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Okupe to Falana: There’s foolishness in your comment on Pastor Adeboye
A former Presidential Aide, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has warned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, against misleading assertions about the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E. A. Adeboye.
The former spokesman of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, spoke in a post shared on his Facebook page on Sunday.
Okupe said he recently read a story online where Falana was quoted as saying Adeboye was building business centres and not churches.
He noted that he has waited for Falana to debunk it and since he hasn’t, he decided to caution the legal practitioner publicly over the said comment.
His post, unedited, reads: “FEMI FALANA AND THE DRUNKENNESS OF PUBLIC ADVOCACY.
“A few days ago I read a news report credited to Femi Falana S.A.N.
“He was reported to have said ‘Pastor Adeboye, you are building business centres not churches.’
“I have waited for 72hrs hoping that the highly acclaimed human rights lawyer and public advocate will deny the story.
“But this never happened.
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“Femi Falana is a personal friend and I could have taken this up with him privately. But I choose to comment publicly because of the public image of Femi Falana who I recognise that he has a large following in the country especially among the youths and the civil society family both in Nigeria and abroad.
“It is imperative to publicly correct his falsehood lest he mislead many who believe in him.
“I write these comments not because i want to defend pastor Adeboye.
“I am by far too inconsequential to take up such a role.
“I know for a fact that those who defend pastor adeboye operate at such a sublime realm that I cannot even comprehend.
“And there lies the foolishness of Falana’s comments.
“Pastor Adeboye and the RCCG are obeying the instructions of our Lord Jesus when he charged his disciples to go into every corner on the surface of the earth and preach the gospel. Mark16:15.
“This the RCCG complies with by spreading the gospel through the planting of churches erronously referred to as ‘business centers’ all over the world, by femi Falana.
“Secondly Christian’s are mandated by the scriptures to give tithes and offerings.
“The more members a church has, the more tithes and offerings it will collect and the richer the churches get.
“Quite frankly also the richer the pastors and heads of the churches also get.
“Because they are scripturally allowed to partake in the wealth of the churches. 1 cor vs 13.
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“Those who work in the temple eat from the temple and those who serve at the alter share what is offered at the alter.
“Falana can admonish the church as a christian to use a gr@eater portion of their wealth to support the poor and the needy in the society, even the scriptures are full of such admonitions.
“Femi Falana should stay in the areas of his core competence and not dabble into religion where obviously he is so uninformed.
“Casting aspersions on great men of God like Pastor Adeboye is unwise and very very dangerous.
“These great Generals in the Christiandom are certainly not infallible but because of the Lord’s anointing they carry on their heads, even when they go wrong, they can only be judged by God Himself.
“I will enjoin my brother and friend the highly respected silk to repent and ask for forgiveness from God for his reckless statement.
“May the Lord forgive us all of our numerous sins in Jesus Name.”
The Eagle
News
Macron welcomes Tinubu, Remi in historic France visit
Macron welcomes Tinubu, Remi in historic France visit
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday began a two-day visit to France, with both countries seeking increased economic cooperation and Paris looking to boost ties in English-speaking Africa following a series of setbacks with former allies on the continent.
French President Emmanuel Macron met his counterpart at the historic Invalides Memorial Complex, with the first official state visit by a Nigerian leader in more than two decades.
The two national anthems sang out in the courtyard of one of Paris’ landmarks, kicking off a visit focused on encouraging economic partnerships between France and Africa’s most populous country.
Macron has sought a “renewal” between Paris and Africa since his 2017 election and after military coups and changing attitudes lessened France’s influence in Africa.
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The visit is “an opportunity to deepen the already dynamic relationship between France and Nigeria”, Macron’s office said.
Nigeria is Africa’s leading oil producer and has a robust film and entertainment industry.
However challenges posed by insecurity and corruption have left 129 million Nigerians — more than half the country’s population — living below the poverty line.
Nigeria is seeking to build ties in “agriculture, security, education, health, youth engagement, innovation and energy transition,” Tinubu’s office said in a statement, adding that the president had landed in Paris on Wednesday evening.
Tinubu and Macron will also address “shared values concerning finance, solid minerals, trade and investment, and communication,” it added.
