RE-ADVANCING THE CAUSE FOR MERITOCRACY

(1) RE ADVANCING THE CAUSE OF MERITOCRAY | aguiyi henry - Academia.edu https://www.academia.edu/16843440/RE_ADVANCING_THE_CAUSE_OF_MERITOCRAY

DSS RAID: JUDGE PLAN MASS RESIGNATION

October 16, 2016 reporting from, Lanre Adewole - Lagos

Nigerian judges are planning an unprecedented mass resignation to protest the alleged assault against the independence of the judiciary by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, Sunday Tribune has learnt.

The mass discontent running through the system over the arrest of seven of their colleagues by the Department of State Services penultimate Friday, is now reaching a climax with an ongoing mass mobilisation nationwide to resign enmass.

In the plan being hatched, the Federal High Court could end up being the most affected if the protagonists went ahead with their plot.

Incidentally, suspended talks at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) on whether the Federal High Court should be phased out or retained, had not been concluded. Sunday Tribune was told by multiple senior sources that judicial officers who had been materially successful in legal practice before opting for the Bench as a form of service, aren’t finding it funny that even properties acquired before joining the Bench are now being tagged proceeds of alleged corruption by both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the DSS, probing alleged malfeasances in the justice system.

A particular DSS-interest was reportedly infuriated that after acquiring a Doctorate degree in Law at a prestigious university in the United Kingdom (names withheld) and making a fortune practising law abroad with multi-million naira worth of properties to show for it, he is now being smeared with corruption allegations all because he wanted to serve his country as a judge.

A total of 31 top judges of superior courts of record are being investigated by both agencies (DSS and EFCC), including two justices of the Supreme Court.

Three of the said judicial officers have recently been exited from service by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

While the DSS is handling cases of 23 judges, EFCC said it was probing eight judges and two court registrars.

Apart from the initial seven, busted in the midnight raid by the DSS, the service had disclosed that eight other judges were to be picked before a reported presidential directive halted all operations as public disavowal hit the exercise.

Another set of two judges were reportedly arrested days after the midnight raid, while the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, was said to have sent another six petitions against six judges to the DSS.

While reacting to a report of loss of confidence in EFCC, commission said eight judges are under its own belt, with one of them, also in DSS’s net.

The eight initially planned for the second round of  arrest, are all said to be justices of the Supreme Court.

A top source confirmed that the apex court was aware of the project, allegedly targetted at giving the court a new beginning with new entrants who are not necessarily from the Court of Appeal as it is the tradition.

A cabinet minister during a private media briefing refused to confirm or deny the identities of the targetted judges.

The minister also refused to confirm if Justice Walter Onnoghen, the CJN-designate, is among those to be arrested.    It was also revealed at the interface that the current administration had resolved to bust anyone with huge cash at home and such would be considered proceeds of crime if the owner could not convincingly explain how he or she came about the cash.

According to him “if your cash is clean, you will put it in the bank.”

Before embarking on the raids, they had written a series of memos to the NJC. On 26th February, 2016, the DSS sent a memo with Reference No DGSS.71/3161 to Justice Mahmud, accusing Justice Muazu Pindiga of Gombe judicial division of alleged corruption on his involvement in the Rivers State election petition tribunal as the former chairman before he was removed.

In another memo from the DSS dated 5th August, 2016 with Reference No LSD.158/2/31, the Service accused Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court who had earlier ruled against the DSS in its case against Umar Mohammed, of alleged corruption, recommending to the NJC “to urgently investigate the compromise and gross misconduct by the judicial officer as his conduct falls short of the expectations of the profession and defeats the culture of probity, transparency and equity which this current administration stands to entrench”. The memo was signed by Ahamed Ahmad for Daura.

Meanwhile, Onnoghen who was last week recommended to President Muhammadu Buhari as the next CJN, is reportedly primed to go through his security screening this week at the DSS headquarters in Abuja.

He is the sole nominee to the president.

The security screening is expected to establish his suitability for the job, before his name will be forwarded to the Senate for confirmation.

