President Muhammadu Buhari, the Sultan of
Sokoto, Abubakar Saad; and Boko Haram leader,
Abubakar Shekau, have again been listed among
the most powerful Muslims in the world.
This is contained in a Muslim publication, The
Muslim 500 in its 2018 edition.
The publication noted that there were
approximately 1.84 billion Muslims in the world,
making up 24.38 per cent of the world’s
population.
Last year, the trio also made the list of most
influential Muslims in the world.
President Buhari today commiserated with the
Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, over
the passing away of his mother, Saratu
Aregbesola, which happened on August 1st.
In a telephone conversation today, President
Buhari expressed sympathy with the governor,
describing his mother “as a great woman who
was the pillar of discipline to her children.’’
According to President Buhari, the matriarch of
the Aregbesola family deserved great honor for
“the sacrifices she made to bring up her
children on the path of sound moral character
and commitment to good reputation."
He said the governor's mother contributed
immeasurably to the building of a respectable
pedigree for her family by raising disciplined
and humble children like Governor Aregbesola
He prayed that Allah would bless her soul and
reward all her good deeds with paradise, and
also comfort the family she left behind.
Former Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on New Media, Reno Omokri, says President Muhammadu Buhari has turned Nigeria into a laughing stock.
Omokri, a fierce critic of the Buhari’s administration, made the remark while reacting to a question posed by Cable News Network, CNN – “The head of State of which country has not set foot in his home land in the past two months?”
Nigeria was listed among as option C, while Saudi Arabia, Cuba and Syria were on the list.
Omokri, who took to his twitter handle, wrote: “Look at how President Muhammadu Buhari has turned Nigeria into the laughing stock of the world on @CNN ! Look at the challenge question!”
The former Presidential aide also described Buhari as a hypocrite.
“If you don’t believe PMB is a hypocrite, please look at these headlines. Nigeria has learnt the hard way that change is not always progress!,” he added.
The United States television medium, Cable News Network, CNN, has mocked Nigeria in its latest edition of “The Global Public Square (GPS)”, a foreign affairs show anchored on CNN by Fareed Zakaria.
In an apparent mockery of Nigeria and her President Muhammadu Buhari, CNN, on its programme displayed at 4:59pm local time on Sunday said, “The head of state from which country has not set foot in his homeland in over two months?”
It went ahead to tick an option with the name Nigeria as the correct answer. The options were given as Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Nigeria and Syria.
A screenshot of the mockery tweeted by Chidi Odinkalu, Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is given below.
What do you say Nigerians? Type your comments below please.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari has been in London since May 7 on a medical follow-up. Some political delegations including the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo have been visiting President Buhari in London and have told Nigerians that the president is doing just fine and will soon return to continue his presidential duties.
CNN mocks Nigeria over Buhari’s continued absence in country
On CNN, @FareedZakaria makes #Nigeria a #QuizAndTrivia issue… a measure of growing national stature!! pic.twitter.com/vttPQ888YO
— Chidi Odinkalu (@ChidiOdinkalu) 30 July 2017
President Muhammadu Buhari today in London received Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, Governor David Nweze Umahi of Ebonyi state, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State and Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State during a courtesy visit delegation of Nigeria’s Governor’s Forum led by its Chairman Governor Abdulaziz Yari in London today, 26th July 2017. More photos below…
The Presidency has explained why Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose, is not part of the state governors that would be visiting President Buhari in the UK later today. Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity Shehu Garba, Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina and Special Adviser to acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, had a joint press conference with state house correspondents in the villa in Abuja yesterday where they spoke on the visit. Adesina was asked why the Ekiti state governor who is very critical of President Buhari was not allowed to be part of the delegation to see President Buhari. Adesina in his reply said the presidency had no hand in the selection of the delegates to London.
“The selection was by the governors forum and you will see that the delegation is headed by governor Yari who is chairman of that forum. So that question should go to the forum” he said
The governors would be meeting with President Buhari by 3pm today.
According to new statement signed by Femi Adeshina, Special Adviser to the President
on Media and Publicity, President Muhammadu Buhari has written to thank the President of Guinea, Alpha Conde, for the nationwide prayers held last week by Guineans for his recovery and good health.
