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FG slams oil firms over fuel scarcity

The Nigerian Railways:

Waiting for a new dawn

…Petrol now N400 per litre

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Vol. 5 No. 22

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Sunday, May 24, 2015

NDLEA places Buruji Kashamu under house arrest …begins extradition procedure to US on drug charges PDP senator-elect threatens suicide CAMERON HOSTS BUHARI

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Robbery suspect arrested on wedding day Probe Jonathan, Danjuma urges Buhari

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L-R: British Prime Minister, David Cameron and President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari after their meeting at No. 10 Downing Street, London, yesterday.

Senate Presidency: 35 APC senators

endorse Saraki, 24 back Lawan News

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11 kidnapping victims freed in Ekiti

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What’s new Politics

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Seven Days TALKING POINTS OF THE PAST WEEK May 24, 2015

Mu’azu quits as PDP chairman Anenih, Mu’azu not forced to quickly convened an emergency Peoples Democratic Party, meeting to respond to the develresign, says Secondus PDP, National Chairman, Ad-

Life is not a rehearsal –Ure Okezie I have a brand that I’m building which is the Porpori. The brand is getting bigger because I have branched into other areas of business. I’m now into my own line of hair products. I have two brands of human hair called Porpori Curls, which are curly and Porpori Waves. They are both under the platform I call Porpori Opportunity where all the Porpori products are marketed.

Wellness

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With barely 11 days to end his tenure in office on May 29, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday appealed to Nigerians to forgive him for any of his actions through which he may have offended many.

Jonathan spoke during a special thanksgiving and farewell church service held in his honour by Aso Villa Chapel inside the Presidential Villa.

The President, who was ac-

companied to the service by his wife, Dame Patience, and some of his aides, said he thanked God for giving him the opportunity to serve as President of the country.

Jonathan stated that since nobody is perfect, he may have done certain things that probably should not have been done, stressing that such actions were not deliberate.

CJN raises fresh panel of S’Court Justices on Constitution amendment Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmoud Mohammed, has raised a fresh seven-member panel of justices of the Supreme Court to thrash out the controversy trailing the ongoing plan by the National Assembly to enact into law the Fourth Alteration Act, which seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution.

National Mirror authoritatively gathered yesterday that the apex court took the decision following a plethora of applications filed by the National Assembly to annul the status quo ante order restraining both parties from taking steps on the matter, on the one hand, and “kill” the entire suit on the other hand.

FG’s N52bn debt threatens nation’s food security

Causes, prevention and control of razor bumps Pseudo folliculitis barbae or shaving bumps is a foreign body inflammatory reaction involving papules and pustules. It primarily affects curly haired males who, shave and this happens for two main reasons which results to shaving bumps such as the extra follicular penetration when a curly hair re enters the skin, and trans follicular penetration when the sharp tip of a growing hair pierces the follicle wall.

Outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan government has been accused of crippling the agricultural sector by its failure to pay about N52bn fertilizer subsidy debts, thereby undermining its drive towards food security in the country.

The amount is estimated to represent about 50 per cent of government’s fertil-

izer subsidy to farmers.

A statement by the Secretary of the Farm Inputs Suppliers Association of Nigeria, FISAN, Mr. Mises Itie, warned that if urgent steps are not taken to settle the debt, the country may experience serious food shortage in the 2015 farming year as suppliers may not have the capacity to supply farmers with more farm inputs.

How four aircraft crashed in Nigeria in 5yrs – AIB reports Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, yesterday attributed four air crashes in the country between 2006 and 2011 to poor weather condition, non-functional Instrument Landing Systems, ILS, and poor judgment by pilots.

AIB uploaded on its website the final reports of the investigations it carried out on the four accidents, which claimed

some lives. It also recommended prevention of recurrence to the affected carriers, other airlines and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA. The four accidents included the November 10th, 2006 AOS Helicopter’s crash with registration number 5N – BHU, which happened in Ovwian, Aladja, (Near Osubi Airstrip), Warri, Delta State.

Senate probes fuel scarcity The Senate yesterday mandated its Committees on Petroleum Resources, Upstream and Downstream, to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the current fuel scarcity across the country.

The decision followed the adoption of prayers contained in a motion by Deputy Senate Majority Leader, Abdul Ningi (PDP Bauchi Central).

The lawmaker, in the motion, which was brought pursuant to the Senate standing order on personal explanations, prayed the Senate to pay serious attention to the biting fuel crisis, which is causing great hardship for Nigerians from all walks of life.

According to Ningi, since the Senate still has the mandate of the people until June 1, it has the responsibility to intervene in the unfortunate development.

“We need to know whether fuel scarcity has come to stay.

We need to know whether it has become part of our life. We need to plan.

“By planning and talking about it we are sensitising Nigerians to brace up for the impending issue of fuel scarcity whether it is going to be here permanently or temporary.

“But we can’t know all these things until we hear from the experts.

Therefore, my prayer is to ask the committee on downstream and upstream to come up with explanations next Tuesday through which Nigerians will know and plan their future.

“Otherwise, I think it’s legally and morally wrong to keep silent about it, sweep it under the carpet and continue to believe these things are usual,” he said.

Shafar Cole CEO SHAFCOLE USHRETTES

TUE MON

Jonathan begs Nigerians to forgive him

BoT, of the party.

Speaking with State House Correspondents when he led some members of the National Working Committee, NWC, to meet with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Secondus said the party leadership had done its best and the issue of resignation was at the officer’s discretion.

Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Uche Secondus, yesterday said Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu and Chief Tony Anenih were not forced to resign their positions in the party.

Mu’azu had on Wednesday resigned as PDP National Chairman, while Anenih resigned as Chairman, Board of Trustees,

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opment.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting, National Secretary of the party, Prof. Adewale Oladipo announced that Deputy National Chairman, Uche Secondus would take over in acting capacity as the chairman.

He said: “The National Working Committee, NWC, of the PDP at its 399th meeting today, Wednesday 20, May 2015 received and accepted the voluntary resignation of the National Chairman of our great party, His Excellency, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu.

SAT FRI THU

Passion

amu Mu’azu, yesterday threw in the towel as he resigned his position.

The party’s Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, Chief Tony Anenih, also resigned.

Mu’azu, who is currently in the United Kingdom on medical mission, has been under intense pressure to resign in the aftermath of the party’s woeful outing in the just concluded general elections.

Following the resignation, the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party

SUN

Jonathan’s final days in office

First, I would like to say that I work with E Star Television for Africa.

So, on Mondays when I get to the office, I arrange the station’s movies schedule for the week.

On Tuesday, I usually do a voice-over for soap opera introduction.

On Wednesdays, I do go to a movie location and get updates of the films they are shooting for a segment on my show, which is known as Nollywood-In-Check, which I present every Wednesday from 5 to 6 p.m. and every Sunday from 1 to 2 p.m.

I go for my celebrity one-on-one interviews.

Most Fridays, I go for movie premieres.

I record my show, Nollywood-In-Check. That is when interviews, movie location updates, premieres and new movies are reviewed.

I go to church. After that, I leave for the office to ensure that the Sunday replay edition of my show is shown, and I also try to gather contents for my show. These are my activities for the week and they are not boring because I love my job. *By Adaeze Amos (08023012293)

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Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

THE

Big Read SUNDAY SPECIAL INVESTIGATION May 24, 2015

The Nigerian Railways:

Waiting for a new dawn The importance of railways or railroads to the economic growth and industrialisation of a nation cannot be overemphasised. Railways facilitate mass transportation of passengers and goods, a critical ingredient of economic activity. Great industrial power such as the United States, Britain, Canada, Japan and China built their vast industrial empires on the back of railways and it was in this light that the British colonial masters, more than a century ago, built the existing rail system in Nigeria to facilitate trade between the hinterland and the coast. Yet, poor management, lack of vision and mercenary politics combined to cripple the nation’s railroads. Ag Head of investigations, YEMI OLAKITAN looks at the sad tale of Nigerian Railway Corporation and what could be done to rebuild the nation’s railway system.

The importance of modern trains

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rains were one of the greatest inventions to transform the world. They not only opened up convenient transportation, but growth and development of new cities and jobs. People could find jobs building tracks or mining for coal to fuel steam engines. The cost of living went down as produce, agriculture, clothing, animals, and equipment could be quickly sent in locomotives.

Railways had a huge impact on the Industrial Revolution in Europe and America and even replaced steamboats that were used to travel by canals and rivers.

When people first think of trains, the picture of an old steam-engine huffing and puffing up a mountain might come into mind. Modern trains are nothing like they used to be 200 years ago. Trains can go 20-30 times faster than the first steam engine did, like France’s TGV train that can hit 300 miles per hour, this is faster than traveling in a racing car. Trains have evolved and grown as convenient subway transportations that many people take every single day.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation, until recently maintained poor rail system with about 3,557 kilometers of 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge track, which have suffered

‘RAILWAYS CRITICAL FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT’ 5

abandonment in the hands of successive governments.

It has two major rail lines: one connects Lagos and Yobe State. The other connects Port Harcourt in the Niger Delta and Maiduguri in the northeastern state of Borno. The Nigeria’s railway was regarded as the non-existent link in the nation’s development chain. For over three decades, that part of the nation’s transport sector declined with no obvious hope in sight for rehabilitation. Before the deterioration, railway transportation served multidimensional purposes. It held very vital socio-economic relevance for all aspects of the country.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation has its historical trajectory tied to the year 1898 when the first railroad was constructed by the British Government in Nigeria.

Records available have it that in 1912, the amalgamation of the Lagos Government Railway and the Baro-Kano Railway was achieved. This resulted in the commencement of a country-wide rail service under the tag of the Government Department of Railways. What gave the company its current name as well as the right to operate and construct rail systems was the Nigerian Railway Corporation Act of 1955. The services of the NRC received both local and near global appraisal, entering into the early years of the nation’s independence.

But the following years saw a gradual but decimating decline in the services of the corporation. Issues bothering around lack of proper management and maintenance of the locomotive assets and the rails brought the company to its knees. Before long, the corporation went bankrupt and all rail services stopped.

The presence of articulated vehicles conveying goods including combustible contents followed the inability to revive the rail system. This increased the pressure on the roads especially accidents with quite fatal proportions. Roads not meant to accommodate the weight of articulated vehicles fell into worrisome disrepair. Since

‘RAILWAYS PRIVATISATION IS WAY FORWARD’ 6

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The Big Read

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘FG has started rehabilitation of railways’

Nigerian railway

Modern train NRC building

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 the comatose state of the rail system became obvious, the cost of rehabilitating the roads became enervating. Many of the major roads connecting the cities, states and hubs bowed to the immense pressure from heavy vehicles.

At its best, the corporation boasted of over 45,000 persons in its employment but such number dropped disturbingly. Attempts to resuscitate the corporation’s erstwhile 1,067 mm (narrow gauge) network to standard gauge met with a brick wall.

The disturbing testament of the rail system was addressed after the commencement of the transformation agenda of 2011 was announced by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. Due to the efforts of the administration, the tracks are alive again and the system is undergoing a revamping.

In order to remedy the poor condition, efficiency, and profitability of the nation’s railroads, the administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan sought to privatise the Nigerian Railroad Corporation. Under the privatisation plan, three separate concessions of 25–30 years would be granted to private-sector companies to run railroads in the western, central, and eastern regions. Years of neglect of both the rolling stock and the right-of-way have seriously reduced the capacity and utility of the system.

In a Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Federal Government, the Guangdong Xinguang International Group, a Chinese company, is to construct a revolutionary “fast” rail (RFR) system from Lagos to the capital Abuja (where there is no existing railway) as well as light rail lines to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport from Lagos and to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport from the Abuja city centre. According to the government $2bn (N400bn) has been made available to start the projects, and the Chinese company will also invest in the three planned stages of the projected Abuja light rail system.

Honourable Minister of Transport, Senator Idris A. Umar said, the ongoing rehabilitation of over 90 per cent of the entire existing narrow gauge lines throughout the country is encouraging. According to the corporation, “The rehabilitation is the first segment of the 25 years Railway Strategic Vision.”

According reports, the Western line, Lagos - Kano (1,124km) is completed and passenger services and haulage of goods along the line were flagged off in December,

YEARS OF NEGLECT OF BOTH THE ROLLING STOCK AND THE RIGHTOF-WAY HAVE SERIOUSLY REDUCED THE CAPACITY AND UTILITY OF THE SYSTEM.

2012. The rehabilitation work in the Eastern line Port Harcourt-Maiduguri (1,657km) is progressing steadily within the Port-Harcourt- Gombe segment including the branch line from Kafanchan-Kaduna expected to be completed.

“Rehabilitation of sidings and loop lines along the Western line, including connection to key industrial locations within Apapa 74 stations and branch lines between Lagos and Kano, the 300 meter link between Apapa Port Complex and the national line and the spur line to the Kaduna power plant complex have commenced”, according to government documents.

The corporation went a step further by procuring twenty-five 2500HP locomotives from GE, four 1800HP locomotives from CNR of China, 40 pressurized tank wagons, two 100ton telescopic cranes, three wheel machine, six 68-seater air-conditioned coaches, additional five 68-seater air-conditioned coaches, two sets of diesel multiple units (DMUs), two 1800HP CNR locomotives, two power cars, two 18-seater rail buses, 18 rail cars with trolleys for track maintenance, two 3500HP locomotives with in-built power cars and 5 air-conditioned coaches for standard gauge tracks to be delivered in the first quarter of 2015.

According to Francis Ehimere who spoke with Sunday Mirror on the subject, “The trains take off from Apapa and goes farther than Ijoko in Ogun State. I usually alight at Agbado. And often times I board the train from Ebute Metta.’’

According to Francis, “The new train is very good, although it costs N750 to board the new train. It is more comfortable than the old ones. It does not carry as many passengers like the old one which costs N230 and has about 11 or 12 coaches, and can take as many people as possible. The old train used to pack people like sardines except in the afternoon. The new train introduced by the

Federal Government is better, because you can sit down like a human being but not everybody can afford the cost.

The one of N230 everybody can enter that one and it is usually overcrowded. What government should do is to privatise the railways and let more trains come in. Government’s role is just to regulate the industry. They cannot even meet the demand for rail transportation alone so they need to open it up for international private players.

The way it is now, there is corruption in the system. They cheat government through ticketing. This is not properly monitored. If it is in the hands of the private corporate entities, they will be able to monitor it well and there will be more competition. I don’t think the railway is giving government much in terms of internally generated revenue so I believe that the way forward it to open it up for more private investments”, he said.

A visit to the railway station in Yaba and Iddo terminus by Sunday Mirror reveals that the trains are actually working. However, the old trains purchased by the colonial masters are still in used. In a chat with a passenger, Mobolaji Waheed, he said, “This train is dirty and smelling. As you can see Nigerians are hungry for rail transportation. Looking at the number of people here. I personally do not agree that they should abandon these old trains but I believe that they should be rehabilitated.

They are old and very dirty. The newly purchased trains

by President Jonathan are costlier; this is why people still prefer the old train. Government needs to do more to make rail transportation more available to Nigerians at very affordable costs”.

In another chat with Mrs. Roseline Oyefule, a passenger in Oyingbo, she said, the Federal Government is laudable but inadequate. We want to see trailers off our roads.

When that happens then we will know that the trains are actually back. Furthermore, look at the train stations, they smelling of filth, the level of environmental degradation is alarming. The government needs to fix that as well. Train stations can be a place of commercial activities when social amenities are put in place such as public toilets but when the place smells of urine, it is very terrible. I don’t think that this is how train stations are run in developed nations. How long will this country remain like this? Nigeria needs to wake up from its slumber. We know that President Jonathan is doing something in the railway sector and we can see the new trains but they are grossly in adequate. They need to do more,’’ she said.

Jonathan’s efforts in the rail sector The full outline of the railway rehabilitation and exCONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday, May 24, 2015

The Big Read

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‘Railways critical for economic development’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 pansion plans by the outgoing administration shows that over 3,000km of the entire existing narrow gauge lines throughout the federation is witnessing rehabilitation.

The Western Corridor Rail Line from Lagos that passes through some South-Western States to Kano, a total of 1,124Km, is successfully rehabilitated. Also cheering is the Eastern Corridor Rail Line from Port-Harcourt – Maiduguri (1,657Km) which is also undergoing rehabilitation. The desirable ripple effect of this exercise is the kick-off of passenger and Haulage train services from Port-Harcourt – Enugu railway Station (243Km) in December, 2014. Amid much jubilation, the linkage of this rail line to Makurdi was launched on January, 23, 2015.

This is expected to be extended to Gombe axis, Kafanchan – Kaduna.

There is also the on-going rehabilitation of sidings and loop lines along the Western Line including connections to key industrial locations within Apapa; 74 stations and branch lines between Lagos and Kano, the 300 meter link between the Apapa Port Complex and the National line and the Spur Line to the Kaduna Power Plant Complex.

Similarly, there has been the modification of Microwave Communication equipment for Narrow Gauge with 72 Repeater Sites Nationwide to provide a backbone for the Automated Train Warranty (ATU’) Signaling System, Intercom Communication within the railway network and to enhance passenger information, CCTV and Internet Services. The rehabilitation phase has equally witnessed the refurbishment and modernisation of existing rolling stock and procurement of new rolling stock for the Narrow Gauge Rail Lines which the limited space will not accommodate.

According to reports, the number of passengers conveyed by rail increased from 4,155,988 in 2012 to 4,328,789 in 2013 and to over 5,000,000 passengers in 2014. In isolated cases, Mass transit trains make about 18 trips from Iddo (Lagos State) to Ijoko (Ogun State) and convey over 20,000 passengers daily in Lagos. The Kaduna intra-city mass transit makes 10 trips per day and conveys about 10,000 passengers daily.

In the area of freight services, about 3,000 tons of flour are moved from Lagos to Kano monthly; about 3,000 tons of cement are moved as well, about 9,000 tons of track materials are moved for rehabilitation of Eastern Corridor every month and about 2,000 tons of containers for ICNL are moved from Lagos to Kano on a monthly basis.

Investigations reveal that the laying of tracks of Idu (Abuja) – Kaduna Standard gauge rail line (187.5km) is 100 per cent completed and will soon be commissioned for public use. The construction and rehabilitation of the Itakpe-Ajaokuta – Warri standard gauge rail line including the signaling and telecommunication component have reached advanced stages of completion.

Furthermore, President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated an air-conditioned passenger inter-city rail transport system that would link Makurdi, Benue State with Port-Harcourt, Rivers State The Chairman, Nigerian Railway Cooperation, Bamanga Tukur, said, the commitment of the Federal Government in the railway sector would trigger development of the economy.

The Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, called on the people to take advantage of the opportunity, which the present administration is providing in the railway sector.

On its part, the Nigeria Railways Corporation, NRC, called for the active participation of the private sector in moving the project forward.

According to Managing Director of NRC, Mr. Adeseyi Sijuwade, the initiatives will build local content and “is a first step towards assembling locomotives locally prior to a future local manufacture of same,” disclosing that “ultimately we target a system stabilization that will make railways work better.”

On the impact of the intervention, Sijuwade, who confirmed that the organisation is yet to achieve its optimum performance however appealed to the private sector to support the current efforts by investing in the sector.

Tracks

Old trains

Modern train

“We are not there yet. We are still creating awareness.

We are letting people know that the railway is back on track. We have been dressing the bride. We are coming up with a bride that will be attractive to the private sector,” he stated.

He dismissed insinuations that government’s intervention in the sector is merely political, saying: “this is not

true. The railway is a visible entity that you cannot fabricate despite challenge of meeting passengers overwhelming demands for its services.”

However, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Land Transport, Hon. Musa Sarkin Adar faulted the government’s efforts.

“Although the rail sector in recent times has attracted the Federal Government’s attention under the transformation agenda but permit me to say that the current intervention in the sector is a far cry considering the level of infrastructural development in the rail transport system in Nigeria, a nation estimated to inhabit 150 million citizens,” “Where we are today in our quest for rail development must never be considered a destination but rather a stepping stone for the actualization of the Nigeria of our dream with a world class rail system,” he advised.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State also said new trains and coaches would improve the transport system in the state for the benefits of all residents.

“It is a very welcome development to our nation, Nigeria and to the Centre of Excellence, Lagos State. No doubt, we require this infrastructure.

“We appreciate it and we will continue to give every moral support that the corporation requires as we now have complementary services in the transport system of Lagos State,” the governor said.

Records further showed that the Iddo terminus station, Ebute Metta junction station, Ilorin station, Kaduna junction station, Kano station, Port Harcourt station, Enugu station, Jos station and Gombe station were also being remodeled.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo, who performed the official track laying of the Abuja-Kaduna fast train line, signifying the complete modernization of the railway system in the country said, ‘the funding of the project was enhanced through SURE-P.” He said that the project was also co-funded with the 500 million dollars concessionary loan from China Exim Bank.

Sambo commended Messrs China Civil Engineering & Construction Company (CCECC) Nigeria Limited, the project handlers for its efforts at ensuring timely completion of the project.

He said that the project had reached 68 per cent completion, including earthworks, hydraulic structures, railway bridges; box bridges; precast T-beams for bridges; and over pass bridges. He said that seven new standard gauge lines were also being proposed under the Public-Private Partnership arrangement.

He listed them as the 322km Lagos-Benin City line, 500km Benin-Abakiliki line, 673km Benin- Obudu Cattle Ranch line, 615km Lagos-Abuja high speed line, 520km Zaria-Birnin- Koni line, 533km Ega nyi-Otukpo and the Ega nyi-Abuja line.

Appraising the progress of work so far, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Sen. Bala Mohammed, said that the project would cost the government more than $823 million.

This, he said, would cover the cost of final design and construction of Lots 1 and 3, respectively, which is approximately 60.67 kilometres.

Nonetheless, analysts have advised the incoming government to allow more private sector participation in the railway modernisation programme in order to ensure sustainability.

They note that more pragmatic efforts should be intensified to link the FCT and neighbouring states with standard gauge lines, while the ongoing light rail project should be extended to the satellite towns, particularly Nyanya, Mararaba and Karu to reduce vehicular gridlock. Nigeria’s largest city Lagos is also constructing a light rail system under a public private partnership (PPP). The project is sponsored by the Lagos State Government (LSG) and it is developed by Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) on behalf of LSG. Commentators said, such efforts should be replicated in other states of the federation particularly the urban cenCONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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Sunday, May 24, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Railways privatisation is way forward’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

ters.

Observers contend that the problems facing the railway sector were hydra-headed and included outdated and badly maintained infrastructure — derelict rail tracks and decrepit locomotives and wagons — as well as poor management, among other factors. The railways, in spite of being the major means of mass transportation of passengers and freight, witnessed an extraordinary decline in investment over the years. The consequences of this development are somewhat frightening.

Analysts note that if the gains made by the Jonathanadministration in the rail sector are sustained, the traffic nuisance constituted by articulated vehicles on the country’s highways will be drastically reduced.

Investigations by Sunday Mirror reveal that passengers expected government to do more than it is being done due to the years of neglect. More private involvement in the project is also agitated.

Reports also reveal that the federal government under President Goodluck Jonathan has made plans to fully privatise the railways in Nigeria which are regulated and operated by the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC. Under the privatization plan, the government will grant concession to private sector companies, who would be expected to provide train service and maintain the infrastructure. Three separate concessions of 25–30 years are expected to be given out for the western, central, and eastern regions. Under the plans, the NRC through its subsidiary, Railway Property Company Limited, will also sell nearly 200 million square meters of lands, landed property and other fixed assets.

The services units of the NRC which provide direct services to the railway industry will be sold to private companies. The benefit of selling the units is to aid them focus on their core business and improve the efficiency of the services they provide.

The services units include: The workshop services unit: The unit mainly provides maintenance of rolling stocks. Printing press: This unit is responsible for the printing of all the tickets currently used on the national rail network. Catering services: This unit presently provides catering services on the long distance train services. The proceeds from the sales of these business units will be paid directly into the National Railway Fund.

According to reports, the Federal Government will establish the Railways Regulatory Board, which will oversee all activities in the Nigerian railways sector.

The major responsibilities of the body will be to carry out economic, environmental and safety regulation of the railways sector. It is also expected to work across the borders with Nigeria’s neighbors to ensure harmonization with the country’s rail network.

While state governments will be responsible for the development and deployment of a light rail system within their states, they would however be able to apply for financial assistance from the National Railway Fund.

Interested state government will submit their proposals to the Fund, which will make a determination into the amount of money it plans to contribute towards the project. Every submission will be treated on a case by case basis as to determine the economic viability of the project and its likely social and environmental impact. Lagos, Abuja, Calabar. Port Harcourt have already started work on their own light rail system or announced plans to do so.

Once the national rail infrastructure, the train operation and support services have been be taken up by the companies as described earlier, the National Railway Corporation will be wound up as a legal entity and the remaining operational and non–operational assets sold off. The proceeds of the sale will be added to the National Railway Fund. The rolling stock could be sold to the TOCs or other companies and individuals express an interest in those assets.

However, it remains for the incoming APC government to implement or amend these plans.

Railways need huge and sustained investments and

Fashola

Idris Umar, Minister of Transport

Buhari

MD oF NRC, Adeseyi Sijuade

RAILWAYS NEED HUGE AND SUSTAINED INVESTMENTS AND WITH DWINDLING NATIONAL

REVENUES, THE PRIVATE SECTOR WILL HAVE TO PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN THE SECTOR.

Jonathan

with dwindling national revenues, the private sector will have to play a major role in the sector. The big question will be: where will the funds come from, as policy somersaults by government always have the potential to scare away investors.

Some analysts have however pointed to the current partnership with China and Chinese firms to provide the

funding an expertise needed to deliver the much needed services at manageable costs.

Nonetheless, conventional wisdom dictates that no amount will be too much to invest, provided the corruption premium is taken out, to rebuild and expand rail services across the nation. Ideally all the state capitals and major cities should be linked directly or indirectly to the national rail network, which multiplier effects will be seen in the agriculture, energy and industrial sectors.

Nigerian wait expectantly for the Muhammadu Buhari administration to demonstrate its resolve to tackling this crucial economic problem.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Sunday, May 24, 2015

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NDLEA places Buruji Kashamu under house arrest …begins extradition procedure to US on drug charges OLUSEGUN KOIKI AND FRANCIS SUBERU

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he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, yesterday confirmed that it had placed Peoples Democratic Party chieftain and Ogun State senator-elect, Chief Buruji Kashamu, under house arrest following allegations of drug peddling levelled against him by the agency.

NDLEA operatives had

stormed the politician’s Lagos residence in the early hours of yesterday to effect his arrest but were met with stiff resistance.

The entire Oladipo Omotosho Street in Lekki Phase 1, where the residence is located and some surrounding streets were cordoned off by masked NDLEA agents, who had arrived as early as 4.30 am.

Kashamu’s lawyers later challenged the operatives to produce an arrest warrant which they could not hence

the decision to hold him in his house.

A statement by the spokesman of the antidrug agency, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, stated that a special team of NDLEA has confined Kashamu to his Lagos residence pending his appearance in court tomorrow (May 25,) to perfect his extradition to the United States.

Commenting on the issue, the Chairman, NDLEA, Alhaji Ahmadu Giade, said that the operation was in

line with the legal process of extradition.

“The agency has commenced extradition procedures against Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu in line with the laws of country. He has been in the contact with his attorneys and will appear in court on Monday”, Giade stated.

Online news website, SaharaReporters, had reported earlier that a distraught Kashamu had threatened to commit suicide rather than surrender himself to

L-R: Minister of State, Defence, Col. Augustine Akobundu (rtd); President Goodluck Jonathan and Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, inaugurating the PHOTO: NAN Armed Forces Radio Station in Abuja on Friday.

Senate presidency: 35 APC senators endorse Saraki, 24 Lawan GEORGE OJI ABUJA

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hirty five senators elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) out of the in-coming 59 senators-elect from the party have endorsed the candidacy of Senator Bukola Saraki (Kwara Central) from the North Central region of the country for the position of the Senate President for the 8th Senate.

The group under the umbrella of, “Like minds senators of APC”, while briefing newsmen on the sidelines of the on-going retreat for APC senators at the Ibeto Hotel, Abuja yesterday explained that their choice of Saraki was predicated on the lawmaker’s integrity, competence, discipline and leadership skills.

The endorsement of Saraki took place minutes after another group known as the, “Senate Unity Forum” comprising senators-elect from various states and zones of Nigeria endorsed Senator Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North), from the North

East geo political zone of the country as their own candidate for the office of senate president.

The group also announced that it adopted Senator George Akume (Benue North West) from the North Central zone of the country as the Deputy Senate President.

In a statement signed by the group’s spokesperson, Senator Banabas Gemade and Senators Ahmed Lawan and George Akume, it said, “We , the Senate Unity Forum, comprising senators-elect from various states and various zones of Nigeria, have met, held extensive discussions and resolved to support Senator Ahmed Lawan as Senate President and Senator George Akume as the Deputy Senate President of the 8th Senate.

“Kindly take this to be our collective decision in the best interest of our party APC and our dear nation, Nigeria.”

Even though the Saraki group said they have reserved the position of the Deputy Senate President to the North East and did not disclose the preferred

senator for the office, it was gathered that Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) is the person favored for the office.

Senator-elect, Dino Melaye, who addressed the media on behalf of the, “Like minds senators of APC” said, “Of the 59 senators of the APC, 35 of us present here today hereby reaffirm our collective commitment and resolution to ensure that the candidature of Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki as the Senate President of 8th Assembly.

“We have also resolved that the office of the Deputy Senate President be zoned to the North East.”

According to him, “Senators of the like mind are here today at the retreat organised by our dear party, All Progressive Congress, which is meant to equip and empower Senators-Elect of the 8th Assembly to prepare them toward the challenges ahead.

We commend the leadership of our party for this timely and well-focused exercise.

what he views as an unjust attempt to extradite him to the US. “Mr. Kashamu reached us by telephone claiming that the agents had already broken his door with the intention of abducting him and illegally extraditing him to the US. He said the only reason he was not abducted already was because he threatened to commit suicide should the NDLEA agents break into his bedroom where he has barricaded himself”, the medium said.

Kashamu won election to represent Ogun East Senatorial District in the 8th National Assembly which opens June and he had been battling the drug smuggling charges long before now.

He has instituted a lawsuit to block any move by the Nigerian government to release him to face trial in the U.S. A US federal grand jury had in 1998, indicted Kashamu and 14 others for their alleged involvement in an international conspiracy to smuggle heroin into the US. He has denied the charges and claimed that the US government is mistaking him for another person. He has however refused to heed the advice of a U.S Court of Appeal to come and clear the allegations against him.

Last month, Kashamu accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of plotting with the Federal Government and US agents to extradite him to America to face the criminal charges against him.

Several weeks later, the senator-elect filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Lagos, dragging 12 individuals and government agencies of conspiring with his political opponents to abduct and forcefully transport him to the U.S. The respondents in the suit include the Inspector General of Police, the Chairman of the NDLEA, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC; the Director-General, Department

of State Services, the Interpol National Central Bureau and the Attorney General of the Federation.

Others are the Clerk of the National Assembly, the National Security Adviser to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, Nigeria Customs Services, Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

In a statement issued yesterday, the PDP leader said he had confirmed that the Federal Government, through the Attorney General of the Federation, did not authorise the raid on his home.

He claimed that his political rival, Chief Bode George, instigated his wife, who heads the anti-narcotic agency, to invade his home as part of a plot to extradite him.

The statement, signed by Kashamu’s media, Austin Oniyokor, said, “This latest onslaught is a confirmation of the alleged plot to illegally abduct him in spite of the pending suit against this illegality.

“The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) this morning (Saturday, 23rd May, 2015) at about 4:30am surrounded the Lekki Phase 1, Lagos residence of Prince Buruji Kashamu to allegedly effect his arrest following a purported extradition request from the US. “This latest onslaught is a confirmation of the alleged plot to illegally abduct him in spite of the pending suit against this illegality. As a matter of fact, the court has ordered parties in the matter including the NDLEA to maintain status quo until judgement is delivered on Wednesday 27th May 2015.

“We have confirmed that they do not have a warrant of arrest, just as the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice has said that it did not give any order to carry out this illegality,” the statement said.

FG slams oil marketers over lingering fuel scarcity

…Petrol now N400 per litre TOLA AKINMUTIMI AND PAUL OMO OBADAN

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he Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala, yesterday said the Federal Government refused to pay oil marketers’ fuel subsidy claims because the demand was

outrageous even as petrol was being sold as high as N400 per litre at the weekend in Lagos as virtually all pumps ran dry.

The minister explained yesterday that oil marketers had demanded to be paid N159 billion for exchange rate differential, an amount considered by the Federal Government as unjustifiable by all fis-

cal and monetary parameters..

Okonjo-Iweala accused the marketers of acting in bad faith and making Nigerians to suffer unnecessarily.

“I cannot say that the cause of the problem we have today is because marketers are not paid. It cannot be because it is a rolling obligation. And we all

know that throughout the year marketers trade in, send to PPPRA what they have supplied, PPPRA vets it and it happens on a daily basis.

“So there is nothing like saying we have finished paying. There’s have never been one year since I came where at any point in time, when we reduced the obCONTINUED ON PAGE 9

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News

Sunday Mirror Sunday May 24, 2015 www.nationalmirroronline.net

Robbery suspect arrested on wedding day KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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he end has come for a suspected member of a notorious robbery gang, Olumide Asiyanbi, as he has been arrested by the men of the Oyo State Police Command in Ibadan, the state capital.

Sunday Mirror learnt

that the 42 year-old Asiyanbi was arrested on the day of his wedding .

The Ile-Ife, Osun State, born robbery suspect, was at the marriage registry when the long hands of the law caught up with him.

It was gathered that he was suspected be a mem-

ber of a six-man-robbery gang who operated in Challenge area of Ibadan on April 23, 2015.

Speaking with journalists, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Katsina, said the robbers, which included a 62-year-old Ghanaian, had terrorised many residents

of the area with guns and other weapons.

According to Asiyanbi, he joined the gang a year ago and that he had taken part in 10 robbery operations during which he fired gun shots at their victims.

He said, “I was arrested on my wedding day. I met

the gang leader, James Agba, last year. He told me that he knew how we could be getting regular money.

He then initiated me into the gang. I have taken part in at least 10 operations since I joined them.

“We used gun but I don’t know where James was buying them. Sulaimon and Alhaji, who are also in the gang, know how the guns were bought for our operations. I have

fired shots at our targets but none was killed”.

Agba, 35 year-old from Delta State, said he purchased some of the guns from one Emeka in Abuja while the Ghanaian, Joseph Mate, said he was a security man in Ajibade area of Ibadan and that he had been living in Nigeria for many years.

The police boss said all the suspects will be charged to court.

20 more women, children freed from Sambisa forest, says DHQ INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

D PDP National Renaissance Movement at a rally on the aftermath of the 2015 general election loss in Abuja on Friday. PHOTO: NAN

Probe Jonathan’s administration, Danjuma urges Buhari JUSTIN TYOPUUSU JALINGO

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eneral Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) yesterday called on the incoming government of Muhammadu Buhari to probe the outgoing administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to ascertain the exact state of the economy and those behind the country’s economic woes.

Danjuma made the call in Takum, Taraba state while commissioning and handing over the N500 million bridges he constructed along Takum -Katsina-Ala federal high way to the Taraba State Government for onward handover to the Federal Government.

The retired general, who expressed worry that the incoming government of Buhari will have to contend with a huge debt of over $60 billion without anything on ground to show for, called on Buhari to in the interest of the nation investigate the outgoing administration so that Nigerians would know what exactly happened.

He explained that he

chose to steer clear of partisan politics because, all the political parties in the country are the same, but that he support anyone who comes to him with money based on what he makes of the person irrespective of political affiliations, adding that the gross mismanagement of the economy by the outgoing administration call for concern by all well meaning Nigerians.

On what inspired him to undertake the project, Danjuma said, the plight of his people and the number of deaths and permanent disabilities caused by the poor state of the bridges constructed by the colonial masters made him to embark on the project and called on the federal government to award contract for the construction of the road.

Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen represented by a Director in the ministry, Engr. M. R. Muhammad thanked the retired general for his generosity, and urged well to do Nigerians

to emulate himl for the progress of the country.

Speakers at the commissioning including the state acting governor, Alhaji Sani Abubarka Dan-

ladi and the governorelect Mr. Dairus Ishaku all commended Danjuma for his generous contribution towards the development of the state.

espite continuous encounter with large number of land mines, which still litter the Sambisa forest, troops have forged ahead with the ongoing offensive operations as scores of the terrorists died in the assault on their bases on Friday, the Defence Headquarters has said.

A press statement signed

by Director Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade and made available to our Correspondent on Saturday in Maiduguri said several weapons and equipment were destryted after the encounter.

Olukolade said, “Over

Cameron hosts Buhari in London AYO ESAN

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resident-elect, Muhammadu Buhari yesterday held a short meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron at his official residence at 10, Downing Street, London where they discussed issues of mutual interest.

It was gathered that Buhari and Cameron discussed the threat posed by militant group Boko Haram ahead of the inauguration of the President-elect on May 29, among other issues.

A statement released on the official website of the UK Government’s website said Cameron received Buhari at Downing Street yesterday morning and both leaders congratulated each other on their recent election victories and discussed the challenges facing Nigeria.

“The Prime Minister stressed the UK’s wish to work for a stable, prosper-

ous and secure Nigeria.

The leaders discussed security in the region and the fight against terrorism, particularly the threat posed by Boko Haram.

They discussed the need for a regional approach and agreed to continue working together to build the capacity of the Nigerian army, with the UK continuing to provide military training and intelligence support.

“On tackling corruption, they agreed this was a priority to ensure Nigeria’s prosperity and success,” adding that “the Prime Minister agreed to look at what technical assistance and support the UK could provide to the Nigerian government as it looks to undertake its reforms.

“They also discussed the need to tackle organised crime and the links between the UK and Nigeria.

“Finally, they talked about the challenges posed by migration from Africa to Europe and the President-elect said he would do

all he could to secure Nigeria’s borders,” the statement said.

General Buhari, on Friday, May 22, left the country for Britain on a private visit. It is his first such trip outside the country since winning the March 28 Presidential election.

10 soldiers were however wounded while one died following explosions of land mines along the routes of advance. Some equipment were also damaged or affected by the detonation of land mines in several points in the forest.

“A total of 20 women and children were rescued at the end of the Friday operation. They have all been airlifted out of the forest. The wounded soldiers have also been moved out for necessary treatment.

“Two major ammunition dumps maintained by the terrorists in the forest were also destroyed, along with the four additional terrorists camps that were smashed in the operation of Friday. An armoured tank and over 10 vehicles of various types being used for their operations as well as 70 motorcycles and 15 tricycles of the terrorists also perished during the operation.

“Air and artillery bombardment of identified terrorists camps and locations in various aspect of the forest including the Alafa aspect, is still ongoing as troops continue the offensive action on terrorists in the forest”, the statement added.

Mother, daughter kidnapped in Ibadan KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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he ugly trend of kidnapping has reared its head in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as a middle-aged woman, Mrs. Opeyemi Adeniran and her daughter, Oyinkansola were on Friday night kidnapped around 8:00pm at their residence ; Plot 4, Lodi 2, Apooyin street, Lodi 2, Academy, Odo-Ona Elewe.

Sunday Mirror learnt that the woman fondly called Mummy Mathew and the daughter also known as Oyin baby, were taken away in an ash co-

loured Volkswagen Golf 3 car with registration number: FKJ 238 BD. While confirming the incident to journalists, her brother who simply identified himself as Mr. Banjo, said “the family had been battling with the situation since yesterday (Friday night)”, stating that a formal report had been lodged at the Orita-Challenge police station.

It was gathered that as at yesterday, her friends were sharing useful information that may likely help in locating her on their social media accounts, Facebook, in particular.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Sunday May 24, 2015

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11 kidnapping victims freed in Ekiti ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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leven persons who were been kidnapped from various locations in and outside Ekiti State in the last three weeks regained their freedom as they were rescued from the kidnappers’ den through combined efforts of the police and local vigilante groups yesterday.

While those who were sick, weak and frail among them had been taken to hospital for medical attention, the rest were released to reunite with their families.

The victims were freed by combined forces of the police and local vigilante group at the kidnappers’ den in a thick forest in Esure Ekiti in the Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

The rescued victims included a lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Dr Femi Omisore; two lecturers at Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Dr (Mrs) Kikelomo Adegun and Dr (Mrs) Folasade Alade and a theatre nurse at Federal University Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, Mrs. Margaret Aladenika.

Others are Mrs W.A Abiola from Ibadan; Mrs. Folake Adeniyi Ayeni from Ibadan; Mrs. Lydia Agnes and her daughter, from Adewole Estate in Ilorin; Dr Ibrahim; Dr Mrs Yemi Abiola and one Alhaja Bili Abiola from Ibadan; Mrs. Ogunlola from Igede Ekiti and Mr. Jimi Johnson.

The traditional ruler of Esure Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Ajibola, said yesterday that the local hunters had located the kidnappers’ den through a tip off from a woman who

had reported that she had seen some strange armed men in the bush.

The monarch said he immediately called for police reinforcement to combine with the local vigilant group to comb the expansive EsureEyio-Iropora-Awo forest.

He said: “We immediately asked security operatives and local vigilante to swing into action and start searching for the kidnappers in the bush.

“We found the kidnapped victims in the thick bush of Esure - Ika- Irasa -Ado Road.

We have started the rescue assignment since last week.

We also reported our suspicion about the bush to the government.

“The government said they were sending heavily armed security operatives to invade the bush, but I advised against that, saying that they

should allow us to use my local vigilante first, who would first of all comb the bush and once they have a clue of anything, we would then ask the police to swing into action.

“So, I thank God that when our local vigilante team began searching the bush, they found a spot where they discovered that some people had smoked and drank hard drinks”.

He, however, said search was still ongoing with a view to getting the kidnappers who had escaped, adding that the community and the police were on the trail of a man identified as Olumide, an indigene of Esure Ekiti for allegedly serving as accomplice to the kidnappers.

Governor Ayodele Fayose, who praised the Police Commissioner, Mr. Etop John James and the Director of the State Security Service,

Mr. Duke Fubara for the breakthrough, appealed to the security agencies to provide personnel to take the victims to their families to prevent re-kidnapping.

The governor urged the security agencies to step up intelligence gathering to be able to get the perpetrators arrested in no distant time.

He said: “We have to thank God that the victims are back.

Some are very weak and some are sick, but whatever the story is, their release gladdens our hearts. Over 50 per cent of them are not from Ekiti and we want them to reunite with their families.

The State Police Commissioner, who said he received the news of the rescue from the men of the Special Antirobbery and Anti-kidnapping Squads, described it as fruit of the police strategy.

The police boss, who spoke through the police spokesman in Ekiti State, Mr. Alberto Adeyemi, said “After the kidnap, we mapped out a strategy, which involved mapping out the whole of forest in Ekiti.

“We worked with the armed squad of the Nigerian Prisons, the local vigilante group, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, DSS and even soldiers to be able to achieve this”.

James added that the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase released 54 operatives from Force Criminal Investigations Department FCID, for the operation.

“We have 300 personnel of combined forces for this operation. Where we first visited was Ilejemeje/Ido axis. We combed the whole forest, but no result.

“The next place we combed was Awo-Eyio-Esure forest up to Ekiti State University.

In the process of doing this, we were blaring siren just for the kidnappers to know we were close by. That could account for why they ran away and left the victims before they could be rescued.

