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Boko Haram attacks DSS HQ in Kogi

Debate over death penalty forr corrupt ofcials

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Danjuma, Tinubu, Daura determine Buhari ’s ministers

...Senate gets full list Wednesday Ex-minister, Nebo, warns of looming global disaster

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Ilorin Eid ground attack sin against God, says Emir P.58

Children at the Magicland during Eid-el-Kabir holiday in Abuja, yesterday.

Hajj tragedy: Sultan wants Saudis to improve safety

… as death toll hits 769 with 934 injured •Taraba ’s Amirul Hajj, two wives, conrmed dead

PHOTO: NAN

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News Most politicians guilty of false declaration of assets –Okunrounmu P.8

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What ’s new Politics

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Saraki: Senate president battles for political career

Seven Days TALKING POINTS OF THE PAST WEEK September 27, 2015

717 killed in Saudi Arabia Hajj stamped

Falae released, says I was sleeping on oor Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Chief Oluyemisi Falae, yesterday regained his freedom from his abductors.

He was said to have been rescued at Owo in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State. Falae arrived at his residence along Oba-Ile road at 4:13pm accompanied by

Nigeria, a step further to Polio eradication –Expert Poliomyelitis otherwise known as polio is an infectious disease caused by a virus (enterovirus C) which invades the nervous system and can lead to total paralysis in a matter of hours. The virus is transmitted by person to person spread mainly through the fecal oral route or less frequently by a common vehicle such as contaminated water or food and multiplies in the intestine.

According to experts, polio cases have decreased over the years in endemic countries as compared to the past when ailment are easily spread from endemic areas into polio-free areas.

Finance as well as constitute his economic team as a way of boosting investors ’ confidence.

Lead director of the centre, Eze Onyekpere, in his evaluation of the communiqué issued by the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

Hakeem Rahman ACTOR

I go to shoot films. My Mondays are always tight as I ’m always busy in Lagos.

Sallah: IG orders massive deployment of police As Nigerian Muslims join their counter parts across the world to commemorate this year ’s EidelKabir celebrations, Inspector- General of Police, IGP, Solomon Arase has ordered a massive deployment of policemen across the country.

This is to forestall any possible breach of peace and hence, ensure a smooth celebration In his message of felicitations signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Bisi Kolawole, the IGP said, the police will provide robust security throughout the period of the festival.

He therefore ordered effective and extensive deployment of personnel, including movement of necessary logistics to all nooks and crannies in the country.

“He has equally man-

dated all Assistant Inspectors- General of Police and Command Commissioners of Police to ensure adequate security with standard operation procedures before, during and after the celebrations to secure key and vulnerable points, eid-praying grounds and other places of worship, including public places and recreation centres, ” she said.

The IGP equally enjoined Nigerians to always report any act of criminality to the police at all times as security agents are prepared to take prompt and decisive actions.

Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, had yesterday announced the deployment of 40,000 officers and men ahead of the celebration.

necessary support to the Army at any time.

He said: “I want to appreciate you and your wonderful team.

I want to once again thank you.

In the next 10 days, we will bring some quantities of rice to assist your boys and also to the governor of Borno State, to assist the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs. “You have recorded tremendous success in dealing with this sect (Boko Haram) and I want to tell you that the people of Ebonyi State are very happy about that.

“Since the insurgency started, we have lost no fewer than three personnel and the same thing has happened to other sections of the country. ”

TUE

16

An Abuja-based social advocacy group, Centre for Social Justice, CSJ, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately unveil his economic blueprint in order to stave off terrible crisis in the nation ’s financial sector. CSJ also charged the President to urgently appoint a Minister of

Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi has donated thousands of bags of the popular Ebonyi rice and other materials to the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs and soldiers fighting Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State.

Umahi, who visited the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonishakin, at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja stated the readiness of his administration to always provide for the displaced persons.

The governor, who was full of praises for the Nigerian Army for their gallant efforts towards ending the insurgency in the NorthEast, assured the CDS that the people of Ebonyi State would give

I do the same today.

WED

Wellness

Group wants Buhari to unveil economic blueprint, appoint nance minister

Umahi donates Ebonyi rice to troops, IDPs in Borno

I attend events. I can easily take permission and later come back to location. I must tell you that acting is fun while you make money. It can be tasking though. I also go to the Redeemed midweek service.

THU

I started acting while in primary school –Bridget Chigbufue

the Inspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase.

The former Minister of Finance was on Monday kidnapped on his Ilado farm in Akure North Local Government Area.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Wednesday directed the IGP to ensure the rescue of the elder statesman. Falae, who is the national chairman of

that he wants to appoint people that are credible and above board as ministers to work with him in order to quickly make progress in the development of the country spokesman for the Pres¬ident, Mr. Femi Adesina had explained that there was no minimum time for the President to appoint minis¬ters, saying that, the time being taken was nothing out of the ordinary in the historical context of ministerial appointments and that it was better to take considered action than to rush.

I try to fall in love with beautiful girls. Any lady that comes across me, that wants me to love her or that shows interest in me, I try to reciprocate. Life is about fun. That is why those things you see me do in movies, sometimes I act myself.

FRI

26

When President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office on May 29, there were hopes and expec-tations that his cabinet would be in place as early as possible to kick start the affairs of the nation. But three months after inauguration, Buhari is yet to appoint ministers that would work with him as speci¬fied in the constitution which provides that each of the 36 states of the federation must be represented in the federal cabinet.

The President had stressed

I go to meet with my friends in the club. We drink, chat, and have small beautiful girls hanging out with us who make us happy. Let me tell you, we have a short time to live in this world, so you really need to enjoy it

SAT

Passion

na to throw stones at pillars representing the devil.

Preparations for the Hajj were marred when a crane collapsed at Mecca ’s Grand Mosque this month, killing 109 people.

It is the deadliest incident to occur during the Hajj in 25 years. Pilgrims travel to Minna, a large valley about 5km (3 miles) from Mecca, during the Hajj to throw seven stones at pillars called Jamarat, which represent the devil.

I ’m always at one event or the other. I celebrate with people because you need people around when you are also celebrating anything. For instance, I ’m 20 years on the stage. I ’m planning to do something about it. People must come around because I do attend their events.

SUN

After weeks and months of speculations and suspense, the Federal Government last week finally began the trial of the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki over allegations of the violation of the assets he declared in 2003 when he was the governor of Kwara State.

About 717 people performing this year ’s Holy pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia yesterday lost their lives in a stampede in Minna.

Saudi Arabian officials said another 863 people were also injured during the incident, which occurred when about two million pilgrims were taking part in the Hajj ’s last major rite.

They converge on Min-

September deadline and controversies over ministerial appointment

I always go to church. If there is any event later in the day, I attend just to unwind. *By Adaeze Amos (08023012293)

3

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

THE

Big Read SUNDAY SPECIAL INVESTIGATION

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SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2015

A

Debate over death penalty for corrupt officials

ccording to President Muhammadu Buhari ‘if we don’t kill corruption, corruption ti will ill kill us.’’

This is perhaps why some advocates have called

‘LIFE SENTENCE PREFERABLE TO DEATH’

f o r t h e t h e y have called for the introduction of capital punishment for corrupt public officers to the ffi t stem t th tide tid off graft ft and brazen looting of public coffers.

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The Nigerian Labour Congress recently called for the introduction of capital punishment for looters of public treasury. PAUL OMO OBADAN looks at arguments which have strong proponents on both sides of the divide.

This clamour was given traction by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union N Congress, TUC, and civil society which has C advocated that the death penalty should be the ad a appropriate punishment for erring corrupt ofap pp ficials.

According to the NLC President, Ayuba fic ia Wabba, Wab bb the NLC was in support of whatever would address addre es the issue of corruption in the country, including cludi in death sentence.

“Iff ssuch capital punishment can happen in ChiIndia na, In nd and South Africa, it can also happen in Nigeria; Niger ri whatever measure that will address the issue of o this mind-boggling corruption in the counNLC will support it,” he said. try, N NL Wabba Wa ab noted that corruption had badly damaged core the c or of the country’s existence, adding that the political leadership of the country must act depoliti ic cisively cisive el in order to pull back the nation from the brink of disaster.

NBA OPPOSED TO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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The Big Read

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Sunday September 27, 2015

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NBA opposed to capital punishment

Buhari

Saraki

Kaigama

Okei-Odumakin

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 “As organised labour, we firmly believe that the political leadership of our country must act decisively to get us out of the brink of disaster that greed and primitive accumulation [of wealth] through open looting of our commonwealth in the last six and more years, has brought us to,” said the unionist.

He said most Nigerians had been deprived standard quality of living due to massive corruption in the polity, adding that organised labor would no longer watch the culture of impunity.

According to him, the NLC supports the establishment of anti-corruption courts to try corruption cases in the country.

“The Federal Government should ensure that all funds illegally taken from the treasury were traced and the perpetrators brought to book.”

He called for the strengthening of anti-corruption laws and the provision of stringent punishment for looters, to serve as a deterrent to others.

His counterpart, Bobboi Kaigama, President of TUC, decried the level of looting at the state and local government levels across the country.

He said a situation where governors could not pay workers salary for months was worrisome.

“We have not experienced non-payment of salary for eight months in the last 20 years; this is sad and this is due to the massive corruption in the country,” said the TUC president.

He also said that the country never witnessed a situation where state governments would have to receive bailout before they could pay monthly salary to workers.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD ENSURE THAT ALL FUNDS ILLEGALLY TAKEN FROM THE TREASURY WERE TRACED AND THE PERPETRATORS BROUGHT TO BOOK.

He, therefore, called for the enactment of laws that would give new impetus to the fight against corruption, adding that all public officers must henceforth, declare their assets.

Kaigama also said that the TUC was in support of special anti-corruption courts, adding that joint account for states and local government must be abolished.

However, the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, has rejected the call by organised labour for capital punishment for public officers found guilty of corruption and corrupt practices in the country.

NBA President, Augustine Alegeh (SAN), made the association’s position known while receiving the President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, at the Bar House in Abuja.

He said it was not ideal that while other countries are moving away from capital punishment, Nigerians will be advocating for such.

“What needs to be done to stem corruption in the country is for the government to evolve measures

that will prevent people from looting the treasury, pointing out that the newly introduced Treasury Single Account was one of such measures, he said.”

Alegeh argued that the plea bargain, which has formed part of the Justice system in the country, is a good measure of recovering stolen money for people, pointing out that if the government had applied it since 2007, a lot of money would have been recovered from those accused of corruption.

He said: “The international trend is that every country is moving away from capital punishment.

So, where the world is moving away from, why are we going there? In corruption cases, the focus is on recovering of the money. Let us recover that money and use it to develop our country and not to kill the man.

“If you kill the man and the family has the money, have we made any progress? So, let us go for what is right. For us, plea bargain, which is in our new criminal justice act, is very good. If we had done plea bargain with some of the governors in 2007, we would have had more money in the system than today.

The NBA president noted that “wherever there is corruption, it is money meant for development that has been taken away. The first thing that we should be looking at is how do we get this money and put back into the system to aid development. Punishment should take the back stage, while you reform.

“What we should be concerned about is what measure do we put in place to ensure that we are not looted, instead of waiting to be looted and then kill the person? We must be proactive and that is our stand.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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The Big Read

Sunday September 27, 2015

5

Capital punishment is Evil –Adeniran Debo Adeniran, Executive Chairman, CACOL sheds more light on the call to introduce capital punishment against corrupt officials in this interview with PAUL OMO OBADAN

A lot of people feel capital punishment jeopardises our sense of the dignity of life. What is your take on that?

And even eliminating will be a source of brutality on the minds of the generations that are just growing up.

They will no longer look at the sanctity of life as being sacrosanct. They will believe that killing people does not mean anything. So if people offended them, their minds will have been brutalized to the extent that after all, those who offended the country were killed. So killing will not make much meaning to them.

Killing them will make it easy for other citizens to forget them and forget the atrocities they have committed that landed them in trouble. If you kill them you have covered up their deeds. We should put them behind the bars. Special prison yards should be created for corruption criminals. So that at the end of the day, school children that are just growing up, that are yet to be co-opted to the cohorts of corrupt practitioners, would be taken to the prison yards to see the kind of people who have pillaged the commonwealth of this country. That made their tomorrow uncertain. Those who made it impossible for us to have regular power supply. Those who made it impossible for us to have good free and qualitative education, good things of life, and so on and so forth. Schoolchildren should be taken to such prisons to see them. And they would have double shame because those children will now look at the faces of those who have committed such heinous crime and they would not want to be treated as such. It would deter the school children more than for them to show them their graves.

Is the purpose of our prison system retribution or rehabilitation?

Every prison ought to be rehabilitative. These elements can practice one trade or the other. They belong to one professional group or the other. If they are lawyers, they can do legal drafts behind the walls. If they are carpenters, they can do carpentry. If they don’t have any skills, they could be thought how to farm and be taken to farms routinely to provide food, a meal a day for school children. They should be well fed so that they would have energy to work. Accountants can practice accountancy behind the walls; those who don’t have trade can be trained to make hats and the likes. Factories can be established behind the walls and these people will work in the factory.

These periods should be the time they should take school children on excursion to see the richest people of yesterday and now the manual laborers behind the walls. This will be more deterrent than for anybody to just say convict them and kill them. So it is more advantageous to keep them alive to serve as deterrent to others, to be more productive, to increase the GDP of the Nation than just to eliminate them and be forgotten like that. At the level of Coalition against Corrupt Leaders, we also cherish the sanctity of human life.

We believe that nobody is completely useless; at least they will serve as bad examples. So basically, we don’t believe that Nigeria should lose its property in terms of the money that are stolen and other property they

Adeniran

ORDINARILY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RAVAGING JEOPARDY THAT CORRUPT PEOPLE HAVE THROWN

NIGERIA INTO INCLUDING THE

BATTERING OF OUR IMAGE AND THE LOSS INTEGRITY WITHIN

THE COMITY OF NATIONS, YOU WOULD WANT TO SAY WE SHOULD COMPLETELY ELIMINATE THOSE WHO HAVE BROUGHT US INTO THAT STATE OF SHAME AND DISREPUTE.

might have acquired through corruption, and still lose human power. Because whether we like it or not, these corrupt elements they provide some man power to the economy of Nigeria. If they have not been providing it before, by the time they find them guilty, Nigeria can make them more productive. They should be put behind the bars for the rest of their life. Everything they have acquired in their life time should be deemed to have been proceeds of corruption and such should be confiscated by the federal government. That means that even if they have benefitted from corrupt practices, Nigeria would have recovered what has been stolen. We should not think that somebody cannot change for better. No matter how bad the situation is at the very moment that you are, everything about life is dynamic and change is the only thing that is permanent. The good ones today can change to bad next day, the bad ones can change to good next day. So we should give them the benefit of the doubt that they can change for the better even if they have to serve jail terms behind the walls.