In a letter dated July 24, 2017, President Buhari, who had earlier made a phone call to Conde, who is the current Chairman of the Assemblies of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, stated: "I thank you for your kind and thoughtful action in organizing nationwide prayers for my good health. It is a gesture that I will forever cherish and treasure. Your Excellency will be pleased to hear that I am making good progress, and as soon as doctors advise, I shall return to my duties and continue serving the Nigerian people who elected me and are daily praying for my recovery."
In an earlier letter, President Buhari had also accepted his nomination as leader of the "2018 AU Theme on the Fight Against Corruption", which came from African leaders at the 29th Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on July 4, 2017.
"While thanking you for the kind words and for the nomination," the President wrote to Conde, "I wish to express my readiness to accept this new important role and to reiterate my commitment to contribute towards our collective efforts to strengthen good governance and development on the continent. I, therefore, look forward to working closely with you in the realization of this objective."
A pressure group, Concerned Nigerians, on Monday said it was
prepared to carry out its earlier threat to embark on a nationwide protest and occupy the National Assembly as from August 7, if President Muhammadu Buhari failed to resume work as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The organisation said it had started mobilising Nigerians at home and abroad to ensure the realisation of its demand for information on the health status of the President.
CN’s protest threat is contained in a statement by its convener, Deji Adeyanju, and Secretary, John Danfulani.
The statement read, “The media was agog with the picture of President Muhammadu Buhari with leaders of his political party and some selected state governors. You will recall that President Muhammadu Buhari left the country since May 7 and has remained in London, United Kingdom, attending to an undisclosed ailment at the expense of taxpayers’ money.
“It will be 90 days on August 6 since the President left Nigeria. In line with our earlier ultimatum given to the president to return to the country and resume work on or before the 90th day of his departure from the country on medical tourism to the United Kingdom, we have commenced the process of mobilising Nigerians to ensure we demand accountability on the health status of the President and activate Section 144 to declare him incapacitated and declare his seat vacant.”
The Punch had reported the threat by the CN to commence a daily sit-out at the National Assembly on the 90th day of President Muhammadu Buhari’s absence from the country last week.
The Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha has reacted to statement credited to former aviation minister, Femi Fani Kayode concerning the images showing All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftains in Abuja House, London with President Muhammadu Buhari.
Fani-Kayode had described the images as fake and added that Okorocha, who conveyed the message, was a liar.
In his reaction to the former minister’s claim, Okorocha described him as a spoilt child.
The governor responded through his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, saying, “The guy (Fani-Kayode) is a spoilt child, one of those whose parents over pampered they hardly talk like human beings. Apart from somebody who went into government, he is not known for doing business.
“I wonder if he has ever worked and all of a sudden he had political appointment.
“He has nothing else to brandish apart from the father’s name. Remove his father’s name; I don’t think he is a human being.
“Rochas grew from the scratch. By the grace of God and hard work, he is where he is today. But that one apart from coming to politics what else does he have to brandish?”
Some PDP governors would be part of the six governors that would pay President Buhari a visit at the Abuja house in London later today. According to reports, Governors Emmanuel Udom, Dave Umahi of Ebonyi and Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state, would be part of six- governors that would be visiting President Buhari today. Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara state is also on the delegation. The visit according to presidential sources is being facilitated by the National Security Adviser, Babagana Munguno.
The governors would depart for London from the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja later today and would return to Nigeria on Wednesday, July 26th.
This visit comes after some APC governors and party chieftains met with President Buhari on Sunday July 23rd.
An article written by Reuben Abati. Please keep reading...
? What?s gwan inna wa cwantry? ?
?What language is that??
?English of course.?
?Sounds like Creole to me. Why don?t you just talk straight??
?Nobody talks straight in this country anymore.?
?I still talk straight. I can?t start twisting my tongue because some people have lost it.?
?Okay, I was asking what is going on in our country??
?Is that a direct question or a sly comment??
?Just answer the question?