“We involved local hunters because they are familiar with the terrain. The next operation is out to fish out the kidnappers and we are closing in on them”, James assured.

Official cart away govt property as handover approaches HENRY IYORKASE MAKURDI

B L-R: Minister of FCT, Sen. Bala Muhammed; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Usman Jubrin; Vice-President Namadi Sambo and former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, during the special Jummu’at prayer for the 2015 Presidential Inauguration and 59th anniversary of Nigerian Navy in Abuja at the weekend. PHOTO: NAN

FG slams oil marketers over fuel scarcity CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

ligation to zero and that is because even as you are doing it a new one is rolling in. It is at the end of the year that we try to clear all outstanding and then roll into a new year”, the minister added.

Pointing out that government has prioritised payment for subsidy since December 2014 with a total of N500 billion paid to them despite the tough financial conditions, she carpeted the marketers for holding Nigerians to ransom because they know that everyone will blame the government for the crisis.

“After we made the last payment, which was N154 billion, they said it was remaining N200 billion.

When we looked at the figure they were asking for N159 billion for exchange

rate differential not for the actual supply of the physical product, and they wanted me to sign and release this money, but I said no.

“The sensible thing to do is to call those responsible for looking at exchange rate, the CBN and to come in and verify the figures because there have been so much fraud allegations and scams in this business of oil marketing.

Justifying the country’s external and domestic debt stock estimated at about $63 billion, Okonjo-Iweala noted that the whole debt was not borrowed during the five year tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan but an accumulation of over 40 years.

Giving a breakdown of the debt, the minister disclosed that $18.5 billion

was outstanding debts of since 40 years ago, while $17.3 billion was borrowed between 2007 and 2011.

She said the balance of $18.1 billion was borrowed between 2012 and 2015, the bulk of which was borrowed in 2010 when the Federal Government increased workers’ salary by 53 per cent.

Meanwhile, petrol prices have rise to N400 per litre in the black market in Lagos as the three week old fuel crisis worsened at the weekend.

The situation was compounded with the drop in power supply as many parts of Lagos metropolis were without electricity, thereby making life hellish.

Transport fares and prices of essential goods have risen astronomically as motorist queued at the

very few filing stations that still had some stock.

The situation is expected to deteriorate even further this week as no lifting activity has been recorded at the tank farms and depot in Apapa.

Investigation conducted by Sunday Mirror revealed that fuel price rose to as high as N400 per litre in the black market and N200 per litre in some a few fuel stations around the metropolis that had the product.

For example, transport fare from Egbeda to Oshodi went up from N150 to between N250 and N300. It was also the same in various part of the metropolis.

Commercial motorcyclists also raised their fares to between N200 and N400 for routes where they normally collect between N100 and N150.

arely a week to the May 29 inauguration of another democraticallyelected government, officials in Benue State are said to been looting government properties especially vehicles and household items.

Investigation by Sunday Mirror at the weekend in Makurdi, the state capital indicates that as the administration of Gabriel Suswam is about to exit power, some official are carting away government properties Findings also indicate that there is also massive recruitment racketeering being recorded by the outgoing administration where it is alleged that over 4,000 personnel were given letters of appointment and backdated as well as the issuing of letters to first class chiefs despite a court order restraining them to halt the process.

An insider, who preferred to remain anonymous, told our correspondent that there is massive fraud taking place in each of the ministries, as people were carting away properties belonging to government with impunity.

Our source continue, “It it will amaze you to discover that properties are being taken away to various homes by individuals without restraint including furniture and fittings, electronic gadgets as well as vehicles.”

Efforts to speak with a member of the state transition committee, Mr. Akange

Audu, on the claim could not yield result as several attempts on his mobile line to clarify issues could not return.

When contacted the Director of Press to the outgoing Governor Gabriel Suswam, Mr. James Uloko debunked the claims dismissing the allegation with wave of hand saying the claims are unsubstantiated and cannot be true.

“My principal is a very decent person and his character transcends to all his appointees and I don’t think none of us will descend so low to take what does not belong to us” describing the insinuation as calculated attempt to “smear our hard earned reputation”.

Meanwhile, a series of activities are lined up to mark the terminal point of the Suswm administration as the combined transition committees of the outgoing and incoming administration fused into one body towards ensuring a hitch free transition programme.

The inauguration ceremony has commenced on Friday with Jummat service for Muslims billed to offer prayers in the mosque to ensure no hindrance of the line up for the final inauguration proper.

Others include Christian services for both outgoing and incoming administration which is expected to take place at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral, Makurdi.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Interview ENCOUNTER WITH A NEWS MAKER MAY 24, 2015

APC govt will block wastage in the system –Senator Durojaiye Senator Olabiyi Durojaye, a former Director of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, is now a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC. In this interview with Ayo Esan, he speaks about what Nigerians should expect from the Muhammadu Buhari administration but advises the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to adhere to the opposition role, among other things.

Next Friday, the country would be marking 16 years of uninterrupted civil rule.

How would you assess democracy in the country in the last 16 years?

I think we have to thank God for giving us 16 uninterrupted years of democratic rule. It was never like that.

We have never had that since independence. We have always been interrupted by military interjection. But now we thank God that we have democracy going on on the stretch without disturbance. But it has been bumpy. It could have been smoother. A lot of things went wrong, considering the kindness of the Almighty God to this nation that we are so well blessed yet the people suffer amidst plenty. That is the most unfortunate thing about our 16 years of democratic rule. Our people would have been happy if the country had been better run. And that is why we have the hope and we have been shouting for change and the change has now come as it has been stamped by the votes of the electorate. So we now need every hand to unite so that our expectations will materialise to stamp out corruption, revamp the economy, fix our electricity generation and distribution, so that we have uninterrupted power supply which we feel we are entitled to. We have all the resources to make it so and to eliminate waste. We need to block all those avenues of waste, like the alleged looting of petroleum products which they say is about 4,000 barrels of oil per day. How the country has survived till today is a surprise to us. All these things should be eliminated, we must revamp the economy, fix the electricity generation and transportation and all will be well for us. But it takes everybody to contribute to the efforts not government alone. We, the governed, must also do our best, pay our taxes and cooperate with the government.

Some people believe that what we had in the last 16 years is not really democracy but a civilian rule because many tenets of democracy were not followed.

What is your reaction to this?

I don’t know what they mean by saying we only had civilian government

WE NOW NEED EVERY HAND TO UNITE SO THAT OUR EXPECTATIONS WILL MATERIALISE TO STAMP OUT CORRUPTION, REVAMP THE ECONOMY, FIX OUR ELECTRICITY GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION, SO THAT WE HAVE UNINTERRUPTED POWER SUPPLY WHICH WE FEEL WE ARE ENTITLED TO.

Durojaye

and not democracy. How do they define democracy? When I said the ride has been bumpy, I have said something which must have taken cognisance of what they are saying if actually I know what they are saying; that it could have been better. That is about the best way I can put it is that a lot of wastage in the system. Now there is no way you would not have some hues and cries about democratic practice. I mean once you have a government, you have an opposition. They cannot agree on every issue. So if somebody says what we have been having is just a civilian rule and not democracy, that is over-flogging

the issue. That is the way I have seen it.

See what has been happening in Britain and America, more mature politics, and democracy. They have their brickbats, criticism and so on. Look at the programme Obama had about three years back. He had a package which he wanted to introduce for the benefit of the poor masses. And the conservative majority in the Republican opposed it.

So that doesn’t mean that there is no democracy but that is even the evidence of democracy. That people are free to express their opinion, and these opinions are divergent, some for and others against. That is democracy.

In the past 16 years, your party had been in opposition and for the first time it is going to control the centre. What should Nigerians expect from your party and its government?

Change from the lethargy, from the slow style of administration, from the inept and corrupt administration that we have criticised. These are the reasons we said we want a change from those ones and go to more brisk businesses, more cogent action on national issues, firm handling of issues of security. Imagine over 200 girls were alleged to have been kidnapped and taken away for over a year and there is no clue to it. That doesn’t speak well of any government. These are the types of things I am sure the APC government would guard against. All the slow moving construction works like the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway that has taken donkey years to repair or reconstruct. What I suffered going to Ijebu every weekend is not easy to mention. At my age, you find me sitting in a car for average of three to four hours. Sometimes five hours, for a journey that should take less than two hours ordinarily. All these are things that will be put right.

Look at the decadence in education and the epileptic supply of electricity.

These are the reasons why people voted CONTINUED ON PAGE 55

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Politics PROVIDING FRESH PERSPECTIVES TO ISSUES MAY 24, 2015

Plateau: Awaiting a new dawn amid doubts P 12, 53

MY OBJECTIVE IS TO RESPECT THE RIGHT OF OTHERS. WE HAVE BEEN CRITICIZED AND I DO NOT HAVE REGRETS FOR ANYTHING. MY ACTIONS WERE FELT DIFFERENTLY BY DIFFERENT PEOPLE. THERE IS NOTHING I DID THAT IS A MISTAKE. –EBONYI STATE GOVERNOR , CHIEF MARTIN ELECHI

Jonathan’s final days in office •Activities slow down in Aso Rock Villa •President engages in sacking galore

New Reps deserve 75% of committee chairmanships –Gbillah

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Briefly

Rep Deputy Speakership: Forum canvasses support for Abba Ibrahim

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he chairperson of Women In Politics Forum, WIPF, Barrister Ebere Ifendu and a group of concerned gender enthusiasts with vested interest in the advancement of Nigeria’s democracy have urged the All Progressive Congress, APC to respect its promise of gender equality and equity in power sharing by considering Hajia Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim, the lawmaker representing Damaturu/ Gujba/ Gulan and Tarmuwa federal constituency from Yobe State as the deputy speaker for the 8th House of Representatives that will be inaugurated in June.

The group, a non-governmental organization, NGO, said it has endorsed Honorable Ibrahim on the principle of merit and hard work.

It stated in its release that Hajia Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim from the North East geo-political zone of the country will be serving her third term when the house is inaugurated in June. According to the release, “Having served as deputy chairman of House Committee on Rural Development and House Committee on Communication, and as a member of several committees in the Representatives including her experience as commissioner for Transport and Energy in Yobe state, Hon Khadija will serve efficiently as the deputy speaker of the house if chosen”.

Speakership: Dogara’s aspiration receives boost

A

Jonathan

Buhari

With a few days to the end of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan on May 29, the Presidential Villa has witnessed lull in activities since the March 28 Presidential election.

However, significant events still hold at the seat of power. ROTIMI FADEYI writes.

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or President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who has been in the saddle of leadership of the country for the past five years, it is just a matter of days before he leaves the Aso Rock seat of power this coming Friday for General Muhammadu Buhari to take over the affairs of the nation for another four years.

As the administration of Jonathan winds up, activities at the Presidential Villa have been very low as it does not witness large turnout of visitors like before especially after he lost the Presidential election.

Although the President still holds meetings and grant audiences to visitors as usual, the frequency of such events had reduced as the transition to another government draws near with the countdown to the May 29 handover date.

Except for government officials, which include ministers and heads of agencies and parastatals as well as some Presidents from other countries in Africa, there is a lull in activities at the Presidential Villa compared with the situation before the March 28 Presidential election when the seat of power was the

beehive of activities However, some other few events still took place in the last days to the exit of Jonathan from the Presidential Villa which are of significant importance.

For instance, the Presidential Villa always comes alive during the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting attended by ministers and other top government officials. The meeting is presided over by Jonathan and in his absence, Vice President Namadi Sambo.

Similarly, members of the Peoples CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Bauchi –based Pressure Group, Advocate for Justice and Good Governance on Saturday declared its support for the candidature of Mr. Yakubu Dogara as Speaker of the House of Representative.

This is contained in a statement signed by the group’s Chairman, Malam Yakubu Chiroma, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN in Bauchi.

Dogara, the APC member representing Dass-Tafawa Balewa-Bogoro Federal Constituency of Bauchi state, has been elected to represent his constituency for the third time.

According to the group, Dogara who does not have any ‘godfather’, possess all the attributes of a good leader that will champion the cause of the House, with equity and justice.

“Dogara has distinguished himself as a credible, honest and patriotic legislator, who has served his constituency and country in different capacities as a member of the House since 2007.

“He is a de-tribalised legislator and his quality, credibility and performance, make him stand out among other contestants,” he said.

12

Politics

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Plateau: Awaiting a new daw JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

A

head of the May 29 handover date in Plateau State, the governor-elect, Barrister Simon Lalong, is already looking forward to his inauguration as the third democratically elected governor of the state since the return of the nation’s democracy in 1999. He follows after Joshua Dariye and Jonah Jang respectively Checks by Sunday Mirror reveal that although none of the two committees set up by both the incoming All Progressives Congress, APC, and outgoing Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, administration for the purpose of handover has been officially inaugurated, it was however learnt that members of the Transition and Inauguration committees drawn from both parties have, nevertheless, been working to ensure a smooth transition amidst bickering.

Director of Media and Publicity Committee of the Lalong Campaign Organisation, Mr. Festus Fuante, who confirmed the development to our correspondent in Jos said: “Honestly, both committees are just working because we are tired of complaints here and there. I can tell you that as a member of the committee, we are not receiving enough cooperation from the outgoing administration as if they are not willing to go. But one thing is certain, I can assure you that Plateau is going to have a new governor come May 29th”.

However, a source close to the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. She-

drack Best, who is the head of the Transition Committee dismissed the notion that government was not keen on handing over to the incoming administration, insisting that everything had been put in place to ensure a smooth take-off of the incoming administration Interestingly, as both parties continue to clash over the transition and more than one month after Lalong’s electoral success on April 11,the euphoria thrown up by his victory has not waned in the state as various stakeholders have continued to troop to his residence to congratulate him.

Sunday Mirror further learnt that as the traffic of people increased, surpassing the capacity of his modest private residence located at the Low Cost axis of Jos, he recently relocated to Green House, one of government’s property located in Millionaires’ quarters within the capital, which now serves as a temporary office/residence where he has since continued to receive the people preparatory to taking over the reins of governance in the state.

But one major concern which has preoccupied the mind of the governorelect is the numerous misconceptions which the people have about the APC, most of who were handed down during the electioneering, a development said to be worrisome to the party.

For instance, to many people in Plateau State, the incoming APC is not only peopled by those seeking to loot the state treasury rather than serve the people, it is also viewed as a party surrounded by enemy supporters on a vengeance mis-

sion.

The mission, according to information which has gained ground in the state, ıs that the governor-elect, after his inauguration would waste no time to wipe away every known legacy of the outgoing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration under Jang, who has been on the saddle for the past eight years. It is also being speculated that Jang’s associates and loyalists have been marked out for persecution by the APC administration This impression was further reinforced by the vociferous manner which the victorious APC conducted its affairs as a party during the recent governorship poll with Jang singled out for attacks at every gathering by the APC and their supporters.

At a point, some critics had condemned the alleged approach to gain access to power, saying that such was unbecoming of a party desirous of genuine change in democratic governance and development alternative to the people who are yearning for more dividends of democracy.

Conscious of the way the party is perceived by some people, Lalong seems determined to change the negative image as he has been using every opportunity to clarify certain issues that tend to portray the party in bad light and instilling confidence in the minds of the people that the incoming APC administration under his leadership meant well for the state.

The need to address some of such misconceptions and put them in proper perspective presented itself recently when the 17 council chairmen in the state un-

opinion that he had laid very good example for other African leaders to follow.

The Chadian President during his visit disclosed that he came to consult with Jonathan saying that Chad and Nigeria have a lot of similarities in fighting insurgents.

Speaking on the recently conducted general elections, Derby said he was also in the Presidential Villa to congratulate Jonathan for the statesmanship he demonstrated during the elections, stressing that he demonstrated the qualities of a real democrat by conceding and congratulating Buhari.

“You all know that when Nigeria sneezes the neighbouring countries catch cold. If Mr. President had not taken that laudable initiative you all know what would have happened now. Nigeria is still living in peace, you all are living in peace and that would not have happened but for that laudable initiative he took” “So I came to congratulate him for leaving a legacy not only for Nigeria but for Africa as a whole”, Derby said.

Speaking in the same vein, Yayi commended Jonathan’s exemplary leadership which other African leaders should emulate.

According to Yayi, the conduct of the recent elections in Nigeria was very

transparent and peaceful considering the wonderful decision of Jonathan to call his challenger to congratulate him even before the final result was released.

For Ghanaian President, the successful conduct of the recent election in the country has further enhanced the respect Jonathan has in the West African sub region and international community.

Similarly during the visit of Yayi and Issoufou to the Presidential Villa, they were also full of praises for Jonathan and the decision he took to accept defeat to ensure peace and stability in the country.

Jonathan also hosted the last Council of State and Police Council meetings that he would preside over before handing over power to Buhari.

All living former Nigerian leaders were present at the meeting including General Yakubu Gowon, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan and General Abdusalami Abubakar.

Former Chief Justices of Nigeria present were Muhammadu Lawal Uwais, Alfa Belgore and Idris Legbo Kutigi.

Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President, David Mark, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim

Lalo ong

der the auspices of Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) paid him a solidarity visit in Jos. Lalong assured the council bosses who had come to congratulate him on his victory that he was not going to dissolve them when he finally assumes office contrary to widespread speculations that the council chairmen and known PDP chieftains who only assumed office last year would not be allowed to serve out their threeyear tenure once the APC administration comes on board.

Jonathan’s final days CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation, PDPPCO, headed by Dr. Ahmadu Ali were at the Presidential Villa to submit report on the recently conducted general election in which the party lost the Presidential election.

While speaking on the occasion, Jonathan insisted that the PDP still remain the most organised party in which anyone could aspire for any position, stressing that those who defected to the All Progressives Party, APC, would return to the party with empty stomachs.

According to him, PDP is still the dominant party in the country despite its loss to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, in the March 28 presidential election.

Jonathan also played host to Presidents of four African countries including Idris Deby (Chad); John Dramani Mahama (Ghana); Boni Yayi (Benin Republic) and Mahamadou Issoufou (Niger).

They all commended him for accepting defeat in the Presidential election, which they said had brought peace to the country and African continent.

The four Presidents who visited at different times also commended Jonathan for his statesmanship. They were of the

Deb by

Pius Anyim; National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and the Attorney General of the Federation, (AGF), Mohmammed Adoke were also at the meeting.

Governors in attendance include Seriake

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

13

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Man in the News Chief Tony Anenih

‘Mr. Fix It’ throws in the towel AYO ESAN

T

he Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, decent into chaos continued last week with two principal officers of the party, Alhaji Adamu Muaz’u and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, BoT, Chief Tony Anenih, throwing in the towel the same day.

Following from the bickering that have trailed the party’s defeat in the March 28 presidential election by the main opposition party in the country, the All Progressives Congress, APC, the former chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muaz’u and the chairman of Board of Trustees, BoT, Chief Tony Anenih have quit in controversial circumstances.

Anenih resigned citing the current state of affairs in the party as his main reason but was to later add that his leaving last Wednesday was to allow President Goodluck Jonathan take over the position. Anenih, who was the PDP BoT chairman before former President Olusegun Obasanjo took over, it would be recalled, was reappointed when Obasanjo resigned in April 2012.

The former president said he resigned to have more time to develop his Presidential Library and to mobilise and encourage investments in Nigeria and Africa. Obasanjo however left the PDP in February this year when he publicly tore his party membership card.

In Anenih’s one page resignation letter dated May 20, 2015 and addressed to President Jonathan, who is now the leader of the party, the Edo State-born ex-police officer said he decided to quit his position in order to enable President Jonathan to effectively assume the chairmanship of the BoT. The letter entitled, ‘Notice of my decision to step down as chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party’ Read, “Your Excellency will recall that in a conversation I had with you a few weeks ago, I had offered to step down from the office of the Chairman of our party’s Board of Trustees and proposed to hand over to you as its new Chairman in a ceremony that would have taken place on the 23rd of May, 2015. I had also repeated this position in our subsequent meetings.

“As a follow-up to the above proposal and in view of the current state of affairs in our party, I have decided to formally put my offer in writing to enable you effectively assume the chairmanship of Board of Trustees or approve a process that will enable any other member of the BoT who is considered

competent, to assume the position.

“Kindly accept therefore, this letter as notice of my decision to step down from the position of chairman of the BoT of our party with effect from today, the 20th of May, 2015. I am happy to inform you that, I remain a loyal foundation member of our great party and will continue to pray for the prosperity of Nigeria, our party, and for you and your

family. Your Excellency, kindly accept the expression of my highest regards.”

The party chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, also resigned amid considerable controversy on Wednesday as the ruling party success nosedived into the low valley of history after 16 years of its existence.

The PDP which has been ruling the country ever since sank into crisis immediately it lost the presidential elec-

tion of March 28 and its subsequent loss of most of the states hitherto under its control to the APC, leading to many of its chieftains defecting to the party.

Top members of the party including the former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George, and the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose, have been calling on the National Working Committee, NWC, members to resign their positions for leading the party to its most disastrous outing in the last election.

This has also led to counter accusation as the NWC members also said that the party failed in the election because of the hate campaigns embarked upon by Fayose and the PDP Campaign Organisation. As Chief Anenih said in his resignation letter, President Jonathan may succeed him as the BoT chairman.

However, Obasanjo had on the eve of his exit from office, caused the PDP Constitution to be amended to reserve the chairmanship of the party BoT for past presidents, although this was altered during the 2012 Convention to throw open the position for others.

Anthony Akhakon Anenih was born in Uzenema Arue in Uromi on August 4, 1933. In 1951, he joined the Nigeria Police Force in Benin City. He was Bendel State Chairman of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) between 1981 and 1983, helping Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia become elected as civilian Governor of the state. However, the governorship was cut short by the military takeover of December 1983.

He was National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, from 1992 to 1993, when he played a pivotal role in the election of the business magnate, Chief M.K.O. Abiola as president. He was a member of the Constitutional Conference in 1994. He was also a member of the People’s Democratic Movement, PDM, until April 2002, when he transferred to the PDP. Anenih known as ‘Mr. Fixes-It’ was said to have masterminded the April 26, 2002 declaration of President Obasanjo at the International Conference Centre Abuja. He was deputy national coordinator os in the 1999 and 2003 elections.

He was appointed Minister of Works and Housing in 1999 and subsequently became Chairman of BOT of the PDP. His wife, Josephine, a lawyer, was the chairperson of the Federation of Women Lawyers from 1994 to 2000, and was the first National Woman Leader of the PDP from 1999-2005. She was appointed minister of Women Affairs on April 6, 2010.

14

Opinion

Sunday May 24, 2015

Uncensored U nc

Sheriff S Folarin

I

E-mail: sheffie2004@yahoo.co.uk 08094217972 (SMS only)

f Abraham Lincoln were around, he would have realized that there is a record-breaker in General Muhammadu Buhari who, since the last time it ever happened in the 19th century, has contested more than any other person in the world, for the exalted post of the president of a nation. Lncoln had had many failures politically, the sorest point being the elusive American presidency. The road to the White House was rough and tough. But then he never gave up, pushing more and more and just when he was about to retire, he tried again and won in 1861. Buhari had three potshots at the post of Nigeria President and the fourth time he tried it, just as he was about quitting at the advanced age of 72, won on a high.

President Lincoln, after serial losses at different levels, even once as a Republican Vice-Presidential candidate, turned out to be the man the American nation had been waiting for. Two crucial things he did that shook the nation and changed its course of history were: the passing of the Emancipation Act that technically and emphatically made slavery unlawful in the American nation, and by this, hundreds of thousands of plantation and domestic slaves in the United States gained their freedom (this singular incident was going to change race relations forever in that country); the second was the war to keep the country together through-

Safety Tips with

Jonas Agwu

Email: j.agwu@Ofrsc.gov.ng Tel: -8033026491, 8077690055

Continued from last week The number plates shall in respect of a motor vehicle be fixed, one on the front of the vehicle and the other at the centre or on the off side of the rear of the vehicle or as may be provided by the manufacturer. In respect of a trailer, be fixed one on the front of the vehicle and two at the rear of the trailer in an upright position.c. A motorcycle, one plate shall be fixed in front and one at the rear with the plate having white background but blue lettering for private green lettering for the Federal, State or Local Government, black lettering for the Armed Forces, Paramilitary Service and red lettering for commercial, so that every letter or figure on the plate is up- right and easily distinguishable in the case of the front plate from behind. In the case of the recovery of a semi-trailer, the operator of the prime mover

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Waiting on the General out his tenure, which ended in the rebuilding and evolution of a stronger, more united American nation.

It is pertinent to note that Lincoln’s abolition of slavery and by extension the slave trade was the very cause of the Civil War in 1861, as the Southern United States, which was largely a slave-labour driven economy unlike the more industrialized North, resisted this development and took up arms against the North and the government at the centre. Firing the first shots of war in Charleston, South Carolina after the decision by the State Legislature in Columbia, the foundation of national unity was set to be destroyed, but the formidable and visionary leadership of Lincoln kept the two entities together, and they have remained more united than hitherto after that encounter.

The major differences between Lincoln and Buhari include the fact that while the former contested all through his political career under the Whig or Republican party platform, Buhari has contested under four political parties, namely, the All Peoples Party in 2003, All Nigeria Peoples Party in 2007, Congress for Progressive Change in 2011 and All Progressives Congress in 2015. Lincoln had gone into business in which he had failed; Buhari had never been in business. He had rather governed Nigeria before as a military dictator. Since 1985 when Buhari was ousted in another military coup, he has been more of a moral leader and someone who had come out forcefully thrice earlier to boldly pass across the message of national rebirth.

Lincoln was a politician who had tried his hands on the local politics of Illinois State before taking the very bold step of aspiring for the post of the US President.

Like Lincoln therefore, Buhari

knows- or he should know- that the assets and liabilities of the outgoing administration as well as the difficult task of nation-rebuilding are to be inherited and rest squarely on his shoulders.

Moral leadership is highly expected of the Buhari era. Corruption is on the alltime high, as there are too many cases of, or allegations against public officials and giants in the private sector about enormous sums of stolen money. The World Bank’s charge to the incoming President recently to probe government agencies is a clear indication of the pandemic state of corruption over the years. The Buhari administration has to keep to its billings as a no-nonsense one as it works tenaciously towards tackling corruption, save up the proceeds from the leakages and use them, as promised, for national and community projects. In order to combat corruption institutionally and formally, the administration should merge the EFCC and ICPC and appoint men like him, of proven integrity as the helmsmen.

There is a plethora of fresh and accumulated national challenges no doubt for the incoming administration to tackle and already, a lot of interest and pressure groups have started reeling out their expectations of the new leadership, ranging from fixing roads and providing other basic infrastructures, ensuring efficient and honest management of pensions and oil revenue, creation of jobs and employment opportunities, restructuring and revamping of the educational system, tackling the power sector, sanitizing the aviation and railway sectors, securing the borders and crushing Boko Haram once and for all; to firming up the Naira and tightening the loose ends in the economy.

Buhari should however know that in troubleshooting these crises, he should

prioritize the national problems and take them up one after the other. No attempt should be made to witch-hunt old political rivals or foes. Like Lincoln, an attempt should rather be made to heal the remote and immediate wounds of the country and allow good governance as the topmost priority. Federal character and quota system should be played down as it entrenches mediocrity in the country. Also, the military requires the tonic as they have not gotten there yet since the setbacks suffered in the hands of insurgents. As a military General and a very professional himself in his heyday, Buhari will need to return Nigeria to a path of a harmonious, disciplined and professional military.

Indeed, three basic things the administration should have started tackling effectively within its first hundred days are: insecurity, corruption, and epileptic power supply. These three are Nigeria’s albatrosses and if well addressed, Nigerians will develop more faith in the administration.

Three things Buhari should downplay are religion, appointment based on party membership and favouring any particular section of the country. Buhari will have to be president of the entire country and from March 28, he has ceased being a Fulani man from Katsina State. He is the Nigerian for Nigerians. For the next four or eight years, let Buhari be compassionate but firm; subdued in temper but principled; and people-inclined but godly. He is wished a highly successful and meritorious service to motherland.

• Dr. Folarin, an Associate Professor, is the immediate past Head of Department of Political Science and International Relations, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State.

The madness called bullion van (1) shall be required to ensure that the entire articulated vehicle carries the same identification number in respect of the prime mover and the semi-trailer. Each Identification Number Plate must be reflective and so made that any letter, numeral or other identifying mark displayed on it are legible at day time and at night in clear weather and must be visible and recognizable at a distance of not less than 60 metres by the driver of the immediate following vehicle and in the case of motorcycle at a distance of 30 metres.

Section 38-(1) states that a vehicle shall carry a Vehicle Tag as specified in Form MVA 25 of schedule 5 to these regulations which shall be issued along with the Vehicle Number Plate and shall carry the same number with the plate and be affixed to the rear windscreen. Except as otherwise provided under these regulations, number plates shall be transferred from one vehicle or trailer to another; Number plates shall be attached to a person and not to a vehicle and that Number Plate shall be returned to the Motor Licensing Authority on sale of a car

and the new owner shall obtain new set of number plate; while Proof of Ownership Certificate is mandatory for issuance of new number plates.

The same Regulations make it mandatory for such drivers to possess valid driver’s Licence and obey traffic rules and regulations. The fact that that bullion vans transport cash from one point to another does not confer on the vehicle or the driver any special privileges. In fact, no mention is made of bullion vans in the Regulations.

I told you that the Abeokuta incident will remain our reference point because the probable cause of the crash-speed violation and dangerous driving including recklessness is common with all bullion vans. This is in addition to the fact that, bullion van drivers and their operators are grossly rude and arrogant. My only explanation for this tendency is that they think that transporting cash which does not even belong to them from point to point confers special status or privilege on them. They also probably think that having escorts provides some sort of immunity

for them to exhibit their madness on the road. But Like I said, the law does not exempt bullion vans from responsible driving neither does its provisions provide immunity for its drivers. Since speed violation or better put, excessive speeding is number one offence associated with bullion vans, I would like to cite the provisions of the same 2012 Regulations which in discussing speed limits in Section 152.- (1) states that; A person shall not drive a vehicle on an public road in excess of the prescribed speed limit provided in schedule 8 to these regulations or as may be published from time to time by the Commission. It further states in sub-section 2, that notwithstanding sub-regulation (1) of this regulation, no person shall drive a vehicle on any public road in excess of the speed limit indicated by an appropriate road traffic sign in respect of that road.

Concluded •Agwu, an Assistant Corps Marshal, is Zonal Commanding Officer, Zone 7HQ of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

15

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wellness YOUR HEALTH AND HEALTH RELATED ISSUES May 24, 2015

Causes, prevention and control of razor bumps TITILOPE MORAKINYO

P

seudo folliculitis barbae or shaving bumps is a foreign body inflammatory reaction involving papules and pustules.

It primarily affects curly haired males who, shave and this happens for two main reasons which results to shaving bumps such as the extra follicular penetration when a curly hair re enters the skin, and trans follicular penetration when the sharp tip of a growing hair pierces the follicle wall.

Black men who shave are prone to this condition because of their tightly curved hair.

The sharp pointed hair from a recent shave briefly surfaces from the skin and reenters a short distance away. Several methods of close shaving result in a hair cut below the surface.

These methods include pulling the skin taut while shaving, shaving against the grain, plucking hairs with tweezers, removing hairs with electrolysis, and using double or triplebladed razors. This close shave result in a sharp tip below the skin surface, and is more likely to pierce the follicular wall, resulting to shaving bumps with transfollicular penetration.

According to medical experts, about 10 to 80 per cent of adult men have pseudofolliculitis barbae, particularly those who shave closely on a regular basis. It is a significant problem in black men in the military where regulations require a clean-shaven face.

On the other hand, skin bumps can affect male or female, young and old, it is refers to any type of swollen area or lump on the skin that occur with or without itching. The bump may be smooth or rough, hard or soft, and light or dark colored. It might be a single skin bump or several raised areas over any part of the body.

There are different conceptions whereby people often describe localized swollen areas on, or under, the skin as lumps or bumps.

While bumps on, or under, the skin may result from conditions that give rise to a skin rash, many other conditions can result in solitary raised lumps on the skin. Infections, inflammation, tumors, and the body’s response to trauma or injury can all lead to lumps or bumps that appear to be located on or underneath the skin.

Bumps

However, skin bumps may be localised to a specific area of the body, or may cover a large area. Depending upon the cause; skin lumps or bumps may vary in size and be firm or soft to the touch. The overlying skin may be reddened or ulcerated. Skin bumps may or may not be painful or tender, depending upon the cause of the lesions.

Raised skin bumps can result from a number of conditions, benign or harmful, but in most cases they are harmless. An infection, an allergic reaction, a hereditary condition, or even skin cancer can cause bumps to form on the skin.

In an interview with Sunday Mirror, a medical practitioner with Crownville Medical Centre, Akesan, Lagos, Dr Reuben Akiru, explains more on the signs and symptoms

Researchers discover gene that transforms dengue/yellow fever vector mosquitoes into male

U

.S. and Chinese researchers said on Friday that they have identified a gene that changes dengue and yellow fever vector mosquitoes into male.

Zhijian Tu, Professor of Biochemistry at the Virginia Tech, who led the study, said it was discovered that only females of the species, called Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, feed on human blood and transmit pathogens.

He said the discovery could set the stage for developing mosquito control strategies that convert females into harmless males or selectively eliminate deadly females.

“The male-determining gene “provides

us with exciting opportunities to harness mosquito sex in the fight against infectious diseases because maleness is the ultimate disease- refractory trait.

“Male-determining genes often reside in “genomic black holes,” or repeat-rich chromosome regions, which is why none had been found in mosquitoes or other insects before’’, he said. Tu said in the new study, his team, in collaboration with Xiao-Guang Chen, a professor at China’s Southern Medical University, analyzed male-specific genome sequences from Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and eventually identified a candidate gene called Nix.

of skin bumps such as Flu-like symptoms (fatigue, fever, sore throat, headache, cough, aches, and pains), blushing appearance around the face, itching, redness around the bump and swollen lymph nodes.

He said, “In some cases, skin bumps may occur with other symptoms that might indicate a serious or life-threatening condition, such as skin cancer or an allergic reaction that should be immediately appraised in crisis surroundings. They include difficulty breathing or wheezing, hives, skin bumps that are unevenly colored, bleed easily, change size or shape, crust, swollen face, lips or tongue”.

On the causes, he said “different diseases and conditions can lead to a bump or raised surface on the skin, most of which are bother-

some but relatively harmless and easily treated, they include Acne, boils, Cellulites eczema caused by allergy or inflammation, enlarged lymph glands in the neck, groin or armpits, folliculitis (infection of a hair follicle), insect bites, shingles or warts.

Skin bumps may be a symptom of a serious condition that should be immediately evaluated by a medical professional, especially when a sufferer suspects an allergic reaction; one should immediately seek medical help. Such condition includes allergy resulting in hives, swollen tongue, or trouble breathing, Melanoma (a type of skin cancer), skin cancer (squamous or basal cell carcinoma) and Syphilis” Dr Akiru added.

Shaving depletes moisture from the skin and cuts hair blunt, both creating breeding grounds for the hair to grow back into the skin. The shaving bumps can be reduced when there is no shaving with excessive pressure, using a shaving oil and shaving brush, and choosing the right razor will help in having a less redness and bumps.

On the treatment, he said that “skin bumps depends on the underlying cause and in most cases, patients will need no treatment, but should see the doctor when they are uncomfortable, especially when the cause of the bumps is not known, or deduce a skin cancer or an infection. Bumps that are harmless and need no treatment can be removed for cosmetic reasons. Such as freeze skin tags or warts to remove them or have cysts or lipomas removed surgically.

Other bumps that are itchy or irritated may be treated with topical ointments.

However, when the skin bumps are caused by an infection, doctor recommends a treatment plan and for bacterial infection, like MRSA or syphilis, course of antibiotics are used for treatment. Some viral infections cannot be cured, like herpes but medical personnel can give medications to treat the symptoms”.

“For any bumps in which cancer is a possibility, doctor performs a physical examination, and then remove a sample for a biopsy, while the biopsy reveals if the bump is cancerous or precancerous. If it is only precancerous, medical experts removes it completely and then check the spot from time to time when patients comes for check up”, he said.

HEALTH NEWS Mental health experts yearn for more psychiatric hospitals in Lagos

S

ome psychiatrists have said that Lagos had overtaken Cairo as Africa’s biggest city and needed more psychiatric facilities to meet the mental health challenges faced by residents.

The psychiatrists said that such became necessary because of the high level of stress and mental disorders recorded in the state.

Dr Maymunah Kadiri, a Consultant Psychiatrist, said that cities like Lagos were practically prone to stress risks such as natural catastrophes, environment and health challenges.

“The rate of traffic jam in Lagos and the stress it placed on the people and society

affected their mental well-being.

“The stress in Lagos can cause depression, anxiety and other forms of mental illnesses,’’ said the founder of Pinnacle Medical Centre, Lekki, Lagos.

Kadiri advised the state government to establish more psychiatric hospitals to cater for the high rate of mental disorders.

She noted that Lagos State had overtaken Cairo as Africa’s biggest city and needed more psychiatric facilities to meet the mental challenges of the residents.

Kadiri believed that such mental health infrastructure would ensure that the residents were socially and emotionally healthy.

& Faces Events

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

16

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Special Thanksgiving Service to celebrate the creation of Ojokoro Province of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim

The Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim, Ojokoro Province, Ijaiye , Lagos.

Board members with Apostle General and the Provincial Executives.

Preacher - Secretary to the Holy Order, Elder (Dr.) Napo Emuchay.

Special Senior Apostle (Dr.) J.O Dada (KDA)-Provincial Chairman.

Provincial Chairman with the Church Elders.

Eternal Sisters Association members with the Provincial Chairman at the event.

Church choristers

Zion Daughters during the induction of members at the event.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

17

Sunday, May 24, 2015

A PUBLICATION OF GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LTD BARRISTER JIMOH IBRAHIM, CFR  PUBLISHER All the Facts, All the Sides

SUNDAY OLAJIDE  MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO SEYI FASUGBA  DAILY EDITOR GBEMI OLUJOBI  SATURDAY EDITOR AYO OLESIN  SUNDAY EDITOR BEN MEMULETIWON  GENERAL EDITOR DOZIE OKEBALAMA  COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD CALLISTUS OKE  EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR ISE-OLUWA IGE  ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF AUGUSTUS IMEKAN  ACTING HEAD, GRAPHICS

Still on the Boko Haram-ISIS unholy alliance

L

ast Monday, May 18, the nation’s military high command reconfirmed the well touted alliance between Boko Haram and the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Making this connection in Abuja at the Deputy Defence Advisers/Attaches/Librarians training conference was the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Rear Admiral Gabriel Okoi, while fielding questions from journalists. Though a development that has been in the public domain for quite some time now, the grave danger it portends for Nigeria and Africa, especially against the backdrop that the alliance will facilitate ISIS’s further African expansion into its sub-Saharan region, must be stressed. There is, therefore, the compelling need for the African Union (AU) to rethink its current counter-terrorism containment strategy on the continent by expanding the regional multinational joint task force (MNJTF) put together in Nigeria.

Last March 7, Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, pledged his allegiance to al-Baghdadi, the self-proclaimed ‘caliph’ and leader of ISIS, who promptly accepted, thus formalising an alliance between two of the world’s most ruthless terrorist organisations. Before then, there were hints of Boko Haram’s likely alliance with ISIS, when in June last year Shekau congratulated al-Baghdadi and pledged support for his declaration of a ‘Caliphate’ in the swathe of territories controlled by the group in Iraq and Syria. Two months later, Shekau raised the stakes in its declared war on Nigeria, when it declared its own Islamic Caliphate in Gwoza, Borno State.

The Boko Haram leader’s recourse to the enlistment of his group into the global Islamic terrorist family that includes extremist groups from Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, all in North Africa, might be an act of desperation on his part, as he needed to buoy his sinking group and save it from imminent defeat from the AU’s approved coalition of military forces from Nigeria, Cameroon, Benin, Chad and Niger. Without doubt,

the military coalition force has successfully turned the tide against the terrorist group, taking the battle to its doorsteps. Some of the MNJTF’s solid achievements since last March included the liberation of territories previously held by Boko Haram in Nigeria and Cameroon, and the overrun of the once dreaded Sambisa forest and other terrorist cells in the forests of Bauchi and Adamawa states.

Boko Haram’s strategic alliance with ISIS will most likely give the deadly Islamic militant sect a continental influence, and secure for it new sources of funding, arms and foreign fighters from around the world.

In terms of ideology and doctrine, there is unmistakable influence of ISIS in the new orientation and operational methodology of Boko Haram - from punishments such as stoning, beheading of its victims to taking territory and an increasingly sophisticated use of social media. In terms of ideology, Shekau has said that kidnappings and hostage-taking are approved in the Quran, a claim ISIS also makes. The increasing recourse to the use of suicide bombings (often involving children and young girls), using livestock as shields and forced kidnappings for recruitment bears evidence to foreign influences on the sect’s style. The sect has begun using ISIS symbolism in its media productions and operations. For example,

GIVEN ISIS PENETRATION IN NORTH AFRICA, IT WILL BE DOUBLE JEOPARDY FOR AFRICA IF THE GROUP, THROUGH BOKO HARAM, IS ALLOWED TO MAINTAIN A FOOTHOLD IN THE SUBSAHARAN REGION OF THE CONTINENT

last July its militants were seen raising ISIS’ rayat al-uqab flag along the Nigerian-Cameroon border.

Given ISIS penetration in North Africa, it will be double jeopardy for Africa if the group, through Boko Haram, is allowed to maintain a foothold in the sub-Saharan region of the continent. An expansive network of ISIS on the continent could spell doom for its stability and weaken the economies of the various countries that would come under its onslaught. And so, the alliance does not particularly augur well for the ongoing regional campaign to contain Boko Haram in the West African sub region, as the Islamist sect could get more sophisticated, posing serious operational and tactical challenges to MNJTF. This spectre underscores a need for greater coordination among the frontline countries, and the beefing up of the present 8, 700 MNJFT troops to the envisaged 10, 000 to maximise recent gains and prevent foreign assistance to Boko Haram.

The Peace and Security Council of the AU may wish to consider a summit-level meeting of its members to decide on a no-fly zone for non-commercial and non-military aircraft in the region, and to request states to ensure that no military goods exported to Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, or Nigeria end up in the hands of Boko Haram and its allies.

The international community should also intensify non-military responses to the challenge. These include community programmes and strong national criminal justice institutions to eliminate the culture of impunity, and ensure that the millions of Boko Haram victims get justice. In this light, the International Criminal Court should expedite the process of indicting those responsible for mass atrocities in northern Nigeria, including Boko Haram leaders.

Perhaps, we should add that the broader problems Boko Haram insurgency represents and upon which it feeds – the spread of extremist Islamist ideas and the criminal failings of governments in the north of the country should be addressed.

Reminiscences May 24 IN HISTORY 1977: Nixon defends Watergate scandal Nixon has been interviewed on TV chat shows by David Frost and has defended the right that the President is within his rights to order phone tapping and burglaries if it is in the interests of public safety and has justified the use of these in the Watergate Scandal.

1941: WWII - German ship sinks HMS Hood The German battleship Bismarck sank the HMS Hood with the loss of more than 1,400 lives after a shell exploded in the armory in a battle of the giants of the sea during the Battle of the Denmark Strait.

1883: U.S. - Brooklyn Bridge opens to traffic The Brooklyn Bridge, linking Brooklyn and Manhattan over the East River, opens to traffic. In 1883, it was the largest suspension bridge in the world and had taken 13 years to complete.