He is the first CJN-hopeful from the South in 29 years.

Chosen by God: The Man Who Ate Honey, but Pulled Down Pillars

He doesn’t drink wine, he has a tendency to lie, he has a weakness for women and his hair is sort of a big deal. No, I’m not talking about Donald Trump.

I’m referring to Samson, God’s appointed judge over Israel.

The biblical book of Judges chronicles a 300-year period of the nation of Israel’s history. In this book, we are introduced to a man named Samson.

Then the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson; and the child grew up and the Lord blessed him. ~ Judges 13:24

Samson was appointed to serve as judge over Israel at a time when the people were absent any consistent, strong or righteous political leadership. The story of Samson takes place before the reign of kings in Israel, and during a time when everyone “did what was right in his own eyes.”

Samson is an interesting character, to say the least. He’s not your traditional Moses or David or Daniel. Moses was “more humble than any man on earth,” David was a “man after [God’s] own heart,” and Daniel was delivered from extreme persecution on a number of occasions because of his unwavering faith toward God.

Samson, on the other hand, often chose the easy route. Whether it be by lying, deceiving or direct disobedience, Samson usually found a way to get what he wanted without acting righteously.

My guess is Samson – who slept with a prostitute and was a womanizer  – probably wasn’t a role model that Israel’s parents told their children to imitate.

So why did God appoint someone like Samson, when at other times he raised up Othniel, the son of Caleb; or Deborah, the prophetess; or Gideon, the general? Surely somebody with qualities more similar to these individuals would have made for a better role model and judge to lead Israel back to God.

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, declares the LORD. ~ Isaiah 55:8

To answer that question, we must go back to the very beginning of the story. In Judges 13, an angel of the Lord appears to Samson’s mother. The angel tells Samson’s mother that she will be blessed with a son and that he “shall begin to deliver Israel” from their enemies. (Note: the angel does not say that Samson will deliver Israel from their enemies, but that he will beginthe process – this is important).

The angel told Samson’s parents that their son would be a “Nazirite to God from the womb.”

The Nazirite vow was taken by individuals who dedicated themselves to the Lord. The vow prohibited a person from consuming wine or “strong drink,” cutting their hair or coming in contact with a dead body. This means that the Lord was sanctifying Samson for a special purpose.

As a blessing, God endowed Samson with incredible strength. The source of his great strength came from his hair. But while Samson’s strength allowed him to accomplish great feats, it also often led to terrible misery and tragedy in his life.

On one occasion, Samson was attacked by a lion while traveling with his parents. He used his great strength to overcome and kill the wild beast. Continuing on his journey, he came across a foreign woman who he described as “right in his eyes.” He demanded that his father “get her” for him. His parents were displeased with his request and implored him to choose a righteous woman from among his own people. Samson refused. But the Bible tells us that his parents “did not know that it was of theLord.” His parents failed to remember that God always has a plan.

God is always in control.

Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes. ~ Judges 14:3

Later, Samson returns to the dead carcass of the lion that he had killed. Starving, Samson noticed that there was a swarm of bees and honey in the body of the lion. The Bible says Samson“scraped the honey into his hands” and went on his way eating. Unfortunately, this means that Samson broke his Nazirite vow by touching a dead body. Samson had sinned against God. It is not recorded that Samson ever asked for forgiveness of this sin – in fact, the Bible tells us that he kept this a secret from his parents.

On another occasion, Samson falls in love with a woman called Delilah. This woman enticed, betrayed and sold Samson into the hands of his enemies. Instead of choosing a woman who would have pleased God and his parents, Samson chose a woman who cared nothing for his well-being. He may have suspected this, because he lied multiple times to her to cover up the source of his great strength. Finally, he became so annoyed with her that he succumbed to the pressure and told her his secret. This was one of Samson’s great failures – and it would ultimately cost him his life.

