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FOREIGN PRIVATE JET OPERATORS SCRAMBLE FOR NIGERIAN MARKET
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UGANDA PASSES ANTIHOMOSEXUALITY LAW
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• Prescribes life imprisonment for ‘aggravated homosexuality continued on p(12)
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ter operations. It was also learnt that some foreign private jets had started continued on p(10)
AKINWUMI ADESINA NAMED FORBES AFRICAN OF THE YEAR Nigerian Agriculture Minister Akinwumi Adesina has been named Forbes African of the Year for his reforms to the country’s farming sector. “He is a man on a mission to help Africa feed itself,” said Forbes Africa editor Chris Bishop. Analysts say Nigeria’s economy has long been dominated by oil, while agriculture has been ig-
Akinwumi Adesina wants to hand out free mobile phones to farmers
nored, even though it supports far
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EDITORIAL
THE NIGERIAN CANADIAN NEWS
Happy Holidays & A Prosperous New Year
Publisher
Ngozi Ugoh admin@nigeriancanadiannews.ca publisher@nigeriancanadiannews.ca
ncnewsoffice@gmail.com www.nigeriancanadiannews.ca
Tel: 416-318-3506 Editor In Chief Correspondent - Nigeria: Kola Olulana admin@nigeriancanadiannews.ca
> Editor/Foriegn Correspondent – Ghana: Solomon Aremu
> Youth: Dinma Ugoh
admin@nigeriancanadiannews.ca
>
“Do not become proud of your position. Do not become harsh toward those weaker than yourself. And always speak of Allah’s kindness to you.”
Advertising Executive: Ogo Anozie admin@nigeriancanadiannews.ca
> Classified: Peter Ikechukwu
admin@nigeriancanadiannews.ca
- Ibn Isaq
> Contributors Pastor Taiwo Odubiyi (USA) Richard Meseko Akadu Frank Ofili - Nigeria Agathar Edo Dima Ugoh
> Graphics & Layout Mevlana Media Solutions Inc.
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From All Of Us At The Nigerian Canadian News
Thank you for a wonderful 2013
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How Absurd is Your Idea?
AWARD WINNING NEWSPAPER Tel:
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*Member Of The National Ethnic Press & Media Council Of Canada, Inc. The Nigerian Canadian News and The African Canadian News are published monthly by The Nigerian Canadian Business & Resources Directory. Views expressed in newspaper do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. All rights reserved. No part of the newspapers may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher.
By Uju Onyechere
Aristotle was believed to be right when he said the heavier an object, the faster it would fall to earth. He was regarded as the greatest thinker of all times and surely he could not be wrong. All it would have taken was for one brave person to take two objects; one heavy and one light, and drop them from a great height to see whether or not the heavier object landed first. But no one stepped forward until nearly 2000 years after Aristotle’s death. In 1589, Galileo summoned learned professors to the base of the learning tower of Pisa. Then he went
to the top and pushed off two weights, one weighing ten pounds and the other weighing one-pound. Both landed at the same time. But the power of belief in the conventional wisdom was so strong the professors denied what they had seen. They continued to say Aristotle was right. With his telescope, Galileo proved the theory of Copernicus, that the earth was not the center of the universe; the earth and the planets revolve around the sun. Yet, when he tried to change people’s beliefs, he was thrown into prison and spent the rest of his life under house arrest. According to Albert Einstein the man rated by
Time Magazine to be the most influential in the last century “If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it.” Most people are professional traditionalist. To them, things must always be the way it has always been. It was Aldoux Huxley who once said, “The vast majority of human beings dislike and even dread all notions with which they are not familiar. Hence it comes about that at their first appearance innovators have always been derided as fools and madmen.” The issue is that most people want something but not badly enough to have the thing. It’s like the seminar environment where a speaker holds out
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
a N1000 bill and asks the audience “Who wants this money.” Almost everybody in the auditorium raised their hands up. The speaker continued to ask who wants the money, and more hands went up. Finally he asked, “I said who wants this N1000?” Then a young man from the back stood up, walked past those in front row and collected the money. To the dismay of most hands that went up, the speaker allowed the young man to pocket the money. They all wanted it, but none took action except the young man. In a society that changes every now and then, people are encouraged to think out of the box. Nigeria is one
good example where our leaders have failed to implement most of the things obtainable across the globe. In the words of Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, “These days, I say to people I have entered a new Nigeria. I am determined not to stay in the old Nigeria. The people who created the old Nigeria, enjoyed the old Nigeria and of course still miss the old Nigeria, wanting to hold us back in the old Nigeria, they may do all they can but a new Nigeria is emerging and there is no reversing it.” How about that? Let’s make it happen because the key is in our hands. To our success!
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
HEALT H I S W E A LT H , TA K E C A R E OF YO URS
Disclaimer: In no way are any of the suggestion herein meant to take the place of advice given by a licensed health care professional. Please always consult your doctor before commemcing any medical treatment.
Eating for a glowing skin By Bosede Olusola-Obasa
A glowing skin indicates good health. The best care of the skin, experts agree, is through food in take. This means that what you take in determines the beauty and health of your skin. That is why this week, we look at a list of foods that make your skin glow. Foods are unique to the skin because they curb the operations of free radicals (unstable molecules) that could damage the skin by causing dryness and wrinkles among others. Artificial foods should not be encouraged in your quest to enhance skin value. It is also important to note that the top 15 foods that make the skin to glow fall into the fruits and vegetables food classes. So brace yourself, stock your kitchen for a wonderful experience, and don’t forget to be creative.
Top 10 foods that make skin glow •Avocados: Rich in essential oils and B-complex vitamins to nourish the skin complexion •Cocoa powder: Contains flavonals to reduce roughness in the skin and protect against sun damage •Coconut Oil: Contains good fats to restore moisture to the skin •Cottage cheese: Contains selenium and other essential minerals to combat flaking skin and dandruff •Flax seeds: Packed with Omega-3 fatty acids to clear spots and lines. •Oranges: blue berries, guava and other foods rich in Vitamin C slow damage by free radicals •Green tea: Reduces redness, skin swelling and irritation •Mangoes: Contain more than 80 per cent required vitamins for restoring skin cells •Mushrooms: Contain Vitamin B12 to repair damaged tissues
•Oysters: Loaded with zinc to help fight saggy skin •Red and green vegetables: Help the body to convert beta-carotene into Vitamin A to prevent cell damage and premature ageing. (Colourful veggies, red peppers, spinach and other leafy foods are loaded with beta-carotene) •Red wine: Full of polyphenols. Helps prevent cell oxidation that causes the skin to age •Sea buckthorn berries: Loaded with antioxidants, Omega-7 and Vitamin C to nourish skin, hair and stimulate collagen production •Sweet potatoes: Rich in Vitamin A, helps speed up body cellular turnover •Fish: Contains age-fighting Omega 3 fatty acids and restorative powers of protein found in tuna, trout, salmon, mackerel, sardines, shellfish pacific herring and others. Insist on whole grains flour to improve your skin Desist from refined flours as it could create acne
Are you the one in 10? (NC) One in 10 Canadians has a thyroid disorder without knowing it. Could it be the case for you as well? Signs and symptoms of most thyroid disorders are often general or vague and may not be considered as indicators of underlying disease, so this is a possibility. Typical thyroid disease symptoms include depression, constipation and unexplained weight gain. Other symptoms are fatigue, forgetfulness, muscle aches and pains, mood swings and an increased sensitivity to cold. Before dismissing such symptoms, you may want to consider this: the thyroid gland, lying below the “Adam’s apple”, produces the hormones that regulate growth, maturation and speed of metabolism for both men and women. Thyroid hormones influence the metabolic rate in two ways. First, they stimulate almost every tissue in the body to produce proteins. Second, they increase the amount of
Learn the facts about iron for your baby
(NC) Parents only want the best for their babies – and when it comes to feeding their little ones, there is no exception. But despite good intentions, some misunderstandings may be leading many parents to miss the mark when it comes to iron in their baby’s diet. Experts tell us iron is an essential nutrient and is critical to baby’s growth and cognitive development, helping baby remember the new things learned each day. To set the story straight, here are the fables and the facts when it comes to iron for y our baby: Fable: Homemade foods are always better for baby’s diet since they’re more natural and the ingredients are fresh.
oxygen that the cells use. When cells work harder, the body works faster. By far the most common thyroid disorder is an under-active thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). Producing insufficient thyroid hormones causes the metabolism to slow down, resulting in one or more of the symptoms mentioned. Risk factors for developing hypothyroidism are female gender; age 50 years or older; having a family history of thyroid disease, and previous surgery or radiation of the thyroid gland. Untreated thyroid disorders may lead to com-
plications such as an enlarged thyroid (goiter) that can affect swallowing, elevated cholesterol levels and heart disease, osteoporosis and clinical depression. So, if you’re experiencing two or more of these symptoms or have risk factors, ask your doctor for a TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) test. This simple blood test is considered the most accurate for diagnosing hypothyroidism, which usually is easily treated with thyroid hormone replacement therapy. For more information, visit www.thyroidsymptoms.ca
Fact: When first introducing baby to solid foods, many parents choose to prepare homemade foods such as puréed brown rice, or vegetables and fruit like sweet potato and apples. While homemade baby foods are made with love
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
and they provide healthy nutrition, they can also be lacking as a source of iron, which is an essential nutrient for baby’s development. It’s important to make sure babies get sufficient amounts of iron by offering puréed meat like beef, chicken or lamb and meat alternatives like pumpkin butter, chick peas or lentils. Fable: The addition of vitamins and minerals in baby food is “unnatural” or “processed.” Fact: Most babies are born with enough iron stores to meet their needs until six months of age. At that point, their iron stores start to deplete and breast milk alone can no longer meet all of his or her iron needs. This is important because iron is essential for growth and normal cognitive development. Without enough iron, an infant or child is at increased risk of iron deficiency. In Canada, the addition of iron-fortified cereals more than 50 years ago helped reduce iron deficiency in infants and
children. Better still, some brands like Nestlé Gerber ensure one serving of infant cereal has 100 per cent of your baby’s daily iron. Fable: Iron is constipating. Fact: Although some parents think iron in food is the cause of baby’s constipation, research has shown this is not the case. In fact, the introduction of solid foods can lead to normal changes in the colour, texture and frequency of a baby’s bowel movements. Iron on the other hand, is not a cause of stomach upset or constipation, and it instead has a positive impact on baby’s health. It does so by carrying oxygen from the lungs throughout the body and also helps muscles store and use oxygen. If you suspect your baby has constipation after starting solid foods, it is important to offer extra water (2-4 oz/day), and more vegetables and fruit, which add fibre to your baby’s meals.
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Presidency, others to fuel generators with N836.6m in 2014
Presidency has a budget of N33.47m; Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation, N16.48m; Youth Development, N1.81m; Police Affairs, N16.5m; Women affairs, N901,452; Agriculture, N5.57m; Water Resources, N16.45m; Auditor-General for the Federation N11.79m; and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission N29.05m. Others ministries are Defence (Army, Airforce, Navy) N30m; Education N36.92m; Trade and Investment N20.8m; Information N13.85m Communication and Technology N1.27m; Interior N20.75m; Office of Head of Service N40m; Justice N28.34m; Labour and Productivity N2.79m; Science and Technology N3.51m; Works N25.05m; Lands and Housing N45.55m; and Mines and Steel Development N6m. The rest are Environment, N13.16m; Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, N2.637m; National Planning Commission, N21m; National Sports Commission N17.12m; Office of the National Security Adviser, N8.78m; Niger Delta, N16.85m; Ministry of Special Duties, N2.31m; Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, N15.45m; and National Population Commission
N22.53m. Similarly, Code of Conduct Bureau had a budget of N6.07m for generator fuelling; Code of Conduct Tribunal N3.01m; Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission N20.05m; Federal Civil Service Commission N18.8m: Police Service Commission; N4.39m; and Federal Character Commission N5.92m. Curiously, three ministries – power, aviation and transport – and the National Salaries and Wages Commission had no budgetary provision for the fueling of plants and generators. Also, a breakdown of the proposed budget to the judiciary in 2014 has declined when compare with 2013. The total sum of N4.7bn which was provided for the Federal Ministry of Justice Headquarters in proposed 2014 budget is less than the sum of N5.5bn allocated to the ministry in 2013. In the same vein, the budget for legal services, the ministry’s major assignment, fell from N2.3bn in 2013 to N1.3bn in the proposed 2014 budget. The sum of N3.1bn was budgeted for legal services in 2012, which means that the allocation for the assignment had fallen for a second consecutive year. -Punch
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Isa Muazu granted more time in UK Asylum seeker who was returned to UK in a failed deportation attempt will stay in the country pending judicial review
BY IFEANYI ONUBA, OKECHUKWU NNODIM AND IHUOMA CHIEDOZIE The Presidency and other ministries, departments and agencies of government will spend N836.6m for the fuelling of plants and generators in 2014. The amount is contained in the 2014 budget proposal before the National Assembly. The figure is striking when considered from the standpoint that the government, had after the privatization of the power sector promised that Nigerians would begin to see significant improvement in power supply from the first quarter of next year. Specifically, President Goodluck Jonathan had while inaugurating the Phase II 500 megawatt Omotosho National Integrated Power Project Plant in Ondo State two months ago promised reasonably stable power supply in the country by the middle of 2014. He added that the Federal Government was targeting 4,700mw from 10 NIPPs, which he said would be completed before the end of the first quarter of 2014. According to him, the 10 National Integrated Power Projects will be handed over to the private sector next year after their completion and inauguration. But an analysis of the budget proposal showed that the ministry of finance accounts for the highest with a projected expenditure of N76.5m while the police formation and command, ministry of foreign affairs and health followed with N71.3m, N56.16m and N47.62m respectively.
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A seriously ill asylum seeker whose chartered deportation flight was turned back last week has been granted more time in his fight to remain in Britain. Isa Muazu, who had been on hunger strike since September, was returned to the UK on Friday after a private plane meant to be taking him back to Nigeria did not land in the country. The attempt to remove him failed as Nigerian authorities refused the plane carrying Muazu permission to land, his lawyers said. The 45-year-old, whose hunger strike reportedly lasted more than 100 days, has been detained since he claimed asylum in July. His solicitors at Duncan Lewis have been granted a stay of removal for Muazu pending the outcome of an oral judicial review to be heard by the upper tribunal’s immigration and asylum chamber. Toufique Hossain, public law and immigration law director at Duncan Lewis,
Isa Muazu stopped eating in protest against plans to deport him
said: “We welcome this order restraining the secretary of state for the Home Office in relation to any further attempt at removal until the outcome of the oral hearing. “This is what we wanted all along, and thanks to the home secretary’s incompetence we now have it.” Muazu, who despite being 5ft 11in (1.8m) tall, at one time weighed just eight stone (53kg), claims he faces persecution from the militant Islamic group Boko Haram if he returns to Nigeria, but has lost a series of legal challenges. He has said that he came to the UK for a better life, and would rather die than face removal. Following representations raised by Muazu’s solicitors, the upper tribunal
judge ordered an urgent hearing and that the home secretary be restrained from removing the asylum seeker until the outcome of the hearing. The judicial review is to focus on the challenge to the home secretary’s decision to certify his asylum claim and remove him to Nigeria. Following the refusal of his lawyers’ injunction to prevent Muazu’s removal on November 28, the Home Office attempted to remove him by private jet. Since returning to the UK, Muazu has been returned to the medical wing at Harmondsworth immigration detention centre in west London. Source: www.theguardian.com
Female genital mutilation a ‘huge problem’ in U.K. Britain’s reputation for turning a blind eye on the illegal practice of female genital mutilation may be about to change after British doctors, nurses and midwifes decided to take a stand and demand it be treated as child abuse. Earlier this month, leading British medical groups delivered an extensive report to Parliament, recommending aggressive steps to eradicate the practice, which is still being carried out on young girls from certain African, Middle Eastern and Asian cultures. The report revealed tens of thousands of cases of FGM in Britain (as many as 66,000 by some estimates). And while the practice was outlawed in 1985 and carries a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment, the country has never seen a single prosecution. ‘’It’s a huge problem in Britain,’’ says Dr. Deborah Hodes, a London community paediatrician and chair of child protection
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
with the Royal College of Paediatrics, outlining that more than 24,000 girls are at risk of FGM and more than 66,000 women are living with the consequences. Hodes regularly gets referrals for young girls who underwent cutting — a common term for the practice in the U.K.— or who are at high risk of being cut. Britain’s medical community now wants all frontline health professionals to be better trained in detecting FGM and responding to it, and to report female patients who have had their sexual organs mutilated to police and other services. FGM, sometimes called female circumcision, involves removing all or part of the clitoris as well as, often, the labia, the “lips” that surround the vagina, to make young girls more virginal and therefore attractive to future mates. An estimated 140 million girls and women are living with the consequences of the practice, according
to the World Health Organization, and in countries like Britain it is often done on young girls who are sent back to their ancestral homelands to have the procedure done. Leyla Hussein, a British woman, was once one of these girls. She was taken away to Somalia to be cut when she was seven. She’s now campaigning to end the practice. During her own pregnancy, she recalls, “I was shaking, having panic attacks, my body remembered the trauma. That’s when I decided there was no way my daughter was going through that. But I needed the right information to defend my decision to my community.’’ In Britain, anti-FGM campaigners are saying that an overzealous cultural sensitivity has led to authorities being slow to react on the FGM front, with some even questioning whether FGM is actually a British problem. continued on p(49)
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Jonathan to spend at least N1.5 billion for another presidential jet
Winnipeg woman warns of ‘secret shopper’ cheque scam
Bassey Udo
The Presidency is set to increase the number of private jets in the Presidential Air Fleet by purchasing an additional aircraft in 2014. The proposal for the new aircraft has already been included in the proposed 2014 Appropriation Bill submitted to the National Assembly. Details of the budget proposal laid before the two chambers of the National Assembly last week by the Minister of Finance, Ngozi OkonjoIweala, on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan, revealed that N1.5 billion was proposed as deposit for the purchase of the new aircraft. The proposal was included in the budget of the Presidential Air Fleet under the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA. The presidential fleet also proposed to spend about N747 million to take care of its aircraft fuel cost during the year. Though further details of the planned acquisition were not immediately available as top officials in the presidency who should know were not willing to comment on the issue, it was gathered that new aircraft would be the 11th in the luxurious presidential fleet. Other proposals in the budget include the plan by the presidency to purchase a new embalming machine for the State House, Abuja, for which a budget of N1.65 billion has been made.
There are currently about 10 planes in the presidential fleet.
Another N17.5 million has also been set aside by the presidency for the provision of magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, building and mortuary conversion machine; as well as N1.3 billion for the construction of the VIP wing of the State House Medical Centre, Abuja. In addition, about N17.5 million would go for the construction of hospitals and health centre in the State House, apart from N37million set aside for wildlife conservation purposes in the Presidential Villa. Another N70 million would be spent for the building and installation of oxygen and other gases generating plant at the State House; N50 million for the completion of the extension of dental wing at the State House Medical Centre; N6 million for two sauna baths; N5 million for a wildlife capture equipment, and N14.5 million to purchase two wildlife animals not mentioned in the budget. The upgrade of Villa facilities would gulp about N1.5 billion; upgrade of Villa Telecommunication
Exchange anad spare parts would take N220 million; and about N215million would be spent on remodeling of the new guest house for the vice President at Yakubu Gowon Crescent, Asokoro. About N50 million has been included in the budget for improvement of electrical installation in the State House Banquet Hall; N15 million for renovation of Horses’ stable/paddock; N8 million for the upgrade and maintenance of Villa Zoo, while N1.8 million would go for six wardrobe/towel shelves for the presidential lodge. As part of the ongoing reform in the power sector, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, which transmits generated electricity, has been allocated about N24.9 billion for its operations in 2014. The Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, successor generation companies also have an allocation of N1.143 billion for the year. Source:Premiumtimesng. com
Kijiji fraudster Jason Hartlen sent to jail A Saskatoon man who defrauded prospective renters in an apartment scam is going to jail. Jason Hartlen pleaded guilty to defrauding 60 victims of $80,000. He stole from people in Saskatoon, Vancouver and Calgary. Hartlen ran an apartment ad on the Kijiji website. He then met with prospective renters and
took deposits. But -- he did not own the apartment. A judge sentenced him
to 18 months behind bars. He's already been in jail for six months.
A Winnipeg woman is warning people about a “secret shopper” scam after she received a big fake cheque in the mail recently. Crystal Claeys was pleasantly surprised on Monday when she opened up her mail and found a cheque from the Toronto-Dominion Bank for $3,650. “I was at first like, ‘Right on, let’s go shopping!’ But I knew it was too good to be true, so I took it to the bank,” Claeys told CBC News. “My bank said it was a scam and I should call police.” Her first clue was the cheque’s postmark, which
was from Sacramento, California, she said. Police in Manitoba have been warning the public as recently as last month, when a Brandon resident reported their cheque to police. The “secret shopper” or “mystery shopper” scam works like this: The victim receives a letter saying they have been selected to be a mystery shopper. Typically, the fraudster supplies a cheque for a large amount of money to help the victim accomplish their shopping tasks. One of those tasks is usually to send another individual a large part of that deposit - usually using a wire service - as part
of a test of company procedures. Unfortunately, the cheque is counterfeit and when it bounces, the victim ends up being out the money that was transferred. Police say if an unknown person sends you a cheque as payment for property or services, and wants any of those funds sent back or passed on, it is almost certainly a fraudulent scam. Claeys said it was pretty obvious to her, but it may not be to everybody. “I worry a lot about an older person getting scammed,” she said.
ing for permission to bring airplanes into the country are actually doing so in partnership with some local representatives who are submitting these applications on their behalf. “The challenge now is some of these foreign companies may not be ready to de-register their planes and make them Nigerian-registered. If government insists, they may look for a leeway because a number of them are desperate to come in to enjoy the boom.” Politicians had spent N2.52bn on charter flights within 10 weeks preceding the April 2011 elections, according to investigation by the PUNCH. The politicians, it was learnt, used the charter flights to move from one campaign venue to the other as the April elections closed in. Investigation by our correspondent also revealed that each of the four major indigenous charter jet operators, who conveyed politicians to various parts of the country for electioneering, made about $420,000 (N63m) every week. Industry sources said each of the operators worked for about 70 hours a week with the fee for each hour fixed at about $6,000 (N900,000). As at 2011, the four major indigenous charter jet operators in the country then were Kings Airlines, Wings Aviation, Top Brazz Aviation and Overland Airways. However, findings showed
that other airlines, including Associated Airlines, also engaged in charter services occasionally, while some nonaviation companies, which own private jets, rented them out to their politician-friends for charter services. Currently, the charter aircraft operators in the country include Hanger8, Kings Airlines, Top Brazz Aviation, Wings Aviation, Overland Airways, Arik Air, Vistajet and Aero Contractors. Further findings showed that Nigerians, notably public office holders and businessmen, spent about N29.7bn on charter flights in 2012. Statistics from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, showed that the nation’s airports handled an average of 50 charter flights per day in 2012. Charter flight operators said politicians, state governors and other clients paid an average of $7,000 per hour for each flight. Charter airline operators at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, said each of the charter flights took an average of one and a half hours; hence, the operators generated about $10,500 in revenue from each flight. This means that eminent Nigerians who patronised the services of the operators spent about $525,000 (N81.38m) on charter flights each day in 2012. continued on p(13)
Cbc.ca
continued from p(1) coming into country in preparation for the boom, expected to begin as early as the first quarter of 2014. The source said, “I think 2014 is going to be a very booming year for private jet operators in the country. The local operators are warming up for this seriously. But the interesting and surprising thing about this is that a number of foreign companies, especially from Europe, the US and Canada, have submitted documents, seeking permission to bring in private jets into the country for charter operations. “Well, government is still looking at those applications because you know the recent reform in the general aviation sector has changed the landscape of the charter business. We don’t know what the Ministry of Aviation will do about it.” According to another top official of the Ministry of Aviation close to the matter, some of the applications by the foreign companies were actually submitted by their local representatives. The official, however, pointed out that the recent aviation law, which barred foreign-registered jets from carrying out charter operation business in the country, had brought the application process into a ‘suspense’ and nobody could say what could be the next action on the matter. The official said, “Some of the foreign companies apply-
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
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the Connection | mag
Muslim community growing in Whitehorse
Pastor Tunde Bakare rejects Christmas cow from President Jonathan Report culled from DAILY POST revealed that Pastor Tunde Bakare of latter Rain Assembly has rejected a Christmas gift of a cow purportedly sent to him by President Goodluck Jonathan. The Report Reads: Former Minister of the Federal Capi tal Territory, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, has revealed that Pastor Tunde Bakare, the General Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, turned down a cow, which was reportedly sent to him for Christmas by President Jonathan. In a tweet posted on Sunday, El Rufai wrote: “Just learnt that GEJ sent a Christmas cow to Pastor Bakare, but Pastor asked – is it cow we need in Nigeria? Nigeri-
ans want good governance!” It is believed that Pastor Bakare made this known to his congregation, as moments before then, El Rufai tweeted: “On my way Latter Rain Assembly to see my egbon, Pastor Tunde Bakare, by God’s Grace….” and later told his followers that, “Inside Latter Rain, Pastor Tunde Bakare praying for
peace, stability and unity of Nigeria in 2014….that our nation gets capable leaders…” It is public knowledge that the president and the fiery man of God do not go along well, so it comes as a surprise that he decided to send the gift.
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When Muhammad Javed arrived in Whitehorse in 2001, there were just two Muslim families. "We felt very alone at that time,” says the organizer of the Yukon Muslim Society. Today there are about sixty Muslims in the Yukon capital. “When more families started coming, we were feeling like we are a community,” Javed says. The Muslim Society began meeting in a local
church. Two years ago, many local Muslims began meeting for daily prayers in a former office space on Strickland Street. "And the more community we get, we can probably afford a mosque of our own in the near future,” Javed says. Javed says a new mosque is still likely several years away. He also says that Muslims do enjoy the holidays, even if they’re not
celebrating Christmas. "We participate in our friends' and in our community's holiday season,” he says. “We just don't do the traditional gift exchange and we don't have Christmas trees in our houses, but other than that, we do go to dinners and lunch... we like the treats, we like the parties, so we are kind of in the middle of the holiday season as well." Yahoo news
Female Monarch installed in Akure land
Osun Defender
Nobel Laureate Soyinka’s Daughter Dies Iyetade Soyinka, a daughter of Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, has died. Ms. Soyinka, who was born June 6, 1965, died at the University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital where she was being treate d for an undisclosed ailment. The death was disclosed in a statement signed by Jahman Anikulapo, an aide to Mr. Soyinka, one of the world’s foremost dramatists and winner of the 1986 Nobel Prize in literature. The statement noted that the late Iyetade Soyinka was a student at the Staff School and Queens School, Ibadan before she studied Medicine at the University of Ibadan. Mr. Anikulapo’s statement described the deceased as “affable, intelligent and sometimes capricious,” adding that she “struggled with her
By Michael Sanni
health in recent years.” Despite her health woes, the late Iyetade Soyinka “greeted every day with a smile and doted on her two children.” The statement, which was issued on behalf of the deceased’s family, revealed that Ms. Soyinka “took ill quite suddenly and passed away while
being treated at UCH, Ibadan. “Iyetade leaves behind two children, both parents, numerous siblings, nieces and nephews.” No funeral arrangements were announced in the statement. SaharaReporters was unable to reach Professor Soyinka before press time.