1930: Australia - Amy Johnson ends solo flight Amy Johnson lands her Gypsy Moth plane at Darwin in Australia having completed the first solo flight from England by a woman.

1964: Peru, Argentina riot over soccer Following the referee’s decision to disallow a goal in the last few minutes in a qualifier for the 1964 Olympics in a soccer match between Peru and Argentina, the Peru fans riot and the resulting panic and lack of crowd control cause stampedes in which 300 fans are crushed and killed.

1968: France - De Gaulle issues ultimatum The President of France, Charles de Gaulle, issues an ultimatum to unions and students who have brought the country to a standstill during three weeks of violent demonstrations over his reforms, saying the French people will have a choice during the coming referendum “Back Me or Sack Me”.

1978: Princess Margaret divorced Princess Margaret, the sister of Queen Elizabeth II of England, is divorced after 18 years of marriage from her husband, Earl Snowdon.

1995: Fleiss, Hollywood madam, jailed Heidi Fleiss who ran a high class prostitution operation in Hollywood was sentenced to three years in prison and fined $1,500 for running a call girl ring that catered to the rich and famous.

2001: Israel - 20 die in dance floor collapse A dance floor has collapsed in Jerusalem leaving at least 20 people dead and hundreds more injured at a wedding party.

2006: 100 missing in Thailand flooding Over one hundred people went missing and many were found dead after major flooding occurred in the northern part of Thailand.

18

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

19

Praise Worship E-mail:yemiolakitan@gmail.com

E-mail:cossyodi@yahoo.com

EDIFYING GOD

QUOTE The sight of the people move him to pity; they were like sheep without a shepherd, harassed and helpless.

–Kunle Macaulay

Sunday May 24, 2015

How to recover what the eneemy has stolen, by Pastor Muoka

24

Confusion in the church and society 42

Unders UUnde nder nd ers rsstanding tanddingg God’s God’s d’ pu p rpose pur pose po se in in creatitinngg man’ creat creatin ma ’ man 41

Pentecost: Celebration and significance

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

20

Vineyard

Briefly Firstlove Assembly Lagos celebrates anniversary

P

lans are currently in top gear for the celebration of the first year anniversary of Firstlove Assembly, Lagos branch which was inaugurated on June 1st, 2014.

According to Reverend Simeon Afolabi, Serving Overseer, Firstlove Assembly, “Looking back at the past one year of our presence in Lagos, we can abundantly say that God is the brains behind it. This we know because of certain milestones we have recorded so far.

Our story today is that of God’s favour, preservation, provision, and we have seen God raise a number of dedicated families who presently constitute the core of our operations.”

Speaking further, he said, “We therefore consider it expedient to do an elaborate thanksgiving for what we have already seen. Consequently, Sunday, June 7th, 2015 has been dedicated to a special thanksgiving service at our worship place at The Jevinik Place, Isaac John Street, GRA, Ikeja.”

He reiterated that the church’s mission is to lead sinners to salvation and saints to the knowledge of apostolic values and standards adding that no one needs a burden of proof to say that we live in a world of fallen standards.

“We aim to see Christianity delivered from the psychobabble it has been reduced to in many quarters by wolves falsely called shepherds. That is why we seek revival, restoration, and why we go by the name Firstlove”, he reiterated.

Realities International Church Inc holds programme

R

ealities International Church Incorporated is set to hold a one-day maiden programme tagged “Back to sender” on May 29, 2015 from 10pm at 63/65, Ibitoye Street, off Suru-Alaba BusStop, Mile 2, Lagos According to the host, Pastor Triumph Okey-Chukwu, the programme is first of its kind this year that is aimed at uprooting destiny destroyer(s) in life. He assured that during this programme, ‘‘every attacking spirit will eventually flee with their evil loads’’.

Special features include salvation, deliverance, signs and wonders, song and drama ministrations by R.M.M, Joe Real, Chiboy and Real Theatre.

MABCI plans June Freedom Night

M

iracle Assembly Bible Church Incorporated also known as City of Joy has concluded plans for its vigil programme tagged “June Freedom Night”. The session which also has “God of Vegeance, fight my case as theme is scheduled for June 5, 2015 from 10pm at church auditorium located 80, Ajose Street, Mende, Maryland, Lagos.

The hosts, Bishop and Evang. (Mrs.) Theophilus Ugochukwu while speaking on divine vengeance assured worshippers that the Almighty God has sworn to contend against those who accost His people.

Celebration Sunday May 24, 2015

Christians urged to live according to principles of Jesus Christ ...As Catholic Archdioces of Lagos celerates World Communications Day

Journalists at the event

L

ast weekend, media practitioners in the country joined their colleagues in the rest of the world to mark the 49th edition of the World Communications Day.

To mark the occasion tagged “Communicating the Family: A Privileged Place of Encounter with the Gift of Love”, the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos hosted journalists as it organised a thanksgiving Mass at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos, during which the practitioners joined the officiating priests in a procession into the Church as they also listened to a reading of the full text of the Papal message during the course of the Mass.

In his sermon, the Vicar-General of Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Monsignor Bernard Okodua, explained that the family is a basic unit of society where communication starts noting that if we have sound family units, then we certainly would have a sound society to live in.

He said: “There is a bond of unity and love between mother and child even before the child is born and as people, who belong to respective families, we begin communicating from our homes; with our parents, siblings, family members and neighbours and we carry this out to the outer world. There are various means of communication namely verbal, body signs, even insinuations, sarcasm, proverbs and other forms, but what we are celebrating is communicating the word of God which basically is love, good

Pope Francis

neighbourliness, peace, joy and which of course we cannot have unless there is justice, equity, respect for human right, equal distribution of wealth given to mankind by God. “Communication becomes meaningless when a few people oppress and suppress the majority and they are not listening to the grumblings of the people until violence erupts and then they start apportioning blames here and there. When we communicate in the right way, a communicator has a message to give, which is meant for somebody and not the empty air, so others would have to listen. Of course we have freedom to accept or not to accept what we hear, but it is only expected that a true child of God would listen to a message of salvation and not that of damnation. In a society where there is a lot of corruption, selfishness, crave for wealth at all cost, that society is lacking either in communication or refuses to be communicated with because there are good people who are striving to make things work out well, though there are also those who are selfish that don’t want things to be done right” Good communication is about good neighbourliness, joy peace which we cannot have unless there is justice, respect for human rights and other respects given to human beings, giving everybody equal opportunity, in the

larger society.

He also urged Christians to live their lives according to the principles of Jesus Christ and to those in the information and communication sector, he gave the charge to do their best to communicate good and godly message in line with the teachings of God. In his message to communicators, the Director of Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Msgr. Gabriel Osu urged journalists to communicate the right message to the society.

“The World Communications Day, is an annual event set aside by the Church to re-emphasise the importance of communications to evangelisation and also to appreciate and encourage the good work being done by media practitioners which encompasses religious and secular Journalists, Broadcasters who as the watchdog of the society, people rely on to get good and reliable information. I implore you our esteemed communicators that as the people put their trust I you for the right and useful information, you must do all it takes not to be misleading in your information dissemination,’’ he admonished.

After the Mass, the communicators and a host of other professionals were hosted to a reception at the Church Hall during which they were entertained to a display of drama and other forms of entertainment as they also had an interactive session with the clerics.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

From the Pulpit 21

Sunday May 24, 2015

The power of sacrifice (Text: Psalms 51:17) Miracle Arena with Bishop

S

Theo Ugochukwu

acrifice is a very powerful key when activating God’s voice over an issue that demands immediate answer.

Romans 5:8 says “…But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. Every altar, negative or positive demands sacrifice.

It is sacrifice that makes an altar what it is, whether such altar will be powerful or not depends on the kind of sacrifice and the heart of which it was made. Does God still demand for sacrifice? The answer is “YES”. Sacrifice is a very old idea in the worship of God. We can be bold to say that there can be no true and sincere worship of God without sacrifice. The practice was clearly approved by God and He God demonstrated it according to the scripture in Romans 5:8 and John 3:16,

“…For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. God started it all for He knew that for mankind to be saved, a sacrifice is needed and God had to use His only son to save mankind from the clutches of darkness. For the demonstration of this act of commitment by God, we should now ask ourselves “what quality worship and service are we giving to our creator?” Sacrifices have degrees and qualities, because your level of commitment to God will always determine His level of commitment to you.

If anyone wants to get the best from God, then that one needs to throw one’s self totally to God and the cause of His kingdom.

In the book of Gen.22:1-2, the Bible said God tested Abraham’s faith and obedience. God called Abraham and said to him, “Take your only son, Isaac, whom you love so much, and go to the land of Moriah, sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you”.

And the Bible said Abraham obeyed. That was the level of his commitment to God, his creator. If the sacrifice is not painful or

tasking, then it is yet a sacrifice. Remember, Abraham and his wife waited for twenty years to receive this particular miracle of a son in the person of Isaac.

Many a times, God has ministered to me to sow a hard seed. Sometimes even when it is not convenient, I have sowed seed of cars, money and clothing, paid school fees as I was led by the Spirit of God, even when I was searching for the solution to my challenges, but God has been faithful. He has proved Himself. If that sacrifice is not painful it is not yet a sacrifice. Abraham has built all his hope, future, promise and name around his son Isaac, and now he is being asked to give him up as a sacrifice. Honestly, this was a very risky and painful experience. But Abraham on his own resolve, and because of his level of faith in God, love and obedience to God believed God. So many times the reason of doubt and unbelief is the evil seed that Satan always sow in our hearts. Making us believe that God is not able to deliver us and bring back the harvest if the seed we have sowed. What Abraham did was a prototype of what God Himself was

going to do hundred years after, by sacrificing His only begotten son, Jesus Christ for the redemption of mankind.

God expects us to behave like Him. He made us in His image, courageous, faithful, committed, unwavering, confident and to be single minded. Abraham manifested all these and throughout his life. No wonder God the Almighty, maker of Heaven and earth declared him a righteous man and also promised to raise him a nation of uncountable and great worshiper, just because of his absolute faith in the Almighty. May your sacrifice, faith and obedience raise you and altar of unspeakable glory and manifestation in the mighty name Jesus Christ.

•For more information, contact: Bishop Theo Ugochukwu – General Overseer, Miracle Assembly Bible Church, a.k.a. The City of Joy, 80, Ajose Street, Mende, Maryland, Lagos; Tel: 08033461482.

Email: bishopgracemiracle@ ymail.com

News

Death, a common denominator, says Bishop Olumakaiye ...as Ademowo survives mum ODINAKA URUAKPA

I

t was tributes galore last weekend at the funeral/farewell service of Chief Mrs. Caroline Abosede Ademowo, the late mother of the Diocesan Bishop of Lagos and Dean Emeritus, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, the Most Reverend (Dr.) E. Adebola Ademowo.

The funeral service which took place at the Cathedral Church of Christ Marina, Lagos, had in attendance clerics of the Anglican Communion, members as well as notable dignitaries including the former Head of Interim Gobvernment, Chief Ernest Shonekan, Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Adejoke Orelope Adefulire, Lagos State Governor-elect Adewunmi Ambode among others.

In his message at wake held at Our Saviour’s Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, the Diocesan Bishop of Osun North-East Diocese, Rt. Rev (Dr.) Humphrey B. Olumakaiye while consoling the deceased’s family members noted that the death of a loved one usually brings mixed feelings to the lives of those they left behind.

He said: “These days, occurrences like this bring mixed

feelings for the family the deceased left behind; in one sense, we look upward and rejoice in the new found happiness and joy the departed is experiencing in the bosom of the Lord and union with those who had gone before.

On the other hand, we look down and weep just like Jesus did when His friend Lazarus died because there is a sense of loss and separation when a loved one has departed from our life of whom we so much love.

“We shall miss mama; we shall miss her gracious steps. I heartily rejoice with the entire Ademowo family, the whole people of Lagos diocese, Lagos Province and the church of Nigeria.

Mama was blessed with long live and good health, therefore, her death is an occasion for great celebration, and we have started this, and we shall continue.

There is no cause for mourning; this is not the occasion to say the wicked has done their worst.

Going by the type of life mama lived; I have decided to pick my text from Psalm 116:15 which reads thus ‘Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saint.”

The cleric noted that the statistics concerning death was an impressive one, adding that one out of every one dies, and not two out of 10, nor five out of 10, but one out of every would sure-

ly die.

“If I may ask, who do you think is the next person to die?

May be if you look around, you can see that person who is next to die, he may be here now. But let me give you an assignment, when you get home tonight, take a mirror look into it may be that that person you see is the next perthason. It is better that we realize the reality of death, and that this place is not our home.

As humans, we are too attached to things of this world this is the reason we get frightened whenever death is mentioned around us. It is better to give our life to the Lord Jesus Christ today because we don’t know what would happen to us the next second; let me sound a note of warning, if you miss heaven, you can’t miss hell’, he stated.

Also having kind words for the deceased, Deputy Governor, Princess Victoria Orelope Adefulire praised God for the life of Mama Abosede Ademowo whom she described as a mother and friend.

“When I was told by our father, the Bishop that Mama was in the hospital, I quickly went to visit her there because she took me like her own daughter. She told me to pray for her and while I was praying, she also started praying for me. That was the type of mother we had; so loving

and always wishing everyone around her good. She would be missed for her loving and encouraging words. She was desirous of staying longer with us but the Lord knew better. As

it was said of her, she had taste for good dressing which according to the Lord Bishop that ministered on the night we did the Wake; nobody could take that away from her”, she revealed.

Beware of pretenders in APC, prophet warns Buhari

P

astor of The Light Evangelical Pillar of Truth Spiritual Church, Meiran, Lagos, Prophet Omoniyi Akindele, has made public a revelation given to him by God concerning the president-elect, General Mohammadu Buhari where he was asked to warn the later to beware of pretenders within his party; the All Progressives Congress, APC.

“In the prophecy, God likened the election of Buhari after many trials to the freedom of the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. Nigerians must be prayerful for the impending change to be fruitful and long lasting. Buhari should not forget that he had wept bitterly over his loss in past polls. His eventual success can be likened to the task given to Moses to free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt; God punished the Egyptians with series of devastating pestilence before Pharaoh could let the Israelites go”, he said.

While urging the presidentelect to live up to the task, the man of God said, “Nigerians have suffered enough all the while; Buhari’s coming is designed as payback years for the masses of this country.”

He also urged the incoming president to be ready to do better than before, now that he has been voted to rule the nation.

“Moses with his knowledge was unable to get to the Promised Land despite the fact that he had the backing of the Almighty, because he sinned against the people the Lord so much coveted. Buhari has just got to his promised land, but should be wary of pretenders and hawks in the nation’s political space, especially within his party, APC, otherwise he will be led astray. Nigeria is one nation, so Buhari should forget that certain section of the country voted for him while others did not. We are one nation; treat all of us as one too”, he advised.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

From the Pulpit 21

Sunday May 24, 2015

The power of sacrifice (Text: Psalms 51:17) Miracle Arena with Bishop

S

Theo Ugochukwu

acrifice is a very powerful key when activating God’s voice over an issue that demands immediate answer.

Romans 5:8 says “…But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. Every altar, negative or positive demands sacrifice.

It is sacrifice that makes an altar what it is, whether such altar will be powerful or not depends on the kind of sacrifice and the heart of which it was made. Does God still demand for sacrifice? The answer is “YES”. Sacrifice is a very old idea in the worship of God. We can be bold to say that there can be no true and sincere worship of God without sacrifice. The practice was clearly approved by God and He God demonstrated it according to the scripture in Romans 5:8 and John 3:16,

“…For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. God started it all for He knew that for mankind to be saved, a sacrifice is needed and God had to use His only son to save mankind from the clutches of darkness. For the demonstration of this act of commitment by God, we should now ask ourselves “what quality worship and service are we giving to our creator?” Sacrifices have degrees and qualities, because your level of commitment to God will always determine His level of commitment to you.

If anyone wants to get the best from God, then that one needs to throw one’s self totally to God and the cause of His kingdom.

In the book of Gen.22:1-2, the Bible said God tested Abraham’s faith and obedience. God called Abraham and said to him, “Take your only son, Isaac, whom you love so much, and go to the land of Moriah, sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you”.

And the Bible said Abraham obeyed. That was the level of his commitment to God, his creator. If the sacrifice is not painful or

tasking, then it is yet a sacrifice. Remember, Abraham and his wife waited for twenty years to receive this particular miracle of a son in the person of Isaac.

Many a times, God has ministered to me to sow a hard seed. Sometimes even when it is not convenient, I have sowed seed of cars, money and clothing, paid school fees as I was led by the Spirit of God, even when I was searching for the solution to my challenges, but God has been faithful. He has proved Himself. If that sacrifice is not painful it is not yet a sacrifice. Abraham has built all his hope, future, promise and name around his son Isaac, and now he is being asked to give him up as a sacrifice. Honestly, this was a very risky and painful experience. But Abraham on his own resolve, and because of his level of faith in God, love and obedience to God believed God. So many times the reason of doubt and unbelief is the evil seed that Satan always sow in our hearts. Making us believe that God is not able to deliver us and bring back the harvest if the seed we have sowed. What Abraham did was a prototype of what God Himself was

going to do hundred years after, by sacrificing His only begotten son, Jesus Christ for the redemption of mankind.

God expects us to behave like Him. He made us in His image, courageous, faithful, committed, unwavering, confident and to be single minded. Abraham manifested all these and throughout his life. No wonder God the Almighty, maker of Heaven and earth declared him a righteous man and also promised to raise him a nation of uncountable and great worshiper, just because of his absolute faith in the Almighty. May your sacrifice, faith and obedience raise you and altar of unspeakable glory and manifestation in the mighty name Jesus Christ.

•For more information, contact: Bishop Theo Ugochukwu – General Overseer, Miracle Assembly Bible Church, a.k.a. The City of Joy, 80, Ajose Street, Mende, Maryland, Lagos; Tel: 08033461482.

Email: bishopgracemiracle@ ymail.com

News

Death a common denominator says Bishop Olumakaiye ...as Ademowo survives mum ODINAKA URUAKPA

I

t was tributes galore last weekend at the funeral/farewell service of Chief Mrs. Caroline Abosede Ademowo, the late mother of the Diocesan Bishop of Lagos and Dean Emeritus, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, the Most Reverend (Dr.) E. Adebola Ademowo.

The funeral service which took place at the Cathedral Church of Christ Marina, Lagos, had in attendance clerics of the Anglican Communion, members as well as notable dignitaries including the former Head of Interim Gobvernment, Chief Ernest Shonekan, Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Adejoke Orelope Adefulire, Lagos State Governor-elect Adewunmi Ambode among others.

In his message at wake held at Our Saviour’s Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, the Diocesan Bishop of Osun North-East Diocese, Rt. Rev (Dr.) Humphrey B. Olumakaiye while consoling the deceased’s family members noted that the death of a loved one usually brings mixed feelings to the lives of those they left behind.

He said: “These days, occurrences like this bring mixed

feelings for the family the deceased left behind; in one sense, we look upward and rejoice in the new found happiness and joy the departed is experiencing in the bosom of the Lord and union with those who had gone before.

On the other hand, we look down and weep just like Jesus did when His friend Lazarus died because there is a sense of loss and separation when a loved one has departed from our life of whom we so much love.

“We shall miss mama; we shall miss her gracious steps. I heartily rejoice with the entire Ademowo family, the whole people of Lagos diocese, Lagos Province and the church of Nigeria.

Mama was blessed with long live and good health, therefore, her death is an occasion for great celebration, and we have started this, and we shall continue.

There is no cause for mourning; this is not the occasion to say the wicked has done their worst.

Going by the type of life mama lived; I have decided to pick my text from Psalm 116:15 which reads thus ‘Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saint.”

The cleric noted that the statistics concerning death was an impressive one, adding that one out of every one dies, and not two out of 10, nor five out of 10, but one out of every would sure-

ly die.

“If I may ask, who do you think is the next person to die?

May be if you look around, you can see that person who is next to die, he may be here now. But let me give you an assignment, when you get home tonight, take a mirror look into it may be that that person you see is the next perthason. It is better that we realize the reality of death, and that this place is not our home.

As humans, we are too attached to things of this world this is the reason we get frightened whenever death is mentioned around us. It is better to give our life to the Lord Jesus Christ today because we don’t know what would happen to us the next second; let me sound a note of warning, if you miss heaven, you can’t miss hell’, he stated.

Also having kind words for the deceased, Deputy Governor, Princess Victoria Orelope Adefulire praised God for the life of Mama Abosede Ademowo whom she described as a mother and friend.

“When I was told by our father, the Bishop that Mama was in the hospital, I quickly went to visit her there because she took me like her own daughter. She told me to pray for her and while I was praying, she also started praying for me. That was the type of mother we had; so loving

and always wishing everyone around her good. She would be missed for her loving and encouraging words. She was desirous of staying longer with us but the Lord knew better. As

it was said of her, she had taste for good dressing which according to the Lord Bishop that ministered on the night we did the Wake; nobody could take that away from her”, she revealed.

Beware of pretenders in APC, prophet warns Buhari

P

astor of The Light Evangelical Pillar of Truth Spiritual Church, Meiran, Lagos, Prophet Omoniyi Akindele, has made public a revelation given to him by God concerning the president-elect, General Mohammadu Buhari where he was asked to warn the later to beware of pretenders within his party; the All Progressives Congress, APC.

“In the prophecy, God likened the election of Buhari after many trials to the freedom of the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. Nigerians must be prayerful for the impending change to be fruitful and long lasting. Buhari should not forget that he had wept bitterly over his loss in past polls. His eventual success can be likened to the task given to Moses to free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt; God punished the Egyptians with series of devastating pestilence before Pharaoh could let the Israelites go”, he said.

While urging the presidentelect to live up to the task, the man of God said, “Nigerians have suffered enough all the while; Buhari’s coming is designed as payback years for the masses of this country.”

He also urged the incoming president to be ready to do better than before, now that he has been voted to rule the nation.

“Moses with his knowledge was unable to get to the Promised Land despite the fact that he had the backing of the Almighty, because he sinned against the people the Lord so much coveted. Buhari has just got to his promised land, but should be wary of pretenders and hawks in the nation’s political space, especially within his party, APC, otherwise he will be led astray. Nigeria is one nation, so Buhari should forget that certain section of the country voted for him while others did not. We are one nation; treat all of us as one too”, he advised.

22

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T

he feast of Pentecost is usually celebrated each year on the 50th day after the Holy Feast of Pascha (Easter) and 10 days after the feast of the Ascension of Christ. The Feast is always celebrated on a Sunday.

The feast commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles on the day of Pentecost, a feast of the Jewish tradition. It also celebrates the establishment of the Church through the preaching of the Apostles and the baptism of the thousands, who on that day accepted the Gospel message of salvation through Jesus Christ. The Feast is also seen as the culmination of the revelation of the Holy Trinity.

The English word Pentecost is a transliteration of the Greek word pentekostos, which means 50. It comes from the ancient Christian expression pentekoste hemera, which means 50th day.

According to American cleric, Rev. Mark D. Roberts, Christians did not invent the phrase fiftieth day rather, they borrowed it from Greek-speaking Jews who used the phrase to refer to their Jewish holiday. This holiday was known as the Festival of Weeks, or, more simply, Weeks (Shavuot in Hebrew).

The name Shavuot now known as Pentecost, he revealed, comes from an expression in Leviticus 23:16, which instructs people to count seven weeks or 50 days from the end of Passover to the beginning of the next holiday, Pentekonta hemeras in the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Scripture.

Shavuot was said to be the second greatest feast in Israel’s yearly cycle of holy days. It was originally a harvest festival as recorded in Exodus 23:16, but, in time, turned into a day to commemorate the giving of the law on Mt. Sinai.

This day became especially significant for Christians because, seven weeks after the resurrection of Jesus, during the Jewish celebration of Shavuot/Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon his first followers, thus empowering them for their mission and gathering them together as a church.

Pentecost is often referred to as ‘the birthday of the Church’ because on this day, with the descent of the Holy Spirit, Christ’s mission was completed, and the New Covenant was inaugurated. For some Christians, it is interesting to note that Saint Peter, the first pope, was already the leader and spokesman for the Apostles on Pentecost Sunday.

For Professor Kunle Macaulay, Director of United Bible University, Ojodu, Ogun State, Christians do not need to celebrate Pentecost as they do other feasts noted in the Christian calendar.

“Pentecost is the arrival of the Holy Spirit and every individual has their own Pentecost when the Holy Spirit will come to them. The Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles when they were in Jerusalem, in fulfillment of the promise Christ made to them when He asked them to tarry in Jerusalem until they will be endued with the power. When the power arrived as they there, they spoke not in strange tongues, but in known tongues; they didn’t speak in heavenly tongues, rather, they spoke languages that people could understand and that was why the people around who heard them speaking their language were amazed at how Israel-

Sunday May 24, 2015

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Pentecost: Celebration

Church worshippers

For the Catholic and other old generation churches, just like every other Christian celebration, Pentecost is accorded relevance and marked every year as was done in the Jewish tradition, but for others, it is not worth being celebrated elaborately like other feast but should be done solemnly ODINAKA URUAKPA brings the views of clerics on the issue ites who had their own language could achieve that feat. For me, Pentecost is not something to celebrate at all; it is something that has been done once and for all on Pentecost day which is the arrival of the Holy Spirit. Every time you preach to a person or a group of people and they are converted, that means that they are touched by the Holy Spirit and that is their Pentecost day, he insisted.

Speaking on the significance of Pentecost, he said it only has to do with the arrival of the Holy Spirit for the establishment of the Christian church adding that from the moment the Holy Spirit descended on them, the apostles stayed together, formed a group and that group became a church which actually was the first church.

“We have theologians who read the Bible and interpret it to fit into their doctrine. If you look at the reverence of Mary for instance by the Catholic Church, it was never part of Christianity until some theologians from the Catholic Church sat down and said Mary must be a saint because she produced a God that we worship and they said definitely, she is greater than Jesus Christ. If you look at theologically, if a mother talks to a child, that child is bound to respect the opinion of the mother; this is why theologically, if they want to ask anything from Je-

sus Christ, they go through His mother and this is where we derive the theory of Mariology. Sometimes, some of these doctrines may not be biblical, but theological.

The Bible has a lot of loopholes. Take for instance when Jesus said: ‘I am going to prepare a place and when I prepare, I will come. What does He (Christ) want people to do when He is away; there is a filling, there is something you need to fill there, so anybody can turn round and say well, we have to go and teach, we have to go preaching, we have to do this though Christ never said so. But, you can develop that theologically and make it your doctrine, but it could also be theologically wrong”, he maintained.

In his view, General Overseer of Chapel of Holiness, Pastor K. I. Bona, Pentecost should not be celebrated, rather it should

be a ministration, a kind of programme that would embrace all members of the church where they would come together to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

“It is not something we need to celebrate, but for us to come together to prepare our spirit to receive, just as in the old times when the early Christians in the person of the Disciples of Christ waited for days in the upper room for the coming of the Holy Spirit and when they received it, they were in one accord. The Bible states that there was an eruptious mighty wind and resting upon their heads were glowing tongues of fire signifying the Holy Spirit, so I believe that it is not something to be celebrated, rather, it is something to be practiced where people gather in prayer to receive the Spirit of God. Unfortunately, many

WE HAVE THEOLOGIANS WHO READ THE BIBLE

AND INTERPRET IT TO FIT INTO THEIR DOCTRINE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE REVERENCE OF MARY FOR INSTANCE BY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, IT WAS NEVER PART OF CHRISTIANITY UNTIL SOME THEOLOGIANS FROM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SAT DOWN AND SAID MARY MUST BE A SAINT BECAUSE SHE PRODUCED A GOD THAT WE WORSHIP

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and significance

Artistic scene depicting The Last supper

Christian worshippers

Christians today do not have the Holy Spirit of God, they work without the knowledge of the Word of God and this is why you see lots of bad characters, bad behaviour abound in the life of the ministry today. If these people had had the Holy Spirit in them, in their lives, there would be a total change in them. They would have been manifesting the glory of God; that is how it should be, what are we celebrating? We should practice it by coming together in church in one accord; we pray, fast, forgive another’s sins. For those who have not been in one accord, it is an opportunity to make peace, friends should make peace, husband and wife should make peace; when we receive the Holy Spirit of God, then we can live a life worthy of true children of God”, he said.

For those who come celebrate the feast, he said he would not say it is wrong, but it depends on how they celebrate.

“If they gather to remember the day of Pentecost, and they gather in fasting and expectation, in holiness and in one accord, then that is right, but if it is just to gather and praise God, I believe it is not the right thing to do. Pentecost day for us should be a day of forgiveness of

sins, a day of remorse, a day we come to God in submission to His will. We are looking unto God to do something new in our life because we don’t want to change our bad ways; all these years, we have been doing things our own way, but now, we have decided to gather together in expectation, to receive the Spirit of God’, he added.

According to Primate I. O. Oyelowo of Life of Word Aladura Church, Pentecost Sunday is an important festival, which is recorded even in the Old Testament and carried into the times of the Apostles of Jesus Christ whom He (Christ) promised the gift of the Hoy Spirit when He was about to ascend into heaven.

“Pentecost is the 50th day after the ascension of Jesus Christ. When Christ was about to ascend into heaven, He promised His apostles that He was going to send the comforter to them and he asked them to stay in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit to descend. On that particular day, when Peter was preaching, he made 3,000 converts, it is regarded as a day of harvest because so many souls were won that day. Pentecost day has always been celebrated even from the Old Testament days; there were three major festivals, which the Israelites celebrated namely Pentecost, Passover which commemorates the Israelites being led out of Egypt and the feast of Tabernacle, which is a day of atonement for the people. Jesus celebrated the feast of Passover when He went to Jerusalem, so in the Christian calendar, the feast of Pentecost is counted 50 days from Easter. That particular day that the apostles of Christ stayed together and the Holy Spirit descended upon then, they were emboldened and started preaching and winning souls into the Christendom; that day is the day of harvest because a total number of 3,000 people were converted. With the coming and realisation of the Pentecost, everybody would have the qualification to enter into the kingdom of God, nobody should be excluded; Mathew 24:14 states that Christ won’t come until the whole world is converted, so we still have a lot to do. Pentecost day is a very significant feast which Christians should celebrate annually until the coming of Christ”,

IF THEY GATHER TO REMEMBER THE DAY OF PENTECOST, AND THEY GATHER IN FASTING AND EXPECTATION, IN HOLINESS AND IN ONE ACCORD, THEN THAT IS RIGHT, BUT IF IT IS JUST TO GATHER AND PRAISE GOD, I BELIEVE IT IS NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO

he submitted.

Speaking on the issue, Director of Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Msgr. Gabriel Osu Pentecost is very important feast in the Catholic Church and indeed all of Christendom.

“Pentecost is very important because it marks the descent of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Blessed Trinity, on the Apostles and Mary the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ. This happened forty days after Easter. If you could recall, before the Ascension of Christ into heaven, he admonished his disciples to wait patiently for the Holy Spirit who would come to energize and embolden them and also remind them of all the things he (Christ) had told them while on earth. Who is this Holy Spirit? He is known as the giver of life who proceeds from the Father (Nicene Creed). This life has its origin in the Father and is given to us through the Son. It is made our interior personal procession by the Holy Spirit. Through Baptism, the Sacrament of faith, the Holy Spirit enables us personally to be reborn as children of God and shearers of divine life”, he explained.

He further explained that the coming of the Holy Spirit on the disciples is very symbolic because it marks the commencement of the Church, as it were.

“After the ascension of Christ into heaven the disciples and other believers were afraid that since their leader was gone, there would be no one to protect them from their enemies. However, on Pentecost day, while they were in the upper room praying, there was a loud noise and the Holy Spirit descended on each of them like tongues of fire and they began to speak in different languages to the astonishment of all. Now armed with divine light that enables us know the Father, the once timid disciples began to proclaim the gospel with renewed vigour, accompanied by signs and wonders. Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the Paraclete, meaning ‘he who is called to one’s side or ‘counselor’.

His purpose is to teach Christians all things and bring them to a remembrance of all that Jesus said and did (Jn. 14:26).

Thus, the Holy Spirit is the personal presence of God’s love dwelling in our hearts, producing fellowship with the Son and making us adopted children of the Father.

While quoting the gospel of John 14: 16, he added that it is instructive to note that though it is over two thousand years that the Holy Spirit descended upon the early Christians, He (Holy Spirit) is very much with us today and would continue to dwell with us till the end of time.

“It is through the Holy Spirit that the work of evangelism would continue to thrive to all corners of the world. It is through the same Holy Spirit that God makes His words to be alive in us every day. Indeed, without the Holy Spirit, the Church would be dead and humanity doomed forever”, he noted.

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From the

Pulpit Sunday May 24, 2015

How to recover what the enemy has stolen, by Pastor Muoka General Overseer of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministry, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, in this piece, teaches on how to recover what the enemy has stolen. Excerpts:

Pastor Muoka

B

eloved, we should know that we are special people. Though we are in the world but we are not of the world.

We are not sinners or backsliders and do not belong to the world. We are the people of God, people of heaven. We are people that belong to the kingdom of God here on earth. So, we belong to God Almighty.

If you can believe in Him today, you shall have the privilege of son-ship, for all that receive Christ by faith become automatically the sons of God by adoption. This is a precious and free privilege.

Do not be left out because there are so much to gain and a lot to lose if you pay not heed to this counseling. This is because in the Kingdom of God’ are provision for all good things. You cannot pursue and overcome your enemies if you are not under the banner of the Almighty God or belong to His Kingdom.

Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” If you desire every good thing in this world and want to be in heaven at last, you must seek the Kingdom of God first. The Scripture says, you should seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all good things shall be added unto you. How many things do you have now as a Christian? If you have all good things fine, but if you don’t have all, then you must go for them now. You must take what belongs to you. It says

all the good things shall be added to the already grace of God in you as a bornagain Christian. Whatever the devil has taken away from you must be retrieved so that you have all round blessing.

Abraham was blessed by God in all things and if God blessed him in all things and he is the Father of faith and we are his children, then we shall be blessed and our blessing shall provoke unbelievers. Our prosperity will provoke unbelievers to worship God because when you have all things; people around you that are unbelievers will come around and plead that you should take them to your church. Honestly from now, your prosperity will provoke sinners to worship God because if they are better than you, they will not listen to you. If you preach to them, they may accuse you of trying to make them be like you.

Can you imagine a situation after you have preached a wonderful sermon, you then solicit for transport fare. Such character makes unbelievers mock Christians. And such thing can cause them to hide from you whenever you go to preach to them. They may conclude you have come to disturb them, as your presence will now constitute nuisance.

If that is your potion, today, your life can not remain the same because your father, the Almighty God who owns heaven and earth will bless you today in

Jesus name.

Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is of the Lord and the fullness thereof.” God owns everything. He has nothing to do with car, building, husband and wife, school certificate, admission into university, PHD, employment or whatever. We are the ones that have something to do with the things of this world. And you are supposed to enjoy them as a child of God but sinners are having them much more than you. That is why God asks us to go after what belong to us so that our joy shall be full. We must therefore, pursue those people holding our blessings and recover whatever that belongs to us.

Psalm 115:16 says, “The heaven even the heaven are the Lord but the earth are been giving to the children of me.” God gave the earth to the children of men and if God has given the earth to me and to you, where then is our portion. Where is your own portion, you who go about begging?

But never mind, your story must change today because God has given you the world to exploit for your inheritance.

Joshua 1:3 says, “Every place the sole of your foot shall tread upon thou have I given to you as I said unto Moses”.

God has given unto us everything our eyes can cover. Any promise in the Bible which you can imagine is for your inheritance. That promise is not for the devil; that promise is not for unbelievers; that promise is not for demons; it belongs to the people of God and today, any promise your eyes covers will be yours. Healing will be yours; deliverance including prosperity will be yours.

1Cor. 3:21 says, “Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;” How many things/ all from a-z? Why the earth is of the Lord and the fullness thereof and we are the children of God and if that be the case, if you will see them and claim them, it shall be yours; if you will see those things and act in line with that scripture, it shall be yours.

Genesis 13:15 and 17 says, “For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it and to thy seed forever. 17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto

thee”.

All the land you see shall be given to you, which means you have to see something before you go after them. God said I have shown you the land, that you must walk through it in the length of it and in the breadth of it which means since God has promised you that all these things belong to you, you should therefore know what belong to you and lay claim to it and God will bring it to pass in Jesus name.

This is the word of God that must come to fulfillment. It is not the word of mortal man that dies at the end of the man. Whatever you are looking for belongs to you. God has given them to you, and as you claim it today, it shall be yours in Jesus name. So, you must pursue after those things that God has bequeathed to you just like David pursued after them and recovered all. So we must pursue like David, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, and deal with all the enemies on our way and all the enemies that are standing against us.

All those that are occupying our blessing whether spiritually or physically must be dealt with like David. We must not fold our hands and be at the defense, we must pursue in prayers, in season and out of season. Pray without season and go after what God has given to you.

We must go for evangelism, preach at all times and pray to ensure whatever the devil had taken or captured are recovered. As we continue in the spiritual exercise, I assure you we must overtake them and without fear recover all in Jesus name.

Joshua 2:9-10 says: 9. “And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. 10.

For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. 11. And CONTINUED ON PAGE 41

PASSION

A Lifestyle Magazine

APPLAUSE

‘Women shouldn’t be dependent on their husbands’ >>27

Life is not a rehearsal – Ure Okezie >>26

Sunday May 24, 2015

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‘Life is not a rehearsal –Ure Okezie Ure Okezie, affectionately called Queen Ure by her admirers, is an ex-banker and life coach. Though she studied Physics at University of Jos, she was trained in The Coaching Academy, United Kingdom. In this interview with ADAEZE AMOS, she unfurls her lifestyle and vocation lately.

What are you doing at present?

I have a brand that I’m building which is the Porpori.

The brand is getting bigger because I have branched into other areas of business. I’m now into my own line of hair products. I have two brands of human hair called Porpori Curls, which are curly and Porpori Waves. They are both under the platform I call Porpori Opportunity where all the Porpori products are marketed.

The hairdo world is already saturated with all kinds of hair

weaves and braids. What new thing is Porpori hair line going to introduce into the hair world?

First and foremost, the hair itself is original. It is 100 per cent natural. It is tangle-free, a good quality, natural hair and not synthetic. It is hair that you can use over and over again. Also, all the bonuses that are the attached to it already are making it to stand out in th hair world. sociCan you name some hair blunders in our soc ety that put you off?

What I will call a hair blunder is someone someon wearing a hairstyle that doesn’t fit. When Whe used I was young, I had a cousin who use to say one shouldn’t copy hairstyl hairstyles sheepishly just because a friend wears wea you that kind of hair-do. Because yo the may not have the same shape of th this head/face, invariably what th opt means is that no one should o because for a hairstyle simply becau it is in vogue without conco sidering if it would fit you. yo that This is the blunder th sociis common in our soc ety today and it pisses piss might me off. You migh on see some style o you someone and yo the do exactly th meanhairstyle, mea don’t while you don the look like th person. This is hair number one ha Anothblunder. Anot er b blunder is that most of o today’s ladies toda ay’s ladi es don’t look do n’t loo ok after their af fter the eir What h hair.

Wh hat do lladies adies d n now is they that the ey forget t h e i r natunat u-

ral hair because of hair extensions. I have seen a lot of women not taking care of their natural hair because they wear hair extensions. Make sure you wash your hair often, treat it if need be and take care of it. Condition your hair and make sure you use the right product for it. This is because time would come when you don’t feel like wearing hair extensions. One of the reasons most ladies continue to wear hair extensions is because their natural hair has gone bad that they can’t show it off any more. While I market hair extensions, I also encourage people to take care of their natural hair. It’s a serious hair blunder to ignore your natural hair while you spend so much on hair extensions.

How about some ladies who wear crazy colours of hair extensions without putting their age into consideration?

My mum would be 70 years old in December and even at her age she still rocks afro (laughs) and she looks good. So, I think the colour of hair one chooses is an individual thing. And one who is wearing some colour of hair wants some attention. There is nothing wrong after all; what has age got to do with looking beautiful. The colour of hair one chooses depends on who she is and her motive for opting for that. A lot of times, we judge people for what they wear or what they do without knowing their reason for doing such. I just told you my mum is going to be 70 soon and she loves to wear afro hair style. You know how afro is now, you can imagine a 70-year-old woman rocking afro hair style.

When you see her, you would be convinced that I got my Porpori swag from my mum (laughs). I think I get excited when I see people who are old still rocking some kind of hairstyles…trying to look and feel good.

As someone into a lot of businesses, what is your comment on ladies who fold their hands and depend on their rich husbands?

What I would say concerning this is that every individual has dreams. There were things you wanted to do even as you were growing up. So, when you got married, you shouldn’t throw away those dreams. I believe that everyone, whether male or female, should engage themselves positively in activities that add value to the society. Besides adding value to the society, but something that can also put money into your pocket. Nobody should be a beggar or depend on another. Even your parents already know that at certain age you shouldn’t depend on anybody, they are the ones that should depend on you. Rather than go to someone and beg for money, go to the person with something that you are selling.

The person would happily purchase an item from you rather than give you money. About women who depend on their husbands, you never knew where the wind of life would blow. What if tomorrow he is not there, what do you think hapwould p e n ?

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You become a widow who would be asking for people’s support. I’m not against giving support to widows. I do support widows but I’m saying that it’s good we do something that would fetch us money and not be dependent on men as if we can’t raise our heads without them. If you were doing something, for instance, and you are able to make money, you would be able to establish yourself very well. And if your husband is no more, you would be able to cope. His death should not cripple you. You should be able to take care of yourself and still look after your children. Every woman should see herself as an entrepreneur, as someone that can add value to the home.

You should have a say in your home; not when you see something that is going wrong in your family you keep mum because you know that when you say it your husband whom you depend on would starve you. You wouldn’t talk because tomorrow he would not give you money. You would always dance to his tune even when you are not supposed to get money from him. Such a marriage is not balanced. As a man, be the man of the house, make the money and be the head of the family like we know you should be. Then as a woman, strive to be virtuous. The Bible made mention of the virtuous woman, she is the one given order, who holds her home.

So, a good woman is the one who adds even more value to her family.

Why do you think women take all the pains to look good?

Your body is the only thing you have.

The items that you bought about five years ago, you don’t know where they are; the only thing that has been with you is your body. That is why we must look after our body. You must exercise it, feed well and then you must look good. This life is not a rehearsal. We are living it, not rehearsing.

Applause

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‘Women shouldn’t be dependent on their husbands’ ADAEZE AMOS

R

ose Odetayo is a businesswoman whose company manufactures disinfectants, insecticides and hand sanitisers. She is also into beautification of the environment, among other vocations. This chief executive officer of Magnificent Rose Global Ventures, an outfit utfit that has been in existence for for over a decade, is incidentally ntally a widow.

Mrs Odetayo garnered red much experience from m the Nigerian Airportss Authority, now Federall Airports Authority of Nigeria where she worked d for several years before e retiring. The loss of herr husband has not deterred red her from pursuing herr ambition in life. When n she started running herr private company, she had ad some hurdles which she later overcame.

“When I started my y company newly, it wasn’t really easy. I had some e financial challenges, transportation problems and d inadequate members of staff.

But I never gave up and d after sometime I overcame my y challenges. So, my advice ice to any woman who is starting g up a business and she iss experiencing some hiccups is to o be persistent. You shouldn’t uldn’t be discouraged. Don’t allow business challenges to break you down. Don’t give up! Continue with same zeal you used in starting up your business and you would see that with time you would pick p ck pi k up,” she counselled.

