Brig-Gen. Paul T Boroh (rtd) expressed his view on peace building/conflict management, when paid a courtesy visit to the Vice Chancellor of Benson Idahosa University in Benin on Wednesday, November 4, 2015, as part of his walking tour of the Niger Delta states.

He said the Presidential Amnesty office, was willing to collaborate with Benson Idahosa University, to run courses in security and peace/conflict management, with a view to further entrench the concept of security, peace building and conflict prevention among the youth.

He said the introduction of security, peace/conflict management studies in the tertiary schools’ curriculum will deepen and broaden security consciousness among the population, particularly in a post crisis environment.

Brig-Gen. Boroh, commended the university for its role in molding the students in character and learning, particularly those studying under the Presidential Amnesty Programme, adding that his office was working towards executing a sustainable reintegration for the beneficiaries on completion of their various programmes.

The Amnesty boss also promised to special consideration to high flying students, by making sure that they retained by the faculty.

In his remark, the Vice Chancellor of Benson Idahosa University, Prof. Ernest Izevbigie said the proposal of Brig-Gen. Boroh (rtd) to run courses in security, peace/conflict management/studies is welcome development, adding that the school is a private Christian University that provides state-of-the-art undergraduate, postgraduate and Benson professional education.

He reiterated the university’s commitment towards raising leaders for the nation, who are complete in spirit, mind and body, thus contributing to the production of high-level leadership and quality manpower for the nation and the world.

According to him, Benson Idahosa University (BIU), Benin, has become the first university in Africa to be accepted as a member of the prestigious National Academy of Inventors (NAI) which comprises over 60 other universities worldwide, adding that the feat was achieved on account of a drug, Edotide, invented by him for the prevention and management of cancer, prostate enlargement and diabetes.

He said a total of 435 delegates from the Presidential Amnesty Programme are currently studying various courses in the university, saying that the students under the programme have conducted themselves well on campus.

Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the President/Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig-Gen. Paul T Boroh, has assured delegates that make first class in their studies automatic employment in the institution where they graduate.

He advised students under the Amnesty Programme to work hard to come out with good grades, as the office would not tolerate indolence on the part of the delegates on the programme.

He stated this while addressing amnesty student delegates at the Benson Idahosa University Benin City, in Edo state, during his recent visit to the school.

According to him, the focus of the Niger Delta region should rather tilt towards agriculture as a possible alternative to oil and gas in the future, noting that his office was working round the clock to achieve a sustainable reintegration of all delegates in the programme, through meaningful engagement on completion of their various programmes.

Responding, Asoh Joel Ebikefe, from the department of International Studies and Diplomacy, assured the amnesty boss that they would put in their best make the Presidential Amnesty Office proud through hard work and good conduct on campus.

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Jonathan, who lost the March 28 presidential election to President Mohammadu Buhari hails from Bayelsa, a state in the Niger Delta.

Obasanjo who spoke while responding to questions shortly after delivering a convocation lecture at the Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, said he couldn’t have helped Jonathan to do his job as Nigeria President after helping him to secure the position.

“I became the Head of State because of my performance in the war front. If General Gowon had not sent me to the war front, he would not know whether I could perform or not. He sent me to the war front and because I performed, we both shared the credit. But if I had failed, he would not have shared the condemnation with me. I would have taken that alone.

“I believe that the opportunity that afforded itself in 2010 was for somebody from the minority to on his self esteem become the President of Nigeria. We should never lose such opportunity.

“What he did with that opportunity is entirely up to him. What he did or did not do with it will reflect for a long time on that part of the country. There is no particular person who got there without the people,” Obasanjo said.

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The group is also disturbed at the high fees being charged by private Universities founded by Pastors saying the church must wake up from its slumber and make the fees affordable for members of the congregation whose tithes were used for establishing the institutions.

The Executive Secretary of ACN and former member of the House of Representatives, Dino Melaye in a statement entitled: “Private Jets, Higher fees and Nigerian Pastors” issued in Abuja said “we should stop deceiving ourselves because we cannot deceive God.”

He said, “Men of God should stop monetizing their consciences and return to their first love which is salvation. They should stop being materialistic because the Biblical injunction is that we should seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness and all other things will be added unto it.

“The men of God don’t want any other person to talk about them. But Jesus Christ Himself asked His followers: ‘Who do men say I am?’; that means Jesus Christ was ready to be debated; talked about and analyzed. So men of God should also not criticise those who analyze them and their activities. Again, the Bible said, test every spirit and hold unto that which is true. This means that it is our responsibility to check them.”

According to him, school fees in most supposedly mission schools in Nigeria are “mouth-watering and not for the poor.”

Melaye said, ” Bowen University charges N650,000 per semester, Covenant University N640,000 per semester, Benson Idahosa N500,000 per semester, Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU) N450,000 per semester, Ajayi Crowther University N350,000 per semester, Madonna University N350,000 per semester.

“All of these universities were built from the tithes and offerings of the common worshipers who obviously now cannot afford to send their wards to these schools they built with their sweat. There are all manners of offerings in our churches today, all to establish a man and catapult his ego by purchasing a private jet with monies from innocent worshipers.”

The ex-legislator also accused some Pastors of using Malachi 3:6-12 as an instrument for extortion and self aggrandizement.

He said, “Warren Buffet who owns the company that produces these price jets fly around the world in commercial airlines. What absurdity imported into the House of God! The Church must wake up from its slumber of ‘orishirishi’ seeds.

“The congregation is advised to sow a seed, special offering seed, first fruit seed, redemption seed, thanksgiving seed, harvest seed, tithes, pastor‚Äôs birthday seed, church building seeds, evangelism seed, father‚Äôs day seed, mother‚Äôs day seed, children‚Äôs day seed, pastor‚Äôs cake seed, seed for the poor, olive oil seed, books seed, Compact Disc and DVD seeds, etc.

“All these seeds germinate to become luxurious houses, cars, servicing of body guards, women and purchasing of private jets, while the donors perish in abject poverty and penury. Their wards are in public schools while government and oil thieves and politicians send their children to schools built by the barber, bricklayer, mechanic, hair dresser, tomato seller, civil servants, artisans and unemployed.”

Melaye also called on God to “have mercy on these so-called Men of God, whom we now address as Daddy and their wives as Mummy not minding their ages.”

“They have Different Personal Assistants including the one who carries the Bible. Will Christ find Christianity on earth when He appears? Time to stop deceiving ourselves because we cannot deceive God. Seek first the Kingdom of and every other thing is jara. Those who prepare for their heavenly home and have genuine calling will not be carried away by materialism.‚Äù

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