Is it a major concern that innocent people may be wrongly convicted of a crime and sentenced to death?

A lot of people have been calling for death penalty for corrupt officials, but it was made louder by the Nigerian labour Congress during their protest in favour of the anti corruption drive of the Buhari regime. CACOL

disagrees with them. We have a couple of reasons why we disagree with them. Ordinarily, when you look at the ravaging jeopardy that corrupt people have thrown Nigeria into including the battering of our image and the loss integrity within the comity of nations, you would want to say we should completely eliminate those who have brought us into that state of shame and disrepute.

But on a second thought, you would want to think that a trial judge can make mistakes, people can be set up, and for those who want to set people up, they are very clever at it. So it might be difficult for the trial judge to get the truth beside the evidence that is before him. And if death penalty is the punishment, somebody would have been killed even when the truth might come out much later. And that would not be reversed.

A lot of people feel plea bargaining should be abolished because it is unconstitutional?

It is the way plea bargaining is applied in Nigeria that is adding to corruption because a situation whereby you have the Igbinedion brothers who stole nothing less than N25billion each and they were made to pay N3million. That means they were able to go with N24.7b naira from what they have stolen. That is not justice. That is travesty of justice. Look at Yakubu Yusufu. He actually confessed that he stole more than N27bn and he was fined N750,000. Go and sin no more. That is travesty of justice. These are the reasons why people are skeptical about plea bargaining. Plea bargaining should be a good thing that will save us a lot of money, hassles and energy, if you enter into it with all honesty of purpose. But a situation whereby prosecutors will take money from the same accuse leaves much to be desired. But look at Ibori’s case. He was able to find his way through using trial Judge Awokuleyin. Awokuleyin dismissed 171 count charge at the Asaba Federal High Court. He ran from Ohara his village to United Arab Emirate and was repatriated to the United Kingdom where he promptly arraigned. His lawyer convinced him that it is better you plead guilty on these offences. And these are part of the charges that were leveled against him in Nigeria that he pleaded guilty on in the U.K. and was promptly convicted.

You know why? In U K, If a Lawyer wasted the time of the court unnecessarily, that lawyer is going to lose his license. And if you as a judge allow frivolous applications that will delay the course of justice, he is likely to lose his job. So the earlier the better that an accused pleaded guilty to charges that you know cannot stand the test of the judiciary. In the U K, what you get is that if you plead guilty at the initial stages, you will be given almost 75 per cent discount on the punishment that should accrue to you. On the contrary, you will have maximum penalty if you refuse to plead guilty and you allow the state to spend money gathering evidences, getting witnesses and so on and so forth before you now discover there is no longer any escape route.

Then you must be ready to face maximum penalty.

But if you are humble enough, and you know that hiding place again, and plead guilty at the first count, they can even give you up to 80 per cent discount or more. So that is the way it should have been applied in Nigeria.

So many public officers and politicians are enmeshed in the business of corruption. The capacity of all the anti corruption agencies combined cannot get them prosecuted within four year term of any regime. So the best way would have been to enter into plea bargain, that there would be discount on your punishment. Instead of having seven years in prison, you would be given one year or less.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 The current level of corruption in Nigeria is so high that it calls for drastic solution. Advocates of capital punishment for corruption say that death penalty is a very suitable option for combating corruption.

Some Nigerians believe that only death penalty can help the government to win a war against the cancer of corruption.

Unfortunately, some Nigerians have already lost hope and think that even capital punishment won’t prevent people from corrupt practices and thieves will escape from punishment.

Corruption has stunted growth and made public and private transactions in Nigeria a nightmare.

One only needs to walk into any government office to see how corruption has torn apart the moral fabric of the nation. One has to bribe his or her way through to make the simplest transaction. In some cases, one has to bribe receptionist and her superiors before they can do the job they are paid to do. Failure to pay bribe means that your concern will not be attended to. It is not unusual to see Nigeria police officers, who are suppose to keep law and order, collecting bribes from motorists on highways.

Contracts awarded by public officials are often inflated so they will get their own cut (kickback). Some government officials engage in outright embezzlement of public funds.

Only few notable Nigerians have been tried and sentenced for corruption since Nigeria became a republic.

Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha was convicted of corruption, served six months in jail and seizure of his ill-gotten properties after plea-bargain with EFCC. Former ex-governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbnedion, was tried, convicted and fined 3.5 million naira by an Enugu High court in December 2008. As expected, the fine was criticised by Nigerians as a slapon-the wrist considering the billions of naira he was CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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The Big Read

Sunday September 27, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Life sentence preferable to death’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 accused of stealing.

Chief Bode George, former chairman of People Democratic Party (PDP) Southwest region completed a jail term for corruption last year for embezzlement while serving as the Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Ports Authority, but that conviction was overturned on appeal.

On the hand, former governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, former governor of Ekiti, Fayose, former governor of Kogi, Adamu, former governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, former governor of Delta State, James Ibori who is serving jail term in England for corruption, former governor of Jigawa state, Ibrahim Saminu Turaki and other other former governors have all been charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for corruption but their cases are still pending in various courts across the country.

No reason has been given as to why their cases remain unresolved. Many countries have abandoned capital punishment, including almost all European and many Pacific Area states (including Australia, New Zealand and Timor Leste), and Canada.

In Latin America, most states have completely abolished the use of capital punishment, while some countries, such as Brazil, allow for capital punishment only in exceptional situations, such as treason committed during wartime. The United States (the Federal Government and 36 of its states), Guatemala, most of the Caribbean and the majority of democracies in Asia (e.g. Japan and India) and Africa (e.g.

Botswana and Zambia) retain it. South Africa, which is probably the most developed African nation, and which has been a democracy since 1994, does not have the death penalty.

The latest countries to abolish the death penalty de facto for all crimes were Gabon, which announced on September 14, 2007 that they would no longer apply capital punishment and South Korea in practice on December 31, 2007 after ten years of disuse. The latest to abolish executions de jure was Uzbekistan on January 1, 2008.

Sunday Mirror asked a couple of Nigerians what they feel about introducing capital punishment.

Buraimoh a carpenter said even if they implement the death penalty for corruption, it is the ordinary Nigerian that will be punished while the big thieves in government will go free.

“Who is going to sign the bill? Is it not the same corrupt members?”

“Death penalty is the answer to corruption in Nigeria,” Funke Olaosebikan, a lawyer noted.

“Outright death penalty is the answer and it will serve as a deterrent,” she stressed.

However, Gbolahon Adeniyi, a trader disagrees.

According to him, capital punishment doesn’t seem to deter “capital crimes.”

I remember in the early 70s when armed robbers used to be executed publicly in our cities. Have the incidents of armed robbery subsided now in the 2000s?

In fact it has escalated.

Make it life sentence The President of the CD, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, noted that the dimension of corruption in the country was frightening.

She, however, said that she would prefer a life sentence because of her objection to death sentence.

Okei-Odumakin stated, “While I have issues with capital punishment in general, the dimension corruption has taken in Nigeria is so frightening and it is becoming clear that we require to look at drastic measures to combat it. This is why people are calling for capital punishment. I will stick with life imprisonment because of my principled objection to death sentence.”

EFCC officials

THE PRESIDENT OF THE CD, DR. JOE OKEI-ODUMAKIN, NOTED THAT THE DIMENSION OF CORRUPTION IN THE COUNTRY WAS FRIGHTENING.

Campaign aginst corruption

Why China executes so many people Despite growing opposition, capital punishment remains entrenched in the country’s justice system.

China executes more people than any other country, and critics say too many crimes are punishable by death.

But an expert said the move was unlikely to significantly reduce executions, since people convicted of those crimes in the past have rarely received the maximum penalty and capital punishment can still be used to punish other economic crimes such as corruption.

“The big obstacle, I think, is corruption. Because there still is a very strong sense that corrupt officials must die among the Chinese population at large,”

Lamido ans sons

said Joshua Rosenzweig, research manager for the U.S.-based human rights group Dui Hua Foundation.

“The revulsion for that offense is so strong that there would be a potential political cost to eliminating the death penalty for corruption.”

Official statistics on executions are considered state secrets but the Dui Hua Foundation estimates that China put 5,000 people to death in 2009.

Thirteen economic, nonviolent offenses will be removed from the list of 68 crimes punishable by death, said Lang Sheng, who heads a legal committee for the National People’s Congress, China’s legislature.

The 13 crimes include forging and selling invoices to avoid taxes, and smuggling cultural relics and precious metals such as gold out of the country.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NEWS

Sunday September 27, 2015

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Danjuma, Tinubu to determine Buhari’s ministers OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

A

s Nigerians await the list of ministers to form the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari, signals from the presidential villa indicate that the President had all along depended on some rising power blocs around him to draw the final list.

The main power blocs around the President, as findings revealed, are constituted by the Emir of Borgu, Alhaji Haliru Dantoro, Mallam Mamman Daura, General TY Danjuma and Chief Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

The influences commanded in the Villa by the listed powerful men are anchored on the long years of close relationship they have been having with the President, thus wielding some measures of influence on the President’s decisions on cabinet formation and other issues.

...as list set to be tabled before the Senate on Wednesday According to reports, President Buhari had consulted with them on several occasions while reviewing the list of shortlisted ministers to ensure that those selected are the square pegs in square holes.

The influential men are said to have suggested most of the ministerial nominees to Buhari having met him at different times to screen those so far shortlisted and after which the President forwarded the lists to appropriate quarters for security screening.

The Emir of Borgu is said to be closely linked with Buhari from his days in the military. The two had their relationship cemented as the Emir stood by the former Head of State while he was in detention, handling domestic matters like a true brother.

The Emir, according to

reports, won Buhari’s heart since then while the two have since been strengthening their relationship.

Today, Alhaji Dantoro is one of the strongest power brokers in the seat of government, and has been part of the team said to be rallying round the President in picking competent ministers to serve in the Buhari cabinet.

He is said to have suggested names to the President drawing his list from among those the President can trust, according to reports.

In the same vein, Mallam Mamman Daura is said to wield a strong influence in the Presidential Villa, amid reports that he had been part of almost every decision the President had been taking since he was sworn in.

An uncle to President Buhari, Daura, according to

report, relocated to the Presidential Villa with the aim of offering underground assistance to the President on political matters and has, by that wielded enormous influence which makes him a man to consult often by anyone seeking the face of the President.

Daura, it was learnt, made strong inputs in the major appointments the President made some few weeks ago and which have continued to generate controversy from across the country.

The former editor of New Nigerian newspaper and former chairman African International Bank is said to have deployed his strong influence to approve and disapprove names of those Buhari should announce as his ministers to the chagrin of other interested parties.

An insider in the Presi-

A Syrian father helping his child as they arrive from Turkey to the shores of the Greek island of Lesbos, on an inflatable dinghy, yesterday.

Hajj tragedy: Sultan wants Saudis to improve safety … as death toll hits 769 with 934 injured EZEKIEL TITUS

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

T

he Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday in Sokoto, urged Saudi authorities to henceforth provide improved safety measures during the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.

The Sultan spoke on the sidelines of the presentation of the report of a technical committee set up by him to look into the state of the education sector in Sokoto State.

The Saudi authorities confirmed yesterday that the death toll from the worst Hajj incident in 25 years has left 769 people

dead and 934 injured.

According to the Sultan, ‘’The tragedy had affected several countries of the world, Nigeria in general and Sokoto State in particular. ‘’Some local governments in Sokoto State like Illela, Binji, Gwadabawa and others were affected by the tragedy, although the actual casualty figures are still being ascertained

by Saudi Arabian and Nigerian authorities, ‘’ he said.

Abubakar, who is the life National Amirul Hajj, described the deaths and injuries caused by the stampede as ‘’collective loss’’.

He said his committee was assessing the situation

and would appropriately advise the Federal Government on the incident.

“We will appropriately advise the Federal Government of Nigeria to partner the Saudi Government on how to improve safety of pilgrims during the annual pilgrimage.

“The tragedy was an act of God but we will render useful advice to the Federal Government on how to improve the safety of the pilgrims.

“This is necessary to ensure the conduct of hitchfree Hajj exercise annually,” he said.

The Sultan condoled with the families and Government of Nigeria as well as other countries affected

by the tragedy.

Meanwhile, a Nigerian Muslim pilgrim and PDP chieftain from Bauchi State, Sani Alamin Muhammed has blamed Saudi Arabia authorities responsible following the death toll of innocent pilgrims in a stampede circumstances This was just as he urged the Saudi authorities to without any further delay compensate the bereaved families of the Arafat stampede blaming on negligence Muhammed said in a telephone interview with National Mirror that lack of proper ventilated facilities has greatly contributed to the death of the pilgrims.

dential Villa power game said, “Daura’s presence in the Villa is a matter of concern to power players who are consistently being fenced off from the centre of activities in Nigeria’s seat of government at the moment. His influence is so enormous that he turned down some of those already shortlisted for ministerial jobs based on old enmity”.

The relationship between President Buhari and General Danjuma which dates back to their days in the military, findings have revealed is basically altruistic since the two have been working closely on how to assemble a crisp cabinet meant to promote Buhari’s government as result-oriented and progressive.

Danjuma is also said to have offered suggestions to the President on the names to include in his cabinet, emphasising on credible record of performances of those to be shortlisted.

A government official privy to the scheme of things in the Presidential vVilla hinted that Buhari is more receptive to suggestions from the former Minister of Defence because of his belief that Danjuma is oftentimes dispassionate in many of his suggestions.

Danjuma, who headed Advisory Council of Elder Statesmen during the regime of former President Goodluck Jonathan, fell apart with the former president on the basis that he was less receptive to better suggestions the committee made for propelling his government.

