Headlines
Opinion: When Would Leah Sharibu Return?
By Eric Elezuo
When on February 19, 2018 the dreaded Boko Haram sect staged the kidnap of 110 students of Government Girls Science School. Dapchi, Yobe State, nobody expected that the heroine of the whole thing will be the then 15 year old Leah Sharibu. Even as the government of President Muhammadu Buhari negotiated the back channel release of the girls, there was no part reserved for Leah to play, but she finally took the scene by storm, and is today the preferred major character of the entire ‘script’.
On Tuesday, March 22, the terrorist ‘brought back’ 104 abducted schoolgirls with two others according to the presidency. Reports also claimed that five of the girls were dead and one, only one girl was not released. Her only crime was that she was a Christian, and had refused to be converted to Islam or wear the hijab.
This singular action brought a different twist to the well woven plot as not only Nigerian Christians reacted, but the world at large, making an emphatic demand for the unconditional release of the girl who has been described as spirited.
While lamenting his daughter’s continued stay as a captive in Boko Haram’s domain, Leah’s father praised her for refusing to denounce her faith, emphasizing how proud he is to be her father. The Christian world, on their part, has applauded her actions, saying it is only a true child of God that can call Boko Haram’s bluff right in their domain. The young girl chose to die rather than denying her Lord Jesus Christ – that was a feat not many so called acclaimed men of God and tongue talking brothers and sisters may be able to achieve. It is often said that it is in time of serious crisis where life is at stake that the real child of God could be known: Leah proved that she is a real child of God.
Her action has elicited a promise from the President that he will do everything possible to see that the lass returned home unhurt while the Christian sect are holding prayers on end for her safe return. Whatever happens at the end of the day, Leah has practically performed the whole duty of man which is encapsulated in ‘fear God’; she has paid her dues and shamed her detractors; she has stolen the show to the glory of God. It will not be forgotten also that she has affected a lot of lives, non-Christians too with her stern expression of belief even in an environment where she had no power to enforce anything. And many will begin to understand that there is more to living a pious life than meets the eye.
The world is waiting for her to return to be showered with encomiums and honour as that girl who was drafted for a ‘waka pass’ role but ended up becoming the lead character, the unexpected heroine of the whole Dapchi story.
But with the killing of two aide workers attached to the Red Cross society by the Boko Haram sect months after they were kidnapped at an IDP camp in Borno, fears have been raised as to her safety and safe return.
Consequently, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari must put every mechanism in motion to ensure she not returns, but return without scratches of any kind. As the government has promised, so must they do, at least for credibility sake. The world is watching!
In the same vein, even as President Buhari has constantly assured that the girl, who recently clocked 16 in the terrorists’ camp, will be returned, Nigerians, and of course the international community continue to ask: when would Leah Sharibu return?
Time, of course, is running out!
The draw for the Champions League last 16 and knockout play-offs has been completed.
One of the most interesting fixtures, will see Benfica play Real Madrid.
The two teams clashed on the last day of the league phase with Jose Mourinho’s men winning 4-2 in Portugal.
That result saw Benfica sneak into the play-offs and denied Madrid an automatic spot.
Clubs have been paired together based on where they finished at the end of the league phase to form seeded and unseeded pairs.
The teams that finished ninth to 16th were in the seeded pairs, while 17th to 24th were in unseeded pairs.
PLAY-OFF DRAWS:
Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta
Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen
Galatasaray vs Juventus
Club Brugge vs Atletico Madrid
Monaco vs PSG
Qarabag vs Newcastle
Benfica vs Real Madrid
Bodo/Glimt vs Inter
Knockout play-off round: February 17-18, February 24-25
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has rejected the call by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) seeking the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan.
The Shari’ah Council, earlier this week, demanded the immediate removal and prosecution of Amupitan, as members of the Council questioned his integrity over a legal brief in which he reportedly acknowledged claims of persecution constituting genocide of Christians in Nigeria.
