Religion as a Weapon of Mass Mental Destruction in Nigeria

CC™ PersPective

By Yahaya Balogun

In Nigeria, anyone who encounters the shocking viral images revealing the appalling treatment of vulnerable, innocent, unclothed toddlers—both boys and girls—allegedly from Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and remains unaffected or indifferent to the grim injustices inflicted by religion in this nation, Nigeria, has, in effect, become complicit in this horrific abuse and violation against children. Three distinct groups of religious followers define the Nigerian landscape:

1. The gullible, brainwashed, and misinformed believers (mostly impoverished people living in squalor; they can die or become suicide bombers for their ministers, marabouts, and clerics).

2. The knowingly ignorant and educated followers (such as PhD holders and rural and urban professors; their levels of academic achievement are dwarfed by religious foolishness).

3. Those who manipulate both groups for personal gain (specifically, politicians who use them as disposable tools for their own benefit).

These three groups represent some of the most dangerous players within Nigeria's religious sphere. They are the evils fueling and hindering Nigeria's growth and development.

It amazes me how African religious leaders have managed—whether intentionally or through negligence—to turn faith into a tool that suppresses research, reflection, and critical thinking in everyday life. The common belief is that religion is meant to guide human conduct in harmony with divine principles and righteousness.

Yet, from Nigeria in Africa to Rome in Europe and Afghanistan in the Middle East—excluding Asia and the Americas—we observe the corruption of religion to manipulate human thought. Religion often breeds fear among the vulnerable, intensifying perceived threats and weaknesses while obscuring the potential strengths and opportunities that belief can provide. Is it any wonder that more people are turning away from traditional faiths toward philosophies like practical stoicism and humanism that prioritize caring for humanity?

Modern Nigerian religions often secretly promote hatred, family conflicts, greed, and an unending pursuit of an immediate and insatiable quest for satisfaction. Nigeria's religions frequently sexualize women and children, exploiting impressionable minds.

It's disheartening to see many young people captivated by the sermons of their "Pastors" and "Alfas," where women are reduced to mere tools or objects to satisfy immoral desires. I've heard a "pastor" callously declare that a wife is her husband's property, implying she should submit to his every whim without question. Many women remain silent, accepting this degrading view from the pulpit—a perspective I find degrading, deeply offensive, and misogynistic. A wife can respect her husband as the head of the family without losing her dignity. Similarly, a husband can guide his wife without diminishing her worth. Genuine partnerships are built on love, support, and mutual respect, free from tyranny. These ministers and spiritual con artists have disrupted and destroyed countless lives, leaving relationships and families in disunity and chaos.

In today's spiritual scene, we face a disturbing environment where these religious charlatans and unscrupulous individuals exploit unsuspecting followers from their deceptive platforms. The so-called religious figures in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, must be exposed and brought to justice. Unless African nations, particularly Nigeria, take decisive and substantial steps to regulate religious practices and protect the vulnerable, society will continue to carry the heavy burden left by the remnants of brutal British neocolonialism and some religious fundamentalists often disguised as men of God across the African continent.

Willful Blindness Occasioned By White Supremacy

CC™ VideoSpective

Your political influence waning,’ LP chieftain tells Peter Obi

CC™ Politico

By Chinagorom Ugwu

The Chairperson of the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos State, Dayo Ekong, has said the political influence of the 2023 presidential candidate of the LP, Peter Obi, has waned.

Mrs Ekong, in a post on her X handle on Tuesday, said it was time for Mr Obi to “pause and ponder” on his ambition to become Nigeria’s president in 2027.

‘Why Obi’s influence is waning’

During the 2023 general election, Mr Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, enjoyed overwhelming support from many Nigerians, especially from the South-east and South-south.

Although the LP candidate came third in the election, his party recorded surprising victories across states, a development attributed to the former governor’s political influence.

But Mrs Ekong said Mr Obi’s “recent actions” were eroding his hitherto political influence in Nigeria.