The former governor of

Lagos State, Asiwaju Tinubu, is another power broker around the President who made strong input in the list of ministerial nominees to be submitted by the President to the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Buhari had conceded to Tinubu by appointing some of his trusted aides into government apart from VicePresident Yemi Osinbajo.

Both Tinubu and former Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, were reported to have taken the task of nominating party members from the SouthWest zone for Buhari’s consideration as ministers.

Tinubu, reports said, had ensured the screening of those shortlisted from the South-West zone in line with Buhari’s preferences in which case nominees from the zones are drawn from APC, private sector and the academia.

Although attempts had been made on several opccasions to sever the tie between President Buhari and Tinubu, the two leaders have continued to manage their relationship to the best of their abilities, latching unto maturity and deeper understanding of the politics in APC more than anything else.

Indications are rife, however, that President Buhari will forward the list of shortlisted ministers to the Senate for screening mid week as the Senate is scheduled to resume from its six weeks break which ends next Tuesday. President Buhari has vowed that he would announce his cabinet before the end of September this year.

NNPC to distribute free gas cylinders to households

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igerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, will give every household a free gas cylinder as part of the measures to encourage domestic use of gas as means of cooking.

This will also discourage kerosene usage as means of cooking and make it more available for use by the aviation users.

This was made known at the weekend by the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr Ibe Kachikwu.

Kachikwu said that with the abundant gas resources available in the country, there was no reason why kerosene should be the source of cooking in the country adding that the corporation would work toward

making it available to every Nigerian at a reasonably cheaper rate.

“To this end, NNPC will start to distribute free cylinders to every household with effect from January next year,” the GMD said.

Kachikwu also disclosed that transparency in the operation of NNPC activities would form the bedrock of his administration.

To achieve this, the NNPC boss said that every crude lifting would be published in the dailies for every Nigerian to see.

He also disclosed that external auditors would be reintroduced to look into the accounts of the corporation, which was last audited in 2010.

NEWS

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Sunday September 27, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ex-Power minister, Nebo, warns of looming global disaster EMMANUEL EZEH, ENUGU

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ormer Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, yesterday warned that a possible Third World War is in the offing.

He, however, said the

impending war might not be fought with fighter jets or atomic bombs but with what he called, “Electro Magnetic Power, EMP”.

Nebo made the revelation in Enugu at a one-day seminar organised by the South-East chapter of a non-denominational or-

Boko Haram attacks DSS HQ, frees inmates in Kogi WALE IBRAHIM, LOKOJA

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arely a year after the suspected Boko Haram members attacked Koton Karfe Prison in Kogi State, the Boko Haram group has yesterday night attacked the state headquarters of Department of State Security Services (DSS) in Lokoja yesterday.

Sunday Mirror gathered that the suspected Boko Harram insurgnts had stormed the State Headquarters of DSS at about 9.45 pm on Friday night in their large numbers and started shooting sporadically to cause panic moment for the occupants of the office and the residents of the of zone 8 area along Hassan Katsina Way in Lokoja.

It was learnt that insurgents bombed some of the strategic entrance with aid of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) to enable them to carry their mission and release some the inmates from the custody of DSS. The unexpected invasion led to exchange of gun battle between the Boko Harram members and operatives of Department of State Secu-

rity Service and other security agents who were mobilised to safe the situation.

In the fierce battle that ensued at least three Boko Haram members were gunned down and mobile police lost his while defending his father land.

The insurgents, who came at about 9.45pm were armed with IEDs , AK47 Rifles and other dangerous weapons and said to have bombarded the office as they engaged the officials on duty in a fierce gun battle which last several hours.

Apparently disturbed by the invasion, a Deputy Director of the agency was said to have contacted other security agencies through a distress call to the police at about 10. 40 pm, which immediately mobilized their patrol teams to the scene to repel the attack.

It was the combine efforts of the police team along with the Army that were later drafted in engaged the insurgents for more than seven long hours before they were finally curtailed and overpowered as some of the Insurgents were said to have fled into the bush while three lay dead.

ganisation, Executive Network Great Commission Movement of Nigerian, ENGC. The former power minister explained that the war, which would be targeted at National Power Grids, would cut off power supply, plunging nations into catastrophe and disasters.

He went further to explain that “when this occurs, there would be hunger and diseases

of diverse nature that has never been witnessed before.”

Nebo posited that the impending war would be part of the signs of the end-time stressing that “we are in the last days”.

To emphasise that the endtime was at hand, Nebo cited Biblical passages, pointing out that the magnitude of happenings attested to such fact.

He enumerated the disas-

ters happening in the world to include wars, earthquakes, increase in insurgency by ISIS, Boko Haram, noting also that “the National ID cards, Bank Verification Numbers, BVN, ATM and such stuff are signs of the anti-Christ and the impending deadly number, 666.”

Nebo, who maintained that God would save His people, said that the Americans were already jittery about the

Most politicians guilty of false declaration of assets –Okunrounmu

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hairman of the 2014 National Conference Convocation Committee, Sen. Femi Okunrounmu, said yesterday that more than 90 per cent of politicians in the country were guilty of false declaration of assets.

Fun seekers at the Magicland during the Eid-el-Kabir holiday in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

President hails Fasanmi at 90

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resident Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Pa Ayo Fasanmi on his 90th birthday yesterday

A statement issued yesterday by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina said Buhari joined Fasanmi’s family, friends and kinsmen in celebrating the elder statesman’s

longevity in the service of his community, region and country.

Buhari applauded his uncommon and exemplary life of steadfast commitment to progressive ideals.

The President commended Fasanmi’s most admirable fidelity to the noble ideals of justice, equity, honesty, patriotism

and selflessness as worthy of emulation by younger Nigerians.

He prayed that God would grant many more years of good health and happiness to Fasanmi who was first elected into the House of Representatives between 1964 and 1966 and served as a two-term Senator between 1979 and 1983.

Buhari committed to national security, succour for IDPs –Presidency

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he Presidency yesterday said that contrary to the erroneous impression that may have been created by reports that the Nigerian delegation to the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly missed a meeting on help for displaced persons, President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration remain fully committed to the rehabilitation and well-being of all persons who have been displaced or adversely affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

A statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu said the war against terrorism, improved security across Nigeria and additional mea-

sures to give succour to internally displaced persons have been central to discussions Buhari has had with other world leaders since his arrival in New York on Thursday night.

According to the statement, the issues were dominant in the President’s conversations on Friday with Chancellor Angela Merkel, the King of Spain, His Majesty Don Felipe VI and former Prime-minister Gordon Brown who came with former President Olusegun Obasanjo to discuss the actualization of the safe schools initiative, which is of special interest in parts of Nigeria most vulnerable to terrorist

impending EMP war, which no one knew when it would eventually come.

Nebo alerted about what he called the “Four Blood Moons”, stating that when any of the moons appears, disaster of unimaginable magnitude like tsunami could occur.

He revealed that by September 28, 2015, the tsunami-like disaster might occur.

attacks.

It stated that Buhari is handling his duty as leader of the Nigerian delegation to this year’s General Assembly with the greatest possible diligence and would certainly not tolerate any tardiness on the part of the delegation in seizing every possible opportunity to advance Nigeria’s interests.

The statement explained that this notwithstanding, it must be realized that it would be near impossible for any national delegation, no matter its size, to participate in all the meetings that are simultaneously happening in and around the General Assembly in New York.

“The statement further said, “the meeting at which Nigeria was reportedly absent was not one the official events of the United Nations for which President Muhammadu Buhari and his modest delegation are in New York” “While the meeting referred to in media reports is commendable, it was not the only one or the most important of such meetings in New York that are paying attention to the problem of insecurity, migration and violent extremism in the Lake Chad area and the rest of the world” “Nigeria was represented earlier today (Saturday) at

an important side event devoted to the North-East called by the UN Population Fund, UNFPA on “Building Stability and Resilience in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin Countries.”

“President Buhari fully conscious of his responsibility to Nigeria and will accept nothing short of the best for Nigerians in the meetings taking place in and around the United Nations.

“Anyone trying to create an impression of dereliction of duty, based on the Nigerian delegation’s absence at an unofficial meeting, is only being mischievous and uncharitable”, the statement added.

Okunrounmu stated this while interacting with newsmen on the sidelines of 80th birthday celebration of O’dua Peoples Congress, OPC, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, in Lagos.

He said that if anybody had done anything that was against the law or Constitution, the person should be called to account.

According to him, it is good and part of the fight against Corruption, but that fight should be holistic.

“It should cover all the people who are guilty, not just target a few individuals.

“Ninety per cent of politicians declare assets falsely, so the law should go after all the people that are guilty of such false declaration of assets, try them and bring them to justice.

“They shouldn’t just target one or two people,” he said.

On the National Confab, Okunrounmu alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had always opposed it.

“Maybe, the Constitution is favourable to some parts of the North; many northern APC leaders have always opposed a national confab.

“Maybe, one can understand why they oppose a confab, but those who know how the current Constitution came to being know that it was fashioned by successive military rulers, mostly from the north,’’ he alleged.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Sunday September 27, 2015

9

I am not ghting with Saraki, says Ahmed WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

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wara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has denied speculations that there is now a feud between him and Senate President Bukola Saraki.

He was reacting to an online media report that Saraki, his political godfather, had been blaming him for the attack on the former during Eid-elKabir prayers in Ilorin on Thursday.

A statement by Muiyideem Akorede, Media and Communication Se-

nior Special Assistant to the governor said his boss “rejected as false, malicious and unfounded, the story published by Saharareporters.com on Friday, September 25, which claimed that Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki blamed him for miscreants ’ attack on dignitaries at the Ilorin Eid Prayer Ground last Thursday ”.

Akorede added that “at no time did the Senate President accuse the state governor of leaving him vulnerable to attack by the miscreants at the Eid Prayer Ground, Ilorin, neither did Governor

Ahmed blame Dr. Saraki for the miscreants ’ attack on dignitaries ”.

He described the report ’s claim that “Senator Saraki got N1 billion out of the N4.3billion bailout loan received by the state government from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as preposterous, malicious and provocative. ” Akorede said the “Senate President neither received any kobo out of the money which was fully used to pay the two-month salary arrears owed state civil servants in August, 2015 nor any other money

Fun seekers at the Magicland during the Eid-el-Kabir holiday in Abuja, yesterday.

from the state government.

The media aide said, “the majority of state government workers, local government employees and teachers received their salaries a day before the Eid celebrations stressing that Ahmed ’s decision, like most Nigerians, to observe the Eid prayers in Share, his home town rather than Ilorin, was driven by a desire to spend time with the people, rather than by security reports of a possible attack.

“Dr. Saraki attended the Ilorin Eid ground on

PHOTO: NAN

FG welcomes Nigeria ’s removal from list of polio-endemic countries ROTIMI FADEYI

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resident Muhammadu Buhari has welcomed the announcement by the World Health Organisation, WHO, that polio is no longer endemic in Nigeria.

A statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public-

ity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari was delighted by the announcement which followed the absence of any case of the wild polio virus in the country since July 24, 2014.

The President applauded the concerted efforts of government officials, health workers, volunteer groups, civil society, religious leaders, traditional rulers and international partners

which resulted in this historic achievement.

While he joined other Nigerians and the global community in celebrating Nigeria ’s removal from the list of polio-endemic countries, Buhari urged continued vigilance to ensure that Nigeria maintains this new status.

The President directed all government ministries, departments and agencies

involved in the polio eradication effort to remain proactively engaged and on guard against the re-emergence of the polio virus in Nigeria.

He assured WHO and the global community that the Federal Government would ensure that immunisation and surveillance activities continue across the country to keep the country polio-free.

Lagdro dams has led to the uncomfortable rising in level of water in the River Benue and Niger.

Awoniyi, who made this call while inspecting the rising level of the water yesterday, said there ’s no longer a hiding place for those who didn ’t believe NIMET and NEMA

prediction that the state would be flooded.

He appealed to those living along the flood prone areas of the state who are expecting that the flood would not become a reality, saying that the water level had risen to 9.2m.

Awoniyi noted that the situation has now become

a reality in that the flood has once again caught up with the state as the rising level of the water on a minute by minute level was worrisome and was creating a panicky situation.

The Deputy Governor called on Senior Special Assistants of the nine

Kogi declares ood high alert WALE IBRAHIM, LOKOJA

K

ogi State Deputy Governor, Yomi Awoniyi, has urged the residents living along floodprone areas of the state to quickly relocate to higher ground as the release of water from Jebba and

Thursday not in defiance of any security reports or for any publicity stint as was reported but in fulfilment of his religious obligation as his popularity in Kwara State is not in doubt.

Akorede in the statement also dismissed the claim that Dr. Saraki was

displeased with the governor ’s media team for releasing a statement condemning the attack on dignitaries at the Eid Ground, saying the insinuation was “a clear manifestation of a fruitless effort to embellish falsehood with a semblance of truth ”.

Assets declaration: Lawyers fault Saraki ’s trial by FG ome lawyers have criticised the trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, by the Code of Conduct Tribunal over alleged assets declaration on the grounds of abuse of legal procedures.

They claimed that the procedures adopted in the trial were wrong.

In particular, the lawyers frowned at the procedure where Saraki was hounded into the witness box by the prosecution counsel with what they described as the “active connivance of the tribunal chairman ”, to take his plea without first drawing the attention of the Senate President to the alleged infractions in his assets declaration forms as required by section 3(d) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Code of Conduct Tribunal Act. “When there is a procedure, either to commence an action or to process an action, there are plethora of legal authorities that in commencing such an action, if there is disregard to that procedure, the whole process, ab initio is invalid, ” Lucky Chukwueke Dureke, an Abuja-based legal counsel told Sunday Mirror.

The Federal Government last week initiated

a 13-count charge before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Abuja, bordering on false and anticipatory declaration of assets against the Senate President while he was the governor of Kwara State.

While in the dock to take his plea, Saraki protested against the trial process, stressing that it negated the spirit and intendment of section 3(d) of the CCB and the CCT. According Saraki, “Section 3 (d) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act provides that ‘If there is a breach or non-compliance with any section of the law, the person involved should be given the opportunity to either admit or deny and that in the case of a written admission, no reference to the Tribunal shall be necessary ’. So, if the CCB had followed the guidelines, procedure or the due process provided in its own law, we won ’t be having this trial. ” Commenting on the position of Saraki on the matter, Dureke said, “I am in agreement with Saraki totally, not necessarily whether he is guilty or innocent, but procedurally, ” describing Government ’s procedure in the prosecution as wrong.