?What I know is that we are now truly, a country of hyenas, jackals and small animals. A big animal kingdom, but when the First Lady Aisha Buhari drew attention to this, recently, we all started screaming that she was rather condescending but right now, with what I am seeing and hearing, I believe she will be vindicated in the long run.?
?I see.?
?We, the people are obviously the small animals. In an animal kingdom, the bigger animals do what they like with the smaller ones, and they dare not complain.?
?But you still haven?t answered my question?
?My friend, why must I always be the one to tell you what is going on in this country? When you want to be mischievous, that is when you ask funny questions. Are we not in this country together? Don?t you listen to the news like everyone else? So, why should I become your newspaper and internet combined. Stop it. But for just this last time, I will use my church mind to tell you that the latest development is photography as a tool of governance. Some APC Governors and party leaders just visited President Muhammadu Buhari in London. They had lunch with him and took photographs.?
?I know about that. I actually saw the photos too. But the whole thing doesn?t look straight to me.?
?It doesn?t look crooked to me either. People have been complaining that the President of Nigeria is missing in action and they need to know that he is still alive. So, they provide a photograph of him having lunch with his party members and loyalists. How is that a problem for you? We should be glad that the President is getting well.?
?Who took the photograph??
?We are in a digital age. Anybody at all could have taken the photograph??
?You can?t just ask anybody to take the President?s photograph. It is either you have a media crew on ground, who will take both still and motion pictures, that is photos and videos, or you invite the media, both local and foreign to capture the scene.?
?Who says that is the only way to cover a Presidential occasion??
?Everything a President does is supposed to be properly documented.?
?What is your problem? They showed us the President having lunch with his guests. And there was another photograph taken by the guests.?
?Where are the establishment shots, and the video, and the audio??
?Those people didn?t go there to establish anything. They went to do eye-service!?
?You don?t get it. Rather than just show the President and his guests at the dining table, they should have shown us the President welcoming his guests, chatting with them, and NTA should have shown us an actual video as part of the nine o?clock Network News. And what kind of lunch was that? It looked like they just placed a bunch of banana in front of the President and some fruits in front of the guests. I checked the table carefully; every drink there is like anything from a Nigerian fridge. And not even a small stain of oil on the table.?
?You were looking for stains on the table as proof that the lunch actually took place? Did that look like a bukateria to you? Hen? Obviously, the only thing you are used to is gbegiri and amala kind of lunch. When big men eat, they don?t litter and stain their clothes and the table the way small animals like you do. And their mouths don?t drop oil. If that happens, there would be stewards to clean things up.?
?You are assuming some big men have table manners. You don?t know anything. They should show us the video then, and more useful photographs. And why didn?t the party leaders travel with the President?s media team and the Minister of Information? All these dem say, dem say, Okorocha told me. All of a sudden Okorocha has become the Minister of Information. You think if they asked Alhaji Lai Mohammed to also come and eat in London, he will say he is busy??
?I see your problem is that some people had lunch with the President.?
?Someone in fact told me that the picture looks very familiar.?
?You may need to prove that.?
?Okay, Mrs Buhari also went to London to visit her husband. Where are the photographs of her own visit? Why didn?t they show a picture of her sitting with the President??
?You are a foolish man. You want photos of the President and his wife, sitting together in za ozza room? Candidly, tell me you are asking for photographs from the Presidential ozza room? You are sick. No President takes pictures in that other room.?
?Donald Trump will gladly take a picture anywhere. You don?t get my point?
?I get your point. You are just another wailing wailer, a merchant of lies and a mischief-maker. We know your type.?
?I am only trying to help. When you set out to tackle disinformation, you look out for pitfalls that can create doubt and you deliver a sucker-punch to shut people up. You don?t address an issue by creating more doubts. I am talking strategy. All of this would also have been more convincing if it was the picture of Acting President Osinbajo having dinner or breakfast with the President in London that they showed us.?
?The acting President didn?t go to London to eat. He went for serious business to consult with his boss. And what if he was fasting at the time??
?He could have posed for a photo-op with his boss.?