One thing that infuriates riates this amiable le e and light-skinned mother ther of two iss that some young ladies are not hard d working enough.

“I feel bad when I see ee young g ladies going into prostitution titution n because of the inability ity to o sit, think and come up p with good ideas of makaking money. Nothing on n earth should lure you into prostitution.

Yes, I make bold to say that no situation whatsoever should lure a woman into selling her body.

That to me is absolute rubbish. I could remember when I was a young girl, far before I got married.

I used to be hard working. I continued working hard till I got married and my husband knew me to be e hard working. He used d to tell his friends then n about how up and do-ing I was. While I wass working, I was still doing my own business that was fetching me more money. Then, at the airport, I used to have seven work-ing days and seven days yss off. So, when I was off duty, I would travel out of the he coun-try to buy things for sale. ale. I was making more money aside side from my salary. I was never er used to just sitting down and idling dling away y my time. I was busy and d was able e to support my husband d and con-tribute my own quota to my fam--

ily. That didn’t stop my husband from running the home as the head of the family but I wasn’t just feeding fat on his money.

I was up and doing and I suppose that is what every woman should do.

“It is wrong for a woman to just sit idle and feed fat on her hubby’s money. Do something! I always advise young girls to engage themselves meaningfully. For instance, the day my son her the same son brought his fiancée home, I also gave g advice. a ad vice.

Her son’s fiancee is into catering and hotel management. m me nt.

“I remember the young lady said sa she didn’t have working working experience and that it had ha been hindering her her somehow. I advised her to get herself employed so so as to be experienced. When a lady is hard working i g and making some money, she in s would be bold anywhere anywhere she sees herself. She would stand tall and because she and won’t be molested by anyone an is Even to is capable of handling some situations. s take take care of herself would be easy e . She wouldn’t wait wait on her husband to give her h money to buy stuffs stuffs for herself. Also, when there are some emergencies emergencies and her husband is not at home, she em can can confront the situation,” she emphasised.

Odutayo said it is because of the hapless situation tion some women find themselves themselv that make them stay st in marriages that are full of o misery. In these relationships, beaten and rre elationships, they are battered, ela bat broken. brrok b o en.

“Yes, it’s true. There is a case at T hand is being verhand where a lady l bally b lly abused by her husband ba and there because a d she is still an s she incapacis e is financially sh fina tated. tated. This Th is a young lady who who is well read with a master’s degree but mast because becaus she isn’t up and she can’t do and doing, do anything.

Today she is anythi regretting it. You don’t regret have h ve to keep your cerha tificates in your file/ tifica drawer, not using d a dr them to do somethe thing meaningful t th for fo yourself and contribute posic tively tive to your society.

“What happened in “W her case was that her c husband was rich and husba she never bothered herne self about what to do to ab empower empow herself in case the money mon was no longer there.

“It’s always good to save for the rainy day.

When are rosy in When things thin your marriage, still get yourmarria self prepared for eventualities by saving. The money may not be there all the time. tim Always think about about the future and get prepared to to tackle some unforeseen circumstances how rich or cumstances no matter m wealthy is. This is my wealthy your husband we husb piece piece of advice to every woman out there. there. Try and do something, know th that that money can suddenly develop wings wings and fly away aw but when you are your famare prepared to prevent p ily your husband ily from such shame, sha would would be happy he h has got a good wife wife in you,” Mrs Odetayo advised.

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Sunday, May 24, 2015

GROWING UP with

Aunty Titi

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Hamsters

Hello Children, How are you finding your studies? I believe that you have been reading your books and doing your assignments. I wish you a wonderful week of learning

ONCE UPON A TIME

The three types of people

A

teacher shows three toys to a student and asks the student to find out the differences. All the three toys are seemed to be identical in their shape, size and material. After keen observation, the student observes holes in the toys. 1st toy it has holes in the ears.

2nd toy has holes in ear and mouth. 3rd toy has only one hole in one ear.

Then with the help of needle the student puts the needle in the ear hole of the first toy. The needle came out from the other ear. In the second toy, when the needle was put in the ear the needle came out of mouth. And in third toy, when the needle was put in, the needle did not come out.

The First toy represents those people around you who give an impression that they are listening to you, things and care for you but they just pretend to do so. After listening, the needle comes out from the next ear; the things you said to them by counting on them

are gone. So be careful while you are speaking to this type of people around you, who does not care for you.

While Second toy represent those people who listens to you, all your things and gives an impression that they care for you. Just as it implies in the toy, the needle came out from mouth. These people will use your things and the words you tell them against you by telling it to others and bringing out the confidential issues for their own purpose.

Lastly the third toy, the needle did not come out from it. These kinds of people will keep the trust you have in them. They are the ones who you can count on.

Moral: Always stay in a company of a people who are loyal and trustworthy. People, who listen to what you tell them, are not always the ones you can count on when you need them the most.

POP

H

amsters are originally from the desert lands of East Asia, including the common Syrian hamster and the miniature Russian dwarf hamster. Hamsters in the wild tend to spend most of their time digging and foraging for food.

Today, hamsters are commonly kept as pets with the average household hamster getting to around 2 or 3 years old. They are thought to be easy first pets to keep for children due to the hamster’s quite nature, small size and calm temperament. They are solitary animals and types of hamster are so solitary that they will fight to the death if more than one hamster is in the same territory.

Hamsters in the wild are nocturnal animals as the hamsters spend the daytime hours in burrows underground in order for the hamster to avoid the many predators within the natural environment of the hamster. They leave the safety of their underground burrow in the night when it is dark and the temperature is cooler in order to search for food.

They use their large cheek pouches to store food so that the hamster can take the food back to the stash in the underground burrow. Nuts, seeds, vegetables, grass, fruits and berries are all part of the natural diet of the hamster.

There are more than 20 different species of hamster found in the wild (and even more in the commercial pet market). Many species of hamster are very fast at running so they are able to escape from oncoming predators. Due to the shape and size of the hind feet

of the hamster, hamsters are often able to run as quickly backwards as they can forward, which allows it to escape easily in their burrows.

They inhabit semi-desert regions around the world with the soft ground providing an excellent material for the hamster to burrow in. The burrow of a hamster often consists of many tunnels and chambers, including separate areas for the hamster to eat and sleep in.

The hamster has two front feet that are shaped more like hands and the hamster uses its front feet to hold and forage for food, the two back feet of the hamster are slightly larger than the front feet and are used to balance and support the hamster when it sits up. Hamsters have soft pads on the bottom of their paws that help them to run smoothly, and long nails on the end of each toe which helps the hamster to grip.

As hamsters are rodents, their teeth are growing all the time so they grind their teeth down to stop them from getting too long by gnawing on something hard. They have 16 teeth that continuously grow to give the hamster an advantage if it loses a tooth.

Unlike many other species of animal baby hamsters are born with a full set of teeth and keep the same teeth for their whole lives and have cheek pouches that they store food in when they are out foraging and empty their pouches later on so that they can eat their stored food.

A hamster is able to carry its own bodyweight in food in its cheeks and takes then creates secret stashes of food to ensure that the hamster never runs out.

Children, you can send your contributions and pictures through this email address jokkyisland@yahoo.com or call telephone number: 08050324794

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29

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Dude Style

victorudoh804@yahoo.com 07067124302

‘I cherish African attire’ Vincent Aiyegbeni, aka Vincentarry, is a gospel musician. The Business Administration graduate, who also runs music training programmes and manages choirs, bares all in this interview with Victor Udoh. Excerpts: Why did you choose gospel music?

I realised that God gave me this voice to worship him. I had tried singing secular songs, but God told me he created me to worship him and to turn his people to him. I went into gospel songs and realised I touched more lives. Lastly, I recognised that God is responsible for my being.

What exactly is the difference between gospel and secular music?

The difference between gospel and secular music is the anointing the gospel music carries. Gospel songs are powerfully backed by God’s anointing for tremendous signs and wonders. It is positively charged for the hearing, but secular does not carry God’s power.

Though some secular songs carry messages, they lack the power to cause positive change.

Some would rather ignite negative passions.

Look at our secular music videos today, you would find nudity; this stimulates erotic feelings in viewers. Gospel songs are godly empowered songs.

Do you have any current music on air?

Yes, I have a song entitled, ‘We love you’ on ‘Rainbow FM’. It relates to God’s love and how He forgives us whenever we ask for mercy. It is a very powerful song.

What stands you out among your our contemporaries?

I think the messages my songs ongs carry stand me out; I preach the message of change, hange, an adoring God Almighty and also reach the needy with songs of hope and nd faith in God. I am creative and nd my style of singing is unique.

How do you ou

draw your inspiration?

God inspires me directly. He gives me songs through dreams, during worship and when I read His word. I also draw inspiration from a collection of creative minds in my sphere of music, both at home and abroad.

How was your first experience on stage?

It was really a battle concentrating on the crowd of over 4,000 people. But I was able to shake off my lack of confidence and saw God move mightily, and nd a lot of testimonies emerged. I knew I had d something that made me unique.

What thrills you aboutt music?

What thrills me is the he captivating power behind it. Music arrests the he soul, it is a medicine for it and it affects all classes of humans in whatever condition. Another nother very important thing to note about music sic is that it sticks to the mind and hardly leaves. s.

What fashion item won’t on’t you like to be caught wearing?

I can’ be caught wearing aring shorts and sleeveless clothes. I don’t like to look casual.

What is your style signature? gnature?

My style signature iss formal dresses and native attires.

Nigerians Where are Niger rians not getfashion? ting it right in fa ashion? and Our guys an nd d ladies get it fashion wrong in fashio on n when making wears thatt expose e parts and of the body a an nd even use musical them in musica all videos. This mind, corrupts the mi in nd, especially in this part of the e world where corruption the rate of corrup pttion is high. imitate Also, I realise we im mitate the wrong culture of other and countries a an nd bring it here,, thereby throwing throwin in ng away own our o ow wn godly culture. cultu urre.

Who is your mentor?

That is my father-in-the-Lord, the General Overseer of The King’s Church Int’l, Rev. Fred Igho, who God used to show me the path and has been a guide to me. He loves music and always pushes me to improve myself, knowing I have what it takes. Musically, also, I would not forget to mention Alvin Slaughter, a great model of gospel music; he is an inspiration.

What is philosof life?

I be-

your ophy

lieve life started with God and it is about Him; we all must live our lives for Him. I also believe we all are important to God; He created us for a purpose, we all are stars, we don’t need to envy one another. Someday, we will all blossom in our separate fields; so, there is no need to worry, just wait for your time.

What books do you read?

I read my Bible because it is the book of life. To live in this world you need God’s power which is His word. The Bible is the oldest book with the most current information. I also read books on management and gospel g literatures.

Who among Nigerian musicians do you admire?

Sinach is my favourite minister in Nipower and geria; she sings with so much pow anointing. I really admire her. next Where do you see yourself in the n five years?

Five years from now, I see myself creatmusic. I ing enormous impact globally in m see the world craving to hear me minister m artistes, parand mentoring a lot of gospel artiste resources. ticularly touching lives with my resou Can you tell us your achievements? achievements I would say I have led a lot of choirs to success; I have a degree in musouls to sic. I have also won so music; lives God through music are being changed daily and I have two tw albums. Right now, I am working workin on a recording live rec concert that will h happen around d October. be b er.

&

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Weddings Engagements You have a story to tell us about your wedding/engagement, or your new born baby.

You can call this line 08050324794

CELEBRATING THE JOY IN MARITAL BLISS MAY 24, 2015

He is romantic and understanding –Chinwe TITILOPE MORAKINYO

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ragrances from guests clad in alluring attires whiffed past nostrils, depicting the essence of the occasion, that love is in the air. Feet also literally contested for space as conveners of the event rolled out the drums at Bethel Christian Worship Centre, Onitsha, Anambra State where the exchange of vows was made between Chinwe Okorie and Anayo Anyaoha recently.

The event made the beautiful bride beam with smiles all through the occasion in her lovely flowing white gown, while the tall dashing groom looked sharp in his navy blue suit with the touch of white. Both hail from Isuochi, in Umunneochi local coun- was attracted to his heartthrob because of her cil of Abia State.

Interestingly, Anayo smiles.

“The first time I set my

eyes on her at the United Church of Christ Umuahia, I was convinced that I had found my missing rib

and I couldn’t sleep. When I prayed for confirmation, God proved to me that she is the one for me. I went ahead to ask her hand in marriage by telling her to be the mother of my children,” the groom revealed The bride, who refers to her husband as ‘my lord’ said the qualities that endeared him to her is that he is romantic and understanding. But the groom confirmed that his ‘Angel’ as he fondly calls her is caring, loving and dynamic to be with.

However, the high point of the wedding was the reception which took place at V-Gold, at 56 EzeIweka Road Onitsha. It was a roll call of prominent personalities among Onitsha Main Market traders and the entire importers of motor spare parts in Othe town. Also, members of the bride and groom families, friends and well-wishers graced and shared ecstatic moment with the couple.

Samuel is the right man for me –Adetola

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he solemnisation of the wedding between Samuel Alao and Adebisi Adetola was undoubtedly an occasion ensconced in grandeur with prominent and notable personalities present.

Family members, friends and well-wishers were alluringly dressed in the aso ebi colour. The formal joining took place at the Kwara State Registry Offa Road, Ilorin, while the reception followed immediately at the Stella Obasanjo Memorial Hall, Ilorin.

The couple, who met at a wedding reception in 2008, did not engage in much discussion but chitchat and exchanged mobile contacts.

They became companionable, talked for hours on the phone and became fond of each other. Interestingly, the relationship took another dimension as they started dating in 2012.

Speaking with Adetola, a native of Oshogbo, she revealed that she was attracted to Alao because he is passionate about anything he likes. He brings out the best in her, encourages and

BABIES OF THE WEEK Oriabure Ehiremen Ezekiel

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riabure Ehiremen Ezekiel was born at Medi-Service community Hospital, Ipaja Ayobo Lagos to Sylvester and Victoria.

He was delivered at 6 a.m.

What did Victoria crave for during the pregnancy?

A c cording to h e r, she longed for well-prepared fresh fish and suya.

On bodily changes, she said “I experienced a lot, I was always vomiting and spitting, my legs also were swollen but that was when I was in the 7-8 month of my pregnancy”.

On the choice of name

where he works to meet me at Ilorin in September 2013 and proposed at University of Ilorin dam, He told me he wanted to marry me and wanted me to be the mother of his kids, to spend the rest of our lives together. I told him I would pray about it and get back to him. I later

gave him a positive response because I knew he was the right man for me and I had no reason not to accept his proposal.

The couples advised singles to be steadfast in the Lord, and pray for their right choice, the bone and the flesh of their flesh.

prophet Ezek i e l from the w o m b and God heard my prayers”.

On the meaning of her names, Sylvester revealed that “Ehiremen means God’s gift”.

What does Ezekiel’s parent want him to become in future? I want him to become a medical doctor, said the mother.

But if he decides on any other profession, I would not interrupt, she added.

Emmanuel Oluwagbeminiyi Ayegbusi

E

loves her wholly.

The groom who hails from Ilorin, Kwara state could not take his eyes off his heartthrob said he fell in love with her she is godly, beautiful, loving, caring and brainy.

On how it all started, the bride said, “Samuel came all the way from Abeokuta

for her baby, she explained that, “Before I had him, I already have two girls and I was praying for a baby boy so I started calling him

mmanuel Oluwagbeminiyi Aye gbusi was delivered at the Adeyemi Specialist Hospital, Lagos to Abimbola and Oladipupo Ay e g busi. He was delivered at exactly 11:20 p.m., and weighed 2.8kg at birth.

What did Abimbola crave for during the pregnancy? “I ate a lot of fruits but my normal diet remained the same; nothing irritated me” she explained On the bodily changes, she said, “I had a slight change as I just added weight and my stomach did not protrude much even till the delivery date. Many

people did not even know that I was pregnant but I had a swoll e n foot.

What do Emmanuel’s parents love about their son?

According to the father, he has been a blessing and a great source of joy and he loves smiling.

What do they want their son to become in future?

“We want him to be Godfearing…a great vessel in the hand of the Lord,” Abimbola disclosed.

On the meaning of the names, “Emmanuel means God with us and Oluwagbeminiyi stands for ‘God honoured me,” themother said.

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What to wear ‌to an award night MAY 24, 2015

ADAEZE AMOS

I

f you want to attend a black and white bash today and you have got firm arms and spotless body to show off, do so by slipping into a mono-strap-body-hugging dress. Check out how the style looks on Waje, a Nigerian RnB singer. Cute, isn’t it?

If you want to blend it more, you may opt for red accessories such as shoes, clutch and costume jewellery, if need be.

32

Perfect Cut

African Look Gele adds panache to your style ADAEZE AMOS

H

ave you realised that when you are dressed African for a glamorous event and you are not sporting your Gele, you look as if something is missing. Headgear gear is important to native style, no doubt and when it is tied well, it adds panache. he.

Check the headdresses on this page and choose the one that is suitable for your face.

If you don’t know how to tie, look for a helper. What you should be concerned with th is the fitting on your face.

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Style aficiona

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Sunday, May 24, 2015

Perfect Cut

33

dos look younger in simple knee-length dresses ADAEZE AMO MOS

D

oy you wa want to look younger than your age? Then wear simple, close-fitted d dress and see the magic! If you have got hot, spotless legs to dre ess an o flaunt, length dress. flau unt, then th hen opt for a kneedress Also, iff high-heeled you k know w you can walk well in h d shoes, sh hoes, don’t hesitate put on a good d pair. scrapers’ pairr. Those ‘skyscraper add paanache style. nache to your Check out these ladies on n this do th s page. How d they the look?

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Sunday, May 24, 2015

L

OVE

with Yemisi

Adeniran Some bold steps women must take henceforth!

TALK

S

ex is one sweet experience that both men and women enjoy, especially, when it is carried out in the right atmosphere and with the right partner; someone one really loves and indeed has passion for.

Often times, the amount of excitement one gets from it is usually informed by the amount of freedom and creativity any of the partner is able to come up with. The contribution of each of the partners makes what the activities are –whether exciting or repulsive.

However pleasurable the activities may be, there are some actions that may reduce the extent of the excitement.

These actions may come in form of words, action or even inaction. To begin

to list them is to begin an endless exercise. But for the sake of real fun, the following initiative must be considered by women; after all, we all claim to be in an era of change: Get the condoms yourself. Making condom his responsibility: Many women who are sexually active and prefer that their husbands use condom often consider the provision of the material the sole responsibility of the man. No. It should not be so. He doesn’t have absolute responsibility over that. Nothing, for instance, stops the woman from going to the store to procure a packet and keep it at home for the husband. And if you think that will make you look like a whore, then, stop having sex.

Remove your clothes while he watches: Romantic it can be to have your man remove your clothes, especially, if he is doing it in a very special way.

But atimes, you need to give him a helping hand.

Help him remove that bra (that is likely to give him a headache) and allow him access to your breasts if that is what he wants.

So, thinking that helping him to do that will be acting strangely is a mistake which you need to correct.

Stop being shy: Some are shy and they prefer to undress in the dark.

Oh, but you are denying the man something he would want to see and feel good about. Don’t undress yourself and dive under the covers. Rather, undress yourself and let him appreciate the dash-

ing you. You may dim the lights if you can stand the bright light.

Take your place on him: There is no law that says the man should always be at the top. Woman, take over and not let your man alone do all the work. It makes sex quite exciting, as you are able to direct the affairs the way you really want and would want him to do it.

Try and touch him too: It is wrong to leave the touching to him alone.

Rest or lean on him, make him feel hot and yearn for it, after all, he is your property. It is wrong to think that only you, the woman wants to be touched. Running your fingers around or down the right places will certainly make him enjoy the pleasure of sex and get

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

eager to come around you more often than before.

Like you, he has stomach, he has shoulders and he has thighs too among other sensitive parts of the body. Touch them and don’t concentrate only on his manhood.

See sex as mere fun: I had mentioned it at different times on this page that sex should not be taken like some serious work or routine. It is fun if handled well; it can be made playfully. You could do it and knock down the table clock you have beside your bed; it could make you even tumble down from the bed. The fun that can arise from it can be endless, only if you don’t make it a too serious and boring exercise.

Clean up well before the act: Much as sex is spontaneous, it is necessary that you clean up if you are somehow dirty and smell a little. For instance, if a mouth action is to take place, it would be out of place not to have your mouth washed.

While it is always sweet

to have your man cuddle you after the whole fun, it is not going to be out of place to warm up or crawl up to him after the fun to enjoy some warmth from him. It is no big deal to make the necessary move you think will give you the best pleasure.

Remember, friends, you have just one life to live and you need to catch as much fun as you can.

So, enjoy yourself now that you are able and quite fit.

Models

Sexual solutions and love products for adults Sometimes, when I have sex with my husband, I feel pain. It is not all the time though. I have gone for tests but nothing was detected – Chidinma Chidinma there are many causes of sexual pain in women. Since you have undergone tests and found nothing, this rules out the possibility of diseases such as urinary tract infection and sexually transmitted diseases such as genital warts and herpes. Sexual pain can also be caused by pelvic inflammation, endometriosis, ovarian cysts and fibroids.

You should check for these too. Vaginismus also causes sexual pain. It is the involuntary spasms in vaginal muscles due to fear of getting hurt. This can be quite hard to treat because the body is basically responding independently of the woman’s own wants. But one of the most common causes of sexual pain in women is vaginal dryness. It can be caused by a variety of circumstances from inadequate sexual stimulation to menopause and medication containing antihistamines. If vaginal dryness is the issue, then simply applying a lubricant on the vagina before intercourse is sufficient enough to stop the pain. Colt Slick Lubricant is recommended for this – Uche Hello sir. I am 42 years and quite big in size. I heard somewhere that being overweight can affect someone’s sex life. I am worried because recently, sometimes I don’t get erection even though I want to have sex and at other times, when I get the erection, it is not strong enough – Ebuka Hello Ebuka. Yes obesity can severely affect a man’s sex life in two specific ways. First, the larger you are, the lower the testosterone levels in your body. When you have low testosterone, it leads to a decrease in sexual desire.

You just suddenly realize that you hardly feel like having sex unlike before when you won’t mind having it almost every time. Secondly, obesity also leads to abnormal or restricted blood flow to the penis. When the supply of

blood to the penis is interrupted in any way, it will affect your ability to have firm erections.

In severe cases, you will be unable to have erections at all. So yes obesity is a major sexual performance killer but if you lose weight, normal sexual functions can be restored – Uche Good day. I just wanted to inform you that I am getting better. The X Again supplement you recommended for my erection problems is really helping. I had sex twice on Sunday and I am 62 years old. I cannot remember the last time I did that.

Thanks a lot – James You are welcome. X Again Platinum is very good but then it is something you have to experience to understand – Uche Dear doctor, I want to increase the size of my manhood in both size and length. I have no problems with premature ejaculation or my erection. I just want to be bigger without side effects. Thanks – Yemi Yemi get Extenze Plus penis enlarger.

It is an enlargement supplement for men that will give you what you want. It will also improve your performances even if you don’t need it – Uche I bought the Dickalicious penis arousal gel for oral sex and my wife really likes it. Infact, she also uses it on herself for arousal. Can women use this too? Moses Yes Moses she can. It is an arousal gel that stimulates sensitive skin tissues in the genitals to enable a better sexual response. The head of the male penis and the female clitoris are quite similar. Both have high concentration of nerve endings that makes them very responsive to touch. So it is safe for her too – Uche

You recommended Magic Mike supplement for me and the Stay Hard Delay Cream. I have used them a few times and I am performing better as I am getting accustomed to how to use them. But I misplaced the piece of paper that you sent me on how to use them. Sorry – Ismaila I s m a i l a Magic Mike is for hard erections and performance. One tablet works for 48 to 72 hours so you only take one tablet every two to three days. As for the Stay Hard Delay Cream for premature ejaculation, you apply it on an erect penis three to five minutes before intercourse.

It is a topical ointment and has no dosage so you can reapply it as often as you want – Uche The names of the people featured here have been changed for their privacy. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08053911233 or 07086754515 or

any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com.

Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

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35

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Pregnancy Talk

Naughtiest Thing

with

The naughtiest thing I’ve ever done

Adaeze Amos

Omah Levi

08023012293 (SMS ONLY)

Eat enough veggies while pregnant

I burnt my mum’s kitchen

A

N

ow that the rains are heavy, don’t you see that the gardens are lush with greens? Look around you and you would be convinced. Vegetables are affordable in the market now. Aren’t you thrilled? You don’t have to waste them or ignore them,especially now that you are heavy because you and your unborn baby have a lot to benefit from eating more vegetables, as they are highly rich in vitamins, minerals and fibre. Or haven’t you been told in the antenatal clinic that pregnant women must include in their daily diet fruits that are rich in vitamin C like citrus, broccoli, strawberries, and bell peppers. In addition, dark leafy green vegetables like lettuce, spinach, and kale, ugu are a must have.

Medical experts and nutritionists recommend a combined serving of seven vegetables daily. For example, you could have four servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables or two servings of fruit and five servings of vegetables.

Ways to take enough vegetables • If you don’t like eating vegetables, “drink” them in soups or shred them into your favourite dishes. Good choices include broccoli and cheese soup, butternut squash soup, ginger and carrot soup, tomato soup, and roasted vegetable soups. Shredding and pureeing fruits and veggies into your favourite dishes helps boost your intake of fresh produce.

Shred carrots into meatloaf, muffins, or casseroles.

• Add fresh fruit to your yogurt. Fruit parfaits are a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth and get both calcium and fruit servings. Toss together slices of fresh bananas, strawberries, and pineapples. Next, in a parfait dish, add layers of yogurt, granola, and the fruit mixture and repeat.

• Use pureed fruits as a sauce for your main entrees. Pureed cooked fruits like apples or pears can be used as a sauce for chicken or turkey.

• Be sure to eat a wide variety of produce in an array of colours. Also, try to stick to whole fruits and vegetables rather than juice since whole fruits will help you better reach your fibre goals. In addition, whenever possible, buy organic fruits and vegetables.

• In any case, you should wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly before you eat them with a produce wash to remove chemical pesticides. Meeting the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables during your pregnancy is a snap with a few quick strategies.

• For your yam porridge or bean porridge ensure you add sliced green or ugu.

lthough I used to be peaceful when I was a child, I was also crazy at times. Indeed, I did so many crazy things while growing up. But the one I still remember vividly happened when I was 10.

I used to watch my mum while cooking and I would write down on a slate the method and ingredients of each meal she prepared. One day, she went to the market to buy some things.

I decided to go buy some things on my own because I had some money. When I came back from school, I just went around the neighbourhood and got myself some things from shops around.

I decided to cook using the directives I scribbled down on my slate.

I then went to carry my mum’s stove because she warned me never to touch her gas cooker while she was away. So, I decided to use her stove. There was no kerosene in it. I went and bought kerosene and poured into it. While I was trying to stir what I was cooking, the pot fell off from the stove and suddenly fire flared up. I ran out of the kitchen. Eventually, the kitchen got burnt including the passage. I had never seen such a thing in my life. That was the craziest thing I ever did.

That afternoon, my dad was upstairs in his room sleeping.

I was scared of waking him up to tell him because he would beat me up. He never spared the rod. I was even afraid to scream because that would wake him up and he would descend on me mercilessly. But I summoned courage and walked into the bathroom, took a bucket of water and poured into the flame.

It was as if the fire got angrier. It was still burning, kerosene was floating on top of water that I poured and everywhere was flooded. When the window blinds started burning, it dawned on me that I wouldn’t be able to douse the fire. I then started screaming, calling my dad to leave the house before he got burnt. He sprang up from bed and asked for detergent. I didn’t even hear what he was asking me. I went outside and I was screaming for neighbours to help. They all ran to help, some brought detergents, others brought fire extinguisher to douse the inferno.

They did eventually. It’s a day I would never forget in a hurry and indeed one of the naughtiest things I have ever done.

• Levi is a musician. She also attended Aviation and Management Institute Lagos and later studied Mass Communication at Lagos State University.

By ADAEZE AMOS

36

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Frejon

T

TITILOPE MORAKINYO

F

rejon is a coconut bean dish made from black beans, coconut milk and white sugar and popular in Nigeria.

Frejon has its origins in Brazil and Portugal and is a delicious dish that finds a sweet, yet delicate balance from the addition of coconut and sugar.

It is traditionally eaten on Good Friday, during the Easter season and is usually served with toasted garri/dried and ground cassava and fish stew.

It is quite easy to make and really hard to go wrong with even if it’s the first preparing the meal and it is also cheap to make.

It is a special occasion dish, perhaps once every couple of months. Just because it’s a Good Friday dish, doesn’t mean you can’t eat it any other time of year.

Ingredients 2.5 cups of brown honey beans (ewa oloyin) 1-2 cups coconut milk 1/2 cup coconut water with pulp (optional) 1-2 cups granulated white sugar 1 Knor cube How to prepare

Pick beans if necessary to remove dirt, stones, weevils Add the beans to a pot; add enough water to cover beans completely, add no salt or onions Let boil continuously over medium heat for about 1-2 hours till soft and mushy; keep adding water as needed Keep boiling and boiling Once beans is soft and mushy, strain extra liquid if any with a sieve, large bowl and a large spoon Stir beans around to strain extra liquid; use spoon to scrape underneath the sieve to rid it of extra Transfer the sieved beans to a bowl Add coconut milk to beans in blender Add coconut water Blend till smooth, add to dry pot over medium heat and boil for five minutes Add knorr cube and sugar Let boil uncovered for 10-15 minutes over medium heat till it starts to thicken, once it starts to thicken then stir After five more minutes, it should be cooked Cover pot and let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Serving suggestions Frejon is traditionally served with toasted garri and with fish stew.

Clare Valley Wine

he roots of the Clare Valley’s winemaking history have been growing for more than 150 years, making it one of Australia’s oldest wine-producing regions. The unique combination of geography, geology and climate results in terroir that is perfect for producing world-class wine. And it’s little wonder that our forefathers chose this little corner of South Australia to stake their name upon.

With five separate sub-regions – including Auburn, our home – the Clare Valley is an expanse of sweeping gullies and rolling hills. During the grapes’ growing season, the days are warm and the nights are cool. It’s

this diurnal temperature range – from as much as 40 degrees C in the day, to only 5 degrees C at night, along with the character-forming ‘terra rossa’ soil which makes the Clare Valley equally favourable for producing superb Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz and has also seen the region’s Riesling acclaimed as some of the best in the world.

The Clare Valley plays a vital role in the quality of our winemaking. It’s essential to everything, from the way the grapes develop on the vine, to the taste and colour of the wine, making our vineyard much more than just a plot of land, but a great place to call home.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Growing Up

Sunday, May 24, 2015

DO YOU KNOW THAT? Human loses cells everyday

37

WHO INVENTED WHAT? Ernst Ruska constructed the prototype electron microscope

x

H

uman skin is an amazing organ; it is protective, waterproof, and exceedingly useful constantly changing and regenerating itself. Human has a lot of skin cells, while out of the billions skin cells, between 30,000 and 40,000 of them fall off every hour meaning over a 24-hour period one lose almost a million skin cells.

While the dust that collects on the tables, TV, windows ills and those picture frames that are so hard to get clean is made mostly from dead human skin cells. In other words, your house is filled with former bits of yourself.

RIDDLES

Question: Why are the floors of basketball courts always so damp?

Answer: The players dribble a lot.

Question: What starts with E, ends with E and only has one letter?

Answer: An envelope.

Question: What is at the end of everything?

Answer: The letter G. Question: What nails do carpenters hate to hit?

Answer: Fingernails.

Question: How do locomotives hear?

Answer: Through the engineers.

Question: Why is tennis such a loud game?

Answer: Because each player raises a racquet.

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

G

erman physicist Ernst Ruska and the electrical engineer Max Knoll constructed the prototype electron microscope in 1931, capable of four-hundred-power magnification; the apparatus was the first demonstration of the principles of electron microscopy.

Two years later, in 1933, Ruska built an electron microscope that exceeded the resolution attainable with an optical (light) microscope. Moreover, Reinhold Rudenberg, the scientific director of Siemens-Schuckertwerke, obtained the patent for the electron microscope in May 1931.

WORDS ON MARBLE Shall I teach you what knowledge is? When you know a thing, to hold that you know it; and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it.

This is knowledge.

–Confucius

TONGUE TWISTER I thought a thought.

ButthethoughtIthought Wasn’t the thought I thought I thought.

IfthethoughtIthoughtI thought HadbeenthethoughtI thought, Iwouldn’thavethoughtso much.

38

Movies & Music

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

& usic M Movies With Victor Udoh 07067124302 e-mail: victorudoh804@yahoo.com

T

Jimmy Jatt, Sammie Okposo enrol on NEIHIS

wo prominent Nigerian entertainers, DJ Jimmy Jatt and multiple award-winning gospel artiste, Sammie Okposo, have joined the ranks of top entertainment gurus that have enrolled on the Nigerian Entertainment Industry Health Insurance Scheme (NEIHIS).

Aside from their enrolment, the two celebrities were among entertainers that volunteered to be goodwill ambassadors of the scheme as the official presentation of the NEIHIS ID card and other relevant care access documents were made to them recently.

Speaking during the presentation, they applauded the initiative iative and commended the organisers for their doggedness ggedness and sacrifice towards ensuring a well-structured ructured health care scheme for the entertainment ment industry. Jatt said he was excited about the e reality of the scheme.

“One might not really know the essence of what is happening now in our industry until one is in n dire need of these services, especially under emergency mergency situations. What is happening now w is something that should have happened ed a long time ago but the most important thing is that it’s finally a reality. I enjoin all other entertainment nment practitioners across Nigeria to also make this informed decision,” he urged. d.

Also speaking during ng his presentation, ation, Okposo said the indusdustry was as finally on the path h of hon-our.

Why Star banned Dr. Sid from Star Trek

F

ollowers of one of the biggest music concerts in Africa, Star Trek, would question why one of Nigeria’s great performers, Dr. Sid, was missing from the list of artistes performing at this year’s edition of the concert. Music & Music can authoritatively report that the Mavin Records recording artiste has been banned indefinitely from performing at any Star and by extension, Nigerian Breweries-organised event.

In a mail exclusively obtained by us, Dr. Sid was blacklisted and banned because of his lackadaisical attitude when last scheduled to perform on the concert in 2014. Dr. Sid arrived at the Benin venue of the Star Music Trek very late and missed critical elements of the terms of engagement agreed to in the contract.

The essential elements missed by Dr. Sid as stated in his contract includes, attending a sound check/dress & tech briefing between 12 noon and 3 p.m. before the performance to clarify such issues as lightings, resound inforcement, perfor-

mance f l o w, play duration and participating in radio and television advertisement promoting the tour.

Okposo

Is Femi Kuti back with Funke?

I

s Femi Kuti and his ex-wife, Funke back together? This was the question on everyone’s lips lat the weekend when, at Tunde and Wunmi Obe’s album listening party, the two held hands, laughed, conversed and even

posed for the camera in a way typical of lovers.

This is not the first time the two would be photographed together in such ‘suggestive circumstances’ despite their strong insistence on being just friends.

Femi Kuti and Funke

Dr. Sid

T.W.O host celebs on exclusive album listening

N

Tunde and Wunmi Obe

igerian music industry’s first couple, Tunde and Wunmi Obe otherwise known as T.W.O, hosted the crème de la crème of the Nigerian entertainment industry last weekend to a spectacular exclusive listening party for their latest studio album, TWO PLUS. The event, which held at their plush Lagos residence, had in attendance several celebrities including Afrobeat icon, Femi Kuti; Nollywood actresses, Funke Akindele and Kate Henshaw, popular musicians 9ice, Dare Art-Alade and dancehall legend, Ras Kimono.

Besides DJ Jimmy Jatt’s eclectic mix of old and newschool songs which guests happily swayed to, the gig also treated guests to a rich mix of barbecue, champagne and assorted cocktails and drinks.

Ice Pri

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Movies & Music

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Ice Prince, Reminisce, others join On Tour With Shuga

T

he indoor sports hall of the University of Lagos was packed full last Saturday with over a thousand students and young adults who had come to watch Ice Prince, Reminisce and Patoranking perform at the finale of the MTV Base ‘On Tour with Shuga’.

A n chored b y

ince nce

MTV MT VJ Ehiz, the event also had actors of the award-winning series, act Emmanuel Ikubese, Sharon EzeaEm maka, Timini Egbuson and DJs ma Humility and Neptune both of who Hu added add colour to the night with their mixes. mi The four-hour show featured a variety of exciting activities includvar ing free HIV testing and counselling, meet me and greet sessions with the cast cas of the series, auditions for a presenter sen of the MTV Shuga 4 premiere red carpet as well as Q & A sessions bordering on topics around HIV and bor AIDS. AID One of the high points of the evening nin was the video shoot for ‘Catch Me’, Me the theme song of Shuga season 4. The shoot had Patoranking, Ice Prince and Reminisce perform the song to the excited audience, all of who swayed and sang along Reacting to the success of the mini festival, Head of Marketing m and a Partnerships, MTV Shuga, Mr Emmanuel Uduma said, “We E We are very excited at how this turned v out. o The support was amazing and we w are grateful to everyone including the i

sup e r s t a r acts ac ctts that contributed co on ntributed to o the success off this event”. The tour to ou ur with Shuga kicked off offff on Saturday, May 2 at Monty Calabar and headed to y Suites, S Abuja Abuja for the second leg, which Ab held held at The Bank on Saturday, May 9. The tour now ushers M in the season 4 of the series, which will begin airing in a few weeks.

Yaw, Olamide, others light ‘YOU’ up May 31

O

Yaw

n May 31, at the Eko o Hotel and Suites, super star acts such as Davido, o, Olamide, M.I, Cynthia Morgan, Korede Bello, Kiss Daniel will thrill the audience at the seventh year ar of Yaw live on stage with OkeyBakassi in a stage play, ay, entitled YOU! YOU! is a two-man satire ire written by Obi Martins and directed by Emma Uduma. duma.

The play deals with the past, present and future of the socio-political and socio-economy io-economy status of Nigeria. This play is written in view of the happenings in the country without being offensive to anyone, group of people or government nment of the day.

In the words of Mary Hirsch, Humour is a rubber sword - it allows you to o make a point without drawing blood.

Other acts to perform m include Reekado Banks Lil Kesh, DI’JA, Runtown, Skales, Adekunle Gold and Top Comedians medians of the Federal Republic.

39

Zayo drops new single, Anything

D

riven by his passion, confidence and hunger to become one of Nigeria’s biggest musical brands, gifted singer and reality show winner, Zayo (born Raheem Adeyemi Abd-Sobur) has reminded Nigerians and the rest of the world that he is in the business of music to take his game to a height where his name becomes synonymous with originality, creativity and success.

“I want to have my voice heard. I cannot come to this world and just go without leaving a piece of me that would be remembered for all-time. I want to come and make a mark. I believe I am gifted and I have everything I need to succeed. I have the support of God, Koga, my fans, friends and family.”

The singer also spoke about the release of his song, ‘Anything’ and two music videos for his single entitled ‘Coloured,’ which was shot by Unlimited LA and the video of ‘Ewo Omo’.

The track ‘Anything’ has the usual African-flavoured beat and dictates the dance steps with indigenous heavy rap.

Zayo also thanked his label, Koga, for believing in him and giving him the opportunity to achieve musical greatness.

“For me, Koga is family… Like blood! Koga Entertainment is a team that helps you chase your vision, career and what you are all about in a way that shows that they are a family. They help you get to the point you aspire to get to.”

Interestingly, his biggest Nigerian inspiration remains Fela Anikulapo Kuti; a man whose musical influence is celebrated well beyond the shores of Nigeria and repeatedly honoured by international brands and prominent personalities across Europe, U.K and beyond.

40

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Lessons of Life TRUE LIFE STORY ON MATTERS OF THE HEART

ADAEZE AMOS Adanneamos@gmail.com 08023012293 (sms only)

‘I must marry Lillian’

T

heo and Lillian dated for a while and Theo made up his mind to marry her because she had all that he needed in a woman. It wasn’t easy to see a woman that he loved that much.

“My family had searched for a suitable bride for me, especially my mother for five years.

That was when I was 27 but in spite of all their efforts to find a young woman who suited me, I rejected each of the girls as soon as I met them. I wanted a very special girl, a young woman who would not only serve and respect me but a woman I could talk to and share ideas with - someone who would not only listen to me but discuss with me brilliantly. And none of the girls I saw in the past five years came close to fulfilling my wishes. Until I saw Lillian!

“She was only 23 when we met. She was pretty, delicate, petite and exquisitely gentle. Her face looked as though it were carved of the finest ivory.

And her eyes were like shining onyx. Those were the things that caught my fancy. At first, she was too shy and afraid of me. She was nearly like others that were pressed on me but gradually she

In need of a serious relationship/marriage I’m Pius by name; 51 years old and a building material merchant. I need a lady for marriage -081807438152.

Titus is my name. I’m 55 years old. I’m single, a businessman living in Akwa Ibom State. I want a wife -07087424091.

I’m James, 53, a businessman. I need a lady for marriage -08180743815.

Tunde is my name, I’m a graduate and I work. I need a lady I can walk down the aisle -07030809667.

Hello, my name is Felix. I’m 27 and I live in Lagos. I need a caring sugar mummy -08034877547.

My name is Fred, 35, and I live in Benin. I need a mature lady between 23 and 30 for marriage -08055686812.

My name is Henry, 33. I need a lady for a relationship -08060018369.

Uche is my name. I’m 27 years old. I deal in telephone parts and recharge cards. I need a good wife -08028922937.

My name is Emmanuel from Cross River State. I’m a vendor and I live in Enugu. I need a good wife who can bear twins for me -08073507667.

Sony is my name. I’m financially comfortable. I need a sex mate. I live in Enugu -08030887308.

Prince is my name from Enugu. I need a sexy, slim lady for friendship -08074600653.

Big Ocean is my name; I’m 25, and a footballer. I need a good wife -08053405437.

Ade is my name, a university graduate. I also need a graduate and workingclass lady to settle down with. She should be tall or of average height, plump and a Yoruba between 30 and 37 years of age -08074600653.

I’m Alhaji Taju, 57, CEO, Multi Media Co based in Lagos. I need a rich, sexy, busty and moderate-size sugar mummy, between 50 and 56 years old, that lives in Lagos or Ota, Ogun State -07058574844.

NOTICE: Please note that we don’t do personal connections outside this column. Calls to connect privately are not allowed. Just send an SMS or email and we’ll get your request published. The request is published on first come first served basis. Thank you!

A model

started opening up, being herself and before our relationship was up to one year, she was even the one that would talk and suggest better ideas over some challenges I had. That was when I

made up my to marry her. When I eventually proposed marriage to her, she agreed and accepted my engagement ring wholeheartedly. But before I walked her down the aisle, something very

seriously happened, what made my parents started suggesting to me not to marry her and look for another lady,” he said.

To be continued.

RESPONSES Dear Amanda, Re: I deeply regret marrying Humphrey

Pauline, Adiasor You must have beenPatrick brilliant to have graduated and marI will advise you to divorce Humphrey; Surulere, Lagos, 0803352087.

Dear Pauline, I absolutely support your decision to pack out of Humphrey’s house alive than a corpse. You have been hospitalised severally as a result of his beating and you have been enduring the marriage. It would appear that you are fulltime house wife and had been depending solely on your husband for every thing, hence you endured his many beatings, without you adopting self-defence. If you had one day slapped him back and also refused his pampering gifts, he could have learnt his lesson in a hard way, and stop beating you.