The lawyer stated that, “For me, the process has not yet commenced, the action has not yet commenced. ”

flood-prone local government areas of the state, to employ the services of town criers, traditional rulers and religious leaders and other opinion molders to appeal to people living along flood-prone areas to move upland and to other safe places for dear lives.

Awoniyi who lamented

the discomfort the flood would cause citizens in their relocation, said it was better to save lives and property than to want to live in comfort zone.

He said with prayers and supplication, it was hoped that the state would not experience the 2012-type episode.

GEORGE OJI ABUJA

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Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Interview ENCOUNTER WITH A NEWS MAKER SEPTEMBER 27, 2015

APC must punish rebels in its midst –Opadokun FOR ME IT

Chief Ayo Opadokun is the convener of the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms, CODER. In this interview with Olajide Omojolomoju and Ayo Esan, he speaks about issues as they affect the polity. Excerpts: There is a new government in place, the All Progressive Congress, APC- led Federal Government. What is your assessment of the government in the last three months or so ?

I admit that the Buhari- Osinbajo - led government has adopted a slogan of one of the earliest prose in Nigeria which is ‘hasting-slowly ’, and I think Nigeria will be better for it. My assessment of the three months in office of this new ruler, even without saying anything, the body language has spoken volume about their commitment to executing three cardinal matters they presented to Nigerian people upon which they are elected into office namely commitment to eradicating corruption before it kills Nigeria.

Secondly, the resolve to execute the cardinal reason why government is installed to humanity, that is, the provision of security for lives and properties. Thirdly this government is doing its utmost best to tackle the endemic negatives, which have enveloped successive governments in Nigeria in the last say almost 30 years.

Let me reiterate my submission therefore as follows. The Nigerian military had undermined the collective destiny of the Nigerian people on several fronts - political, economic and all their adherents, socio-economic, socio-political matters have been terribly undermined. And because the Nigerian nation had allowed the military to go back to the barracks on their own terms, negative consequences of that has very telling effects on our body politic. I would explain, if you don ’t mind. Corruption was perhaps slightly tolerable when Nzeogwu and his group overran the Nigeria political landscape.

They called them ten percenters. Since the military interventions to help Nigerians from being robbed by ten percenters, it has gravitated to twenty, thousands, millions, billions and trillions areas of our lives. About five to seven or ten years ago I think undeniably I was fatalistic when said corruption as we are having it today and perversion in the manner we now have it today was the military project. When Generals Murtala Mohammed and Olusegun Obasanjo came to office, remember the catch word, ‘dismissed

APPEARS AN UNGODLY PATH OF THE NIGERIAN STATE TO BE BUSY CLAMOURING EVERY DAY THAT HE MUST APPOINT MINISTERS

Opadokun

with immediate effect ’, public servants were on their way back home when they heard their names mentioned as having been dismissed with immediate effect, to the extent that many of them could not even go back to their offices. They lost not only the office but their personal effects.

So every known safeguard trusted by the public servants was totally undermined since then. I mean to say that the G.O., the general orders, that govern the public service was totally subverted. So what it meant to most of the public servants since then was that there was no hope for tomorrow so I better make haste while the sun is still shining. Civil servants, they are human beings, they didn ’t come from the moon, they are part of us here on earth, they were contented with what the public service gives to them and they would do their works diligently. But since somebody came using force of arms to take over government and then sack them with ignominy, it became very dif-

ficult to control the public servants from providing for tomorrow. The hereafter became a subject matter of greater consequences than the nation. The truth of the matter was the fact that, that was the commencement of serious corruption in Nigeria. Perhaps I won ’t go further than this, just that I would need to discharge my cart from keeping until the grave the serious consequences of that action on the body polity and the public services. I would leave that for some other time and for my book that is in the works.

While General Murtala Mohammed was the Minister for Telecommunication, there was a very major thing that happened in that ministry. It was part of the personal crisis of his own, that he utilised government machineries to enforce against the well being of the nation. I stopped at that now. So what Babangida came to do was to totally transform the enhance status of corruption and perversion to an article of faith. So much so

that there was no public institution that was not affected thereafter.

Hitherto, in the Nigeria nation, matured minds believe that corruption was not of any significant thing to us. But since the outing of General Ibrahim Babangida we have found out that no public institution was saved from being perverted. You will remember the case for which the Late Gani Fawehinmi had to face because he challenged the Supreme Court justices for collecting Mercedes Benz cars from Babangida and he filed action against them. That is to show the extent to which the entire society was corrupted. We remained so subverted and corrupted till today. Once upon a time, Nigerian judiciary was a thing of envy in the commonwealth so much that many African nations sought for Nigeria leadership in building their own judiciary. I can remember the revered Justice Udo Udoma, Dr Akinola Aguda, Dr Olu Onagoruwa and the likes . That judiciary that we were proud of is now a shadow of itself today. So we are in dire straits.

What needs to be done to correct this?

Buhari has a lot to do in reformation before things can fall in place. We can see that he has started. Too many things are wrong, look, a lot of scarce resources have been wasted by General Obasanjo and his allies over the so called reformation of the public service. So those who are angry that Buhari have been late in forming his cabinet, some of them may be for some genuine reasons but I know that majority have some selfish reasons.

They wanted to force him into cul de sac; they wanted to undermine his resolve to turn Nigeria around for good. I therefore CONTINUED ON PAGE 55

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nigerians await Buhari ’s cabinet P 12 & 53

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Politics PROVIDING FRESH PERSPECTIVES TO ISSUES SEPTEMBER 27, 2015

A PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT THAT HAS NO FUNCTIONAL LEGISLATORS FOR 100 DAYS HAS NO REASON TO CALL ITSELF A GOVERNMENT. A PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT THAT HAS NO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS NO RIGHT TO CALL ITSELF A GOVERNMENT.

–NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF UNITY PARTY OF NIGERIA, DR FREDRICK FASEHUN

Saraki Senate president battles for political career

Saraki

Ekweremadu

The trial of the Senate President, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, which commenced last week in Abuja, over alleged violation of Saraki ’s asset declaration may be the beginning of more bad things to come for the Senate President, writes GEORGE OJI.

A

fter weeks and months of speculations and suspense, the Federal Government last week finally began the trial of the Senate President,

Abubakar Bukola Saraki over allegations of the violation of the assets he declared in 2003 when he was the governor of Kwara State.

To many political watchers in Nigeria, the trial did not come as a surprise.

Indeed, the trial was the fulfillment of a prophecy long foretold.

Saraki ’s sins Political pundits believe that the major reason why Saraki is being currently prosecuted, more than 12 years when he stepped down as the Governor of Kwara CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Kogi guber: Battle line drawn as candidates emerge

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Briefly

Lawmaker charges Nigerians to support Buhari in ghting corruption

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igerians, have been charged to throw their weight behind President Muhammadu Buhari in his crusade against corruption in the country.

The call was made by a member of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye .

The lawmaker disclosed that Nigeria, at this time, needs loyal services from its citizenry as corruption has done a lot of harms to the welfare of its people, hence, the need for everyone to renew their commitment towards a better country.

According to him, contentment is a virtue respected and propagated by every religion, race and creed whereas covetousness and greed are generally regarded as vice, which is repelled by everyone, with contemptuous annoyance.

He charges Nigerians to safe the country from the present economic quagmire by probing the character of public office holders and ensure that those entrusted with leadership responsibilities are people of integrity.

He said: “Our country today is confronted with a bug called corruption.

It has infested our world and had eaten deep like cankerworm into the fabric of our society ”.

“Ranging from pilfering and pedestrian underhand dealings to official manipulation and palace looting, corruption has become the caterpillar of destruction ”.

“It becomes worrisome that custodians of commonwealth, those in position of authority and those entrusted with responsibilities are the ones who turned to be the captains among the legions of maggots eating up the nation ”.

He added that the oppressed in the Nigerian society are beginning to have a sense of relief and a new lease of life on account of the action of the present administration. He said they have perceived a new wave that under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, the monster will not only be confronted, but also be attacked vehemently.

He said the populace must resolve to resist the cabals who pillage commonwealth and plundered the nation ’s resources.

Oyintiloye further urged the President to beware of the ‘mixed multitudes ’, referring to many within and outside the President ’s fold who had hitherto lived with monstrous skeleton in their cupboards. He admonished the President to ensure that culpable individuals are brought to justice.

12

Politics

AYO ESAN

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his week is an expectant one for Nigerians especially the political class as the month of September promised

by President Muhammadu Buhari to announce his cabinet will lapse on Wednesday.

One issue that the Buhari administration has had to contend with over the months is the controversy surrounding the appointment of ministers.

Many of the political pundits believe that the delay in appointing ministers has slowed down the activities of the government in the past three months.

After much noise and continuous apprehension, Buhari about two months ago said the ministers would be appointed in September. This announcement was followed by criticism, especially from the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which felt Buhari by not announcing his cabinet on time is not prepared for governance.

PDP a few weeks ago said it was worrisome that Buhari had yet to appoint ministers and other cabinet members who are expected to move the country forward. National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the situation called for prayers from Nigerians.

He said, “We urge Nigerians to join hands in prayers and offer useful suggestions to President Buhari and the CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

State, is because of his emergence as the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria very much against the wishes of the hierarchy of his party, the All Progressives Congress.

Saraki himself admitted that much last week Tuesday when his trial commenced at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Utako Abuja. Speaking while in the dock when he took his plea before the CCT presided over by Danladi Umar, the Senate President stated that, “The reason why I am going through this trial is because I am the Senate President. If I were to be just a senator, I doubt if anybody will be interested in the asset declaration form I filled over 12 years ago. ” Ajibo Okpanachi, an Abuja-based legal practitioner while speaking with National Mirror, described Saraki ’s trial as purely political. The lawyer was of the same belief with Saraki that the trial could not have taken place in the first instance were it not that Saaraki emerged the Senate President against his party ’s plans. “The entire trial is purely political, and I stand my grounds on this. He is standing trial today because he is the Senate President. If he was not the Senate President, he would not have stood trial, ” Opkanachi argued.

Saraki had defied the arrangement of the leadership of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) to emerge the President of the Senate on June 9, 20015. Ever since, the leadership of APC has been habouring serious malice against Saraki.

APC was not just annoyed at the emergence of Saraki against the party ’s preferred choice of Senator Ahmed Lawan,

Sunday September 27, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nigerians await Buh APC because the present administration is finding it very difficult to get its bearing right while showing no inclination towards implementing its numerous campaign promises for which it was voted into office at the centre. We are deeply worried that the President, who promised to unveil his cabinet two weeks after his inauguration, has not been able to decide on key appointments such as ministers, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief of Staff and advisers in key sectors of the economy.

“This is more so as the delay has brought government business in ministries, departments and agencies to a dangerous standstill with the coordination of important policies vested on ministers and the SGF now in tatters while the system drifts. This situation also creates loopholes through which overzealous persons around the President can collude with unscrupulous elements in the bureaucracy to siphon public resources – in addition to possibly misleading the President to violate due process by spending beyond his statutory limits. ” Buhari has since appointed SSG and his Chief of Staff.

His party, the All Progressive Congress, APC has however come to his defence saying that Buhari needs time to clear the mess which was created by

the PDP administration in the last 16 years before he can actually kick off his government.

It was also gathered that the president is also taking his time by employing integrity test to sieve his ministerial team and this test is said to have seen many of the heavyweight names tumbling like a pack of card.

Buhari is believed to be looking for clean hands and Nigerians that have never soiled their palms with corruption, a search many believe may be difficult to yield any positive result.

Some people who felt that September is a longer date have realized now that the month is here and not only that it is here but it is coming to an end this week. .

Those who also believe that President Buhari might renege on his September deadline to name his cabinet were assured when penultimate Monday in Aburi, Ghana he told Nigerians and the international community that he will name his cabinet before the end of the month, adding that, the deadline is sacrosanct.

President Buhari gave the assurance at a joint press conference with President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana.

“After I was sworn-in, I said I will have my cabinet in September. I expect that Nigerians should ask me

Buha ari

questions after the 30th of September if I do not do so, ” President Buhari said while responding to a question on the appointment of ministers.

With the pressure mounted on him, Bu-

Senate president battl but was miffed with the circumstances of the emergence.

APC believed that Saraki betrayed the party by going into unholy alliance with senators of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to make his election possible and spite the APC in the process. What was even more annoying to the APC was the emergence of Senator Ike Ekweremadu of the opposition PDP as the Deputy Senate President. As far as APC was concerned, the leadership of the senate has not changed from what it used to be under the PDP. The current trial of Saraki, no doubt is intended to sufficiently degrade him, such that his colleagues would lose confidence in him and move for his impeachment.

Perhaps, Saraki ’s sins would have been forgiven him if he was ready to shift grounds and compromise with the Presidency and the party after his emergence.

Presidency forces revealed that when APC forwarded a list of its key senators to be given specific committees of the senate to chair as a way of compensating them for losing out of the leadership positions but Saraki rebuffed the party and insisted on being the one and some of his very close allies, particularly from the PDP to determine what each of the lawmakers got as committee chairmen.

It was this uncompromising attitude of Saraki that made the party and the Presidency to now take a firm decision to move against him.

PERHAPS, SARAKI ’S SINS WOULD HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN HIM IF HE WAS READY TO SHIFT GROUNDS AND COMPROMISE WITH THE

PRESIDENCY AND THE PARTY AFTER HIS EMERGENCE

Lawa an

The Buhari angle Political observers believe that the problem of the APC in the senate, regarding the leadership crisis has its root with President Muhammadu Buhari ’s double standards and double speak. This is because, during the process for the contest

of the leadership of the senate, shortly after the end of the 2015 general election, Buhari came out to announce to the whole world that he had not special interest in who emerged as the leaders of the senate. Indeed, the President made it point blank that he would not interfere with the

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Politics

Sunday September 27, 2015

13

No provision for president to administer without cabinet –Okunrounmu AYO ESAN

T

he Chairman of the 2014 National Conference Convocation Committee, Senator Femi Okunrounmu has said that, there was no provision in the Nigeria constitution for the president

to administer the country without a cabinet.