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The first daughter of the late traditional ruler of Akure, Princess Adetutu Adesida- Dike, was on Saturday installed as the Regent of the ancient town. The development came almost a month after the Monarch, who was until his death, the Chairman of the State Council of Obas, passed away in his palace, during a brief illness, at the age of 63. The traditional installation of the Regent took place at the Palace of the town on late Saturday evening and was carried out by the chiefs. While speaking with reporters at the palace, the continued from p(41)
Oeillade Tittup
Regent said she would do her best to contribute to the development of the town during the duration of her regency, saying ” I take it up where my father stopped with the help of almighty God”. On leaving her husband in the United States to take up a traditional position in Nigeria, Adesida-Dike said: “the regency can not disturb my role as a mother and wife and as a career woman, I have also taken leave of absence from my place of work in the United States, my husband knows that I am a Princess before he agreed to marry me and he also knows that anytime my father died as a king, I have to assume
this position, so there won’t be any problem. “I know this is a duty I have to perform, so I have called on my God to help me to succeed in the journey and also that God will help the king makers to choose the right person to be the next king”. She then called on the state government and the entire people of Akure land to give her their supports in other to succeed in the task. Adesida-Dike, a United States based pharmacist will be on the throne until the installation of another Monarch. Source: nigerianewsday.com
MATCH UP’s ANSWER
An amorous glance; ogle. An exaggerated prancing, bouncing movement or manner of moving. Deprecate To disapprove of; also, to belittle. Encumbrance A burden, impediment, or hindrance. Virago An ill-‐tempered, overbearing woman; also, a woman of great strength and courage. Borborygmus A rumbling or gurgling sound caused by the movement of gas in the intestines.
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
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Nigerian student emerged second best in 2013 world research competition A graduate of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and member of Congress of Noun Students (CONS) Mr. Bayo Soneye has emerged second best student in the world research competition in Art category with his enthusiastic participation in the Giap’s Confluence v1.0 2013 International Competition of Research Paper/ Project/Dissertation for UG/PG students held in Mumbai, India. With this feat, The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has again proven it’s capacity to produce students capable of competing and excelling among students across the world. Mr. Bayo Soneye graduated from National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in 2011/2012
session after claiming M.Ed in Educational Administration and Planning. The event host, Gyandhara International Academic Publication (GIAP) is a fast emerging e-publication house in Mumbai, Muscat and California, registered with Ministry of Finance, Government of India. GAIP helps students in preparing quality manuscript form their data, by our experts’ feedback and assistance. GIAP’S Confluence v1.0 competition was a humble start by GIAP to provide a platform to students to show case their research talent to the world. According to GIAP in their message of thanks sent to the winners and participants on 14th of September 2013, it noted that, all papers presented at the event were of high
quality and up to mark. ‘’It was a tough time for our judges to decide winner among these kind of papers.’’ The organizers said. After a long discussion, GIAP committee announced Soneye Semiu Adebayo, A Nigerian Student from National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) as the second best in Art category of the competition with his paper titled, ”The Impact Of Application Of Information And Communications Technology (Ict) In The Administration Of Polytechnics In Ogun State, Nigeria”. Cash prizes and merit certificates are being issued to all winners. AMB. Abdulrazaq O Hamzat President Congress of Noun Students
Uganda passes anti-homosexuality law continued from p(1) • Bans miniskirt • MPs say, ‘We are a God-fearing nation’ Uganda’s parliament has passed a bill to toughen the punishment for homosexual acts to include life imprisonment in some cases. The anti-homosexuality bill also makes it a crime punishable by a prison sentence not to report gay people. The prime minister opposed the vote, saying not enough MPs were present. The bill has been condemned by world leaders since it was mooted in 2009 – US President Barack Obama called it “odious”. The BBC’s Catherine Byaruhanga in Kampala says the government knows there will be an international outcry, which could see some countries suspend aid to the country. She says that Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi might follow up on his complaints about a lack of quorum, while it remains to be seen whether President Yoweri Museveni will sign the bill into law. The private member’s bill
originally proposed the death penalty for some offences, such as if a minor was involved or the perpetrator was HIVpositive, but this has been re placed with life in prison. The MP behind the bill, David Bahati, told the AFP news agency: “This is victory for Uganda. I am glad the parliament has voted against evil.” “Because we are a Godfearing nation, we value life in a holistic way. It is because of those values that members of parliament passed this bill regardless of what the outside world thinks,” he said. The bill also bans the promotion of homosexuality. “I am officially illegal,” Ugandan gay activist Frank Mugisha said after the vote. The bill’s supporters say it is needed to protect traditional family values, which they say are under attack from Western-inspired gay rights groups. Its critics say the bill has been pushed by some US evangelical Christians. Uganda is a socially conservative country and on Thursday passed an Anti-Pornography Bill, which bans miniskirts and sexually suggestive material such as some music videos.
Human rights activists say the bill highlights the intolerance and discrimination the gay community faces in Uganda. One gay activist was killed in 2011, although the police denied he was targeted because of his sexuality. Meanwhile a local newspaper has been condemned for publishing the names and addresses of people it said were gay. Holidaymakers and visiting foreigners are not immune from prosecution under Uganda’s existing anti-homosexuality laws. A retired British man is awaiting trial in Entebbe on charges of possessing a gay sex video after thieves found images on his laptop. Sixtyfive-year-old Bernard Randall, from Kent, faces a possible two-year prison sentence if found guilty. His friend Albert Cheptoyek, a Ugandan national with whom he shares a house, has denied a more serious charge of carrying out “acts of gross indecency”, which could see him jailed for up to seven years if found guilty. The Mirror
The Nigerian Canadian News, Canada publisher@nigeriancanadiannews.ca admin@nigeriancanadiannews.ca
By Mike Blanchfield
The Canadian Press OTTAWA – A top United Nations official is praising the Harper government’s foreign policy initiative to end forced marriage of young girls, even if Canada won’t fund projects that would allow victims access to an abortion. The Conservative government’s practice of not allowing aid dollars to go towards organizations that offer abortions to victimized girls or war-rape victims has sparked heated criticism in some quarters. But a seasoned expert on international child protection said that doesn’t diminish Canada’s emerging international leadership on the issue because there are other ways for the government to make a difference in helping young girls. “We’re trying to leave that off the table … we’re talking about everything but that, frankly,” Susan Bissell, associate director of the child protection branch of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said in an interview from New York. She called abortion funding “an obstacle to negotiate around” and said she is urging Canada to be the international standard bearer for a worthy cause that needs a champion. Bissell was in Ottawa earlier this month and met with policy makers in the offices of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird. She said she was struck by their deep understanding of the complexities of a problem that has health, justice and education components. “Canada is the first government that I’ve talked
to that sees those connections,” Bissell said. She believes the recent merger of the old Canadian International Development Agency into Foreign Affairs will help strengthen Canada’s approach to the problem. “Some have been despondent about the collapsing of CIDA into the ministry, but I actually see an incredible opportunity to link the dots.” Ultimately, Bissell said she wants Canada to make a multi-million-dollar contribution to the fight against the exploitation of girls. Bissell said that when Baird announced that Canada wanted to focus on the problem during a speech at the UN in September, her email in-box was flooded with positive messages. The UN estimates there are 400 million women who were married as children in Latin America and the Caribbean, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. Child brides are subjected to a variety of abuses, but when they become pregnant as teenagers they and their babies face life-threatening health risks. The UN cites complications from childbirth as the leading cause of death in girls aged 15 to 19 in poor countries. In a year-end interview, Baird defended the government’s stance on not funding abortion projects. “The reality is what this initiative is about is stopping this from happening in the first place. It’s like fire prevention,” Baird said. “In your fire prevention budget, you don’t hire firefighters. You do prevention work.” The minister had few specifics on what Canada would be doing to combat the child-bride problem,
but said money for programs and advocacy would be likely features. “We’re just really starting from the ground on this,” Baird said. “There’s room for government action but it will require societal change from the ground up. We’re just at a very, the early stages of this.” Bissell, a Canadian who has worked abroad for a quarter century, said she wants the government to think big and build on the momentum that Baird has begun: “Not little baby projects, but big things that are going transform communities and societies from the inside out.” She said UNICEF is wellpositioned in several affected countries, and has learned a lot of lessons in the three decades it has fought to end the forced genital mutilation of young girls in some cultures. “It’s not going to happen just with external political pressure,” she said. “For us this is perceived as this horrific practice, when it’s this social norm. Families and communities do this because keeping their girls costs money and if everybody is marrying their girls at 13 then you have to do it too because yours will be the unmarried one at 18.” Baird said the focus is part of a natural follow-up from Harper’s signature G8 initiative on child and maternal health. (The prime minister also made clear that of the $3 billion Canada was spending, none would go towards abortions). “It’s a development challenge in addition to a human rights challenge,” said Baird. Source: metronews.ca
Big fine, jail time for Ontario woman who failed to make payroll, income taxes By The Canadian Press
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UN praises Canada’s focus on forced marriage
BRAMPTON, Ont. - An Ontario woman has been fined nearly $1.3 million and sentenced to four years in jail for failing to make payroll and income tax deducations to the federal taxman. The Canada Revenue Agency says its threeyear investigation found Deborah Dieckmann used a “complicated system”
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
where her multiple staffing and payroll companies avoided roughly $6 million in deductions for temporary workers and other clients. It says Dieckmann was convicted of seven counts of fraud over $5,000 in July, with court also finding she personally benefited from the diverted funds. The tax agency says her father George Salmon has also been sentenced to two years less-a-day in jail and
a near-$400,000 fine after he knowingly used Dieckmann’s payroll companies to avoid making deductions on behalf of his employees. It says Dieckmann will have to pay her fine within one year of her release from jail or be sent back in for an additional five consecutive years. The CRA says Salmon — convicted of one count of fraud over $5,000 — must do the same or face another three years behind bars.
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Nigerian Minister, Musa Sada, marries third wife
the third marriage of the minister. He said the wedding ceremony started shortly after the Jumaat prayers and was attended by eminent personalities within and outside Kaduna. “The wedding ceremony took place in Kawu at the Zagon Daura mosque shortly after the Jumaat prayers. “It was a quiet ceremony and was attended by a few friends and colleagues of the honourable minister.” The source named some
of the personalities present at the weeding to include former President, Ibrahim Babangida, former National Security Adviser, NSA, Ali Gusau, among others. Mr. Sada was born on February 25, 1957 in Mina town, Katsina State and studied Architecture at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. Before his appointment as minister by President Goodluck Jonathan in July 2011, he lectured at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State. When PREMIUM TIMES contacted the minister’s chief press secretary, Marshall Gundu, for comments, he declined to speak on the issue Mr. Gundu, who however, promised to assist us get in touch with the minister, did not answer subsequent calls to his phone.
certain clauses in the recent aviation reform law to enable them to get approval to operate in the country. He said, “The private jet and charter jet sub-sector is booming. Already, we have close to 200 private aircraft in the country. Others will still come in. A lot of companies have also been applying to come into the country. If you compare this with the scheduled passenger sub-sector, there is a huge difference. Many private jets in Europe and North America have been parked because there is no business. Many people are no longer doing the charter flights in Europe and America. Since we are preparing for elections, most of them will want to come here to partake in the boom.” Early this year, foreign private jet manufacturers had also taken interest in Nigeria’s private jet market. Barely two months after Dassault Aviation, a French private jet manufacturer brought some of its latest business aircraft to Abuja and Lagos on a sales tour in January, Cessna Incorporation of United States arrived the country for a similar display. The aircraft were brought into the country by a Cessna’s agent, Jetalliance, an Austriabased company, in conjunction with a Nigeria aviation company, Airfirst Limited. Earlier, Bombardier Business Jets Incorporation of Canada also came to Lagos for a sales tour and static display of one of its latest jets, Global 6000. The team was led by the Sales Director, Africa, Bombardier Business Aircraft, Mr. Robert Habjanic, who
said Nigeria was the company’s largest market in Africa, with about 35 Bombardiermade private jets currently flying its airspace. He noted the aircraft market had been growing tremendously in Nigeria in the last five years and attributed this to the fact that “Nigeria is an emerging market.” Economic downturn in Europe and America has led to a sharp decline in the demand for private jets in the regions and luxury aircraft makers are looking at Africa, Asia and the Middle East, which are now the main markets for use of private jets. According to industry analysts and players, Nigeria and China constitute two of the fastest growing private jet market in the world. An industry expert, Mr. Olumide Ohunayo, said, “The economy is expanding, with increasing investments within the country and the region. This will invariably necessitate instantaneous travel that scheduled airlines cannot provide. “Also, the privacy needed in a country filled with paparazzi can be an issue. Increasing political and religious issues are contributory.” In May, the Federal Government introduced the National Civil Aviation Policy, 2013, which directed that all foreign-registered private jets should no longer be allowed to stay in the country beyond 15 days. The policy, however, said foreign-registered private jets on special mission in Nigeria would be allowed to stay for only 60 days, following a special approval from
Ibanga Isine The minister took his third wife in a quiet ceremony attended by a few friends and colleagues. While Nigerians were busy preparing for the Yuletide, the Minister of Mines and Steel, Musa Mohammed Sada, quietly took a third wife in a ceremony in Kaduna on Friday. Mr. Sada, who is also the supervising Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, performed the wedding Fathia in Zagon Daura Mosque located in Kawu area of Kaduna Metropolis. Although the name of the bride could not be ascertained, a source from Kaduna told PREMIUM TIMES that the latest wedding was
Musa Sada
continued from p(10) Consequently, the Very Important Persons must have spent about $191.625m (N29.7bn) on charter flights in 2012 at $525,000 multiplied by 365 days. The statistics for 2013 could not be obtained from the aviation authorities. Lately, a number of private jet and charter aircraft terminals have sprung up across the country, aside the ones being built by the Federal Government through the remodelling project of the Minister of Aviation. The growth in the purchase of private jet in Nigeria as well as the frequent use of charter aircraft have also led to the development of multimillion dollars private jet hangars, where repairs and maintenance could be done in the country. Some of these are Execujets Nigeria Hangar, Caverton Hangar and EverGreen Hangar, all located at the Lagos airport. The Managing Director of ED Aviation, Mr. Edward Young, however said about 70 per cent of the charter jet business in the country was still being done with foreignregistered planes. Young, who noted that some aspects of the foreign operators’ business were questionable, however, said the recent crackdown by the government had reduced this considerably. An industry expert and analyst, Captain Ken Wemambu, said a lot of foreign companies were applying to come into the nation’s charter jet sector because “it is very robust.” He said the foreign companies seeking to come into the country would capitalise on
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the Connection | mag
Nelson Mandela: 10 things to know about his wife, Graca Machel By Faith Karimi, CNN
She’s kindred spirits with Mandela: Machel has something in common with her freedom fighter husband. While living in Mozambique, she was outspoken against the Portuguese colonial government.
(CNN) -- Nelson Mandela once said his wife, Graca Machel, makes him “bloom like a flower.” Despite her reluctance to marry him at first, they’ve been inseparable since they tied the knot on his 80th birthday. Here are 10 things to know about the woman who was at the international icon’s side to the very end.
Curnow in a rare interview in 2008.
She’s been first lady of two nations: Before she got married to the South African antiapartheid icon, Machel was the first lady of Mozambique. Her husband, President Samora Machel, died in a mysterious plane crash in 1986.
South Africa wasn’t always in love with her: Protective of their beloved Madiba, the nation did not warm up to a foreign first lady at first. She remained in the background at the beginning, and then slowly won them over with her loyalty and laid-back demeanor.
She was much younger: When they got married in 1998, she was 52. But she says their advanced age made their relationship better. “We were grown up; we were settled; we knew the value of a companion, of a partner,” she says.
She has something in common with the Kennedys: In Mozambique, she was nicknamed Jackie Kennedy. Not just for her class and grace, but because of the tragedy that befell her husband while in office.
She separated the man from the icon: At the beginning of their relationship, Machel says, there was a conflict between the man she married and the world’s perception of him. “The aura around him was a bit confusing. But then I learned to live with it, in terms of separating the two,” she told CNN’s Robyn
It wasn’t love at first sight: After they met, she was reluctant to marry him or discuss their relationship in public. But Mandela wooed her the old-fashioned way, occasionally giving his bodyguards headaches as president when he’d make unannounced stops to buy her chocolates.
Graca Machel
She’s qualified in her own right: She served as minister of education and culture in Mozambique for more than 10 years. She is especially passionate about youth education, and has served as an expert on children’s issues for the United Nations. She’s Mandela’s third wife: Mandela was first married to Evelyn Mase, but their marriage ended in divorce. In his biography “Long Walk to Freedom,” Mandela has said Mase made him choose between family and politics. He later married Winnie Mandela, a firebrand who became his voice when he was in prison. After their contentious divorce in 1996, Mandela married Machel two years later. Their wedding was private: Despite Mandela’s largerthan-life status, they got married on his birthday 15 years ago. Their wedding was a low-key event attended by close family and friends.
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says Mr Adesina has introduced more transparency into the supply and distribution of fertiliser, which had previously been marred by massive corruption. The minister has also urged Nigerians to grow more food crops, especially cassava. In January, Mr Adesina announced a scheme to hand out 10 million mobile phones to farmers to “drive an agriculture revolution” so they can find out the lat-
est market information. The phones are also used to get vouchers for seeds and fertiliser. However, our correspondent says this goal has not yet been achieved, noting there is no mobile network coverage in many rural areas. The main opposition party criticised the scheme as a “mischievous votecatching exercise”. Mr Adesina was chosen ahead of some of Africa’s most prominent business-
people: Aliko Dangote and Jim Ovia, also from Nigeria; South Africa’s Patrice Motsepe; and Zimbabwe’s Strive Masiyiwa. Although their country is one of the world’s biggest oil exporters, most Nigerians live in poverty, especially in rural areas. Mr Bishop said he hoped the award would “encourage the rest of the continent to grow more of its own food”.
the office of the minister. Government has also hoped to cash in on the rise in the private jet market for more revenue. For instance, a few months ago, the government came up with a policy, asking foreign-registered planes to pay $4000 luxury tax, while Nigerian-registered were to pay $3000.
After serious of legal tussle between Airlines Operators of Nigeria and the NCAA, the Senate directed the government to suspend the fee. Industry players believe the recent aviation law banning foreign-registered planes from carrying chartered business in Nigeria will affect the future of the busi-
ness. Currently, government has yet to say whether it will review the law or not. But Wemambu said, “Whether the government reviews it or not, the foreign companies will still look for some clauses in the law and hide under it to come in.” Punch
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Source: www.bbc.co.uk
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PASSION This Time Around By Taiwo Iredele Odubiyi Continued from last issue The plane landed in Madrid and taxied to a gate. As Misan got down with the other travelers, she realized she had thought of Antonio through the entire flight except when she fell asleep. As she waited for her next flight to Nigeria which was in four hours, she walked round the airport. This was Antonio’s birth place. This was where he grew up. Where’s he now? Has he got back home? Is he okay? Should she have told him about Weyin? Misan asked herself for the umpteenth time. The smell of coffee made her realize she was hungry and she turned in the direction. She ordered coffee and sandwiches and sat down to eat. As she sipped the coffee, she looked at the many people who went about. She wondered what to do next, suddenly feeling very lonely and alone. By the time she finished eating, it was time for her next flight. Soon, she had boarded the plane and was on her way to Nigeria. At a time, food was served. After eating, she slept and didn’t wake up until she heard the voice of the male flight attendant telling some people to bring the seats back to regular position and to fasten their seat belts. Misan’s brother was at the airport to pick her and she was driven to Jemmy’s house where she had left her daughter. When Misan saw Weyin, she hugged her like she would never let her go. Her daughter made her feel close to Antonio whom she might never see again. Seeing Weyin was like seeing him. She reminded her of him. Why was she feeling so sad? She wondered. “What is it?” Jemmy asked, surprised at Misan’s show of affection. Misan shook her head. “Nothing, I’ve missed her … that’s all.” Much later, Misan decided to tell Jemmy. “I saw someone on the ship.” “Who?” “Antonio.” Misan said quietly. “Who is Antonio?” “Weyin’s father.” “Weyin’s father?” Jemmy asked, surprised. Misan nodded. “Wonders shall never end.” “Indeed! You saw him on the ship?” Misan nodded again. “That’s unbelievable. Did
Pastor Taiwo I.Odubiyi
you tell him about Weyin?” “No.” Jemmy frowned. “Why not?” “Have you forgotten what I told you? He didn’t want commitment.” Misan reminded her sister about Antonio’s opinion on marriage, and the fact that he had given her a wrong telephone number. “I’ve decided to put him totally out of my life.” Jemmy didn’t agree with her. “Misan, he has a child! He should know, he’s Weyin’s father and she’s his responsibility. What will you tell her when she grows up …that her father is dead or that you didn’t bother to tell him? She will look for him when she grows up, you know.” “I know but …” Misan shook her head, “I just couldn’t tell him. When Weyin grows up, she can look for him. I won’t discourage her. Telling him now will complicate matters for me. He may not even believe me, thinking that I want to push the child on him to rip him off. I don’t want that.” “But you can’t know what he will do until you tell him. You can’t be certain that he will deny Weyin.” Jemmy pointed out. Misan shook her head. “I know what I’m talking about. He told me at that time that a lady tried to push a pregnancy on him. He will think that I’m doing the same thing, more so as Weyin is now three years old. Besides, some of these white people can be funny with the way they think. With the issue of scam all around, he may think it’s another scam.” “You can’t sit here and be thinking for him.” Jemmy said. “Besides, let him think whatever he likes. The important thing is that he knows he has a child and he’s made to be responsible for her.” Misan did not respond. “But … did he recognize you? Did you talk at all?”
Jemmy asked. “Yes, he recognized me to my surprise. He was the one who called me. He actually tried to talk with me but -” “Do you have his photograph?” “No, but -” she opened her purse and brought out the photograph and the bracelet that Antonio had sent to her. As Jemmy looked at them, she commented, “I don’t understand you at all. You should have told him about Weyin. That was a very good opportunity for you to tell him. What about his phone number or address?” “I didn’t talk to him, I didn’t try to discus with him but I think he gave his card to Ruth.” “Did she talk with him?” Jemmy wanted to know. “Yes, she did. He even called her to get my phone number.” “Let’s phone him, Misan. I can talk to him if you don’t want to.” Misan shook her head. “No. Besides, we don’t know what may happen. What if he wants to be involved in Weyin’s life?” “And may I ask what would be wrong with his wanting to be involved in her life? Is he not the father?” Misan shook her head. “I don’t want to have anything to do with him again.” “It’s not about you. It’s about Weyin.” Jemmy pointed out. “Look, I don’t even know this guy like that, and the little I know about him is not very impressive. I’m not sure I want him to be involved in my daughter’s life.” “I really don’t understand why you don’t want to tell him. It’s as if there is more to it than what you’ve told us. He is the father; you should take money from him. By now, you should be in a bigger apartment and be more comfortable with your daughter.” Misan smiled. She wasn’t the type who would take advantage of a situation. Jemmy hissed and spoke again. “Well, the choice is yours. It’s your business but I think you are making a big mistake here by not telling him. You are only cheating yourself.” “Worse still, he may continued on p(49)
Share a problem with Auntie Agatha
She had three kids before our marriage Dear Agatha, I appreciate your approach to issues concerning relationship, which is why it fascinates me reading your column, especially on Sundays. I have been married for over 19 years and blessed with two children of 17 and 18 years of age. Prior to my marriage, my wife disclosed to me of a failed relationship she had, which relationship produced a child that unfortunately died after both had parted ways. I accepted her and assured her of my commitment to our relationship. We were married according to their traditional norms and later in the Church. Like every other couple, we have had our fair share of ups and downs, which, in most cases, we resolve amicably. However, I am shocked by her recent revelation shortly before the New Year. She drew my attention to an issue, which, according to her, had been a burden and serious concern to her all these years. Before she told me what the issue was, she expressed her regrets at not telling me since getting married to me. She explained how she was impregnated by a man at the age of 15 which led to her father sending her out his house. According to her, she stayed with a relation until she had the baby. After the birth of the baby, the mother of the man she had the baby for came from Ibadan and took her and the child there. It was there she completed her postprimary education. She further disclosed that she had additional two children for the man. Throughout that period, she narrated, the man never knew or met any of her relations, and she was not in contact with her people too. However, the man was transferred from PortHarcourt to Lagos and had planned to settle down there. She explained that an arrangement was made by her man with his friend to convey them to Lagos from Ibadan. It was while they were travelling down to Lagos in a van that they had a fatal accident, resulting in the death of her man and his friend. According to her, she was unconscious and was rushed to a hospital. The whereabouts of her
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Agathar Edo gatedo@yahoo.com agatha@gmail.com
three children remain unknown till today. She further explained that after she regained consciousness, further tests were conducted on her by a psychiatrist to ascertain her mental fitness. She went back to Ibadan, met the man’s mother who showed her where the man was buried. When they both realised that neither of them had the children, they searched all the motherless babies’ homes and hospitals within the area of the accident without trace of the children. When she ended the tale, she sought my forgiveness. I have asked some questions which she hasn’t been able to give me satisfactory answers. Since telling me this story, I have been emotionally and physically depressed. I am still consulting people, especially her mother who is aware of everything that happened to her. I need your advice. Betrayed Husband. Dear Betrayed Husband, Asking not to be angry is like telling a hungry baby not to cry. You have every reason to be angry, disappointed and even pack up the marriage. Sincerely, if you ask her to go, nobody would blame you because she not only betrayed your trust in her person but has also, in more than one way, disappointed you. If you insist you never want to see her again, nobody would blame you against the backdrop of the gravity of what she has done. But we know that none of this is a solution to the issue at hand now. Asking her to go won’t erase the fact that she has been your wife for 19 years and that you both have two children between the two of you.