Up to now you have deceived me and told me lies; tell me how you may be bound. ~ Judges 16:13

After being betrayed and sold into the hands of his enemies, Samson would have his eyes gouged out and be forced into hard labor in a foreign land. God’s plan had failed because Samson was the wrong man for the job. He had broken his Nazirite vow, lied on numerous occasions and chosen women who were not pleasing to God. Realizing that the situation was hopeless, and that Samson was a lost cause, God forsook his chosen leader.

Wait… that is how the story ends, right?

Actually, no, it’s not.

I will never leave you and I will never abandon you. ~ Hebrews 13:5

While in captivity, Samson’s hair began to grow again. And as his hair began to grow, he began to regain strength. On a certain day, when his captors were feasting, they called out Samson to amuse them.

To them, he was nothing more than a clown; an entertainer.

They chained him between two pillars and “looked on” while Samson entertained them. Samson was humiliated by his enemies, who believed that they had defeated him. They never suspected for a moment that he would be able to avenge himself. But then again, they had not factored in God.

God heard Samson’s plea for help, and He answered him. Samson regained his miraculous strength and used it to bring righteous vengeance upon the enemies of the Lord. With one giant heave, Samson pushed on both of the pillars he was chained to, and collapsed the temple on top of all of his enemies. The number of people he killed that day were more than he had killed in his entire life. As a warrior, that says a lot. Samson died – but he died on God’s terms. He had judged Israel for 20 years.

O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time. ~Judges 16:28

You see, God has a plan. And His plan is perfect. We have a very narrow view of the world in which we live, and we are often confused why things transpire around us the way that they do. We see something that looks dangerous, and we run. We see someone who looks flawed attempting to ascend to the highest office in the land, and we ridicule them.

We say, “He can’t be president – he’s nothing like Christ!” Or, “He can’t be my child’s role model – he has said nasty things about women! On TV, no less!”

Who said a ruler had to be like Christ? No man is devoid of sin like Jesus was. While others are living better lives, and perhaps obeying the Word of God more faithfully than others, that doesn’t give us the moral high ground, as Christians, to discount a leader’s ability to rule over us. A person’s ability to govern a country is not predicated on his religion.

Is it? 

According to Scripture, the kings of ancient Babylon and Persia – Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus – believed in God. One sinned mightily on numerous occasions; the other was “appointed”by God. Both served God’s purpose of preserving His people.

Of course, as disciples of Christ, we should all be striving to appoint leaders who are morally upright and sound in spirit. Our mission in life is to bring sinners to Jesus, so it would be nice to have a righteous ruler who loudly echoed our message. But what about Samson? He turned to the Lord in the closing moments of his life, but where was his godly and spiritual example – as judge over Israel – the other years of his life?

Donald Trump is a sinner.

Donald Trump is not perfect.

Donald Trump is not a great spiritual role model.

Check, check and check. Now let’s look at his policies:

Appoint conservative Supreme Court justicesDestroy radical Islamic terrorismSecure our country’s bordersRestore law and orderNegotiate fair trade dealsLower taxes on the middle classRepeal and replace ObamacareBring back American jobs from overseasMake America energy independentGet rid of political correctnessProtect the Second AmendmentBalance our federal budgetPreserve Social SecurityRepeal the “Johnson Amendment”Bring education back to the states (abolish Common Core)Take care of American veterans

As voters, we should cast our vote for the individual who is most capable of improving and protecting our country. As Christians, we should be out on the streets spreading the good message to those lost in sin. As we accomplish our task, Lord willing, society will draw closer to God. As society improves, so will our presidential nominees.

Trump will not infringe on our rights to worship and peaceably assemble. Trump will appoint Supreme Court justices “in the mold of Justice Scalia.” As Christians, this should comfort us. And yet, while the Supreme Court does have great authority over the law of the land, Christians should not put all of their faith in man. Our faith should be in God.

How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. ~ Hebrews 11:32

In spite of his sins, Samson was given a spot in the “Heroes of Faith” chapter in Hebrews. In this chapter, Samson is listed alongside Abraham, Moses and David. Sadly, you wouldn’t know that Samson had great faith in God by just looking at the life that he lived. Samson was misguided about many things, which is evident by the many mistakes and shortcomings he committed. But no one can take away Samson’s spot in Hebrews 11. The inspired author of Hebrews lists him with the other great heroes of faith for a reason.

