ZION B-BC NEWSLETTER. [ A Publication of the Zion Faith Bible-Believing Church, Kpeyegyi, Abuja Nigeria. ] { VOL. 3. NO 76. 25-01-15.} “…ONLY The Truth, Will Set You Free! (John.8:32). A POLITICAL CONFIGURATION OF POPULAR WILL MUST PREVAIL AT THE ELECTIONS! Ahead of the 2015 General Elections in Nigeria, NINE out of the political parties with large followership, converged at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and endorsed a “NON-VIOLENCE PEACE ACCORD,” aimed at curtailing all forms of political upheavals, before, during and after results were announced! *The “Abuja Accord,” brokered by the Security Division of the Presidency and witnessed by former United Nations Secretary General, Ghana’s Kofi Anan and former British Commonwealth, Secretary General, Nigeria’s Emeka Anyaoku, canvassed for the spirit of sportsmanship which would ensure that winners were magnanimous in victory and losers accepted defeat without rancour or resorting to violence! *We are in total agreement with this innovation, (though it has no force of law), provided the letters and the spirit of the ACCORD, are religiously adhered to by all parties concerned and down to the grass root levels of the society. *Politics without bitterness is the 21st Century VOGUE among the comity of both developed and developing nations, because governance being a continuum would always provide other opportunities for all interested parties and stakeholders in the future. *The Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC], has denied all security breach allegations by the Deputy Director of Department of State Services [DSS], and has vouched to conduct very free, fair, credible and peaceful elections on the appointed days of 14th and 28th February 2015, respectively! *Professor Attahiru Jega, INEC Chairman, reassured that the number of days left to distribute the Permanent Voters Cards [PVCs], before the Presidential and Legislative elections were sufficient in view of the fact that distribution had been decentralized from Local Government to Ward levels throughout the Federation adding that registered voters would not be disenfranchised provided, they made concerted efforts to collect the PVCs! *He allayed the fears of Nigerians in respect of DSS report of a HACK threat to the Commission’s DATA BASE which he categorically denied and described as a false alarm and also assured the electorate that no forged or fake PVCs were discovered by his Commission as previously alleged by DSS adding that the CARD READERS, already procured for use during the elections would definitely expose any fake PVC not printed by INEC! *The ultimate success of the 2015 General Elections is the collective responsibility of all citizens of this great country and Africa’s economic touch bearer, irrespective of political leanings or affiliations. It is encouraging that all hands are already on deck because the masses of youths who were usually ready tools in the hands of unscrupulous politician have hearkened to divine counselling to shun any form of thuggery or violence, not only during the impending elections but at any point in time during their life time! *The ONUS now rests squarely on the shoulders of our SECURITY AGENCIES – especially, THE NIGERIA POLICE FORCE [NPF], (established in 1861), and which is perhaps the oldest and closest to the citizens! It is a national police force which enjoys a monopoly of that status and cannot be replicated in any part of the Federation according to Section 214 (1) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution. *The Nigeria Police is saddled with the responsibilities to prevent and detect crimes; apprehend and prosecute offenders; ensure the preservation of law and order, including the protection of life and property and the due enforcement of all laws and regulations with which it is directly charged in accordance with such provisions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly. *Section 214 (2)(b)(c) also state that members of the Force shall have such powers and duties like forming part of the armed forces of the Federation or for the protection of harbours, waterways, railways and air fields, as may be conferred by law. *From the above listed national duties, it is very glaring the NPF is saddled with more responsibilities than the others. For instance, the Armed Forces are restricted to protecting the nation from all forms of external aggressions and at times to quell internal security challenges which the Police may not be fully equipped to handle, like the on-going terrorists attacks of the Boko Haram Sect, while the Customs and Immigrations outfits are also restricted to monitoring movement and influx of goods and services and also the human traffic along the stretch of kilometres of Nigeria’s porous borders! *During these coming elections, Nigerians have INEC’s assurances that, SOLDIERS would not be assigned to polling or voting booth areas but restricted to cities outskirts to monitor private and commercial vehicles and ensure that miscreants or political thugs were deterred from gaining access to polling areas on the election days! *We believe that the Nigeria Police, which has an enviable record and long experience in its 154 years of maintaining peace in the nation, is capable of handling all security situations and challenges during this elections flawlessly, provided there are no external interventions like, “ORDERS FROM ABOVE!” *The Force successfully policed the liberated areas during Nigeria’s unfortunate Civil War and also ranked among the best peace-keepers under the auspices of the United Nations Organisation [UNO], in the Republic of Congo, during that nation’s crisis from1963-1965, among several other international assignments over the decades. *We are aware that the Inspector General of Police will be