?He was in a hurry. He rushed to London and rushed out to attend Council meeting on a Wednesday.?
?In a hurry to take a photograph to allay the anxiety of Nigerians??
?People like you would still have said the photograph looked familiar.?
?Nigerians are not convinced. They would probably have given Mrs. Buhari and the Acting President the benefit of the doubt but they won?t believe what an APC Governor says. Okorocha ke??.
?Oh ye descendants of Shimei!?
?Shimei? Who is Shimei??
?You are a Christian and you have never heard of Shimei??
?No?
?Okay, just continue you hear. Just make sure you don?t lose your head in the process. Just because we are in a democracy, you think you can be questioning everything. Oh ye descendants of Shimei in Nigeria, beware?beware!?
?I have an idea.?
?Yes??
?See, I think the government can still score a master-stroke, if they arrange for Femi Fani-Kayode and Governor Ayo Fayose to also go to London and have lunch with the President. People are likely to believe the two of them. Fayose will then use his own mouth to inform Nigerians that he made a mistake when he said the President was on life-support and Fani-Kayode will recant and both of them will apologize.?
?Clap for yourself. I see you truly consider yourself a political strategist. So if you are working for President Buhari you will actually invite those two Yorubas to lunch with the President while he is on a medical vacation that is making everyone anxious.?
?Why not? The President is the President of everybody. He is the President of all Nigerians not 95%. And if you are concerned about those two being Yoruba, we can have a Federal character representation. They can invite Nnamdi Kanu from the East and Alhaji Balarabe Musa from the North. Lunch in London with Baba, an organized event covered by the media.?
?Nnamdi Kanu! Did you say Nnamdi Kanu? Are you on some kind of medication??
?If the objective is to prove to Nigerians that the President is not bed-ridden, he should have lunch with people Nigerians are likely to believe.?
?So if Fani-Kayode, Fayose and Nnamdi Kanu return from London and they decide to say something else, who will bear the risk? Or they turn down the invitation on the grounds that it is a calculated attempt by the Nigerian state to blackmail and poison them, who will defend the Nigerian state??
?You are giving the dog a bad name?
?Then it means you know nothing about politics.?
?I am not joking. I can even add one more person to the list, how about the Catholic priest, Ejike Mbaka who claims he has been hearing cries falling like rains in Aso Rock??
?If Fr. Mbaka saw visions of cries and rains, he probably saw the floods that are now ravaging the country from South to North. But keep adding people. You can even add Hushpuppi, Maheeda and Bobrisky. But I bet you will also be the first to complain that they are using Nigerian or-yer-l money to have lunch in London.?
?In that case, let them just do a London edition of the Presidential Media Chat.?
?Nobody is going to do any media chat. Nigerians must learn to trust their government for once. When you go into government, people treat you anyhow.?
?It is our government. We have the right to ask questions. You can?t keep rejecting everything that I suggest. Okay, let the Nigerian High Commission in London organize a Town Hall meeting between President Buhari and Nigerians in the UK. That is a cost-effective way of correcting impressions. Nigerians want to be sure that their President is well, alive and fit. This thing is not rocket science and I trust our brothers and sisters in diaspora to report the truth. ?
?You want to sabotage the President. You want him to interact with PDP members in diaspora.?
?I never mentioned PDP. There are APC members in the UK too and there are persons who have no political affiliation. Anyway, when is Baba coming back??
?When his doctors say so or according to Governor Okorocha, in two weeks? time.?
?But the Constitution is very clear. It says??
?Forget about the Constitution. This is national politics, stability and security. We don?t care what the Constitution says. Be careful, when Baba returns Insha Allah, something will definitely be done about all you hyenas, jackals and small, small animals disturbing this government. Insha Allah.?
?Stop bragging. There should be room in this your kingdom for all animals please. Nobody should intimidate anybody. That is why I am happy that the House of Representatives is now considering the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Bill. They have reduced the minimum age for eligibility for the office of President to 35.?
?Thirty-five. I don?t have a problem with that.?
