Osinbajo, Chairman of Association of Short Men--el-Rufai

Nasir El-Rufai, the governor of Kaduna state has conferred the chairmanship of the Association of Short  Men on the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. He made this declaration on his twitter handle @elrufai while reacting to a video interview with @Tejubabyfacetv in 2010. In the said video,  he jocularly said he was the Secretary General of Nigerian Association of Short Men.

  While recalling how time flies,  he thanked @Tejubabyfacetv for the interview.  

He however posited that  "the current chairman of the Nigerian Association of Short People….so we are represented at the highest echelons of governance! Thanks Teju." He  was at his comedic best.  

Covid-19 Update (Nigeria)

Jigawa Deaths Caused by Malaria--Senator

A senator representing Jigawa North  at the National Assembly has stated the cause of the mysterious deaths  ravaging parts of the Nigerian state. Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia blamed a deadly combination of excessive heat, fasting and malaria. He stated  that only 46 people has so far died when in the state rather than the purported 100 deaths being bandied about. The 46 deaths has nothing to do with the Covid-19 pandemic. 

According to him "A five-man committee which has a World Health Organisation, WHO, member found only 46 deaths throughout Jigawa."

The  senator went further to state that "the people reported dead were elderly with health challenges. Even when you tell them not to fast, they bluntly refused." 

 He stated all these while reacting to reports of the  deaths  being as a result of the deadly pandemic coronavirus

What Is Herd Immunity?

With the advent of the Covid-19, no one was immune to the virus. Because there was no immunity, it was easy for the virus to spread across communities. However, when a greater population (usually 70-90%) is immune to the virus 75% who get into contact with a carrier won’t get it. If you are infected with measles but everyone you interact with has been vaccinated, transmission will be stopped in its tracks. Therefore the spread of the virus is kept to a manageable level. Herd immunity helped curb infectious diseases like chicken pox, mumps, measles, and recently, polio through the use of vaccines.

  There are basically two ways to achieve herd immunity: a large swath of the population gets infected or get a vaccine. But In the absence of a vaccine, developing immunity to a disease like Covid-19 requires actually being infected with the coronavirus. For this to work, prior infection has to confer immunity against future infection. Sweden is best known for being an advocate of herd immunity Sweden, The nation  is asking older people and those with underlying health issues to self-quarantine but is keeping many schools, restaurants and bars open. Many commentators have suggested that this would also be a good policy for poorer countries like those in Africa. But given the fatality rate, there is no way to do this without huge numbers of casualties,  considering the fact that Sweden has already seen far more deaths than its neighbors. 

  For herd immunity to actually work, vaccination must have coferred immunity or prior infection has to confer immunity against future infectio.  At present there is no vaccination and Science has not yet proven that a person cured of Covid-19 can not be reinfected. Scientists believe the time to discuss herd immunity is when we have a vaccine developed, and not before. The way to stop the spread of Covid-19 is by avoiding people who are sick.

So stay home, stay safe, and practice physical distancing as much as possible. 

Real Men are Dark in Complexion

Real Men are Dark in Complexion ―Mandi Ujunwa  Obi 

   

The Nollywood actress  posted to her  Instagram page of her realisation  "that real men are dark in complexion while fair ones are spiritual husbands”,   Mandi Obi,  a former make-up artist turned  Nollywood rising star,  is not shy in baring her heart to her teeming fans going by her penchant for controversial posts on her IG handle. 

Demand for the whereabouts of Buhari, Osinbajo amid COVID-19 Pandemic, regrettable and shameful--BOSF

The Buhari Osinbajo Solidarity Front  had described those concerned about the whereabouts of Vice president Osinbajo as distracting the nation's  attention from focusing on the Covid-19 pandenmic. In a statement signed by the group's coordinator Olawale Badmus opined that  some  "people have been looking for ways to ensure that they become the centre of attention at a time when all hands should be on deck to fight the unseen enemy." The group also called  it "laughable that supposed adults will position themselves like kids and ask questions that even three-year-old kids wouldn’t ask. BOSF said the President and Vice President are discharging their duties from their offices and it is clear for all to see. The BOSF  called what it termed harbingets of hate and shameless liars are "only interested in taking the society on a ride using Social Media.” While saying leaders across the world are operating 

from their offices and home, the group also  believed Nigeria leadership cannot be left out in this global practices even as some people are  "only interested in taking the society on a ride using Social Media.”