The LP chairperson argued that the leadership crisis in the LP and Mr Obi’s alleged opposition to the Julius Abure-led faction of the party were behind Mr Obi’s waning influence.

“Peter Obi’s influence in the Nigerian polity appears to be waning, as Nigerians grow increasingly tired and wary of what some perceive as inconsistent antics and political manoeuvring.

“His (Obi’s) interventions, once seen as principled, now risk being viewed as disruptive and self-serving, alienating allies and diminishing his appeal,” she said.

Mrs Ekong further argued that the evidence of Mr Obi’s waning influence lies in recent electoral outcomes in Nigeria where his endorsement of candidates failed to deliver victories.

She stressed that the recorded election failures despite Mr Obi’s endorsements signalled a loss of the “magnetic pull” he once commanded, citing elections in Edo, Imo and Anambra States in which candidates endorsed by Mr Obi failed to win.

“The most telling blow came recently in the Anambra State by-elections, particularly in Onitsha – Peter Obi’s backyard and supposed stronghold.

“Here, we witnessed his sudden switch of allegiance, embodying the ‘Labour today, ADC tomorrow’ shenanigans that have confused supporters and diluted party loyalty,” she said.

Mrs Ekong recalled that before the Onitsha North 1 State Constituency rerun, Mr Obi “abandoned” the LP candidate in the election and endorsed Justina Azuka of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), even donning an ADC-branded cap during campaigns.

She said despite Mr Obi’s support, the ADC candidate failed to win, with the LP candidate performing even worse, while the APGA candidate won the exercise without the former governor’s backing.

“These patterns are not isolated; they point to a broader trend of waning influence. Public sentiment, as reflected in recent discussions, suggests that Nigerians are fatigued by Obi’s frequent shifts and perceived acrimony toward the Labour Party structures that once elevated him.

“A wise politician like Peter Obi, known for his prudence and vision, has suddenly lost so much appeal – even in his backyard,” she said.

“The threads of his political legacy are unravelling slowly but surely, undone by decisions that prioritise personal alliances over party cohesion.”

Mrs Ekong advised Mr Obi to step back and engage in meditation to find out more reasons for his waning political influence in Nigeria.

She said the former governor should find out why parties he aligned with in Anambra, like ADC, “faltered so badly,” while APGA triumphed without him.

The chairperson suggested that Mr Obi’s ongoing acrimony against the Labour Party’s leadership could be hindering his support from Nigerians.

“Peter Obi has surrounded himself with those who he feels have his best interest at heart, but time will surely tell.

“We all openly admonished (Nyesom) Wike for his PDP/APC antics but turned a blind eye to Peter Obi’s LP/ADC antics. The electorate is watching all these and slowly making up their minds against 2027,” she added

The LP has been battling an intense leadership crisis for a while now which has split the party into two factions.

While the disputed National Chairperson of the party, Mr Abure, leads one of the factions, Peter Obi and Mr Otti, belong to another faction of the LP.

The LP’s National Executive Committee had sacked the Abure-led executive in September last year and appointed Ms Usman, a former minister of finance and ex-senator representing Kaduna South, to lead a 29-member caretaker committee and facilitate the election of a new party leadership within 90 days.

But weeks later, the Court of Appeal in Abuja recognised Mr Abure as the national chairperson of the LP.

However, the Supreme Court, on Friday, 4 April, set aside the judgement of the lower court.

A five-member panel of the Supreme Court unanimously held that the Court of Appeal lacked jurisdiction to have affirmed Mr Abure as chairperson of the LP since the substance of the case was about the party’s leadership. 

It held that the issue of leadership was an internal affair of a party over which courts lacked jurisdiction.

The court upheld the appeal filed against the judgement by Mrs Usman.

The Supreme Court held that Ms Usman’s appeal was meritorious, as it also dismissed the cross-appeal filed by the Mr Abure-led faction of the LP for lacking merit.

