nigerians their freedom of expression but to prevent people from inciting hatred.