Okunrounmu who was speaking in relation to the delayed announcement of cabinet by President Muhammadu Buhari with more than three months in office said even though there is no specification on the number of days with-

in which he must send the names of ministers, any governance without ministers is governance as sole administrator which is not provided for in the Constitution.

Okunrounmu who was speaking on Saturday at a grand reception organized to mark the 8oth

birthday of the founder of the pan-Yoruba Group, Oodua People ’s Congress, OPC and the National Chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, Dr Fredrick Fasehun said that more than 90 per cent of politicians in the country were guilty of false declaration of as-

sets.

Okunrounmu who was speaking on the arraignment of Senate President, Bukola Saraki said that if anybody had done anything that was against the law or Constitution, the person should be called to account.

According to him, it is good and part of the fight against Corruption, but insists that the fight should be holistic.

“It should cover all the people who are guilty, not just target a few individuals. ``Ninety per cent of politicians declare assets falsely, so the law should go after all the people that are guilty of such false declaration of assets, try them and bring them to justice.

“They shouldn ’t just target one or two people, ”

he said.

On the National Confab, Okunrounmu alleged that the All Progressives Congress, APC had always opposed it. ``May be, the Constitution is favourable to some parts of the North; many northern APC leaders have always opposed a national confab. ``May be, one can understand why they oppose a confab, but those who know how the current Constitution came to being know that it was fashioned by successive military rulers, mostly from the north, ’ ’ he alleged.

He said that the southern wing of the APC, led

by Sen. Ahmed Tinubu, had always agitated for a national conference, but were opposed to the 2014 confab ``for political reasons ’ ’.

Choice of Faleke as Audu ’s running mate is to foster unity –Group WALE IBRAHIM L-R: Wife of Kano State Governor, Hajia Hafsat Ganduje; Governor Umar Ganduje; Adamawa State Deputy Governor, Martins Babale and Lamido of PHOTO: NAN Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Barkindo, during the inauguration of City Green Hotel at Jimeta in Yola, yesterday.

Bayelsa 2015: Paulker, others slam PDP for lack of internal democracy OSAHON JULIUS YENAGOA

T

he Senator, representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, who was disqualified from the Bayelsa governorship race, Senator Paulker Emmanuel, has slammed the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for lack of internal democracy.

The Senator, who expressed his displeasure at his disqualification by the PDP ’s zonal screening committee in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, noted that internal democracy remains key to democracy in Nigeria but still lacking in the PDP. Paulker who spoke in Yenagoa, during a thank you dinners organized by his campaign organization, noted that since his inexplicable purported disqualification, the party ’s appeal panel had yet to come out with the result of their screening.

During the screening, Paulker, a three-time Senator, and a former Chairman of Kolokuma-Opo-

kuma Local Government Area, Chief Ebikitin Diongoli, were disqualified, paving way for Governor Seriake Dickson as the sole candidate of the PDP which has been affirmed by the party ’s delegates on Thursday.

Paulker said, “For our democracy to thrive in this country, there must be internal democracy. Without internal democracy, it is difficult for a party to reflect democracy on the playground. It is better to quarrel in the process of internal democracy than to shut out internal democracy out of our democratic experience.

“Regarding our disqualification, up till now, the appeal panel has yet to come out with the result of the screening.

“Power comes from God. Irrespective of parties, Bayelsa belongs to all of us. If a government is formed tomorrow, all of us will benefit from it. Any government in power owes all of us a duty of service.

“Like I told them at the screening panel, when they criticized me that

members of the All Progressives Congress attended my ceremonies, I said the party required more Paulkers now than ever because we require ambassadors to go out of this party to canvass for votes in order for us to win. ” He said democracy had come to stay in this country, but warned of any attempt to make mockery of democracy by shutting some people out of contest for political offices.

Also speaking, the Director-General, Renewal 2016, Senator Paulker Emmanuel Governorship Campaign Organisation, Dr. Ayakeme Whisky, said what happened to their principal, Paulker during the screening was a rape on democracy.

Whisky, who is a prominent member of PDP Unity Group, an association within the PDP, said the forum which held alongside a dinner, was an avenue to strengthen those behind him (Paulker) and to cultivate a bond of relationship.

He said, “Paulker, as a loyal party member and our principal has given up

on his disqualification.

What else do you want him to do? If the party he aspired for its flag, till this minute as we speak, has not released the outcome of their appeal screening, what do expect him to do but to defer to God? “At the lower screening committee, they said he was not cleared. Suspectingly, six months ago, they cleared the same man to fly the flag of the party to contest for Senate. He contested and won the Senate for the PDP, he is a serving member of the Senate, the same man you did not clear today, on what grounds?

“It is quite inexplicable.

The same man appealed the disqualification. Expectedly, the appeal committee should have come out with the result, either upholding his disqualification or non-clearance or giving him clearance to contest.

“But even as we speak, the timetable for the PDP primary is over. As we speak, the outcome of the appeal panel has not been released.

LOKOJA

T

he choice of Honourable James Abiodun Faleke as the All Progressive Congress, APC governorship running mate to Prince Abubakar Audu was aimed at fostering greater unity within the fold of the party.

This was contained in a statement issued by Audu/Faleke group and signed by Stanley Ajeleye , a copy of which was made available to newsmen in Lokoja yesterday.

The group who was reacting to the statement credited to Yagba union, stated that the statement was rather sponsored by detractors who are already apprehensive of the imminent collapse of the structure of under-development which they have foisted on Kogi State for over twelve years now.

It stated that it was erroneous to believe that it was aimed at shut out the Yagba people from APC. The group stated that Prince Abubakar Audu has never deprived Yagba people the opportunity of having a senator by hijacking the process, saying this is an unfortunate reasoning.

The statement further read ” It is equally

unthinkable that anyone will say that Prince Abubakar Audu used the oil subsidy trial to stop Hon. Bamidele Aro from contesting the APC Senatorial ticket when it is a well known fact that Audu is not EFCC. Neither is he in any position to influence the Federal Agency ”That APC coerced Prince Babatunde Irukera to step down from the governorship primary of the party is a lie from the pit of hell. The party has no such power and such a reasoning sounds too un-intellectual. For the avoidance of doubt, one may ask why do we still see many aspirants in the race till the end. The truth is that those that stepped down, did so on their own, based on their belief on the need to put party ’s interest above their personal interest. ” Truly, Hon Faleke is an active player in Lagos politics, he remains one of the pillars of APC not only in Kogi State but in all APC states in the South West Nigeria. Hon. Faleke, more than anybody else, has been a passionate financier of APC and he was one of the architects of the arrangements that led to the merger of the defunct ACN and ANPP in Kogi state few years ago ”, the statement said.

Opinion

14

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Uncensored U nc

Sheriff S Folarin

E-mail: Sheryfffolarin@yahoo.com 07051653138(SMS only)

L

ike the Nigeria Police, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, is fast decaying in principles and morals, and by extension losing its face and relevance in the Nigerian public space. The evolving dilemma directly shakes the very foundations of dignity and integrity upon which the corps was founded. FRSC has not only been considered to be overshooting its runway by acting out of scope and jurisdiction, like when issuing vehicle registration (plate) numbers and driver’s license, as well as designing, changing and enforcing of new plate numbers; but has also had its field officers being accused of daylight road-side corrupt practices.

The corps was formed to provide oversight functions on road usage by motorists on all Nigerian (federal) roads with the view to ensuring decent and moderate usage to guarantee users’ safety.

It was commissioned by the Ibrahim Babangida administration under the leadership of Prof Wole Soyinka, who brought so much discipline and integrity to the organization and provided a clear and sharp vision and philosophy that justified the establishment of the corps.

The personage of Soyinka alone brought so much attention as well as credibility to the corps, with many Nigerians expecting so much of the organization. Soyinka’s approach itself was that of pragmatism, dynamism and creativity, giving relevance and substance to the

Safety Tips with

Jonas Agwu

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

W

hen most people buy new tyres, they tend to install them in the front axle. They give a number of reasons for doing so. Among such reasons are: With the engine in the front, new tyres should be in the front since they are stronger so should be able to effectively support the weight of the engine. New tyres will be less prone to suffer a blowout and since blowout of a front tyre is more dangerous than that of a rear tyre, it is safer to install new tyres in the front.

Front tyres suffer the rigors of acceleration, braking, steering and bad road conditions more and so wear out faster than the rear tyres. So new tyres are better installed in the front.

The above reasons sound logically but unfortunately following that logic would land you in serious trouble. It is downright dangerous to install new tyres in the front axle especially during the rainy season. Why? Because of a phenomenon called hydroplaning. What is hydroplaning?

Hydroplaning You will observe that your tyres, if not worn out, have some grooves and channels on the treaded portion that is in contact with the ground. Those grooves and channels are designed to, among other functions, help to remove water under the tyres on a wet surface so that the tyre will maintain adequate contact with the road surface for proper traction.

A situation may arise where the channels are not able to remove water fast enough or where the channels are not deep enough because the tyres have worn out. In either situation, the tyres will not maintain contact with the road surface and will simply float on the pool of water. This

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FRSC’s declining morals

government initiative.

The results? Sanity on Nigerian roads, order, decency and application of commonsense while driving. Aside curbing the incessant occurrences of fatal accidents, the FRSC also embarked on radio and television campaigns on how to use roads; intensified road signs education and engaged in FRSC-community partnership and interaction through people-friendly programmes to ensure the prevalence of commonsense. The FRSC did not end there; pedestrians were also enlightened on how to use the roads and respect signs and symbols that would ensure their safety. Assistance was rendered to road users (motorists and pedestrians) to reduce or avert traffic jams as well as protect the lives of the users.

In terms of enforcement of the regulations, FRSC was more inclined towards prevention of offences or fatalities, rather than casting of dragnets on the road users to catch offenders and drain them of their money as it now seems to be the case. The FRSC of yore had disciplined and morally conscious, welfare-driven officials whose major preoccupation, as could be seen, was safety on Nigerian roads. When Dr. Olu Agunloye took over as Chairman, the principles remained intact. Agunloye himself was a disciple and protégé of Soyinka, and as such nothing less was expected of the organization.

After Agunloye however, a new culture of mediocrity, characteristic of the Nigerian system rapidly crept in. Officials lost their sense of direction and laid, like the Nigerian Police ambushes on motorists at bad spots on road stretches to stop them and contrive one or two (artificial) problems with the aim of extorting money from the motorists. As the officials seemed to have lost their sense of responsibility, the high command of the corps engaged, got immersed in and celebrated grandiloquence

regarding mediocre programmes or projects that were projected as moving the organization beyond where Soyinka-Agunloye led it. FRSC officials in their vans (most times rickety), file side-by-side with the different sections of the police along the roads for the indiscriminate stoppage of vehicles. Speed and condition of vehicles were expected factors in the halting and inspection of vehicles on the roads; but the FRSC would stop all sorts of vehicles, intimidate the drivers and begin to, for no clear reason, ask for all sorts of vehicle particulars. In the end, extortion would follow.

One cannot dismiss the FRSC as an entirely decadent organization with no salvation at sight. In the course of its evolving moral decadence, attempts were made to salvage the situation, with one Chairman/Corps Marshall after the other taking bold steps from the helms to stem it. But like the Nigeria Police, the corruption had already trickled down, permeated the rank and file and sipped in. While the high command grandstands at the top with all sorts of innovations to restore public confidence, the field men simply water it down by their brazen acts of corruption and lack of professionalism.

It is becoming a hopeless situation as the corps seems to simply add to the existing number of anti-social, dysfunctional and irrelevant institution in the Nigerian public domain.

In more recent times, the speed limit initiative to regulate driving and manage road abuse has been introduced. But the fear is that, like other superlative initiatives or policies to arrest indiscipline and maintain sanity in the system, it would be blown away in the whirlwind of tokenism, mediocrity, careless discharge of duty and corruption. The speed limiter might just be another wild goose chase as the few who do not know how to “sort”, “settle” or dodge “officers” might just be the only law-abiding citi-

zens of the country in that regard.

The FRSC needs to go beyond the decades of shadow-chasing and go after its vision, philosophy and mission. Is the organization supposed to be overwhelmed by the task of “catching” road rules defaulters and not prevention of the breaching? No. Should the organization really be concerned about plate number design, issuance and implementation? No. But should FRSC be more interested in arresting incidences of accidents, traffic gridlock, abuse of roads, pedestrians’ adequate understanding and use of road symbols and assistance in use of roads? YES! Is the organization supposed to expand its responsibility by making recommendations and strong representation to government on bad spots on roads, which could cause fatalities that must be fixed immediately? YES. Should the corps be paying more attention to vehicles that are road unworthy and do everything possible to push them out of the road for the purpose of public safety? YES! The name, “road safety corps” suggests a rescue team or help-group and not a “nailgroup”. The vision and objectives have to be made clearer. That the organisation deals with vehicle and driver’s licenses, is simply because of their direct involvement in control and management of road usage. It is not a right, but a privilege. Statutorily, it should be the responsibility of the police, which most unfortunately, is now the corps’ corrupt partners.

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

Should your new tyres be installed in the front or back axle? phenomenon of floating on water because of lack of contact with the ground is called hydroplaning. It is dangerous and may lead to loss of control and a crash. When a vehicle is hydroplaning, application of the brakes will make matters worse!

Now let us consider the effects of hydroplaning with new tyres in (a) the front axle and (b) the back axle.

New tyres in the front axle (old tyres at back axle) New tyres, by nature, should have more tread depths than tyres in use. So the tyres at the back – because they have less tread depths – will hydroplane before the new tyres in front. With the rear tyres hydroplaning first, a situation called OVER STEERING may occur. This is a situation where the rear tyres will lose traction before the front tyres and the rear of the vehicle begins to slide.

Oversteering is far more difficult to control, and in addition to the initial distress felt when the rear of the car starts sliding, quickly releasing the gas pedal in an attempt to slow down may actually make it more difficult for the driver to regain control, possibly causing a complete spinout, loss of control and a crash.

New tyres at the back axle (old tyres in front axle) When you have new tyres at the back axle, the old tyres in the front will hydroplane before the back tyres. This may lead to UNDERSTEERING. This means the vehicle will continue to move in the straight forward direction even when you want to steer it either to the left or to the right.