Reacting to the development in a statement on Thursday, the Chairman of Northern CAN, Reverend Joseph John Hayab, and the Secretary General of Northern CAN, Bishop Mohammed Naga, questioned the motive behind the demand, asking who was sponsoring the call and why such interests are hiding behind the platform of a religious body.
Describing the call as a dangerous attempt to politicise religion and undermine a critical national institution, Hayab stressed that Professor Amupitan has a constitutional right to freedom of religion, adding that expressing concern over challenges faced by his religion does not amount to bias or disqualification from public service.
He also pointed out that many Muslims who had served in key government positions in the past had troubling religious antecedents, yet were not subjected to similar scrutiny, urging national actors to prioritise competence and national interest over sectarian sentiment.
Hayab, who warned that the controversy further reinforces concerns about persistent religious discrimination against Christians in Nigeria, particularly in appointments to sensitive national offices, recalled that the two immediate past INEC chairmen were Muslims from Northern Nigeria, and warned against narratives suggesting that only adherents of a particular religion are qualified to lead the electoral body.
“Anyone hiding under the guise of the Shari’ah Council to demand the removal of the INEC chairman over political or sectarian interests should come out boldly. Otherwise, the ploy has died naturally, he said.
“”Are they saying that no other religion should serve as INEC chairman except Muslims? The most important question Nigerians should ask is whether Professor Amupitan is competent or not.
That should be the focus, not his faith,” the statement added.
The association commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it described as a deliberate effort to promote national unity by appointing a Christian as INEC Chairman, despite being a Muslim.
It noted that the decision reflected statesmanship and inclusivity, similar to precedents set under the previous administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, who kept a northern Muslim as INEC Chairman against all odds.
The Christian leaders advise the Shari’ah Council to publicly identify any individual or group behind the campaign against the INEC chairman, insisting that religious platforms must not be used as “cheap cover” to pursue political interests or intimidate public officials.They, however, called on the INEC chairman not to be distracted by the controversy, urging him to remain focused on his constitutional responsibility of conducting free, fair and credible elections.
“He should concentrate on doing the right thing for Nigerians and not behave like others who openly manipulated elections in the past and now seek to remain relevant through religious blackmail,” the statement said.
Northern CAN also raised concerns about what it described as emerging signals of a coordinated political agenda ahead of the 2027 general election, citing recent comments by the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, who warned that the All Progressives Congress (APC) risks electoral defeat if it drops a Northern Muslim-Muslim ticket from President Bola Tinubu’s re-election ticket.
According to the association, such statements, when viewed alongside the sustained attacks on a Christian INEC chairman, raise legitimate questions about whether there is a deliberate effort to undermine Christian participation and confidence in the country’s political process.
Headlines
FCT Council Polls: Mammoth Crowd Troops Out in Solidarity As Peter Obi Campaigns for ADC Candidates
Leading presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Party (ADC), Peter Obi, on Tuesday embarked, on an early morning grassroots engagement across several area councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as part of activities ahead of the council polls.
Obi, in a post on X, said he set out as early as 6:30 am from his office in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) to interact directly with residents and reinforce his vision of people-centred leadership.
His first stop was Abaji Area Council, where he campaigned alongside Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) chairmanship candidate.
Peter Obi took a one-hour walk through the community, engaging the grassroots and listening to their concerns.
He later proceeded to Kwali Area Council to support Hon. Jeremiah Badoji, the ADC chairmanship candidate, where he again spent time walking through the community and interacting with locals, stressing that leadership must be accessible and rooted in the everyday realities of the people.
The former Anambra governor also visited Zuba in Gwagwalada Area Council to campaign for Pharmacist Iko Danjuma, the ADC chairmanship candidate, before moving to Deidei Market.
At the market, Obi engaged traders and residents while canvassing support for Dr Moses Paul, the ADC chairmanship candidate for AMAC.
He used the engagements to reiterate his commitment to inclusive development and grassroots-driven leadership that prioritises the welfare and aspirations of ordinary citizens.