I would advise you to sue for divorce as he refused reconciliation after two years of separation. Any party in a marriage contract can sue for divorce.

Try as much as possible to get a source or sources of income and remarry, because you are still young. If you eventually go back to his house, you may remain unhappy and leave as a corpse.

Pauline, I believe Humphrey still loves you. It’s just that the intruder, the devil, is raising dust in your family. I advise you to be tolerant, make endurance your watch word and embark on fervent prayers. Don’t ask for divorce, stick to him because the devil you know is better than an angel you don’t know.

Alobo O. Emmanuel.

08026559855.

he is a wicked man. Leave his house before he kills you.

Daniel.

Abuja.

08059439804.

ried at the age of 22. Unfortunately, you lost your preg-

nancy, which you had four months afterPauline, your wedding due Make sure you leave him; he is an animal in human body looking for who to devour.

Dave Jos 09039376641.

to the shock of your husband’s death. You unexpectedly

Pauline Dear, entered into another relationship with Greg, shortly after I think you need prayers and proper counselling. Remarrying will not be a better option because this would affect your children. I’m a victim of broken home and it really affected me and my siblings.

John Joseph.

08093567448.

Pauline, Remember that marriage is for better and for worse. So, return to your matrimonial home and continue to pray for your husband. Know that God has a purpose for everything.

Engr. B. D. Akuki Karmo 08058519213.

his death. You regrettably failed to keep to your mother’s advice not to make love to, live with him or show you were

40

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Lessons of Life TRUE LIFE STORY ON MATTERS OF THE HEART

ADAEZE AMOS Adanneamos@gmail.com 08023012293 (sms only)

‘I must marry Lillian’

T

heo and Lillian dated for a while and Theo made up his mind to marry her because she had all that he needed in a woman. It wasn’t easy to see a woman that he loved that much.

“My family had searched for a suitable bride for me, especially my mother for five years.

That was when I was 27 but in spite of all their efforts to find a young woman who suited me, I rejected each of the girls as soon as I met them. I wanted a very special girl, a young woman who would not only serve and respect me but a woman I could talk to and share ideas with - someone who would not only listen to me but discuss with me brilliantly. And none of the girls I saw in the past five years came close to fulfilling my wishes. Until I saw Lillian!

“She was only 23 when we met. She was pretty, delicate, petite and exquisitely gentle. Her face looked as though it were carved of the finest ivory.

And her eyes were like shining onyx. Those were the things that caught my fancy. At first, she was too shy and afraid of me. She was nearly like others that were pressed on me but gradually she

In need of a serious relationship/marriage I’m Pius by name; 51 years old and a building material merchant. I need a lady for marriage -081807438152.

Titus is my name. I’m 55 years old. I’m single, a businessman living in Akwa Ibom State. I want a wife -07087424091.

I’m James, 53, a businessman. I need a lady for marriage -08180743815.

Tunde is my name, I’m a graduate and I work. I need a lady I can walk down the aisle -07030809667.

Hello, my name is Felix. I’m 27 and I live in Lagos. I need a caring sugar mummy -08034877547.

My name is Fred, 35, and I live in Benin. I need a mature lady between 23 and 30 for marriage -08055686812.

My name is Henry, 33. I need a lady for a relationship -08060018369.

Uche is my name. I’m 27 years old. I deal in telephone parts and recharge cards. I need a good wife -08028922937.

My name is Emmanuel from Cross River State. I’m a vendor and I live in Enugu. I need a good wife who can bear twins for me -08073507667.

Sony is my name. I’m financially comfortable. I need a sex mate. I live in Enugu -08030887308.

Prince is my name from Enugu. I need a sexy, slim lady for friendship -08074600653.

Big Ocean is my name; I’m 25, and a footballer. I need a good wife -08053405437.

Ade is my name, a university graduate. I also need a graduate and workingclass lady to settle down with. She should be tall or of average height, plump and a Yoruba between 30 and 37 years of age -08074600653.

I’m Alhaji Taju, 57, CEO, Multi Media Co based in Lagos. I need a rich, sexy, busty and moderate-size sugar mummy, between 50 and 56 years old, that lives in Lagos or Ota, Ogun State -07058574844.

NOTICE: Please note that we don’t do personal connections outside this column. Calls to connect privately are not allowed. Just send an SMS or email and we’ll get your request published. The request is published on first come first served basis. Thank you!

A model

started opening up, being herself and before our relationship was up to one year, she was even the one that would talk and suggest better ideas over some challenges I had. That was when I

made up my to marry her. When I eventually proposed marriage to her, she agreed and accepted my engagement ring wholeheartedly. But before I walked her down the aisle, something very

seriously happened, what made my parents started suggesting to me not to marry her and look for another lady,” he said.

To be continued.

RESPONSES Dear Amanda, Re: I deeply regret marrying Humphrey

Pauline, Adiasor You must have beenPatrick brilliant to have graduated and marI will advise you to divorce Humphrey; Surulere, Lagos, 0803352087.

Dear Pauline, I absolutely support your decision to pack out of Humphrey’s house alive than a corpse. You have been hospitalised severally as a result of his beating and you have been enduring the marriage. It would appear that you are fulltime house wife and had been depending solely on your husband for every thing, hence you endured his many beatings, without you adopting self-defence. If you had one day slapped him back and also refused his pampering gifts, he could have learnt his lesson in a hard way, and stop beating you.

I would advise you to sue for divorce as he refused reconciliation after two years of separation. Any party in a marriage contract can sue for divorce.

Try as much as possible to get a source or sources of income and remarry, because you are still young. If you eventually go back to his house, you may remain unhappy and leave as a corpse.

Pauline, I believe Humphrey still loves you. It’s just that the intruder, the devil, is raising dust in your family. I advise you to be tolerant, make endurance your watch word and embark on fervent prayers. Don’t ask for divorce, stick to him because the devil you know is better than an angel you don’t know.

Alobo O. Emmanuel.

08026559855.

he is a wicked man. Leave his house before he kills you.

Daniel.

Abuja.

08059439804.

ried at the age of 22. Unfortunately, you lost your preg-

nancy, which you had four months afterPauline, your wedding due Make sure you leave him; he is an animal in human body looking for who to devour.

Dave Jos 09039376641.

to the shock of your husband’s death. You unexpectedly

Pauline Dear, entered into another relationship with Greg, shortly after I think you need prayers and proper counselling. Remarrying will not be a better option because this would affect your children. I’m a victim of broken home and it really affected me and my siblings.

John Joseph.

08093567448.

Pauline, Remember that marriage is for better and for worse. So, return to your matrimonial home and continue to pray for your husband. Know that God has a purpose for everything.

Engr. B. D. Akuki Karmo 08058519213.

his death. You regrettably failed to keep to your mother’s advice not to make love to, live with him or show you were

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

From the Pulpit

Sunday May 24, 2015

41

‘Understanding God’s purpose in creating man’ General Overseer of Omnipotence Mission of God, Prophet Joshua Daramola Oloruntimilehin, in this homily, explains God’s purpose in creating man. Excerpts:

I

t is pertinent to reveal a little secret to a lot of people. In the Book of Genesis 6 verse 6, God said He was saddened to create human beings and it pained Him to the heart. God first created the children of God and they were alive. He then created human beings and put them in the beautiful garden. What God commanded them not to do was what they did.

Consequent upon their disobedience, God instructed the Cherub to send them out of the garden into this world where they mixed with the children of God. The Bible says Adam met his wife Eve and gave birth to Cain and later Abel. Due to disobedience and the curse in the blood that had been transferred to the children, it made a child to have a stubborn heart and made Cain to kill his brother Abel. It was a curse and they were multiplying and growing in population. The children of God mixed with human beings; the male children were marrying the female of the human beings. The curses on human beings were hurting the children of God. The secret is that God was saddened and it pained Him to the heart. For example, if a child offends his or her father, it saddens and pains him to the heart. Thereafter, the child repents, abstains from the offensive act and begs his or her father. What will the father do? He will forgive the child. This is what was left for human beings to do and is the secret. They were to repent and desist from committing sin but they continued in their sinful ways. In another time, God decided to destroy the people and left Noah whose wife and children were in sin but showed him mercy. God told him to build a

vessel that people who heeded Noah’s warning would not be part of the destruction but be saved.

Truly, many people failed to heed Noah’s warning and they perished because they belittled and disregarded God. In fact, many people of the world today do not have regard for God and his prophets and they want to grow in everything.

No way. Some people believe they have the grace of God to do some things, especially when the man of God tells them to do something.

Those that enjoy the grace of God are those that abide by the commandment and will of God. There are two persons that give grace and they are God and Satan. They have their angles and prophets in this world.

Brethren, there is need for people to show remorse, repent and desist from disobeying the com-

mandment of God. Imagine a child put his father to shame by stealing. Then the father decided to leave home and travel overseas and refused to come home after several pleadings from the wife and other children. Exactly eight months later, the child called the father on phone and pleaded with him to come home; he apologised and begged for forgiveness, promised to desist from the act. He noticed in his discussion with the child that he had changed and the third day, he came home.

Similarly, the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 verse 11 – 24 buttresses this.

“And the son said to his father I have sinned against heaven and in your sight I am no longer worthy to be called y o u r

son…” Anyone that desists from committing sin will live a good life, all requests will be granted. What was expected of Adam and Eve was to go to God and beg Him, repent and forsake their sinful ways. I believe God would have forgiven them. Some people would promise to abstain from their sinful ways but within a short time, they’d go back to their bad ways. Brethren, God loves us and we are His children.

Some people think they are wise to be ignoring God’s messages; they are not wise at all. For anyone to be wise, he or she must be loved by everybody and be friendly with their enemies.

Finally, the Bible says in 1 John 3 verse 1 - 6, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called children of God. Therefore, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.” Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not been revealed what we shall be; but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is and everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness.

And you know that He was manifested to take away our sin and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin.

Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him”.

For further enquiries call: 08023020108, 08058110288, 08023991354. www.facebook.com/pastoroloruntimilehin.

Oloruntimilehin

‘How to recover what the enemy has stolen’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24 as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.”

Rahab told the men that came to spy the land to posses it, ‘I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. She said they have known what God has done for His people in all the places, how He divided the Red sea, divided river Jordan, fought for them and she confirmed that their God is the God of heaven and earth. This declaration of hers caused their heart to melt. Whenever the enemy will hear about you, he will know that God is with you. I don’t know the ground the enemy has taken from you, what I know is that it is time to pursue and recover what the enemy has stolen. You must recover your marriage, health, business and every other thing that the devil has stolen.

Joshua 13:1 says: “Now Joshua was old and stricken in years and the Lord said unto him, thou art old and stricken in years and there remaineth. Yet very much land to be possessed.”

There is nothing like old age in this matter, even if you are getting old, God wants you to know that there are still very much land to possess and you must possess your possession.

Joshua 18:3 says, “And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, how long are you slack to go, to possess the land which the Lord God of your father has given you. How long will you be there?

Same question as above is directed to you. How long will you be there to possess your possession? When will you possess it? How long will you delay? You must go at once, because Joshua and Caleb said let us go at once. As you mention anything in prayer today, you shall have it. Just ask God by simple prayer, ‘where is your child’ if you need a child.

Or ‘where is the blessing He promised for your business’ if want business

boom. If you don’t have faith, just believe that God is real and cannot disappoint you, you will get what you are looking for.

Do you know how you are going to pray today? May be I will teach you how to pray today. Just say, ‘I stand upon the word of God, all that I have lost I am going after them by faith and in the name of Jesus I will recover my business, health, family, husband, wife, land, etc, in the name of Jesus. And if it appears that there is one enemy running away, running too fast and just say now, let the angel of God overtake him and arrest him. I recover what you have stolen in Jesus name, and they can never run faster than the angel.

But for those who are sinners and backsliders, they should repent of their sins; they should confess their sins to the Lord and promise God no more. They should accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and personal Saviour and the reason be that in 1John 3:8 says, “He that commiteth sin is of the devil, for the devil sinneth from the beginning for this purpose the son of God was manifested that He might de-

stroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God, does not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God.” That’s a clear sign a Christian is not a sinner and a sinner is not a Christian.

You need to search your life. May be you are wondering what is sin? If you look at 1st John 5:17(a), it is written, “All unrighteousness is sin”. Anything that is not righteousness is sin. I want to let you know that unforgiveness is sin; unbelief is sin, selfishness, lying, pride, anger, malice, murmuring, contention, strife, bitterness, anger, lusts, covetousness, immoral thought are sins. Also, backbiting, hatred, envy, cursing people, swearing with heaven and earth, idolatry, adultery, fornication, stealing, etc, are all sins.

You need to examine yourself today and confess your sin so that you can have the grace to pursue and recover what the enemy has stolen from you. And as you repent today and renounce your sinful life God will show you mercy in Jesus name, Amen.

42

From the Pulpit Learn with Kunle

Macaulay

I

Email: profkunlemacaulay@ yahoo.com (08023032698, sms pls)

am sure that many Christians do not know why churches in Nigeria do “anything”. The main reason is that the leaders of these churches are confused. As much as they want to preach the Word of Christ and bring many to Christ, they find other churches smiling to banks and their pastors boasting of their second jet with numerous expensive cars.

Can you blame them? Church leaders are competing with the world.Men of the world with secular education and profession are now leading churches. The Word of God wrongly interpreted has become the product for sales while the church has become a shopping centre where many things can be purchased. These things include prayers or means of success, ability to produce children and power to destroy enemy or evil forces.

Many Christians suffer today more than in any preceding age from the sense that the world is out of control. The world remains primarily God’s responsibility. It is the duty of believers of Jesus Christ to study the Bible, believe in the God of the Bible and apply every promise of God in the Bible. Christians are deceived by the standards and methods of the surrounding world. The Bible emphatically states that Christians do not belong to this world.

Churches are invaded by eloquent speakers, positive thinkers, faith exponents, professional salesmen who do not believe that Christ is alive and operative in every true believer but they rather want to prove that every individual even without Christ has the capacity to be successful.

They forget the relevance of the Christian faith to all human problems.

The world does not want to accept the truth anymore. Churches design programmes to please

Desti Destiny Hour with Pastor Femi

Lanre-Oke

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elcome to a new week in Jesus name. Remember, God is always ready to bless and prosper you but you must consciously receive of Him through expectation, prayer and thanksgiving. This week make a prayer project of every issue bothering you and praise God in full expectation of manifestation. I believe that your harvest of testimonies will over flow in Jesus name. Amen.

We have spoken extensively on kingdom harvest especially the responsibilities of the harvesters and intercessors squad. I believe you have been blessed and also believe that you have enrolled in these awesome kingdom services because believe me it is the fastest and shortest path to blessings. When you are a harvester or an intercessor for souls of men then you are directly in the employment of the Most High and a labourer for the Almighty will always receive his wages even beyond what he deserves.

Before we go on, still talking on the issue of harvest, I want you to consider some of the promises of God that came at the beginning of the year, remember one of the things said was that is our year of harvest. So below are some of those harvests for you this year, I want you to prayerfully go through them and begin to thank God for the ones you have seen and then

Sunday May 24, 2015

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Confusion in the church and society an external God. The fact today is that Christians’ attitude does not accept God’s full generosity. I have not been writing anything new but I believe that people especially Christians must be reminded of those eternal truths by which alone they can face this horrible and disintegrated life with courage, hope and good humour.

Jesus talking about his followers said,“ 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice”.Jn. 10:5. The whole world today is torn and divided. We all know that the problems of distant countries affect not only our minds and hearts but our very mode of living. There has never been a time in the history of the world when men have thought and calculated in global term as today. Jesus is our shepherd and without him we are lost. We may feel battered, bruised and bewildered by the continual assault of news, of problems put before us, of challenges thrown down to us, but each man has his proper work to do and no single one of us is required to do more than the will of God for him. In doing God’s will, we shall experience peace but if we attempt more than our part, we shall experience only anxiety and frustration. It is essential to point out now that our responsibility is a relative one only. We are called to be faithful servants of the One Lord whose purpose is to unite the scattered world under one shepherd.

The Bible in John 10 calls Jesus the Good Shepherd in whose care the sheep find food and security with the thieves and robbers who came before him. He said, “All who have gone before Me are like thieves and robbers “Jn. 10:8. There are many thieves and robbers in human situations today who are exploiting and destroying personality. There are political, national, community and religious leaders who run, destroy and steal souls of men. If we think of the soul-destroying pastors of the modern churches, of false religions that ask a lot from people but give them nothing, then nothing will work.. It is unfortunate that there are disintegrating factors, the ‘’thieves and robbers’’ who are always unseen but quietly at work. The

fact remains that God has not changed and his purpose has not been altered by the centuries.

Bible declares God as love, good, kind and merciful but the study of the Bible reveals many horrors. In it there is tyranny, cruelty, mutilation, deceit, licentiousness, and war; not only war but God-sent war. Assyria, one of the cruelest nations of history is called the rod of God’s anger. God is angry and wreaks vengeance. A man is struck blind, another dumb, another is covered with leprosy. Whole populations are devastated by plague or famine or flood. With God’s full permission, the devil and a host of other powerful and malevolent spirits stalk the earth, tempting and tormenting men. There are cursing psalms. There is war on earth and war in heaven and war in the human heart. If we look at the world of solid reality as seen in history and in the contemporary world, we see that things are far from good.

If we carefully study the Bible, we find out that it preserves in its fullness the omnipotence and the righteousness and the love of God. It also preserves creation in all its richness and diversity and man in all his dignity and degeneration. God is a person who has made himself known by actions recorded in the Bible and actions recorded on the pages of history. He is a real God who has made himself known by deeds and by explanatory words. Rejection of God means pains and sorrow. Those who reject God are given up by God to the depraved reason and evil conduct. Paul describes the fate of a God-rejecting society thus, “They are filled with every kind of injustices, mischief, rapacity and malice; they are one mass of envy; murder, rivalry, treachery, and malevolence; whisperers and scandal – mongers; hateful to God, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent new kind of mischief, they show no loyalty to parents, no conscience, no fidelity to their plighted word; they are without natural affection and without pity. They know well enough the just decree of God that those who behave like this deserve to die and yet they do it; not only so, they actually applaud such practices”. Rom. 1:28-32.

God has declared himself the Judge of sinners and his judgments crowd the pages of the Bible.

Unfortunately today in Nigeria, we are helpless because we are manipulated by gigantic economic and political forces. Moreover, we encourage our religious leaders in practicing and perfecting their occult power in their promotion of evil.

Christian experts observe helplessly that God has been made senile and Jesus has been made sickly, while Christian faith has been rendered incredible by its sentimentalizing. The Jesus I know, preach and teach is a denouncer of human wickedness, a prophet of political disaster, a preacher of hell fire and a trainer of fiery preachers. Jesus came not only to save but to show the kindness of God to the world. The Book of John said “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…….

John 3:16 .The understanding here is that God is a perfect Father who disciplines his children but does it out of loving care for their welfare. It is here that God knows, cares and gives.

Jesus taught his disciples to love their fellows.

He taught gentleness, mercy, forgiveness, the turning of the other cheek, he urged them to leave self behind and take up the Cross, he forbad the judging spirit, the calling down of fire on those who rejected him, the use of sword to prevent his arrest, they were not to hate but to love even their enemies. But why is Nigeria and the church in confusion and frustration?. It is because they never saw what Jesus saw. Jesus had compassion.

“The sight of the people move him to pity; they were like sheep without a shepherd, harassed and helpless” Jesus was moved to tears by the needs and sorrows and sins of those he came to seek and save. Our politicians, traditional, and religious leaders are heartless, insensitive and selfish.

They take from those who do not have and they brain wash those who have, so, that they can give more. So, God is far from people who do not have faith in him and people with iniquities.

Prof Kunle Macaulay is the Director of Studies of United Bible University, Lagos Phone: 0802 – 303 – 2698; email :profkunlemacaulay@yahoo.com Twitter : @KunleMacaulay1

Kingdom Harvest 3- The Intercessors’ Squad –Part 2 remind of those you are yet to see.

• The Lord said this year shall be characterized with speed and progress.

• There shall be fulfillment of long time dreams and prophecies.

• The yoke of delay shall be broken in so many lives and homes this year.

• There will be a lot of marriage ceremonies and naming ceremony.

• Those trusting God for job should rejoice this year -there would be many job opportunities.

We have the responsibliy of expectation for us to receive manifestation. The farmer who plants expects harvest in its season and this becomes his motivation for endlessly working on his crops. When you lose sight of your harvest the motivation to strive for excellence is lost. So if I were you, I will print these prophecies and paste it somewhere I can always make reference to it and then begin to water it with prayer, thanksgiving and expectation in order to see the harvest promised me of God. We are about to enter into the mid of the year period and God does re-visit and revive His works in the midst of the year (More on this next week by the grace of God).

The Preservation Mandate of the Intercessors’ Squad We started talking about the place of the intercessors in Kingdom harvest last week and we spoke on their responsibility before and during the harvest of souls into the Kingdom of God. One cardinal point mentioned is that the Holy Spirit alone can convict hearts of sinners, therefore the intercessors prayer for the convicting power of the Holy Spirit to be at work to ensure that the harvesters are not labouring in vain.

The responsibility we want to look at briefly

today is the preservation of the harvested souls.

If we study a farmer carefully, we will note that the preservation of the harvest is actually as important if not more important than the period of harvest itself. Harvest not preserved is lost and efforts put into harvesting are in vain with nothing to show for it.

Galatians 4:19, ‘My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you’.

Apostle Paul is saying in the passage above that his responsibility on the souls won for Jesus are not over at salvation but there is the need to continue to labour to ensure that the souls are established in Christ. The duty of the harvesters’ squad is to ensure that this passage below becomes a reality in every believer; ‘But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you’. (1 Peter 5:10) God’s heart desire is for the maturity and the establishment of every one that professes the name of Jesus and has truly repented of his sins if not the salvation grace is taken in vain.

This is an area we keep missing it in churches. It is not enough to call for altar calls every Sunday but we must take conscious efforts to nurture these souls in prayer and the word of God constantly till they also become matured enough to bring others to Jesus and say no to besetting sins.

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to

deceive; Ephesians 4:13-14 This passage above must become your preservation request and petition to God on a daily basis for the souls that are being saved and harvested around you. God is too faithful to fail, you are doing yourself a lot of disservice by not enrolling in the service of the Most High. Lots of harvests and rewards awaits the wise man that is actively responsible for the winning of souls to Jesus. I pray that all we have said in the last 3 weeks will give you understanding and the wisdom to enrol for the service of the Most High. Then you can begin to enjoy true harvest.

Stay blessed in Jesus name.

What is the mystery of the midst of the year? Next week by the grace of God If you are not born again, the process is simple: • Believe in your heart that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself.

• Believe in your heart that Jesus died on the cross of Calvary paying the price for your sins and rose from the dead the third day to establish your victory • Confess with your mouth that Jesus is lord and saviour.

• Repent of all sins before the Lord and forsake them.

• Welcome into God’s family.

Now you can enjoy and experience total wealth in Christ. Please locate a bible believing church and share you new-birth experience with the church leaders.

•For further prayer & counseling, Please contact: Pastor Femi Lanre-Oke, Jesus Praise Evangelical Ministries International, Plot A22 Power Crescent, Arab road, Kubwa. Abuja, +2348030752799, +2348053695097, Email: femi_lanre01@yahoo.co.uk

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Sunday May 24, 2015

The

Chorister’s World

Music ministry is a very tough calling –Ogunmola A braham Olaniyi Ogunmola, who recently celebrated his 50th birthday is a music educator, choir director, teacher, and pianist. A graduate of Musicology from Obafemi Awolowo University Ogunmola has been in the vanguard of promoting church music in Nigeria for more than 30 years. In a chat with Sunday Mirror, he said, ‘‘I believe that the music ministry is a very challenging one. If anyone desires any of these offices: Music Director/ Choir Director/ Choir master/Organist/Pianist or Music teacher/ Music Minister, you may be making the most challenging decision in life. It is a wonderful desire though considering the accolades and you get but you must be ready to face some challenges. It is one of the most demanding, misunderstood, thankless assignments to take in Christendom.’’

According to him there would be a concert coming up by August, to mark his 50th birthday. This will take place at Agip Recital Hall of MUSON Centre Onikan Lagos. Awards musical excellence would be given to three schools in Lagos for promoting music education in Nigeria. Awards for the best three outstanding music teachers and music director and an award for private individuals who have contributed to music education in Nigeria will be given Ogunmola said, there will be piano, violin, guitar, and vocal, and wood-

Priesthood House with Pastor Bola

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Bello

e have considered the differences in thecharacteristics and life-styles of the Prophets of the Bible with today’s prophets, especially the self-acclaimed prophets who are joggling in the title of prophet rather than the works of Prophet.

“Nabi” a Greek word for prophet was previously defined as “the saying” prophet, ordained, prepared and commissioned to bring forth the word of God to a people, nations or Church bothering on redemption. Such Prophecy must become undiluted, unadulterated and wanting of human sentiments, emotions and human wisdom. Prophecy is divine utterances, inspired by the Holy Spirit with capacity to turn the hearts of people back to God. Therefore, when Prophet speaks “thus says thy LORD”, it is often bother on the need for proper alignment, reconstruction, recalibrations and rebranding of peoples’ souls from wrong doings, idolatry, decadence and corruption. Last week we considered two examples of Old Testament Prophets, Jeremiah and Isaiah as the template of what Prophet and prophetic works should contend with. We also spoke a bit about Moses, but I will bring more light to the prophetic character and operations of Moses this week.

Numbers 12:6-7 says; “And he said, hear now my words; if there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house”. Like Biblical experience of mix multitude in the journey to the promise

wind, choir performances in both primary/elementary and secondary levels. This is in addition to the launching of his book titled” Nothing right, nothing wrong” .

When asked why the. Music ministry in the body of Christ is so challenging, he said, ‘‘you don’t need to be told that there are no working hours attached to this work since it is not a job. You have to accept blame for any irregularities, be the first to get to church and be the last to leave, you must become a politician, ready to step on toes to achieve your objectives for this job is very attractive to all and sundry but not all have the discipline to meet up with the challenges.’’

Speaking further on the challenges of the music ministry, Ogunmola said, ‘‘If you are on salary which may be poor you have to be spiritually strong, alert and well infor med in your calling to be successful. In the past 30 years of my missionary jour ney I have come across denominations in various capacities such as music director, choir master, and as an ordained pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. My calling has been affiliated to a music center where church musicians of all denominations are trained to serve in their various churches as against picking musicians from beach and night clubs who will con-

tinue the unfinished parties on Sunday morning service.’’ ‘‘It has been discovered that most churches want good music but unfortunately there are not many good musicians that can salvage churches in this calamity. As a result they decided to get the best secular musician to satisfy the needs of their congregation who are really struggling to adjust to the boring and outdated music provided by the musicians they have.’’

Ogunmola’s plans for the future are to build his Christian music ministry for children. He is the presiding pastor at TYJ centre (Thank you Jesus) with children’s choir and orchestra and a world class music academy affiliated to Beckley school of Music, Massachusetts in US. This center is focused on music education, church music for children and the undiluted word of God. ‘‘As a music educator, most of my teachers and mentors are Americans.

A big thank you to all my teachers: Late Debo Akinwumi, The popular Ms Chief Alma Rohm of the Baptist College, Prof.

Godwin Sadoh, Prof. Bunbury, Pam Yanco, Rossa Cota and professional colleagues from Georgia State university Atlanta GA and Boston University MA,’’ he said.

Church as God designed it – Joggling in the prophetic streams – part 2 land whose hearts were still in Egypt, so is the Church in Nigeria whose heart is nothing but, worldly and carnal. However, Prophet Moses made a distinction amongst other prophets.

He was another class of Prophet who enjoyed intimacy with God as Christ the son. In verse 8 of Numbers 12, God attested to the intimacy of Moses “and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold.” Like Jesusbeholds His father’s face, so was Moses.

The reason for this kind of intimacy was Moses faithfulness.“My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house”.This was testimony of God about Moses. The word faithful implies,“full of faith”, “trustful and not simply trustworthy”. It is used for individual who takes God’s word as covenant, immutable, unchangeable, and inalienable truth. With such a prophet, God would commit his secrets, his plans and his purpose. God can freely entrust the most impossible and incredible works of salvation into such hands. A Moses service with God was more than trustworthiness it was as if Moses was God in his operations.

Moses was not a great prophet because of super-natural manifestations, but essentially because Moses was able to understand the immediacy of God’s project and the need to communicate that intention to God’s people. His fearless character was his strength as a Prophet. He stood and confronted the most powerful Pharaoh who was the world leader of his days. He pulled down the laid down structure and bullied the idolatry characteristics of Pharaoh until Pharaoh agreed that God’s fingers is stronger than the fingers of man. Moses was unperturbed by the chariots of Pharaoh but prepared to face death if need be in other to bring the counsel of God to fore. Most of his miraculous manifestations were orchestrated to further the cause of God not for the selfish ambition of becoming popular before men. No prophet like Moses amongst his mates.

Comparing Moses as Prophet with the socalled prophets in Nigeria is like comparing life with death. Though the situation of Church in wilderness as led by Moses was not different from the situation of Church today, what is different however, is lack of true Prophets after the order of Moses. This is not to say that there are no true prophets in Nigeria, yes, there are few true prophets in Nigeria but false prophets are greater in numbers. Prophets are the pillars of the Church. They are the backbone and the vital organ of the Body of Christ. Prophets are not prophets by foretelling whatpeople would become or possess in the now or tomorrow. Prophets are true prophets through the communication of truth – the present truth that becomes a path, a compass and direction for the entire Church. Prophets are the custodians of God’s project for people. When Prophets in Nigeria come up to advertise miracles to people or deliverance from demoniac oppression, such prophet has not understood the vital calling of prophetic ministry. Yes, prophets have capacity to do all these but this is not the major assignments. The assignment is to set God’s standard for people. The office of prophet has being abused by many denominations. A man is not a prophet because he tells you of trip to London or USA, neither is he confirmed as prophet because he speaks to you of a child to be born. No, these are mere manifestations of the gifts of the Spirit and it should be common amongst ministry gifts and believers. This is not enough to call someone a prophet.

Acts 13:1; the Bible says; “Now there were in the Church that was in Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. These prophets were driven away from Jerusalem to Antioch because of doctrines of Christ which was not

comfortable with Herod the Tetrarch. Their conversation was not with kings with the intention to amass wealth and fame. Their conversation was with God with the intention to foster the things of God in Jerusalem and uttermost part of the earth. Their pride was not with the kings of the earth or with the rich of the land, they pride themselves with the assignment of God and its immediacy. Though these prophets were driven away from Jerusalem, the impact of such action was seen again in Acts 11:19, 21, 26; “Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only…… and the hand of the Lord was with them; and a great number believed and turned unto the LORD. The impact of these prophets was seeing in such that Christians were first This is the summary of what is being said, “Nabi” or “the saying Prophets” are essentially ordained to bring the counsel of God through instructions and edifying of the Church such that Church will come to terms with the present program of God. The blue print, the priority of God for now is the main essence of prophetic streams so that people would not continue to wallow in darkness. The present directionless of the Church is due to of lack of prophets who can tell the Church on what to do. The trend shall change. God is currently raising voices throughout the nation. The voice of God would be thundered and there shall be a shift from lusts, greed, worldliness and carnality to that which God desires. Those prophets who run after canal things, fame and friendliness with the kings of the earth would extinct. This is the design of the Church.

•Pastor Bola Bello – The Priesthood House, bolabelo@gmail.com 08033704564

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From the Pulpit

MANNA DIGEST with Bishop (dr.) chris

kwakpovwe

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o you have battles/issues/miracles you want God to do for you? Whatever you are believing God for, the Lord is saying “There is no Short Cut to your Throne”.

Jesus had to go through the cross for Him to sit on His throne. To be a great man Or woman is wonderful; but there is no short cut to your throne. Don’t allow the Devil to scatter you and waste you.

PRAYER: Whatever temptation you are passing through, this is described as your cross. May it not disappoint God? May you carry your cross successfully to your throne?

In John 6: 11-13, Jesus said “gather”.

One of the characteristics of God is that He is a “Gatherer”. Whatever is scattering in your life is from the enemy. Pay more attention to small things that leak in your life for example money, anointing, favour. You manage your time well and read your bible.

Let’s go

BIBLE with Favour

Tioluwani

A

Email: letsgobible@gmail.com

s you walked through your marriage, full of errors, grace, expectations, and hope, here are two important facets of marriage that God wants you to use along the way.

Have a Shared Values System My husband, Greg, and I were already separated. I’d put ten years between marriages and thought I had figured out every angle before I walked down the aisle.

But here I was—tears and confusion— trying to determine what went wrong as I drove through a rainstorm. I don’t remember articulating a specific question to God, but he answered the question in my heart: if our marriage was in God’s plan, then why were we so miserable?

“Marriage is not about happiness, it’s about holiness.”

Spoken to me through the radio, not

by God, but by Gary L. Thomas, author of Sacred Marriage, these simple words were a revelation. Despite my years of marriage experience, I was pursuing happiness as if it had an actual end, like I would achieve happiness one day and be overjoyed I finally found it. Happiness in marriage (or any other aspect of life) is the most elusive and subjective measure we can use. Pursuit of my own happiness was not God-centered or husband-centered; it was completely self-centered. What made me happy in a marriage as a newlywed would certainly have irritated me beyond reproach as the months and years advanced. In Boundaries in Marriage, Henry Cloud and John

Sunday May 24, 2015

No short cut to the throne PRAYER: Oh Lord, show me the things that scatters. Lord, the people/habit that scatters, take them away from my life. Bulldoze scatterer out of my life/family/ ministry. Oh you scatterers, I take back my possession. Oh Lord, every scatterer that have stolen what is my own that I cannot pinpoint what I have done with my life, wherever you are, I command your root to dry up.

Jesus said “gather” which means coming together. Look at little things through which the enemy would have moved Jesus Christ. Jesus, a miracle worker would have forgotten the little thing. Little time of your life, gather it. e.g reading. Small minutes you have, gather them. The devil uses small loopholes to block your joy or delay your throne. I command those loopholes to be exposed. Whatever are the small things the devil is using to leak out blessings, favour, anointing, fasting, may God open your eyes to see the scatterers.

PRAYER: My Father, all the leakages in my life, blocks them now. Give me the grace to block whatever is leaking anointing, favour, power, wisdom, growth, blessings.

Every leakage in the life of this man/ woman, dry up.

Points to note: 1.

Mind the little things.

2.

Go and get financial advisers/ advisors for money leaking away or just going like that. Things are leaking around your life; you have to open your eyes.

3.

Pray all the time for God to show you the leakages of your life.

Last Sunday in the book of Exodus 13:17 says “when Pharaoh let the people go, God led them not through the way of land of Philistines although that was near.

The nearer route can be a deadly route. God led them through a longer route.

If God is leading you through the longer route, It is because your throne is very Special.

DECLARATION: Oh God, I make up my mind this morning that no man shall write/control my life. The pen that writes the story of my life shall not be in the hand of another person. Others cannot determine my faith. I shall not blame anybody if I succeed/fail e.g. the world does not owe me any apology.

QUOTES: (1) The World is in a constant conspiracy against the brave. The world

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will never tell you to take your success.

(2) Success is never final, failure is never fatal, and delay is not denial.

If you are a great man/woman, success has no end/final and failure never fatal.

Nothing is like danger in failure. When you fail, you come out of it. It cannot kill you except it’s not reversible. Irreversible mistakes e.g pilot makes mistake which makes plane come down except God intervenes.

Some things cannot be changed and some can be changed. e.g. giving birth to a girl instead of a boy cannot be changed.

There are things you can change. The grace to know the difference is wisdom.

May God give you courage to change what should be changed?

(3) Your life is in chapters; don’t give anybody the biro/pencil/pen that writes the story of your life. Let the story of your life be in your hand and God. Don’t let anybody write the story of your life. Your life is in chapters, is in phases.

Do all you can so that others will not control you and do things you want to do.

(4) Minimize the time you spent on social media. Stay more with your bible.

Don’t waste your life away (Jn 6:11-13).

Manna Prayer Mountain Interdenominational/ Our Daily Manna 8-10 Omotayo Banwo street, before Mobile Police Barracks, Orioke Ogudu, Lagos. www.ourdailymanna.org 234-8056241771, 234-18179023, 234-08023154316

Mary’s testimony Townsend declare happiness as “the worst value ever.” Cloud and Townsend equate marriage values to the framing of a house. Without defining and articulating the things you value as a couple, you have no structure for a marriage relationship. Values give you and your spouse a “marriage identity.” Through them you can “protect it and cause it to grow in the direction God intends.”For Greg, honesty was the highest value. For me, compassion and forgiveness was the highest value, especially when I wasn’t being honest. Cloud and Townsend list six values that give marriage protective boundaries: love of God, love of spouse, honesty, faithfulness, compassion and forgiveness, and holiness.

Greg and I eventually reunited and, with agreement on the values we each held highest, we were able to build a failsafe standard for how we treated each other, and how we expected others to interact with our relationship, including children, our in-laws, and even exspouses. We worked together to identify and dispel anything that did not support these values Learning that my husband valued honesty above all else communicated volumes about what he desired from me. I would not have intentionally been dishonest with him, but some things would go unsaid or get a little squishy around the edges, such as the shopping bag that got left in the trunk of my car. Understanding his values, as well as establishing our shared value system, removed stress and uncertainty from our relationship. No matter where we were or what was happening, whether together or apart, we could be assured

that the tenants of our relationship were known and respected by each other. Having a shared value system helped us set enduring standards of behavior and communication.

Rearrange Your Expectations When I asked marriage educator to identify the leading challenge in remarriage, she said “expectations,” or more specifically, the inability to adjust expectations. Individuals entering into marriage raise the bar too high. Nearly all couples enter marriage with idealistic expectations, but often assign an undue burden to their spouse. This burdens the new spouse with the responsibility of having a successful marriage.

The real problem with marriage expectations is what they reveal about our relationship with God. Seeking fulfillment from a husband or wife is not only asking too much, it is asking the impossible. We were created to receive ultimate fulfillment from God, and God alone.

When we look to a relationship or a loved one as a substitute for God, we will always be disappointed. No one, no matter how much they love and desire us, can fulfill our longing. Only God can satisfy. I harbored many unrealistic expectations about marriage. Financial security was a problem in my previous marriage, and it was exacerbated by ten years living as a single parent. I didn’t expect my new husband to provide a mansion in Hollywood, but I did expect him, with my help, to attain a lifestyle greater than the one I had.

When he lost his job and announced he was going to follow his dream—a significantly lower-paying dream—my fulfillment factor flopped.

It took years for me to work through the implications of my unrealistic expectations. My husband and I separated, we lost our “dream” house, and God showed me a new definition of financial insecurity. But through it all, God demonstrated his jealous love for me. The Lord would not allow me to place my marital demands or my insecurities above my obedience to him. For God has said, ‘I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.’ So we can say with confidence, ‘The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear.

What can mere people do to me?”

A Constant Journey Overcoming my lifestyle and income expectations was more difficult for me than working through God’s rearrangement of holiness over happiness. My expectations about financial security were rooted in fear—fear of loss. God alleviated my fear by using my life as a testament to losing nearly everything. After a long, painful journey, God demonstrated that walking with him, in want or wealth, is all that matters.

Greg and I are grateful that the Lord did not provide us a Hollywood happily ever after. We have something stronger: love of God as our highest value. And with God as our biographer, we no longer fear for our future. We are still learning, all the time, how to grow together and make our marriage increasingly more healthy. But God is with us—that’s a pretty good headline for our story, isn’t it?

•You can send in your QUESTIONS and the Holy Spirit will be set to give you the ANSWERS. Barr. (Mrs.) Favour Tioluwani Tel: 08050272259 or 07062738213. Email: letsgobible@gmail.com

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From the Pulpit

Sunday May 24, 2015

45

It does not matter (Part 1)

his week, I shall be discussing with you that it does not matter what challenges you are facing now, but what does matter is the word of God that can solve whatsoever challenges facing you. I will divide it into three parts, which shall take a total of three weeks.

One of the challenges that face the children of God is the way they view the problems that often confront them. Some believers often magnify their problems by putting their eyes on the difficulty.

Understand that, no problem comes to stay forever. You were not born with any problem and you will not die with it.

One of the reasons why you look so tired is because you take into matter what you should have taken to the Lord in prayer.

Whatever you are going through now does not matter and it does not have power to determine what becomes of your destiny. One of the reasons why you are appearing haggard is because you are making what does not matter or rather important to be something that matters.

It is as if you major in the minor and minor in the major. Whenever you look at the size of your problems, you look down on the size of your God. Learn to cast your burden on the Lord because God cares for you.

Casting all your care on him; for he cares for you.

1Peter 5:7 Casting your burden on the Lord is like posting a letter. As a known fact, you don’t post a letter and post yourself along. You will rather post your letter and go and relax knowing too well that the postmaster will deliver it to the intended recipient. That is what you should do with the issue of life. When you cast your burden on God, just relax and see what God will do in that situation.

The scripture above did not tell us about the number of the problems that we are to cast on the Lord. But if you read it line by line and precepts by precepts, then you will understand from the first statement of that scripture that, it is all our problems that we are to cast on the Lord. There is no part of whatever you might be going through now that God can not intervene. Your own rule is to cast your challenges on God. How do you cast your problems to God? It is

by telling God about the problem. It also means, reminding God of the portion of His word that says something about what you are going through.

Why do you need to cast all your problems on the Lord? It is because, God cares for you. The word care used in this passage means; God is interested in your welfare. God wants to see you in abundance; He wants to see you enjoy total health; He wants to see you enjoying life in full. God cares for you.

It is a pity that some believers do not understand that God cares for them.

Some people do profusely weep both day and night and complain that their people have abandoned them. They do complain on how their loved ones have seemingly deserted them. But little did they know that God cares for them even if no one else does. When you rely totally on God, you will not be bothered even if no one cares about you. But the truth remains that, when God cares for you, everyone and everything will work for you. In a nutshell, it does not matter of the nature and number of the ordeals that you are going through at the moment regardless of its g gravity g y because c God is there for you.

THINGS NGS THAT SHOULD MATTER TO O YOU The only thing that should matter to you is the word of God. Instead nstead of encumbering yourself lf with the situation of life, just st learn to lean and rely on the e word of God. Understand that, anytime you worry yourself lf over an issue, you assume the he position of controlling that situation. ituation. Worries make you to be in charge of your predicaments. aments. Worries make you to see that God d o e s n o t a n -

swer your prayer. Worries have the ability to magnify your problem and belittle the power of God in any situation. Worries make you to see God as an irresponsible being. Worry and anxiety are from the same family. The ‘devil’ is the father of that family and ‘doubt’ is the mother that gives birth to them. Anxiety makes you to doubt the ability of God. Therefore I say to you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they?

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit to his stature?

And why take you thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:And yet I say to you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Why, if God so clothe the grass of the field,, which c today y is, and tomorrow is ca cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe of little you, O you o faith?

Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? Or, what shall we drink?

Wherewithal shall Or, Wherewith we be clothed? all these (For after al things do the G Gentiles heavenly seek: for your h knows that Father know have need you hav of a all these things). t

Matthew 6:24-32 This passage of the scripture is admonishing us to wholeheartedly depend on God. We should not allow the pressure of whatever we might be going through to distract the peace of our hearts. God has never allowed mere grasses on the field to appear naked for once. He has always clothed them with beautiful regalia that match their own specie of being.