This is easier to control. By easing up on the gas pedal, the vehicle will slow down and make it very easy for the driver to control.

Testing experience Members of The Tire Rack team had the chance to experience hydroplaning at Michelin’s Laurens Proving Grounds. Participants were allowed to drive around a large radius, wet curve in vehicles fitted with tires of different tread depths - one vehicle with new tires on the rear

and half-worn tires on the front, and the other with the new tires in the front and half-worn tires on the rear.

The ability to sense and control predictable understeer with the new tires on the rear, and the helplessness in trying to control the surprising oversteer with the new tires on the front was emphatically proven. It is better to experience this phenomenon in the safe, controlled conditions of Michelin’s Laurens Proving Grounds rather than in traffic in a rainstorm.

In case there is any doubt, when tires are replaced in pairs, the new tires should always be installed on the rear axle and the worn tires moved to the front.

Safer to replace your tyres in pairs, if not in fours When you have problem with any of your tyres and you want to replace it, it is advisable you equally replace the other tyre on the same axle with the bad tyre so that you have tyres that are exactly the same make, same age, same physical conditions, same size – the same everything – on same axle. This will make for vehicle stability, effective control and better handling. Infact, the ideal thing is to change all the four tyres at the same time.

Those yellow/red lines and dots on a new tyre what do they mean?

When you buy new tyres, you will observe that most of them have red or yellow lines running on top and round the entire perimeter of the tyre and red or yellow dots on the tyre’s side walls. Are those marks simply decorations or are they there for information? They are there with fascinating bits of information. Let’s start with the red or yellow dots.

The red and yellow spots When a tyre is made, the weight is not perfectly uniform throughout the entire size of the tyre. There are some areas of deformity where the weight is greater than in other portions of the tyre. That point is always marked with either red or yellow dot and is called the tyre’s

high point . What do you do with the dots? When you are fixing the tyre onto the rim, you should align that spot with the inflation valve stem on the wheel. The point where the inflation valve stem is positioned on the wheel is another point of deformity on the wheel (the wheels are never perfectly circular). So synchronizing both points – the yellow or red dot on the tyre and the valve stem on the rim – will even out both deformities and make for a better wheel balancing, smoother ride, longer lasting tyres and better vehicle control. In some tyres, you have both the red and the yellow dot. Note, however, that the red and yellow spots may be seen on a tyre. If so, use the red dot.

The red and yellow lines The red or yellow lines run round on top of the tyres. The lines mark areas of imperfection.

Notice that they don’t run on the center of the tyre. They are either nearer to the left of the top or to the right. If you are buying two tyres, rotate the tyres to ensure the lines are so positioned.

Don’t buy two tyres with the lines all on one side.

Continue your search until you get two tyres with their lines properly positioned – one having the line nearer to the left and the other with the line nearer to the right. What do you do with the lines? As pointed out above, you are advised to buy tyres in pairs. After mounting the tyres on the wheels, install them on the same axle ensuring that the lines are of equal distance from the center of the axle.

There are two ways to do this.

With the front of the vehicle facing you, install the one with the line nearer to the right on the right hand side and the other one with the line nearer to the left on the left hand side. This way the lines on the two tyres are away from the centre of the axle.

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

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15

Sunday, September 27 2015

Man in the News Senator Bukola Saraki

Fire on the mountain AYO ESAN

S

enate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, was last Tuesday docked before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT sitting in Abuja on a 13-count criminal charge bordering on corruption, false declaration of assets, and illegal operation of a foreign bank account while in office as a public servant. Part of his travails was also the loss of ground in Kwara State where he had governed for eight years and where his father was the undisputed number one politician before his death.

Saraki was allegedly stoned at the Eid ground during the Eid-el-Kabir prayer last Thursday, a tale that would have been unimagined some months back.

Saraki, who was docked before the tribunal at 11:24 a.m., pleaded not guilty to the charge marked ABT/01/15, which the Federal Ministry of Justice preferred against him following a recommendation by the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB. He was accompanied to the tribunal by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Senators Shaaba Lafiaji; Theodore Orji; Mao Ohuabunwa, Tayo Alasoadura, Kaura Tijani, Samuel Anyanwu, Ben Murray-Bruce, Gilbert Nnaji, Peter Nwaoboshi, Rose Okoh, Kabiru Gaya, Sunny Ogborji, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Mohammed Ohiare, Isa Hamma Missau, Emmanuel Paulker, Ibrahim Abdullahi, Obinna Ogba, Clifford Ordia, Foster Ogola, Gershom Bassey and Olaka Nwogu; Senator Aliyu Wamakko and Dr. Samuel Egwu.

In the charge sheet, which was signed by a deputy director in the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. M. S. Hassan, he was alleged to have manipulated the assets declaration forms he submitted before the CCB in 2003, 2007 and 2011, by making anticipatory declaration of assets.

The Federal Government maintained that the action of the Senate President ran contrary to the provisions of section 2 of the CCB and Tribunal Act, and punishable under section 15(1) & (2), and 23(2) of the CCB and Tribunal Act, Cap C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, as well as paragraph 9 of the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Saraki was later released on bail after a plea by his lawyers.

While praying the tribunal to release the Senate President on bail, his lawyer, relied on section 36(b) of the 1999 constitution and pleaded that he should be given adequate time and facilities to prepare his case.

In granting him the bail, the Justice Umar-led Tribunal said: “The defendant, having brought himself voluntarily, we are not going to ask him not to go back home. He will go back and present himself for trial at the next adjourned date ”.

The case was thereafter adjourned till October 21, 22 and 23 to hear Saraki ’s preliminary objections.

Saraki ’s ordeal started when the Code of Conduct Bureau summoned him to the Tribunal in relation to the 13-count charge filed against him for allegedly violating the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal (CCB/T) Act on assets ’ declaration He was to appear at the Tribunal penultimate Friday but he was absent as he had earlier filed an action at the Abuja Federal High Court and the court mandated the CCT to suspend hearing till Monday, September 21 on the charges of false declaration of assets leveled against him by Code of Conduct Bureau.

Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja penultimate Fri-

day however issued a bench warrant for arrest of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, for refusing to attend the tribunal ’s proceedings.

The tribunal, led by Justice Danladi Umar, ordered the Inspector General of Police, IGP or other relevant security agencies to arrest Saraki and produce him in court last Monday.

The tribunal gave the orders while ruling on arguments by prosecution lawyer, Muslim Hassan (of the Federal Ministry of Justice) and defence lawyer, Mahmud Magaji (SAN).

The tribunal also refused an assurance by one of his lawyers, Joseph Daudu (SAN), that he will produce Saraki before the tribunal on the next adjourned date, insisting that it was inappropriate for the tribunal to reverse itself having ordered Saraki ’s arrest.

Hassan had noted at the commencement of proceedings that Saraki was absent in court despite being served with summons.

Hassan consequently urged the tribunal to issue a bench warrant for arraignment of Saraki before the tribunal. In the alternative, he urged the tribunal to stand the case down for some time to allow Saraki ’s law pre-

vails on him to appear.

Magaji countered Hassan ’s position and urged the court to discountenance his (Hassan ’s) application on the ground that he lacks the locus standi to file the charge and that the tribunal has no jurisdiction to hear the case.

Citing Section 24(2) of the CCB/T Act, Magaji argued that it was only the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) or any official of his office he authorized that could legitimately initiate such criminal proceedings.

He contended that since the AGF is not in place, no official of the office of the AGF could legitimately initiate proceedings against anyone.

Magaji also argued that his client ’s presence was unnecessary at this stage because he was currently challenging the competence of the charge and the tribunal ’s jurisdiction to hear the case.

He equally drew the tribunal ’s attention to the case his client filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja, and the order it made asking the respondents, including the CCT to explain why they should not be restrained from proceeding with the case.

It would be recalled that, on June 9, 2015, Bukola Saraki emerged the Senate President unopposed when his APC colleagues were at a venue waiting for a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

His emergence was against the party ’s decision that Ahmed Lawan from Bauchi should be the Senate President.

Saraki also defied the party ’s order on the sharing of other principal offices as he bluntly refused to follow the letter sent to him by the party containing those who were to occupy the principal offices.

Since then, Saraki has been in the black book of the party especially its national leader, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu who gave his support to Lawan.

Abubakar Bukola Saraki was born on December 19, 1962 to the family of Olusola Saraki, a senator (1979 – 1983) and onetime Senate Leader.

He attended Kings College Lagos from 1973 to 1978, and Cheltenham College, Chelteham, London from 1979 to 1981 for his High School Certificate. He then studied at the London Hospital Medical College of the University of London from 1982 to 1987, when he obtained his M.B.B.S. (London).

He worked as a medical officer at Rush Green Hospital Essex, from 1988 to 1989. He was a director of Societe Generale Bank (Nig) Ltd. from 1990 to 2000.

In 2000, President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Saraki as Special Assistant to the President on Budget.

During his tenure as Special Assistant, Saraki initiated the Fiscal Responsibility Bill.

He also served on the Economic Policy Coordination Committee, where he was responsible for the formulation and implementation of several key economic policies for Nigeria.

In 2003, he ran for the office of Governor of Kwara State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and won. He was sworn into office in May 2003.

He ran again for re-election in 2007 and won his second term. As governor of Kwara, he led reforms in agriculture, health, education, finance and environment policy.

One of his major achievements was inviting displaced white farmers from Zimbabwe to Kwara State and offering them an opportunity to farm. This led to the establishment of Shonga Farms programme. His charisma among his fellow governors got him appointed as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum.

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16

Wellness YOUR HEALTH AND HEALTH RELATED ISSUES September 27, 2015

Nigeria, a step further to polio eradication –Expert TITILOPE MORAKINYO

P

oliomyelitis otherwise known as polio is an infectious disease caused by a virus (enterovirus C) which invades the nervous system and can lead to total paralysis in a matter of hours. The virus is transmitted by person to person spread mainly through the fecal oral route or less frequently by a common vehicle such as contaminated water or food and multiplies in the intestine.

According to experts, polio cases have decreased over the years in endemic countries as compared to the past when ailment are easily spread from endemic areas into polio-free areas.

World Health organisation, WHO, 2014 reports have it that parts of three countries, Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan remain endemic for the disease; the three strains of wild polio (type 1, type 2 and type 3). The organisation also claimed that wild polio virus type 2 was eradicated in 1999, while case numbers of wild polio type 3 are down to the lowest ever levels with no case reported since November 2012 from Nigeria.

In an interview with the Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Ado Muhammad, he said that Nigeria is one step closer to achieving the goal of eradicating polio in 2017. He said poliomyelitis as a highly viral infection that can lead to paralysis, breathing problems or death.

His words: “The term poliomyelitis is from the Greek word polios meaning “grey ”, myelitis referring to the spinal cord and it means inflammation. Like many other infectious diseases, polio victims tend to be among the vulnerable members of the society. This includes children below age five, pregnant women and those with immune systems that are substantially weakened by other medical conditions. ” He noted that those who have not been immunised against polio are susceptible to contracting the infection, adding that additional risk factors for polio include living in areas with limited access to running water or flush toilets, travelling to places where live polio virus is kept and having tonsils removed.

Mohammad said his optimism stems from Nigeria ’s clean bill of polio after one year since the last case of the disease was reported in the country. As early as 2012, the country with 122 poliovirus cases, had reported the highest number of polio cases globally and the polio epicenter of the world “The last case of polio in Nigeria was reported exactly a year today in a 16-month-old boy from Sumaila local council in Kano State, and if all pending laborato-

ry investigations return negative in the next few weeks, the country would officially be taken off the list of polioendemic countries, ” he explained.

However, the NPHCDA boss believes Nigeria will only be certified polio-free by WHO in 2017, provided it maintains its zero case status, further strengthens its sur-

HEALTH NEWS Nigerians urged to engage in fitness exercise

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lite Wellness has called on Nigerians to imbibe the habit of healthy living and engage in fitness programmes to reduce the increasing cases of heart disease.

The company as part of its commitment to promote physical activities and help sustainable healthy lifestyle, unveiled Myrun Techno gym, a new iconic product for home fitness training.

According to the Gen-

eral Manager Margherita Trestini, the Techno gym is a revolutionary treadmill, designed by runners for runners; a product created to offer the best training experience.

“The data from the World Health Organisation are clear: cardiovascular diseases due to sedentary habits, poor diet, and smoking are associated with the deaths of 17 million people every year.

“It wouldn ’t take much to reduce this situation

as authoritative studies show that just 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by over 40 per cent.

“Awareness of the importance of physical activity as a powerful preventive tool is spreading rapidly: people are becoming more and more aware that in order to stay healthy they have to get moving! But the real problems are motivation and consistency.

veillance system, improves routine immunisation and maintains high quality campaigns, adding that achieving one year without polio is just one of the hurdles the country needs to surmount before being certified polio free in 2017.

He, however, maintained that the disease in its most debilitating forms displays symptoms such as paralysis and death. The medic insists that most people with polio don ’t display symptoms or become noticeably sick, and when symptoms do appear they come in different forms depending on the type of polio. For non paralytic polio or abortive poliomyelitis, the symptom may appear flu-like and last for a few days or weeks. Such include fever, sore-throat, headache, vomiting, fatigue, back and neck pain, arm and leg stiffness, muscle tenderness, muscle spasms and meningitis “We ’re really excited by the historic progress that has been made here in Nigeria; however we can ’t get distracted by this progress. We are now looking ahead to our next challenge which is to sustain the momentum on an emergency footing until 2017, with strong government oversight and continued levels of funding, so that Nigeria can hit the three-year mark with no cases, and finally eradicate this crippling disease. ” Mohammad averred that if this progress is sustained with no re-infection and surveillance remains strong, Nigeria and the rest of Africa will achieve polio eradication by 2017.

“Government and partners reiterate that it ’s going to take a lot of hard work. Polio campaigns will need to continue and reach all children in the country several times a year. While there is polio anywhere in this world, every child is at risk. Surveillance needs to become even more sensitive so that no virus will be missed. And routine immunisation coverage needs to improve significantly, especially in the northern states. ” he stressed Polio vaccine protects children by preparing their bodies to fight the virus. Almost 99 children out of 100 who get all the recommended doses of vaccine will be protected from polio, Mohammad added.

He explained that there are two types of vaccine that can prevent polio: inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) and oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV). Only IPV has been used in the United States since 2000 and OPV is still used throughout much of the world.