?You shouldn?t. The only problem is that you are a fascist. But there should be other bills: a Too-Old-To-Run bill that will prevent Aso Rock from being turned into an Old People?s Home and a bill that says the minimum qualification for anybody seeking any office, from councilor to President should be a university degree or its equivalent.?
?What has a university degree got to do with politics and governance??
?Everything?
?Some of the worst people in this country are university graduates. So??
?You just keep disagreeing with everything. Okay, are you aware that some people are now saying Nigeria is now definitely on auto-pilot??
?Nigeria is not on auto-pilot. Professor Osinbajo is in charge and all of you wishing us evil, just know that there will be serious consequences.?
?What consequences? Threats. Threats. Threats. Government cannot continue to threaten the people. It is just so sad that civil society and the Nigerian media have been badly compromised. Where are the intellectuals of old, the professional activists, the pro-democracy coalition; they are all so quiet. I believe they are quiet out of shame and regret.?
?Nobody is ashamed. That is strategy. I am surprised you can?t even identify strategy. You think this government will wait and fold its arms and allow all of you to start sounding like paid enemies??
?You and your people should just realize that this is a democracy, and that someday, tomorrow will come and the people will remember.?
?Hey, sorry hen, wailing wailer. I see the thing is paining you. For your information, Baba will win again in 2019.?
A Nigerian state governor says he expects
President Muhammadu Buhari to return
home from the UK within the next two
weeks.
Governor Rochas Okorocha was a member
of a delegation who met the president in
London on Sunday.
Mr Buhari has been receiving treatment in
the UK for an unspecified illness.
His absence has led to some anxiety in
Nigeria, with some speculating that he
might have died. Others have worried he
may not be able to return to duty.
The presidency later released images of Mr
Buhari, 74, at the meeting with governors
from his party. It is the first time he has
been pictured in London since leaving
Nigeria almost 80 days ago.
‘High spirits’
The Imo state governor told the BBC’s
Newshour programme on Monday: “I met
a very hardy man in high spirits, and he’s
doing quite well. He has not lost his sense
of humour, for which is he known for.
“So he is doing quite well and we are very
pleased to see him and I think that has
gone a long way to reassure Nigerians
about the health of their president.”
Mr Okorocha earlier said Mr Buhari had
laughed off rumours concerning his health
when asked about them.
“President Buhari was completely
unperturbed by the cocktail of lies. He,
instead, sent his best wishes to
Nigerians.”
Mr Buhari would be returning as soon as
doctors gave him the green light, Mr
Okorocha said.
The president left Nigeria on 7 May – his
second trip to the UK for treatment this
year.
In his absence, he has given Vice-
President Yemi Osinbajo full powers to act
as head of state.
Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has revealed what transpired during an emergency meeting President Muhammadu Buhari had with leaders and Governors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday night.
The meeting took place in the Abuja House in London.
Buhari’s Special Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, quoted Okorocha as saying: “We spent more than an hour with PMB and it was very clear from the discussions that he followed developments at home very closely.”
Recall that in a statement sent to DAILY POST by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Okorocha had remarked: “By our visit to London, the merchants of lies have been put out of business and Nigerians will not buy the garbage they’ve been selling.
“All those who look up to fake news can find better use for their time.”
Governors Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa; Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna; Yahaya Bello of Kogi; and APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun were also in the delegation.
Kaduna state Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Minister of
Transport Rotimi Amaechi and the chairman of the
All Progressives Congress (APC) John Oyegun, on
Sunday held an emergency meeting with
President Muhammadu Buhari.
The meeting was held in London on Sunday.
The Governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, was
also present.
At a thanksgiving service in Port Harcourt on
Sunday, the managaing director of Niger Delta
Development Commission (NDDC), Nsima Ekere,
said the APC chieftains held an emergency
meeting with the president in London.
“Today I am overjoyed but believe me just last
night I doubted I would be happy today because
my very good friends called me thrice in a row,
Rotimi Amaechi, Rochas Okorocha and the
Chairman of my great party, John Oyegun, to
reveal to me they had to make an emergency
meeting in London,” TOSTV quoted Ekere to have
said.
The meeting was also confirmed by Buhari’s
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi
Adesina.