But the Abure-led faction of the LP argued the Supreme Court did not sack Mr Abure and other executives of the party.

The National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Obiora Ifoh, claimed that the Supreme Court’s position was that the matter was purely an internal affair of the party, insisting that the court did not set aside the Court of Appeal judgement of 13 November 2024, which affirmed Mr Abure as the national chairperson of the party.

Meanwhile, in the heat of the leadership crisis in the LP, Mr Obi and other politicians from various political parties in the country formed the National Opposition Coalition Group to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

The group, in July, adopted ADC as its platform for the 2027 general election.

Mr Obi later argued that his joining the opposition coalition under the ADC platform does not amount to anti-party activity because the coalition was for the 2027 election which had not come yet.

Premium Times

THE RUEFUL FATE OF THE PDP!

CC™ PersPective

By Yahaya Balogun

“Ohun tí a bá fi ara ?í?e fún, ní m´p?´ l?´w?´ ?ni." - Yoruba Proverb.

Translation:

"Wealth that is earned through hard work lasts longer and comes with blessings" - Yoruba Proverbs. 

A structure built on false foundations is bound to collapse quickly. The People's Democratic Party (PDP) was born from a lineage of military rulers. These rulers operated under oppressive regimes, systematically dismantling the very best of Nigeria and forcing those who survived into self-imposed exile for greener pastures.

A thoughtful observer recognizes that the PDP was always fated to fall victim to the storm of retribution and missteps. General Olusegun Obasanjo and his corrupt military generals co-piloted and ravaged the country through their ineffective military control of the government. When a façade of democracy emerged under General Olusegun Obasanjo, after he escaped Abacha's gulag, Nigerians breathed a sigh of relief from those mourning the loss of the legitimate 1993 presidential election of the late Chief MKO Abiola. Unfortunately, President Obasanjo squandered the chance to reshape Nigeria for the better.

Meanwhile, President Olusegun Obasanjo manipulated the political landscape, disregarded the Nigerian constitution, and ruled with impunity, resembling an unrestrained ex-convict determined to extend his ill-gotten power and antisocial relationship with the Nigerian public. Who remembers the Odi village massacre in Bayelsa State? The Odi massacre under President Olusegun Obasanjo was an attack carried out on November 20, 1999, by the Nigerian Armed Forces against the predominantly Ijaw town of Odi in Bayelsa State. Who remembers President Olusegun Obasanjo's third-term agenda, foiled by Sahara Reporters? 

The current political struggles and fragmentation experienced by the PDP are not mere coincidences; they are the inevitable fallout from their reckless conduct regarding the Nigerian populace. The coalition of liars and their serial political contestants, who recently crossed to the orphanage party, will soon disintegrate through a power struggle. 

The PDP, along with any coalition of self-serving interests that overlook the dreams and labor of the Nigerian people, will ultimately face the harsh consequences of their actions. The careless individuals responsible for Nigeria's stagnation are headed for a historical reckoning. A power struggle is brewing within the PDP ranks. Will the stakeholders of the PDP in this tumultuous time be rewarded by history? Yes! The reckoning days are here for the PDP as the party, with delusion, is giddy for political extinction.

FULANI TERRORISM, THE OPEN SORE IN NIGERIA

CC™ PersPective

By E.O. Eke

The latest killing of innocent civilians in Benue State has raised the question of when this perennial evil will force good Nigerians to do the right thing to end this cycle of killings. 

The continuing misrepresentation of the facts by the government is another salt to the gaping wound of those who continue to pay the blood price of this pogrom suggesting that the people Benue state and other indigenous communities in Nigeria have been sold to Fulanis by Nigerian government. Why would the government call this pogrom farmer herder conflict? Where are the cows of Fulani terrorists?

The Nigerian government obfuscation and inaction in the face of such monstrous evil is beyond odious. It is beyond abdication of responsibility. It is a complete shameless and remorseless sell out of the people, a betrayal of unparalleled comparison in history.