Macron welcomes Tinubu, Remi in historic France visit
News
Senate passes tax reform bills for second reading
Senate passes tax reform bills for second reading
The Senate has passed, for second reading, the four tax reform bills that were forwarded to it for consideration for consideration.
After scaling Second Reading during plenary on Thursday, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio referred the four bills to the Senator Sani Musa, APC, Niger East led Committee on Finance to carry out other legislative action and report back in six weeks.
Prior to debate on the bills, the Senators had gone into a closed door session from 11.55am to 12.42pm.
The resolution of the Senate was sequel to presentation of the lead debate on the general principles of the bills by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, APC, Ekiti Central.
In his presentation, Bamidele said that they are “A Bill for an Act to Establish the Joint Revenue Board, the Tax Appeal Tribunal and the Office of the Tax Ombud, for the harmonization, coordination and settlement of disputes arising from revenue administration in Nigeria and for related matters, 2024 (SB. 583).
“A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, No.13, 2007 and enact the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act to Establish the Nigeria Revenue Service, charged with powers of assessment, collection of, and accounting for revenue accruable to the Government of the Federation, and for related matters, 2024 (SB. 584)
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“A Bill for an Act to Provide for the assessment, collection of, and accounting for revenue accruing to the Federation, Federal, States and Local Governments; prescribe the powers and functions of tax authorities, and for related matters, 2024 (SB. 585) –
“A Bill for an Act to Repeal certain Acts on taxation and consolidate the legal frameworks relating to taxation and enact the Nigeria Tax Act to provide for taxation of income, transactions and instruments, and for related matters, 2024 (SB. 586).
In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Senator Akpabio said that during the public hearing, experts will be invited as well as Governors under the aegis of Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, traditional rulers and other stakeholders, just as he said that at the end of the day, the Senate will give to Nigerians and the country what is good.
Senate passes tax reform bills for second reading
News
Senate breaks into rowdy session over Tax Reform Bill
Senate breaks into rowdy session over Tax Reform Bill
The Senate’s plenary today was marked by a shouting match over the controversial Tax Reform Bill, which came up, unexpectedly, for debate despite not being listed as an item for the day’s business.
Recall the Tax Reform Bill, introduced by President Bola Tinubu, seeks to overhaul Nigeria’s tax framework.
While it is deemed a priority for national economic stability, it has faced resistance from various stakeholders, including state governors and the National Economic Council, over its implications.
The Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, representing Kano North, presided over the plenary which got disrupted after the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, representing Ekiti Central, invoked Order 12(1) of the Senate Standing Rules.
Bamidele proposed inviting experts, including the Director-General of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Tanimu Yakubu, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Chairman, Zacch Adedeji, to address the Chamber on the Tax Reform Bill.
After the Senate had considered and passed two bills for second reading and referred them to relevant committees, Bamidele raised the motion to bring the tax experts into the Chamber.
Barau seconded the motion and directed the Sergeant-at-Arms to allow the visitors in.
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However, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, strongly opposed the move, citing Senate Rules that forbid visitors from addressing the Chamber on matters not included in the Order Paper.
Ndume argued that the Tax Reform Bill was too significant to be treated without following proper legislative procedure, stating:
“This is a very important matter. We must follow known procedures. If this issue is to be addressed today, there must be a supplementary Order Paper to reflect it. Nigerians are watching, and this issue cannot be rushed.
“Mr. President, you can have your way, but I will have my say. Tax Reform is sensitive, and our people are deeply affected by this matter. We must represent the interest of Nigerians as we swore to do,” he said.
Barau responded, defending the decision to allow the experts into the Chamber. He dismissed Ndume’s objections, stating:
“The Chamber has no time for rhetorics. We are here for facts.”
This comment further inflamed the situation, leading to a rowdy session as Ndume accused Barau of dismissing his concerns due to his position.
“Is it because you are sitting there that you are saying a Senator is speaking rhetorics? You can rule me out of order, but I will speak for Nigerians,” Ndume retorted.
Eventually, Ndume was ruled out of order, and the visitors were permitted to address the Chamber on the proposed Tax Reform Bill.
Senate breaks into rowdy session over Tax Reform Bill
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