— Urges Tinubu’s administration to embrace diversity

 

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Rt. Reverend Mathew Hassan Kukah, on Saturday, declared that no country, business, family, or organization has a future if it doesn’t figure out how to manage diversity.

Speaking at the inaugural lecture on the topic, “Religious tolerance and inclusiveness”, the Catholic Bishop described diversity as a science, a complex country of great possibilities.

The fiery cleric challenged Nigeria’s political leaders especially the in-coming administration of Bola Tinubu to rise up to the challenge of uniting different ethnic groups and identities in the country, adding religion, ethnicity, and gender are not the problem but rather how to manage the nation’s diversities. 

He said Nigerians are suffering from various levels of multi-dimensional poverty, saying that poverty doesn’t discriminate between religions, tribes and other identities

According to him, “I will also end by saying right now 133 million Nigerians are suffering from various levels of multi-dimensional poverty.

“I have not put up the light and seen the part where Muslims are living that they have light, while others for not. I have not seen the part of the country where Muslims are eating and the rest of us are not. So we must come to terms with the fact that we are not bleeding.

“We are not suffering because we are Christians or Muslims, but we are in a country that is malfunctioning. How to make that country work, for the rich, for the poor, for the aged, and for everybody is a challenge.

“It is not a challenge that everybody can win but I think it’s a challenge that a government that appreciates it doesn’t have all the answers, must come to terms with the fact that there is a way of looking for her finding answers.

“I would like to just end by saying and I’ve made the point very clearly, in the struggle with the problems of Nigeria, I remain exceptionally optimistic. I travelled the world. People say to me, well, where do you find this courage to say that Nigeria is working? Okay, it may not be working, but this is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. I am not being flippant.

“When I went to the United States of America to study, I preached in a church but the parish priest said to me, listen to me, you speak with such eloquence and I like you, we will get you a green card, you can settle here in America. I looked at him, I said, you know, this God is a wonderful God. You are giving me a green card and my passport is actually a green passport.

“So, the young Nigerians leaving our country, I always say to them, no, I’m not worried. Let them go. It’s for the good of the country.

“The challenge for us as Africans is to think the way the Asians have thought that you can go to Europe, you can go to America with a purpose. But the purpose of course means coming back to develop your country but it also means that that country must create an environment in which you can feel confident to come and present the gift that God has given you.

“I have two young men in America who just finished a prestigious university, I say when are you coming home? They say Bishop coming home to do what? We do not have an uncle who is a senator, we don’t have anybody so coming to Nigeria to do what? 

“Vice President-elect, the challenge for you is to make this country believable, livable, credible so that all of us together can serve and build a great nation.”

Also speaking, the Sultan of Sokoto Abubakar III, Sa’adu Abubakar, expressed gratitude to God for witnessing the seventh consecutive democratic transition of power in the country, without any major hitch or crisis.

“This in itself is a significant achievement, in which both the winners and those who did not win. I don’t call them losers. Those who won and those who do not will share in the credit.”

He drew the attention of the incoming administration to levels of poverty and ignorance in the land only made worse by the rising population of Nigeria, which is estimated by the United Nations to be well over 400 million by 2050. Which will make Nigeria the third largest populated country in the world after India and China.

The monarch said, “As political leaders, you will need not only think of the next election but also and more importantly, think of the next generation.

“I leave you with these thoughts and pray for God’s guidance, wisdom and patience for leaders to take our country to the highest height. And we have peace and stability in our great country Nigeria.”

The planned inauguration of Abia Governor-elect, Dr Alex Otti, on Monday, May 29, was Saturday solidified following the suspension of the judgement of the Federal High Court sitting in Kano, which last week, purportedly voided his candidacy.

The Court of Appeal Kano, suspended the judgment of a Federal High Court that purportedly nullified the primaries that produced the Labour Party (LP) candidates in Abia State.

The court presided over by Justice Mbaba further granted the application of Dr. Otti to appeal as an interested party while suspending the judgment of the Federal High Court pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.

The Appeal Court order was made in respect of the motion for leave filed by the Abia Governor-Elect to appeal as an interested party against the judgment of the Kano Division of Federal High Court delivered on 18th May 2023 in Suit No. FHC/KN/CS/107/2023.

Similarly, the Appellate Court granted an order for stay and suspension of the judgment of the lower court delivered by Justice Yunusa J. pending the hearing and determination of the appeal for which leave has been granted.

Otti had in his response to his purported sack last week, accused the outgoing Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abia State of masterminding the judgement, an allegation the party flatly denied.

In a surprising twist, a man has brought his marital woes to a local court in Lusaka, Zambia, stating that he no longer desires his wife, Hilda Mleya, due to her extraordinary beauty.

Arnold Masuka, the 40-year-old complainant, made this unconventional claim, leaving both legal authorities and onlookers astounded by the nature of his plea.

According to a report from Zambia Observer, Arnold has initiated divorce proceedings, attributing his decision to his wife’s captivating beauty, which has caused him countless sleepless nights.

The situation has escalated to the point where Arnold lives in constant fear, hesitant to leave Hilda unattended or even go to work, as he is plagued by the persistent worry that she may be enticed away by other men.

Expressing his surprise, the Chief clerk of the court, Mr Chenjerai Chireya, acknowledged that this case presented a novel situation for him, as he had never encountered a claim of this nature during his tenure.

Arnold’s distress has driven him to seek resolution through the legal system, driven by the realization that Hilda is the most beautiful woman he has ever encountered, originating from Gokwe, Zimbabwe.

During the court proceedings, Arnold voiced his concern over Hilda’s constant smiles, fearing that her radiant demeanour may attract unwanted attention from other men.

The intensity of her beauty has become a source of anguish for Arnold, leading him to pursue divorce as a means of escaping this internal turmoil.

Chief Chireya, presiding over the matter, suggested that the two families involved should endeavour to reach a settlement, facilitating a resolution to this unique case.

The unexpected circumstances surrounding the divorce proceedings have left many observers perplexed, underscoring the impact that personal perceptions of beauty can have on intimate relationships.

Yeni Kuti, daughter of afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti has said the late singer was not a good father.

She, however, said the late musician was an icon and a role model.

She stated this in a recent chat with media personality, Chude Jideonwo.

Yeni said she never confronted her dad about not being a good father, but the late singer and his first son, Femi were always at loggerheads.

She said, “He [Fela] was not quite a good father. No [I never told him that he isn’t a good father]. Maybe Femi, not me. Femi and Fela used to have battles. And Femi will give it to him straight.

“Shola and I, we were like timid. You know, they said, ‘When two elephants are fighting, the grass will keep quiet.

“I can remember one day, Fela just came and said, ‘three of you are useless children’. Femi just said, ‘for what?’ Femi just started facing him and then they started facing each other. Shola and I will say, ‘it’s okay’. Fela will say, ‘No’. And Femi just said, ‘let him go’.

“I don’t think I have ever had that kind of confrontation with my father. Maybe because I was a woman.”