“Today we are looking forward to 2017. We remain committed to finding concrete and sharp solutions to overcome the remaining bottlenecks until we achieve eradication in this country. We recognise the need to sustain and re-double our efforts to ensure every child is reached, ” Muhammad said.

Over 747,000 Nigerians HIV positive –NACA

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he number of people positive to HIV and on antiretroviral therapy has topped 747,000 but is still less than half the number eligible to be placed on treatment, according to the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA).

Speaking at 2015 Candle Light Memorial organised by the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Dr Emmanuel Agogo, an assis-

tant director in charge of treatment at NACA said, “There are more people who we think are eligible, who are out there and we want them to be put on treatment.

That is why there are lots of efforts to test people and get them to know their status because it ’s based on their CD4 count that we offer these treatments. ” Of 33 million people living with HIV, only patients with CD4 count

up to 500 cells per cubic millimeter can get on the Federal Government treatment programmes in any of 1050 facilities nationwide. But up to 1.5 million are eligible for treatment.

The candle light memorial, meant to remember those who ’ve succumbed to the HIV pandemic, draws attention to HIV still being a pressing public health concern and threat to development.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Sunday, September 27, 2015

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

SUNDAY OLAJIDE MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO BEN MEMULETIWON ACTING DAILY EDITOR GBEMI OLUJOBI SATURDAY EDITOR AYO OLESIN SUNDAY EDITOR OBIORA IFOH AG ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF DOZIE OKEBALAMA COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD CALLISTUS OKE EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR AUGUSTUS IMEKAN ACTING HEAD, GRAPHICS

HID Awolowo: So noble, virtuous, but mortal T Y O C Y , hief Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, the widow of Chief Obafemi Jeremiah Oyeniyi Awolowo, first premier of the old Western Region, died penultimate Saturday at Ikenne, Ogun State, at the age of 99. She missed the very ripe centurial age by about nine weeks - her 100th birthday, for which preparations were on top gear before her death, would have been November 25.

A statement signed by her eldest child, Mrs. Omotola Oyediran, part of which read: ”Mama died as gloriously as she lived. She spent the day in the company of her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and close family members. She shared a precious few minutes with them when she went in to pray for them as they met to plan her centenary birthday. They sang her a befitting song as she came in and she continued to pray for them. She died a couple of hours later as she had always wished; surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren ”, announced the glorious exit of Nigeria ’s most decorated political woman, whose first rumoured death, though turned out to be a hoax, was on June 4, 2012.

The Yeye Oodua of Yorubaland, who was also variously and justifiably titled the Matriarch of the Awo Dynasty, represented the bridge between Nigeria ’s colonial era and her post colonial political history. The reason is not far-fetched: She was Awo ’s political soul mate. And so, nothing about her husband ’s political life was hidden from her. In the First Republic politics, HID was a key factor in the Action Group politics, which was why she bore with equanimity the vicissitudes of her husband, including the three sequestered years he spent in Calabar prison. Ditto for the Second Republic during which she complemented Awo ’s efforts to realize his presidential ambition in both 1979 and 1983 general elections as the national leader of the women ’s wing of the United Party of Nigeria (UPN), a party founded by her husband.

The death of the Second Republic on December 31, 1983 following the military putsch that brought in Major General Muhammadu Buhari to power put paid to such ambition. And when eventually Awo died on May 9, 1987, it was loud and clear that Mama ’s active political life

HE

OF

EYE

ODUA

ORUBALAND

WHO WAS ALSO VARIOUSLY AND JUSTIFIABLY TITLED THE MATRIARCH OF THE AWO DYNASTY, REPRESENTED THE BRIDGE BETWEEN

NIGERIA ’S COLONIAL ERA AND HER POST COLONIAL POLITICAL HISTORY was over. It was not a difficult new role for her because in all the years of her active political life, her main interest was assisting in the realisation of her husband ’s political dream.

Born on November 25, 1915, at Ikenne Remo, in the present Ogun State to a tailor father, Chief Moses Odugbemi Adelana (a prince) and businesswoman mother, Elizabeth Oyesile-Adelana, (herself a member of the Ijebu Remo royalty), Hannah was the seventh and only surviving child of her mother. She attended Saint Saviour ’s Anglican School and Saint Peter ’s School, both in Ikenne, for her primary education, after which she proceeded to Methodist Girls ’ High School, Lagos. On the completion of her secondary education, she took up teaching. She augmented her earnings from teaching with proceeds from trading under the tutelage of her mother, one of the

attributes that endeared her to her future husband, Obafemi Awolowo.

Hannah was introduced to Awo by a family friend. They courted for three years before tying the nuptial knots on December 26, 1937. Soon after, the young couple relocated to Ibadan, the old capital of Western Region. Their marriage was blessed with five children - Olusegun, Omotola, Oluwole, Ayodele and Tokunboh.

A successful business tycoon, her business acumen came to the fore when after the departure of her husband to the United Kingdom in 1944 for further studies, when saddled with the responsibility of fending for the young family, HID founded Didelou Stores Ltd and Ligu Distribution Services Ltd to boost her entrepreneurial exploits. In 1951 she added the distributorship of Nigerian Tobacco Company (NTC) to her merchandising of imported textile fabrics. Newspapers publishing joined in 1949 when Awo founded the Tribune Group and she was made chairman of the company, a position she held till her death.

HID was an object of fascination to generations of Nigerians. Politics brought her glory. And also travails. As Awo ’s wife, she was catapulted into prominence in 1951 when after her husband became Leader of Government (premier) of Western Region she also became the First Lady. She endured the harshness of Awo ’s travails upon his conviction in September 1963 in the treasonable felony trial. Her first son, Olusegun, a UK trained lawyer, lost his life to an accident in the thick of the trial. Since Awo ’s death in May 1987, Mama lost two of her remaining four children - Mrs. Ayodele Soyode (April 2011) and Oluwole (March 2013).

No wonder why she was fondly referred to as the ‘jewel of inestimable value ’ by her appreciative husband.

A curious but fascinating throw up by HID ’s death is the broad acknowledgement of her greatness across the nation ’s political spectrum. Awo ’s disciples and political sons, living opponents of his brand of politics, and the nation ’s new men of power, have had to couch flowering endearments to celebrate her passage.

Such is life. Mama, rest in perfect peace!

Reminiscences SEPTEMBER 27 IN HISTORY 1995: U.S. - OJ Simpson ’s trial enters closing stage The trial of OJ Simpson is now entering its closing stage with opening statements to the jury beginning on January 24 over the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman on June 12, 1994.

1924: Russia - bandits attack trains Moscow ’s Odessa Express has again been attacked by bandits and most of the passengers ether killed or injured by the bandits.

This is the second attack in two weeks leaving over 100 dead. The motive is a combination of robbery and fighting against the ruling Czars 1938: RMS Queen Elizabeth launched RMS Queen Elizabeth is launched at the John Brown and Company yard in Clydebank, Scotland. She was the largest passenger liner ever built and named to honour Queen Elizabeth, a consort of King George VI of England and mother to Queen Elizabeth II. 1939: Poland surrenders Poland surrenders to Germany after just 26 days and 140,000 Polish troops are taken prisoner.

1940: Axis powers sign Tripartite Pact The Axis powers of Germany, Italy and Japan sign the The Tripartite Pact with a one for all and all for one pledge.

1946: Britain partners Greece to end civil war Greek and British government officials are planning on ways to bring the outright civil war in Northern Greece to an end. In a joint statement from London, they have said stern measures and whatever was needed to bring law and order would be used.

1959: Typhoon kills 5,000 in Japan Typhoon Vera with winds over 160 miles an hour struck the main Japanese island of Honshu, killing nearly 5,000 people.

1980: Iran/Iraq war intensifies As the fighting between two of the largest oil producing nations in the world intensifies, western economies which rely on oil are starting to feel concerned but not in a panic as there are large reserves in most western countries.

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Praise Worship E-mail:cossyodi@yahoo.com G-mail: ranke2015@gmail.com

EDIFYING GOD Sunday September 27, 2015

God’s time to take over (2) 24

We cannot help speaking….

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QUOTE Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord? If you haven’t, you can do so as you say this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood.

Bishop David Oyedepo

Let Le eett God Goodd cont contr co o your af your af 41

Noise pollution in worship centres

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Vineyard

Briefly Chapel of Holiness and Testimony marks anniversary

Celebration

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ctivities which began on Monday September 21 to Friday September 25, 2015 which included night vigil to mark the 15th anniversary celebration of Chapel of Holiness and Testimony Ministries will culminate todsy with a grand celebration tagged “Open gate 2015” at the church auditorium located at 6, David Egbetuyi Street, Fagbile Estate, Ijegun-Ikotun, Lagos.

Commenting on the celebration, the host and General Overseer, Pastor Kingson Bona Ogazie urged all to attend the event as he assured them of an over flow of blessings and breakthough from above.

Sunday September 27, 2015

Christians urged to devote time to God ...as RCCG youths host dinner

CAC presents power explosion

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hrist Apostolic Church, The greatest God Chapel Twelve Apostles Ministry of Christ (TAMOC) is set to hold the Greatest God Power Explosion and second Saturday of Wonder (Satide Iyanu Anniversary 2015 Celebration).

The programme tagged “The Father, Son and Holy Spirit is slated for October 4-11, 2015 at 4, God’s Grace Estate, behind Yakoyo Bus-Stop, Ashimolowo Ofada Road, Mowe Town, Ogun State.

The Host, Prophet Israel Nasiri has assured that God will settle all who attend this year’s anniversary with His power explosion and wonders.

Those expected to minister on the occasion include Apostle Dr. O.E. Ipense, Pastor J.A. Adelahun, Evang. Ojo Ade, Pastor M.O Babalola and a host of other clerics.

Born Again Church holds prayer meeting

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ll is set for the quarterly prayer meeting of Born Again Revival Church of Christ International tagged “The glory of the Lord.”

The programme starts 10p.m daily from Saturday, October 3-Monday, October 5, 2015 at the Church Auditorium located at 65, King’s Avenue, Opposite Bemil Nigeria Ltd., Ojodu Abiodun, Berger, Lagos The General Overseer, Pastor Emmanuel Akinbobola, entreats that people should come and meet with the Lord for their assured salvation, perfection, restoration and breakthrough.

Ministering at the programme along with the General Overseer, are other anointed men of God. Jesus Christ is Lord!

Audacity praise holds at Obanikoro

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ll is set for this year annual Escos St’ Gabriel Ikeja province of The Eternal Sacred order of the Cherubim & Seraphim (Citadel of Blessings) Ikeja province headquarters tagged; Audacity praise billed for Shepherd Hill Field by Obanikoro Bus-Stop, Obanikoro, Lagos on 16th, October, 2015 at 8pm till dusk. Themed; A Foretaste of God’s Shekinah Glory.

In a statement released by the Sp. Snr, Charles Omozane, Ikeja provincial chairman said it’s a blessed assurance explosion of the sound of praise saying come and see the lights of His greatness, feel the joy in His presence and awesomeness of His miracles urging all to come and experience a foretaste of God’s shekinah of glory.

The President of Christ Apostolic Church (worldwide), Pastor Elijah H. L. Olusheye was at his element on Monday when he addressed a mammoth crowd of Evangelist, Prophets and Prophetesses on the need for unity at the All Saints’ Chapel, inside the General Secretariat complex, Anlugbua, Basorun, Ibadan.

ODINAKA URUAKPA

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he pastor in charge of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Jesus Assembly, Pastor Seyi Olukoga has urged Christian youths to devote their time to serving God as well as desist from engaging in immoral acts.

Olukoga, who gave this charge at the maiden edition in Lagos by youths of Jesus Assembly Parish tagged “Love, sex and marriage” urged them to be prayerful when they seek for a life partner.

While commending the youths for putting up such an event, the cleric claimed the occasion is an opportunity for them to get to know each other as well as learn what is expected of Christians when it comes to relationships with the opposite sex.

“I must say that I am happy that the youths at this particular point in time have put this event together which I believe would be an avenue for them to get to know each other well and also learn one or two things from the adults and ministers who are here to speak to them on the theme love, sex and marriage which is so relevant at this point in their lives. I believe all what they learn here today will

guide them on the kind of relationship they are expected to have with the opposite sex as singles, what steps to take and what to look out for when they eventually are ready to settle down. As people who are moving spiritually in tone with the teachings of God, they also need to make the right choices when it comes to marriage. They need to know that love, sex and marriage are not things they can just jump into and out of at their whim, but sacred and dear things they need to experience and express at the appointed time when they are joined in holy matrimony with their spouse.”

Speaking on the significance of the event, the President of the Jesus Assembly youths, Emmanuel Olabanre explained that this being the parish’s first dinner programme for the youths, the organisers decided to choose the topic sex, love and marriage which is relevant to young adults.

“As young people who intend to become responsible adults and good leaders in future, we realised we have to set our priorities right. This is the reason we chose the theme sex, love and marriage for our maiden dinner night. We decided to focus on this aspect of life because many, Christians included, seem to not

have regard for these things anymore; there is moral decadence everywhere you step into. it is very common these days to see young men and women going into sexual relationship with ease out of wedlock. At the end of it all, so many become broken hearted, because they practice something which should be kept for the sacredness of marriage out of wedlock and end up regretting their actions.

I would say for us here today, we are opportune to be here to listen to people who I would say are experts in this area of life and in the best position to help us think and choose right. I believe all that we have heard here today will guide us in life and we will take it into the future as we pray for absolute guidance from God. Olabanre also urged the youths to use the opportunity of the gathering to share life experiences and to learn from the adult speakers one or more lessons that will help to move them ahead positively in life and make them vessels of change in the society.

The event which had in attendance members and invited guests of the of the parish also featured red carpet, drama, music ministrations and a host of other segments that made the occasion a memorable one.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Abiding in God’s presence (1)

Miracle Arena with Bishop

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From the Pulpit 21

Sunday September 27, 2015

Theo Ugochukwu

he God we serve is a very present God and to enjoy the full presence which his divine presence presents you definitely have to be presently present in His presence.

If you call God your father, it will be a serious dishonor to your destiny if you are far from His presence. Psalm 91:1 -3 says “He who dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadows of the almighty, I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God in Him I will trust.