It won’t also remove from the fact that you are both legally married and have shared some very wonderful moments together as man and wife. She has made you into who you are just as you have done same for. Your strength and joy go beyond the two of you; your children are part of that wonderful heritage you have both built in your 19 years as a couple. There are also those minute details which on the surface appear not to be significant but in the long run add up to make your marriage survive all these years. Honestly, when complex issues like this come up in a marriage, all these factors are what must be added up before a decision is taken. All those people you are consulting, including me, are not involved in your history or know what the strength of your marriage really is. Your marriage couldn’t have lasted this long without sacrifices from both of you. Indisputably, she has done the unthinkable in the minds of everybody; betrayed the trust you have for her, rubbished the essence of marriage. But what about the other side of her; that side of her that has given you the kind of joy and fulfilment these 19 years? If the consensus is for you to leave her, are these people going to share in your loneliness, fill the void she would be leaving in your life or give you a woman who is without blemish? I would be the first person to agree with you that there are missing gaps in her story. For instance, it is curious that no member of the man’s family came to see her in the hospital to ask for her and the children. If they came for the corpse of their son, how come they didn’t ask for her or the children at all, knowing they were the only family she had then? And why didn’t the woman make efforts to go with her to plead with the father or other members of the family? So many questions are really begging for answers, so also are many puzzles, especially concerning the children, are begging to be solved. To lose three children or not know their continued on p(49)
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Policemen live like refugees in dilapidated barracks
Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
Dr. Jide Odusanya
By Temitayo Famutimi In this follow-up report to “DPOs’ confessions: We run police stations on bribes and charity” and “No computers, no uniforms: Sorry state of Nigeria Police,” Temitayo Famutimi captures the state of police barracks in Lagos It was on a sunny Friday afternoon. Inspector Joy (not real name) stopped by at the stall of a pepper seller on the premises of the Obalende Police Barracks, Lagos. After buying some spices she dashed into a beer parlour adjacent the pepper sellers’ spot. “I really need to step down. It’s been a long and tiring day. You can join me if you wish,” she advises this correspondent who had requested to have an audience with her as she walked into the beer parlour. The traffic policewoman who later requested a bottle of stout resides in the Women Police Barracks, situated behind the Obalende Barracks. In a chat with this correspondent in the drinks joint, she laments that her experience over the years in service has made her desist from raising her hopes too high over improvement in welfare of policemen and women. “Do I need to explain how I feel about the state of the barracks where we (policemen and women) live in? You have seen it all yourself here. It is the same situation in many places. Please, let’s talk about other things because it appears that we have long been forgotten,” she laments as she sips a glass of beer. After finishing the bottle of beer, Inspector Joy, who notes that she is delighted to make the acquaintance of this correspondent, asks him to join her as she heads for home. On getting to her room-andparlour apartment in the Police Women’s Barracks meant for spinsters, the first item which strikes the attention of the journalist is a photo frame hung on the wall of the sitting room showing Joy and a well-built man. Asked if she is married, Inspector Joy explains that she is “somehow married”, adding that she cohabits with her man who also happens to be a policeman. “Don’t mind the inscription you see at the entrance of this barracks as it does not apply here. In this barracks, everyone is for himself or herself. My man stays here with me and goes to work from here just as it is the practice among other couples irrespective of if they are married or not. “Nobody conducts checks on how we are faring and that also explains why the barracks is not being maintained and has become a total eyesore,” she explains. No rehabilitation The policewoman who occupies
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an apartment on one of the twostorey buildings in the barracks laments that since she moved in, no rehabilitation works have ever been undertaken in the barracks. But she said in the course of this year, she has, through the resident association, paid for sundry petty rehabilitation. “The soak away recently got filled up and we had to contribute N4,000 each to get it fixed. Even the toilet we are talking about, there is nothing to write home about it. About 10 of us from three apartments make use of that dilapidated toilet and only one bathroom is usable on this floor and tens of people make use of it. “This barracks can at best be described as a refugee camp as it is simply an eyesore and yet rent is being deducted in my salaries monthly.” From meagre allocations that put police stations across the country at the mercy of charity from communities and criminals, the appalling dwelling places of policemen adds up to the several factors which make the Nigeria Police Force one of the most uninspiring institutions to work for many people. From Obalende, Surulere, Iponri, Bar Beach to Women’s Police barracks, all in Lagos the story is that of a sad tale of utter neglect. But the picture is similar in other states of the federation. While the sewage pipes in many of the barracks visited are damaged, their rooftops bristling with satellite dishes were adorned with largely broken, sagging roofing sheets – many of which have indeed fallen off. At the Obalende Barracks, many wives of policemen have simply turned their respective kitchenettes into shops of some sorts where they sell their wares. At some other sections of the barracks, wives of policemen have resorted to cooking in the open due to the dilapidated conditions of their kitchens. A visitor to the Surulere Police Barracks could think that it has been turned into a motor park as seven commuter buses were parked on the premises during this correspondent’s visit. Besides, two drinking joints sited on the premises of the barracks have also eaten up available breeding space,
thus confirming the lack of close monitoring from the authorities. At the Bar Beach Barracks, only four of the over 20 blocks occupied by inspectors show signs of renovation. All others were in dilapidated conditions. During our correspondent’s tour of the dwelling places of the policemen, the Alausa Barracks, however, stands out amongst its peers as it is generally in a good condition. It was gathered that the police authorities recently carried out renovation works on it. Home to rodents and reptiles On the whole, apart from lacking in basic aesthetics, the barracks are largely in dilapidating conditions with many structures fallen off or on the verge of giving way. For instance, at the Surulere Barracks, it was observed that rodents and reptiles moved in freely into the kitchens, toilets and bathrooms as the windows and doors have been broken off and have yet to be fixed. Also, the cement castings covering the decking on some of the storey buildings are already giving way. Besides, the open drainages and broken sewage pipes oozed out a repugnant smell while houseflies and other insects capable of transmitting diseases had a field day. Sadly the budget of the Federal Government makes provision for the rehabilitation of police barracks on a yearly basis. For instance, in the just concluded year, the National Assembly allocated the sum of N425,060,826 for the rehabilitation and repairs of police stations and barracks across the country. Yet the state of many of these structures remain abysmal across the country. No alternative to broken barracks Findings reveal that in spite of the sorry state of the barracks, policemen and women still jostle to get accommodated in them. It was gathered that police officers and men usually ‘water the ground’ often by giving bribes to some officials attached to the provost offices in the various state police commands. A police corporal at the Bar Beach Barracks, Lagos explains that before he got his apartment, a colleague of his who was moving out influenced the allocation to him.
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95 EDDYSTONE AVENUE, UNIT 1 TORONTO, ONTARIO M3N 1A6 “After meeting with the colleague of mine parking out of the barracks, I tipped him and he took me to the office of the provost where we also watered the ground. Afterwards, I got the apartment allocated to me,” the police corporal says. Asked why he chose what looks like a life of squalor with his family in the barracks, the corporal explains that he opted for the barracks due to the exorbitant rents that many landlords place on their properties. He says, “This barracks is not too good for human habitation. But I think I have got no other choice than to move out of the civilian residential apartment as my landlord was not fair with the rent as he put it up at will. “Although I can’t put a specific figure to the amount I pay month-
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
ly due to the newly introduced e-payment regime, the rent in the barracks can’t be more than N5,000, which is far less than how much I paid in my former place of residence.” At the Surulere Barracks, a police sergeant attached to the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters Annexe in Obalende, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, notes that he hardly makes use of the toilet he shares with other residents of his block. He explains that due to the dilapidated state of the toilet, he always makes use of rest rooms of one of the banks opposite the barracks whenever he is pressed. “I try as much as possible to empty my bowels at the office but whenever I am pressed at home, I rush down to the bank continued on p(50)
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FAMILY
How to raise loving and caring children By: Pastor Taiwo Odubiyi As satan is trying to destroy marriages, he is also trying to destroy relationships between parents and their children, and turn them against each other, but the people who know God will be strong and do exploits. But the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. (Daniel 11:32 NKJV) They will also submit themselves to God. They will resist the devil and he will flee from them. (James 4:7 KJV) Resisting the devil and submitting to God is what God wants parents to do. In spite of situations, circumstances and challenges, God wants parents to bring their children up in such a way that they will fear Him, honour their parents, and be godly in an ungodly society, and with God’s help, it can be achieved. In the Bible, King David’s sons did not have the fear of God. Amnon raped his halfsister. Absalom killed Amnon in revenge. He also seized the throne from David his father which made David leave the city with the rest of his family. Later, this same son led his army to attack and kill his father but he got killed in the process, and David returned to the city. Adonijah was not much better than these two. But Solomon the son of Bathsheba was different. Even when he became the king, he respected and honoured his mother. In 1Kings 2:19, when he saw Bathsheba, he rose up and asked for a throne to be given to her. Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand. What made the difference? How can parents have loving and godly children? It doesn’t just happen. It is made to happen with God’s help. Bathsheba did some things that made Solomon a wise son as I pointed out in one of my novels, ‘Too Much Of A Good Thing’. Before she had Solomon, she vowed to bring him up to fear God, respect his parents, and be good. And as Solomon grew up, she spent time with him, listening to him, answering his questions, and teaching him the ways and the things of God. When he needed to
Pastor Taiwo Odubiyi
be corrected and disciplined, she did so in a firm but loving way. There were also times she didn’t discipline but sat him down and talked to him one on one. As I wrote in the novel, Solomon came home drunk one evening. Bathsheba wanted to scold him right there and then but didn’t because she could see he was not very sober. She allowed him to go in to sleep. The next day, she called him and said, “What, my son? The son of my womb, the son of my vows! You should not continue in whatever you did with your friends yesterday. Don’t give your strength to things that destroy leaders: wine, women and wealth! They can destroy you!” She paused for effect. Then she continued, “Kings should not drink wine; neither should princes take strong drinks. Alcohol can make them forget God’s laws and pervert justice. It is for men who are foolish and ready to perish. Do you want to perish?” Solomon shook his head. “Then, my son, you have to stop going in that direction, it leads to destruction. You must never forget who you are, you are Jedidiah – God’s beloved. When you want a wife, look for a virtuous woman. She will do you good and not evil all the days of her life. Strange women will destroy you. Can a man take fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burnt? Answer me!” “No, Mother.” “Can one go upon hot coals and his feet not be burnt?” He shook his head. “Any man who goes after strange women lacks understanding, anyone who does that destroys his own soul.” She stopped and looked at him for some seconds. Solomon looked down, shame-faced. “My son, you have been a good boy. Don’t change. Make me proud of you.” Most children who rebel against their parents’ wish do so because they feel their parents don’t treat them right. These children feel that some things are not supposed to be that way, and they want to
correct those things by doing them their way. This shows that they have feelings and are smart. This could be frustrating and discouraging to their parents. Most of the time, parents pull away from such children out of hurt, pain and anger, and label them as bad children. But communication would help. What parents should do is to call them one on one and talk, to make them know that their way is wrong. Parents should spend time with them, establish a rapport, and influence them the right way, rather than abandon them. Let them know that there are consequences to making mistakes in life. God knew children would have these issues and that was why He made parents before children, to take care of them. God has also equipped parents with the right resources to deal with situations that might arise. Following God’s instructions is one of the ways provided by God. Some scriptures tell us what to do. Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6 NKJV) The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. (Proverbs 29:15) You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. (Deuteronomy 6:7) Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4) If parents would follow these instructions, things would work. And so, the solution is to catch them young for God. The parents should teach their children about God. But of course, a parent cannot give what he doesn’t have. Parents need to turn to God so the children can follow. A parent who is not submitted to God cannot get the child to do so. What should parents do? Here are some of the things. 1.Dedicate yourself and your children to God. 2.Bring your children up in the way of the Lord. 3.Pray for your children. 4.Ask God for wisdom on what to do and how to handle every situation
Think twice before gifting a pet (NC) Surprising a loved one with a new puppy or kitten over the holidays may sound like a great plan – and yet, animal health organizations and shelters across Canada are asking everyone to think twice before gifting a pet. As you work through your holiday gift list, keep in mind that while owning a pet can be a very rewarding experience, it may be more responsibility than some recipients are prepared for. “While this is an exciting idea, the reality for many folks is an unintended
burden placed on the new pet owner,” says Dr. Colleen Skavinsky, the chief veterinary officer with Petsecure, a Canadian pet health insurance provider. “Each year we see humane societies and rescue shelters faced with an influx of recently gifted, but unwanted pets just days after the holiday. People need to make sure that the new owner is ready for the responsibility, in terms of time, money, and an understanding of the care required to raise a pet successfully.” According to the On-
tario Veterinary Medical Association, the average annual expenses for the first year of puppy ownership in 2012 totalled nearly $3,000, when vaccines, pet licenses, food, and necessities like leashes and food bowls are taken into account. Kittens are slightly cheaper, around $2,000, but these expenses are still considerable. Those costs don’t go away after the first year, either. The study showed an average of over $2,000 annually to care for an adult dog and almost $1,600 continued on p(49)
Tips for Canadians purchasing condos (NC) According to a recent forecast from the Canadian Real Estate Association, the housing market is poised to see 3.4 per cent growth in the coming year – and more and more of us are choosing condominiums. Jamus MacPherson, a condominium insurance expert with Western Financial Group, encourages clients to read the fine print
E-mail: info@pastortaiwoodubiyi. og.uk
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
before signing on the dotted line. “Buying a home, whether it is a condo or a single family house, is one of the biggest financial commitments you will make in your life,” he says. “There are important differences between purchasing single and multi-family homes. When it comes to condos, keeping a few important details in mind can save you headaches in the
long run.” To help condo buyers sort through the clutter, MacPherson suggests referring to the following checklist: Ask questions. Knowing the building’s history will give you peace of mind. Important questions to ask include: Do the unit owners own the continued on p(49)
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U.S. dollar bank deposits are not insured in Canada (NC) – If you're a snowbird, or a frequent traveller to the United States, pay special attention to your deposit protection, say specialists in this field. November is Financial Literacy Month and it's also the time of year when retirees start to travel south. To smooth this travel, many snowbirds open a U.S. dollar account here in Canada – but if you do that, be aware those deposits would not be protected
by CDIC if that bank failed. “Many people don't realize that foreign currency accounts, including those in U.S. dollars, are not covered by Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation,” says Brad Evenson, CDIC's communications director. “Understanding deposit insurance is an important aspect of financial literacy, particularly for people like retirees who wouldn't have time to make up losses in the event their bank failed.”
She notes that banks can go under in Canada: 43 have failed since CDIC's creation in 1967. “Even during those failures, depositors did not lose a single insured dollar.” “You've worked hard for your money,” Mr. Evenson points out. “The best way to protect it is to get informed.”. Take a look at the workings of deposit insurance in three videos available on YouTube (CDICchannel).
REFLECTIONS ON NIGERIAN CHRISTMAS: The Value of Its Celebratory Message of Love and Oneness By Dr. Sam Ifejika Why is Christmas also an occasion of much loneliness and despair for so many in much of the affluence Western world? On the other hand, in much poorer Third World nations, Christmas seems to be such a joy, and everyone appears to be truly a part of the event. I grew up in Nigeria. The Christmas season usually begins with the closing of schools, colleges and universities. This, to me, meant getting away from schoolteachers and schoolmate bullies. Above all, it was a time to acquire new clothes. In Africa, the focus of Christmas gift-giving differs markedly from the practice in Western societies. In Africa, you shop at Christmas mostly for family members, poor relatives and neighbors, not for friends and workmates who can afford to buy their own presents. From Christmas Day to the New Year, you throw your doors open for all and sundry to come to eat and drink with you. Whoever comes to the door must be received, hence the need to prepare large meals. You do this, not in search of company, but as a requirement of tradition. This obviates the need to set up Western style food banks and kitchens at Christmas. Those who line up at our food banks in North America are truly down and out, usually. They accept our food, but are left will little dignity, no true sense of being. The night before Christmas in Nigerian villages
and small towns is mainly devoted to Christmas carols. Very much like Halloween night in North America, carol singers come to your door until the early hours of the morning. They come, not only to sing, but to receive gifts of money or gifts in kind. You give according to your means. The rich give to enhance their standing in the community. Anyone can join the caroling crowd. Much of the cooking is done on Christmas Day itself. Adult members of the family wake up early to prepare for the day’s celebration. On this occasion, cows, goats and chickens are killed in individual homes. Neighbors, relatives and friends are invited to help, while children stand and play around and watch in anticipation of the feast to come. Any entertainment must wait until after the Christmas service, however. Getting the church ready for Christmas is usually a community affair. A few days before Christmas, community members work together, with no regard to the normal boundaries of religious beliefs, to clean up the church and the church compound. They shine the pews, ensure that the altar ornaments sparkle and the grounds are spotless. Church buildings are festooned with flowers and tropical fronds. These activities are a testimony to the impact of Christianity in Africa. Many Africans share a truly fervent religious faith which is demonstrated often in community action, cooperation and individual acts of kindness and charity.
Therefore, on Christmas day, the churches overflow. Many non-believers join in on this day, doing so with due reverence for the occasion. Although families have had little sleep the night before because of the Christmas carols, in the morning they throng to their local churches. They go with relatives, neighbors and whoever wants to come. The churches are a place to show off the new clothes and shoes which, in their noticeable newness, varied designs and colors, help make Christmas services vibrant and memorable. The wearers of these fashion accessories look happy and proud on this occasion, with their faces revealing their willing friendliness. After the church service, people hurry home to entertain and to receive visitors—any visitors, as on this occasion there could be many surprises. But this helps to eliminate the sense of loneliness and isolation that easily overcomes many individuals on a day like this in our North American society. In Nigeria, on Christmas Day there is electricity in the air: plenty to eat, much to see, so much fun, varied activities, much company and much affection. Although there is the specter of starvation in many parts of Africa today (mainly the result of ethnic wars and climate change), in the days of my youth, food was plentiful in all Africa. By evening, everyone has eaten to bellyful. Drinkers bellow in homes and roam the city streets and village roads tipsy or outright drunk. This is by no
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means recommended, or applauded. There is no liquor control board. For the people, in their simple lifestyles, this is their own way of announcing to the world that, indeed, they are on cloud nine—happy as a well-fed horse. There are, of course, many more who do not resort to such exhibitionism. They are well-fed alright; but they need no escape from the norm of everyday life. They are satisfied and sane. These people—the
obviously absurd and the sane—are out in droves this day to participate in foolery or simply as observers of events as they unfold in color and rhythm. Public entertainment comes in various forms: in dance, music, gymnastics, wrestling, fire eating and in a number of other ways. And it goes on till the early hours of the night. The spectacle is much like the village fiestas in the Philippines on their saints’ days. As a child, the masquer-
ades and their spirit singers and dancers held the most excitement, should I say, awe. They were the high point of Christmas entertainment. People of my age considered them real spirits. I viewed them much like a child in North America would think of Santa, as decidedly not human. But, whereas Santa is kind and friendly, African masquerades exude with power and fear. The latter are viewed as inexplicable mystery by continued on p(18)
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
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NIGERIAN CANADIAN NEWS • To Advertise Call : 416-318-3506
10 good uses for salt
continued from p(17)
Just a pinch of it and it’s worth it. We’re talking salt here. Used throughout human history, mentioned often in the Bible, ubiquitous and cheap. Mined from salt rocks and extracted from sea water, salt is… well, the “salt of the earth.” You can’t live without it healthily. At the same time, you can’t live healthily with too much of it. Get the balance right – in your food and in your live – and salt is worth it’s own weight. 10 surprising good uses for salt 1. Deter ants Sprinkle salt in doorways, on window sills and anywhere else ants use to sneak into your house. It’s a sure way to keep them out! 2. Kill grass and weeds growing in cracks in your driveway Tired of weeding your driveway? Sprinkle salt on the grass and pour very hot water over it. Not only is this a highly effective way to kill unwanted plants, it’s also eco-friendly and cheap. 3. Say goodbye to fleas If your dogs have fleas, simply wash their doghouse and blankets in salt water. If you’re worried your dogs may have brought fleas into your house, simply sprinkle your carpets lightly with salt and then brush it in. Leave it for 12 hours and vacuum thoroughly. 4. Pick up a dropped egg If you drop an egg on the kitchen floor, sprinkle salt on the mess and leave it there for 20 minutes. You’ll be able to wipe it right up. 5. Clean up oven spills quickly If a pie or casserole bub-
bles over in the oven, pour a handful of salt on top of the spill. It won’t smoke, smell and, most importantly, will bake into a crust that makes the mess easier to clean once it’s cooled. 6. Clean brown spots off your iron Simply sprinkle salt on a sheet of waxed paper, slide the iron across it and rub lightly with silver polish. Your iron will look like brand-new in no time. 7. Remove stains from your coffee pot Fill it with 1/4 cup of table salt and a dozen ice cubes. Swish the mixture around, let it sit for half an hour, fill it with cold water and rinse. Your coffee pot will look brand new. 8. Keep your windshield frost-free Dip a sponge into salt water and rub it on windows, and they won’t frost up even when the mercury drops below zero. 9. Shell nuts more easily Soak pecans and walnuts
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in salt water for a few hours before shelling them. Doing so will make it easier to remove the meat. 10. Drip-proof candles If you soak new candles in a strong salt solution for a few hours, then dry them well, they won’t drip when you burn them. And some more uses 11. Tame a wild BBQ Toss a bit of salt on the flames caused by fat dripping from the grill. It’ll reduce the flames and calm the smoke without cooling the coals (like water would). 12. Soothe a bee sting Wet the sting right away, then cover it with salt.
young adults and children who are never told that the faces behind the masks are human—indeed, the faces of male relatives, friends and associates. But these faces are never to be seen while the events last. Masquerades come in all types of sizes, shapes and colors. Some are as tall as 9 feet. But whatever their size and height, they are supposedly endowed with supernatural powers. Witness some of them performing such stunts as carrying water in woven baskets. Some must never be seen by women, or such women would risk bringing bad luck to their families or even childlessness. All must be viewed from a respectable distance by all women, children and uninitiated male adults; children and women don’t get initiated into such matters. With so much wonder and excitement in the air, there can be no room for loneliness. These happenings tend to ensure that the sons and daughters of the land come home for Christmas—to their ancestral land. For the native soil tends to invigorate, to renew the spirit and to bring assurance and future blessings. Returnees feel this need for the native soil. It is a time of much social interaction and conviviality. Therefore, you make an extra effort to come home. On Christmas Day to the New Year, you make an extra effort to be nice to your fellows. Above all, you participate in the sacred mys-
Source:Salt Institute
How I wish that while we take care that our food banks for the poor, the needy and the homeless are well-stocked, we also take steps to invite into our homes and our world those individuals who we know are hurting, are hungry, are naked, are losing hope, are isolated by circumstance and usually forgotten in the festivities. How I wish we can bestow to all who dwell in our cities the gift of love and companionship on Christmas Day of all Days. How I wish we can all get along, simply as humans that share a spiritual bond. How I wish that while we try to meet the sacred obligations we owe to our families at Christmas, we also on that day honor the wider obligations of our common humanity—for WE ARE ALL ONE. This is the second most important law, second only to our love for God or the universe, by whatever name you call Him or describe this mystery. After all, the highest and the best message of Christmas is love—selfless love. This, we ought to consider, whether we live in a dusty African township or its lush rural communities, or in the affluent, more complex North America. Love, and much blessings to all at Christmas! Dr. Sam Ifejika Freelance writer and author www.cosmojunction.com www.politicalspitfire.com
ADONAI
13. Stop a grease fire Pouring salt on top of a grease fire will smother it. Completely. 14. Cooking tip If a soup or stew is too sweet, add a pinch of salt.
teries that define the identity and essence of the African person. Everywhere you look on Christmas Day, one sees beauty—the beauty of the human heart, the magnificence of love, the sound of uninhibited merriment. Perhaps it is only on this occasion that such a state of affairs can be studiously reenacted with regularity. Our North American culture no doubt is a great culture that has great aspects. From such a culture, there comes another variant of Christmas. But something is seriously lacking. Christmas seems to have lost all its charm and wonder. In its place are lonely persons, isolated communities and solitudes. As a man standing on the margin of two great cultures—one African, the other Judeo-Christian—I can perhaps observe the contrasts more keenly, for which I take the liberty to express the following wishes. How I wish that the Santa parades and all other parades around Christmas stayed longer, and were not just a commercial proposition. How I wish Christmas Day itself became more interesting, more inviting to all, more public, instead of being simply or more of a private affair. How I wish the transformation of human consciousness that we see and all feel at Christmas—the loving, caring relationships—lingered longer, perhaps forever.
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Bell pepper, not just chilli BY BOSEDE OLUSOLA-OBASA
•Diced yam •Diced unripe plantain •Crayfish •Uda •Onions Serve hot Method •Peel and dice yam and the unripe plantain and set aside •Grind the spices i.e. African nutmeg and crayfish and set aside •Boil and season goat meat, cow skin and the cow tripe for
some minutes •Add the grounded spices, yam, uda, onions, with a little water and boil for a while •Add diced plantain, dry pepper, crayfish, dry fish and a little seasoning •Add salt, lemon grass, scent leaves and simmer for a little while •Serve hot with palm oil on the side Punch
Bell pepper belongs to the chilli pepper family. It is noted for that mild chilli taste, capable of awakening the taste buds anytime. Nigerian families savour the taste and hardly can a week pass without a meal that includes bell pepper in many homes. It is an important ingredient in stews and soups. It is used for garnishing fried or grilled foods and more. It comes in green, red or yellow variants and has a crunchy flesh. But beyond this, bell pepper is full of great
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
nutrition or health benefits. Like other classes of vegetable, bell pepper offers more when cooked under low heat. The red coloured variant is said to contain more vitamins. So the next time you use bell pepper, you know just what to look forward to. • Bell pepper is low in calories but rich in Vitamins A and C • Vitamin C powers up the immune system, keeping the skin glowing. • Red bell pepper contains several phytochemicals and carotenoids, particularly beta-carotene, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammato-
ry components. • The capsaicin in bell pepper reduces ‘bad’ cholesterol, controls diabetes, gives relief from pain. • The sulphur content in bell pepper plays a protective role against some types of cancers. • Bell pepper is a good source of Vitamin E, which is good for the skin. •Bell pepper also contains vitamin B6, essential for the nervous system and cell renewal. • Certain enzymes in bell pepper — lutein, protect the eyes from cataracts and muscular degeneration. www.care2.com/greenliving
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LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT
TECH
Getting along with your boss
Laundry room innovations ease household chores
By Frank Ofili Everyone has somebody who is above him or her in organizational hierarchy. Even if you are the chairman and chief executive officer of your organization, you still have the customers or the shareholders above you. Beyond them you have the industry and political leaders, the laws of the land and of course, God Himself. So no one is really the ultimate boss. At one point or another in your career, you will report to a manager, the person you fondly, or compelling, call boss. The relationships that you create and manage, with both your immediate boss, and your colleagues, have critical implications for your work success and career progress. Whether you like it or not, you are responsible for your relationship with your boss. How it turns out entirely depends on how well you are able to manage it. No one will ever share as much concern as you do that the quality of the relationship helps you achieve your goals. At the same time, your boss has information that you need to succeed. He cannot do his job or accomplish his goals without your help. So, your boss shares a critical interdependence with you. If you do not accomplish your work, he will never succeed in his overall responsibilities. Neither will you progress without the information, perspective, experience, and support of your boss. Bosses come in different types and with different levels of skill and effectiveness. Some bosses are simply bad bosses; some are good bosses, while others are great bosses. Some other bosses are simply not aware of what you need or expect from them. Managing up is challenging, but ultimately, worth your time. So here is how to develop an effective relationship with your boss. These steps will help you develop a positive, ongoing, supportive relationship with your boss - a relationship that serves you and your boss well, and, as a consequence, your organization well. 1. Know your boss. Study your boss to know the kind of person he is,
Frank Ofili
his sensitivities and temperament. Is he choleric, volatile or patient and tolerant? Is he reticent, taciturn or urbane? Does he have large ego? You need to adjust yourself to him and his work style. Do not take his soft spot for granted, you might be surprised at what you get back. Take time to know what he wants and what he expects from you. At all times, do not complain to his hearing. Recognize that success at work is not all about you; put your boss’s needs at the center of your universe. Identify your boss’s areas of weakness or greatest challenges and ask what you can do to help. What are your boss’s biggest worries; how can your contribution mitigate these concerns? Understand your boss’s goals and priorities. Place emphasis in your work to match his or her priorities. Think in terms of the overall success of your company, not just about your narrow world at work. 2. Look for and focus on the best parts of your boss. Every boss has both good and bad points. Look at the good side of him/ her. When you are negative about your boss, the tendency is to focus on his worst traits and failings. This is neither positive for your work happiness nor your prospects for success in your organization. Instead, compliment your boss on something he does well. Provide positive recognition for contributions to your success. Make your boss feel valued. Is this not what you want from him for you? 3. Your boss is unlikely to change; he can choose to change, but truth is the person who shows up to work every day has taken years and years of effort on his part to create. And, who your boss is has worked for him in the past and reinforced his actions and beliefs. Instead of trying to change your boss, focus instead, on trying to understand your boss’s work style.
