'It is our turn to steal’: corruption, abuse of office, and the culture of impunity that sustains it

Stella and President Jonathan in Isreal last week

BY Jaye GASKIA

In the past few days, as is often the case whenever a new can of worms involving one of the corrupt elites superintending over the grand looting of the treasury is opened, we begin to be fed with very nauseating, putrid, and unacceptable verbiage in defence of the thief and or abuser of our trust whose hands or fingers have just been caught deeped firmly into our collective teal!

And what do they say? What do you hear from the paid official and, patronage dependent clientele of unofficial spokespersons; as well as the hurriedly put together rented crowds of supporters rallying in defence of their ‘son’ or ‘daughter’ who is being persecuted by so-called political enemies or some other envious ethnic group!

Haba? What arrant nonsense? What a culturally convenient lie to tell to cover up criminality of the highest order, from the different summits of power?

We do ourselves loads of harm when we allow
ourselves to be told, and to believe such patent lies! Some even go so far as to ask, why is the particular thief being hounded and chased about? Why are other thieves not being hounded? Was this thief the first to steal? Were things not already bad before the time of this particular light fingered pirate? And on and on they go with such stomach turn and nauseating , but lame excuses to save someone who is after all just a common thief in high office, a common kidnapper, holding our collective development prospects captive by their looting spree!

Ette celebrates ‘freedom’ as Okpani Aaron is installed as the 5th ‘Onuoda’

By: Sam OGENYI

12^th September, 2013 marked an indelible historical event in the life of Ette community in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State in which the staff of office was presented to twenty-nine traditional rulers by his Excellency, Captain Idris Wada, the Executive Governor of Kogi State. Among them was Chief, Dr. Okpani Aaron Ako who was installed as ‘Onuoda V’ of Ette in ‘Adogo Palace’. Our correspondent who monitored the event in Lokoja said the coronation which held in the Township Stadium witnessed a large turnout of dignitaries and people from all walks of life. 

In a Grand Reception held in his honour by the community in Ette on 13^th September, 2013, Chief Aaron Ako stressed euphorically that “the price of freedom is freedom, but freedom is not free when freedom has a price to be paid for”. He emphasized that “just like colonialism and human rights which have many price tags: political freedom, social freedom, psychological freedom, emotional freedom and freedom of vicious circle of poverty; the greatest of all is the freedom to be free”.

Understanding the misunderstanding in God & Religion: Perspectives in Judaism, Christianity & Islam.

By Ahmed Ibrahim Khalil

Khalil

The interest of this topic is to examine God’s message against the contumacy of how people make a mockery of themselves in a shameless display of ignorance of what they claim to be, or represent; in the entire three religious divide. My consistent references to the Qur’an at the introductory part of the paper are because it is the latest edition of the divine books. Expectedly, there are mentions of the other divine books and religious rites of the earlier people. The second reason being that it accepts the others.

وَأَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَـبَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقاً لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ الْكِتَـبِ وَمُهَيْمِناً عَلَيْهِ فَاحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ عَمَّا جَآءَكَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ لِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مِنكُمْ شِرْعَةً وَمِنْهَـجاً وَلَوْ شَآءَ اللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَحِدَةً وَلَـكِن لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِى مَآ ءَاتَـكُم فَاسْتَبِقُوا الخَيْرَاتِ إِلَى الله مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعاً فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُو

Reign Of Terror In Agatu: The Untold Story.

By: Sunday Itodo, Samsenses O. Odoba, Linda Adaeze Eze

House destroyed with dynamite

In Agatu local government area of Benue State, where there have been clashes between the Fulani herdsmen and the villagers, scores of persons have been killed and many houses burnt, 2 Village Heads have been murdered while the paramount ruler of Agatu has been suspended . SUNDAY ITODO, SAMSENSES ONUMINYA ODOBA and ADAEZE LINDA EZE visited several villages in Agatu where they file in this report that hundreds of people have been displaced while many have fled for fear of recurring attacks. The report also revealed the identity behind the generic ‘fulani herdsmen’. Enjoy.