The fowls in the air never went to farm but Our God feeds them two-four-seven.

They did not cry out for food and they never lacked what to eat. If God could lovely do those things for those creatures; don’t you think that He will do greater things for you? Are you not better than those things? Are you not precious to God than them? Did Jesus die for those creatures? Why do you always think that God has forsaken you? Since God does not forsake the fowl in the air and the grass in the field, He will not forsake you. Please understand that, God loves you more than you love yourself and He is always interested in your welfare.

Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? Or, what shall we drink? Or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?(Matthew 6:31) Do not be depressed, regardless of what you are going through now. You do not need to be scared of the basic needs of life; I mean needs: such as shelter, food and clothing materials because your God will make provision for you. God knows you need them. He is fully aware of your needs and He is faithful enough to bring those your needs to pass.

Next week I will be revealing to you formula for handling the issues of life.

See you until then.

Bishop Joshua Kolawole Opayinka is the presiding Bishop of Glorious Tabernacle International located Behind Ondo State Cultural Centre, Akure, Ondo State capital. Share your testimonies and prayer points with me at: O8060297831joshuakolawoleo@yahoo. com •You can send in your QUESTIONS and the Holy Spirit will be set to give you the ANSWERS. Barr. (Mrs.) Favour Tioluwani Tel: 08050272259 or 07062738213. Email: letsgobible@gmail.com

Bishop Opayinka

News You need to avoid sycophants – Macaulay

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he President and Chairman of Association of Christian Theologians ACTS Prof speaking Olakunle Macaulay has adviced president-elect, Muhammdu Buhari to be wary of praise singers after a meeting of the Governing Council of the association held recently in Ikeja-Lagos noted that Nigerians voted massively for Gen Mohammed Buhari (rtd) because they love him and have confidence in him.

While calling on the President-elect to avoid sycophants, Macaulay advised him to prayerfully choose credible people and

result-oriented men and women with tested record to work with him.

“He must also carefully consider any advice given him before taking action” said the ACTS Presidents.

Macaulay also assured the President-elect of the support of the association and its members for his gover nment.

According to him, Association of Christian Theologians (ACTS) is a Christian and theological regulatory body for the improvement of theological education and practice in Nigeria.

SERVICE OF SONG(L-R) wife of the Decease Rev(Mrs.) Nneoma Amaefula,Lagos District Superintendent Assemblies of God Nigeria Rev Joseph Okeafor his wife Rev(Mrs.) Helen, at the Service of Songs for late Revd (Dr) Frank Amaefula held at the Apapa District Assemblies of God Festac Town, Lagos

From the Pulpit

46

Sunday May 24, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

New dawn

o the Holy Order Sermon delivered by His Eminence Supv.Ap.Gen.(Dr) Napo Emuchay, Secretary to giving service to of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim on the special thanksgiving celebrate the creation of Ojokoro province Txt: Isaiah 43 18-19 emember not the former things; neither considers the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert”.

New Dawn means beginning of a new thing and it could also mean end of an old thing.

According to our bible passage in Isaiah 43-18-19 God commanded the children of Israel not to remember the former things neither considers the things of the old because he was about to do a new thing. Former things could mean dark days of trouble and trials like when the Israelites were under the bondage of the Egyptians for several years and at the appointed time they cried unto God and he delivered them according to his promise, he gave them freedom from their taskmaster, they became happy and fulfilled Proverb 13-19 said a desire accomplished is sweet to the soul. I pray that every of your desire will be accomplished in the name of

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Jesus.

The Lord restores the Israelites and other nations heard of it according to Psalm 126 1-2 “When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongues with singing. Then they said among the nations, the Lord has done great things for them. God will surely do a great thing for you in the name of Jesus.

Having freedom may look not real in the human wisdom but it will surely comes to pass, because God has promise freedom to His people and also will flow in abundant because he will make a river in the desert, those who are languishing in poverty will now flow in abundance.

The lessons God want us to learn here are God sees what you are passing through.

He has a set time to answer you God watch over his promises to bring them to pass.

God will never forget you Psalm 9-18.

Wait patiently for the promises of God to his fullness of time Psl 40 -3

To maintain the blessing of the new dawn Operate in the fear of God Proverbs 9-10.

Know the truth, John 8-32, John 1717 Love God and love one another.

Give to God, sow to His Kingdom Be thankful.

May the Lord bless you in Jesus name.

You may not have a full manifestation of victory in your life yet, but if you can see even just a little bit of evidence that God is working in your life if all you can find is just one little cloud in the sky the size of your hand, then rejoice. If you have any spark of hope in you, any evidence at all that God is working in your life, marriage, in you,

in your spouse, in your financial structure, or in your children, then, I beseech you don’t run away from the difficult times. Stay steadfast and pay the price of endurance because those ashes are going to be turned into beauty. You and your beloved ones will be that tree of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, and your lives will give glory to God.

Glorious End-time Evangelical Ministry Prophet Lai Bamidele, General Overseer of Christ Glorious End-time Evangelical Ministry, AbuleEgba, Lagos, in this exhortation, teaches on the need to be skilful. Excerpts:

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od’s grace is integral to success and fulfillment in life.

It is God’s a grace at work in the journey of a man’s greatness.

There is a great treasure deposited in it.

The word grace appeared over 100 times in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation II Peter 316 – Peter referred to Paul as a man with revelation too hard to understand, I Corith 159-10 WHAT IS GRACE? Grace simply means unmerited, unearned favour.

Grace means a gift you don’t deserve.

• God’s grace cannot be worked for or purchased.

• The first man that enjoyed grace in the Bible is Noah- Gen 617 Gen623, gGen 68- Noah’s grace.

• There are different types of word that are destroying people.

• The sole purpose of the flood of life is destruction.

• When you miss the sources, you will the prize • No source is true than God, Hag 16-8.

What do we mean by Grace? Grace means an unmerited favour, Grace can also be described being given a place, or gift that even you are not worthy of or you are not qualified to have.

• Grace can also be described as God’s gift to a believer.

• It is God’s grace at work that makes a saint out of a sinner.

• Grace produces fruits. When God’s is yet to produce fruits in your life, you need in go the extra length.

• God’s grace makes you to be on top of your contemporaries.

• God’s grace makes you to sit where you can never believe you can.

• The fullness of God’s grace is beyond human comprehension; Romans 1133 says O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out temporary defeat is different from permanent failure, Exd 3311-23 What made Moses to enjoy grace from God is meekness, Number 12 1-2 What made Moses to enjoy God’s grace is faithfulness, Number 12 4-5

When you go deep into the New Testament, the scripture reveals that Peter refers to Apostle Paul as a man with revelation that is too hard to understand. Paul kept on affirming that he was a product of grace, I Corinth 15 9-10 ‘For I am the least of the apostles, that are not meet to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace which was bestowed on me was not in vain, but I laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was on me.’

GLORIOUS END TIME EVAGELICAL MINISTRY SUNDAY SERVICE 20/11/11 STIRRING INSTRUMENTS OF GRACE • To stir anything effectively certain things are relevant • To STIR means to keep in full FLAME • Instruments must be applied.

• To stir means to Activate.

• To maximise God’s grace in your life, some spiritual instruments are required.

1.

Righteousness - You must live a righteous life • Righteous living is like a magnet that attracts the grace of God on its own.

• Gen 6 8-9, Noah was a just man • If you want to enjoy his grace you must run away from SIN. • Every form of unrighteousness is sin (I John 512) • Sin and God’s grace are like light and darkness which cannot dwell together, Rom 61-2 • For grace to reign, then righteousness must reign Rom 521 • Wherever sin reigns death also reigns.

2.

Obedience - Gen 614 - This is another major tool for stirring up grace of God • Noah’s obedience was absolute not partial; obedience to every word of God must be absolute • Grace also rain I Corinth 1534, proverbs 1434 • Obedience works as a believer works in obedience to God is his words • What God says in his words you behave

it and put it to work.

• You must be excited doing what he asks you to do I Sam 1522, Rev 510 • When Saul disobeyed God he was dethroned • The only way you can reign in life is via the release of his grace and it can only work via obedience • Luke 638 - The grace of God unto Abundance • When you give you become free from poverty • I Sam 15 22-23 - Rebellion against God word is disobedience 3.

Giving - Luke 633 Only those who obey instruction to give shall receive and be free from the flood of poverty. As long as a man refuses to give what he has shall be taken away from him.

Also, grace for service is released but the man who refuses to serve with joyfulness and gladness is being disobedient Deut 28 47-48 4.

Rebellion- I Sam 15 22-23. Rebellion means disobedience and in the sight of God it is as grievous as witchcraft.

For you to enjoy more grace than you are enjoying now, you need more obedience.

5.

Humility – If you want to enjoy more grace, one major instrument you require is humility, I Peter 55 Humility is a garment, is a spiritual garment and everyone needs to be clothed with it in order to enjoy God’s grace.

When God is about releasing his grace, He bestows it on those with the minds of humility, not the ones with pride.

Pride is a subtle killer - it is a spiritual cancer that destroys man’s destiny.

WHAT IS THE ROOT OF GRACE? When you don’t know the root of a tree, it will be difficult for you to access the tree to the root.

When you don’t know the source of a problem, it will be difficult to know how to tackle that problem. When you know the source, then access becomes easy.

When you know the source, you can easily acquire it directly from there whenever the need arises. The grace of God is obtained or released from God, through Jesus Christ.

John 1 17 says grace is truth that come from

Pastor Bamidele

Jesus Christ The problem of most Christians today is that they don’t understand that God’s grace comes from God and not from man. Many believers go cap in hand begging for or seeking for favour from men like them instead of seeking from God. When you seek the face of man for favour, you will end up missing out on God’s favour.

When you look out for men you will lose out from God. You cannot serve two masters at the same time.

Stop seeking favour from men, and start seeking for authentic source of true and lasting favour.

Get this understanding if you seek the favour of man, and you lack the favour of God, you will remain permanently in lack.

When you seek favour from God, you will command favour from men.

In the midst of a lot of men, the Bible says ‘Noah found favour’.

When Noah started building the ark a lot of people around him were mocking him.

When you are under God’s grace you must get discouraged by the words of men and their reactions to your decision. When God’s grace is upon your head not everybody around you will believe you. Once you have discovered his grace, don’t mind the sayings of men. When you listen to what men say, you will be discouraged.

God’s grace has nothing to do with your Background, education, age and status. God pours out his grace upon whoever he chooses to.

I pray from today everywhere you go his grace will be sufficient for you in all you journeys and steps.

•For counselling contact: Pst_lai@yahoo.com

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

The Bride’s voice with Pastor Moses

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Alu

his gospel we have, this Bible we carry has power to convert, has the power to change lives, power to deliver, power that breaks curses. That same power converts. And remember also, we can still go further; there are churches that have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof. They will not allow the move of the Holy Ghost.

They will not allow the gifts of the Holy Ghost. Anybody who rightly reads the Bible and can stand and say these girl are in the days of the Apostles and go to Hebrew Chapter 13:8 and Want to see read …Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever. How is He the same yesterday, today and forever and then you put the power side to the apostles?

He was yesterday and not the same today?

And worse still, people, followers of William Branham.. Supposedly, deny the gifts.

How many end time message churches will you go today in this country Nigeria that will allow the spirit of God move through prophecies ad what you see happening in the church like this? Why? They have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof.

Apostle Paul said something following that verse. What did he say you should do? From such people, what should you do? Turn away from them, turn away from them if you sit in an assembly where they do not allow you to operate your gift, that pastor is killing you spiritually and he is denying you of a reward of service. What will you tell the Lord Jesus Christ after the rapture? What did you do with the gift He gave you? My pastor says.

Endtime Revelation with Bishop Bernard

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Ojemeni (JP)

ev. 2:8-11: “And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”

The Smyrna church age witnessed the greatest time of persecution. The more satan attacked the church the more they overcame the one condemning characteristic of the later part of apostolic age, which is that of having lost its first love (The Church of Ephesus). There was not a word of condemnation for Smyrna.

From this, satan learning a great secret that persecution will not stamp out the church of Jesus Christ. Consequently, the age ended with the easing of persecution.

Satan then used what turned out to be one of his most effective weapons to weaken the church, that of indulgence or endorsement or compromise.

Note below: The periods of persecution under Roman Empire:

From the Pulpit

Sunday May 24, 2015

47

The spirit of delusion

Get away from that place! The church of Jesus Christ is not a one man show. How can all of you gather here and only me will preach, heal, prophesy and do counseling? The job of all others is to hold people when they are falling under anointing of my ministration.

That is their own gift and they will say they are church workers. And when you ask them what work they do they will respond, when people fall under anointing, we bring them up.

Verse 13: But evil men and seducers shall was worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. Evil men and seducers at the later time will wax strong and strong. They will continue in their evil and this will grow worse. They will be deceiving and they will be deceived themselves. They are all evil men including those who listen to them. Go on: but continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned them. But continue in the things you have learnt. Who did they lean from? Apostle Paul because he was sure very sure! Certainty!

Blessed be the name of the Lord. Let us read another condition.11 Tim. 4;2-9: preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrines. That as his admonition to everybody, every pastor, every minister-preach the Word. Go on. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. A time will come and that time has come. Time has come when they, the listeners will be going to the church, they will not ensure sound doctrine.

You know I am preaching normal sermon here, the way apostle Paul preached, the way William Branham preached, the way Peter

preached, the way John the Baptist preached but do you know some people who come to this church, they will tell me. I like the way you preach, you preach it raw. And I am wondering, what is raw about what I am preaching? I am only saying what the Bible sad. But because the gospel has been watered down, when you get to a place where people say it the way it should be, you are surprised. This man is saying it raw. There is nothing raw in what I am saying. A thief is a thief. What other name do you want me to call a thief ? Somebody carried something that is not his, what do you want me to call him? Then I call the person a thief and you say pastor is raw. Have I added anything? I said what you are. You are a thief ? You are a fornicator! You are serpent seed! You are a tare! Am I the one who said it?

Hallelujah, praise the Lord. If you discover after you have seen and heard this truth and you are sharing with somebody, you will equally say it the way I am saying it. Every end time message church you go to, they preach the same way. If you meet our evangelists outside, they say it harder than I do they go to market places. Hallelujah, is sister Mercy here? This Edo woman, are you here? She said she met Evangelist I.K. and his group at Ladipo a few years back. They were preaching and she felt what they were preaching was correct. According to her, she was so carried away that she called them and bought them drinks. She said what surprised her was that after buying them drinks, the kind of sales she made that day was for beyond her expectation. So she knew they must be true men of god. She said she even paid the tithe to them that day though they didn’t tell me.

Hellalujah. Amen. But she paid the tithe.

The area I am going is this. She said after she had given them the tithe, they were supposed to pray with her. She said a sister who

was with them; one of the gifted sisters saw a revelation for her and told her. I can’t pray or give you the revelation because you are wearing trousers. Remove the trousers and come and meet me. This was after they had taken her drinks.

Was that Pastor Moses? No! it is the spirit of this message that we have. The fact that you have given me money does not mean you can cage me. I will tell you the truth after collecting the money. But a lot of people are not willing to hear this truth. Why? Because Apostle Paul in that scripture we read said, a time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine and after their own lust; after their own heart desires they will heap to themselves teachers. They will have itching ears. They will turn their ears from the truth.

Now, watch it, brethren. They will turn their ears from the truth and if you turn your ears from the truth, where will your ears turn to?

Fables! They say they have itching ears; that is, there is something they like to hear and these days, church, what do people like to hear? Gospel prosperity! They want to be told, tomorrow, you will become millionaire..,. and they will chorus. Amen. That is my pastor.

But when a man tells a cocaine pusher, Hell is waiting for you, they will say, Stop condemning. You are carrying girlfriend and boyfriend every day, one day Magun will catch you. Do you know what mague is?

Magun in Yoruba means don’t climb! It is a local charm employed by men who suspect their wives may be involved in extra marital affairs. Continue to climb, one day, there will be no separation.

•Pastor Moses Alu; The Bride Assembly, Odofin Park Estate, OshodiApapa Expressway, Ijesha Bus stop 08033524903 : Email: pastormosesalu@yahoo.com

The Church of Smyrna (The persecuted church) A.D. 100-312

1.

Nero - A.D. 54 – 68, Paul beheaded and Peter crucified.

2.

Domitian – A.D. 81-96, John exiled.

3.

Trajan – A.D. 98 – 117, Ignatius burned at the stake.

4.

Marcus Aurelius – A.D. 161 – 180, Justin Martyr killed.

5.

Severus – A.D. 193 – 211 6.

Maximinius – A.D. 235 – 238 7.

Decius – A.D. 249 – 251 8.

Valerian – A.D. 253 – 260 9.

Aurelian – A.D. 270 – 275 10.

Diocletian – A.D. 284 – 305. The persecution of the church under Diocletian was the worst. These 10 periods in history, could be referred to as the 10 days Jesus said the church would undergo persecution.

Hundreds of Christians brought into the amphitheaters of Rome to be fed to hungry lions while thousands of spectators cheered, many were crucified, others were covered with animal skins and tortured to death by wild dogs. They were covered with tars and set on fire to serve as torches. They were boiled in oil and burned at stakes.

Note below, the words of Polycarp who was burned at the stake, refusing to recant his faith in Jesus Christ and who, just as the torch was applied to the wood stacked at his feet, said, “86 years have I served Him and He never did me any wrong. How could I blaspheme my King and my Saviour now?”

This took place in A.D. 156. One church historian has estimated that during this period, five million Christians were martyred for the testimony of Christ. Hebrews 11:36-38 talks about such persecutions. “And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.” Smyrna is a thriving church. Established churches in many parts of the world. Produced many hand-copied manuscripts of the Bible and translated the scriptures into many languages. Syriac and Peshito manuscripts official scriptures of the Eastern churches and from which translations were made into Arabic; Persian and Armenia. In the 2nd century the Bible was translated into Latin, the old Latin version which became the Bible of the Western churches for more than 1000 years.

And this has been translated into many languages. In the face of persecution, the church continued to advance and do great exploits until Emperor Constantine came and made Christianity a state religion in A.D. 312. However, cessation of persecution turned out to be a master stroke of satan and great tragedy to the church by Emperor Constantine, giving birth to Pergamum which was assimilated by paganism, lost its fire and received serious condemnation from the Lord. An afflicted church – in addition to persecution, false teachers claimed to be Jews came with false doctrines. Talking about false teachers despite their claims to be working for God, Jesus told us clearly in the Holy Bible how to identify them. Matthew 7:15-20: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of this-

tles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”

Beloved I would like to use this medium to invite you to our Annual Convention 2015 tagged ‘NEVER THE SAME AGAIN’ today, Sunday 24th May, 2015. Time: 11 a.m. in Endtime Cathedral of Peace in the address below.

Our Guest Speaker is Rev. Dr. Godwin Nnadi.

Others include Pastor Okechukwu Esiaba, Pastor Emma Isaac, Prophet Emman Akpitanhi. Convention Committee Chairman is Elder John Nwachukwu. Members of the Committee include Deaconess Ekeoma Emeka, Bro. Romeo Udoh, Sis. Blessing Kelvin and Sis. Gladis Emeka. The Hosts are Bishop/Rev. Mrs. Bernard Ojemeni. There will also be an ordination of some members of the church as Evangelists - Bro. Emmanuel Nwachukwu and others. Special Guests of Honour are Bishop & Mrs. Charles Anselm – PCCAN President – Father of the Day, Apostle & Mrs. John Odunze, Pastor & Mrs. Godswill Uche, Mr. & Mrs. Gold, Mr. & Mrs. Johnson, Pastor & Mrs. Daniel of Comforter’s Assembly, Deaconess Onasanya Roseline, Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Aniebonam, and host of others.

•For further information, contact us at: Endtime Believers’ Ministry Inc.16/18, Johnson Street, off Kajola Street, Yakoyo, Lagos. Tel: 08023261219, 09095268897, 08036116881; Email: bishop.bernard@yahoo.com

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From the Pulpit

Hour of Change with Primate

I.O Oyelowo

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nd he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant, and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute’’. Genesis 49:15 The almighty God in His wisdom created heaven and earth and everything in them. All these creatures were made for the use of man, the last creature through the love of God for him. He also gave man dominion over these creatures as exhibition of his loving kindness to him. On top of it all, God made man in His own image, so man became a free moral agent, it is the abuse of this freedom that brings man into bondage. In this write up, we shall examine some circumstances that put man in captivity.

DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD’S COMMAND As disclosed above, everything was made for the use of man except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for which he was forbidden to eat from. (Gen 2:15-17). These verses seriously warned Adam of the consequence of his dis-obedience. We can also deduced from the statement Eve made to the serpent that Adam had already told Eve of God’s directive concerning the tree of the knowledge of good and Eve (Gen 3:1-7).

Chapel of Holiness and Testimony with Pastor K. I.

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Bona

ast week we summarized on the interpretation of God’s judgement on devil.

This week we shall begin by analyzing these interpretations. You remember that in the first interpretation God declared devil the enemy of human race. When God said, “I will put enemity between thee and the woman according to Genesis 3:15 THE HUMAN RACE The human race are the generality of all living souls that inhabits the earth. When God created the first man and woman he had a wonderful plan for them. One of those wonderful plans God had for man was that he would live a glorious life void of death, sickness, suffering affliction poverty and or hardship. These plans were so beautiful amazing, and worth praising God. In Genesis 1:29-31 “And God said, behold I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of the earth and every tree in this fruits of a tree yielding seed, to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creapeth upon the earth where in there is life. I have given every green herb for meat, and it was so. And God saw everything that he has made and behold it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” God provided enough food and every other necessities of life for them to avoid lack. God did not want the first man and woman he created in his image to lack any good thing. If Adam and Eve had maintained and respected the word of covenant between them and God, could you imagine how glorious and beautiful this world would have become. This very character of God to the first man and woman he created reveals to us one of the natures of God. This very nature of God is the goodness of God, to them that has his image. In Psalm 34:10 “The young lion do lack and suffer hunger, but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.” Here the Holy

Sunday Mirror Sunday May 24, 2015 www.nationalmirroronline.net

Circumstances that lead to slavery 1 We can conclude therefore that man’s insatiability has led him to slavery. It is imperative therefore for one to be contented with whatever one has. Hebrews 13:5 says: Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have, for he himself has said, I will never you nor forsake you’’.

JEALOUSY OR HATRED Jealousy is the act of being jealous. It is a feeling of anger or un-happiness because somebody you love is showing interest in some body elso. Joseph revealed his dream to his dream to his elder brothers where-upon they ganged up against him and sold him slavery as the expression of their envy/hatred against him. (Gen 37:5-11, 26-28) I counsel you not reveal your dream to every Dick, Tom and Harry because it is your vision, desires and it can be hijacked or killed. Keep your secrets secret.

DIS-HONOUR OF YOUR PARENTS The holy writ counsels a believer to respect his parent(s) because it is a command with promise. In essence anyone who dis-honours his parent(s) will pay dearly for it. (Exod 20:12, Eph 6:1-3) It is for this reason that many people struggle endlessly without anything to show for their efforts.

Reuben the first child of Jacob had sexual immorality with his father’s concubine which earned him curse instead of blessing. Bear in mind that any one cursed is already a slave Ham: the third born of Noah saw the naked-

ness of his father, and Noah cursed his grandBecause of this negative attitude, some beson. (Gen 49:3-4, Gen 9:20-27). lievers have sent away their benefactors. The I may not knew the circumstance that led bible tell us the story of two servants, one you into bondage, but I decree that you will be was indebted to his master which led him to set at liberty in the name of Lord Jesus Christ. the prison. After much pleading his master BORROWING forgave him and he was set free. However, There is go on borrowing one adage which when he was released, he pestered the life of says; he who goes on sorrowing. There is noth- his fellow servant for his inability to pay the ing bad in borrowing for business purposes. debt owed him put him in prison when his However, the Bible advises us not to borrow master heard, he was enraged and ordered with usury or interest. (Ps 15:5 Deut 15:8). the unforgiving servant to be reminded in Many petty traders go to the finance hous- the prison.(Matt 18:28-35). es to borrow money as capital or to augment THOSE CAPTURED IN THE WAR their capital bat at the end; they become in- FRONT solvent leading to captivity. Borrowing has The commonest cause of war is the land led to marriage break up in some cases. At dispute between two or among neighbourthe extreme end, it has led to confiscation ing communities. Any one captured in the of assets used as pledge/security. ‘’The rich course of this war automatically becomes rulers over the poor, and the borrower is a prisoner. While David was absent, his wives servant to the lender’’. Proverbs 22:7 it is my and his households were captured. Upon recovfervent prayer that the almighty God who ering from his anguish, he enemies. He over paid the debt of a widow’s wife of the proph- look them and recovered his household. (1 et through the assistance of Elisha will do Samuel 30:4) more than that for you and you will regain I decree that whatever you might have lost your freedom. (2Kings 4:1-7). throughignorance, unforgiveness and acts of UNFORGIVNG SPIRIT your enemies shall be fully recovered withThis attitude is so common nowadays es- out delay in Jesus name, Amen. Till then, pecially among fellow believers. If somebody shalom! cannot forgive his offender, there is no way he can be forgiven if he offends somebody •You can contact us at: else. We recite Lord ’s Prayer everyday but it The Word of Life, Agbo Igbala Ti seems it has no meaning to us. (Mathew 6:12, Kiish Aladura Church 70 Patey street 14-15)

Lagos State. Tel: 07040517413

The seed of the woman – 2

Bible pointed out that those who seek the Lord shall never want any good thing. That means, the Lord they seek would provide all their needs and necessities even before they would know they need them. That was exactly what happened in the days of creation God provided all that Adam and Eve needed in the Garden, simply because they were made in his image.

Those who seek the Lord, has the image of God in them.

Remember, that when God was about creating the first man and woman, he summoned the meeting of the trinity. In their meeting they resolved to make a man and a woman in their image and after their likeness. Reason being that there were other creatures created by God, with different images. Therefore, there was need to state in clarity the very image which the first man and woman would have. When eventually God created them in his image and likeness devil being very subtle and wicked stepped in and deceived them. Thus, they rejected and threw away the image of God, but accepted and adopted the image of devil. When they had the image of God he provided them with every good thing and kept them in a special garden carved out of the earth. Adam was command

by God to only dress the garden and to keep it clean. When they disobeyed the commandment of God by eaten the forbidden fruit, thereby rejecting God’s word, and accepted devil word thus, the image of God in them was immediately removed, and the image of devil was given them as their choice. The image of God, is life eternal while the image of devil is death. When God declared devil the enemy of humanity, God was saying that all human race, who are the seed of the woman, should hate and separate themselves from the devil. That the devil has no good intention for them. They should run away from him. His image is not the image of God. Devil is a devourer, a destroyer and a waster of life and destinies - 1st Peter chapter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” Today it is unfortunate to note that many souls have already been devoured by the devil. Many have already perished in the grave while majority are living but

dead in their conscience. These people can kill, destroy, give false witness, commit adultery, fornication, several number of abortions and other related evil vices, without remorse. The word of God is not in them, their spirit is dead to the things of God, but alive to the things of flesh. These categories of human race has been devoured by the devil. What the devil devoured is their spirit and conscience.

They live but they are enemies of God. Examples of such people are:a) The armed robbers b) The hired assassins c) The kidnappers d) All those government functionaries who loot public treasures e) Those occultist, cults boy and girls in our higher institutions f) Those occult grand masters g) Witchcraft agents and marine agents h) The prostitutes that are professional house harloting i) The harlots, those who practice in the hotel and motels j) Cocaine careers and drug addicts k) Those who commit abortions.

These includes, doctor and nurse, who carry out abortion processes l) The fornicators, the adulterers and adulteresses m) The rapist, and every other person who commit social vices, that enhance criminalities in our society. Many of such people mentioned above are already in the grave. The devil succeeded to steal their souls and destroyed them eventually in the grave. Such people their souls have been cutoff from God, forever. That was why God, warned, all the seed of the woman, irrespective of nationality, culture, race, language or colour, to be sober, vigilant, and wise knowing that our adversary the devil goes about seeking a soul to devour and waste. Be very careful, dear child of God to escape the rampage of the devil. There are two categories of human race today. Those that have adopted image of satan

n) Those that still maintains the image of God. THOSE THAT HAVE ADOPTED THE IMAGE OF DEVIL These are people of the world that have sold their souls to devil because of sin. They live their daily lives without God. They reject, the glorious salvation God has offered to all humanity through his son Jesus. They have failed God, by not heeding to the warning God gave to all human race to avoid devil and his tricks, because he has been declared the enemy of our souls. Beloveth, are you living your life without God? Whose image, do you have? Is it the image of God or satan? If you know that you live a life of sin, you belong to these categories of people who disappoint God daily; come back to God now. Disappoint the devil, and it shall be well with your soul. Remain blessed. To continue next week.

TESTIMONY DAUGHTER LOST FOR MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS FOUND For more than eight years now, I have been searching for my daughter. She was grown. She has reached the age of marriage, police and families were contacted and her where about was still not known. Somebody introduced me to this church in the year 2013. When I came, I told the man of God, what I came for he prayed with me and prophesized to me that before the end of 40 days I would see my daughter. However he placed me on daily prayers. Beloveth before the 40 days was over, one evening a bike stopped in front of my house, when I looked behold it was my daughter who was lost for more than eight years. Brethren, praise the Lord!

Sis. Loveth

ADDRESS: Pastor Kingson I. Bona General Overseer Chapel of Holiness and Testimonies Ministries No. 6, David Egbetuyi Street, Fagbile Estate, Ijegun-Ikotun, Lagos.

08023404926, 08038206508, 09030284883 www. chapelofholiness.org

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Business FRESH BUSINESS NEWS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Sunday May 24, 2015

Infrastructure Bank partners METSL on Lagos metro rail

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he Marina Express Train Service Ltd, METSL, is collaborating with the Infrastructure Bank of Nigeria to construct the proposed Lagos Metro Rail Transit LMRT Red Line project.

Sen. Idris Umar, the Minister of Transport, said this at the weekend in Abuja at the Ceding and Handing over of the Right of Way (ROW) for the Iddo-Agbado Corridor for the proposed rail line.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the proposed Mass Transit Train Service (MTTS) which is named “Red Line’, will operate within the Lagos metropolis for the benefit of the entire populace and progress of Nigeria at large.

He said this would significantly impact on the growth and development of the Lagos-Ogun states industry

and economic development zones.

Umar said the MTTS Red Line was projected to carry a large number of passengers per day, freeing up an estimated four to five hours productive time to each commuter on the AgbadoMarina axis.

He said the project would address the transportation problems of the commercial nerve centre of the country with an estimated 20 million populace and also would enhance economic development.

Umar called for private sector collaboration in other states of the federation, to facilitate further infrastructure development in the country.

He expressed delight over the request by Lagos State Government for the Federal Government to release the eastern section of the existing Nigerian Railway Cor-

poration’s (NRC) Right of Way in Lagos.

“I considered it a welcome idea knowing full well that such development will boost the economic fortunes of the state which will eventually spread to other states in the country.

“The request was treated with dispatch, with the constitution of a Technical Committee to look into the possibility of sharing the existing NRC rail corridor in Lagos without interruption in the operation of the corridor.

“The committee comprises representatives from the Ministry of Transport, NRC, Lagos State Government and Lagos Area Metropolitan Transport Authority.’’

Umar explained that the technical committee, in its report, noted that the Right of Way of the existing narrow gauge rail corridor was

30 metres and could accommodate five tracks of rail lines of which the Federal Government would occupy three rail tracks of the western side of the corridor.

“The three rail tracks consist of two tracks for the proposed railway modernization project and one narrow gauge line for freight and passenger movement.

“Lagos State Government and LAMATA will occupy two standard gauge two tracks on the Eastern side of the corridor for the construction and operation of the standard gauge Lagos State MTTS.’’ Umar said the state government would be responsible for the acquisition of Right of Way and payment of compensation to communities within Lagos area.

He further said that the Lagos State Government would be responsible for the relocation of the NRC infra-

structure from the Eastern side to the Western side of the track.

He said in pursuant of the laudable project, as a leading member of the bidding Consortium, Marina Express Train Services project had proposed a draft agreement between the Ministry of Transport, NRC and the Lagos State Government on the sharing of the equity on the ROW of the existing rail corridor between Iddo and Agbado.

According to him, the proposed draft agreement

Farmers to get 50% discount on electricity bills ABOLAJI ADEBAYO

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layers within the Nigerian agricultural sector will enjoy 50 per cent discounts on their electricity utility bills from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC. The National President, Poultry Association of Nigeria, PAN, Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, who said the association and NERC have agreed on the tariff to be charged farmers, called for immediate implementation of the discounts agreement under Agricultural and Agro-based Industries Tariff for Agriculture, which includes poultry.

Speaking during the 2015 PAN annual summit in Lagos recently, Oduntan said one of the greatest challenges of poultry industry in Nigeria was cost of production, including the high electricity tariff.

Ms. Hilda Nkor, Head Programmes & COO, Society for Corporate Governance of Nigeria, Mr. Mansur Ahmed, Executive Director, DanHe said electricity bill gote Group and Dr. Lucy Surhyel Newman, Managing Director/CEO, FITC at the launch of the Africa Corporate Goverance Programme constitutes a huge part of in Lagos, recently. the poultry production costs.

He said PAN has worked closely with NERC to ensure compliance to this directive give any approval for such records of the Commis- ured this tariff plan on their by the electricity distribuISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN sion showed that the opera- network and has therefore service. tion companies Discos.

A press statement signed tor has no approval of the implemented same” withHe informed that all poultry farmers can approach he Nigerian Commu- by the Director of Public Af- regulatory authority before out the appropriate regulaDisco office nearest to their nications Commission, fairs, Tony Ojobo also barred embarking on the new pro- tory approval. It said the action contravenes section operations for implementaNCC, has placed a ban on MTN from further advertise- motional tariff plan.

The Commission said 108 (1) of the Nigeria Comtion and requests for the disthe ongoing MTN TruTalk+ ment of such service in the count. saying that failure to comply print, electronic media or its that its Compliance Unit munications Act 2003.

“Consequent upon the revealed that the new tariff The PAN president said, with the directives giving in websites.

The Commission in a let- with daily access fee of N5, above, the Commission The secretariat has been the memo halting the promo ter dated May 19, 2015 with allowed subscribers to call thereby directs MTN Nigeable to pass the information will attract sever sanction. to zonal and state chapters NCC asked MTN Nigeria ref No NCC/MTN/18/15 all networks at 11k/sec and ria Communications Ltd to as well as all members of Communications to stop the and signed by the Head, N20k/sec to UK, USA, India, immediately discontinue this Tariff Plan and all asCompliance Monitoring Canada and China. the poultry council. This will implementation of a tariff “The Commission’s in- sociated advertisements reassist to reduce the cost of plan called MTN TruTalk+ and Enforcement, Mr. Efosa production of agricultural or face serious sanctions as Idehen and Head, Legal and vestigations showed that garding same or otherwise products and agro-based inthe regulator said it did not Regulatory Services, Mrs. MTN Nigeria Communica- face regulatory sanctions acYetunde Akinloye, said the tions Ltd has already config- cordingly” it said. dustries.

NCC bans MTN’s TruTalk promo

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has been reviewed, vetted, sanctioned by the Ministry of Justice for execution.

In his remarks, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, said the project had the capacity to generate between 5,000 and 10, 000 direct and indirect jobs respectively.

Aganga said the job creation would be during the construction period, adding that another 3,000 and 5,000 jobs would be created directly and indirectly during operation phase.

He maintained that the annual programme brings together all poultry stakeholders, policy makers, government officials and international organisations to brainstorm on the future of poultry production in Nigeria.

Oduntan said this year’s summit with the theme: “Change: Repositioning the Poultry Industry for Greater Demand” would make a way forward in the activities of Nigerian poultry farmers.

He explained that poultry farmers have faced multiple challenges in the last one year including the outbreak of Avian Influenza (Bird flu), Boko Haram insurgency, devaluation of naira, egg and chicken glut, low price of egg and chicken, unavailability of and high price of soya and heat stress.

The above challenges PAN boss said compounded the existing problems of poultry farmers such as epileptic power supply, bad roads and multiple taxation.

Meanwhile, representative of the National Agency for Foods Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Dr. Buka Alli Usman said the summit came up at the time PAN was working with the agency to achieve value addition to poultry products in Nigeria.

According to him, poultry products are one of the highly consumed products in the country by every household.

This he said informed NAFDAC decision to ensure that the final products that come to the markets meet international standards, which could be exported to boost Nigeria’s foreign exchange.

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Sunday May 24, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

PTAD conducts supplementary verification for police pensioners

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he Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, PTAD, has concluded arrangement to conduct a supplementary verification exercise for all unverified police pensioners who retired on or before June 2007.

According to a statement by PTAD spokesmen, Mr. Steve Ohamafune, the exercise will take place between from Monday, May 25 and June 1 in Abuja. The affected pensioners did not participate in an earlier

nationwide verification exercise concluded in March 2015.

That statement explained that the supplementary exercise is coming on the heels of post verification analysis ,which revealed that 3,326 police pensioners on PTAD’s payroll did not turn up to be captured. This has prompted the removal of the names of the unverified police pensioners from PTAD’s payroll and payment of their pensions sus-

pended as from May 1, 2015 pending the outcome of the supplementary exercise.

“The names of the affected unverified police pensioners numbering 3,326 have been removed from our payroll due to their non-participation in its just concluded nationwide verification exercise and will only be reinstated after they have been duly verified and their biometrics captured,” PTAD said, adding that the supplementary verification exercise is

the last call for the affected pensioners to come out and be captured.

The agency said, “The removal of unverified police pensioners from PTAD’s payroll is to clean up and give credibility to our police pensioners’ database after a nationwide verification, which the affected pensioners did not turn up to be captured,” the statement said, adding further that the removal of the affected names as well as the call for supple-

mentary verification is necessary to ensure pension is paid to genuine pensioners only.

“The question is how long are we supposed to pay this group of people who have not turned up to be captured after repeated calls for them to do so?”

“Between December 2014 and March 2015, PTAD went to all the geopolitical zones to verify and capture all police pensioners. The exercise was conducted in 18 cities across the country

with adequate publicity on national radio, television and print media as well as SMS messages to the targeted pensioners.

“The Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria (ARPON) was equally engaged to help us reach out to all pensioners to come for the verification but post verification analysis however indicates that 3,326 police pensioners on PTAD’s payroll did not turn up for the exercise,” PTAD stated.

Retiree urges civil servants to embrace farming

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L-R: Former Minister of FCT, Engr. Mohammed Abba-Gana; representative of Minister of FCT, Chief Emmanuel Awodu; former National Chairman, PDP, Sen. Barnabas Gemade; author of the book, Mr. Nosike Ogbuenyi and the Executive Officer, Naval Unit, Abuja, Navy Capt. Tanko Yeldin, during the official unveiling of the book, Fragrance of Diversity, in Abuja, recently.

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

NHIS embarks on massive awareness campaign to improve enrollment

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he Bauchi State office of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) had embarked on massive awareness campaign to enlighten the general public on how to easily access the schemes healthcare services.

The Coordinator of the scheme in the state, Alhaji Sani Affa, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Bauchi.

Affa explained that although the scheme took effect about 10 years ago, some Nigerians were yet to benefit from its services due to inadequate information on how to access same.

“One of the major objectives of the scheme is to

ensure that every Nigerian has access to good health care services, within a short distance, at affordable price.

“But unfortunately, the scheme is about 10 years in existence, yet a considerable number of Nigerian population, is yet to access the services due to lack of information, ``he said.

He added that scheme had developed various programmes to cover different segments of the society, in a bid to ensure that every Nigerian, had access to good health care services.

He listed the programmes to include Formal Sector Social Health Insurance Programme, Urban Self-employed Social Health Insurance Pro-

gramme, Rural Community Social Health Insurance Programme and Children Under-Five Social Health Insurance Programme.

Others are Permanently Disabled Persons Social Health Insurance Programme, Prison Inmates Social Health Insurance Programme, Tertiary Institutions and Voluntary Participants Social Health Insurance Programme and Armed Forces, Police and other Uniformed Services, among others.

He noted that many people were still unaware that they were equally qualified as Nigerians, to access the scheme’s service.

Affa said that the awareness campaign had therefore become necessary, to

ensure that all Nigerians, irrespective of social, cultural or educational status, accessed the scheme’s health services.

ivil servants across the country, especially those working in the rural areas, have been advised to embrace farming to augment their monthly income.

Mr. Ogundoro Ajayi, a retiree, gave the advice in an interview he granted the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Omuo, Ekiti East Local Government Area of Ekiti.

Ajayi, who said that the monthly-meagre salaries earned by civil servants could ``hardly be sufficient for their needs’’, added that their involvement in farming would improve their living standards.

“Civil servants should come to terms with the reality because of the dwin-

dling economy, which makes it difficult for some state governments to pay salaries regularly. ``We are blessed with fertile lands all over the country and we should thrive to liberate ourselves from the bondage of hunger and poverty through cultivation of crops at subsistence level,’’ he said.

Ajayi said that many civil servants in Ekiti were currently facing various hardships due to their over-dependent on salaries now that the state government had begun to owe them some months’ salaries.

He advised both civil servants and pensioners to invest in farming, however little, during the current planting season.

VIO seeks collaboration with FRSC, other sister organisations

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he Conference of Directors/Chief Vehicle Inspection Officers of the Federation has called for collaboration among sister organisations in the country The conference, specifically urged the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, to use his exalted office to promote the synergy.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Na-

tional Chairman of the conference, Alhaji Garba Gaya, and made available to newsmen in Kano on Saturday.

The statement stated that the call became necessary because of a statement credited to Oyeyemi that ``VIOs are not permitted to check drivers’ licence and vehicle particulars.

“I want to presume that the corps marshal was not misquoted or misrepresented as is often claimed when issues of such nature

arise,’’ Gaya said.

According to the statement, such remarks are capable of undermining the spirit of synergy and team work expected among sister organisations providing services to the citizens of the country.

Gaya, who is also the Director Road Traffic Department, in Kano State, argued that the statement lacked substance because it was not backed by the existing rules and regulations.

Opinion

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net Sunday May 24, 2015

51

Soyinka: When rebuttal is simply not enough My point exactly!

NICK UWERU

Email:nickuweru@gmail.com 08182042961

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ear WS, I choose to refer to you by your

initials not because I want to address you on equal terms. I choose to do so because of the iconic value I once attached to those two letters.

But of cause it may so happen that many of your overzealous disciples may see it differently. They may brand me as disrespectful as many cultural irredentists are wont to do in this part of the world.

Be that as it may, I am of the opinion that in the light of your recent interventions on the political developments in the country, you have handed me the right to refer to you in this manner and on the matter at hand.

Believe me, WS, you were the last person on my mind for this edition of my opinion piece for this week. I had intended to conclude the article I began last week on the Chibok girls and the army’s escapades in Sambisa forest.

But the dust raised by a hate speech you were alleged to have made at the Harvard University Hutchins Centre for African and African American Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, grabbed my attention.

At the event, you were said to have stated that the Igbos are electorally predictable because “They tend to put their votes where their stomachs take them; suffering as it were, from incurable money-mindedness, as they would stop at nothing in their quest for personal financial gain”.

As you yourself must be aware, this statement, predictably, raised no small frenzy. But a recent statement credited to you ostensibly makes out that you have since distanced yourself from the statement. In fact, Cable, the online newspaper which first broke the controversial quotes alleged to have come from you, has since tendered apology to you and the public.