There is no word strong enough to describe the vapidity of the response of the government of Nigeria to this unfolding and persistent crime against humanity. 

The government’s refusal to see this pogrom for what it is, a genocidal ethnic cleansing by Fulani terrorists imported into Nigeria by some northern politicians, betrays its complicity.

The question is, how did fulanis in political positions in Nigeria and the military tie the hands of Nigeria government and military behind their back, while their terrorists continue the ethnic cleansing of Nigerian villages all these years unchallenged? 

When will Nigerians ask the most basic question about this genocide- who has been benefiting from it and who will continue to gain from it in the long run? 

When will Nigerians realise that the indigenous communities are making a fatal mistake by not asking who stands to gain by the success of Fulani terrorists.

Why is it so hard to fathom that Fulani leaders in Nigeria, the clerics who defend Fulani terrorists, the senior Fulani military officers who leak information to terrorists, sabotage operations and stops the army and police from confronting the terrorists, the politicians who ensure delivery of their supplies and arms and the Fulani ruling class amongst them who would administer the conquered territories are behind this genocide. 

I wonder how much more evil and atrocities Nigerians want to see from Fulani terrorists before rising up and rejecting the evil, these

Monster represent. 

The tragedy of the fractured Nigerian situation is that Nigerians are not rallying over philosophical theory of the type of society they believe Nigeria should be, but along the divisive fault lives of religion and ethnicity. 

This absurd reality creates the environment for the protection of the state which Fulani terrorists who are killing Nigerians and cleansing Nigerian villages exploits and enjoy. 

Many years ago when I hoped that Nigeria would be spared the fate of Pakistan and Afghanistan, I wrote a piece on the terror industry and how terrorism sustains itself by creating a money making economy which is difficult to shut down. 

Today, I can say that terror economy is up and running in Nigeria and that the Nigeria I grew up in is dead. 

Those who will survive in Nigeria of today, must first of all, know how to use the gun and have the wisdom to defeat the existential threat which Fulani terrorists pose. 

Nigerians must understand that Nigeria has ceased to be a civil society. Security in Nigeria is no longer guaranteed by the law and the government of Nigeria can no longer protect Nigerians from Fulani terrorists. 

What was bad under Buhari is getting worse under Tinubu. These two leaders have shown commitment in taking Nigeria back from civilisation. Nigeria is now a county of rogue military officers working for terrorists, bandits, terrorists, kidnappers, corrupt politicians, ritual killers and warlords. 

The pictures of the victims of Fulani terrorists is devastating. I keep asking myself what kind of people are Nigerians who can keep quiet in the face of such evil? 

Nigerian governments have been presiding over ethnic cleansing of indigenous people by Fulani terrorists for several years. . Buhari and Brutari did nothing about it and Tinubu is not doing any better. 

Nigerians please wake up, read history and prepare to defend your land from people who want to turn it into grazing grounds for their cows and hunt you like preys. Terrorists commit atrocities in Nigeria because they have guns. No religions forbids a man from defending himself. Since the police and army have failed to protect Nigerians, law abiding Nigerian citizens should now acquire AK 47 to protect themselves, their families and way of life. It is not rocket science. History tells us that invariably, those with guns, rule those without. 

Please Nigerians stop eating cow meat. If you must eat meat, eat chicken, goat, sheep, but please stop funding genocide by Fulani terrorists by eating cow meat. The Fulani terrorists already have guns. Nigerians must use everything, including our purchasing power, as economic weapon in this warfare or become slaves of Fulani terrorists and their masters. Stop funding Miyetti Allah and Fulani terrorism. Stop eating cow meat 

It is time for the Nigerian government and military to protect Nigerians from Fulani terrorism and build a safe country for all under the rule of law. 

May the souls of victims of Fulani terrorism in Nigeria rest in peace and may all Nigerians rise up with one voice to say, never again. unless we do this, we are just waiting for the next attack to claim its victims and once again, the wailing will start again.