Identify what he values in a subordinate. Does he like formal or information communication, can-do spirit, pre-arranged schedule, confidentiality, etc? Your boss’s preferences are important and the better you understand them, the better you will work with him. 4. Learning how to read your boss’s moods and reactions is also a helpful approach to communicate more effectively with him. There are times when it is not wise to suggest new ideas to him, especially if he is preoccupied with an immediate challenging task. Problems at home affect each of your workplace behaviors and openness to an improvement discussion. Additionally, if your boss regularly reacts in the same way to similar ideas, explore what he fundamentally likes or dislikes about your proposals. 5. Learn from your boss. Your boss has much to teach you. Appreciate that he is in his position because your organization found worthwhile some aspects of his work, actions, and/or management style. So ask questions to learn and listen more than you speak to develop an effective working relationship with your boss. 6. Ask your boss for feedback. Let him play the role of teacher and mentor. Remember that he cannot read your mind; therefore enable him to offer you recognition for your excellent performance. Make sure he knows what you have accomplished. Create a space in your conversation for him to praise and thank you. 7. Value your boss’s time. Try to schedule, at least, a weekly meeting during which you are prepared with a list of what you need and your questions. This allows him to accomplish work without regular interruption. 8. Tie your work and your requests to your boss’s and the company’s over-all goals. When making proposals to your boss, try to see the larger picture. Understand that your suggestion may not be adopted for reasons of resource, time, goals, and vision. At all times maintain strict confidentiality. 9. In your relationship with your boss you will
(NC) With parents both heading off to work and children staying at home longer, life in the Canadian household has changed dramatically over the last four decades. While the image of mom smiling over the ironing board as dad leaves for the office is history, the weekly household chores still need to be done. More often than not, today's household tasks are being shared among the family, with everyone pitching in. Even with the extra help, basic chores still take much precious time out of the day, so on-the-go families are considering ap-
pliances with innovations that can give hectic households some much needed time back. “LG recently unveiled a mega capacity washer with a new time-saving feature called TurboWash,” says Laura McGowan, a senior brand manager at the company. “With up to 40 per cent more capacity than the average washing machine, this state-of-the-art appliance accommodates super-size loads reducing the number a family needs to run. Better yet, its turbo wash technology saves up to 20 minutes per load – and that means just three
loads will add up to a precious hour of free time.” Dryers have experienced similar time-saving innovations, McGowan points out. For example, LG's new Steam Technology features a steam generator that produces real steam right in in the dryer. Time-crunched family members can leave the iron in the cupboard and simply set the dryer to reduce wrinkles, making it simple for even younger members of the family to help out. More information on the latest laundry technology can be found at www. LG.com.
Tips for holiday tablet shopping (NC) — Holiday season is here, the shopping frenzy has begun and somehow it seems like the number of people on your list has grown in the past year. Technology tops many wish lists and tablets continue to be a hot holiday item this year. However, with so many options this season it's hard to cut through the clutter and pick the one that's best. When looking to purchase a tablet this year, keep the following four factors in mind to help you make the right decision. • Browsing and applications – whether you're browsing the web or playing your favourite web app, look for a tablet that offers
lightning-fast browsing so you're able to enjoy entertainment or be productive while on-the-go. Your tablet should always be able to keep up with you. • Battery life – don't fear the red, flashing, low battery signal anymore. Choose a tablet that has a long battery life that won't slow you down and keep you mobile – from a holiday brunch with your friends to a family festivity at night, that's power optimized. • Multitasking performance – don't let your technology slow you down. Look for a tablet with Intel inside that offers PC-like performance, allowing you to effortlessly move from
app-to-app. • Media experience - just because it's on a smaller screen doesn't mean your movie, game or presentation shouldn't look anything less than amazing. Pick a device that has vibrant HD media for rich and vibrant visuals to get the fully immersive experience wherever you are. With these critical few in mind, you're armed with the knowledge of what makes a powerful tablet this season. As you get ready to start shopping, one last suggestion: avoid the mall and buy your tablet online. For more tablet-insights visit www.PCmatchmaker. ca
sometimes disagree and occasionally experience an emotional reaction against you. Do not hold grudges. Disagreement is
normal. What is not normal is discord. So get over such moments and get on with your job. You need to come to terms with the
fact that your boss has more authority and power than you do, and that you are unlikely to always get your way.
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
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REFLECTIONS ON RELATIONSHIPS
Should you Confide in your Ex? Most often, people will tell you that an ex can never be the close friend that you really need, and believe it or not, they may be right. But as often as you see sand by the sea shore, you may be lucky too in seeing a rough diamond in the sand. The same goes for finding true friendship and close confidantes in your ex. Everyone needs a confidante; someone who you can share innermost fears and secrets with. This person will be someone who as a friend will be fearless of telling you the truth. The person will also be someone who has nothing to gain while being your friend apart from the fact that you are friends and all what that entails. The question of friendship after dating has always been something that has baffled a lot of people who have ever been involved romantically with members of the opposite sex. ‘Why should I even be your friend after dating’, is one question most people who ended romantic relationships have had to ask themselves. The chemistry may be gone, but if you and your friend are sincere and matured about the way the relationship ended, then there really is nothing wrong in your ex being your confidante. A deep meaningful and matured relationship, even if it ended without wedding bells, will definitely still carry the embers of friendship upon which a new relationship can be built.
A relationship based more on mutual respect and trust for each other. Your ex is someone who’s been around for quite some time and is a person who has had a taste for the real person beyond the façade we all show to the world. Your ex is probably the only person you really can’t impress again because all what and who you are, is already known to the person. Not all exes are reliable I know and I’m not saying that all exes should end up being confidantes. Some exes are actually slime balls and you are better off without them in your life. Most times, when you have just broken up with someone, emotions come into play and it muddles up most of the important signs that will help you in immediately getting over the relationship. What we mostly forget is that there is a future after the relationship may have ended. Both of you may go your separate ways, but you’ve shared something which will forever remind you of each other. I’m not saying that you should immediately turn a freshly ended relationship into one in which the current ex will automatically become a confidante. That may seriously be counter-productive. Deciding whether to be friends is actually what you should be asking yourself or if it’s even in the best interest for you and your ex. If one of you is not ready for that kind of friendship after time has healed the wounds, don’t force it. It is a sure fire way to
Not a bad idea
disaster. I’ve had exes who as confidantes have really impacted a lot in my life. One or two are even people that I’ve grown so close to now, even with both of us having moved on to the extent of being married to someone else, that we have gotten to a level whereby we share things that we would normally not have shared when we were dating. The importance of what we share now cannot be overemphasized. These friends have even helped my marriage to grow through very helpful pieces of advice that they have given me on issues relating to the female folk. Personally, I do not see anything wrong in your ex becoming your confidante. What really matters is that both of you know the kind of relationship you are sharing. The problem is that if one of you has not gotten over the relationship you both once shared, revealing close guided secrets to the person may be foolish on your part. If you both know where you stand upfront with each other, it will be easy to have a meaningful relationship devoid of the sexual undertones
of dating you once shared.
Don’t play with fire! Many people are of the school of thought that even if your partner (spouse/fiancé/ boyfriend/girlfriend) is your best friend, you still need a third party in whom you can confide from time to time. This makes a lot of sense particularly in times when it borders on issues concerning your partner you want to talk about. When he/she hurts you or annoys you and you want to vent; or times when you are at the verge of breaking up with him/her, you cannot possibly share your feelings or thoughts with him/her. Now, the question is this: should your ex be your listening ear and the shoulder to lean on in such times? According to Encarta, a confidant is “somebody to whom secrets are told: a person somebody trusts and discusses personal matters and problems with”. Except one is lackadaisical and without restraint, you shouldn’t have many people whom you can call confi-
dants. One or two should be sufficient. So now, the real issue to address is whether there should be no cause for alarm if you give your ex the only or one of the limited slots in your life tagged “my confidant”. Shouldn’t anyone raise an eyebrow if you are seen alone with your ex for a long ‘counselling’ session? This is not about an observer having a suspicious mind; it is about you creating avenues for suspicion to creep in. I think that a safe road to tread is to leave your ex in the pages of your life’s history and nowhere else. Even if at the moment, an ex does not seem like a threat to your current relationship, don’t be fooled to assume that he/she (the ex) would not subsequently become a source of worry. It is better to remove the ‘evil day’ from your future, instead of just postponing it because if your ex is kept as a close friend and confidant, the evil day is inevitable. Confiding in someone, particularly about emotional issues, amounts to “stripping” yourself bare before the person. With a confidant, it’s ‘no holds barred’. You can cry, scream, and generally express rage or hurt when you’re with a confidant. And you need to also bear in mind that such conversations are usually held in private, and can hardly be held
by telephone. You know what happens when you are in a vulnerable state and are in a private place alone with someone with whom you once were intimate? Hmmmmmmmm!!! In such a large world where there are billions of people with whom we can establish and build friendships, I do not think any woman should be offended if her partner expresses annoyance upon discovering that her ex is her confidant. Why, amongst all the people you know, should you choose your ex as your confidant? Why can’t you just let go? I believe that people who still keep their ex close do so because they are still emotionally attached. Actually, a decision not to confide in your ex will do you more good than it would your partner. In other words, a woman ought to take note of the fact that an ex can easily metamorphose from a confidant to a “partner in infidelity”, if not kept at bay. No one says your ex cannot be an acquaintance on the “Hello” – “”Hi” level, but the risks inherent in making your ex a confidant, far outweigh the advantages, if any. You know what they say: prevention is better than cure. So should a woman share her secret things and burdens with her ex? That would amount to playing with fire!
ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVES
Sexual Relations in Islam By Jamal Badawi Chairman, Islamic Information Foundation Canada In Islam, family is the cornerstone of the society and sex is viewed as a practical aspect of Islam's perception of the family. Sex is an aspect of human behavior; however, in Islam, behavior of any kind is not divorced from belief. Thus, people who believe in God, understand their individual responsibility to fulfill their God-given mission on earth, and realize that this earthly life will end with death, then res-
urrection and accountability, will definitely behave in a different way from someone who has none of these beliefs. There are three aspects of human behavior: spiritual, intellectual, and physical; and, uniquely, Islam provides satisfaction for all of them. For the spirit, Islam enjoins remembrance and worship of God. For the intellect, there is God's invitation to all human beings to ponder on and understand the universe and the natural laws governing it and humankind. And for the physical aspect, there is the permission to satisfy the need
for food, sex, and other material things. In Islam, the satisfaction of sexual needs are not contradictory to the spiritual nature of human beings. Islam permits human beings to satisfy all these three types of legitimate needs, the only qualification being that they should be satisfied according to the commands laid down by God: They should be satisfied in a wholesome and pure manner, without excess. [The love of desires, of women and sons and hoarded treasures of gold and silver and well-bred horses and cattle and tilth, is made to seem fair to
men; this is the provision of the life of this world; and Allah is He with Whom is the good goal (of life).] ( Aal `Imran 3:14) The Qur'an does not condemn humans for having this love of desires, but it just reminds them that such are the possessions of this world's life and nearness to God is the best of goals. Thus, the Qur'an asks humans to strike a balance between legitimate pursuit of material gain and the pursuit of the rewards of the hereafter. God forbids the immoral and excessive pursuit of material pleasures, particularly when it is done by using unlawful
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methods. Excessive Behavior It is possible to identify two extremes pertaining to sexual morals which have appeared throughout history. The first is the view that sex is unclean and con-
trary to goodness, spirituality, and faith in God; in other words, something to be suppressed and resisted. This view resulted in the institution of monasticism, celibacy, and in the belief that marriage and sex were inevitable evils, rather than blessings from God. The second more predominant view is that which allows the pursuit of sexual and other pleasures regardless of moral considerations and the harmful effects on both individuals and society at large. It is known that the former view led to psychological problems and the continued on p(50)
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FG expands facilities at Lagos Airport The Federal Government has expanded facilities at the international terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with the extension of B and D arrivals and departures gates. There are also ongoing massive expansion work at the top of the terminal as airline lounges, transit lounges and other facilities are being built. On top of the existing fingers were added another floor where departing passengers would pass through to the avio bridges in order not to mix with arriving passengers, a cardinal factor in the safety regulation of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The new additions will enable easy movement of passengers, and establish the Lagos airport as a regional hub, as passengers travelling to different parts of the West and Central Africa would stay at the transit lounges and wait for their flights; the same with passengers coming from these destination and travelling to distant routes. New screening machines have been installed at the airport and their remarkable feature is the ability to
detect explosive materials and potential threat items real time with the lowest rate of false alarm. Thirty new immigration counters have also been introduced as against the previous nine, which will improve passenger facilitation as there will be quick response from the counters. The extended departure consists of 14 check-in counters, seven hand-luggage X-ray machines and eight walk-through body scanners at the E finger. Spokesman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Yakubu Dati explained that the expanded infrastructure is equipped with 11 toilet facilities for both male and female passengers, as well as disabled persons. He said the new extension comes with commercial offerings including shops and
other business, adding that the duty free shops would provide passengers the opportunity for last minute shopping, refreshments and other conveniences in line with global standards and recommended practices. 'The improvement in physical extension of the passenger handling area is by one and a-half times or 150 per cent more than its previous size. Three new hitech conveyor systems have also been installed in this new section since early this year. This has been easing the experience of passengers who now enjoy faster processing of their luggage and personal effects,” adding that the new conveyor systems can process the luggage of 1,000 passengers per hour. Source:www.thenigerianvoice.com
Aviation Sector Decaying When I Resumed Office – Stella Oduah The Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, said on Tuesday that the aviation sector was in a state of decay when she assumed office in July 2011. Oduah said this in Abuja when she appeared before the Senate Committee on Aviation to explain the circumstances surrounding the Associated Airlines crash on 3 October. The aviation minister has failed to honour three previous invitations to appear before the committee. She said prior to her assumption of office, the aviation sector was in shambles as all airports were laden with obsolete and unserviceable safety and security facilities. “I met decayed infrastructures… at all airport terminals. “There were several abandoned control towers all over the nation. We had 154 abandoned control projects all over and several runways without runway lighting. “There were massive leak-
ages of agencies’ revenues due to manipulation of manual revenue collection process. “The industry was in retrogression, lagging behind other parts of the world. “Economically, it was a liability to government and thus a very poor image for the country,” she said. The minister blamed the Associated Airline crash on its technical crew. She also showed a video clip of the conversations between the two pilots showing that both engines of the aircraft were faulty and should not have taken off. “As a minister of aviation, the fact that we got a preliminary report in our laboratory without waiting for the final report showed that we have put in place preventive measures.” The Senate Deputy leader Senator Abdul Ningi, who represented the Senate President David Mark, rejected the explanation by the minister. Ningi directed Oduah to
re-submit a detailed presentation on the incident because her explanations failed to address the circumstances surrounding the accident. Ningi observed that the minister did not provide details about the processes that led to the take-off of the aircraft on the fateful day, especially why everyone failed to alert the regulatory agencies. “What we expect you Honourable minister to come and tell us here is whether your investigation had revealed those who approved the aircraft for the flight operation. “We also expect you to tell us when the aircraft was last serviced and who supervised the maintenance and certified it okay. “Your explanation was just limited to the immediate cause of the crash; we want you to come back and give us those critical information,” Ningi said. The committee adjourned the meeting to 11 December.
Should In-Flight Cell Phone Use Be Allowed? A couple of weeks back, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2 in favor of lifting the ban on cell phone use while in-flight. Their justification for easing the restrictions is that as technology has evolved and improved over time, modern mobile devices are no longer a threat to interfere with an aircraft’s avionic systems. The proposal will now go up for public review before a final decision is made sometime in the future, but it seems that it is only a matter of time before the 20-year old ban is gone forever. The FCC’s decision begs the question however: just because phones have been deemed safe, should they still be cleared for use in-flight? The vote in favor of allowing the use of cell phones on flights comes not long after the FCC removed the ban on the use of electronic devices during take off and landings. That ruling that was universally lauded by travelers who have long wanted to be able to continue to use their audio players, tablets and smartphones throughout the length of their flights. That ruling made it okay for passengers to use their cell phones too, provided they shut down all radios by placing the phone in “airplane mode.” This prevent phone calls from being made, although it does allow them to be used for listening to music, watching videos and playing games however. But there is a big leap
from allowing travelers to use their electronic devices on flights and letting them talk on their phones. Most passengers are content to quietly use their gadgets, and even wearing headphones to keep from disturbing the person sitting next to them. But on a cell phone they’ll need to talk, and most likely they’ll need to talk loudly just to be heard over the roar of the engines. That means they’re naturally going to be disturbing others sitting around them, which is only going to cause frustrations. Considering how frustrating modern air travel can be already, do we want to introduce yet another reason for passengers to get upset with one another? A couple of weeks back, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2 in favor of lifting the ban on cell phone use while in-flight. Their justification for easing the restrictions is that as technology has evolved and improved over time, modern mobile devices are no longer a threat to interfere with an aircraft’s avionic systems. The proposal will now go up for public review before a final decision is made sometime in the future, but it seems that it is only a matter of time before the 20-year old ban is gone forever. The FCC’s decision begs the question however: just because phones have been deemed safe, should they still be cleared for use in-flight? The vote in favor of allowing the use of cell
phones on flights comes not long after the FCC removed the ban on the use of electronic devices during take off and landings. That ruling that was universally lauded by travelers who have long wanted to be able to continue to use their audio players, tablets and smartphones throughout the length of their flights. That ruling made it okay for passengers to use their cell phones too, provided they shut down all radios by placing the phone in “airplane mode.” This prevent phone calls from being made, although it does allow them to be used for listening to music, watching videos and playing games however. But there is a big leap from allowing travelers to use their electronic devices on flights and letting them talk on their phones. Most passengers are content to quietly use their gadgets, and even wearing headphones to keep from disturbing the person sitting next to them. But on a cell phone they’ll need to talk, and most likely they’ll need to talk loudly just to be heard over the roar of the engines. That means they’re naturally going to be disturbing others sitting around them, which is only going to cause frustrations. Considering how frustrating modern air travel can be already, do we want to introduce yet another reason for passengers to get upset with one another? www.flightnetwork.com
Insecurity: FAAN, STF Ban Farming Activities around Jos Airport
Agabus Pwanagba, Jos The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Special Task Force saddled with the responsibility of maintaining peace in Plateau State has banned farming and any of such activities around the Yakubu
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
Gowon Airport in Barkin Ladi Local Government of the State. This ban was contained in a press statement issued in Jos on Monday and signed by the Head of Corporate Communications of the Airport, Alfred Itua. The statement reads, “The
Airport Security Committee in conjunction with the Special Task Force has placed a ban on all forms of farming particularly grain crops within and around the airport vicinity. The decision was said to have been reached after an appraisal of security challenges and airport operational safety threat due to grain crops farming. The statement further warned that, “henceforth any farming done at the Airport environment will be destroyed, stressing that, “Offenders are liable to arrest and prosecution.” Source:Africanexaminer. com
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Spotlight On
Kase Lawal
Nigerian-born Kase Lawal is the founder of CAMAC, one of the largest black-owned businesses in the U.S., StandardMedia reports. Recently awarded a number of oil exploration blocks in Kenya, Lawal is stamping his position and influence in the energy business globally, according to the report. The U.S.-based CAMAC is involved in exploration, development and production of oil and gas and recently opened offices in Nairobi to extend its reach in Africa. Born in Nigeria, Lawal left his home country to study in the U.S. where he started CAMAC in 1986. It has grown into a multi-billion-dollar company. A well-known philanthropist, Lawal supports initiatives related to furthering economic stability and growth, academic enrichment, cultural arts appreciation, and an improved quality of life in all the communities where his companies operate. The mogul has never forgotten his roots, StandardMedia reports. He believes education is the gateway to a better life and is keenly aware of the financial challenges facing Nigerian youth who want a higher education.
Nigerian-American Oil Tycoon
Lawal established the Lawal Scholarship in 2012 in Nigeria to reach out to financially distressed students pursuing studies in the oil and gas field. The selection and nomination of students is made through various universities. To date, the Lawal Scholarship has awarded more than $6,000 to students at eight campuses. Lawal’s social responsibility efforts go beyond Nigeria. In 2010 he partnered with the Jacob G. Zuma RDP Education Trust in a five-year agreement to educate talented disadvantaged young South Africans from rural areas. Lawal, through CAMAC, promised to contribute nearly $100,000 each year for five years to educate young South Africans. Source: afkinsider.com
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WELLNESS
Why Bath Salts Could Be Your Ultimate Relaxation and Healing Solution Our day to day lifestyles expose us to conditions that strain our bodies and make us overly exhausted. After long and tiresome days, we need moments of relaxation and ways of easing the tension. Hot baths seasoned with bath salts can give you an excellent soak that will leave every part of you including your tired feet and stiff back in maximum relaxation. The beauty with bath salts is that they come in a cocktail of fragrances making them even more appealing to use. This coupled with the healing properties imbued in these salts makes them a must-have in your home. You would be surprised to know that bath salts play an integral role in enhancing blood circulation in your body. This comes as an addition to the ability of these salts to reduce tenderness. Many medical
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VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
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OPINION
35
AUTO
Sorry, But This APC Is Not Change! Why winter tires are a must-have when the mercury drops
BY ADEKOYA BOLADALE
A long time ago, in the days of Late Chief Solomon Lar, when the likes of Chief Alex Ekwueme and Professor Jerry Gana were still in active capacity, the streets and roads of campaign arenas dazzled with the colourful flash of red and green. The ground for political ‘toasting’ was usually covered with deafening echoes of Power! Power!! Power!!! These were the days when Nigerians took pride in beholding the roof-staff called umbrella, even though under a dysfunctional government the people celebrated our nascent democracy and civil liberty. Days when the Hausa man only knew of ‘fi di fi’ and the little boy on the street of Mokola and Ojoo in Ibadan shouts to high heaven ‘power na da, power na re’ -where is the power, this is the power. But all these are long gone, all that is left are shattered memories of the once glorified biggest party in Africa, the symbol of the PDP has long been rechristened ‘umblerra’ while the ground breaking echoes of Power have been replaced with Change! The All Progressive Congress (APC) claims to be the new platform for a new Nigeria; it parades itself as the safe haven against maladministration, political oppression and monumental fraud which the present government proudly wears as its badge of honour. No doubt our country, Nigeria is under attack by the demons from hell parading themselves as politicians and political office holders. Our nights and days have been taken over by kidnapping, impunity, terrorism, corruption and nepotism. The dual evil mechanism of ethnicity and divide and rule are freely devised by these fifth columnists to the unsuspecting citizens who continue to see them as patriots and leaders. The All Progressive Congress seems at infant the best alternative to save our country from this curse with its emergence called the ‘broom revolution’ which swept through the South Western states of Nigeria and won sympathy of some federal constituencies and senatorial districts across the country. The party poses as a divine solution to our long clamour for a political platform devoid of serial robbers and fraudsters.
After 100 years of forceful amalgamation and 53 years of unproductive independence, Nigeria is indeed ripe enough for change. Oh our hearts yearn for a government of the people one whose heart is made of muscles and human blood cells rather than that of hyenas and scorpions. All seemed perfect at first, patriotic Nigerians and even members of the Fourth Estate were trooping to the newly found party. We thought we had found a saviour, we thought we had found El Dorado but alas, it is not yet Uhuru. Suddenly the deception and ruse on which the APC foundation was built upon could no longer continue to remain hidden. The true picture of what this new party represents became clearer to all and sundry. Contrary to its much publicized progressive name and the echoes of Change, the APC is a total opposite of what it claims to stand for. Events in the past few weeks has opened our eyes to the evil laced around the new PDP called APC and concretized our fear that this new angel may after all be worse than the beast we have been trying so hard to run away from. For a party that seeks change one is taken aback with its sudden romance with the shylocks who are the architect of our social economic tribulations. It is mind boggling on what mode of change this party truly have in stock for Nigerians with the sudden labeling of Olusegun Obasanjo the widely known corruption magnate as ‘progressive baba’, what progressive mind does Obasanjo possess? The ones used in cornering public funds or the ones graciously used in allocating public corporations to family and friends or perhaps the one that was devised in
the Halliburton scam and Siemens scandal. As if that is not enough, our ‘progressive party’ extended its dimwitted charade to General Ibrahim Babangida, Oh no. In what appeared as a roll call of past criminals, Atiku Abubakar was also called upon while General Abdulsalam was not left out. Obviously the status of the APC is not different from how the people put it, ‘Association of Past Criminals’. The height of this tour was the call on Obasanjo to come take over the affairs of the party. I am sure General Buhari was not present when that statement was made or is this another ‘permanent interest against good conscience’. I make bold to say that presently the APC has the highest number of criminals than any political platforms in Nigeria. It is now in APC that we have ‘progressive’ Sanni Yerima, the renowned libidinous Peadophile who takes pleasure in having sexual intercourse with children; I was just told he has divorced the 13 year old girl and set to marry another. Ibrahim Tofa is now a progressive, the man who co-planned the annulment of June 12 election. How then can APC preach change with collation of rogues and thieves, dictators and emperors, fraudsters and pretenders? I am beginning to think there is more to the broom symbol, its interpretation is now vast and can mean unity among thieves or maybe a mechanism to sweep our public funds. The party is worsening the situation with the unchecked graft activities in Lagos state where the state revenue service continues to operate under Alpha Beta consulting a firm owned by Tinubu, the conversion of various choice lands and properties on the Lagos Island worth
(NC)—Car experts agree that when the seasons change—and the temperatures dip—drivers should also be thinking of an important switchover on their vehicles. Despite motorists all across the country reminding themselves about replacing ice scrapers and snow brushes in their car trunks, there are still a large number of Canadians unsure of the benefits of winter tires for their vehicles. The experts, however, concur—winter tires are highly recommended. “This time of year serves as an annual checkpoint and reminder for the importance of having proper winter tires on your vehicle,” says Ian MacDonald, Director of Marketing at autoTRADER. ca, Canada’s largest online automotive marketplace. “Too many fender benders and accidents are preventable for want of proper tires. It’s an investment that pays off in peace of mind knowing your vehicle can perform better despite the conditions,” he says, adding that winter tires are a musthave for a number of scientific reasons: over 100billion naira to personal use, allocation of public corporations to political godfathers and the unending corrupt activities been perpetrated through Hitech Construction Company owned by Tinubu is alarming. The unending tax fraud in Ogun state under Ibikunle Amosun is also worthy of note, recently the accountant turned Governor paid 40.2% of the state generated tax to a consulting company, 40.2%? Wow! That’s not all, the state continue to wallop in huge debt and financial misappropriation. One of the projects embarked upon to siphon public fund is the 295 million naira air-conditioned pedestrian bridge which has continued to be under lock and key after commission, I wonder what air-conditioning has got to do with walkways. The state health and educational sectors are in comatose while a teeming number of the youths have taken to internet scam due to soaring rate of unempolyment. That is not all; the scam in the purchase 14 fairly used Armoured Car-
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
Specialized for the Season Winter tires are made from rubber that has been specially engineered to maintain its elasticity in colder weather—which means they’ll cut through ice and snow, gripping the road much better than summer or even all season tires could ever hope to. Specialized tread also works to give drivers maximum control despite the weather.
control, they don’t necessarily help it get more grip. It’s the quality of your tires that contributes the most to just how much traction your car really has, and winter tires give you the lion’s share of it.