Yes, Trump has eaten “honey” – but who’s to say he won’t also pull down “pillars?”

MOROCCO-PRODIGAL-SON-GIVES-CONDITIONS

By Owei Lakemfa

AFRICA, beloved of God has many sons and daughters. Some of them in ancient Egypt gave the world its modern civilisation. It also gave Greece its philosophy which became the basis of Western thought and philosophy. However, a different race whom our Seers had warned us against,  swooped and enslaved almost all of Africa’s children. In pain and in tears, through our sweat and blood we struggled for freedom. That was years before the whole humanity agreed that the right of a people to self-determination is  non-negotiable. Even at the dawn of freedom, Africa’s children were like sheep without Shepard as the former slave  masters sought to continue our enslavement, this time, indirectly. Then we coalesced into two broad groups. Some met in Casablanca, Moroccco and became the Casablanca Group; the other became the Monrovia Group. Africa’s far sighted leaders met  in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and on May 25, 1963,  gave birth to one united movement of the African people called the Organisation of African Unity.  We vowed that never again will Africans be enslaved and that those still in bondage like South Africa, Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Guinea Bissau and Western Sahara   shall be free. Indeed, despite the efforts of enslavers, they became free. All African children became free but  we did not envisage that one of our prominent sons would collaborate with the foreign slave masters to deprive  one of us  her freedom. Mother Africa has been generous by providing for us all; big and small, we have  our own inheritance. But our brother Morocco decided in addition, to seize the  inheritance and  wealth of small Western Sahara. First it connived with the Spanish slave masters to deprive Western Sahara, its independence. Then it got the latter to hand over   the riches of Western Sahara to him and Brother Mauritania; both proceeded to share it as a booty. Mauritania was to rethink  and wash its hands off its share of the loot which greedy Morocco seized and added to its share. However, Africa will not have such covetousness and decided to call Brother Morocco to order reminding him that the African peoples are one  and that our ancestors forbid stealing. But stubborn Morocco would not agree, and when the rest of Africa welcomed our Saharawi brothers and sisters to our common home, the African Union, Morocco would have none of it. It decided to leave home and go hunting with the old slave masters. A few brothers walked out with him, but when they got to the gate, turned back to join the rest of the family. Morocco, backed by the former slave owners,  went looting the fishes, phosphate and the riches of the Saharawi. It brutalised the Saharawi, detained some, destroyed their homes, forced some into refugee camps, built a wall dividing the territory, and forced the rest under its jackboots. It paid no heed to the international community, refused to allow the referendum the rest of the world  directed  should be conducted to allow the Western Sahara decide freely whether it wants to be free or be part of   big brother Morocco. In one of the most ridiculous  cases of thuggery, Morocco  seized one our Saharawi sisters, Aminatu Haider  and exiled her to the territory of the former slave master. If indeed the Saharawi is Moroccan, how would you exile your citizen to a foreign territory? After thirty two years of wandering in the desert and keeping bad company, prodigal Morocco decided to return home to the African Union. He must have realised that he is a nobody outside the homestead; that his foreign friends will never threat him as an equal, that is if in the first place, they regard him as a human being. Our brother, King Mohammed VI  of Morocco who was born three months after the Union was founded, wrote a rambling  and insulting 2,144-word letter announcing Morocco is willing to return. Nobody will stop such a return because Morocco is a long lost son and our home is a common patrimony. It is like a long lost sheep; why won’t motherly Africa rejoice that her prodigal son has decided to retrace his steps and return home? But while the Biblical prodigal son was remorseful, full of regrets and begged for forgiveness, the Moroccan prodigal is unrepentant, arrogant and exhibiting the traits of a street thug. In the letter announcing his decision to return home, he referred to his brother Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, SADR (Western Sahara)  as a “phantom state” His  illogical argument  is that  the SADR which is a biological son of Africa, is not a member of the United Nations (UN). So what? How is being a member of the UN the criteria for statehood? For decades, Switzerland, one of the oldest republics of the world, was not a member of the UN.  In any case, do we need the certification of the UN to determine that the Saharawi is a full blooded African? Morocco  indulged in falsehood when he claimed it left the homestead because he does not want to create a division. The truth is that it left when it could not create a division. It wants  to adopt the same tactics by trying to induce other Africans with economic and monetary baits to expel or suspend Western Sahara from our common home. Morocco can swallow its pride and return to the African fold, but the Saharawi will never be expelled from the home of his father. Africa belongs to all Africans and no African is superior to the other. Any African leader who backs Morocco whether for a  mess of porridge or due to pressures from the former slave masters  to expel or suspend Western Sahara from the African House, should know he  is trying to break and destroy the union of the African peoples. Such people will be the enemies of the African people and foes of social justice. We cannot allow the rule of might over right in our continent. All those sharing in the loot of Western Sahara be they foreigners or Africans  will ultimately have to account for their greed. When leaders like  President Muhammadu Buhari and Dr. Julius Nyerere (who presided) sat in the African Union thirty two years and decided to admit the SADR into the Union, it was in the fundamental interest of Africa. To seek to take a different action today, is to betray these leaders, endanger the health of  mother Africa and mortgage the future of our continent and children.  If the prodigal son will not abide by the basic principles and the brotherly love  that bind all of Africa, it is free to continue wandering in the desert. Prodigal Morocco cannot give Africa conditions to return home.