A statement sent to a source reads: “In a
telephone conversation following the meeting of
All Progressives Congress (APC) governors and
leaders with President Muhammadu Buhari in
London Sunday, Governor Rochas Okorocha of
Imo State, said the President was very cheerful
and has not lost any bit of his sense of humour.

“The governor said the party delegation spent
more than an hour with President Buhari over
lunch, and it was very clear from the discussions
that he followed developments at home very
closely.
“He said the President was delighted to receive
the delegation and asked each governor about
affairs in his state. He also asked the Minister of
Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, about the state of
the railways.
“When asked to react to all the negative things
being said about him, the President just laughed,
describing such negative reports as lies. Governor
Okorocha said President Buhari was completely
unperturbed by the cocktail of lies. He, instead,
sent his best wishes to Nigerians.
“According to the governor, Nigerians don’t have
to worry at all, adding that President Buhari will
be back as soon as the doctors give him the
green light.
““By our visit to London today, the merchants of
lies have been put out of business and Nigerians
will not buy the garbage they have been selling.
All those who look up to fake news can find better
use for their time,” Governor Okorocha noted.
“Governors Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa;
Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna; Yahaya Bello of Kogi;
and APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun,
were also in the delegation.”
A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode
has described President Muhammadu as the
greatest curse that has ever afflicted Nigeria.
The former Minister also made similar remark
about the governor of Osun State, Rauf
Aregbesola.
Fani-Kayode, who has been in the news over his
attacks on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led
All Progressives Congress, APC, administration on
social media, did not, however, give reasons for
his comment.
The former spokesperson of Goodluck Jonathan’s
campaign, said this via his twitter handle.
According to him,
“The greatest curse that has
ever afflicted Nigeria is the absentee and sickly
@MBuhari.
“The 2nd greatest curse is@raufaregbesola in
Osun.”
As seen on his tweeter handle
In a new article he posted on social
media titled "PMB and the Descendants of
Shimei", Senior Special Adviser to President
Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina,
asked Nigerians wishing ailing President Buhari
death, to remember that they would reap what
they sow. Read the article below
There is nothing new under the sun, goes a
popular saying. In fact, the more things seem to
change, the more they appear the same. From
time immemorial, some people have spoken evil
of leadership, cast aspersions on them, and
generally portrayed themselves as scum of the
earth. No matter how a country loves its leader,
there will naturally be those that the Good Book
calls "filthy dreamers" who "despise dominion,
and speak evil of dignities." That is why as
spokesman to President Muhammadu Buhari, I
never respond to such people. Their type would
always be around.
President Buhari has been indisposed since the
beginning of the year. It is human, and
presidents, despite their elevated status, remain
human. If there is anybody who considers
himself 100 percent healthy, or who bears what
William Shakespeare calls "a charmed life," let
that person stand up to be identified. All mortals
are doomed to sickness, they can recover, and
they can die. That is the truth that has been
internalized by millions of people praying for the
recovery of our President. And that is where the
shallowness, vacuousness, and hollowness of
people who wish the President dead, and carry
unfounded rumors, is on stark display. Filthy
dreamers. They speak evil of dignities, and
despise dominion. But we forgive them, for they
know not what they do. When President Buhari
returns (as God would make him do) where
would they hide their faces? In shame.
Now, I started by saying we would always have
scumbags around. It is inevitable. They are the
descendants of Shimei, the son of Gera, whom I
want to introduce to you now.
Who is Shimei? Well, I met him on the pages of
the Good Book, and he bears striking similitude
to some people in our country today. The evil
wishers, the hate monger, and those who spend
their days conjecturing tragedy for leadership.
Absalom, the son of King David, had led an
insurrection against his father. And the king of
Israel fled, with some of his supporters in tow.
As David got to a place called Bahurim, the Holy
Bible records that Shimei, the son of Gera, a
man of the family of Saul, came out, and started
cursing the fleeing king. You don't kick a man
that is down, goes a saying, but Shimei not
only cursed David, he also threw dust and
stones at him. It was a show of shame.