Tech Will Only Take You So Far While features that have become commonplace on many vehicles, such as AntiLock Brake Systems (ABS), four-wheel drive and traction control, are designed to help keep your car under
A Strategic Purchase While the initial financial investment in winter tires may make you want to put it off (as much as $500, depending on the brand, including winter rims), swapping your winters for your all-seasons and back again as the weather changes means having to think less about needing new tires in general. “And,” adds MacDonald, “it’s a small price to pay for having that extra safety on the road.”
riers at 165million naira per nit as against the company price of 25million naira for brand new one still remain unsolved. The Governor continues to make ‘ritual’ payment to godfathers with juicy contract awarded to ‘their’ construction firms. The situation is not different in Oyo state under Ajumobi. The miraculous Mokola flyover constructed at a whopping cost of 3billion naira which was allegedly destroyed months after commission is quite alarming, how much did it cost to construct the London bridge?. Another sight is the Keke Napep ambulance. When real initiatives are not available, politicians choose to embark on absurdity. Like their counterparts in PDP, the governors under the APC platform have not fared better in terms of good governance. Their mode of governance falls short of the civil expectation and international best practice. For APC to be taken serious then this madness must stop. The impression of the party as a platform for ‘come and chop’ politicans must be
checked. The real electorates who have been neglected must be reached out to first; the party must stop giving the impression that elections are ‘arrangees’, won on the tables of godfathers and political jobbers. The youths who represent over 60% of voters but have been pushed aside must be incorporated into the system. The masses are tired of another party made up of men with big bellies, twelve wives and gray hairs. Money won’t solve the issue at hand but adequately convicing the citizens on the need to trust and vote for the party. Finally the ethnic colouration should end; APC continues to parade itself as a Northern and South Western collation against other ethnic groups. If election must be won fairly it must represent the interest of every entity within the country. Happy New Year to you all! Adekoya Boladale a political scientist is the Convener, Advocacy for Better Leadership (ABEL), he wrote via adekoyaboladale@gmail. com. Please engage on twitter @adekoyabee
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BUSINESS
Untold story of the legendary ALABUKUN POWDER and its maker Jacob Sogboyega Odulate, the Blessed Jacob, sat at the work table in his laboratory, writing the notes which contained the formula for what would ultimately be known as his famous patented medicine, Alabukun Powder. This was in the year 1918. It was early in the evening of another hectic day at his place of work, a functional combination of office, consulting room and laboratory-cum workshop. His single minded pursuit of the goal of establishing an indigenous medical/pharmaceutical brand was legendary. He had displayed the same purposeful determination when at the age of 14, he decided to uproot himself from his ancestral town of Ikorodu and he had embarked on an exploratory journey which took him three months on foot to establish a domestic and commercial base in Abeokuta. His very modest, but cherished “headquarters” was built in the Sapon area of Abeokuta, a mere walking distance from the site of his future three-storey landmark home in Ijemo Agbadu. With the day’s work finished, he supervised the ritualistic tidying-up of the office, a task in which some of his children were willing and excited participants. Soon it would be time to join his friends for a few games at tennis at the Abeokuta Tennis Club, and then go off to his home to join his wives and children for dinner. His face, which could sometimes bear the disconcertingly combined countenance of both a firm disciplinarian and a mirthful father in equal measure, was today aglow with joy. He, a black man and member of the Yoruba ethnic group had triumphed against the seemingly insurmountable obstacles that the British colonial authorities had placed in the path of ambitious “natives”. He had penetrated the fortress of British-dominated commercial enterprise in nascent Nigeria, to become one of a very small group of Nigerian entrepreneurs in the colony. He had reasons to smile. From the modest, but gradually escalating proceeds of the sale of Alabukun Powder, Alabukun Mentholine and other lo-
Jacob Sogboyega Odulate
cally made products – all produced by him – the Blessed Jacob was able to realize his overarching desire, which was to underwrite all the expenses associated with sending his children to the land of the erstwhile colonial rulers, Britain, to further their education. One after the other, his offspring went off to study at Durham, Newcastle, USA and London to qualify as educationists, medical doctors, lawyers and engineers. They returned to Nigeria to join the pool of highly educated and successful professionals for which Abeokuta has been particularly famed in Nigeria history. Alabukun’s offspring have prospered and have made immense contributions to Yorubaland and to Nigeria in their various professions and spheres of endeavour. The enduring success of the Alabukun brand is now interwoven into the fabric of modern Nigeria medical history. The Alabukun Powder in particular is displayed and sold in thousands of pharmacies, markets and roadside stalls all over Nigeria. In many states in Nigeria, Alabukun powder is considered to be the obligatory cure-all for almost every ailment. In neighbouring countries such as Benin Republic, Ghana and Cameroon, the eye-catching Alabukun brand is to be seen advertised everywhere. Alabukun products are sold in several towns and cities in the USA, the UK, in Europe, Brazil, Jamaica, and yes, even as far away as China. You can buy Alabukun products on-line, off-line, under-bridges and overexpressways. Just last year, 2012, the descendants and family of the Blessed Jacob marked and celebrated the 50th anniversary of the passing on of this towering man. In a manner in which he would have been proud, the celebrations were modest and without fanfare. None of the governors of the various
states in South West Nigeria in which the Blessed Jacob made huge contributions was present. Both Ogun State and Lagos State were in no way officially represented at this significant anniversary. However, we owe nobody any grudge because for a particular reason the family had decided to make the anniversary a low-key affair. Happily, his children, his grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren as well as the descendants and relations of the multitudes of his beneficiaries, patients, friends and employees, were all there to celebrate the history of this underappreciated icon. And so, one year after this 50th anniversary, what are the physical edifices and buildings that can serve as a present and future testimony to his legacy, to his industriousness, to his trailblazing entrepreneurship? Even then a befitting memorial, indeed, a legacy, solid, towering structure such as a house has severally suffered from uncaring and insensitive official arm. First to go was the magnificent family residence in Ijemo Agbadu with its unique granite-hued frontage and castle-like grounds which for more than half a century housed living quarters for family and friends alike – DEMOLISHED! Secondly, in 2013 the building (the first twolevel building in Abeokuta, Sapon) the original birthplace and home of the Alabukun brand was – DEMOLISHED!! Thirdly, the storeybuilding that the Blessed Jacob built on the east side of Ikorodu Road and which for decades was the most significant landmark on that road before one reached the landmark Ikorodu Roundabout was also pitifully – DEMOLISHED!!! This sad history of willful disregard and disrespect for the legacies of those who came before us and who contributed so much to the nation that we today call Nigeria is abundantly exemplified in the tragic fate of Alabukun’s properties. We, the descendants of the glorious Blessed Jacob are so grateful and proud of his life. The continued on p(49)
Oando signs €5m pact with German bank on LPG by UDEME AKPAN
Oando Marketing Plc, Nigeria’s leading downstream petroleum marketing company has sealed an agreement with a German bank to boost the production of liquefied petroleum gas, popularly known as cooking in the nation. Oando Marketing’s unrelenting efforts got a boost last week as it signed an agreement with KFW, a German government owned development bank based in Frankfurt, to invest €5m (over N1billion) to further enhance availability of cooking gas to low income earners in the country. The agreement was signed in Frankfurt by KFW’s Director of the Department “Africa Regional Programmes”, Dr. Thomas Duve and Oando Marketing’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Abayomi Awobokun.
Officer, Mr. Abayomi Awobokun
Speaking on the development, Awobokun, revealed that funds invested through the agreement will be made available to select Micro Finance Institutions who will then lend the funds out to end users of cooking gas as well as micro, small and medium sized enterprises for their LPG investments. Only recently, Oando Marketing Plc signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU with Nigeria’s National Association of Microfinance Banks, MFBs in alignment with the sole objective of making
a cleaner and safer cooking fuel more accessible to Nigerians. With the MFB partnership, the reach of the company’s 3-in-1 3kg O-Gas cylinder is now extended and made accessible to virtually everyone as intending end users may approach a wide range of Micro-Finance Banks with only N200 as an initial deposit and walk away with the complete set of portable 3kg O-Gas. However, such buyers will be expected to make a N200 daily deposit with any of the partnering micro finance banks for 30 days until they would have completed the payment cycle for the 3-in-1 unit. Speaking on its new investment deal with the German bank, Awobokun further stated that it is a new dawn altogether for gas usage in the country particularly for the low continued on p(50)
Nigerian-British Chamber honours BA Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) has recognised the efforts of British Airways in the aviation industry, particularly in the area of promoting exclusive bilateral business and investment activities between Nigerian and Britain. Presenting the recognition at the 2013 annual Presidential Dinner and Awards in Lagos Friday,
President of NBCC, Prince Adeyemi Adefulu, said BA has played significant role in fostering bilateral relations, business and investment between both nations, in line with some of the core objectives of the Chamber. “The role that the British Airways has continued to play in encouraging and fostering business and economic activities between Nigeria and Britain cannot
be overemphasized. It dates back to the formation of the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce and the role played by the then Chairman of British Caledonian, Sir Adam Thompson,” he said. The award was received for the airline by the Trade Sales Manager, Ademola Sanya, who restated BA’s commitment to the continued on p(51)
Loan insurance a safe bet for self-employed (NC) According to Desjardins Financial Security’s last retirement survey, 17 per cent of self-employed Canadians are carrying debt loads of $50,000 and up. While this is substantially lower than the 83 per cent of respondents who self-identified as either employees or business owners carrying the same amount of debt, it’s still a concern because the self-employed have more to lose. This is especially true if they ever became sick or disabled. For example, among those
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
self-employed who participated in the survey, 64 per cent owned life insurance, 60 per cent contributed to an RRSP, but only 24 per cent owned disability insurance. “People who start their own companies often think like an employee with a benefits package, where most of the risk is covered by the company. They don’t tend to ask themselves ‘If I wasn’t able to work and earn an income, would I still be able to afford my mortgage and other loan payments?’” said
Nathalie Tremblay, Health Products Manager, Individual Insurance, at Desjardins Financial Security. “Unfortunately, the answer is no as 50 per cent of bankruptcies and mortgage foreclosures are related to disability.” Loan insurance gives peace of mind Tremblay suggests that the self-employed consider loan insurance coverage because it repays the individual’s loans in case they were ever forced to stop continued on p(51)
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37
BANKING
How I stole N50m from customers, by banker By CHIOMA IGBOKWE
A banker, Adeola (surname witheld), 31, has given an insight into how he and his colleagues successfully ripped off customers of their money. Adeola was arrested by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU); Ikoyi, Lagos shortly after his employer, a new generation bank realized that more than N50million was missing from customers accounts that he was managing. On his arrest, Commissioner of Police, SFU, Tunde Ogunsakin, stated that his latest victim, who is a customer of the bank, alleged that Adeola had not been forthcoming with his account balances and that the balance given to him was at variance with his actual balance in the account. “The bank internal investigation into the account showed a forged instruction by the account officer in April 2013 transferring the sum of N15million to an unknown customer account. Also, the bank discovered other various fraudulent withdrawals made by the account of-
ficer in his care through fake transfer instructions amounting to over N50million.” At the police station, Adeola claimed that it was his desire to become a successful politician that lured him into this crime. “I joined the bank as an account officer in 2009. Currently, my takehome pay is N170, 000 which means nothing for a man who intends to make progress in life. I was able to learn from my seniors in the job on how to make extra money from the bank. It was successful till this particular deal went bad.” On how it was perfected, Adeola said: “Normally a customer would send a mail or letter of instruction to help them transfer a certain amount of money. Because their signature is already there, it is very easy to move any amount from the account undetected. All I did was to tamper with the amount. For instance, if the customer requested that N100million should
be transferred. I will simply add figure one in-front of the others and withdraw. Normally, if it is an account that the owner frequents, I will return the money before they demand for it. Normally before anyone or the owner of the account demands for anything, I would be alerted.” Adeola allegedly confessed to the fraudulent withdrawals amounting to N50, 640,740 from the account of the petitioner by transferring funds into the accounts of customers with forged signature and subsequently withdrew same. The funds were used to finance his political campaign, proposed pure water company and purchase of an uncompleted building at Sango Ota, Ogun state. “It is unfortunate that this business went bad. We do not send alert to customers that makes it difficult for the customer to know that there was an illegal transfer that was done.I am not even aware that I had withdrawn up to N50million; I guess my record could have confirmed that. I am very sorry,” he said. Olokojobi
Access Bank keeps mum as more customers close accounts More customers are closing their accounts with Access Bank Plc following the example and call of an Abuja-based rights group angered by the bank’s insensitivity in sacking hundreds of workers only to use the money thus saved to host a foreign musician. The campaign to boycott Access Bank over the issue was launched exactly a week ago by the Human Rights Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), whose National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said last week Friday: “Today we served Access Bank notice that we will on Monday severe all business relationship with them by closing down our accounts. As a struggling NGO we have very insignificant transactions with Access Bank but we appeal to good spirited Nigerians to pull out their savings because of the inhumane action of sacking 200 staff and at the same time coughing out N200 million to hire foreign musician recently.” HURIWA’s call was promptly backed by Change Movement Nige-
ria, whose founder, Mr. Olu Adegoke, said: “In solidarity with the sacked 200 staff of Access Bank, I am calling on all my friends to close down their accounts with Access Bank. Let us stand with HURIWA on this cause. Enough of taking bull shit from these corporate robbers. It is wicked to sack 200 workers only to spend 200 million to host a musician.” Checks by News Express showed that a growing number of people responding positively to the boycott call. Below are some of the responses: Adimora Umennabuike: i ve close my account wt wuse br. Jonathan Justin: Its done Tunde Akpeji: I have
similarly communicated my plans to close my account with this bank especially when they are paying a foreign artiste some mind blowing cash to perform in the wake of these lay offs Kennedy Onyegbado: I wil just hv to close my financial relationsip wit them Osagie Christian: Aburime My account with this Bank will be closed forthwith Omoba Kenneth: Comrade My broda tanx for the clarion call. We will ascent to it immediately. Awhgum Dugkess: My NGO-Dugkess Foundation wil join yos 2 close our account though nt a significant acct if l may borow ur words against dis inhuman actDaniel Stanley: I totally support this concerted approach to eliminate unhumanity in Access Bank. News Express reports that Access Bank has yet to react to the development despite efforts to get its Corporate Affairs Manager, Segun Fafore, to state its side of the story. Source News Express
Sanusi may quit CBN before June by Ifeanyi Onuba, Abuja The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Lamido Sanusi may quit his job before his tenure expired in June next year, findings have revealed. Sanusi was appointed governor on June 3, 2009 by late President Umaru Yar’Adua. Following his appoint-
ment, not many had an inkling of the drama that would play out during his tenure. Sources told our correspondent on Thursday night that the governor might proceed on terminal leave by early next year. The source who preferred not to be named owing to the sensitive nature of the matter said the terminal leave had nothing to
do with the recent scandal in the Nigerian National Petroluem Corporation. According to the source, the need for the terminal leave became imperative as Sanusi had not been observing his vacation as and when due. The source said, “The governor has said it so many times that he would not be staying longer than his tenure.
“You will recall that he granted an interview where he spoke extensively that he won’t want his tenure to be renewed. “I think left to the governor, he would even prefer to go now but there are feelers that he would even go before his tenure expired in June since he has some outstanding leave that he hasn’t taken. “So based on that, he
might take his leave early next year and this might lead him into retirement as the CBN governor.” Efforts to get the comment of the Director, Corporate Communication of the bank, Mr Ugochukwu Okoroafor proved abortive as he neither picked calls nor replied text message sent to him on the issue. Besides his policies as the CBN governor, Sanusi’s
views on national issues have attracted both criticisms and commendations. The CBN governor had in recent times being under attacks, the recent being his letter to President Goodluck Jonathan that the sum of $49.8bn was not remitted to the federation account by the NNPC. But following the controversy which the letter continued on p(51)
Making the world a better place has never been easier Western Union and World Vision Canada use Instagram and text messages to make giving simple According to research from the Ipsos Canadian Inter@ctive Reid Report, 70 percent of Canadians use their smartphone to take photos. And more often than not they will post these pictures on different social networks for friends and family to see. For most Canadians these acts have
become a habit. Now there’s a way to make these habits more meaningful to children in need here at home and around the world. Western Union customers are familiar with the concept of giving to others. Many regularly use the money transfer service to support family and friends
they’re separated from while they work abroad. This holiday season, Western Union has teamed up with World Vision Canada for their Send for Better campaign, in which people are invited take a picture inspired by “what makes the world better”, and upload their photo on Instagram
with #sendforbetter. Western Union customers can also participate by sending a qualifying Western Union money transfer and texting “WU” with the last four digits of their MTCN (Money Transfer Control Number) to 88898. Western Union will donate CAD$1 to World Vi-
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
sion Canada for every qualifying consumer-toconsumer Western Union Money Transfer® transaction and associated text or post sent during the promotional period, up to a maximum of CAD$25,000. The donation supports World Vision Canada initiatives that help end child
poverty in Canada and improve education programs in global communities. “The generosity of our customers knows no bounds and Western Union wants to extend our own generosity to help children abroad and in our own back yards,” says Joycelyn continued on p(51)
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STATE NEWS Fashola approves 120 new vehicles for Lagos traditional rulers
Kano receives 56 deportees from Saudi Arabia by NAN
The Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, has approved the procurement of 120 new vehicles of various brands for traditional rulers in the state. The state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ademorin Kuye, disclosed this in an interview on Saturday in Lagos. Ademorin, who said the vehicles would be purchased in 2014, noted that they would enable the traditional rulers to discharge their responsibilities effectively. “Already, the 120 vehicles have been provided for in the 2014 budget and these would add to the over 30 vehicles that we have provided in the current year. These vehicles speak of the commitment of the state government
Babatunde Fashola
toward improving the welfare of traditional rulers in the state and empowering our Obas to serve their people,” he said. Mr. Kuye also said that the state
government was renovating palaces and building some new ones to strengthen the traditional institution and improve the living standards of the traditional rulers. “We have just delivered a new palace for the Alara of Ilara, Epe and work would soon commence on new palaces for the Akran of Badagry and Olu of Ikeja. Renovation of the palaces of Ayangburen of Ikorodu and Elejigbo of Ejigbo are ongoing and we are taking all these steps to strengthen the traditional institution in the state,” he said. The commissioner added that the state government had set up a committee to consider applications from traditional continued on p(39)
Amaechi denies impregnating Soyinka’s daughter Rivers State governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, debunked the rumours making the rounds that he impregnated a daughter of Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka. According to an online publication, PREMIUM TIMES, the governor denied the rumours through his twitter handle on December 18, but it became public knowledge on Saturday. There had been rumours that a daughter of the Nobel Laureate was expecting a child for Amaechi and that she was already living in the Government House. It was further alleged that the governor’s wife, Judith, had fled abroad following the domestic challenges she was having with her husband. It was claimed that the absence of the First Lady gave Soyinka’s
Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi
daughter the opportunity to establish her full presence in the Government House. But, in the tweet, Amaechi debunked the rumour, saying it was a big lie, which was part of the ongoing campaign to smear his image. “That rumour about me and
Prof. Soyinka’s daughter is a big outrageous lie. It’s certainly part of the ongoing political campaign to smear…..” In another tweet, the governor said his marriage to his wife was intact, adding that they both love themselves. “…me and Prof. Soyinka. I have never and will never assault my wife Judith. ”I love her so much and she loves me too. Our marriage DEY KAMPE (Top Form).” On December 24, the governor tweeted a touching birthday message to his wife, Judith. The message was accompanied by a romantic photograph, with the governor wrapping himself around his wife. “Happy birthday to the most beautiful, loving, caring, trustworthy woman alive – continued on p(39)
Lar died poor — Daughter The daughter said Solomon Lar had only one car when he died. Late Chief Solomon Lar, the pioneer National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former Governor of Plateau, died as a poor man, his daughter, Chalya Lar, said. She made the statement during her testimony at the service of songs for the late Mr. Lar at the Church of Christ In Nations (COCIN) headquarters in Jos. “Baba has only one car at the time he died; I am not even sure he has up to N1 million in his account before he died,” she said.
The daughter said that she had cause to have a one-on-one discussion with her father as they travelled abroad on his medical trip. She said that she asked the late politician why he did not amass wealth and build houses like other politicians but that the reply she got from him was on how he was educated on other people’s sweat. “They contributed their sweat to send me to school; I cannot forget that,” she quoted Mr. Lar as saying to her. She said that rather than telling her why he remained poor,
the deceased stressed the need for his children to strive for good name. According to her testimony, the late politician said: “A good name will always open doors for you.” She said that her father was also a very good Christian and a lover of the people even at the point of his demise. “He never ceased expressing faith in God and his love for the people while on his sick bed, even when he knew his end had come,” she said. A former Personal Assistant continued on p(39)
Kano State Government had received 56 persons out of the number of those deported into the country from Saudi Arabia. The Director-General of the state Hisba Board, Alhaji Abba Sufi, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Kano that the deportees, who hailed from the state, were brought to Kano from Abuja in two batches. Sufi said that all the deportees were in good health, adding that two among them were from Niger Republic while one was from Gombe State. He said that the board had already handed over the Niger na-
tionals to their consulate office in Kano, while the one from Gombe had been handed over to the state welfare office. The director-general said the state government had offered transport fare to the 53 deportees to enable them connect with their families. “The state Deputy Governor was here on Thursday where he addressed the deportees and gave them assurance that the state government will support them. “All those from the state have been reunited with their families and will be given assistance to enable them be on their own'', he said. Punch
Lagos creates health agency to fight quackery Can you beat this? A doctor was caught instructing his nurses on how to treat malaria in his absence. At another clinic, there was no case file of a patient who had undergone surgery the previous day, for appendicitis. When health monitoring officials got there, they were shocked to find out that the patient was neither on drip nor under any medical observation. The auxiliary nurses on duty were busy doing other things. These are few examples of unprofessional practices and medical negligence in Lagos State. Can Lagos stamp out quackery in medical practice? The answer may not be “Yes”, but the state has set up the Health Ministry, Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA),to tackle the menace. At a sensitisation meeting with stakeholders, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, reeled the complaints and cases his ministry has received and how it is handling same. He said: “It is no longer business as usual, but business as unusual for all players in the healthcare delivery sector in the state to ensure ethics and standard in the medical profession are maintained. One death is too many. That is why we are restrategising to serve patients better, be in private or public hospitals. No sacred cows. If there are few functional facilities in the state that would guarantee life, the citizenry will be better for it, than a plethora of facilities, with astounding death rates. Patients and their relations should be happy with services rendered in facilities, rather than lose life or discharged worse than when they came in.”
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
On what the government has done to ensure sanity in medical practice, Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health Dr. Yewande Adeshina said HEFAMAA was the only regulatory agency to accredit locations where quality healthcare services are rendered, be it preventive or curative. “The HEFAMAA stakeholders’ meeting is meant to be an eye opener to see how many health providers are in darkness as to what the roles of HEFAMAA are and how grey issues concerning its activities can be addressed. The first stakeholders’ meeting which took place four months ago was very encouraging as it opened up windows, doors and avenues of interaction between HEFAMAA and all her clients on how to move the health sector forward,” she stated. Dr Adeshina said the clarification on registration of health facility was necessary against backdrop of the need to dispel the misconception about those empowered by law to register health facilities. She said: “The health facility monitoring and accreditation agency (HEFAMAA) was established in March 2006 by the Health Sector Reform Law of 2006. It took over the activities of the private hospital registration authority which has been in existence since 1983. The Agency performs it regulatory functions to ensure that the minimum set standard by law are maintained thereby securing the safety of lives of the citizenry”. HEFAMAA, she said was charged with registration of clinics, hospitals, maternity continued on p(51)
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Kano constructs one of the longest flyover bridges in W/Africa at N10b He said: “In the last two and a half years, we have initiated projects that have not only impacted on the lives of the people but should be of great interest to Nigerian engineers Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso of Kano State said that the state had embarked on the construction of its third flyover bridge, which will be one of the longest bridges in the West African sub-region. Kwankwaso was speaking at the ongoing Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Society of Engineers in Abuja where he received a Special Merit Award. He said: “In the last two and a half years, we have initiated projects that have not only impacted on the lives of the people but should be of great interest to Nigerian engineers. “For instance, two flyovers are under construction in the city of Kano and work has reached an advanced stage. “Only three weeks ago, the third flyover contract was awarded at the Central Business Area of Kano at more than N10 billion. “It is one of the longest flyover bridges in the West African sub-region. “This 1.76km flyover is expected to be completed within 14 months.” He said the flyover was constructed to ease traffic congestion
Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso
around the Abubakar Rimi Market. While recounting the achievements of his administration since 2011, the governor noted that three new cities of Kwankwasiyya, Amana, and Badirawo were under construction at the cost of N20.8 billion. In the area of water supply, Kwankwaso said 1,000mm and 600mm diameter ductile iron pipes covering 158.5 km were being laid to improve water supply in the state. According to him, the pipes cost N7.99 billion while N563 million was expended in laying the pipes. He added: “Another historic project of interest is the Jakara River Project. “This is a 6.67km dual carriageway being constructed on top of the river using buried circular conduits and an asphaltic concrete on top with streetlights and traffic lights at the cost of N7.5 billion. “We have also commenced two independent
hydropower projects at Challawa and Tiga Dams at the total cost N14.2 billion.” In the education sector, Kwankwaso said the state had recorded many achievements at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels. He said: “Education is a major priority of our administration. “That is why we are feeding our pupils numbering more than two million in all our primary schools with lunch five times in a week, and giving them two sets of uniform free, annually. “This has increased enrolment and we have so far built more than 2,000 additional classrooms, 1,000 toilets and 400 houses for teachers in the rural areas. “This is to ensure that the teachers stay in schools and don’t have to shuttle from the city to their places of work daily. “We have now embarked on fencing all our primary and secondary schools in order to improve their security and stop people from encroaching on them.” Kwankwaso further said 80 schools had been upgraded, 44 technical and Islamic schools built in each of the 44 local government areas of the state while 100 electronic libraries had also been provided. Source: theeagleonline.com.ng
continued from p(38) Amaechi denies impregnating...
my beloved wife and mother of my children, Judith. ”You’ve been a pillar to me, my partner through thick and thin. I love you so much, my darling,” he wrote. He posted the same message to his Facebook page. Soyinka appears to enjoy warm relationship with Amaechi. In July, after an open-
door lecture series tagged: “WS79 – Memoirs of Our Future: An Audience with Prof. Wole Soyinka,” which held at the African Centre in Covent Garden, London, to commemorate his 79th birthday anniversary, the Nobel Laureate told journalist he was Amaechi’s friend, just as he was to other public officers. Responding to a ques-
tion on whether he was a friend of the governor, following his spanking of Nigeria’s First Lady, Patience Jonathan, Soyinka said, “That Amaechi is my friend is not an allegation.” He said he would be friends with anyone who has been given the mandate of the people through the electoral process. Daily Independent
continued from p(38) Lar died poor — Daughter
to Mr. Lar, Nanven Nimsel, in his testimony, described his former boss as a good Christian and a generous politician. He said that late Mr. Lar practiced self denial to a fault, adding that “this robbed his people of Langtang some good opportunities when he was governor of the state”. He said that at a time when Mr. Lar appointed administrators for the then
14 local governments, he left out Langtang, claiming that as a governor he had represented them. Mr. Nimsel said that was the reason Langtang did not have the presence of any higher institution of learning till date. He said that at the time Mr. Lar, as governor, gave other parts of the state institutions of higher learning, Langtang had no commissioner to represent
it and so did not benefit alongside with others. “He kept telling us to be patient, while he was pleasing others; he only left us with a legacy of patience,” he said. Gov. Jonah Jang, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Shedrack Best, described Mr. Lar’s death as a loss to the state. (NAN)
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Nasarawa to conduct another bio-metric on civil servants by IGBAWASE UKUMBA
Nasarawa State government is to conduct another biometric exercise on civil servants so as to curtail some renewed cases of fraudulent activities that have reappeared in the payment of workers salaries. The state government had in 2011 contracted the services of an independent audit firm, Zackary & Co., who carried out a total verification of the entire workforce in the state cutting across state and local governments employees which consequently led to the discovery of thousands of ghost workers on the payroll of government. Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura said this in Lafia, the state capital, at the swearing-in of one reappointed fulltime mem-
ber of the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission, NASIEC, and three newly appointed permanent secretaries into the Nasarawa State civil service. The governor, however, solicited the cooperation of civil servants in the state to that effect, as according to him “the exercise is not aimed at witch hunting the civil servants, but to sanitize the workforce in the state that has been bastardized with fraudulent activities overtime.” “I want to assure you that this government will not rest on its oars to see to the ending of all manners of racketeering that has eaten deep into the fabrics of the Nasarawa State civil service system, especially in the payment of workers’ salaries, ” he maintained. Al-Makura used the oc-
casion to disclose the state government’s readiness to commence automatic employment to all manners of persons with disabilities who have possessed a post secondary qualification even as he directed relevant authorities of state government establishments to immediately reabsorbed all sacked disabled workers on state government’s payroll. Speaking on behalf of the newly sworn-in appointees, the re-appointed full time member of the state independent electoral commission, Aliyu Mohammed Dogara, assured the government and people of Nasarawa State of their total commitment in the course of discharging their duties as enshrined in the constitution of Nigeria. National Mirror
Oyo traders to get N300M interest-free loan says Ajimobi Ibadan, Dec. 29, 2013 (NAN) Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State says all traders in the state’s 33 Local Government Areas (LGAs) will have access to government’s N300 million interest-free loan in January 2014. Ajimobi gave the assurance on Sunday at an interactive session with market men and women, held at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building at Secretariat, in Ibadan. ``Oyo state traders will be entitled to this interest-free loan. The loan will be co-ordinated by members of the executive organs of the six umbrella bodies of market associations in the state,’’ he said. The governor said each of the bodies would receive N50 million, and
Gov. Abiola Ajimobi
urged the associations to ensure that the loan revolved among the members. He also said no fewer than 20 neighbourhood markets would be completed in 2014 to cater for traders who were banned from selling their wares along the roads. The President, Oyo State Markets Association, Alhaji Dauda Oladapo, expressed appreciation to Ajimobi for the loan, assuring that the traders would ensure
prompt repayment. ``You are a different governor. We have never had it so good. Your tenure has witnessed a lot of good things for the people of the state. Once you make promises to the people, you ensure you fulfill them,’’ Oladapo said. The traders also pledged their support for Ajimobi’s second term as governor, pledging that they would do everything to ensure his re-election ``for the sake of continuity of good governance in the state’’. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the interactive session involving the governor and the traders was aimed at strengthening the relationship between government and traders in the state.(NAN)
continued from p(38)
rulers seeking upgrade. He said that the committee embedded in the State’s Council of Obas would ensure that qualified traditional rulers get the deserved elevation. “We have different categories of Obas in the state and some of them, based on historical evidence and some other considerations, be-
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
lieve they should be upgraded to higher categories. So the committee on upgrade of traditional rulers will consider applications, scrutinise the evidence provided there-in and make recommendations to the state government for approval. It is State Executive Council that gives the final approval based on the merits
of the recommended applications,” Mr. Kuye said. The commissioner, who said traditional rulers were partners in progress, added that the state government would continue to work with them to ensure development in the state. Source : Premiumtimesng.com
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BOOKS - EDITOR’S PICK Celebs Gone Good: Stars Who Gave the Most in 2013 by Osaremen Ehi James
A book written by awardwinning Nigerian author, Chimamanda Adichie, ‘Americanah’ has been named by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) as the 2013 Best Book. The reputable broadcast medium recently released its top 10 books in the outgoing year and the Nigerian claimed the number one spot on the list. Chimamanda was recently featured in Beyonce’s album, which hit the market few days ago and broke iTunes record and also went ahead to hit the
An unforgettable novel about finding a lost piece of yourself in someone else. Khaled Hosseini, the #1 New York Times– bestselling author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, has written a new novel about how we love, how we take care of one another, and how the choices we make resonate through generations. In this tale revolving around not just parents and children but brothers and sisters, cousins and caretakers, Hosseini explores the many ways in
platinum few days after release. ‘Americanah’ beat the likes of ‘The Good Nurse’ by Charles Graeber, ‘The Flamethrowers’ by Rachel Kushner and ‘The Good Nurse’ by Charles Graeber to grab the BBC’s 2013 Best Book’ number one position. Nigeriafilms.com
Jasmine Cox Larson Bush and Rachel Jackson Adams have been through a lot together—from fighting for their husbands to become the head of the American Baptist Coalition to getting mixed up in a terrible murder. Now the frenemies have found themselves the stars of First Ladies, a muchanticipated new reality television show
The Trinidad contract was supposed to be simple: to make a living man become a dead man. When the job goes bad under the watchful eye of a bank security camera, there is nowhere for agent MX-401, known as Reaper, to hide from the fearsome local warlords, the Laventille Killers.