Mayor of Federal Way: Political intimidation as November elections loom

CC™ VideoSpective

THE MYSTICAL POLITICAL POWER OF JAGABAN AS ALBATROSS FOR ATIKU AND OBI

CC™ PersPective

By Yahaya Balogun

In many ways, the ceaseless ambitions of both Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi for the presidency have ignited a downward spiral for the People Democratic Party-PDP, serving as the spark for its symbolic demise. Their repeated pursuits of the nation's highest office not only complicated the landscape of political aspirations but also laid bare the irreparable fractures within the party. Now, there's no doubt that opportunistic Peter Obi must be shopping for another ramshackle party like the unserious Labor Party, using it as a political Ponzi scheme for his political ambition.

As opportunistic politicians with substantial followings and experience, Atiku and Obi's continuous attempts to capture the presidential nomination illuminated the internal divisions and ideological divergences that had been quietly brewing. Each campaign revealed a story of ambition and rivalry that eclipsed the party's dubious foundational values, eroding its unity and cementing its incoherence.

Abubakar Atiku and Peter Obi's aspirations wielded a double-edged sword in Nigeria's fiercely competitive political arena. While they aimed to ascend their personal political ladders, they inadvertently cast long shadows over the PDP's stature as once a formidable political entity in Nigeria. Each presidential bid, laden with challenges and controversies, inadvertently highlighted the party's diminishing clout and its struggle to project a cohesive image. As factions splintered and loyalties shifted, it became increasingly apparent that the PDP was not merely contending with external rivals; it was ensnared in an existential crisis from within, paving for the tsunami and influx of political jobber into the Alliance of People's Congress-APC. 

Thus, as Atiku and Obi relentlessly chased their presidential dreams, the PDP appeared to be edging toward a crucial turning point. Rather than rejuvenating the party, their ambitions were nails in its coffin, signifying the curtain closing on an era for an organization that once dominated Nigeria's political theater. The phrase 'sealed the coffin' captures a moment of irrevocable change, revealing how, amidst towering aspirations, the party's legacy now teeters on the brink as it struggles to redefine itself in an evolving political landscape.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, known as 'Jagaban,' emerges as a monumental presence in Nigerian politics, embodying a unique blend of insight and strategic prowess that few can rival. Often characterized as a political maverick, he navigates the perilous currents of governance and public life with a boldness that has earned him both fervent supporters and staunch critics. Overlooking the depth of his influence and the complexities of his political tactics would be a significant oversight—an oversight fueled by naivety.

It would be shortsighted to disregard the fact that many of his political adversaries have, in essence, woven the fabric of their own declines through a series of blunders. Dismissing the imposing presence of Tinubu, affectionately dubbed 'Jagaban,' could very well lead to calamity for those who underestimate his political shrewdness. More than just a contender on the political stage, he represents an unwavering force—a true juggernaut capable of reshaping and redefining the political landscape of Nigeria.

His substantial influence has not merely disrupted the existing order; Tinubu has played a pivotal role in shaking the foundations of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and other opposition factions, entities rooted in a political epoch marked by military takeovers and upheaval. Once considered stable pillars of Nigeria's political scene, these parties now confront a palpable atmosphere of uncertainty and turmoil.

Under Tinubu's watchful eye, Nigeria stands at a crucial intersection, teetering between a past characterized by turbulent political crises and a future that could promise stability or further discord. As he continues to navigate this contentious crossroads, the implications of his strategic leadership extend far beyond the political realm, touching the lives of millions of Nigerians watching with bated breath to see how this complex saga unfolds to collective fruition. In recognizing the historical significance of this moment, one cannot ignore the ongoing transformation of Nigeria's political scene. This transformation is both exhilarating and rife with the imperils and political peril of Atiku and Obi—serial presidential contestants.