But you see, WS, this is where the problem lies. When a news medium is forced to somewhat recant just by your mere denial of the statement without any evidential back up that you never uttered those words purported to have come from you leaves me quite uncomfortable.

Even more, Cable’s choice of words in making the retraction suggests that the paper may have been intimidated into making such concession. The online newspaper, after an in-house investigation, they said, came to the conclusion that their story misrepresented your views in the question-and-answer session after the lecture you gave.

Now this is quite confusing.

Could those words of anti-Igbo sentiment have been spoken in a different context without them meaning that Igbos are predictable, electorally and greedy?

The second part of the puzzle is what an online commentator raised on the possible import of Cable’s statement.

Ikidy, as the commentator identifies himself, believes and I so agree with him, that the import of Cable’s statement is that its initial error, as it seems, was “in ascribing the alleged anti-Ndigbo statements as being made during your speech at Harvard itself, rather than during the question-andanswer period.

This now leaves many to wonder what was actually said during that latter period.

Even more bewildering, the Cable’s statements tend to suggest that its error was in misrepresenting your views, WS, and not your words.

Now, you and I know that this cannot

be linguistically possible. Offering a feeble denial of that statement hoping that your clout would sufficiently intimidate all into not interrogating the veracity of your claims at this material time is a miscalculation.

As you must be aware, reaching out for the nearest Igbo man to hurt or dispossess as an outlet for political frustration is as old as Nigeria itself. You were incarcerated for standing up against this.

In the last election, highly respected individuals spoke twisted things against the Igbos, all because of political differences.

We haven’t forgotten the Oba who threatened to drown the Igbos in the Lagoon if they failed to vote for a candidate of his choice in the last governorship elections.

There was also that doctor in US who, reacting to the wave of xenophobia in South Africa, allegedly stated that Igbos, too, in other lands would be murdered and shipped back to the east.

In each of these cases, denials and rebuttals, just like yours, were made. But it did not stop the public from probing whether these men said what they were accused of saying.

Dear WS, I can’t fear you, your matter cannot be treated differently unless we see the video tape of that event that you promised existed.

Come to think of it, can one in all honesty say that you couldn’t have made that anti-Igbo statement given your interventions, body language and activism, in recent times? I ask this question having in mind, your strange change of position on General Mohammadu Buhari, the president elect.

And there is the matter of your sudden inexplicable devotion to Rotimi Amaechi, Rivers State governor. As you well know, these two figures largely defined our politics in the last two years. I shouldn’t be telling you this because, as a far older man with inestimable years of experience, you will probably agree with me that any fight

amongst our political gladiators can only be on how to share the public till. So when you began preaching a strange gospel like you again did at Hutching Centre, Harvard, of a born again democrat Buhari and why he is a lesser evil than President Jonathan, I had cause to wonder if you were not saying this in the interest of Amaechi, with whom you have been involved in a strange entente of late.

Pray, if I may ask, did your relationship with River State government go beyond your playing a key role in the Book Capital project that was sponsored by Amaechi?

Were you decidedly peeved by the aloofness of the presidency in the course of the project as was reported by friends of yours and Amaechi at that material time? Some still maintain that this must be the reason for your grouse against Jonathan and all who appeared to be against Amaechi.

This is why some believe that you, possibly, must have lashed out at the Igbos in Harvard because they voted overwhelmingly for Jonathan during the last presidential election.

Some say that your relationship with Amaechi is far deeper. In fact, Port Harcourt has been fizzing some details I would prefer not to believe about you. Regardless of how selfless you believe your political views has been of late, there are many who would never see it that way and for good reason.

By the way, have you wondered why former president Olusegun Obasanjo is decidedly derisive about you in his last memoir, My Watch? If I recall correctly, OBJ, as we fondly call our ex-president, stated that seeking advice from you on matters of the state is complete waste of time, but you probably do well if asked on how best to hunt aparo, specie of bush fowl. Methinks our former president might have made this call from his experience in dealing with you. Rightly or wrongly, WS, your personage as a revered laureate and your personal interest have often clashed in manner that leaves many confused.

OOU: From zero to hero!

SOYOMBO OPEYEMI

l

abisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye has emerged the best state university in Nigeria, according to the ranking conducted by the Nigerian Universities Commission , NUC. Perhaps this achievement can be better appreciated when viewed against the backdrop of the fact that things were so bad to the extent that OOU was not even considered for ranking by NUC until two years ago when the labour of the current government began to yield fruit.

What was the state of OOU before the current governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, mounted the saddle of leadership? According to the then Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Dr Alex Onabanjo, (Punch, 10/06/2009), “It is in OOU that one finds a situation where examination scripts were not marked and graded for three years. It is there that you find graduates of four years without transcripts not to talk of certificates. Mark boosting is the order of the day. In a particular department, marks of more than 300 out of 500 students that sat for the examination of a particular course were discovered to have been boosted beyond the original marks legitimately earned.

In another department, a lecturer gave the whole score sheets of his course to a female student, who served as go-between in the ‘business’ transaction of mark boosting. So bad was the situation that it is trite knowledge that the eventual marks of many students of OOU are functions of the finan-

cial and sexual power of those concerned. It was also discovered that very many lecturers were involved in the extortion of students through the sales of hand-outs. Discretionary admission (that is, admissions not based on merit but on ‘connections’) became the order of the day, sometimes adding up to 50 per cent of total admissions. The university management could not even keep a tab on the number of its students at any given time. Very many of the revenue-generating centres of the university (such as the Centre for Sandwich Programmes) were taken out of the purview of the Bursar. With that arrangement, financial malpractices became the order of the day. The university continues to pay drivers even when senior staff members entitled to them do receive allowance for drivers as part of their salaries in line with the monetisation policy.

Perhaps the most embarrassing of this pattern of irresponsible employment is the case of the University Guest House, which has only four rooms but with 32 workers! Quite a number of academic staff also benefited from promotions either without requisite number of publications or following due process…”

By May 29, 2011 when Senator Ibikunle Amosun was sworn in as governor, things had degenerated. OOU had virtually collapsed; salaries and allowances running into billions were owed. Results of students could not be found. Fees were paid into private pockets.

The institution could not do convocation for eight consecutive sessions! OOU was on life support.

Revamping the varsity was a daunting task. The problems were overwhelming.

Where exactly do you begin from? The new

government set up a Visitation Panel in order to rescue the institution. The government studied the report and began to implement in phases the recommendations of the panel within the limit of the available resources.

By 2012, the Amosun government had cleared the backlog of convocations by graduating over 40,000 students. Funds were released to offset the arrears of salaries in order to enhance productivity. The governor restored the running cost that had stopped for several years. Staff and students audit was conducted and financial sanitation ensured through an automated payment system, such as the use of POS machine.

The varsity is now fully established at his main campus while hostels are springing up through Public Private Partnership.

Yearly convocation has since then been entrenched.

Amosun gave a directive that appeared to everyone then as a tall order if not an impossibility. Graduating students must receive their certificates on the day of the convocation, as was the case during the educational heyday of Nigeria. Could that be possible in the present-day Nigeria? Usually, it would take between three to ten years before students could obtain their certificates after graduation. Under the watch of Amosun, the impossibility has become a possibility.

The Olabisi Onabanjo University became the first public university in the contemporary Nigeria to issue certificates to students on the day of convocation.

I understand the National Assembly was so impressed with the feat achieved by OOU

in such a short time that it urged other universities in Nigeria to emulate the institution.

The Olabaisi Onabanjo University has emerged from zero to hero. It was ranked 7th best state university and 35th best among Nigerian varsities in the 2013/14. It is today 1st best state varsity and 7th best among all varsities in the country.

An institution once run on whims and caprices is now completely guided by NUC regulations. All its courses are accredited. All salary arrears inherited by the current government have been cleared. Not even contractors are owed. The crash in tuition announced last year by the Amosun government has equally taken effect.

In order to reduce moral corruption (sex-formarks and bribes-for-marks) the university now administers computer-based tests for Year 1 and Year 2 students. It has also ensured conference marking whereby lecturers must conclude marking of scripts within a stipulated time.

There is now certainty in the calendar of OOU. What a transformation!

I congratulate the Governor of many firsts, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, for this outstanding feat. The new Governing Council and management of OOU deserve plaudits for meeting the goals set by the Visitor. The indefatigable Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Saburi Adesanya, should not rest on his oars. The dream of Senator Ibikunle Amosun is not only to make OOU the best in Nigeria but to be in the league of top universities across the world. Despite the current financial challenges across the country, we must all fix our eyes on that goal.

Soyombo writes from Abeokuta via densityshow@yahoo.com

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Politics

Sunday, May 24, 2015

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New Reps deserve 75% of committee chairmanships –Gbillah Hon. Mark Gbillah is the Coordinator of the North-Central Caucus of the House of Representatives. He represents Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency of Benue State. In this interview with TORDUE SALEM, he warns that new members-elect, who are in the majority, may boycott the vote for Speaker, if they are not given up to 75 per cent of the chairmanship of the 92 Committees in the House.

As a fresh member of the House what is your expectations from the leadership of the House of Representatives ?

As a new member and one of the advocates for putting round pegs in round holes, I would suggest that highly experienced and competent people in certain sectors should be considered. We have people who have legislative experiences. We have highly qualified telecommunications experts, ex-commissioners in States who should be considered for Committee Chairmanships, irrespective of whether they are coming in for the first time or not.

As a member of the Forum of new members, we are championing this idea, so that we won’t be going into a blind alley with whoever emerges the Speaker of the House in June. The clamour by new members for independence of the house and equitable participation of new members is based on the clear desire for change by the Nigerian people . This was displayed in their unprecedented election of new members Things must not continue the way they were in the past, this is the era of change, so we must go with the change mantra, by appointing people to head Committees based purely on merit. My experience, qualification and recent award I received probably put me as the most qualified person in the current house for chairmanship of the communication committee.

A contender in the race for Speaker for example, made a promise to give 75 per cent of House Committees’ chairmanship to new members, so it means it is possible.

I don’t know whether he was trying to woo us to his side, but what is important is that he has provided a basis or a topic for debate on the desirability of that or the possibility of that happening. For example, I don’t see why someone like me with my extensive experience in telecoms, should not be made the Chairman of the House Committee on communications. We do not have plans to upset the cart, but if those there before us do not give us what we deserve, we would have to rise up and take a drastic measure.

Whoever wants to be Speaker, should tell us what is in there for us. What stops Nigerians from seeing new members heading Committees? Has someone tried to give new members per cent Committees or 50 per cent of the Committees before? Things have changed, and we must change with them. It is however regrettable that there is a mindset about committees that members should be given. Members should head committees based on merit and their appropriateness for those Committees.

Another thing that needs to be considered is the fact that there should be a debate by the contenders for the race of Speakership. As one of the members of House of Reps new members Forum, our innovative plan is to organise the first ever debate/dialogue between candidates for the position of Speakership.

What qualities do you want in the next

Gbillah

ANOTHER THING THAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED IS THE FACT THAT THERE SHOULD BE A DEBATE BY THE CONTENDERS FOR THE RACE OF SPEAKERSHIP. speaker?

We want to ensure that anybody coming on board as our Speaker must be highly qualified to take the task of leading a modern House of Representatives full of highly energetic and dynamic lawmakers. The era of people just arising from obscurity to assume such positions is over. The interest of our constituents, and not House Rules, will determine who we would vote for. That will determine the final decision for us on the floor. We should not prevent the electorate from asking questions about how things ought to be done. We should not have myopic and skewed ideas about how things should run in a democratic setting. The people aspiring to be Speaker, do not have anything to hide, so they should acquiesce to our request, if we believe Nigerians want a new lease of life. We have brought new ideas to the old members. Because we feel that they do not have better ideas or experiences. They are just relying on the rules. If they had fresh ideas, things would have been better in the country.

Some of us do not want to cause a stir by asking too many questions and making too many demands, but the right thing must be done for the sake of merit and the overall

development of the Country.

So has your forum decided on who to vote for as the Speaker among the aspirants ?

It’s rather a pre-emptive situation. Like you know, our party has not brought out any statement on where it should go. Our President-elect too, appears not to be interested in who should be the Speaker. He wouldn’t want to be entangle in the Speakership tussle. Section 50(1b) of the 1999 Constitution, says principal officers of the House, shall be elected from among the lawmakers, so it is our decision to make. I think that, as long as you are qualified, you can be Speaker, but because of our peculiarities, zoning can be considered. Our party is also aware of the devastation in every area of life in this country, and is also aware of the current contenders, so it will decide accordingly. It is important for our party that has enjoyed the desire of people for change, not to carry on business as usual. They should consider those zones that have not yet benefitted from equity.

The President and Vice President-elect are from specific zones, so the number four man should also be from another zone. So in our permutations, these are the cardinal points that need to be focused on. We should

not borrow a leaf from the iniquity that has occurred in the past. We also need to understand those things and choose leadership on that basis.

So what is your own legislative agenda for your Constituency?

My legislative plan for the 8th Assembly, is to primarily focus on my constituency, while my secondary focus is on the wellbeing of the entire citizens of the Country, the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

But my plans are geared towards my immediate constituency. I would like to concern myself with issues of security, education, telecommunications and Women and Community empowerment. But before that, I want to use this medium to call on the Inspector General of Police to save the people of Agagbe in my constituency from mass killings. As I talk to you, people are being massacred at the moment in Agagbe my area. At the last count, six members of my constituency have been killed, therefore, I am very focused on sponsoring a Bill on the activities of the Fulani herdsmen. It cannot continue like that, because our own community people do not go elsewhere to kill people over land. We appreciate that their nature of livelihood is cattle rearing, but the killings must stop.

And I am also calling on governments to attach more value to lives, by looking for ways to stop what is going on. I wonder why we are not attaching value to human lives in this country. On my part, I will be interested in spearheading a bill to address the issue of farmers and herdsmen clashing over land and also sponsor a Bill for the protection of the girl child and my support and commendation of the President-elect’s wife’s advocacy in this regard.

Other areas will include education, which is very dear to my heart. Several members of my constituency are keen on getting an education, so I am going to follow up to ensure that this policy of government is implemented. I will look at opportunities to do my best in that regard.

But in making efforts to uplift my people, I would want to correct the erroneous impression that members of the House of Representatives get outrageous amounts of money, and therefore must meet every need his constituency.

I would want to also, bring up innovative ideas on infrastructure, development and job creation and harness our rice, beans, fish, yam and cassava potentialities, for improved yields. We will partner companies to provide the infrastructure and engage members of the community in their businesses. In doing this, I will speak to the newly elected governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom on the matter. We can cede land to businesses for the development of infrastructure and the community will work with them to get all they need to start up, and afterwards, they can consider setting up tolls to recoup their money.

Another thing dear to my heart, is Women Education and Empowerment.

I will sponsor a bill to pursue education for the girl-child. I believe in the idea that girls should be at least 17 years before they are married, but I think 18 years, instead of 17 will be better.

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53

wn amid doubts

Jang g

Urging the chairmen not to entertain any fears, the governor-elect said:,”I tried to meet with you before the elections, but it was not possible; freedom of choice is the business in Nigeria, you have the right before the election but that is gone now,whether you choose Mr. A or B after that you are bound to serve the people of Plateau State.

“One thing they said is that I would dissolve the local government councils in Plateau State after our inauguration, but am not dissolving the local government councils in the state,”

maintaining that his administration would be anchored on the rule of law.

Not only that, the governor-elect had earlier allayed the fears of not a few stakeholders in the state during his acceptance speech when he told the people that his administration was determined to establish a state of Plateau where everyone can have equal opportunity and fair treatment.

His words: “The declaration of the 11 April, 2015 gubernatorial election results

by INEC in Plateau State marks a significant milestone in our political and democratic journey as a people. The choice you made clearly captures the desire for change which to my mind will ever remain sacrosanct and sacred.

“Responding to the clarion call to serve our people makes me feel humbled and indeed honoured to accept this mandate. I believe that God who started this journey on the Plateau will surely lead us to the full realisation of our vision and mission as a people.

“We must derive strength in our diversity even as we build the Plateau of our dream. Peace building and even development will be one of our core values. This is a prerequisite to maximise the dividends and fruits of our democratic labour. You laboured hard to elect me and my deputy to lead you. We are indeed highly indebted to you for this honour. Your unquantifiable sacrifices and support will never be taken for granted.

“To INEC, as well as other important stakeholders, including the press, security agencies, Civil Society Organisations and organised labour, we salute your courage

s in office

and dexterity in upholding the tenets of your profession which have contributed significantly to the success and peaceful conduct of this election. I urge my fellow citizens to regard this victory at the polls as our victory.

“As we celebrate, you must do it with decorum, moderation and love both in words and deeds to usher in the dawn of a new era while showing ourselves as people of positive change. This victory is for the whole of Plateau State as there is no victor, no vanquished.

“We cannot afford to lose you in the name of post-election celebrations, bearing in mind that there should be no harassment, intimidation and provocative statements against any person or groups in the course of our celebrations.

“To my fellow contestants who stepped down along the way and to Senator Gyang Pwajok who contested with me, I wish to congratulate you on your mature conduct during and after our campaigns. I extend my warm hands of friendship in building a virile Plateau with the view to bequeath a positive legacy for the younger generations. I accept this responsibility with all humility and equally solicit your cooperation and partnership even as we execute this mandate.”

However, pundits are of the opinion that for the governor-elect and hıs party to achieve their objectives, they must be frank and open about the present situation of things in the state “I think the governor-elect has started well by allaying the fears of stakeholders but he has to do more to change the negative perception Plateau has about the par-

PRESIDENTIAL VILLA, THE CHAPLAIN, PASTORS AND MEMBERS OF THE ASO VILLA CHAPEL WHERE JONATHAN HAD WORSHIPPED DURING HIS TENURE IN OFFICE ORGANISED A THANKSGIVING AND FAREWELL SERVICE FOR

HIM AND THE FIRST LADY, DAME PATIENCE.

Yayi

Dickson (Bayelsa); Mukhtar Yero (Kaduna); Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo); Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun); Martin Elechi (Ebonyi); Tanko AlMakura (Nassarawa); Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); Bala Ngilari (Adamawa) and Aliyu Wam-

mako (Sokoto).

Others were Gabriel Suswam (Benue); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara); Jonah Jang (Plateau); Liyel Imoke (Cross River); Babangida Aliyu (Niger) and Acting Governor of Taraba State Alhaji Sani Abubakar Danladi Governors of Oyo, Kogi, Yobe and Kano states were represented by their deputies.

As part of the activities in preparation for Jonathan’s exit from the Presidential Villa, the Chaplain, Pastors and members of the Aso Villa Chapel where Jonathan had worshipped during his tenure in office organised a thanksgiving and farewell service for him and the First Lady, Dame Patience.

The Cathedral Church of the Advent,

Life Camp, Gwarinpa had earlier organised similar thanksgiving and farewell service for him.

At the Aso Villa Chapel Church Service which held inside the Presidential Villa, Jonathan had appealed to Nigerians to forgive him for any of his actions through which he may have offended them, stressing that nobody is perfect.

“For the eight years that one has been there, definitely one is not perfect. We have done certain things that probably we shouldn’t have done that way, but we didn’t do things deliberately.

“For those who we have offended it was not deliberate, it was circum-

ty. I think they can only succeed to the extent in which the key power brokers in the party like the chieftains, commissioners, special advisers and members of the state assembly agree to change. If the governorelect is talking about rule of law, equity and farness and those powerful groups remain adamant and insist on doing things the old way, I doubt if any success would be recorded,” Mr. Theophılus Danjuma,a Jos-based public commentator said.

He added that the governor-elect and his party need to set the ball rolling immediately by tackling the numerous challenges that are already threatening to shut down the state.

“Even before his swearing-in, the governor-elect appears to have his cup already full judging from the myriad challenges begging for attention in the state.

“The workers in the state are currently on strike over non-payment of salaries.

Pensioners are groaning over unpaid entitlements. There are also challenges of abandoned projects in the state, especially the uncompleted road project that litter the state capital that impede smooth movement and causing untold hardship to the people, among other pressing challenges “The primary objective of a good government is to impact positively on its citizenry through polices and programmes that would have direct bearing on their day-to-day living,” Danjuma insists.

As the clock ticks towards Lalong’s inauguration, these are certainly some of the pressing issues that would form the basis upon which Plateau people would weigh the capacity of the incoming APC administration.

stances of the office. So we also plead that those people should forgive, we think we have done our best” Jonathan said.

A number of events also happened during the last days of Jonathan in office to prove that he was still in charge even though there is a President-elect waiting to be sworn in.

Jonathan had sacked Suleiman Abba as the Inspector General of Police while Dr. Femi Thomas was also sacked as National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Those who also fell under the hammer of Jonathan were Executive Secretary of Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), Mrs. Saratu Altine Umar and Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mallam Habib Abdullahi Since Jonathan is still in power till May 29 when Buhari would take over government, there is still fear that more people may still be relieved of their positions.

When Jonathan leaves office with his cabinet ministers and personal aides, civil servants in the Presidential Villa would still remain at their duty posts, unlike political appointees, they are there to serve any government in power.

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Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Buhari, the surgeon Nigeria needs –Lanre Razaq The widely acclaimed strong man of Epe politics, Alhaji Lanre Razaq, popularly called KLM, was the former gubernatorial candidate of the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party, ANPP in Lagos State. He is also an ardent supporter and a loyalist of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In this interview with journalists, he said that only a person like Muhammadu Buhari can place Nigeria back into the fold of respected nations Ayo Esan was there.

Excerpts: President-elect, Buhari, what is your expectation of his from him ?

Well, one needs to give thanks to Almighty Allah that behind a sincere and strong person, there is always a good result.

Buhari felt seriously he had a duty to be in charge of Nigeria once again, and see how he could provide for it, and we are lucky to be part of the struggle since 2003 when he was the presidential candidate of the All Nigeria’s People Party, ANPP. The most important thing is that when you attempt a goal with a mission and fail, it is expected of a serious person to pursue the struggle like other leaders in the past. You can imagine how many times Abraham Lincoln of America tried to be the President of America before God eventually crowned his efforts. Gen. Buhari tried in 2003 and failed; he tried in 2007, he failed, he also tried in 2011 and failed, but this man never relented, and now, God has crowned his efforts just like Abraham Lincoln who also attempted the White House four times. I can assure you that Buhari will hit hard on the inadequacies and the lacks in Nigeria this time around because he has seen the problems of Nigerians from the view of a patient and determined patriotic citizen. We, the great watchers of this gentleman, are convinced that he would turn Nigerian around. Like he said, he is not a magician because the level of destruction of the nation’s economy is so massive that the situation is better imagined. This must be the reason why the outgoing cabinet is crying that they would be persecuted.

They don’t know that Buhari is not all out to persecute anybody; he is only coming to bring about a better Nigeria, but those who have done wrong to this country are being troubled by their conscience. What I know too well and which I strongly believe is that Gen. Buhari means well for this country, and he is going to spend greater part of his life to serve this country.

But some people before his election believe with his age he may not be able to withstand the rigour of governing the country?

It is not a man that grows old, but the mind, and Buhari is still young at heart. He believes he has a duty and role to play. Don’t forget, he is not the only person doing the job, he knows people of like minds he can assign duties to without losing a sleep for fear of imperfection and delivery of excellence. There are lots of Nigerians ready to be in the service of the President-elect to give Nigeria a better state again. You and other Nigerians should not worry because when the going gets tough, Buhari is one of the few that would keep going.

As a strongman of APC in Lagos and Nigeria by extension, what are those things you want Buhari to handle first?

One key and critical issue is security; he must handle security in every way because it is only when people have a stable state of mind that they can think of development.

After that, there is need for food security, and in a situation where people can’t afford three square meals, a responsible government ought to be able to deliver on

at the helm of political affairs will pick the good ones in the report and throw those seen as inimical to the growth of the people and the country overboard. We shall not take everything for granted, and we shall not throw everything overboard. Be rest assured that Nigeria will get the best of our government.

Now, how do you want to advise PDP as an opposition?

They have not been able to understand their position; they have not been able to realise their position; they have not been able to come to terms with the reality of the day.

They are busy fighting. I will only remind them that they have a role to play; they should come to terms with themselves; they should stop fighting; they should stop crying over spilled milk and embrace themselves and play the role which we have been playing in the last 16 years. Nigerians want to see how far they go about this game.

How would you prepare the minds of Lagosians on the kind of government to expect in Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration?

First of all, those of us from Epe have ceaselessly appreciated the powers that be that gave us the opportunity to govern the state. We also thank Lagosians for deeming it fit to elect our son as governor. We are not unaware of the demands of Lagosians, and we know very well that Ambode is able to deliver dividends of democracy. I can assure you of one thing, maybe after eight years, Lagosians will still beg us to give them another person to take over from Ambode because Ambode will really perform.

We know him in and out; we know his ability and capability to deliver.

Razaq

BUHARI SHOULD LOOK INTO THE ISSUE OF STATE POLICE, IT IS TRUE THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF IT BEING MISUSE, AND WE CANNOT BE AFRAID OF AN INFINITESIMAL PROBLEM AT THE EXPENSE OF THE GENERAL INTEREST OF THE CITIZENRY.

empowerment and ensure that poverty is eradicated in the country. When you eradicate poverty, then you can talk of healthcare delivery involving preventive and curative medicare. Of course, our education is very important because an uneducated nation is a finished nation; we must continue to get Nigeria educated. It is when citizens are educated that they will know their rights and when they know their rights, they know the government to support. There is the issue of bad roads; if the roads are good, there will be communication development.

The issue of energy in Nigeria has become a recurring decimal for too long. We can’t afford to leave Nigeria behind while other countries are moving ahead, even small nations are now conscious of need for fast growth, especially in power generation and distribution, all these I am sure Buhari will face head on, and Nigeria will be a better for

it.

Which area of the nation’s security did you refer to?

I mean security in all ramifications. Buhari should look into the issue of state police, it is true that some people are afraid of it being misuse, and we cannot be afraid of an infinitesimal problem at the expense of the general interest of the citizenry. State police will be more effective because they are closer to the people, and know the itineraries of their communities. Consequently, our crime rate will be reduced, if not eradicated.

Since majority of APC chieftains did not support the convocation of the just held Constitutional Conference, are you not bothered that the report may be thrown overboard?

APC is a listening party; our members

What advice do you have for him?

The issue of advice of our son is not to be read on the pages of newspapers; we have spoken to him and he has assured us of total commitment to the progress of Lagos State, which is why we and those who know him have described him as the “consolidator.” The truth is that if Ambode can’t deliver dividends of democracy now, nobody else can do it; Ambode is the needed material for Lagos State. There is a difference between somebody that drank a large volume of water and somebody that died while swimming. Ambode had been part of the system and he knows how government machineries work for better performance and result; he will apply them well and properly too. Ambode started from the scratch – local government - and got to the peak of his career – permanent secretary and accountant-general of the state. I wonder which area he doesn’t understand; Ambode is not a kind of person that crosses the river on a map; he has been there practically on the bank of the river, and he had been in a canoe with the paddle and has crossed several times, it wouldn’t be too difficult to govern Lagos.

How would you rate former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed in the campaigns that eventually brought Buhari to power?

I am not in a position to discuss these two gentlemen, who are great leaders of this nation. One thing that has manifested itself is the true effect of the game of politics that there is no permanent friend or permanent enemy, but when the interest come together as one, you will see politicians who are patriotic enough, and who want to save the nation, come together and forget personal issues to work together for the progress of the country.

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Interview

Sunday, May 24, 2015

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‘Two-party structure, best for Nigeria’ Strategic Studies. Which means he had gone through training in the highest institute of leadership in this country, that is NIPSS Kuru. Another example is David Mark, he was also a General, a military administrator too before he came along. So also was Ogbeha. Permit me to mention myself. I had been a director of the Central Bank for more than 10 years, Executive Director of the MINT of the country, President of the Alumni Association of NIPSS. I had been a member of the National Constitutional Conference of 1988/89. Look at such experiences, whatever you may say about the maverick in our group, Chief Arthur Nzeribe, he was a very experienced man in various ways before coming on. On the average age, we were above 60 before we got there. People like Professor Olabimtan, Senator Femi Okurounmu, talking about the progressives in our group. A few among the conservatives, very experienced people, such as the late Idris Kuta, a very versatile man, he had a lot of statistical information at his beck and call. Also, Prof. Iya Abubakar.

We had so many experienced people in our set. We had garnered a lot of experience before coming to the Senate and we were very careful not to do anything that might tempt the military to return.

That gave us an edge over the others that came after us.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

for us. This is because we promised we would change all these things. But the APC alone cannot change this without the cooperation of the people. People also have to change. Change from their lethargic way of doing things. A change from saying this belongs to government and it is nobody’s business; you don’t have to take care of it. And we should avoid cheating. When you do not pay the tax on time or you are trying to underpay, all these are corrupt practices.

These are the things everybody should avoid and that is what I mean by saying people should cooperate with government that means well for us and it will be well for all of us.

Immediately the APC won the presidential election, chieftains of PDP started defecting to the party, raising fear of Nigeria turning to a one-party state. Do you nurse such fear too?

That fear is there, it is a possibility but we won’t allow it to happen.

All those who joined us before 28th of March, 2015 went to battle with us, so they are part of us. They should partake in whatever we are doing but even then, it may mean taking a queue because some people have been there longer, walking the progressive line.

Those coming in newly cannot just go for the choicest positions. But some of them come with a lot of credit and experience, such should be assimilated.

But those who came after March 28, I take them to be opportunists and gold diggers. Having known that Buhari has won, they started joining us. In fact I may suspect that some of them may be moles being planted to disrupt the progress of our administration so as to have a way of coming back in four years time which, God forbid, we will not allow to happen.

For donkeys years I had always advocated that we need two-party system. It is two-party structure that has availed those matured democracies like the United Kingdom for over 20 centuries, the United States of America for almost 200 years. Since 1776 they have been practising democracy. The largest democracies like India have been practising two-party system. There may be minor parties but they operate largely on the two-party structure. That is what we should do. In a situation where we have 40 or 50 parties, that is a ruse. It was part of the trick of PDP to remain in power…where they would be a giant and all others will be Lilliputians. That is where the significance of the political genius of Bola Tinubu came to the fore.

He and a few others brought about the idea of ‘why not get all the opposition parties together’. If he had not done that there is no way we would have defeated PDP, and there would have been no way of ending the chaos in our system. So two-party system is the best; we don’t need a one-party state. One-party system leads to dictatorship, abuse of power. It was said that power corrupts and absolute powers corrupts absolute-

Durojaye

THOSE COMING IN NEWLY CANNOT JUST GO FOR THE CHOICEST POSITIONS. BUT SOME OF THEM COME WITH A LOT OF CREDIT AND EXPERIENCE, SUCH SHOULD BE ASSIMILATED.

BUT THOSE WHO CAME AFTER MARCH 28, I TAKE THEM TO BE OPPORTUNISTS AND GOLD DIGGERS. ly. We will never support that.

Let the people learn to wait for their time. We in the progressive camp, right from the time of PSP, SDP, AD, AC, ACN have been in opposition and we never lamented, we stood firm. Let them also try that for a change. We worked until God said our time has come to lay good example of how a modern state should be governed and administered.

You were a senator between 1999 and 2003; would you say the outgoing members of the 7th Senate performed well enough in contributing to the development of the nation. Also, how would you compare them to your set of senators?

This question has been asked by almost all the journalists that interviewed me, and my answer is that I should not be a judge in my own case.

It would amount to holier-than-thou attitude to say our set was the best. It is immodest to say that. I don’t even think it is decent. It is you who observed, especially you members of the fourth es-

tate of the realm, and general observers that should be asked that question.

Our set was the first in this republic, let people compare. But I know certain advantages stood in our favour. One, we were guinea pigs, we experimented with the thing. We had something behind us that others didn’t have and that was the fear that if we didn’t behave very well, the military might come back. After the first four years, eight years, the set of senators were confident that nothing will disturb them and they can do things we couldn’t have done in our set. Apart from that, most of us came with great level of experience and exposure. If you consider our ages, the average age range of senators in my time with the present ones, you would find that we were a bit older, more mature and experienced.

Let me give you some examples, General Ike Nwachukwu was in our set.

Before he came on, he had been a General in the Army, a Governor of Imo State, he had been a Secretary General of the Nigerian Institute of Policy and

Besides winning at the centre, your party has also retained its hold of SouthWest states. Why was this possible?

What you should notice is that the standard of voting of the Yoruba is quite different. They didn’t vote one way as the tendency was in other regions. If you look at other zones, the North-West for example, it tended to be one-sided.

This is our son and we must vote for him. Look at the East, it is on the opposite. The South-West voting is more balanced. It tilted more in favour of the progressives, the APC, but it was not nil for the other party. It shows some measures of maturity and balance.

As to the performance of our governors, the Seven-Up Company says the difference is clear. Compare administration in western Nigeria in the past four years with the preceding four to eight years of the PDP, the difference is very clear. Even Oyo State that looks difficult to reform in terms of road network and so on. If you travel to Ibadan now, there is comparative ease. Look at Ogun State, that is one of the most brilliant administration you could have.

Look at those roads, some people say do we need that now, but come another 50 years those roads will be there. Those overhead bridges are solid and strong that they would outlast this generation.

So the progressive in these areas not just worked for now but they have worked for the future. The same thing in Osun where they introduced the computerised learning and thus made learning easy even for elementary pupils. These are the innovative things they did. I extended it beyond the South-West, to the part of the Old West and that is Edo. Look at the wonders that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has achieved in Edo.

56

Politics

Sunday May 24, 2015

As PDP’s crisis deepens AYO ESAN

T

he People’s Democratic Party, PDP’s crisis, which started immediately it lost the presidential election in March to the All Progressive Congress, APC deepened last Wednesday when its National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu and the Board of Trustee, BoT Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih both resigned from their positions.

Muazu, who has been under bombardment from different quarters within the party finally threw in the towel after he had initially vowed that he would not do so.

Confirming the resignation of Mu’azu, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh said: “I can categorically confirm to you of the receipt of the resignation letter of our national chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Adamu Mu’azu.”

According to Metuh: “For now, because of the interest being generated, I can confirm as the national publicity secretary that the national chairman who has health challenges, stayed down for the primaries, stayed down for the campaigns of the election after which he travelled abroad for treatment.”

Metuh also explained that the PDP chairman took the decision after due consultations with members of his family and other associates.

“Upon his treatment and after consultations with his family, he has decided to resign as national chairman,” Metuh said.

He said the party commended him for the sacrifice that he made during the campaigns and for the love, dedication and commitment he has to his party saying “we wish him well. We will not forget his services.”

Anenih on his part , in a one-page letter he sent to President Jonathan, dated May 20, 2015 and entitled, “Notice of my decision to step down as Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party,” Anenih said his decision would enable President Jonathan to assume the chairmanship of the BoT. He said in the letter: “Your Excellency will recall that in a conversation I had with you a few weeks ago, I had offered to step down from the office of the chairman of our party’s Board of Trustees and proposed to hand over to you as its new chairman in a ceremony that would have taken place on the 23rd of May, 2015.

“I had also repeated this position in our subsequent meetings.

“As a follow up to the above proposal and in view of the current state of affairs in our party, I have decided to formally put my offer in writing to enable you effectively assume the Chairmanship of Board of Trustees or approve a process that will enable any other member of the BoT who is considered competent, to assume the position.

“Kindly accept therefore, this letter as notice of my decision to step down from the position of Chairman of the BoT of our party with effect from today, the 20th of May, 2015.

“I am happy to inform you that, I remain a loyal foundation member of our great party and will continue to pray for the prosperity of Nigeria, our party, and for you and your family Earlier last Monday the Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential

Anenih

Mu’azu

MANY OF US SAW IT COMING. WHEN I REMINDED US THAT THAT PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN HAD AGREED TO RUN FOR ONE TERM, THEY NEARLY CRUCIFIED ME. Campaign Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, called for the sack of the NWC stressing that he had restrained himself from exposing the shady deals by the NWC members during the last campaigns because of the high regard he has for President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said: “We need a new leadership that is open, kind, fair-minded and accommodating and, in order to achieve that, I must add my voice to that of a number of governors and other key stakeholders and leaders in our party, who have said the party’s National Working Committee must go.”

Fighting back, the NWC also raised issues on Fani-Kayode’s membership of the party, just as they argued that his loyalty to the party was doubtful, and it has directed the chairman of the party in Osun (FaniKayode’s home state) to investigate him.

National Secretary of the party, Prof.

Wale Oladipo, who signed the letter, said the NWC at its meeting held on Wednesday reviewed the press war mounted against the NWC by Fani Kayode.

In the letter to the Osun State chapter chairman, Oladipo said, should it be confirmed that Fani-Kayode is a registered and financial member, “proper disciplinary actions should be meted against him through the Ward for engaging in acts contrary to Section 58 (1) (b) of the party’s constitution.

“If not a member, you are to reprimand him as a usurper.”

The NWC also announced the setting up of a seven-man disciplinary committee headed by Chief Micheal Addul with members comprising of Chief Mike Ogiadohme, Senator Teslim Folarin, Dr. Akilu Indabawa, Dr. Hassan Kafayas, Barr Nonye Nwangwu while Barr. Tony Caesar Okeke serves as

Secretary. The Committee will be inaugurated on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at the National Secretariat.”

But Fani-Kayode described the NWC’s directive as a joke, as he said that those remaining ought to also turn in their resignation letters like Mu’azu, rather than trying to witch-hunt him.

He told newsmen: “It is absurd that anybody would question my loyalty to the PDP or try to pull the rug off my feet simply because I have asked them to resign.”

The discordant tunes in the PDP became noticeable shortly after it lost the presidential election and individuals and groups within the party resorted to blame games.

The Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu, kick-started it all when he attributed the defeat of his party in the election to President Goodluck Jonathan’s refusal to honour what he called ‘a single term agreement reached by PDP leaders’.

According to him, “Many of us saw it coming. When I reminded us that that President Goodluck Jonathan had agreed to run for one term, they nearly crucified me.” Continuing, Aliyu said,” ‘I recall when APC came on board, I was the first person to say I was very happy now we have a strong party to put PDP on its toes and many people were asking: ‘are you really a member?’ “Up till the last elections, the allegation against me had always been that I was a supporter of APC, and now, you have seen the results.”

Following this was the called for NWC’s sack by the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Ayodele Fayose and some PDP chieftains from the South West. Fayose even accused Muaz’u of working for the APC in the last presidential election .

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Fayose, had insisted on Mu’azu’s resignation in the best interest of the party to allow for its repositioning.

The governor was miffed that the party could not garner up to five per cent of votes in Bauchi, the chairman’s state.

He also claimed that Muazu had had secret meetings with opposition leaders and that it was evident that he betrayed the party’s presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan.

Supporting Fayose’s call, Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, while commissioning a street named after G7 governors in Dutse, Jigawa State, last week, urged Mu’azu and other members of the party’s National Working Committee to resign their positions.

The battle to unseat Muazu also gained momentum as a coalition of South-South PDP elders demanded for the dissolution of the party’s NWC. They expressed the need for the immediate inauguration of a technical committee to reposition the PDP at the national level. “We have already held consultations with other renowned elder statesmen in the region among who are Chief Tony Anenih and Chief Edwin Clark in reaching the decision,” they said.

Corroborating the claim, outgoing PDP governors had, in a unanimous decision, also canvassed for the sack of the party’s NWC blaming them for the abysmal outing of PDP in the north in particular and the nation in general during the poll.

The accusers incurred the wrath of Chief Olisa Metuh, PDP spokesman, who accused the party of sidelining the party’s headquarters during the campaigns.

He defended the NWC regarding how campaign funds for the party were spent insisting that no money was given to it. He added that the body spent its own internally generated funds to sponsor the candidates of the party. Metuh said the NWC was never given any money for the campaigns and denied embezzling such money.

He, however, admitted that the NWC members received N30m each which he said, included their housing, furniture and other allowances that had not been paid for the past two years.

His words: “We gave the presidential campaign N500m and also supported our governorship candidates in the states with N100m each apart from those running for the state assemblies.”

Reacting to Muazu’s resignation, former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Olabode George, said Mu’azu’s resignation is “in our party’s interest. It is the best thing to have happened to us. It shows that PDP has a strong norm and culture and it will allow us reposition our party.

“We are happier than before because PDP will become stronger to face the challenges ahead. As from May 29, we will become the opposition party at the national level. We need to restrategise.

“He (Mu’azu) has done the honourable thing to do and that is why PDP is different from other parties. Mu’azu is a foundation member of the party, a founding governor.

He has followed the path of honour like President Goodluck Jonathan. I wish him the best of luck”.

Mu’azu, a former governor of Bauchi State replaced Alhaji Bamanga Tukur in February, 2014. He was the party’s 10th chairman in 17 years, beginning from Chief Solomon Lar in 1998.

Until he sent in his resignation letter on Wednesday, he had insisted he would not resign his position, despite the dismal performance of the party at the polls.

r/

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SMExtra 57

STORIES THAT TOUCH YOU Sunday May 24, 2015

Forex trader/columnist, Adeyeri, 47, needs N10m for cancer/spinal cord treatment abroad OBASOLUYI TELEWA

F

or the Adeyeris, this is not the best of time for the family. Their breadwinner, Mr. Adekunle Rufus Adeyeri, an online foreign exchange trader, trainer, analyst and columnist has been down with cancer of the bone marrow since August last year.

The disease has affected his spinal cord and left him bedridden even after expensive procedures abroad.

While speaking with Sunday Mirror, at his residence in Lagos at the weekend, the Ondo State born columnist stated that if not for the grace of God, he could have passed on before now.

Going down memory lane, Adeyeri stated that he is married with children and will be 47 in November this year by the grace of God. According to him, “I attended Sacred Heart Primary School in Akure, then had a brief stint at Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure before I proceeded to Federal Government College Ido Ani to complete my secondary education. From there, I had my university education at University of Lagos from 1985 to 1989. I later obtained my Postgraduate Diploma in Management from Bayero University in Kano. I am from Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo state.

“I have been of immense benefit to Nigerians, I have trained a lot of Nigerians and a lot of them have invested through me. My column in The Punch newspaper for three years has been a source of inspiration to everybody here in Nigeria, even in Diaspora because it is an area where people fear to tread.

Since I picked up the column I have been able to encourage the public and by and large it has been successful.

Narrating his ordeal that has forced him to be bed-ridden now, he disclosed to Sunday Mirror that “prior to time the time the situation changed, some few weeks before the problem started I was having some back pain so I had to go to the General Hospital to see a physiotherapist.”

He said that later “on August 17, 2014, precisely, as I was having my bath at home I just felt a sort of electric shock in me as if something was breaking so I shouted, luckily my wife came to my rescue and I did not fall. Since then the ordeal has began, he told our correspondent.

“I was taken to one hospital in Ipaja-Lagos, because the government hospitals were on strike. I was there for two weeks, later I was diagnosed that I had what is called multiple myeloma. It is a cancer of the bone marrow. So on further analysis of digital x-ray, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), it was discovered that my spinal cord had been affected.”

Adeyeri on his sick bed

According to the doctors’ findings, there was a collapse of the spinal cord. “Since then I could not walk, he said as wriggled uncomfortably on a couch where he laid trying to put himself together when Sunday Mirror visited. “Later I was transferred to Lagos State Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, where I was for some time before I now traveled to India for treatment.”

According to him, the operation was successful as he could actually sit, stand and walk upon his return to Nigeria.