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author comes a powerful and emotional novel about one woman’s quest to uncover long-buried secrets about her family--secrets she will stop at nothing to uncover, no matter the consequences.
which families nurture, wound, betray, honor, and sacrifice for one another; and how often we are surprised by the actions of those closest to us, at the times that matter most.
A visceral portrait of life at a crossroads, The Orenda opens with a brutal massacre and the kidnapping of the young Iroquois Snow Falls, a spirited girl with a special gift. Her captor, Bird, is an elder and one of the Huron Nation’s great warriors and statesmen. It has been years since the murder of his family, and yet they are never far from his mind. Source: www.amazon.ca
The Reverend Curtis Black hasn't spoken to his son, Matthew, in over a year-not since Matthew dropped out of Harvard to marry his girlfriend, Racquel, and be a full-time father to their infant son. Curtis knows that it was he and his wife, Charlotte, who drove Matthew away, but he prays that one day his son will forgive them and come home
The First World War followed a period of sustained peace in Europe during which people talked with confidence of prosperity, progress, and hope. But in 1914, Europe walked into a catastrophic conflict that killed millions, bled its economies dry, shook empires and societies to pieces, and fatally undermined Europe's dominance of the world. It was a war that could have been avoided up to the last moment-so why did it happen?
Nursing wealthy businessman Chicago DuBois backto health was the least Loretta Lovelace could do. After all, her stalker is the reason Madison's husband was at death's door. And with Madison out of the country, Loretta couldn't resist looking after Chicago and reigniting his passion for life—in and out of bed. But now Madison wants to take back what's no longer hers, and that's a mistake Loretta plans to make her regret.
Source: www.amazon.ca
Nigerian Canadian News If satisfied, tell others!
The only book that offers clear and simple explanations to the Sentence Correction practice problems in the Official Guide for GMAT Review (13th Ed.),
the Official Guide Companion for Sentence Correction is a must-have for students who are looking to improve their performance on the GMAT verbal section.
When Carol Loomis first mentioned a little-known Omaha hedge fund manager in a 1966 Fortune article, she didn’t dream that Warren Buffett would one day be considered the world’s greatest investor—nor that she and Buffett would quickly become close personal friends.
If not please, tell us.
SOURCE: AMAZON.COM
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Distinctly Ahead
BOOKS AVAILABLE AT THE TORONTO & MISSISSAUGA PUBLIC LIBRARIES VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
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YOUTH CORNER Your children need your presence more than your presents” - Jesse Jackson It is amazing how weeks and months fly so fast. I can vividly remember how the year 2013 started and here it is; already ended. We are stepping into yet another brand and virgin year that no one has ever lived in it. I am grateful to God the almighty for this unique opportunity that he has given to me and the rest of us; may his name be forever blessed. This year has not been without its ups and downs. There are
Dima Ugoh
times when it has been very difficult for me and other moments when I have sailed through without much hassle. All in all I thank God for the strength that he has so generously given me to overcome all the obstacles that lied ahead of me. It is my sincere hope that everyone had a wonderful year and achieved what they had set to accomplish at the start of the year. However if there are things that you did not manage
to do or left them halfway, do not lose heart because you can achieve them and do even more in 2014. It is commonly said that “it's better to try and fail than to have never tried at all”. To the college and university students HURRAY! We are almost done! I want to encourage you to keep on pushing yourself and staying focused. To all those who have lost their loved ones this year, just like I lost my dear
WORD MATCH
JOKES
1. PARIS is to FRANCE as LONDON is to: JAPAN AMERICA GREECE 2. NILE is to EGYPT as MAIN is to: AUSTRIA FRANCE ENGLAND 3. TEN is to PENTAGON as EIGHT is to: HEXAGON OCTAGON SQUARE 4. FLOOD is to RAIN as DULL is to: SUN CLOUD SNOW 5. HAND is to WRIST as FOOT is to: KNEE ARM CALF
Akpos Joke: Armed Robbery at Akpos’ House “There was a robbery at Akpos’ neighbour’s house and he called 199 Next thing he heard was: Welcome to Nigeria Police Emergency Center, for English press 1, for Igbo press 2, for Yoruba press 3, for Hausa press 4. Akpos pressed 1, and another voice came up… For car accident press 1, for armed robbery press 2, for Boko Haram please
ENGLAND GERMANY TRIANGLE ICE ANKLE
MATCH UP Oeillade Tittup Deprecate Encumbrance Virago Borborygmus
A burden, impediment, or hindrance. An ill-‐tempered, overbearing woman; also, a woman of great strength and courage. An amorous glance; ogle. A rumbling or gurgling sound caused by the movement of gas in the intestines. An exaggerated prancing, bouncing movement or manner of moving. To disapprove of; also, to belittle. Answer on p(11)
Brain Teasers
How many men are standing here? Can’t find them? Look closely guys.
Find a face among these coffee beans
grandma, I pray that the Lord comforts you, and continues to be by your side all through this time. I would like conclude by say a big thank to all my supporters and contributors, who have made this page a success. It is my honest prayer that 2014 will be a prosperous and flourishing year for every single one of you. Till next issue, branch out and be unique! To reach me: dima_62@hotmail.com
PUZZLE Look at this list of words and work out which one does not belong with others. a) SECRET b) DISGUISED c) HIDDEN d) SPYING e) CONCEALED
hang up… He pressed 2, and another voice came up… If they’re with knives press 1, pistols press 2, AK47 press 3, machine guns press 4, bombs press 5, all of the above press 6… Akpos checked and saw that the armed robbers were with all of them, so he pressed 6… then a voice came up saying… “Hmmmm…! My friend, if your brother is a policeman, will you let him go?”
Which horizontal line is the longest?
Happy Birthday darling Anita, may your future be as bright as stars, and your birthday filled with love and joy, and may you be blessed abundantly today, tomorrow and the days to come! I love you!
Book of the Month By: Suzanne Collins
MYSTERIES OF TIME
ANSWERS Puzzle ANSWER: Spying MYSTERIES OF TIME ANSWER: Yes. His 18th birthday was yesterday, New Year’s Eve. He was speaking on New Year’s Day, so he will indeed have another birthday in the current year. Word Match ANSWER: 1. England, 2. Germany, 3. Square, 4. Cloud, 5. Ankle
Answer >>>>>>>>
A young man proclaims, “The day before yesterday I was 17, but I will be 19 this year.” Is this possible?
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
Lines and arrows ANSWER: They’re all the same length
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WORLD
AIDS epidemic tearing families apart in rural China I sat on a mountain pass at about 3,000 metres overlooking the scene of what had just happened. It felt like slow motion, and from the front seat of our fourby-four, I saw a dump truck slam into the car in front of us head-on, pushing back into ours as we were pushed back into another, then another, five cars in total. The wrecks blocked the narrow road for as far as the eye could see. We all could walk away, so it was a good time to be grateful for life as my thoughts went to the story we were about to cover. On the other side of the pass was a region that has been ravaged by an AIDS epidemic for the past 25 years. Official numbers show Sichuan as having 50,000 cases of AIDS, but the actual numbers are sure to be much higher. Half of the cases are from Liangshan, home of the Yi people, and our destination. In the small isolated villages lives the Yi minority. They lead a rural life, a world removed from China’s big, booming cities. Chickens run across roads while cattle amble and heavy blue capes are worn almost like an unof-
ficial uniform. Faces are darkened by sunshine and the elderly are stooped from carrying a lifetime of burden. A local NGO worker took me to visit a family crushed by the disease. A wrinkled 74-year-old matriarch wanted to speak, and clutching a family photo collage, she started to tell me about how all four of her sons had AIDS; two had already died. They had gone to the big city looking for work and a better life; instead they found hard drugs and an injection habit. She told me she feared that she herself would die soon and her greatest fear was for the future of her tiny 13-year-old granddaughter. The girl’s father died of AIDS, and then her mother abandoned her, leaving the older woman as guardian. The wrinkles on her skin seemed to grow even deeper when she told me her greatest concern: at 74, she knows her time is growing short. “My biggest concern is after I die who will take care of my granddaughter?” The young girl, “Nui Nui” — not her real name — was at home when we visited.
The school she should be going to rejected her because she, too, has AIDS and is often very sick. Her grandma said Nui Nui “is always sick and needs to go to the hospital, and that costs a lot of money, and I don’t have it.” Even though the government subsidizes the cost of AIDS treatment by 95 per cent, her grandmother has to scrape together the rest, which is taxing. Her daughter in-law, La Nui, lives in the village, too. Her husband left the family, but not before infecting La Nui with AIDS. She tells us 20 people she is related to have already died from AIDS. I watch her chopping wood … she pauses … she is tired. She says her illness is draining her. “I don’t want to eat, I feel powerless and have no strength,” she says. As for myself, I grew up on a tiny farm and feel like doing her chores for her and struggle with my role of observer. She takes a break and then continues with the axe until a man from the NGO comes to help her. The NGO has provided other help as well. It continued on p(43)
Three hundred pregnant foreigners stopped at just one airport after attempting to get into Britain to give birth for free on the NHS Hundreds of pregnant foreigners are flying to Britain just days before they give birth so that they can receive free healthcare courtesy of the NHS, a report has found. The women are duping airlines - who normally forbid expectant mothers more than 36 weeks pregnant to fly - so they can receive the free service. Expectant mothers trick airlines in their home countries into letting them fly by showing staff forged doctors notes which conceal the length of their pregnancies. Most of the women who arrive at NHS hospitals then have to be admitted and allowed to give birth, the report found, because their pregnancies were too advanced for them to fly home. Immigration officials at
one airport stopped more than 300 such health tourists over two years, the Sunday Telegraph reported. The statistics emerged from a 2010 document on government plans to deny foreigners with unpaid NHS bills entry to the UK. The revelations follow a worrying report in October, that warned that foreign visitors and shortterm migrants cost the NHS £2billion a year. The first comprehensive assessment of ‘health tourism’ says the true cost to taxpayers is up to 100 times bigger than some estimates. It concluded the Health Service has ‘some of the most generous rules in the world’. And it even found evidence of relatives of migrants taking advantage of visits to Britain to have free
treatment. The bill was put at between £1.9billion and £2billion – with only around 16 per cent of the money clawed back. The Government said it would be ‘impractical or inappropriate’ to charge in full some patients, such as students or those with infectious diseases. The study estimated that £388million goes on foreign patients who should pay for their care but are never charged. Health tourists – those who specifically travel to the UK for treatment – cost up to £300million more. The Home Office plans a new annual levy of £150 on foreign students and £200 on temporary migrants. The surcharge is expected to generate £200million. Source:Dailymaill.co.uk
Zimbabwe envoy says no going back on indigenization policy deadline of Jan.1 Abuja, Dec. 17, 2013 (NAN) The Zimbabwean Government has given foreign investors in the country up to January 1 to comply with its indigenisation policy. The Zimbabwean Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Mabed Ngulani, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the government had not gone back on its decision to ensure that investors comply with the directive. Ngulani, however, denied
Mr Mabed Ngulani
media reports that government had given a quit notice to foreign investors in the country. ``Let me make a clarification. Zimbabwe has not given an ultimatum to anybody, Zimbabwe has
not given an ultimatum to Nigerians and to the Chinese, the story came in the media. ``What the Permanent Secretary of the Indigenisation Ministry said was that Zimbabwe since the 1980s has had a law in its books that cuts across Southern Africa. ``Certain spheres of business operations are reserved for locals and mostly those businesses are in the retail level. continued on p(43)
Israel approves detention without charges for African migrants TEL AVIV — Israel’s parliament has moved to ensure African migrants who enter the country illegally can be held without charge, despite a supreme court ruling that had struck down a previous detention law. Legislation approved late on Monday set a maximum detention period of one year for new illegal
migrants, a change from a term of up to three years stipulated in a previous law annulled by the court in September. But with a newly built Israeli border fence effectively choking off what had been a stream of African migrants crossing from Egypt, the new law could also have an impact on some of the esti-
mated 50,000 mainly Sudanese and Eritrean nationals already in the Israel. The new regulations, which opponents predicted would also be challenged in the supreme court, enables authorities to send migrants, now living illegally in Israeli cities, to what the government describes continued on p(43)
Zimbabwe Ambassador To Australia Seeks Asylum: Media Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Australia has asked for political asylum just days before her term ends saying she fears for her safety if she goes home, media reported on Saturday. Jacqueline Zwambila, who is a member of Zimbabwe’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC), was appointed to Australia to renew ties between the countries after a unity government was formed in Zimbabwe in 2 009 MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai shared power with veteran leader Robert Mugabe in the unity government until a July 31 election which Mugabe
won. The opposition rejected the vote as fraudulent but it was largely endorsed by African observers as free and credible “I am not going to be returning to Zimbabwe,” Zwambila told Australia’s Fairfax media Zwambila said the continued on p(43)
Mali ex-president Amadou Toure in high treason probe Mali has announced plans to investigate former President Amadou Toumani Toure for high treason. The office of Prime Minister Oumar Tatam Ly said in a televised statement it had presented the case to Mali’s highest court. The government accuses Mr Toure of failing in his duty as commander of the armed forces when Islamist militants attacked the country’s north last year. Mr Toure was ousted in a military coup in April 2012 and fled to Senegal.
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
President Amadou Toumani Toure fled to Senegal after he was ousted from power last year
The coup plunged Mali into chaos, allowing an alliance of ethnic Tuareg separatists and Islamists to take over the whole northern desert region.
Earlier this year, the alQaeda-linked insurgents were ousted from the major towns with the help of France and West African troops. ‘Questionable patriotism’ On Friday, government spokesman Mahamane Baby said Mr Toure would be investigated for “his participation in an exercise to demoralise the army by naming incompetent officers and soldiers, whose patriotism was questionable, to high-level posts”. continued on p(43)
NIGERIAN CANADIAN NEWS • To Advertise Call : 416-318-3506 continued from p(42) Zimbabwe Ambassador To ... election had been “stolen” by an “illegitimate” government and she would not feel safe going home Zwambila, who was recalled along with other envoys after Mugabe took office again, has been accused in Zimbabwe of conduct not befitting a diplomat, media in Zimbabwe has reported Zwambila has
voiced fears of detention if she were to return home, saying she had been threatened with arrest in Zimbabwe after a court found that she owed some money to a tradesman. She denies the charge Zwambila was not available for comment on Saturday Australia joined the United States and Britain in ques-
tioning the credibility of the July election A spokesman for Australia’s Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said the government did not confirm or otherwise comment on any individual applications made to it REUTERS.
continued from p(42) tors from investing in Zimbabwe, it is a big problem. ``The foreign direct investment is not good right now and this is largely because of the 51 per cent indigenisation policy and we have investors expressing concerns in long term investments because of the economy. ``We need investors but the unemployment rate is high and we have to see that Zimbabweans are employed through foreign investments”, he said. The ambassador, however, confirmed that businessmen had begun responding to the government’s directive to comply with the law. ``The government has said because you (foreigners) had gone into sectors reserved for the locals we wanted you to partner with the local people as part of our indigenisation programme. ``So I phoned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after that broke out and I was told the nationals, the bulk of whom are Nigerians and Chinese, to find out how they are going to fulfill this particular law that has never been really effected since the 1980s. ``We have an indigeni-
Christopher Peloso, husband of George Smitherman, found dead
Source: www.thenigerianvoice.com
continued from p(42) Israel approves detention without... as “open facilities”. Legislators who support- be transferred to the new Under the law, their de- ed the new law said they “open facility” this week, tention would be open- were defending the Jewish the Prisons Authority said. ended, pending resolution character of Israel. OppoTens of thousands of Afof their asylum requests, nents called the measure ricans, many working in implementation of depor- undemocratic. low-paying jobs as cleaners tation orders or voluntary The government sees the and dish washers, still poprepatriation. migrants as illegal job-seek- ulate poor neighbourhoods The first such complex, ers, while rights groups and of Tel Aviv and other Israeli which can hold several liberal lawmakers say many cities. hundred people, is due to are asylum-seekers fleeing Israel has been trying to begin operating this week hardship and persecution persuade them to leave volin the southern Israeli des- in their homelands. untarily in return for a payert. “This law is needed in or- out. Some 1,700 Sudanese Migrants detained there der to deter potential infil- and Eritreans have gone will be able to leave the trators. The present reality home this year, the interior facility during the day but is a human ticking time- ministry said. must return at night, and bomb,” coalition lawmaker Zahava Galon, head of the they will not be allowed to Miri Regev, head of the left-wing Meretz Party, said seek employment. Women, Knesset’s Interior Commit- the migrants were no threat children and families will tee, told parliament. to Israel’s Jewish identity. not, at this stage, be sent Since the supreme court “Is this how we, as a peoto the complex, which the ruling in September, some ple who have sought asylaw stipulates must provide 700 of the 1,700 migrants lum, treat human beings?” healthcare and social ser- under detention have been she asked on Israel Radio. vices. released from a prison Critics say the facility is in southern Israel, offiSource: jordantimes.com effectively a prison. cials said. The rest are to
``Things like hair dressing salons, operating taxis, operating public stores, small space shops, selling hair products and real estate renting; are reserved strictly for local people. ``I must emphasise, it’s not a unique Zimbabwean law, it cuts across all Southern Africa. `` So a quit notice was never given to Nigerians, in fact no nationality was mentioned in that notice”, he said. The ambassador said the policy was aimed at ensuring the country’s locals were gainfully employed. He said the provisions of the law required that foreign businessmen with specific areas of investment partnered with the locals as part of its indigenisation programme. He said the partnership required 51 per cent of foreign businesses to be ceded to Zimbabwean locals as part of the programme. He said that though the terms affected foreign investment in the country, there was no indication that the government would review the provisions on the law soon. ``This is one thing that discourages foreign inves-
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sation law that says that whoever has a big business operating, if you are a foreigner, you will have to have local partners; what the government is saying is,` can you please get out of business or partner Zimbabweans in your operations?’ ``What I am saying therefore is come January 1 you will not hear of mass expulsions of Nigerians, it won’t happen.” NAN recalls that the Zimbabwean Government in May published a statutory instrument ordering all businesses operating in the country to apply for indigenisation compliance certificates within six months. The legislation does not permit foreigners to invest in sectors reserved for locals, such as grain milling, barber shops, tobacco processing, bakeries, and local transportation, among others. The provisions of the law states that any person who operates a business in the sectors prescribed without an indigenisation compliance certificate from January 1, 2014 shall be guilty of an offence.(NAN)
Christopher Peloso, the husband of Ontario’s former deputy premier George Smitherman, has been found dead after being reported missing for the second time this year. Smitherman released a statement saying Toronto police confirmed to him they had found the 40-year-old Peloso dead. "We will celebrate his life and we will find comfort somehow in knowing that he has found peace from the depression that has wreaked havoc on his mind," wrote Smitherman. Peloso, who is survived by three children, was
last seen on Sunday, Dec. 29, at approximately 11 a.m. ET Smitherman served as the province's deputy premier, health minister and energy minister before he stepped down to run for Toronto mayor in 2010. On Sunday evening, Smitherman tweeted: "Freedom from depression has been elusive for Christopher and once again he is missing and we fear for his safety." Peloso was also reported missing in September and was found two days later by a police K-9 unit, curled up and lying near a fence that runs along
the railway tracks near Lansdowne and Dupont avenues. "We will find strength going forward from the legions of people in our extended family who loved him so," wrote Smitherman. George Smitherman, left, and his husband Christopher Peloso wave as they leave Queens's Park in Nov. 9, 2009, in Toronto. Police say Peloso was reported missing on Sunday, Dec. 29, three months after disappearing for two days. Nathan Denette/Canadian Press Source-CBC News
continued from p(42) AIDS epidemic tearing families...
has provided goats and pigs to the family so they can raise them for income to pay for their treatments. The granddaughter has asked her grandma to build her a home, where she can live alone, cook for herself. The chances of her of finding a husband or love are virtually non-existent if people know she has AIDS. People with AIDS are culturally isolated, which leads many to choose not to have the free testing. AIDS has left Nui Nui
parentless and a target for other children. “My classmates know I don’t have parents anymore, so they often beat me and bully me.” She spoke with a simple clarity. Her words weighed in the air as she told us of her life. I asked Nui Nui if she knew what AIDS was. She said “no” instantly. The technical explanation for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome may be too much for a country girl no longer allowed to go to school. But after a lengthy pause she said, “I have the disease, I
am very sad. I know that this disease could make people die.” The disease has taken her father, her uncle, and threatens her aunt, her cousin, and herself. It was evident she knew more about the reality of AIDS than any classroom could teach. -Reporter’s note: After her interview was translated, the translator broke down and cried. She was from the same culture and knows what Nui Nui and her family faces. Cbc.ca
continued from p(42) Mali ex-president Amadou.. Mr Toure formally resigned in April last year, as part of a deal for the soldiers to hand back power. He is thought to be residing in Senegal’s capital, Dakar. Mr Toure first seized power in 1991 from longtime military ruler Moussa Traore. He then organised multi-party elections
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
and stood down before returning to power after winning polls in 2002. The coup, which was partly triggered by anger at government corruption and failure to equip the armed forces, took place weeks before Mr Toure was due to step down. His toppling caused a rift between pro-junta soldiers, known as green berets, and those loyal
to the former president, known as red berets. Last month, the coup leader, Gen Amadou Sanogo, was charged with murder and a series of other crimes. Analysts said his arrest was seen as a sign that the recently elected civilian government was showing its teeth to the military. BBC.CO.UK
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ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Billionaire Mike Adenuga’s 2nd Wife How He Met And Fell In Love With Her Billionaire business mogul, Dr. Mike Adenuga, Jnr. has one woman that he doesn’t joke with. Her name is Titi – and she’s his second wife. Born 51 years ago, her close friends and family members fondly address her as The Tizzle Girl. Ebony skinned and profoundly pretty, the fleshy mother of two (Sade and Niyi) was educated at the famous Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Osun State. Deeply religious and highly unobstrusive – except when in the company o f her buddies – she is the daughter of Pa. Elijah and Madam Susan Okome, from Delta State. Her path and that of Adenuga, GCON, crossed at the defunct Devcom Merchant Bank while she was jobhunting. Mesmerized and per-
Dr. Mike Adenuga, Jnr.
plexed by her stunning
beauty and brains, the stupendously wealthy businessman who rules and glows on all fronts decided to have her for
keeps. Rarely sighted together in public, they are nonetheless very much in love with each other, YES International! Findings revealed. 60 in 2013, Otunba Michael Adeniyi Ishola Adenuga is the chairman of the multi-billion Mike Adenuga Group – comprising Globacom and Conoil. A dominant player in the continent’s oil and gas, telecommunications, real estate, aviation and banking sectors, his first marriage to Folake collapsed due to what we know here as irreconcilable differences. But before then, the union had produced lovely children – Paddy, Bella, Oyin and Jide – who are all doing very well and also making their parents proud. He also has a grandson, Jaiyeola, courtesy Bella and her husband, Tunde.
Fathia Balogun Now Fathia Williams Due to the separation between Saheed Balogun and his wife Fathia Balogun, the court has given its judgment on the matter which led Fathia to change her surname to Williams. She has consequently changed her name to Fathia Williams on some of her social network pages.
‘Chief Koko’, OLUMIDE BAKARE, down with heart ailment – relocates from Lagos Story by Abisodun Omowumi/Nigeriafilms.com Nollywood is having one of its best on the sick bed again. Veteran actor, Olumide Bakare, is said to be down with a heart related illness now and looks weak. The famous ‘Chief Koko’ of the infamous ‘Koko Close’ TV series of the early 80s, we learnt, was recently admitted into a hospital due to the severity of the ailment.
Chief Koko
He has been discharged from the hospital now but the very active actor is not
looking anything strong, according to those who see him always. He was said to have confessed to a Lagos based magazine recently, that “I’m weak; I cannot do anything for now. I’ve also not been able to work for a while now as a result of this illness, so I’m calling on well-meaning Nigerians for support.” The actor has since relocated to Ibadan, Oyo State, we gathered.
