Duquesne University President Ken Gormley has been selected as a @PghBizTimes C-Suite Awards honoree.
Nominated winners were judged on their leadership, contributions to their organization and community involvement. https://t.co/6q6xCooEpt
Congrats to Fr. Elochukwu Uzukwu! His book "Memorializing the Unsung" has been named one of the Ten Outstanding Books of 2024 by the International Bulletin of Mission Research. A powerful contribution to World Christianity and Mission Studies!
AFRICA NEWS: Namibia has become the only African country with a female president (Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah) and vice president (Lucia Witbooi).
Can this happen in Nigeria 🇳🇬?
🔴Breaking: Pope Francis made his first public appearance in over a month, offering a brief greeting and apostolic blessing — delivered with visible effort — from a window of Gemelli Hospital. He will be discharged today and continue his recovery at the Vatican.
From SIST to Manila: A Fraternal Encounter
The Superior General, Fr. Alain Mayama CSSp, is currently on official Visitation to the Philippines. In this picture, he visited the Spiritan Formation Community in Manila where our beloved confrere, Fr. Damian Ọzọkwere CSSp,
the Rector. It was a joyful "fraternal encounter" reminiscing their years in Spiritan International School of Theology (SIST) Attakwu, Enugu, Nigeria, as students and friends. Today, one is a Superior General and the other is a Rector of an international Formation Community.
While still agonizing over the ongoing deterioration of democracy in our nation, especially with the situation in Rivers State, and trying to reach out to our National Assembly members not to support and sustain the unconstitutionality and arbitrariness, I just heard that they have added salt to injury by using a voice vote to pass the illegality .
The Constitution is clear that this cannot be done through a voice vote but by calling individuals to answer 'yes' or 'no.'
You cannot determine a two-thirds majority by a voice vote.
While a two-thirds majority is crucial, it does not justify bypassing proper procedures and undermining the principles of transparency and accountability.
The use of a voice vote in such a significant decision not only disregards constitutional requirements but also erodes public trust in the democratic process as well as the transparency and integrity of the National Assembly .
Decisions of such magnitude must be made with integrity, following the letter and spirit of the law.
It is disheartening that a decision as crucial as approving an emergency proclamation — one that could alter the course of the nation — has been handled with such casual disregard for constitutional standards.
The 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) clearly requires that such a proclamation must be approved by at least two-thirds of all members of each House — the Senate and the House of Representatives.
A simple call of "Aye" or "Nay" cannot accurately measure this crucial threshold.
When a supermajority is required, it demands a recorded vote — whether by division, roll call, or electronic means. This isn't just a technicality; it's a matter of law and legitimacy.
The Senate Standing Orders and House Rules were established to ensure that decisions of this magnitude are made transparently, with accountability.
Ignoring these procedures is not just an oversight; it is a betrayal of the democratic process.
A voice vote for such a critical matter is not just insufficient; it's a dangerous precedent. If we can bend the rules so easily, what stops us from undermining other pillars of democracy?
Today, it's a voice vote on a state of emergency — tomorrow, it could be a voice vote on citizens' fundamental rights.
It is painful to think that members of the National Assembly, who swore to uphold the Constitution, could participate in a process that sidesteps the very essence of due process.
We must ask ourselves: If the law no longer anchors our decisions, then what does?
This is not just a flawed procedure; it is a warning signal.
We cannot afford to keep gambling with the soul of our democracy. -PO