David had succeeded Saul as king of Israel. And
Shimei was from the family of Saul (read,
People's Democratic Party, PDP). Shimei hadn't
forgotten the bloody nose the family of Saul got,
when the kingship was taken away from them,
and given to David. So when the latter got into
a time of travail, no pity at all from people still
smarting from bloody noses.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), inspired
by Muhammadu Buhari, halted the 60-year pipe
dream of PDP at the polls in 2015. Has the
latter forgotten? No, they won't forget till
forever. But so much is the animus, the
antipathy towards the President that they wish
him dead. While millions of Nigerians are
praying, some elements are rejoicing, and
imagining evil. But they forget: man is not God,
and Jehovah always has the final say. The
descendants of Shimei need to learn vital
lessons from their forebear.
As the base fellow assaulted the fleeing king,
Abishai, one of David's mighty men, said:"Why
should this dead dog curse my lord the king?
Let me go over and take off his head."(2
Samuel, 16:9). But David restrained him, saying
if God had not permitted Shimei, he could not
have done what he was doing.
President Buhari has tolerated people who have
called him all sorts of names in the past two
years. If he didn't move against them directly,
he could have allowed many Abishais to move
against them, "and take off their heads." But not
our President, a reformed democrat, a pious
man, who has resolved to leave the people
suffused by hatred unto God. And will they get
their just desserts one day? As night follows the
day, they will. If not from man, they will get it
from God. Their forefather, Shimei did. He
reaped what he sowed.
After some time, the rebellion led by Absalom
was crushed by loyal troops, and David regained
the throne. As he headed back into the city, who
came to meet the king, with one thousand of his
relatives, pleading for mercy? Shimei. The
Yorubas say the same mouth that the snail used
to abuse the gods, is what it uses to lick the
dusts of the earth. Shimei had suddenly become
gentle. And humble, too. He fell down before
David, and said:"I have sinned. Have mercy on
me. Don't remember what I did against you on
the day you went out of Jerusalem."
Heh, on a certain day, some people would come
to prostrate, begging for mercy, asking
President Buhari to forgive and forget. What will
the President do? What did David do? Abishai
said again to King David:"Let me bring down
the head of this man, who cursed, and threw
stones at you?"
But David said to Shimei:"Thou shall not surely
die." And the king swore unto him.
But did Shimei live happily ever after? Old sins,
they say, have long shadows. Before David died,
he instructed Solomon his son, who succeeded
him, not to forget to deal with Shimei. At least,
David had kept his part of the bargain not to kill
Shimei.
What did Solomon do? He restricted Shimei to
Jerusalem, adding that any day he went out of
the city would be his last on earth. Days, weeks,
and months went by. Shimei remained gentle.
But on a certain day, two servants belonging to
him ran away to Gath, another city. Shimei
saddled his horses, and led his men to bring
back the servants. He had received mercy from
David, but he couldn't show mercy to the
servants. Mercy begets mercy.
The story was told to Solomon. Shimei has left
Jerusalem. He went to Gath, contrary to your
instructions. It was time for judgment. Solomon
commanded that what Abishai had long wanted
to do should be done to Shimei. And his head
was brought down.
Will the descendants of Shimei repent, turn a
new leaf, and become human? Will they
recognize their own mortality? He that is unjust,
let him be unjust still: and he that is filthy, let
him be filthy still. He that is overtaken by hate,
let him remain hateful still. Behold, I come
quickly, and my reward is with me, to give to
every man according as his work shall be.
Let the descendants of Shimei who have ears to
hear please hear. There is recompense for evil,
and there is also recompense for good.
.Adesina is Special Adviser on Media and
Publicity to President Buhari
A pro - democracy group, Concerned Nigerians ,
has threatened to begin a daily sit -in at the
National Assembly if President Muhammadu
Buhari does not return in 18 days .
In a statement issued on Wednesday and
signed by Deji Adeyanju, the convener of
Concerned Nigerians , a pro -democracy group,
threatened to begin a daily sit - in at the
National Assembly if President Muhammadu
Buhari does not return in 18 days .