 The BOSF called those  calling for the resignation of  the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adeshina, "mere traducers who are up to no good."

Demand for the whereabouts of Buhari, Osinbajo amid COVID-19 Pandemic, regrettable and shameful--BOSF

The Buhari Osinbajo Solidarity Front  had described those concerned about the whereabouts of Vice president Osinbajo as distracting the nation's  attention from focusing on the Covid-19 pandenmic. In a statement signed by the group's coordinator Olawale Badmus opined that  some  "people have been looking for ways to ensure that they become the centre of attention at a time when all hands should be on deck to fight the unseen enemy." The group also called  it "laughable that supposed adults will position themselves like kids and ask questions that even three-year-old kids wouldn’t ask. BOSF said the President and Vice President are discharging their duties from their offices and it is clear for all to see. The BOSF  called what it termed harbingets of hate and shameless liars are "only interested in taking the society on a ride using Social Media.” While saying leaders across the world are operating 

from their offices and home, the group also  believed Nigeria leadership cannot be left out in this global practices even as some people are  "only interested in taking the society on a ride using Social Media.”

 The BOSF called those  calling for the resignation of  the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adeshina, "mere traducers who are up to no good."

15 Interesting Facts About The Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church is an ancient religious institution boasting about 1.287 billion Catholics in 2015 worldwide (according to the 2017 Annuario Pontifico, Pontifical Yearbook). As such, it is the largest Christian ecclesiastical body in the world. Because of this alone, it is important to have some facts regarding the Roman Catholic Church.

1. The Catholic Church’s Vatican has diplomatic relations with almost every country in the world.

2. Pope John Paul II travelled about 3 times the world’s distance to the moon. He traveled to more than 129 different countries, putting in more than 750,000 miles.

3. With a population of more than a billion faithful the Catholic Church is the largest single denomination in Christianity.

4. Pope John Paul II was the first non-Italian Pope in over 400 years.

5. The oldest institution in the Western world is the Catholic Church which traces its history back almost 2,000 years.

 6. The Pope does not reside in Italy but in the Vatican City which is a county within Italy.

7. Brazil has more Catholics than Italy, France, and Poland combined. It has close to 127 million or 11.7% of the world’s Catholic population.

 8. The incense used in the Catholic Church symbolizes prayers rising to heaven. It is also used to bless and purify.

9. The Big Bang Theory was proposed by a Catholic priest, Monsignor Georges Lemaitre.

10. Catholics believe that anyone can baptize in an emergency situation like accidents. Any person, Catholic or not, can pour the water and say the words. The only caveat is to follow the wish of the person you are baptizing.

11. The first Pope to step down was Pontian, who headed the Catholic Church from A.D. 230-235. He was sentenced to hard labour in a mine. He Pope stepped down voluntarily in order to prevent a power vacuum in the Church.

12. A few months after Pope Formosus (815-896) died, his dead body was exhumed, dressed in Papal robes, put on trial, and judged to be unworthy of the papacy. His papal edicts were overruled and deemed unworthy. The fingers he used to perform the sacraments were cut off and his body tossed into the Tiber River.

13. The Sedlec Ossuary (Church of Bones) is a small Catholic Chapel in the Czech Republic. It uses 40,000-70,000 human skeletons as decorations.

14. Unlike some American Protestant or Evangelical denominations, the Catholic Church does not reject the theory of Evolution.

15. John F. Kennedy was the only Catholic president in American history.

15 Interesting Facts About The Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church is an ancient religious institution boasting about 1.287 billion Catholics in 2015 worldwide (according to the 2017 Annuario Pontifico, Pontifical Yearbook). As such, it is the largest Christian ecclesiastical body in the world. Because of this alone, it is important to have some facts regarding the Roman Catholic Church.

1. The Catholic Church’s Vatican has diplomatic relations with almost every country in the world.

2. Pope John Paul II travelled about 3 times the world’s distance to the moon. He traveled to more than 129 different countries, putting in more than 750,000 miles.

3. With a population of more than a billion faithful the Catholic Church is the largest single denomination in Christianity.

4. Pope John Paul II was the first non-Italian Pope in over 400 years.

5. The oldest institution in the Western world is the Catholic Church which traces its history back almost 2,000 years.

 6. The Pope does not reside in Italy but in the Vatican City which is a county within Italy.

7. Brazil has more Catholics than Italy, France, and Poland combined. It has close to 127 million or 11.7% of the world’s Catholic population.