European powers tell UN they are ready to reimpose Iran sanctions

CC™ Global News

By Staff

Britain, France and Germany have told the United Nations they are ready to reimpose UN-mandated sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program if no diplomatic solution is found by the end of August, according to a communique obtained by CC™

The letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UN Security Council says the three European powers are “committed to use all diplomatic tools at our disposal to ensure Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon” unless Tehran meets the deadline.

The foreign ministers from the so-called E3 group threaten to use a “snapback mechanism” that was part of a 2015 international deal with Iran that eased UN Security Council sanctions.

Under the deal, which terminates in October, any party to the accord can restore the sanctions.

All three have stepped up warnings to Iran about its suspension of cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

That came after Israel launched a 12-day war with Iran in June, partly seeking to destroy its nuclear capability. The United States staged its own bombing raid during the war.

“We have made clear that if Iran is not willing to reach a diplomatic solution before the end of August 2025, or does not seize the opportunity of an extension, E3 are prepared to trigger the snapback mechanism,” foreign ministers Jean-Noel Barrot of France, David Lammy of Britain and Johann Wadephul of Germany said in the letter.

All three countries were signatories to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with the United States, China and Russia that offered the carrot and stick deal for Iran to slow its enrichment of uranium needed for a nuclear weapon.

President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the accord in 2018 during his first term and ordered new sanctions.

The European countries said they would stick to the accord. But their letter sets out engagements that the ministers say Iran has breached, including building up a uranium stock more than 40 times the permitted level under the 2015 deal.

“The E3 remain fully committed to a diplomatic resolution to the crisis caused by Iran’s nuclear program and will continue to engage with a view to reaching a negotiated solution.

“We are equally ready, and have unambiguous legal grounds, to notify the significant non-performance of JCPOA commitments by Iran … thereby triggering the snapback mechanism, should no satisfactory solution be reached by the end of August 2025,” the ministers wrote in the letter first reported by the Financial Times.

The United States had already started contacts with Iran, which denies seeking a weapon, over its nuclear activities.

But these were halted by the Israeli strikes in June on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Even before the strikes, the international powers had raised concerns about the lack of access given to IAEA inspectors.

Iran halted all cooperation with the IAEA after the strikes, but it announced that the agency’s deputy chief was expected in Teheran for talks on a new cooperation deal.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sent a letter to the UN last month saying that the European countries did not have the legal right to restore sanctions.

The European ministers called this allegation “unfounded”.

They insisted that as JCPOA signatories, they would be “clearly and unambiguously legally justified in using relevant provisions” of UN resolutions “to trigger UN snapback to reinstate UNSC resolutions against Iran which would prohibit enrichment and re-impose UN sanctions.”

South Africa denounces ‘deeply flawed’ US human rights report

CC™ News

By Staff

South Africa has denounced a “deeply flawed” US report highlighting its “deteriorating” human rights situation, days after Donald Trump’s administration slapped 30 percent tariffs on many of the country’s exports.

In its annual human rights report released Tuesday, the US State Department accused South Africa of taking “a substantially worrying step towards land expropriation of so-called Afrikaners and further abuses against racial minorities”.

Hit with the highest US tariffs of any sub-Saharan country, South Africa has been a regular target of Trump, who has criticised land and employment laws meant to redress lingering racial inequalities.

Pretoria’s foreign ministry responded Tuesday by expressing “profound disappointment” in the US report.

“We find the report to be an inaccurate and deeply flawed account that fails to reflect the reality of our constitutional democracy,” it said.

A law signed this year by President Cyril Ramaphosa and denounced by Trump allows for the expropriation of land without compensation in rare circumstances.

Land ownership remains a contentious issue in South Africa, with most farmland still owned by white settlers, a full three decades after the end of apartheid.

Pretoria still hopes to strike a deal with Washington, its third-largest trading partner, to save tens of thousands of jobs in the agricultural, automotive and textiles sectors that are highly dependent on the US market.

Possible use of City Hall apparatus for political intimidation in Federal Way?

CC™ VideoSpective