very passionate to be impartial to favourably discharge his constitutional duties if not pressurized like it happened at the National Assembly on Thursday 20th November, 2014, when distinguished Legislators were tear-gassed by his men who were hurriedly drafted to conduct a hatchet’s job against the opposition! *What the nation needs at this time as panacea to the major insecurity challenge of insurgency is a well-coordinated synergy amongst all the security agencies to sniff and nip in the bud any attempt to use them as scapegoats by politicians to fulfil inordinate ambitions. Presently senior police officers are apologizing to Legislators at the NASS over the tear gas assault! *Character reformation among the rank and file is of utmost priority at this point in time although we are aware that some very superior police officers could be very naughty at times when they throw decorum overboard and take laws into their hands. *They needed to be reminded of the elections international monitoring groups, civil society pressure groups, non-governmental organisations, the United Nations, the European Union, Africa Union representatives, and others who would be on hand to watch this internationally-acclaimed Nigeria Police personnel which had performed creditably outside of their shores in global assignments! *The Nigeria Police Force belongs to the multitude of taxpayers with whose labour and sweat they are kitted and paid their monthly salaries and allowances! They neither belong to Peoples’ Democratic Party [PDP], nor the All Progressive Party [APC], and as such, their allegiance MUST remain with, “We the People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”! *The Word of God says: “Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.” [Philippians.4:5]. According to Evans Hopkins, Apostle Paul reminded them [the Philippians] of this fact – that the Lord is nigh, standing close to them, beholding not only their outward conduct, but their inner disposition – as an incentive to their forbearance. *And to all NPF personnel, “Let your gentleness, integrity, honesty, courtesy, incorruptibility and absolute loyalty to God and the poor masses of Nigeria, who were always at the receiving end be known to all men/women of the world; assert your rights to defend your character and stand up for your reputation, because the Lord is at hand.” [Matthew.24:42-50; James. 5:8,9; 1Peter.4:7;2Peter.3:8.] *Incidents of physical attacks of both Presidential candidates of PDP and APC have been alleged, but a school of thought believes that the ruling party master-minded all attacks through some hired thugs to give the opposition a bad name since the DSS allegations fell like a pack of cards! *True or false, we advocate that the ABUJA ACCORD should remain sacrosanct because what is at stake demands that the best candidates be elected to move the country on the right course under a serene and very peaceful atmosphere! *We congratulate the Nigerian Elections Debate Group [NEDG] on their Town Hall Meeting which hosted representatives of FOUR political parties on Saturday 24th January, 2015, as a prelude to the major attractions that would involve the two major gladiators and their lieutenants. *These debates will definitely bring out qualified candidates who are able to proffer manifestoes based on issues and ideologies that would give positive meaning to the living standards of the masses! *William Pitt says, “Where law ends, tyranny begins”; Daniel Webster says, “Let our object be our country, our whole country, and nothing but our country”; and Tennyson in short poem, writes as follows: “A land of settled government, A land of just and old renown, Where Freedom broadens slowly down From precedent to precedent.” *Nigerians need a new lease of life! A break from the monotony of the past; Uncertainty, insecurity, and economic instability; Inept governance foisted with avarice; Greedy predator-politicians; Insatiable without petro-dollar green notes! *We call on the electorate to put their best ability into this 2015 elections, because Nigeria needs the best, faithful and righteous brains in the coming dispensation. You need to use your vote very wisely and honestly to secure the elections of those who are best fitted, both by character and ability to legislate and govern. *You need to bring on board, men of intelligence and good business capacities, well-fitted to deal with all matters relating to public health and conveniences; guardians of the poor and members of the legislature who must be fully competent to deal with all matters that concern national welfare! * You must not be disenfranchised! Watch out for the next edition of the Nigerian Elections Debate Group’s, Town Hall Meeting, coming up before the end of January 2015! If you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, don’t miss this great opportunity as you pray this prayer: Lord Jesus; I confess that I am a sinner who needs to be saved through the grace of the New Testament of your Blood, shed on the Cross at Calvary; I renounce every sin in my life and accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Please forgive me and write my name in the Book of Life. Amen. If you prayed this prayer, you have been admitted into the family of sons and daughters of God, who are born-again. Congratulations. Please look forward to more divine revelation in the next edition of Zion B-BC Newsletter as you share this with friends and remain blessed in the Lord. [For weekly access,to this newsletter, log on to: facebook.com/zionfaithbible.believingchurch or http://www.zfbbc1.blogspot.com, https://www.google.com/+zionfaithbiblebelievingchurch . I am, Yours sincerely,Dr. David B.A. Olufon, Resident Pastor and Editor.08130669886, 08098194390.g-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com .]