 8. The incense used in the Catholic Church symbolizes prayers rising to heaven. It is also used to bless and purify.

9. The Big Bang Theory was proposed by a Catholic priest, Monsignor Georges Lemaitre.

10. Catholics believe that anyone can baptize in an emergency situation like accidents. Any person, Catholic or not, can pour the water and say the words. The only caveat is to follow the wish of the person you are baptizing.

11. The first Pope to step down was Pontian, who headed the Catholic Church from A.D. 230-235. He was sentenced to hard labour in a mine. He Pope stepped down voluntarily in order to prevent a power vacuum in the Church.

12. A few months after Pope Formosus (815-896) died, his dead body was exhumed, dressed in Papal robes, put on trial, and judged to be unworthy of the papacy. His papal edicts were overruled and deemed unworthy. The fingers he used to perform the sacraments were cut off and his body tossed into the Tiber River.

13. The Sedlec Ossuary (Church of Bones) is a small Catholic Chapel in the Czech Republic. It uses 40,000-70,000 human skeletons as decorations.

14. Unlike some American Protestant or Evangelical denominations, the Catholic Church does not reject the theory of Evolution.

15. John F. Kennedy was the only Catholic president in American history.

The Executive and the Law

    
 The nation, it seems, is not prepared for democratic rule. It is like some citizens are  so used to military dictatorship of the past to the extent that most are pro-dictatoship in outlook. Sadly, nothing has been learnt since the return to democratic rule some twenty years ago. Listening to a radio call-in programme i was taken aback when some callers called in to say the continuing detention of Sowore is in order. Some said he  should not be released till he learns his lesson. Some opined that he couldn't call for a revolutionary overthrow (purportedly) of the Buhari government and expect to be released.

 
In all these the callers discounted the fact that a court of competent jurisdiction had set and accepted Sowore's bail conditions and application respectively. By the way, the bail conditions are one of the most stringent in memory. Unfortunately, this line of reasoning is behind some people's acceptance of the non release of   Nigeria’s former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki, and Shiite leader, Ibrahim el-Zakzaky.   Even  after several court orders ordered for their release,  both are still languishing in detention and would continue to be into the foreseeable future (the way things are going).  

  Some people can't get their heads round the fact democracy is not only about civilian rule but the rule of law and the principle of separation of powers. If the government goes to the court and the decision goes against it,  the right thing to do is to abide by the decision.  The government can't  pick and choose which court orders and decisions to obey.  A government that cherry pick court orders sets a dangerous path for the polity. The consequences are dire. Not least that citizens can start resorting to self help if the perception is that government would not obey valid court orders.

 The SSS even have the nerve and temerity to shoot at protesters seeking to execute a court sanctioned directive. The agency should be told, in no uncertain terms, that they are not a law unto themselves.

It is instructive to note that Mr Sowore met all bail conditions on November 6 and a federal judge signed warrant for his immediate release from the SSS custody, where he had been held since August 5.   Initially the SSS  said it had not received any court order to effect that Sowore should be released on bail. Later, it said no one had come to take Sowore home. Later still, the agency said Sowore's lawyers have not been seen by the agency. The latest statement from the SSS Wednesday afternoon said it refused to release Omoyele Sowore because the “appropriate persons” have not turned up to pick him up at its headquarters. Appropriate persons being the sureties. At each point, the agency's lie was laid bare by those concerned. It is obvious the agency is foot dragging since there is no extant law that says it must release anyone to a "surety" much less an adult. 

   The agency is a creature of the law and therefore should not be seen acting ultra vires. In saner climes, the president would be facing  impeachment proceedings due to his inability, nay reluctance,  to call this government agency to order. No body or agency of government is above the law of the land. 

Pretending to know the law,  or having an idea of what the law should do, would only lead the Executive down the ignominious road to dictatorship. The civil societies and human rights organizations should rise up to the challenge by calling out the government. 

  The grundnorm, the constitution, espouse a distinct policy of separation of powers in government. The Legislators to make laws, the Judiciary  to interpret laws, and the Executive to execute and carry out laws. Any interference of the duties and responsibilities of these arms will only lead to anarchy.

  The  ignorant citizens would do well to know that no matter anyone's idea, love for the president, political affiliation, tendencies, etc., the constitution is supreme in a democracy.