I saw policemen kill my dad – Six-year-old girl

Mariam and slain Father, Adeniyi

A six-year-old girl, Mariam Adeniji, is currently in shock after witnessing the killing of her father, Rafiu Adeniji, who was allegedly shot dead by policemen on Sunday.

The little girl, who spoke to PUNCH Metrowhile trying to fight back tears, said her father was killed after challenging policemen over an accident along the Mangoro end of Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

She said, “My daddy was driving home when someone hit his car. He went to see the policemen; they just brought out their guns and shot him. They then ran away.”

Festival of Robbery in Ugbokolo

By Sunday ITODO, Adaeze Linda EZE and Jossy OTSONU

The rising crime waves in Ugbokolo and environs are becoming alarming and unbearable; the inhabitants can no longer have their peace. Once it is 7 pm everyone seems to be living under the apprehension of whose compound would become the next point of call to the robbers.

The ancient town is gradually becoming a den of robbers as a result of the incessant robbery attacks and other social vices being perpetrated by those children of perdition. Their activities are in assortment – from highway robbery to rape; from snatching of cars, phones and other items to physical assaults.

In carrying out those activities, the ‘unknown gunmen’, as the Police would always refer to them, are

The Hunt For 'Miss Idoma' Season 4 Begins; Go Get Your Form Now!

"Double Wahala For Dead Body": The Remains of Olusegun Agagu, Wife, Son, Obasanjo and Falae's Sons Involved in Plane Crash

By Sunday Itodo

Information reaching our desk says that a Chartered Aircraft believed to be carrying the corpse of the Late Governor of Ondo State, Chief Olusegun Agagu and 20 others comprising of his relatives has crashed this morning at Mafoluku, about 3 minutes away from the local wing of the Muritala Mohammed International Aiport, Lagos, close to the section where JET-A1 plane fuel is stored.

A source said only one passenger survived the mishap while some said all the occupants were perished. Meanwhile, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Femi Oke-Osayintolu has confirmed to news men that 11 passengers died while four others have been hospitalized.  "There were 20 persons on board the plane at the time it crashed", Femi said.

DayBreak Newspaper exclusively gathered that Dr. Olusegun Agagu’s wife, his son and Chief Olu Falae's first son, Deji Falae have been confirmed dead in the crash.

DayBreak Newspaper Celebrates Nigeria @ 53!

Nigeria @ 53

The Management, Editorial board and the entire Staff of DayBreak Newspaper wish the President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the Vice President, Arch. Namadi Sambo, the Senate President, Senator David Mark, the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwa, other members of the National Assembly, All Honourable Ministers of the Federal Rupublic of Nigeria, All the executive Governors in the 36 States of the Federation, Speakers and Members of the Houses of Assembly, Members of States Executive Council, Chairmen, Leaders and council Members in all the 774 Local Government Councils in Nigeria, Captain of Industries, Distinguished Civil/Public Servants and Technocrats, The Leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress, Members of the Bar and Bench, The Leadership and Members of the NUJ, Market Women Association, Student and Youth Associations, other organised Trade and Labour Union, Political Parties and Other Interest Groups, Traditional and Religious Leaders as well as all citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria a happy 53rd Independence anniversary to our dear country, Nigeria.

May we continue to pray for peace and unity among the citizenry. That should be our watchword.

We also use the medium to appreciate all our readers for believing in us. Thank you and God bless Nigeria!

NIGERIA @ 53: Let Us Unite To Fight The Evil of Extremism; A Text of The President's Independence Broadcast, 1st October, 2013.

President Goodluck Jonathan

Today marks 53 years of our Independence as a nation. First and foremost, I would like to say congratulations to us all. Through thick and thin, we have built this country together. Through triumphs and trials, we have developed a Nigerian identity in our own way.

In truth, Nigeria is still a work in progress and we are challenged everyday to keep building in spite of the various obstacles that we face. Our strength has been in our diversity. If we look back over the years, we can say confidently that there is every reason to celebrate.