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2023 Elections: OTMC Urges Nigerians to Eschew Violence, Be Agents of Peace

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By Israel Bulus, Kaduna

Obey The Mecedonian Call (OTMC) has called on Nigerians to be agent of peace and eschew all forms of violence before, during and after the declaration of results in the 2023 general elections.

Nigerian representative and Chairman Kaduna State Christian Association of Nigerian Rev. John Joseph Hayab stated this on Friday while addressing newsmen preparatory to the February 25th Presidential and National Assembly and March 11th Governorship and State Houses of Assemblies elections.

The text of the briefing tagged, “let us birth Nigeria’s glorious destiny” which is
jointly signed by Rev. John Joseph Hayab, Arch Bishop Joe Yari, Rev. Caleb Ma’aji and Mr. Jubal Freeman Dabo said, “the truth must be told as many fathers and patriots of old dreaded yet they knew that this sensitive moment in Nigeria history would finally come, when one generation would have to make that decision on behalf of the future. The decision whether to embrace peace to bond in love or surrender to the inherited forces of disintegration at a terrible cost.

“As we get prepared for the the 2023 elections which is coming up tomorrow (Saturday) we are calling on all Nigerians to prayerfully embrace the wisdom that is better than weapons of war so that we can turn this election into a stepping stone towards building up Nigeria into the greatest nation of the world. We are not unaware of the crippling pains that the orchestrated fuel scarcity and shortage of currency has brought upon the nation.

“The good news we bring in this hour is that we have examined all the contributing factors and can announce a simple solution that will be a game changer. Opinions will always differ on how things should be done in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-generational country as ours. More so when the trauma of our violent past & painful experiences has never been healed.

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“Yet the truth is that the average Nigerian citizen, north, south, east and west are peace loving, trusting and patient Africans at heart. So why can’t we rise beyond the engineered divisions and stress to deploy the creative African advantage that defines our heritage.

“It is a known fact world wide that it takes an entire community to bring up a child in Africa because we (left to ourselves) are our brothers keepers and God fearing people not to mention our natural tribal mastering of non-violent communication and the use of proverbs in settling all disputes.

“In order to de-escalate the present tensions, we need to consider that fact that most of us mean well. In a sense, we are all victims of history from the president to the peasant on the street. Our greatest problems are systemic in nature and we must not allow anyone to lead us on a self-destructive path.

“Please listen to the following instructions and embrace your God-given African heritage to become an agent of peace during this election.Please cool down, lower your voice and embrace non-violent communication with proverbs since it is better to jaw-jaw than war-war.

“Let all God-fearing people meet with others in the neighborhoods and resident associations to agree on strategies to keep their streets peaceful and safe for children during this election.Let each household keep a storage of basic food to last a few days and encourage the rationing and sharing of all resources within neighborhood clusters in case of challenges.

“Deliberately isolate the mischief makers in any community by using the tokens of peace to mark all households of peace while appealing to matriarchs and parents who can speak directly into the hearts of the wayward ones.

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“It is imperative that we must make and keep the peace throughout Nigeria this weekend and beyond while we work in cooperation with the Nigerians and well-wishers in the diaspora who are praying and offering their support for the peaceful conduct of our elections.

“More counsels will be announced in the days ahead so please stay vigilant. Nigerians all over the world can contact us for more information on how to build the peace and future of Nigeria. God bless you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

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Sterling Bank Eliminates Transfer Fees, Challenges Industry Standards

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April 2, 2025

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Sterling Bank has made a groundbreaking move by eliminating transfer charges on local transactions, aiming to create a more equitable banking experience for Nigerians. The question now arises: will other financial institutions follow this lead?

On April 1, Sterling Bank announced the removal of transfer fees for all local digital transactions, positioning itself as the first major bank in Nigeria to implement such a policy. Initially, the announcement faced skepticism, with many believing it to be an April Fools’ Day joke. However, Sterling has since reaffirmed the policy’s legitimacy and immediate implementation, signaling a significant evolution in the industry’s customer service approach.

Obinna Ukachukwu, the Growth Executive overseeing the Consumer and Business Banking Directorate, stated, “We believe that accessing your own funds should not incur a penalty. This decision transcends financial implications; it reflects our core values.”

With this new policy, Sterling customers can now make free transfers for all local transactions via the bank’s mobile app. This initiative is anticipated to yield considerable savings for individuals and small business owners who frequently engage in transfers.

“We may not be the largest bank in Nigeria, but we are certainly the most audacious,” Ukachukwu declared. “Sterling Bank is committed to the future of Nigeria, and we are backing our fellow citizens with more than just words.”

Sterling Bank has a history of prioritizing customer welfare, having previously offered financial assistance to healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This latest initiative has garnered widespread public support, igniting conversations on social media and prompting calls for other banks to adopt similar practices.

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“We take pride in leading this transformative change,” Ukachukwu concluded. “We hope to inspire others to rethink what customers truly require from their banks, not only in terms of services but also in values.”

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Breaking News: Edo Tribunal Rejects Action Alliance’s Challenge Against Governor Okpebholo

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55 minutes ago

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April 2, 2025

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On Wednesday, the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, convened in Abuja, dismissed the Action Alliance’s (AA) petition aimed at overturning the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo.

The tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi and comprising a three-member panel, determined that the petition, filed by AA and its National Chairman, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, was without merit.

The tribunal concluded that the issues raised in the petition were pre-election matters, falling outside its jurisdiction to adjudicate.

The petitioners claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had excluded their legitimate candidate from the governorship election held on September 21, 2024. They argued that, in contradiction to several court rulings, INEC recognized a candidate who had not been validly nominated by the party.

Furthermore, the petitioners contended that INEC’s failure to publish the name of their party’s rightful candidate constituted a significant violation of Section 134(1)(b) of the Electoral Act.

In addition to these claims, they asserted that Governor Okpebholo, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), did not receive the majority of legitimate votes and that the election was tainted by corrupt practices.

As a result, they sought the annulment of the election; however, the tribunal panel denied their request on Wednesday.

The panel upheld all preliminary objections raised against the petition. The respondents, including INEC and Governor Okpebholo, argued that the National Chairman of the AA lacked the standing to file the action, as he did not participate in the gubernatorial election.

They also asserted that the petition was barred by statute, as it involved pre-election issues that exceeded the tribunal’s jurisdiction.

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It is noteworthy that AA’s candidate, Mr. Tom Iseghhi-Okojie, withdrew from the race in favor of Governor Okpebholo just days before the election.

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All set for Niger Delta Sports Festival in Akwa Ibom – Umo

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1 hour ago

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April 2, 2025

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Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom has commended the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for investing in sports for the discovery of talents for the region and the country at large.

The governor gave the commendation at the Monthly State Covenant Service held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, as arrangements have been concluded for official opening ceremony of the Niger Delta Sports Festival at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

Eno, therefore, implored citizens and residents in the state to be fully involved in the festival.

He stressed the need for adequate maintenance of facilities recently revamped by the interventionist agency and assured successful hosting of the sports festival.

He promised to provide necessary support to ensure safe stay of all participants and tasked the organisers to leverage the peaceful ambiance of the state and make the competition a memorable one.

According to the organisers, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected in Uyo today (Wednesday) to declare the festival open, with no fewer than 3,000 athletes from the nine states of the Niger Delta to compete for laurels in 17 sporting events.

The competition will be hosted at six venues, including the Godswill Akpabio international stadium and West Itam Sports Centre, while the closing ceremony is billed for April 9.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that contingents from the nine Niger Delta Development states had arrived Uyo for the festival. (NAN)

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