Celebs Gone Good: Stars Who Gave the Most in 2013 By Elizabeth Durand Streisand
Somewhere in between releasing albums, making movies, raising children, looking stunning on red carpets, and (sigh…) twerking, a handful of celebrities actually find time, and money, to give to those in need. In honor of these charitable stars, DoSomething.org has released its sixth annual “Top 20 Celebs Gone Good” list. Coming in at number one
(for the second year in a row) is Taylor Swift, who — to celebrate her 24th birthday — gave $100,000 of her own money to The Nashville Symphony. She rounded out her efforts with an impromptu performance of “Livin’ on a Prayer” alongside Bon Jovi and Prince William at the Winter White Gala in London to help homeless youth. Sliding into second place is One Direction. The boy band kicked off 2013 with
a volunteer trip to Ghana to support the U.K. charity Comic Relief, but they weren’t done yet. Taylor Swift’s ex, Harry Styles, joined Liam Payne to raise a whopping $800,000 for Prizeo for Trekstock, a London-based nonprofit that supports cancer research. Beyoncé clocks in at number three, followed by the late Paul Walker in fourth. On the very day of his fatal car crash, the continued on p(51)
Late Funmi Martins’ Daughter, marriage Crashes Over Infidelity Story by Joy Akosa/ Nigeriafilms.com Late Funmi Martins’ daughter, Mide and Afeez got married years ago shortly she (Mide) joined the yoruba movie industry, but unfortunately Mide’s marriage to popular Nollywood actor and producer, Afeez Owo has crashed. Sources in the know disclosed that their marriage packed up on an alleged infidelity accusation by Afeez, he had always been suspicious of his wife’s movement and whenever he confronted her, her responses weren’t pleasing to his ear. Months ago, he decided he couldn’t handle her in-
fidelity anymore and separated from the actress despite pleas from friends and family. “The couple have been having issues with their marriage several months back but the crack became evident after the couple
started living separately this year” Their duo have since moved on with Afeez publicly showing off his new love interest while Mide who is yet to publicly identify with a love interest, has their kids in her custody.
Ailing Nigerian Actor Pa Kasumu Kayode Odumosu Spends Christmas In Pain Kayode Odumosu aka Pa Kasumu, a veteran Nollywood star walked slowly into his living room after having his afternoon shower. His steps were painful and deliberate, as he tried to get his eyes accustomed to the dimly-lit living room. He smelt fresh, though his face still had drops of water drizzling unto the cape of his white Kaftan. After a while, he wiped off the drizzle on his forehead with his left hand. It was Christmas day, but there was nothing in the household of the popular actor to suggest that
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
Kayode Odumosu
there was anything merry in the day. Save for a few visi-
tors, who paid him a visit that day, Pa Kasumu slept throughout Christmas, only getting up in the evening to take a shower and attend to his health. When The Nation visited him in his one-bedroom apartment on Alayaki Street in a rundown neighbourhood of Mushin, Lagos, Pa Kasumu said although the worst seems over, he is still very ill. “I am seeing two of you as we speak. My left pupil is bad. When I turn my eyes, it goes straight into my eyelid and it is very painful.
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RELIGION
Catholics battle Okotie over comment This is a ‘complicated’ season for popular Lagos Pastor, Rev. Chris Okotie, even as he prepares to honour the first female one-star General in the Nigerian Airforce, Air Commodore Habiba Garba. She is the winner of Okotie’s Household of God Church’s Karis Award for the year and she will be honoured on Sunday at the Church in Lagos. Damning widespread criticisms continue to hit a statement credited to the controversial preacher and televangelist, declaring that all “Catholics will go to hell.” Indeed, this seems to be threatening to take the shine of the annual Karis Award. The event is a brain child of Okotie who established it to honour Nigerians who have excelled in various fields, but who may not have been recognised by the larger society. The pastor is alleged to have made the remarks while delivering a sermon last Sunday. The controversial statement partly goes thus, “The Catholic church is a counterfeit church set up by Satan. Catholics bow to idols and crucify Jesus every Sunday when they eat bread claiming they are eating Jesus’ body.” Okotie tried to justify his claims by adding that
his statements are “not out of disrespect but out of respect for the word of God.” Apart from the fact that he has not debunked the claim, a post on his Facebook account reinforces the argument. It simply read, “Re- Catholicism: Truth is bitter. It lacks saccharine delights.” The statement has further led to more outrage by his Facebook fans and other aggrieved persons, just as his Facebook page has been besieged by angry Nigerians who have failed to see reasons with him. Not surprising, most of the comments have been uncomplimentary as the Man of God has been tagged with unprintable names. The ensuing controversy has also pitched Okotie and Catholic faithful against one another on Twitter and Facebook. A group called Nigerians Catholics on Facebook have issued a statement to this effect. The body claimed that Okotie was simply seeking cheap publicity in its statement. The administrator of the page wrote, “The unguarded utterances of Chris Okotie to fellow Christians who chose to practise their dogma in their own way shows how irresponsible and illmannered he is. “Antagonising another
church with a different principle of worshiping, but with no difference in faith professed, portrays Christ Okotie in bad light and casts negative shadows on his purported ministry in Christendom. “Chris Okotie should know that if over 1 billion Catholics will go to hell because of the way they worship their God, he too is not exempted. “I want to state clearly to Chris Okotie that over 1 billion Catholics going to hell will only happen in the figment of his imagination. “In fact, if I am to use what is written in the Bible concerning marriage and divorce to humanly judge Chris Okotie, then he is already number one candidate of hell.” On his part, Kingsley Williams wrote, “ l think we all need to pray for Pastor Chris; honestly, before it gets out of hand.” Ifeoma Goodluck, only offered prayers for the Catholic church, as she also posted, “No weapon formed against Catholic Church shall prosper, In Jesus name. Amen.’’ However, some people came to the defence of the controversial pastor, with one of them being Wilfa Wilfred, who simply said, “Please, insulting Chris continued on p(51)
Priest suspended for ‘plagiarizing straight from Sermons.com’ . Reverend John McGinn, 65, an Episcopal priest in Sandwich, Massachusetts is accused of cribbing others’ work verbatim and even publishing as his own . ‘I’m going to retire,’ says McGinn, who does not deny he stole the sermons. ‘I think I did a good job’ By JOSHUA GARDNER An Episcopal priest has been yanked from post after being accused of directly plagiarizing sermons he gave and even published in his own name since 2006. Rev. John McGinn, 65, led the congregation of St. John’s Episcopal in the Cape Cod town of Sandwich, Massachusetts since 1993. That is, until recently when he was put on administrative leave for alleg-
edly stealing sermons. They came, nearly verbatim, from a book called ‘Dynamic Preaching’ that is only available via an online subscription service at Sermons.com. The 300 or so families who normally attend McGinn’s sermons in the little wood-shingled village church received a letter May 9 from the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts explaining what exactly had become of their spiritual guide. ‘This is a serious breach of the pastoral relationship between John and each of you,’ wrote Bishop M. Thomas Shaw. ‘I am sorry that this matter has caused pain and will likely cause further pain in the parish.’ McGinn first raised the eyebrows of church elders a year ago when officials approached him with similar accusations. However, friar assured them it was an isolated incident that
would not happen again. ‘We investigated further,’ wrote Shaw, ‘and have documentation that not only did he continue to copy sermons and preach and publish them verbatim, in print and online, as his own, but he had been doing so for many years.’ As an example, the Diocese pointed to a December 2011 sermon given by McGinn in which he told a detailed story about a man who had ‘Jingle Bells’ sung at his funeral instead of ‘Glory Bells.’ The same story, investigators found, had been used at other churches before. Meanwhile, the opening line of McGinn’s version includes an aside about just how unbelievable some of his supposedly true tales can seem. ‘I keep saying that one of these days I’m going to sit down and write a book because some of the things that
Church discovers fake naira notes in offering basket A cleric warned worshippers on the existence of fake churches. The Methodist Church, Otapete, in Ilesa, Osun State on Sunday said it discovered fake naira notes in its offering basket. The church held its 2013 Juvenile and Youth Harvest on Sunday. Angered by the donation, church officials condemned it, and warned worshippers to desist from such act or face the wrath of God. A cleric, J.A. Amoo, brought out one of the fake N1,000 notes and showed it to the congregation. He explained that the fake notes were discovered at
the bank where the church went to deposit the money; saying it was embarrassing to the church. ‘We must bring this to the notice of the congregation because it is a bad habit; nobody should tempt God so that the Lord’s wrath will not come upon such person or persons. “I plead with whoever is involved or has similar tendencies to desist. Also let us ensure we crosscheck our money well at all time,” the clergyman said. Earlier in his sermon, the guest preacher, identified as Reverend Majenjebi, called on the youth to act right at all time. Mr. Majenjebi told the
young worshippers to always listen to their parents and elders’ advice. He said there were numerous fake clerics in the society, saying many of them established churches as business ventures to dupe innocent people. He called on the public to be cautious of such clerics. He blamed the establishment of fake churches on unemployment saying such clerics wanted to make ends meet at the expense of the innocent worshippers. He also condemned the policy of employers asking for work experience from fresh graduates before they could be employed.
Pope Francis temporarily suspends German ‘luxury’ bishop The pope has suspended the bishop of Limburg for the immediate future. The German cleric was temporarily relieved of his post in the wake of a scandal involving a 31-million-euro ($42 million) renovation project. Pope Francis announced he would remove Bishop of Limburg Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst from his position for the time being, according to a Vatican statement on Wednesday. The decision came two days after the pontiff held a private audience with Tebartzvan Elst. The pontiff had chosen to suspend Tebartz-van Elst because he “could not [carry out his duties] at the current time,” given the controversy surrounding his costly renovation project, the Vatican statement said. Vicar general Wolfgang Rösch from the neighboring city of Wiesbaden was named as the temporary caretaker for the bishop of Limburg’s diocese. Rösch had already been selected to become Limburg’s vicar general beginning January 2014.
It was not immediately clear how long German bishop would be suspended. German daily newspaper “Bild” reported that the suspension was expected to last two to three months. There was no immediate comment from the bishop. The ‘luxury’ bishop Tebartz-van Elst, 53, this month announced the costs for the renovation of his new residence and offices would be 31 million euros, far beyond the original estimate of 5.5 million euros. The scandal over the possible misuse of Church funds has drawn criticism in Germany, where parish funds comes not only from donations, but also from a special “church tax” paid by registered parishioners to their respective denomina-
tions. The surprising cost of the renovation projects prompted calls for his resignation by German Catholics. A separate scandal had also drawn attention to the bishop around the same time involving a trip to India where he visited impoverished communities. He had denied claims by the German news magazine Der Spiegel that he had flown first-class. The Hamburg prosecutor subsequently issued an indictment against him for allegedly submitting false affidavits. Tebartz-van Elst has defended the costs, citing the breadth of the project as the main reason for the exorbitant bill. kms/mz (KNA, dpa)
have happened in my ministry need to be written down so that people can read them,’ he said in the sermon, which was still on the church’s sermon as of Friday. Rev. Mally Lloyd of the Diocese office said there were other instances. As many as
15, according to the Cape Cod Times. And McGinn, says Shaw, isn’t denying any of it. ‘He admits to having done so,’ he wrote. The diocese is now ‘working out a final agreement’ with the priest. So what becomes of a
shamed priest after many years in the cloth? Not a tortured existence, it appears. ‘I’m going to retire,’ the unabashed McGinn said. ‘I loved my time at the parish. That’s all. I think I did a good job.’
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
Source:Mailonline.com
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RELIGION God Does Not Forbid Bad Thing By Femi Aribisala There is a misunderstanding prevalent among Christians, especially those weaned on the “prosperity gospel.” It is assumed that when the Lord gives a report, he always gives a good report, and that the report of the devil is always bad. Thus, we say repeatedly in “Naijanese:” “God forbid bad thing.” However, this comes from fundamental lack of understanding of Jesus’ kingdom dynamics. In the kingdom of God, the way up is down. The Lord kills and makes alive. He makes poor and makes rich. He brings low and lifts up. (1 Samuel 2:6-7). He wounds and he heals. (Deuteronomy 32:39). Therefore, before the Lord gives a good report, he first gives a bad report. God’s bad reports If the report of the Lord were always good, as is commonly assumed, why would Isaiah ask: “Who has believed our report?” (Isaiah 53:1). What is so difficult to believe about a good report? If the report of the Lord were the same as the prosperity messages prevalent in the churches of today, why were the prophets of God in the bible often beaten up, jailed and killed? Thus, Jesus lamented: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you.” (Luke 13:34). The truth is the report of the Lord is first and foremost a bad report. Why else would Jeremiah bring charges against the Lord? He complains: “O Lord, you deceived me when you promised me your help. I have to give them your messages because you are stronger than I am, but now I am the laughingstock of the city, mocked by all. You have never once let me speak a word of kindness to them; always it is disaster and horror and destruction.” (Jeremiah 20:7-8). Because this world is steeped in evil and corruption, the report of the Lord is often bad. It is usually of God’s anger at the sins of men and of his impending judgment. But inside that bad report is often buried the promise of a conditionally good report. Thus, Noah gave the bad report that God would destroy mankind in a flood. However, he also said those who took refuge in the ark would be saved. It is the devil and his agents that give good reports which then turn out to be bad. They are determined to give us a false sense of security. Let us go back to Genesis to get a foundational under-
standing of this kingdom dynamic. God told Adam at the dawn of creation: “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17). This was a bad report and it came from God. It was a report of certain death as a consequence of disobedience. Who then gave the good report? It was the devil. “The serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5). Whose report did Eve believe? She believed the good report of the devil and rejected the bad report of the Lord. Therefore she ate the forbidden fruit and also gave it to Adam, her husband. Immediately they ate the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve died spiritually. Their death was not forbidden by the Lord: their death was decreed by the Lord. The tendency to reject the bad report of the Lord in favour of the good report of the devil is endemic. In the case of Adam and Eve, it resulted in their being driven out of the Garden of Eden and denied access to the Tree of Life. (Genesis 3:24). Today, it results in Christians being denied entry into the kingdom of heaven. Double-edged sword Why is God’s good news often hidden in his bad news? The answer lies in the surgical nature of the word of God. It is like a doubleedged sword. (Hebrews 4:12). Thus, the Lord asks Jeremiah: “Is not my word like a fire and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” (Jeremiah 23:29). Fire consumes the chaff, so the word of God burns and consumes fake Christians. But fire also purifies, so the word of God purifies true Christians. The hammer, of course, is used both to destroy and to build. The same pillar of cloud that brought darkness to the Egyptians provided light for the Israelites. (Exodus 14:1920). The same Red Sea which destroyed the Egyptians saved the Israelites. Similarly, the gospel leads many to condemnation, even as it leads a few to salvation. Jesus says: “the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.” (Matthew 20:16). Thus, the word of God is often bad news and good
news simultaneously. But it is usually bad news before it is good news. Jesus, the word of God, would cause the bad to happen before the good would happen. Indeed, his speciality would be in bringing the good out of the bad. Accordingly, Simeon prophesied that Jesus will cause people to fall before causing them to rise: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel.” (Luke 2:34). Therefore, James counsels believers: “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James 4:10). Jesus himself also says: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12). Stumbling-stone Couched in this manner, the greatest trap of all will be Jesus himself. Isaiah warns: “He will be as a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, as a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble; they shall fall and be broken, be snared and taken.” (Isaiah 8:14-15). As we run from the bad that following Jesus entails, we miss the good he provides. Jesus says: “You will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake… But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:9/13). Accordingly, the gospel is bad news to those who reject its bad report. But it turns out to be good news to those who accept its bad report. What is the bad report before the good report of the gospel? Jesus says: “Whoever loses his life will preserve it.” (Luke 17:33). “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). “Whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:33). Don’t say to this: “God forbid bad thing.” The rich young ruler came to Jesus seeking eternal life. The gospel required him to sell all he had, give the proceeds to the poor and then follow Jesus. But the man rejected the bad news of losing his wealth and, thereby, forfeited the good news of inheriting eternal life. Even so, those who reject the bad news of the gospel forfeit its good news. Femi Aribisala is the fellowship coordinator of Healing Wings. Healing Wings is a pentecostal Christian fellowship which meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He blogs at Femi Aribisala . Email: faribisala@yahoo.com
Why is Laylat Al-Qadr So Special to Muslims? As-salamu `alaikum. I am a new Muslim and it is my first Ramadan. Please tell me everything about Laylat Al-Qadr “the night of destiny”!! Why is it called so? Why is it so special? Why do Muslims wait for it from a year to the other? Why do Muslims “search” for it through the month of Ramadan, as if it is a treasure? What should I do to win the blessings of that special night? Thank you for answering my numerous questions in advance! May Allah reward you all… Tony Salam dear Tony, May Allah shower His blessings on your first Ramadan! The expression Laylat Al-Qadr actually means “The Night of Power” or “The Night of Decree”. This was the night on which the Qur’an started being revealed (over a time span of 23 years) from God the Almighty to His messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Allah says what means: (Verily! We have sent it [the Qur’an] down on the Night of Decree (Laylat Al-Qadr). And what will make you know what the Night of Decree is? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. Therein descend the angels and the ruh [Gabriel] by Allah’s Permission with all decrees. Peace… until the break of dawn.) (Al-Qadr 97:1-7) Ibn Kathir, a famous
scholar who wrote one of the most famous interpretations of Qur’an commented on the phrase: (Therein descend the angels and the ruh): “This means that the descending of the angels increases during this night, due to the vast amount of its blessings. And, the angels descend along with the descent of blessing and mercy, just as they descend during the time when the Qur’an is recited. They encompass the gatherings in which Allah is remembered and spread their wings for the true seeker of knowledge, showing respect for him.” This night occurs only in Ramadan, since the Qur’an was revealed in it: (Verily, We have sent it [the Qur’an] down in the night of al-Qadr.) This means that its revelation from Allah to His prophet, Muhammad, began during that month. Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The blessed month has come to you. Allah has made fasting during it obligatory upon you. During it, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hellfire are locked, and the devils are chained. There is a night [during this month], which is better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of its good is really deprived [of something great]. (Ahmad, An-Nasa’i and Al-Bayhaqi.) So, one who would miss LaylatAl-Qadr, is a very unfortunate person indeed! This is how and why the Night of Power should
become so special for worshippers, who strive hard to meet its blessings. Abu Hurairah reported that the messenger of Allah said: “Whoever stand in night prayer on Laylat Al-Qadr out of solely his true faith (iman) and seeks the divine reward, then his previous sins are forgiven.” (AlBukhari.) Every sincere believer is eager to stand in prayer during the Night of Power, aspiring the forgiveness of sins, as well as a great reward from Allah; because no one wants to miss a great deal of blessing by missing this night. The hadiths quoted above are evidence for the virtue of the night of Al-Qadr, as well as of performing Qiyam Al-Layl (night vigil prayer) during it. It is also clearly indicated that Allah has honored this night and made it better than a thousand months, which is equivalent to eighty-three years and four months! For this reason, whoever performs Qiyam Al-Layl (night vigil prayer), with true faith… while seeking reward in it, will be forgiven. So, we should give attention to our participation in the long prayers--whether conducted in mosques or privately at home--during the nights on which Laylat Al-Qadr could fall. Concerning praying in congregation, the Prophet Muhammad has said: “Whoever stands in prayer with the imam (the prayer leader) until he (the imam) concludes the prayer, it is recorded for him that he
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Weekly Activities
Tuesday 6-7pm Bible Study 7-8pm Hour of Encounter Saturday 6-7:30 pm Workers Meeting Sunday 10:30-12:30am Worship Service 1st Friday of every month 10pm-1:00am Tarry Night
Pastor in Charge Deleola Akeredolu
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RELIGION - FICTION & NON FICTION BOOKS
In this joyous and whimsical holiday novel, Debbie Macomber rings in the season with the return of Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy, delivering laughs, love, and a charming dose of angelic intervention.
My Sister’s Song is a lyrical novel that follows the Abbess and the women of the Abbey on a hard road to a new life, where each must make her own inner journey before she can finally arrive home. prayed the whole night…” (Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah) It is recommended to supplicate a lot during this night, as it was reported by `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), that the Prophet recommended a specific supplication on this night: “Allahumma innaka `affuwwun, tuhibbul `afwa, fa`fu `annee.” This means the following: “O Allah, You are the One Who pardons greatly, and loves to pardon, so pardon me.” Also, one form of worship, especially during Ramadan is i`tikaf. The essence of this ritual is to devote oneself to the Almighty by praying, reading the Qur’an, etc. in the mosque for a chosen period of time that can extend from one hour to the last ten days of Ramadan. It is optional and carries great reward. Muslims can undertake it at any point during the year as a sign of devoting oneself to worship for a set time. It is worth mentioning here that in Islam, monasticism is forbid-
Many of us believe we would be happier if we just had more money, but wealth alone isn’t the key to happiness. In A Spiritual Budget, financial wellness coach Debbie Seaton explains how there is truly more to life than money. Her secret? Embrace abundance and success.
It’s been three years since Aaron Mackie succeeded in helping his friend and mentor, Bishop T.K. Wilson, dig his ministry out of financial ruin. Aaron is also responsible for re-energizing the almost defunct choir into something special.
den. As for the endeavor of i`tikaf, it is recommended in the noble month of Ramadan, as mentioned. The maximum duration of i`tikaf is from the 19th of Ramadan, at sunset to the sighting of the new moon, whether this occurs on the 29th or the 30th. I`tikaf can also be observed for lesser period, but preferably the length should not be less than one night. Women can also enjoy it, either at the mosques or at home, by confining themselves to a specific space and devoting the time for prayers. When is LaylatAl-Qadr? Ibn `Abbas reported that the Prophet said: “Seek the Night of Power on the last ten nights of Ramadan, on the night when nine or seven or five nights remain out of the last ten nights of Ramadan [i.e. 21st, 23rd, 25th respectively].” (Al-Bukhari) So, we should preferably
A woman of remarkable resourcefulness single-handedly raises a troubled child all the way to manhood in this intimate and inspiring blogto-book memoir. At 38, Carolyn Nash had a good job, no apparent struggles and few conscious regrets—save, perhaps, her weight and her childlessness. She remedies the latter by fostering and then adopting 3-year-old Abel, a victim of unspeakable parental abuse, most of it sexual. T he consequences are predictable and agonizing. Abel is charmingly innocent yet uncontrollably violent, and as he grows, so do his PTSD symptoms.
This title suitable for ages 2 to 5 years. If Jesus lived inside our hearts, would it show? This delightful little story explores just that as the toddlers in the story learn to be kind and generous in a variety of situations. This is the third in a series of board books that parents can use as an introduction to Jesus and the ways in which we can have a personal relationship with him. seek out Laylat Al-Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan: the night of the twenty-first, the twenty-third, the twentyfifth, the twenty-seventh and the twenty-ninth. If one is too weak or unable to seek it out in all the odd nights, then let us seek it out in the last odd nights: the night of the twenty-fifth, the twentyseventh and the twentyninth. I hope this answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any more questions. Salam. Source: www.onislam.net
Adonai, Remember Me, is a story of the Great One called Christ and the effect of His Presence in the earth upon those who knew Him. This slender volume (with its companion music CD) offers a memorable journey, as we follow the lives of those who interact with Him and one another.
Nowadays, our Christian brothers and sisters, relatives, neighbors, and friends are celebrating Christmas. We wish them all happy holidays and guidance. On this occasion, we launch this ebook to show how Muslims should be kind, respectful, and friendly toward people of other faiths. Being Muslim does not mean having nothing to do with one’s non-Muslim family, neighbors, colleagues, or friends. Muslims are allowed to wish non-Muslims happy holidays.
Is it time for you to stretch your spiritual muscles? These encouraging Bible verses from the Old and New Testaments will help you strengthen your devotional life. Each short chapter focuses on several inspirational Bible verses on specific topics and provides timely explanations and applications.
A new baby, a wedding and an unexpected illness all collide to make this Christmas one that the Marshall-Thomas family will never forget. Carmella MarshallThomas loves Christmas and all of the festivities and cookie baking that comes with it. When she is diagnosed with an illness that brings about a lifestyle change, her family begins praying for her health. But with Renee’s wedding a few days before Christmas and three unexpected babies popping up, Carmella is not the only member of the Marshall-Thomas family in need of prayer.
“Show forgiveness, speak for justice and avoid the ignorant.” Ramadan is the most blessed month of the year. What does Ramadan mean to Muslims in general and how can
SOURCE: AMAZON.COM
(Quran, 7:199) a new Muslim benefit from his first Ramadan? This eBook will answer all your questions.
BOOKS AVAILABLE AT THE TORONTO & MISSISSAUGA PUBLIC LIBRARIES VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
Close your eyes, Ela of Parne. Close your eyes and you will see. Ela Roeh of Parne doesn’t understand why her beloved Creator, the Infinite, wants her to become His prophet. She’s undignified, bad tempered, and only seventeen-not to mention that no prophet of Parne has ever been a girl. Worst of all, as the elders often warn, if she agrees to become the Infinite’s prophet, Ela knows she will die young.
One by one, Madaris men have surrendered to their grandmother’s matchmaking. But Lee Madaris isn’t letting anyone else control his destiny. He’ll bring a bride of his own choosing to the family’s holiday gathering—if his hotel’s gorgeous new chef will agree to a marriage of convenience.
Healthy living is part and parcel of Islam, introduced with the inception of Islam more than 14 centuries ago. Moreover, the Qur’an and the Sunnah outline the teachings that show every Muslim how to protect their health and live life in a state of purity.
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SPORTS
Tripura probing juvenile home death of Nigerian The 17-year-old footballer was staying at the home under the order of a local court Agartala: No headway has yet been made into the probe into the death of 17-year-old Nigerian footballer Auro Azendu Joel, who was found dead in a juvenile home in Tripura three days ago, officials said on Saturday. “He was found dead at a Tripura government-run juvenile home at Narshingarh (near Agartala) [on] Wednesday night. The death might be because of illness. However, our probe is on,” Deputy Superintendent of Police (Central) Ra-
jendra Datta told reporters. Joel had been staying at the home since September 14 under the order of a local court after he was detained by Indian immigration officials. He was subsequently arrested by the police for allegedly forging a visa while going to Bangladesh through the Akhaurah check post, near here. “Juvenile home officials took him to the G.B. Medical College and Hospital after he felt chest pain. Doctors at the hospital said he was brought dead,” Datta said. An inquest was conducted into the death and po-
lice said a report is awaited. The police official said that the young footballer, before his death, told police interrogators that he came to India in 2010 and played in several south Indian clubs. He was going to Bangladesh through Tripura to play football there on behalf of the clubs. The deceased was the fourth Nigerian national, besides one from Sierra Leone, caught on visa forgery charges or illegal trespass from Bangladesh at different border check posts in Tripura this year. Source:gulfnews,com
Revealed: Odartey Lamptey discovers three kids with wife are not his biological children By Kobina Welsing
Former Ghana International football star, Nii Odartey Lamptey has spent his entire marriage life without knowing all three kids he has been fathering are not his real children. The 38-year-old after sensing marriage infidelity on the part of his wife proceeded to conduct a DNA test only to realize the kids are not his biological children. The woman claims the former Anderlecht and As-
Nii Odartey
ton Villa player was the one who suggested an artificial insemination after realizing he was infertile. According to reports, Nii Odartey Lamptey has suspected his wife of infidelity for several years but decid-
ed to stay in the marriage out of love and the chain of businesses they own together. A source close to the former Ghana star revealed to Goal Ghana that he has on several occasions ‘fought’ with his wife to make her change her cheating ways. Lamptey who is the owner of Golden Lions Soccer Academy and Glow Lamp International School is now heading to court for a divorce after over 20 years of marriage. Goal.com
Drogba and Eboue Face Fines For Mandela Tribute By Joseph Jakpa
The two Ivory Coast internationals unveiled their personal messages after Galatasaray’s game against Elazigspor against Elazigspor on Friday, their first game after the death of South African icon Mandela. Chelsea legend Drogba peeled off his shirt at the 2-0 win to reveal a tribute which said: ‘Thank you Madiba’ and former Arsenal defender Eboue’s vest said: ‘Rest in Peace Nelson Mandela’.