However the story took a different turn soon afterwards.

“Before then the area from my abdomen down to my legs could not function as at the time I was transferred abroad. When I came back it became functional before the whole thing deteriorated again. I now became unstable because the reason is that the cancerous situation has affected what they did to correct the spinal cord injury and for the reason that when I came back I could do my physiotherapy as usual.

“When I came back I could stand for one hour but now those things are not functioning again so my consultant now advised that the best thing is to remove the cancer cells of which is called bone marrow transplant.

That was where I began to solicit for funds because then before the exchange rate hike we estimated that it will cost N10m .Then we were thinking of the cost of operation,cost of correcting the spinal cord, transportation and other logistics and so and so forth together with post operational expenses.

Since then some media organisations, public spirited individuals have been of immense help. This included my friends, family and the alumnus at Ido Ani .They have really being of immense support.

According to the wife, Mrs. Adeyeri, lots of Nigerians have shown massive support to

the family since the problem started.

Though it is not all about money, people send prayers, get well wishes and all that, she stated.

“There are some few individuals that I have not really met in my life that really surprised me, Adeyeri stated.

In India, during the first operation we spent over N3m. That amount covered feeding, transportation, other logistics and operational cost, which was $12,000 as at that time, equivalent of N2m.We had to enter business class and I had to go with someone since I could not walk. The fault can be corrected; he said it’s just the money that is remaining for now to go back to India. On the possibility of his recovery, he said. “I have strong hope that am not going to die as a result of the sickness.

Already I have history and data there.

What also keep me going is that I have not been deserted by my wife, children, friends, family and church members.

Even my students that I train online have been angling to see me. Some have even voluntarily came around to assist. You know everything I do, they have to carry me. I thank all of them. Don’t forget that in this part of our society, it is customary for people even close to oneself to run away and leave that person to his or her own fate, I thank God that it has not happen to me and won’t

happen . Bemoaning his fate, “they have to bath for me .The only thing I do is just my business to trade and train people online because my office is there but I can’t go. People want to see me and that is the problem right now because as a columnist who is known in that area so if they say they are coming for a training session, once I am not coming they have to feel bad that is why they are curious that they would like to see me. What we are doing now is to have online platform despite my current situation where we train people. You can be anywhere in the world and set up my platform. You will be hearing me like this, even if we want to see ourselves like this, what you need to do is to put on your web cap and we will be seeing face to face. So that’s how I have been surviving and still hope to raise more money for treatment abroad because I know I won’t die and still hope to touch many more lives through my online activities.

But most of the support have come from people because at times I could be in pains and unable to do anything with my hands and mind. So it is not always easy for now”, he lamented.

While bemoaning the decay in the health sector that has forced Nigerians into seek medical attention overseas, he said, “My advice to the incoming government is to take the issue of health care seriously more than ever before.

Especially the incoming president, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari so that Nigerians will not be rushing abroad for medical treatment that has claimed a lot of lives in the process .According to him, a vibrant health sector will enhance the country’s image and safe us a lot of foreign exchange.

“I think I was a bit grown up in 1983 when Gen. Buhari took over as head of state. In the broadcast, the statement the late Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon read then was that “our hospitals have been turned to mere consulting clinics”. Now it is even worse. If the General still has that zeal, enthusiasm and statement, he should act accordingly.

“Some of my classmates, professors of medicine that contacted me from the United States of America and have been of immense assistance since my situation changed ,some of them that came back to Nigeria said there is no equipment for them to work with . The government has not been able to provide for them equipment to work with.

Yet, we have the money; we have gotten everything I don’t know why things are going wrong this way. Look at our teaching hospitals, all over the world you see Nigerians in Europe, America, excelling in their various fields, all these they can handle. I can say we are so callous that we run abroad for medical treatment. You can imagine what time it will take to save your life before getting to your supposed destination abroad. We have the personnel we have trained. Make the hospitals vibrant; put the right people and equipment there. Now look at what we are going to spend on tickets, flight to India and all that. Look at the money we are taking to India. So we really implore the government to look into our health sector for efficiency. In fact a healthy nation is a wealthy nation, if you are not healthy, if the citizenry is not being taking care of what benefit is the government to the people? he queried.

58

North NEWS

Sunday May 24, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Shema inaugurates N7.3bn Katsina Housing Estate in FCT

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ov. Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State on Saturday inaugurated 151 housing units constructed by his administration at the cost of over N7.3 billion at Kafe District of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

Inaugurating the project, comprising 71 units of four-bedroom duplexes, 28 units of four-bedroom terraces and 52 units of twobedroom flats, the governor said that the project was executed without external or internal borrowing.

“These houses are built solely with Katsina State money for the benefit of Katsina State indigenes living in Abuja so that they can have relief on high cost of accommodation in FCT.

“There are 151 houses built for Katsina indigenes in Abuja at subsidised rate.

“It comprises 71 units of four-bedroom duplexes, 28 units of four-bedroom terrace, and 52 units of twobedroom flats at a total sum of N7,292,583,652.39.

“This contract is a home grown project because the contractors and the consultants are all indigenes of Katsina State.

“Katsina State Government, under my leadership, has constructed many houses for the people of Katsina State in Katsina and now in FCT. “This is in fulfillment of my promise in 2007 that welfare of Katsina indigenes will always be the

priority of my administration.”

Shema said that the houses would be sold to indigenes of Katsina at subsidised rates, adding that the objective was to reduce the housing deficit and to ameliorate the difficulties in accessing affordable accommodation in the FCT. In his remarks, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Musa Sada, who was the chairman of the occasion, com-

mended the state government for its foresight in constructing the houses in Abuja, adding that the Katsina Estate is the biggest estate owned by any state government in FCT. “This estate is a testimony on how nationalistic Katsina people are, as the government built this type of estate outside its domain for the people of the state.

“This is also a fulfillment of the dream of late President Umaru Yar’adua, who

started the project while he was governor of the state.”

On his part, Mallam Abdul-Azeez Kaita, Commissioner for Works and Housing in the state, said that the Shema administration had constructed over 2,000 houses in the last eight years.

Kaita said that beneficiaries of the houses in Abuja would pay back within 15 years.

“Interested indigenes, who are civil servants, are

to pay 25 per cent initial deposit and pay back the balance within 15 years.

“Indigenes, who are selfemployed, will pay 25 per cent initial deposit and pay up within 1 year,’’ he said.

According to the commissioner, a unit of the houses in Abuja goes for N34 million, N24 million and N16 million for the four-bedroom duplex, fourbedroom terrace and twobed room apartments, respectively.

Bauchi Emir laments increase in immoral activities

T

he Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu, has expressed concern over the increase in immoral activities in Bauchi.

In a message to the people of the state, delivered through various Imams of Friday Congregational Prayers, the Royal Father said reports reaching him indicated that some people, mostly youth, had taken to unwholesome practices.

He said such practices as rape, allegations of witchcraft, fornication and adultery, among others, had become common, to the extent of creating disharmony among households.

“Indeed, such unwholesome practices might be partly responsible for some of the calamities befalling our society, such as the outbreak of diseases and delay in commencement of the rainy season.

“I am therefore calling on parents to keep watch over their children and give them the necessary moral training.

“We should listen to our leaders, clean graveyards and intensify prayers to God, to forgive us our sins and bless us with abundant rainfall,” said the Emir.

Highlighting the issues raised after reading out the message shortly after the Friday Congregational Prayers, the Imam of Sultan Abubakar Rd mosque at Fadaman Mada area in Bauchi, Sheikh Ibrahim Mangu, said the level of morale decadence, called for con-

cern.

He lamented that most parents were not living up to their responsibilities in the moral up- bringing of their children, and the society had been paying for the lapses.

He therefore called on parents to heed to the clarion call of the Emir, for the society to progress.

APC Senatorial candidate for Plateau North, Mrs. Eunice Sambo (left) and her principal witness, Mr. Santos Larab, at the Election Petition Tribunal, challenging the election of her PDP counterpart, Governor Jonah Jang, in Jos at the weekend.

lists reasons for nation’s woes Buhari: There’s hope for Nigerians, says IDA PIslamic cleric D

WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

T

he President-General of Igbo Delegates Assembly, IDA, in the 19 Northern State and FCT, Chief Damian Sunday Inyamah, has said that the emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari as President -elect shows that there is still hope for Nigerians.

Chief Inyamah, who was speaking in a chat with newsmen yesterday shortly after delegates conference meeting which was held in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, stated that God has indeed intervened in Nigeria’s ffairs.

He explained that the delegates are following up on their decision to vote enmasse for Buharis in the March elections contrary to the wishes their people in South East.

He pointed out that this move was borne out of conviction for a man who is very candid and passionate about moving the nation forward.

“The followers of Nige-

ria movement, the followers of Nigeria politics, the followers of events of our great nation will agree with me that PDP government had gone stand still.

We need a new blood and new ideas in this country. For the benefit of our children grandchildren there must be a change.

“The PDP was so powerful and had all that it takes, but God intervened in the affairs of Nigeria through PDP itself. PDP fought PDP. By the time PDP was fighting PDP those that are intelligent in this country knew that God’s time has come”, he stressed.

The President-General noted that there must be a shift, lamenting that Nigeria is rich in both human and mineral resources in the world and was still suffering these much.

He however commended the outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat, adding that for the singular act he etched his name in gold.

Chief Iyamah therefore urge Igbo to united under one umbrella to chart a common agenda for Igbo race, saying in the North the Igbos are united, but in other parts there are many organisations which is not too good for agenda setting.

RISCILLA MINNA

ENNIS

A

n Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ishaq Adewale has traced the socioeconomic woes currently confronting the nation to the abandonment of the commandments of God. Sheikh Adewale, who is the founder of Nura Suleiman Jaffariya Fi Toriqat Ti-

28-year-old man dies clearing old well in Kano

A

28-year-old man, Yusuf Adamu, has lost his life while clearing an old well at Rangaza of Ungoggo Local Government Area of Kano State.

The Director of the State Fire Service, Alhaji Balarabe Kabara, disclosed this when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Saturday.

He said the incident happened at about 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 19, while the deceased was clearing the old well and died as a result of suffocation.

“His colleague, one Ibrahim Yahaya, who was working with him outside, sensed danger when he could no lon-

ger hear from him.

“So, he decided to enter the well to rescue Yusuf who was already trapped inside.

“He too was suffocated due to the absence of oxygen under the well,’’ Kabara said.

He said a Good Samaritan heard the screaming of Yahaya from the well and put a call to Fire Service.

Kabara said that on receipt of the distress call the service dispatched fire ambulance with crew to the scene of the incident to rescue the victims.

He said Yusuf was rescued unconscious while Ibrahim was rescued alive and were both rushed to the hospital where Yusuf later died.

janiyya, disclosed this recently at the 2015 Maolud Nabbiy celebration of the group in Minna.

He noted that the quest for material things, among other issues have made a lot of people to forsake the ways of Allah and enter into covenant with Satan.

According to him, “No nation or society can achieve the desired progress when the divine ways of Allah are jettison for mundane cravings and lust for material things.”

Adewale also stressed the need for Muslims to spend quality time in the worship of Allah, saying, “the more the frequent and length of time we spend in praising God, the purer one becomes in the face of God”.

Being a good Muslim goes beyond observance of the five daily prayers for you to receive light, you have to be spiritually qualified to deliver others from their problems”, he added.

Also, speaking, the spiritual leader of Dairat Jaffariya Fi Tariqat Tijaniyyah world-wide, Maolana Sheikh Suleiman Yusuf, who was the special guest at the celebration, said the importance of seclusion as a great spiritual virtue to seek the favour of Allah.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South

Sunday May 24, 2015

59

Mysterious fire destroys multimillion naira property in Osun BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

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roperty worth millions of naira have been lost to a mysterious fire which razed a residential building in Aiyetoro Area in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

The fire, which started

around mid-day and lasted almost two hours, it was learnt, caught residents of the building unawares until a passerby, who noticed it, alerted them.

The fire incident, which affected four rooms in a building, was put out by volunteers and

residents, after efforts to get the service of men of fire service in Osogbo proved abortive.

The victim of the fire, Mrs. Maryam AbdulRasheed, said to have recently relocated from the North to Osogbo due to activities of the Boko-Haram insurgents, said she

lost all what she brought to the state in the inferno.

While appealing to government and other well- meaning Nigerians to come to her aid, Mrs AbdulRasheed said it was unfortunate that despite several calls put through to the fire service, their officials did

not show up.

Some angry sympathisers who spoke with newsmen at the scene called for the restructuring of the nation’s fire service.

They claimed, when contacted, that fire service officials said no vehicle was available and

also complained of lack of fuel and water.

On what might have caused the fire, some residents of the area, who spoke with newsmen, said it could not be ascertained, but all pleaded for financial assistance to the victim.

Akpabio swears in new acting CJ, perm secs

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overnor Godswill Akpabio has charged the newly sworn-in acting Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State to use his office to ensure the integrity of the judiciary.

The governor gave the charge at the weekend after the swearing-in ceremony of the acting chief judge, Hon. Justice Stephen Okon, and seven permanent secretaries at the Governor’s Office, Uyo. “We urge you to ensure the integrity of the Judiciary. Let the Judiciary not only espouse the idea that justice delayed is justice denied, let them walk the talk so that the public will put more trust in the Judiciary.

“Over the years, the executive arm of government had enjoyed a most cordial relationship with the Judiciary and the Legislature. This cordial relationship set the tone for the peace, which we have in this state, and which created the conducive environment for the uncommon transformation of our dear state.

“In a matter of days, a new administration will take over the reins of government in our state. We expect that the Judiciary under your Lordship, Justice Stephen Okon, will extend the same cordiality to the new administration. We expect the Judiciary to rise to the challenges of the transition, and solve thorny legal issues and policy questions, which may be generated by some persons who may wish to take undue advantage of the transition process,” Akpabio said.

Congratulating him, the governor remarked, “As we mark the beginning of Your

Lordship Justice, Stephen Okon’s tenure as the Chief Judge of our state, we are hopeful that your tenure will be defined by standards of excellence, and the same devotion, sense of honour and integrity that stood you out as an icon in the bench. Your faith in the highest ideals of our justice system should chart a refreshing course for the Judiciary and further bolster public confidence in our justice system.

We believe that you are uniquely positioned, superbly qualified and sufficiently grounded in law to take Akwa Ibom Judiciary to the next level.

Akpabio then paid tributes to the immediate past Chief Judge of the state, Justice Idongesit Ntem-Isua, who he said is a respected and dedicated public servant and that her passion for the law and determination to serve the cause of justice, were never in doubt.

The governor, who also applauded the services she rendered to the state in the course of her meritorious career, noted with delight the infrastructure she developed along the way, stressing that she got infected with the bug of the uncommon transformation, ‘’a bug we wish the new acting Chief Judge will be infected with early in his tenure’’, and wishing the immediate past Chief Judge well in her endeavours.

The permanent secretaries sworn in were Dr. Monday Akpan, Pst. Bassey Umoh, Mrs. Emette Imuk, Dr. Helen Ukpabio, Mrs. Mercy Isang, Mr. Nkopuruk Ekaiko and Mr. Nse Edem.

Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio (left) congratulating the new Acting Chief Judge of, Justice Stephen Okon, after his swearing-in in Uyo.

Osun LG staff has history of suicide attempt says family doctor BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

F

ollowing deliberate drinking of Gramazone, a poisonous herbicide, by Olufemi Owolabi, a staff of Obokun local council of Osun recently, in an attempt to commit suicide, his physician, Dr. Isiaq Opakunle, yesterday claimed he has history of suicide attempts.

The initial report from a close family and office sources had suggested that Owolabi, a sanita-

Controversy trails Ebonyi APC rally to receive defectors ALIUNA GODWIN ABAKALIKI

C

ontroversy at the weekend trailed the Ebonyi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress’s, APC, rally staged to receive defectors from other political parties. This includes the governorship candidate of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Sen. Anthony Agbo and members of the state House Assembly whose seat waere declared vacant recently.

The police, among other security agencies, had in the early hours of yesterday barred APC supporters from using the state stadium for the rally to avert the eruption of crisis.

It was gathered that APC is

divided in factions of Sen. Julius Ucha, who contested for governorship under its platform and Dr Ogbonnaya Onu faction who threatened to hijack the soul of the party in the state.

Sunday Mirror gathered that the factional rally of Onu received some aggrieved members of other political parties, including former commissioners, council chairmen and candidates of various political parties who contested and failed in the just-concluded general election.

Others who were received by APC include the caretaker council chairmen of Onicha LGA, Chinyere Nwanioke, Chinyere Elom (Ohaukwu) Egwu Chima (Afikpo south), Mr Chaka Nweze (Ohaozara), Anthony Ekoh (Afikpo North), former

youth leader of PDP, Chinedu Ogah, some members of Ebonyi State House of Assembly whose seats were declared vacant; Mrs Lillian Igwe representing Ivo constituency and Mr Oliva Nwachukwu, among others.

Also received was Engr Paul Okorie, a former guber candidate of PDP, just as Ucha factional group shunned the rally and petitioned Buhari to resolve the alleged faction in the state.

Addressing the defectors, Dr. Onu urged them to go and register in their wards and local governments to enable them participate fully in the activities of the party, stressing that APC is now in control of 22 states of the federation and is no more in opposition.

tion officer with Obokun council, attempted suicide because he could not meet the needs of his family.

But while reacting to the report that Owolabi attempted to commit suicide because of unpaid salaries, Opakunle said his case was far from issue of unpaid salaries as reported.

He said his examinations of Owolabi and enquiries from his family members, indicated that he had, while living in the

North, once attempted suicide.

Opakunle said: “He looked unkempt, depressed, and haggard. He was vomiting and weak.

On enquiries, I was told that he drank herbicide. I asked the patient reason for committing suicide, but he refused to answer.

“But his mother said that he once attempted suicide while living in the North. It is most likely once a man attempts suicide, he may attempt it

again.”

Speaking in similar vein, Owolabi’s sister, Mrs. Yemisi Oladipupo, who is also a staff of the Obokun local council where Owolabi works, said: “The incident cannot be connected to unpaid salaries at all. Though, our salaries have not been paid up to date, people have started receiving alert for February salary now. So, why would he kill himself because of salary?

LG polls: Opobo indigenes eager to vote –Peterside

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ll Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate for Rivers, Dr Dakuku Peterside, yesterday said that Opobo indigenes were eager to vote in the local government elections in the state.

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, is conducting elections in 22 of the 23 local government areas of the state.

Peterside told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, at Opobo town, in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area that the people had shown great enthusiasm to cast their ballot to

elect council officials.

He said he had been accredited at Ward 3, Unit 6, Opobo/ Nkoro Local Government and that the people now had opportunity to cast their votes.

“The people are enthusiastic to cast their ballot. They now have opportunity to cast their votes and they are optimistic their votes will count.

This is something they have been denied in the recent past,’’ he said.

Peterside noted that chairmanship candidates of various parties in Opobo were coming out strongly and trying to convince people to vote for them.

“For the councillors, it has

been very competitive and it is a good development.

“It shows that democracy is taking root and the people take democracy very seriously.

“They are beginning to see the fruits of democracy, and to see that people’s power can change things.

“A great example for them is the emergence of Buhari after three attempts. This gives them hope that anybody can succeed at any point if only you can convince people on the need for change,’’ he said.

Peterside added that he was optimistic that the election would produce leaders for the third tier of government for the state.

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KEEPING YOU ABREAST OF SPORTING NEWS

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mourinho wants to remain in England after Chelsea

MAY 24, 2015

P. 63

NPFL:

s k e e w e e ‘Thr s i k a e r b d e forc ’ e u g a e l e h killing t In 2012, the then Nigeria Football Federation Chairman, Aminu Maigairi, inaugurated the League Management Committee. One of the reasons given for setting up the LMC was for it to settle the then lingering issues; especially the issue of players’ welfare before the 2013 season. Three years on, Shehu Dikko the chairman of LMC sent the 2015/2016 League of forced break for the same reasons. In this report, PIUS ANAKALI analyses the reasons given and its implication on the growth of the game.

O

n Tuesday, the League Management Committee announced a three-week break for the 2015/16 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) starting shortly after Match Day 10 games.

In the circular which was widely publicised, the LMC said the break period would be used amongst other things to carry out spot checks on Clubs’ compliance with the NFF Clubs Certification Regulations and also allow the clubs Managers some space to engage meaningfully with the new political leadership in their respective states.

While no one queries the necessity for things to be done properly, but the timing of the certification is what worries many, especially when other leagues are rounding their seasons.

Today, the English Premier League, which Nigeria modeled its league after rounded up the 2015/2016 season; at about the same time the NPFL which is just ten weeks old has to go on forced break.

As sound as the LMC argument might be, former Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju thinks it’s the wrong way to

go. Speaking in a chat with Mirror Sports on Friday, the former 3sc manager said, postponing the league midway into the season kill the player’s rhythm and lower the standard of competition.

“It is surprising but those who took the decision know better. But I am of the opinion that doing so is not the right thing to do”. “The clubs”, Adepoju continued, “buy players; do pre-season trainings before the league start. The first two-three weeks is for adjustment and thereafter they pick up rhythm. And so when someone decides to stop the league, because of the reasons given, I think it is wrong and more political, it kills the player’s spirit and stops the rhythm”, he explained further.

He wondered why the LMC didn’t insist on clubs meeting its terms of agreement with the clubs before the commencement of the season, explaining further that, if the LMC had insisted on the clubs meeting its own part of the deal, by now, the League would have be in a much better shape.

Going by the conditions highlighted in the LMC guidelines, any club wishing to take part in the league in a particular year must meet certain criteria. These criteria

include: (a) Sporting Criteria; (b) Infrastructure Criteria; (c) Personnel & Administrative Criteria; (d) Legal Criteria; (e) Financial Criteria; and (f) Business, Commercial and Promotion Criteria.

The criteria are graded into categories ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’, each representing a level of compliance required from clubs (i.e. a club which fails to fulfill a Grade ‘A’ requirement will not be granted a licence to participate in competition; a club which fails to fulfill a Grade ‘B’ requirement will be sanctioned but may still be granted licence, while a club which fails to fulfill a Grade ‘C’ requirement will not be sanctioned or denied licence because ‘C’ requirements simply represent desirable best practices). To put it in perspective, it is a Grade ‘A’ requirement under the Financial Criteria that NPFL clubs must show that their employees (including players) are not owed entitlements, in order to be eligible to participate in the NPFL. This implies that at the start of a new season, any club that owes player salaries will be ineligible to participate in the league.

Over the years, the Nigerian Profes-

sional Football League (NPFL) has improved in standard and professionalism, consequently attracting more attention in recent times. However, while the league strives to be better and attract a share of followership from the likes of the English Premier League, it is still beleaguered by some challenges, one of which is the non-payment of players’ salaries and entitlements by clubs as and when due.

Over the last couple of seasons, there have been incidents of players being owed salary and entitlement arrears, in some cases leading to strike actions or protests.

Clubs like Heartland FC and Enugu Rangers have been in the news on account of this and even the two privately owned clubs – Nembe City and Giwa FC are not left out of the saga.

While dealing with the issue once and for all, will be ideal, stopping the league midway will only lower the standard and possible produce an unworthy champion.

An evidence of the lowering standard is best explained by the clubs inability to contend for honours at the continental level.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Sunday May 24, 2015

Yakmut frowns at state of National Stadium IFEANYI EDUZOR

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irector General of National Sports Commission, Mallam Alhassan Yakmut has expressed concern at the poor state of facilities at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, describing it as pathetic and unbelievable even as he assured that he will use his good offices to ensure that the stadium gets a face lift.

He stated this Friday during his maiden official visit to the stadium since the confirmation of his appointment as Director General less than two weeks ago.

Speaking to journalists after the inspection, he decried the poor state of the swimming pool, boxing gym, weightlifting gym, tartan tracks at the main bowl and the conversion of every available space to shops; saying that something urgent need to be done to give the stadium a face lift.

“I am particularly not happy

Yakmut

with what I saw at the stadium because all the facilities are in poor state. The Olympic size swimming pool which was used for the 1973 All Africa Games which Nigeria hosted and later served as training pool for secondary schools in the 80’s is

Etisalat rewards ‘GEM’ customers IFEANYI EDUZOR

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ight lucky Etisalat ‘GEM’ customers were rewarded with an allexpense-paid trip to Barcelona to watch this year’s La-Liga final match between FC Barcelona and Deportivo De La Coruna which took place yesterday at the Nou Camp. They were selected as the highest spending customers on the Etisalat network for 2014.

The top customers are Iroche Chuks, Onuegbu Larry, Chinelo Okeke, Ibeh Silvester, Aikhionbare Samuel, Tumsah Ibrahim, Okonjo Chichi and Okarevu Davies.

Speaking at the meet- and -greet session organized by the telecoms company for the winners, Director, Consumer Segment Etisalat Nigeria, Oluwole Rawa said the company has always rewarded loyalty among its customers.

now a shadow of itself.

“Apart from this, the boxing gym, weightlifting gym and the tartan track at the main bowl are such in a bad shape that no athlete training in such facilities can dream of winning a medal for the country at international competitions.

Yakmut who did not hide his feelings described the grass at the main bowl of the stadium as only fit for grassroots football and wondered why such an edifice was allowed to be in such a bad state with a promise that he will table the issue before the Minister for necessary action.

The Director General who was accompanied by the Liaison officer of the Lagos Office, Mrs. Tayo Oreweme and the Stadium Manager charged the duo to send a comprehensive report on the state of the stadium to his office for necessary action just as he promised that in the next 21 days, a generating set will be installed at the weightlifting gym to help in illuminating the gym.

Rawa added, “At Etisalat, our customers are at the heart of our business and we are rewarding them for their loyalty and also connecting them with their passion. The game of football has a mass followership across the world, just like Etisalat, and as the Nigerian telecoms partner of FC Barcelona, we want our customers to experience the La-Liga

final match in a memorable way.”

One of the winners, Mr. Davies Okarevu expressed joy at the opportunity to watch the La-Liga final match, noting that, “I am truly excited and this is a dream come true because I have always dreamt of watching live, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar da-Silva Santos Jnr. and their teammates.

Winners of Etisalat ‘GEM’ promo in a group photograph

NFF chief wants F/Eagles to win World Cup

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he general secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Mohammed Sanusi has charged the Flying Eagles to live up to expectations by lifting the U20 World Cup in New Zealand.

The NFF chief watched the Flying Eagles last training in Nurnberg, Germany, on Saturday morning and after which he addressed the team.

“We pray that God will uplift you. You were the first team to give me a trophy when I assumed office as general secretary, that was the African Youth Championship. It was three days after I got into office,” the general secretary said.

“I now pray you give me the World Cup. “Nothing is impossible with prayers and determination. Hard

work combined with prayers will make the impossible possible.”

He again pledged the total support of the NFF to the team.

“You will not lack anything in New Zealand and I believe you will deliver,” he assured.

The general secretary also commended the coaches and backroom staff for doing well thus far, saying the sky will only be their stepping stone.

Taiwo Awoniyi responded to the heart-warming remarks of the NFF chieftain on behalf of the team.

“We thank you for this visit. We are very encouraged by this and we will justify the confidence you have in this team,” Awoniyi promised.

“The mentality of this team right from the U17s is that we play all our matches like a cup final and

win them.

“We know the expectations back in Nigeria are that we win the World Cup. This has not put us under any unnecessary pressure, but rather it has boosted our confidence so that we will return to Nigeria as world champion.

Manu

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Knockout IFEANYI Eduzor with

08055829770 ifeduz24@yahoo.com

Kayode set for Kisner challenge

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nited States of America based Nigerian cruiserweight boxer, Lateef ‘Power’ Kayode (20-0-0,16KOs) will on Friday, May 29 continue his quest for a world title when he face American Nick “Slick” Kisner (14-1-1, 5KOs) at the W.C. Handy Pavilion, Memphis, Tennessee, USA 32-year-old Kayode Known for his immense strength and punching power has been a top contender at 200 lbs for many years and is the current WBO-NABO and NABF Cruiserweight Champion. He is trained by four-time Trainer

of the Year Freddie Roach.

Kayode has also held the WBA-NABA Cruiserweight Championship. In 2013, Kayode fought to a draw with multiple world champion Antonio Tarver.

A naturally fluid boxer with superb skills, 24-year-old Nick Kisner hails from Baltimore, Maryland. As an amateur, and among countless distinctions, Kisner was a three-time National Silver Gloves Champion and Ringside World Champion. He holds the distinction of being the youngest boxer in American history (17) to ever win a Men’s National Title in the Heavyweight Division.

Lateef Kayode (L) exchanging blows with Felix Cora Jr. during their cruiserweight title fight.

AAG: Boxers camp to open in June

N

ational boxing coach, Tony Konyegwachi says the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) will in June call to camp boxers who will represent the country at the 11th All African Games.

Konyegwachi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the camp would be opened to all boxers nominated by state boxing associations based on their current form just as he stated that only good boxers would be selected to represent the country at the AAG.

The AAG is scheduled to hold in Congo Brazzaville from Sept. 4 to Sept. 19. ``We don’t want any disruption to our programme and that is why we have to wait for the swearing-in of the incoming government before calling boxers to camp. ``Selection of the boxers will be based on individual boxers’ current form; only the best will be selected to represent the country,’’ he said.

Konyegwachi advised boxers to study the current rules and regulations of the Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA) to help

I’ve not signed any deal with Klitschko, says Fury

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BO heavyweight mandatory challenger Tyson Fury (24-0, 18 KOs) has taken to ‘Twitter’ to answer the barrage of questions he has received with regards to his upcoming fight with World heavyweight champion, Wladimir Klitschko (64-3, 53 KOs) Klitschko after defeating American Bryant Jennings in New York last month signaled his intention to fulfill his mandatory obligations by fighting Fury.

With speculation and

rumours about the fight growing more intense, Fury wrote on his twitter that he has not signed any contract with the champion.

“Just to let you all know that nothing has been signed between me and Klitschko. I’m hoping the fight will come up in September, but best man to ask is Frank Warren.”

Warren, who is representing Fury’s interests alongside promoter Mick Hennessey has been in negotiation with the Klitschko team and HBO executives with the intention of making the fight a reality.

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Sport

Sunday May 24, 2015

I Kramer: I have no memory of Brazil 2014 Final FIFA.com: At the FIFA Interactive World Cup, the world champion is decided on a games console. How w much do you enjoy playing computer games?

Christoph Kramer: I really, really like playing,, yes. I play a lot of PlayStation, especially FIFA. And I once beat the German champion on Gamescom.

Do you play as yourself?

Most of the time I play with Ultimate Team and I use a Premier League side. But in terms of the e team’s chemistry, I don’t really fit in.

Have you seen your profile? Are you happy with the rating you have?

It could be better. But it could be worse too.

How did it feel when you saw yourself on the game for the first time?

It was back in 2012 and it was a really great feel-ing. Before then I’d always played with all these e world-class players, and suddenly I was part of itt too.

Did you think about actually participating in qualifying for the FIWC? I didn’t no, but I do play almost every day.

I didn’t even expect to go to the World Cup, lett alone start a game.

What do you make of the FIWC? It’s obviously great for those people that don’tt play football to be able to take part in a World Cup p here on a games console. At the end of the day the e players here are fans and people who are crazy y about football. It’s a great opportunity for them.

How much do you still think about the World Cup in Brazil last summer?

When I got back from my holidays, everyday life e caught up with me a little bit faster than I wanted,, and it’s almost like it was longer than just a yearr ago, give or take. I had new challenges in front of me e straight away, although you see reminders of it from m time to time, in the media for example.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

What aspiring footballer has not dreamed of playing at a FIFA World Cup and then going on to win the trophy? Only a few people have managed it in real life, but thanks to PlayStation and the EA FIFA footba football games, the opportunity is there for everyone to make that dream come true, at least in a virtual sense.

Christoph Kramer is one of the select few that belon belong in the former category, having won football’s top priz prize at Brazil 2014. Nevertheless, he is also an avid game gamer and extremely good at the simulated version of his profession. The 25-year-old was given the honour of drawing the balls for the official draw for th the FIFA Interactive World Cup in Munich last weekend, before he then took o on the defending champion August Rosenmeier, holding the Dane to a draw in an end-to-end encounter.

Before the game game, Borussia chenglamidfield time com

Mondbach’s dynamo took to speak to FIFA. about his obvious love of console gaming, as well as last summer’s World Cup in Brazil.

How was your first season as a World Cup winner? Has much changed?

You definitely notice that you’re perceived in a different way, especially in terms of external representation. Not much has changed on the pitch, really. It’s still football, still a wonderful game and still loads of fun.

So it’s not the case that the opposition treats you differently?

No. I’m not an Arjen Robben or a Franck Ribery.

I play from a defensive midfield position so I don’t really feel like I get any special attention.

How often have you re-watched Janeiro? the Final from Rio de Janeir iro?

Too many y ttimes imes to count. im coun co nt. IItt wa wass something special, but unfortunately some so m thin ing sp spec ecia ial, l, b ut un nfor ortu tunate ely have no memory Ih ave en o me memo ory of it.

What did you think when you saw a replay of your collision for the first time?

It looked a really heavy blow and it

even hurt h t a bit watching it again. When it happened in real time I had no recollection lectio on of it, and and it was basically basi ba sica cally over in a flash. fla ash s . It definitely definite ely looks like li k it was a rereally al l painful ul one, though. thou ough gh.

Describe your emoDesc s ribe ey our em e oJoachim tions wh when en J oachim oa m Low came ca ame to o you before tthe he game and told you thatt you you would be in the starting starrti st ting line-up?

I was just ju ust totally tot otal a ly pumped.

If you in a you o make mak ake e a mistake mi game you e like lik ike e that, th you can forget forg fo get about ut flying back to Germany. It wass a mix ix of massive excitement and a d total elation. It’s not an every day that you get to t play in a World Cup Final.

Did you secretly hope to be playing? Or would a spot on the bench have been enough e ough for you? en I didn’t even expect to go to the World Cup, let alone start a

game.

How you H satisfied ti fi d are yo with the season Borussia Monchengladbach have had?

It’s been a good season all round. We had a lot of midweek midwe matches followed by league leag games at the weekend, and that th was new for a lot of us players, play pl aye but bu ut over the season sea aso son n we’ve manma aged a ed itt well. ag we ell.. We’ve e improved i proved in a im footballing footba ballling sense and a d haven’t just an ju played counter-attacking counter-attac acking football. footba Indeed, a few years ago, 66 points poin would wo oul u d have been enough to win w the league. In that regard, you y have have to commend how we’ve perp formed as a team this season.

How much are you thinking about abo your upcoming new challenge at a Bayer Leverkusen?

I’d be lying if I said that it hadn’t been on my mind. I’ve I certainly looked at Leverkusen Leve erk r us this year, the system they’ve they’v ’ve e used us and the players they have, hav ve, so so that th I know what’s waiting for for me. me e. I’ve I had some very positive posi siti tive ve discusdisc c sions, and after the summer sum mme mer break, bre e everything starts up for me. me. e That’s Tha something I’m really looking loo ook king forf ward to. But I’ve had a brilliant brillia time at Gladbach. We’ve had ha ad a lot of success with what is a great gr team here, and that goes hand han and in hand with having enjoyed youryo self. The atmosphere at BorussiaBoruss ss Park is something I’ll definitely definit miss as well.

Was there an element of regret reg when Gladbach beat Leverkusen Leverkus a few weeks ago, meaning Bayer Bay would not be able to qualify for the Champions League automatiautoma cally?

No, not at all. I’m in no doubt dou that I’ll be playing for Leverkusen Leverkus in the Champions League next n year anyway and I’m sure we’ll get through the qualifier.

xxx

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Sunday May 24, 2015

Allardyce not interested in Newcastle revenge

Khedira frozen out by R eal

Khedira

S

am Allardyce is determined to end West Ham’s season with a win over Newcastle United, but he insists he is not motivated by the chance to relegate his former club from the Premier League.

Sacked by Newcastle in 2008, it has been suggested that Allardyce’s latest return to Tyneside could see him lead West Ham for the final time, with his contract expiring in June.

But Allardyce only has West Ham’s best interests at heart at St James’ Park.

“It’s not about what happens to Newcastle for

S

ami Khedira said he was frozen out by Real Madrid this season and has been hurt by claims that he was unprofessional.

The Germany midfielder has opted to leave Santiago Bernabeu when his contract expires at the end of a season in which he has made only seven starts for the Spanish giants.

The 28-year-old World-Cup winner has been troubled by injury, but stressed that is not the reason why he has featured so infrequently for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

He told Marca: “You always have to tell the truth. I did have a small injury, a pain in my right heel, but that wasn’t why I wasn’t playing. It wasn’t a complicated injury, I was able to play.

Mourinho wants to remain in England after Chelsea

Mourinho Mou M ou urrinho inh in nho ho

Allardyce

Mourinho

C Terry

Terry unsure about management career

helsea manager Jose Mourinho says he would like to remain in England when his days in the Stamford Bridge hot seat come to an end.

Mourinho is currently enjoying a second stint in west London, having spent successful spells at Inter and Real Madrid following his initial Chelsea exit in 2007, and guided his side to the Premier League title this

J

ohn Terry admits he whether he is unsure w wants to become a manager despite once being idea. keen on the idea The Chelsea Chelse defender will lift the Premier League title for the fourth time on Sunday after his side’s clash s with Sunderland, and Sund is currently current on a oneyear rolling rollin deal.

The 34-year-old has enjoyed a fine enjo season at Stamford Bridge, and B is currently jugcurr gling playing with pl a coaching coach course.

term.

While insisting he has no plans to calll time on his Chelsea career, Mourinho is keeping an open mind about managing another English club in future.

“I see myself coaching another club, yes, but I love Chelsea and I am in Mr Abramovich’s hands and until then I am here,” he told the BBC’s Football Focus.

Wenger denies Ramsey’s Barca move rumour

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rsenal manager Arsene Wenger is determined to keep hold of his key men this summer and was quick to rebuff suggestions Barcelona were set to move for Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey.

Arsenal maintains a close relationship with the Catalan giants and has benefited greatly from it. But Wenger was clear Friday he has heard nothing about Ramsey.

“It is not realistic. Believe me, Barcelona know us well.

They have gone through transfers with us. If they want someone they call me,” the Arsenal manager said.

Wenger feels his toughest ghest decisions over the summer er will be which players to let go..

The Gunners are expected cted to strengthen in a bid to be genuine Premier League title e contenders in 2015-16, having fallen short this term.

Ramsey

N I G E R I A

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Sunday May 24, 2015

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Comment E-mail:

nwaunah@yahoo.com Deputy Vice-Chancellor & Dean, School of Languages and General Studies, The Premier University of Sao Tome and Principe

with Jim Unah

A

s the handover date of the new Muhammadu Buhari administration draws nearer, more and more surprises are coming up. First, it was the rumor about some former state actors returning money to government, ostensibly to lay the ground for rapprochements with the new dispensation, and possibly prepare the platform for plea bargaining to escape the wrath of the corruptionkiller General turned democrat by the political realities and circumstances of the country.

There was also the story of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation— NNPC—and the other money-spinning agencies of state that hitherto flagrantly refused to remit money to the designated Federation Accounts making remittances in panic, since it dawned on them that the days of the regime of impunity was over.

We also heard that the PricewaterCooper’s forensic audit report had revealed, among other things, that the oil marketers had been collecting double subsidy

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N250bn

- Money Nigeria loses yearly to overseas ship maintenance

The price of progressive change

for petroleum products, confirming the Federal Government’s insistence that the marketers had been paid subsidy far more than they admitted.

The oil marketers had fought back by suspending supplies of petroleum products to the dealers; thus, causing the kind of scarcity that has crippled economic activities in the major capitals and cities of the country, resulting in hardships and sufferings for the citizens who desired and voted for progressive change.

One other explanation for all of this is that the major marketers as well as the other contractors of the federal and state governments are apprehensive that all the obligations entered with them by the out-going dispensation may not be honored by the new APC-led government of Muhammadu Buhari.

Apparently, the oil majors needed to flex muscles and re-position themselves in order to be taken seriously after the inauguration of the new government on May 29. This is happening because the Nigerian state has not successfully instituted a culture of transparency and consistency in the conduct of government’s business.

Again, this is because the power structure has not been properly and equitably defined to allow for the concentration of attention and development energies in the federating units of the country.

Two current developments have, once

Barca crowned La Liga champion alencia sealed their place in next season’s Champions League as Eibar and Almeria were relegated on a dramatic final day of the La Liga season.

Deportivo La Coruna came back from 2-0 down away at champions Barcelona to spoil a homage to Xavi Hernandez at the Camp Nou and stay up with a 2-2 draw along with Granada who held Atletico Madrid 0-0 at home.

That point was enough to ensure Atletico go straight into next season’s Champions League group stages in third, while Valencia twice came from behind to win 3-2 at Almeria and secure fourth.

Eibar’s remarkable first season in the top flight didn’t have fairy tale ending as they were

N150

-Amount the Yobe State Governor signed into law as 2015 budget

relegated despite just a second win in 20 matches 3-0 at home to Cordoba due to their inferior head-to-head record with Deportivo and Granada.

Athletic Bilbao also secured European football for next season in the Europa League thanks to a 4-0 thrashing of Villarreal.

again, brought constitutional issues in the front burner. One is the National Assembly’s feverish rush to amend a section of the constitution regarding the power of the President, a matter that is more of constitution-making than law-making.

The second is that of the congregation and positioning of the governors’ forum, a body not known in the constitution, but more of a trade union to wrest power from or arm-twist the President of the country. So, at two levels, you have the national legislators and state executives— the governors—scheming and struggling to whittle down the powers of the President in an extra constitutional manner.

No one wants to play the devil’s advocate here.

I do agree with many commentators that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is one president invested with enormous powers by the 1999 constitution.

It is not the President’s own making.

It is the making of a constitution drafted and imposed on Nigerians by the military oligarchs. Understandably, such a constitution will pattern the powers of the president after those of military heads of state who had ruled the country before handing over to civilians.

That is the source of the problem, not the elected president. That is why the outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan advisedly refused to accent to the bill, now

Eibar looked set to survive for much of the day as after they went in front against already relegated Cordoba, Lionel Messi gave Barca the lead at a Camp Nou in celebratory mood as Xavi made his 505th and final Liga appearance.

The Catalans dominated for large swaths of the game and

looked to have sealed the Galicians fate when Neymar unselfishly squared for Messi to make it 2-0 on the hour mark.

However, Lucas Perez gave Deportivo hope with a stunning strike into the top corner seven minutes later and Salomao struck 14 minutes from time to cap a remarkable fightback.

a matter of litigation in the apex court of the land.

Intricately interwoven with the powers of the president in the 1999 constitution is the issue of over-centralization of power at the centre, and the emasculation of the federating units.

The way to address this issue is not for legislators and governors to gang up and whittle down that power because it would be tantamount to robbing Peter to pay Paul.It would make legislators and governors even more overbearing.

The way to handle the matter in a progressive manner is to return it to the people in a national constitutional conference; where power would be devolved from the centre to the federating units.

When power is thus devolved to the federating units, it would not necessarily be vested in governors and legislators, but in other democratic institutions and structures.

These institutions and structures would effectively check the excesses of the president as well as those of the legislators and the state governors.

Those who wish to institute progressive change should summon the courage to tackle the issue headlong, and take the matter to the people in a sovereign national conference to decide, once and for all. That is the ultimate price of progressive change.

I Kramer: I have no memory of Brazil 2014 Final

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