The group asked the National Assembly to
begin the process of removing the president .
Here’ s the group’ s statement in full ;
“ Today – July 19 th, 2017 marks 72 days of
President Muhammadu Buhari’ s absence from
his office as president of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria and from the country as a whole on
a medical vacation to the United Kingdom , ” it
said.
“ During this period , he has not made any
public appearances either in London or in
Nigeria and has only allegedly clandestinely
communicated with very few people and an
infamous voice note spoken in Hausa
language wishing Nigerians happy eid .
“ Furthermore, details of President Buhari’ s
health status have been kept away from the
generality of Nigerians while his media team
and other members of his cabinet /party make
conflicting comments regarding his health . As
at the time of this statement , no one including
members of his party as admitted by Bolaji
Abdullahi the spokesperson of his party knows
the true medical condition of the president ’ s
health .
“ We acknowledge that during this period ,
President Buhari has satisfied constitutional
requirements by transmitting letters to the
national assembly handing power over to his
vice president , Professor Yemi Osinbajo , on an
acting capacity. The acting president has not
been able to exert political will and is being
continuously subdued by the antics of the
cabal around the ailing president . The same
cabal that has kept the president away from
the country without any explanation.
“ We also recognise the failure of the
Leadership of the national assembly in
launching an investigation or setting up a
panel to look into the true status of the
President ’ s health as we believe that they
have been compromised and working with the
cabal against the Nigerian people .
“ The Leadership of the national assembly must
choose between the Nigerian people and the
cabal. 72 days is too long for a commander-
in-chief to be away from his country without
any explanation to the people that voted him.
“ If the president has become incapacitated, he
should do the honourable thing and resign.
President Buhari cannot continue to hold the
country to ransom . Nigeria must move
forward with or without him.
“ We hereby demand that the national
assembly invoke section 144 sub section 4 of
the Nigerian constitution and direct the setting
up of a medical panel in conjunction with the
acting president , Professor Yemi Osinbajo to
ascertain whether the president is
incapacitated.
“ This medical panel will be a team of five
doctors from which one of them will be the
personal physician of the president while the
other four will be appointed by the senate
president.
“ If the president is found with any infirmity
that renders him incapable of discharging his
duties , the senate president and the speaker of
the house of representatives shall officially
declare him incapable of discharging his
duties and declare his office vacant as
prescribed in subsection 2 of section 143 .
“ To this end, if the Legislature fails to act , we
will commence a daily sit -in at the national
assembly on from the 90th day of President
Buhari’ s absence from the country . ”
Nigerians have been urged to stop being
pessimistic over the health crisis facing President
Muhammadu Buhari but to pray for his speedy
recovery.
General Overseer of the Omega Fire Ministry,
Apostle Johnson Suleiman has admonished
Nigerians to apply caution and stop wishing for
President Muhammadu Buhari's death.
According to him, it belongs to God to determine
who lives or dies. The man of God further urged
Nigerians to pray for the well-being of the ailing
president.
“Only an irresponsible country will be wishing
their leader dead.
“It’s an irresponsible thing for people to be
wishing President’s death. Nobody who has a
good heart will be wishing a leader dead.
“You don’t wish your leader dead. Nigerians
should be careful. Only God has the power of life
and death.
“Stop wishing the President dead. If your husband
is sick do you wish him death? Do you that man
is somebody’s husband? If your father is sick do
you wish him death? That man is somebody’s
father.
“And you are wishing him dead. I know this thing
I’m saying some Christians won’t like it. Stop
wishing him dead. Pray for his health. Don’t wish
any leader dead.
“Only an irresponsible country will be wishing
their leader dead. ” he established.
Suleiman also urged everyone to live in peace
instead of allowing crisis to prevail in the various
regions of the country.
“If you are a Nigerian, whether you like it or not,
this country is your country. Its our country. We
are going to pray for Nigeria. Let there be peace
in Nigeria from the North to the East, West and
South.
“If there is crisis in Nigeria, it will consume all of
us. We don’t need crisis, we need peace. We
cannot talk of development without peace”, he
added.