The Turkish FA (TFF) are planning to summon the Galatasaray pair to appear before the Professional Football Discipline Committee because they had not sought prior permis-
sion to display their messages. It is in contrast to England where games this weekend have been preceded by a minute of applause in celebration of Mandela’s
FIFA increase World Cup prize money to N95 Billion By Joseph Jakpa FIFA, the world football governing body, has announced new prize money for the 2014 World Cup and hosts of future age-group events. It said in a statement, following its executive committee meeting on Thursday, that there would be new prize money of 576 million dollars (about N95 billion) for next year’s tournament. This was an increase of 37 per cent in comparison with the 420 million dollars (about N69 billion) on offer for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The winner in Brazil will receive 35 million dollars, followed by 25 million dollars for the runners-up. Twenty-two million dollars and 20 million dollars will be for the third- and fourth-placed teams respectively, and 14 million dollars for the quarter-finalists. The governing body also announced that South Korea would host the U-20 World Cup in 2017, with South Africa staging the U-20 Women’s World Cup a year earlier. India will have an opportunity to showcase its credentials as a major event destination by hosting the U-17 World Cup in 2017, while Jordan will hold the U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2016. The governing body added that Mexico City and Kuala Lumpur would stage the FIFA Congress in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Meanwhile, Nigeria has been grouped in Group F with Argentina, Iran and Bosnia Herzegovina in the 2014 World Cup draw held on Friday in Brazil. According to the draw, Nigeria will play its first match against Iran in the life and his role in ending apartheid in South Africa and transforming the international profile of Africa. Plans to discipline Drogba and Eboue are certain
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
received confirmation that Arena Corinthians would not be completed Pele promises until the middle of April. “fantastic” footbal “It is a question of Pele has backed Brazil trust,” he said at a press to deliver a “fantastic” World Cup amid grow- conference at the Costa ing fears the country will Do Sauipe resort where not be ready in time to the draw will be held. host football’s showpiece “For the time being there is no Plan B.” event. Despite the setback, The legendary former Pele is adamant that Brastriker, who won three World Cups with Brazil zil will be ready for the between 1958 and 1970, tournament, which is has rejected accusations scheduled to start in Sao that delays to a number Paulo on June 12. “I think Brazil has the of the 12 venues hamper his country’s ability to stadiums,” he said. “We have eight months put on a spectacle. FIFA, the game’s world to go before the World governing body, has Cup. We have to forconfirmed it expects all get about the stadiums six stadiums still under and pay attention to the construction to miss the game.” FIFA also confirmed deadline of December 31. “I’ve no doubt,” Pele that stadiums in Cuiaba, told CNN when asked Manaus, Natal and Porto if he thought the World Alegre have yet to conCup would be a success. firm their schedules, but “We had a little prob- are expected to host their lem with the Confedera- first events in January tions Cup (in June) but 2014. Curitiba, meanI’ve no doubt the World while, is scheduled to Cup will be a fantastic host its first match in late February or early March. show.” Brazil has not hosted Two people were killed last month at Arena Cor- the World Cup since inthians when a crane 1950 — when it lost 2-1 hoisting a part of the met- in the deciding match to al roof collapsed, causing Uruguay. It is a result which still the piece to fall, partially damaging the building, rankles with Pele. “Listen, if I was God, I according to a statement released by the construc- would like to see Brazil tion company, Odebrecht play against Uruguay,” he added. “It’s a good opInfrastructure. After meetings ahead portunity to get revenge.” of Friday’s World Cup Source: draw, FIFA President nigerianewsday.com Sepp Blatter said it had group match.
to attract criticism and fuel debate in Turkey, where the TFF are trying to keep political imagery out of football as directed by FIFA, although it has proved
increasingly difficult in a football-crazy nation beset by political tension. Source: nigerianewsday.com
NIGERIAN CANADIAN NEWS • To Advertise Call : 416-318-3506 continued from p(36) education that he bestowed upon us, the wonderful example he showed in his personal and business life, his immense generosity and kindness of spirit, these are what we and our own descendants will never forget. For those who find themselves in power today, and
Finally, sad as we may feel about this story of demoli-
tion as chronicled above, we, the descendants, especially his children, are proud and grateful to God that our magnificent Patriarch, Papa Chief Jacob Sogboyega Odulate – ALABUKUN – The Blessed Jacob – left us a legacy that can never be forgotten in the history of Nigeria. In
life and in death he stands up in the development of Nigeria. What a man! What a hero! What a legacy! For more information on the life of this great man, I refer you to the book “Reaching for the Stars” an autobiography of one of his children – Chief Folake So-
lanke SAN. •This article was originally entitled “The happy life of a pioneer” and culled from Nigerian Tribune. The writer, Chief (Mrs.) Stella O. Odesanya, MFR, is the eldest surviving child of Chief J. S. Odulate – Alabukun – The blessed Jacob, whose photo appears alongside this piece.
minute changes. If you’ve purchased a new-build condo, there is a chance that last minute changes may be made by contractors in construction. Keep a close eye out and don’t be afraid to ask questions if something isn’t as was initially agreed on. Know what your condo board will cover. Anything to do with the complex’s structure is the responsi-
bility of the condominium corporation, but you will need to secure your own insurance to cover personal property, liability or any changes you choose to make to the unit. According to MacPherson, understanding the condo corporation and the stability of the reserve funds is crucial. “It is critical that you work with your broker to ensure that you not only
protect yourself from losses to your own property, but also any costs that may be incurred from losses to the rest of the property that might be underinsured through the corporation.”
realize that by taking on a roommate, or leasing out their unit, their current policy may no longer cover them,” says MacPherson. “Updating your broker on anything from new, valuable contents to cohabitation will ensure that you’re properly insured.”
own trouble when left to themselves during the busy holiday season,” adds Dr. Skavinsky. “Unfortunately, a trip to the veterinarian after a pet has swallowed a sparkly tree ornament or helped itself to a turkey dinner can re-
sult in expensive and unexpected costs.” That’s not to say everyone should stay away from owning a pet. Many dog and cat owners come into pet ownership financially and emotionally prepared, familiar with the costs
involved with pet care. Many responsible pet owners are able to reduce those annual costs – and any other expenses that may come up – by purchasing pet health insurance and protecting their pocketbooks against acci-
dent or illness. A few holiday gift alternatives to consider: • Offer to pay the adoption fees should the recipient be prepared to adopt a pet. • Pay health insurance premium for someone’s
current pet. • Make a donation in the recipient’s name to their local shelter or pet rescue organization. More information about responsible pet ownership can be found at www.petsecure.com.
continued from p(14) She had three kids before... whereabouts cannot be a in the power of your love tea party for her. As a moth- for her at that time. Face it, er, she will never stop won- would you have married her dering what has happened if you knew she has had not to those children. just one but four children? Her mistake was not to Now, you may be able to have shared this dark side handle such a situation; but of her past. No matter how then, I am sure you wouldn’t unpleasant, she should have have. Although not an extold you. But, I think it has to cuse at all, this perhaps indo with fear of losing you as formed her reason for keepwell as lack of enough trust ing it from you then all these
years. She decided to open up when she could not deal with all the worries anymore. Some women would still have kept quiet, deciding to take the story of their life to the grave with them. This is the moment you look at her value to you and the importance of your marriage. If you focus only on this issue, you will end
up making a mistake you will forever regret. This is because 19 years of marriage has given you the opportunity of knowing the nature of the woman you married; answered the question of credibility you would have been worried about 19 years earlier. Your years together have also afforded you the op-
portunity of knowing how much progress she has made from getting pregnant at 15 to now. A lot of us have done one or two things in our youths we are not proud of. What makes the difference is the effort we put into correcting those mistakes. Since marrying her, have you had any reason, until
now, to regret marrying her? The answer to this question will point you at the right direction to go. Go to God in prayers because he is the only one that can help you get over your pains, as well as give you the wisdom to view the matter wholly.
sistance. I will send some things to you later when I unpack my suitcases.” “That’s alright, anytime.” The front door opened and Mrs. Ikomi entered. After the greetings she told Misan, “I was rushing back to be able to meet you. Did you enjoy yourself?” “Yes.” “Did you get the medi-
cine for me?” Misan came back to sit with her mother. “I got two of them. I couldn’t get the third one.” “Which one were you not able to get?” Mrs. Ikomi asked. “Rim - something.” “Well, you got two of them at least.” Misan told her mother, “Your sister gave me a gift
for you. I’ll bring it later.” “Is she doing well in Houston?” Misan smiled. “Yes, she’s doing well, very well in fact. Nurses are well appreciated and better paid abroad.” Mrs. Ikomi faced Jemmy. “When did you get back from work?” “I took permission to close early.” She answered.
“Mom, can you believe that Misan met Weyin’s father on the ship?” “Weyin’s father?” “Yes, can you believe it? But she didn’t mention Weyin to him.” Why does Jemmy behave like this? Misan wondered silently with a frown. “Why didn’t you tell him he has a child?” Mrs. Ikomi asked.
Two pairs of eyes were on Misan now. To be continued. This story is from the novel, This Time Around To order this book and others by the same author, Taiwo Iredele Odubiyi Call: 1-410-5196888 1-410-8187482 Website: www.pastortaiwoodubiyi.org.uk
cultural relativism first,” says Isabelle Gillette-Faye, a French sociologist. “So if in your country of origin, you cut your girl, then it’s possible in England as well.’’ Gillette-Faye suspects many French girls are sent to “easier” Britain to have the procedure done. ‘It’s easier to take the Eurostar to go to London, to a private clinic, and have someone cut the girl. It’s just easier, it’s less mon-
ey than to go to another country,’’ she says. For her part, Hussein likes France’s attitude towards FGM, but allows that an approach like that of the Netherlands’ might be more effective. “What the Netherlands have done really well,” she says, “is implement that work in sexual education classes. It’s compulsory. Front-line staff working with women and children, every new nurse, every
new doctor, every new teacher, has to be trained on FGM.’’ In Britain, the ministry of education has so far refused to make FGM training mandatory for teachers, though in a statement it said that “schools can choose to teach about FGM as part of their curriculum.’’ That is not enough for some. ‘’We’re talking about girls who are British citizens, and this is against
their right to be safe,” says Dr. Hodes. “So I don’t really think it’s a debate.’’ As a result of the report, parliament’s home affairs committee is considering an inquiry into why there hasn’t been a prosecution yet in Britain. The Crown Prosecution Service is reportedly looking into a handful of cases that it may bring to trial. To date, there are not definitive studies of the number of girls at risk of FGM
in Canada, but immigration patterns and human rights groups in Canada indicate that the figures could be substantial. ‘The biggest Somali community in the diaspora is in North America, that’s a big alarm for me,’’ says Hussein. ‘’A lot of Canadian women contact us. They suffer in silence, they don’t know where to go.’’
for those who were in power when all of the destructive acts described above were committed, we have only this to say: The act of destruction of the physical properties of those who did so much to make our nation great can never dese crate their names or their legacies. It
continued from p(16) Tips for Canadians... This examination should recreational facilities as part of the common prop- not only include the unit erty, or does the condo- you’re considering, but minium corporation lease also the building envelope them? How many units are and common areas. When rented? How much money selecting an inspector or is in the reserve fund and engineer, make sure they what major expenses, if are qualified to provide a any, are being considered complete and reliable inspection. This will protect in the reserve fund plan? your investment in the long run. Schedule a comprehensive home Watch for last inspection.
is those who permit such destruction who should ask themselves this: “Is this the way to honour the past? Are we proud to announce to the world that we allowed history to be corrupted and eroded like this?”
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Be proactive with your insurance broker. Depending on the use of your condo, your insurance needs may change. “Many condo owners don’t
More information is available at www.westernfinancialgroup.ca.
continued from p(16) for an adult cat. While these numbers represent the average expected costs for owning a dog or cat, they don’t include unplanned vet bills should a pet get ill or injured. “Puppies and kittens are very happy to find their
Good luck.
continued from p(14) even want to take her away from me.” Misan said. “He can’t! Why would he want to do that?” Misan sighed and stood up. “I will think about it.” She looked at Weyin where she was playing with her sister’s kids. “Weyin, let’s go.” She took her daughter’s hand and told Jemmy, “Thanks a lot for your ascontinued from p(9) ‘’It’s not so much that I’ve encountered resistance, but there’s a lot of silence,” says Hussein. “For me when you’re silent, you’re consenting.’’ In contrast, neighbouring France has adopted a much less tolerant approach to tackling FGM. Its systematic examination of young girls has led to some hundred prosecutions. ‘’I think England is very tolerant because they put
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2013
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continued from p(36)
income earners as Oando is committed to making life more comfortable through unhindered access to affordable cooking gas. He further stated the benefits of switching the nation to gas to include provision of a cleaner and safer fuel
option for lower income households, reduction of Indoor Air Pollution, IAP that causes significant health problems, a decline in carbon emissions caused by dirty fuels and a decrease in the rate of deforestation in Nigeria.
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of unhampered pursuit of sexual satisfaction. It has been noted by many observers that many harms result from an over preoccupation with sex. There is harm to the health, the moral character, and the person’s ability to be patient. When someone satisfies this sexual desire regardless of necessity, their moral character is destroyed because their indulgence leads to selfishness, opportunism, lack of responsibility and care
for family, lying, deception, internal conflicts in the conscience of the individual, drug addiction, theft, rape, and even murder. And it is not just the individual who suffers; society as a whole and the family in particular suffer from the degradation of the human being in this way.
hibits not only pre- and extramarital sexual relationships, but also all types of perversions like homosexuality. Prophet Muhammad’s life is a clear example that marriage and sex are permissible in Islam and are acts that Allah rewards Muslims for, providing their actions fall within the boundaries of Islam. Also Prophet Muhammad instructed that those who do not have the means to marry and wish to preserve their chastity
should practice fasting as a means to help them control their desires. Adapted from a lecture in Dr. Jamal Badawi’s Islamic Teachings series.
Islam’s Solution Islam teaches that people should be brought up in such a way that their heart contains sin-
cere God-consciousness (taqwa) in order to be able to persevere in the face of any temptation created by powerful sexual promptings. Together with this faith, people should additionally be made aware of the teachings of Islam and know right from wrong; thus they will never be confused between vice and virtue and will realize that Islam prohibits the satisfaction of the sexual urge outside the bounds of marriage. Islam pro-
self help But just as the rank and file of the police lament the state of the barracks, those in the officer cadre are not left out in the sad tale of neglect of their housing units. At the Ikeja GRA Police Officers’ Quarters occupied by those in the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police up to those in the Deputy Commissioner of Police cadre, it was gathered that residents have been forced to self help to make their apartments and indeed the environment habitable. A deputy superintendent of police who resides in the quarters explains that their various apartments appear to be in a fair state compared to other barracks because of the huge sums of money they expend on general maintenance. The police officer who lives in a three-bedroom apartment in the quarters says, “It’s frustrating that one is being forced to expend huge sums of money on critical maintenance and sometimes outright reconstruction and renovation of a place you pay monthly rents. In the course of the year, the roofing and ceilings of my apartment got damaged, I spent close to N100, 000 to get it fixed.” Asked if she made an attempt to claim the money from the relevant authorities, she says, “Who will repay you? The fact is that there is this culture of selfhelp that has grown tightly interwoven amongst officers and men due to the neglect we have been facing for many years now.” Endangered psychology
A clinical psychologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Leonard Okonkwo, says the poor state of the barracks may account for one of the several factors causing the “not-too-pleasant behaviour of many policemen in the country.” According to him, shelter is one of the basic physiological needs of humans which should not be toiled with . He observes that in the case of the police, housing needs ought not to be “partially met.” The psychologist notes that there is a correlation between shelter and performance. “When a policeman is made to live under shabby conditions you can’t get the best from him or her,” he says. Okonkwo explains that toiling with the adequate shelter of those saddled with the responsibility of internal security of the country will only breed a police force populated with “disorganised and disorderly thinking” officers and men. He adds, “If a man is not well sheltered he is not well motivated as shelter is a symbol of safety. When a policeman goes out to work, he should come back to the safety and comfort of his house. But in a situation where the barracks is not in a good shape, the policeman’s performance is affected. “The policeman is always thinking about his or her welfare. If you are not well sheltered in a tidy and de-
cent environment, the level of disorganised thinking is promoted and concentration on the job is affected. It is worthy of note that where you live boosts your confidence and in view of this, taking proper care of barracks improves the ego of the policeman as they are proud of their job, thereby ultimately boosting their performance.” He explains that one of the potent methods some organisations from around the world have been devising to boost the performance of their staff is to provide them with good accommodation and a conducive working environment , adding that the Nigeria Police should not be an exception. “Until our policemen and women are well taken care of in terms of the provision of decent shelter, Nigerians are not likely to get the best from them. I advise that their welfare should be a top priority. “Since they are saddled with the responsibility of maintaining law and order and in the course of doing that their lives are at stake, the authorities concerned should know that our policemen will be more courageous to do their job when they know that their welfare is not been taken with levity,” Okonkwo adds. Apart from the men and women who are on the receiving end of the negative consequences of staying in barracks that are of poor and bad conditions, experts are of the opinion that children raised in such environments are also at risks.
Trouble for barracks children A lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Dr. Oludele Ajani, says while the morale of an average policeman or woman who lives in a slum-like barracks is dampened, experience has shown that their offspring tend to exhibit deviant behaviours. Ajani , whose area of specialty is development studies and social change, argues that the environment where one lives dictates and influences once behaviour, conduct and attitude to life. He says, “The effect of the dilapidating state of our barracks is one of the issues we as academics have raised over the years. And that is why when you interact with our law enforcement officers, they are always on the edge, you begin to wonder who annoyed them. Poor environment and housing units affects their output and interaction. “But more worrisome is the fact that children raised in such environments are generally deviant and become social misfits as they tend to take after the behaviour of their parents. And that is why people tag children raised in the barracks as “omo barracks” (barracks kids) – to depict those traits they exhibit which are against social norms. We are products of the environment. “Allowing policemen and women as well as their children to stay in overcrowded housing units, which lack drainages and basic amenities, is not in the best in-
terest of this all important institution. These children may not see beyond their immediate environment and this may affect their life goals.” When our correspondent contacted the Provost of the Lagos State Police Command, Busari Okunola, who is in charge of allocation of barracks in the state, he declined comments over the issue. The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, who was at her office during our correspondent’s visit, says she is not in the best position to address issues relating to barracks maintenance and allocations. “We operate a centralised police system. Please, direct your enquiries to them at the Force Headquarters in Abuja,” Braide notes. However, successive attempts to get the Force Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, to speak on the conditions of the barracks proved abortive. On December 24, Mba told our correspondent on the telephone that he was in Yobe State and was not in a position to grant any interviews at the time. On December 27 when our correspondent called him again, he simply went silent on the telephone after this correspondent introduced himself, in an apparent move to dodge him. Also, an electronic mail as well as a text message sent to him had to get his reaction was not replied to as at 9pm press time on Sunday.
National Mirror
continued from p(21)
association of sex with demonic powers whereas the latter led to widespread adultery, fornication, preoccupation with sex, and the development of sex as a business. Both of these extremes go against human nature, which requires that certain desires are fulfilled in moderation within the moral framework that religious teachings provide and at the same time protects the individual and the family from the dangerous consequences
Dr. Jamal Badawi is a professor at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Canada, where he currently teaches in the areas of management and religious studies. He is the author of several works on various aspects of Islam. Source:Onislam.net
continued from p(15) opposite the barracks and act as if I’m one of their customers with a view to passing out waste. “This is the third barracks I have resided in. I once stayed in Sunrise Barracks in Olodi-Apapa area of Lagos as well as in Obalende Barracks and I can tell you that the barracks are also in very worrisome states,” he laments. The police sergeant says he has refused to allow his family to stay with him in the barracks due to the level of deterioration adding that the environment is not good enough to raise his kids. In spite of the cooperation among the policemen occupying the barracks, which led to the formation of a development association on block basis, the police sergeant notes that only little has been done to salvage the situation. “During the rainy season, this whole place leading up to my apartment is always waterlogged and to add salt to injury, the human faeces in the broken sewage adds to the stagnant water around and pollutes the whole environment. This has been the trend for the three years I have been leaving here as no renovation has taken place. My children and wife stay in Ibadan where I got them a decent accommodation. To be realistic, it is not easy staying away from one’s family but this environment is not good enough. My children are still young and any of these structures around are hanging precariously and could fall on them,” he adds. Senior officers embrace
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continued from p(36) Nigerian-British... development of the Nige- from facilitating businesses rian aviation industry and through its services, the tourism sector, and by ex- airline has been encouragtension the Nigerian econ- ing small and medium scale omy. industries in the country According to Sanya, apart through several initiatives
as part of its commitment to keep entrepreneurship alive and to help stimulate local businesses. Daily Independent
continued from p(37) Making the world a better place... David, Western Union Canada marketing and product director. “Instagram and text messages have become such prevalent forms of social media and communication respectively – we’re excited about integrating this form of giving into Canadians’ everyday lives.” “It’s the easiest ‘donation’ I’ve
ever made,” says Mary Abada, a regular Western Union customer. “I take lots of pictures every day and it made me happy to know that one would make an actual difference to a child in need in the form of the $1 donation from Western Union.” “A text message and a photo might not mean much to us here
in Canada, just like we don’t consider $1 as being able to buy much, but these small things can make a big difference for kids around the world who have very little,” Abada adds. “Our efforts, $1 at a time, do add up; collectively it can make positive change happen.” Learn how you can make a difference. Visit sendforbetter.ca for details.
cause it takes into account that your loans may vary over time. This means that between the time you apply for the insurance and when a claim is submitted, as one debt commitment is repaid it may be replaced by others. For example, if you pay off your mortgage and you take out a long-term lease for a motor home or a renovation loan, at the time of the claim, your loans will be fully covered, up to your amount of insurance,”
said Tremblay. “The most important part about this type of insurance is that it allows you to concentrate on getting better instead of worrying about your obligations.” For more information about loan insurance designed for the self-employed, speak to your insurance provider. Or for more immediate answers, visit Desjardins Financial Security at www.desjardinslifeinsurance.com.
Mixed reactions have also greeted what many members of the the public termed a decision to hold a beauty pageant in the church this Sunday. But the church has since taken to its official Facebook to explain the concept behind what is perceived to be a beauty pageant. It explained that the competition tagged Queen Esther pageant competition is geared
towards selecting an ambassador for the church. “The evening usually features the parade and display of beautiful women in costumes inspired by popular female bible characters. The contestant with the most creative costume is then crowned as the Queen Esther and gets a cash prize of one million naira,” the post read. -Punch
continued from p(36) working due to an accident or illness. There isn’t a clause for pre-existing medical conditions, as is generally the case for this type of insurance. The benefit is non-taxable and covers loans like mortgages, line of credit, RRSP loans, renovation loan, personal loan, car/vehicle loan or long-term leasing, student loan, credit card, all other fixed-term loans with regular payments. “This insurance is flexible be-
continued from p(45) and calling him names shows a lack of faith by baby Christians. Just pray to God to forgive him. I am not a catholic but it is only God that knows his true worshipers.” Just like Wilfred, a certain Peter Edaile also stated on Facebook, “It also lacks sugar and honey delights but contains salt.” Enough on the controversial statements, anyway.
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continued from p(38) homes, convalescent homes, laboratories, diagnostic centres and mortuaries. Dr Adesina said plans were afoot to set up eHEFAMMA the electronic version of HEFAMAA that would enable health providers register, pay and make changes online without having to come to HEFAMAA office at the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa every time they need to make any adjustment in their paper works. She said: “The agency is not established to witchhunt anybody, but to regulate the activities of providers to meet up with the minimum set standards by law to ensure healthy citizenry.”
HEFAMAA Chairman, Dr. Tayo Bello expressed displeasure at clients’ treatment by some health care providers, saying the time has come when health providers should pay special attention and emphasis on improving attitude towards clients. “We have incidence where patients complained of un-courteous attendance at both private and public health facilities. There is the case of a private facility that refused to attend to a stabbed security guard who was bleeding profusely until a deposit was paid, this trend is worrisome and HEFAMMA frowns at this”. Bello said there were cases where a facility was registered as a clinic and the
operator opened another branch without the knowledge of HEFAMAA and was operating a full-fledged hospital and maternity centre, stressing that the aesthetic look of some facilities speaks volume in terms of dirtiness and very awkward arrangements. “It is unfortunate that barely four months after we had the first stakeholders meeting when we rubbed minds as to how we can move the health industry in the State forward, some health facilities and operators have not changed for the better as evident in worst scenario of events recorded in their facilities,” the Chairman said.
continued from p(37) generated, a committee was set up to reconcile the account. But the committee failed to produce a concrete explanation for the unremitted oil revenue. For instance, while the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala stated that the sum of $10.8bn is the amount unaccounted for, Sanusi recanted and said the unremitted fund was $12bn. Prior to this controversy, the governor had in 2011, incurred the wrath of the National Assembly when at the 7th convocation lecture of the Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, he said that 25 per cent of the country’s overheads were being spent on the federal legislators. The National Assembly members were embarrassed by the scrutiny Sanusi’s lecture attracted to them. The Senate invited the CBN governor to appear before its Committee on Appropriation to defend himself. Few months later, the CBN governor stirred up another controversy. It was in June 2011 when he unfolded the bank’s agenda on Islamic banking.
Unlike the jumbo pay controversy, where he received the support of Nigerians, Sanusi’s insistence on Islamic banking divided the country along religious lines. While the Christian Association of Nigeria opposed his plan, Muslims groups gave him their backing. When the fuel subsidy removal debate began, Sanusi was not left out of it. Amid protests against the removal, he said on January 5, 2012, “The limited resources of government should be allocated to support production, especially if we are running a budget deficit. “We cannot keep borrowing to support conspicuous consumption. We cannot even begin to do this if 30 per cent of government expenditure is on fuel subsidy, if out of the balance, 70 per cent is recurrent spending, 10 per cent is for debt service, 10 per cent goes to the Niger Delta and only 10 per cent is capital expenditure.” While Nigerians were still battling with the fuel subsidy problem, the CBN governor ignited another ‘fire’ when on January 27, 2012, the Kano prince linked the activities of the militant
Islamic sect, Boko Haram, with the 13 per cent derivation fund being given to oil-producing states. Another controversy is the CBN’s N100m donation to victims of the January 20 2012, bomb explosions in Kano, which killed at least 185 people. Before the Kano incident, the sect had carried out similar operations in Borno, Yobe, Niger, and Adamawa states, all of which did not receive any donation from the bank, until Sanusi went to St. Theresa Catholic Church Madala, where he donated N25m on behalf of CBN. Sanusi also stirred up another controversy when he revealed plans to introduce the N5,000 note, following its approval by President Goodluck Jonathan The decision was widely condemned by Nigerians, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who argued that it would stimulate inflation. But Sanusi, while defending the policy, faulted the former President, adding that the criticism showed that Obasanjo was a bad economist.
lenge the hip-hop community to embrace a culture of acceptance with their song, “Same Love” (which was coined “Best Video with a Social Message” at the MTV Music Video Awards back in August). Rounding out the top 10 are “Gravity” star Sandra Bullock, “Scandal”’s Kerry Washington, “The Vampire Diaries’” Ian Somerhalder, host-turned-mogul Ryan Seacrest, and — last but certainly not least — coun-
try crooner Carrie Underwood, who supported those affected by the devastating tornadoes in Oklahoma. And we have to give a shout out to 2013 it-girl Jennifer Lawrence, who not only starred in two of the year’s biggest hits (“Catching Fire” and “American Hustle,” in case you’ve been living under a rock), but also nabbed the 11th spot on this distinguished list. Source: http://ca.omg.yahoo.com
The Nation
Sun
continued from p(44) “Fast & Furious” star had co-hosted a charity event for victims of the typhoon in the Philippines. What’s more, a portion of the proceeds from the DVD sales of “Fast & Furious 6” will benefit Walker’s non-profit organization Reach Out WorldWide, which provides relief to those affected by disasters. In that way, his legacy will live on. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis took the fifth spot for their bold move to chal-
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