BREAKING NEWS: NDLEA Taraba Busts Notorious Drug Mafia In Jalingo

The Taraba state command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), had in a sting operation discovered a drug syndicate known as “Italian Mafia” in Jalingo, during which a 29-year-old kingpin, Kenneth Okeosisi, from Imo state, was arrested and a variety of illicit drugs confiscated from them.

Speaking with a select number of journalists at the Command headquarters in Jalingo Thursday, the Command’s Spokesman, Effiong Archibong, narrated how they were able to crack down on the drug syndicate which specializes in producing cough syrups mixed with codeine.

“We stumbled on information that a syndicate is here in the State to provide locally made drugs called expectorants with codeine so that ill-informed youths would always get hooked on to it. They came with the name the “Italian Mafia” and they started the production. Fortunately for us, we were able to catch up with them. We stormed their residence on 54, Palace Way here in Jalingo and the Principal suspect was apprehended while others escaped. We carted away some locally produced cough expectorants with some psychotropic substances which they have injected into it. Fortunately, the Principal suspect had been convicted by Justice Pam two days ago at the Federal High Court 3 here in Jalingo”, he stated.

According to the Spokesman, the command discovered the syndicate had started production about two or three months ago but that they were able to crack down on them before their illicit trade would get to the unsuspecting public.

He noted that the syndicate wanted to exploit the high demand for the substance in Jalingo but that the criminals were oblivious of the structural change in NDLEA in the state.

“The Management is ever ready to ensure that nobody comes here and have a field day in the production of all these drugs that would destroy the society, so the officers are ready than ever before”, he boasted.

On the secret of the recent success of the command, Archibong attributed it to the synergy with the public which came as a result of public enlightenment. He stated that “we have discovered that going out of supply was not giving the actual result, so we had to match supply with public enlightenment, counseling, and rehabilitation. So with the level of public awareness, the society has become friendlier. They have started knowing that we are working for them and not the government. So they have begun coming up with useful information which has opened all doors to give the drug merchants a ‘dirty slap.’

He further disclosed that in the past one month, the Command has secured eleven convictions and that they had to go after those that have proven to be unrepentant after going to jail, saying those unrepentant ones are currently languishing in prison having been convicted.

Secret of pineal gland 2

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The secret of the pineal gland

THIS Is How To Activate The Hidden Superhuman Powers Of Your Third Eye – The Pineal Gland! - Life Coach Code http://www.lifecoachcode.com/2016/06/25/how-to-activate-the-hidden-powers-of-third-eye/