Surely he shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the perilous pestilence”.

This scripture describes the relationship of the son who is close to the father.

The child that is constantly close to the father, benefits from the father. When you go far away from God, your destiny becomes a question mark; you will run dry of divine happenings. A river that departs from its source shall eventually run dry. Psalm 16:11 says “you will show me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy. At your right hand are pleasures forever more.

God’s presence brings joy and happiness in

anyone’s life.

What breaks our relationship with God is nothing but sin, because the bible says again in Isaiah 59:1-2 “behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor his ear heavy that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden his face from you, so that He will not hear”.

When the relationship between you and your God is broken, you are on your own. A man started having extra marital affairs to the extent that all he labored for got finished by strange women. By the time somebody brought him to me he has run dry, I asked him whether he use to pay his wife before they sleep together, and he said no, but before he came to the realization of what has happened to him, he has run dry. Sin is a killer of destiny. Sin separates you from the joy and prosperity of marital blessings.

When the prodigal son left his father, he was on his own. Luke 15:13-14 “ And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living; so when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land and he began to be in want”. He was living comfortably

when he was with his father, but the moment he broke away from the covering and the presence of his father, he lost all that he had. The Holy Spirit has nothing to do with you, when you are disconnected from your heavenly father. Because your father is your teacher, your protector and your counselor.

The moment the prodigal son was disconnected from his father, things he never experienced in his life choked him. When you are disconnected from your father, your enemies and adversaries will come after you. It is deadly to confront the enemy when you are disconnected from the presence of God. Some years ago, while waiting in prayer for the move of God in the ministry, the Lord told me to tell the members to embark on a 30 days prayer. Four days to the breaking of the fast, the lord said that I should not break it with them until I heard from him. That was the beginning of a life of God’s divine presence. My own ended in 400 days. The last day of the 400 days, I saw in a revelation a very big sign post, what was written on it was “AT LAST”. This encounter became the turning point in my spiritual life.

Again the Lord said to me on the 21st of July 2015, that all Fridays in Nov. 2015 should be Freedom Night.

Anytime you run after the healing and leave the healer, you will lose the healing. If you run after the miracle and leave the miracle God, you will lose the miracle.

It is dangerous to run after blessings and leave the blesser.

This is the reason a lot of people are asking questions today. I have been worshipping God for many years, yet no change in my life and situations.

It is not about running from one programme after another. It is all about abiding in God’s presence. oday, I pray that you will return to the Holy presence of your Heavenly Father, Amen.

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

Email: bishopgracemiracle@ ymail.com

The price of leadership (2) (The Coach) Pastor Moses A Omogbehin

Continued from last week He was also skillful in interpreting dreams. Note that, it is one thing to be given a responsibility; it is another thing to accept and carry out the given responsibility hence.

• It is not your age, title, position, influence, qualifications place of abode, etc that make you a leader but accepting a particular responsibility in life and ministry.

• Leadership is not about competition, it about sacrifice.

• Leadership is not forcing people; it is people willingly allow you to lead while they follow.

• Leadership is leading by good attitude, action and example.

• Leadership operates it different levels your leadership level will determine your responsibility in life and ministry.

• When the spirit of wisdom is seem and expressed by you as a leader.

Leaders are not expected to behave or act like other they are supposed to do better than the rest in the followership level.

Many bible characters that were leaders were not necessarily without faults or error but their God-given ability (their positives) were more than their short coming.

The list includes Moses, Joshua, Elisha, Joseph, Deborah, Apostle, Paul and a few others. (Heb11:1-3) There is only one person-a leader –without any trace of error or mistakes throughout his earthly assignments. That single exception is Jesus Christ. That is why Hebrew 12:2 says “looking unto Jesus.....”

there are many qualities that distinguish a good leader.

1.

Attitude of responsibility of leader: Gen 37:22 says “someone is irresponsible is not necessary a confrontation: it is a challenge. A leader must show himself responsible in all areas, including giving instructions or expressions of authority, correction, monitoring, and even fulfilling his own part of every task/assignment .A leader must have self-discipline and carry or conduct himself properly.

2.

Ability to hear God’s voice and apply wisdom in peculiar situations before and after God created the heavens and the earth, He has been speaking. He is still speaking expressly today. However, God expect us to use our brain sometimes because that is the reason why he gave everyone his own. Hence, he is not against any person applying common sense (using the brain) even when he had spoken and even when he has not.

3.

Ability to see farther, think productively and take the right steps.

4.

Ability to foresee the future on behalf of his followers. This is the very way God sees every disciple that he has called directly or otherwise it is the same way every leader should see each of his followers.

Jesus saw the woman of Samaria as a great evangelist, though until then, she had lived with six men, at different times including her present. The son of the living God saw the future ahead of her. The question is: how do you see your followers today despite their present state or condition? (John 4:742).

5.

Ability to take risk on behalf of his followers: for instance, Nehemiah despite the odds against him, proved his leadership skill and ability not even his unfavorable background could pose a barrier to his success. He rose and responded to his responsibility by taking a big risk on behalf of his

people, country and generation as a whole.

Please, note that: taking a risk, as a leader is not necessary doing your followers a favor.

Rather by so doing you are building your leadership skills and capacity, your future, the future of the present generation, and ultimately you are preparing for eternity.

6.

Ability to take the right decision in difficult times: if you cannot take the right decision at the right time, you are not a good leader. A good leader must learn and also know, by the grace and wisdom of God, how to safeguard or protect his followers in any aspect of their lives and ministry: there are many things ordinary people can do without any problem. But there are 99.9 percent of things a leader must not consider doing, talk less of doing them.

• A good leader must not weep in the presence of his followers.

• A good leader must not misbehave before his followers.

• He must not be given to emotional outburst.

• He must not complain • He must avoid being bitter towards others that was exact the problem of David in 1 Sam 30:1-6 “and it came to pass.....”

Please do not misquote me: it is not a sin for a leader to weep, but in my personal understanding I have made up my mind never to weep in life or ministry. By God’s grace whatever God cannot do while you are not praying without tears he will never do it when you weep.

In the case of David, what makes it bad was that he wept when he should not. He betrayed his emotion before his followers.

While they were weeping, they looked up to him for solution but he failed them by jeering them in the “feast of tears. This act was the neither encouragement nor exemplary of him as a leader.

A good leader is expected to be a solution provider any day and anytime and not

one who will contribute to the problem or complicate existing one. The ability to solve problems makes a person a good leader.

For this reasons a good leader must not be a “baby” or immature man. The maturity here is not about age or stature but about thinking and taking decision. That further leads credence to the number (3) point above, namely, that a good leader must see further think productively and TAKE the right steps of action.

7.

Ability to go an extra mile 8.

Ability to be sensitive to every situation: correcting when necessary, rebuking, motivating, etc as each situation demands.

THOSE THINGS (ATTITUDE, CHARacter )that will hindee your followers people not to respect you as a leader 1 Absence of the anointing of God upon your life: i.e when your life and ministry is void of His anointing. Isa 60:1-3 Lk 4:18-19 2 Lack of intergrity 3 Lack of skill or capacity 4 When you take the place of warfare for granted or with levity Those things that will make people to respect you even in the absence of the anointing thougth this will only be for a while 1.

Wealth (RICHES) 2.

Fame and popularity 3.

When you have quality education (speaking good grammar) 4.

When you are morally upright 5.

When you are a man of influence 6.

When you are intelligent •I know this teaching has blessed and imparted you. Please, write and share your testimony with me through: Covenant and Fulfillment Ministries, 10, Onuwusasoigwe Close, Hostel Bus Stop, Egbe, Ikotun, Lagos.

Email: omogbehin31@yahoo.com or Call: 08034980921, 08054120540

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Sunday September 27, 2015

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Noise pollution in

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n the words of a popular theologian, worship centres, churches in particular, are places where people go to hear the word of God, which naturally is meant to help them grow spiritually and bring them closer to God.

But when these worship centres, which are expected to epitomise spiritual serenity especially on Sundays - the main worship day have largely become havens of noise where microphones, speaker and other equipment are used to broadcast the services and prayer sessions to the hearing detriment of people residing in the area in which they (worship centres) are located, it calls for concern from both the people affected and the authorities.

Sometime ago, some state governments especially Lagos State, that houses the most number of churches in the country came up with a law to curtail noise pollution in the state as it became imperative enact and ensure the operation of such laws, to curtail excesses of some, who under the guise of religious or social gatherings, had repeatedly disturbed the peace of their neighbours. Besides, it was also argued that noise pollution was dangerous to human health and as such it needed to be tamed.

“The government in 2009 came out with a law banning religious organisations from using external loudspeakers during worship. At that time, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA through its General Manager, Adebola Shabi had met with religious bodies and others who conduct their businesses in a noisy manner in the state and impressed it on them to obey the new order, which he said was to check nuisance creation to other residents of the state. Apparently, when it was noticed that the order was not obeyed, forcing the state government to sign a memorandum of understanding, MoU with the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Lagos State branch in July 2010. The agreement allows religious organisations to control the noise emanating from their worship centres to what was regarded as “nationally acceptable limit of 55 decibels, db” during the day and 45 db at night. Following this, churches and other religious centres in the state were directed to immediately remove all external speakers from their worship centres.

Soon after the enactment of the law, the state through its Ministry of The Environment and another agency, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), swung into action clamping down on some of the centres said to be perpetrating noise and thereby broke the law. For example, in 2009, they shut down three churches. In 2012, LASEPA shut down 10 churches for violating the law on environmental pollution. Last year, 2014, some churches were sealed off after some residents in the area they were located complained of sleepless nights due to the churches’ frequent night prayers.

Till date, churches still face the threat of being shut down due to the noisy manner in which some conduct their services.

Due to complaints of noise pollution in some states in Nigeria, Lagos in particular, the state government found it necessary to order the closure of some churches recently, which led to varied reactions on the part of Christians. ODINAKA URUAKPA speaks to clerics to get their view on this development.

Many, who have large membership, but little space still use speakers outside the church, so that those sitting outside can partake in the activities going on inside the church and thus cannot prevent the noise affecting those who reside closely to the church.

However, Lagos residents are divided on the imperatives of government action on churches. Some have accused the government of being biased, aurguing that the Lagos State Government should not deal just with churches which they claimed the government shut down at every whim since they (Church) are not the only noise perpetrators in the environment.

But the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, has countered the allegation. He had said upon the receipt of complaints on noise pollution from worship centres or any other place, officers of the ministry are sent to carry out monitoring exercise in the reported premises with a view to encouraging abatement of the nuisance.

“When we get complaints from residents concerning any noise disturbance in their vicinity, we investigate and warn them. It is not restricted to just churches, but any place or centre that disturbs the peace of residents.”

Bello, who emphasized that the state government would not tolerate environmental abuses, urged all to carry out their

HOWEVER, LAGOS RESIDENTS ARE DIVIDED ON THE IMPERATIVES OF GOVERNMENT ACTION ON CHURCHES.

SOME HAVE ACCUSED THE GOVERNMENT OF BEING BIASED, AURGUING THAT THE LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT DEAL JUST WITH CHURCHES WHICH THEY CLAIMED THE GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN AT EVERY WHIM

(CHURCH) ARE NOT THE ONLY NOISE PERPETRATORS IN THE ENVIRONMENT.

SINCE THEY

businesses and activities with respect for the rights of others.

For any erring culprit he said: “The person(s) concerned would be made to respect the laws as no individual or organization has the right to take the laws into their hands. I must remind us that everybody has the duty to protect the environment.”

He revealed that Lagos State Government had in June 2009 come out with a law banning religious organisations from using external loudspeakers during worship.

Apparently, the churches shutdown, were the ones who allegedly refused to obey the order’, he claimed.

According to the Director of Studies, United, Bible University, Ojodu, Ogun State, Professor Kunle Macaulay, churches have no right to disturb the peace of the commu-

nity they are situated in.

“It is wrong for anyone to disturb the peace of the community they live in and should any church engage in this, it is nothing, but selfishness on the part of the church. The word of God is meant to help people grow and it is only on personal contact that you can help people to grow, not making noise or using microphone and other equipment to make noise. What people need to realise is the importance of Christianity i.e. what Christianity stands for; then we talk about methodology i.e. how to get the word of God to the people.

Today, we are using modern equipment like radio and television to reach the world, but the aspect or the method of using speaker and microphone should be controlled. Even if it is been used in the church, it should be

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Sunday September 27, 2015

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worship centres limited to the environment of the church thereby making it possible to be controlled and not blowing it up for people outside to hear; it is not right, it is selfishness”, he insisted.

When asked if it is right for churches to put speakers outside because of their members outside who couldn’t get space due to the size of the church, Macaulay maintained that the problem with Christianity is selfishness.

“You see, we want to have everybody in a church. The church is not expected to be so big to the point that there would be no space anymore. I keep telling people that all these big churches that we see; we call them mega churches, they are fake churches; they are very fake; we call this sociological strangulation. When you have a church, it is like a woman or man that is so fat that he or she cannot carry their bodies and when this is the case, the person would have problem with his or her health.

All these churches that we see that are big and believe they are doing well are only deceiving people because the truth is that they are not doing well. Ask the leaders, they will tell you they have more problems than the smaller churches. What I believe and to be realistic about this thing is that, if you are living in a place like Ikeja for instance or you have your church there and you have 20 members coming from Agege, it is easier for you to establish a branch in Agege, rather than bringing everybody to Ikeja; I see that as selfishness on the part of the church leader. When you have more people, you have more human problem and that is the simple truth which is the problem that we are experiencing in our society today. “ If you talk to people who know about church management and church administration, they would tell you that churches that operate this way are fake churches.

For me, I think a church should have enough number of members that the managers; the pastors can cope with and work with and they should send others to other areas. But when you look at a particular church, take for instance, a church that is built in Ikeja; you see people coming from Victoria Island, people coming from Agege; why should that be? It is wrong, and I think the problem we have is that of church management. As long as you continue to have more people in your church, you would have more problems to cope with and more challenges in your ministry”, he explained.

Supporting the Lagos State Government on the steps taken to control noise in the environment, Pastor Michael Durodola of Christ Embassy, Yaba, Lagos belives that government’s action on noise pollution is the best thing that can happen in the state as noise from various religious centres and social gatherings have become the order of the day.

He said: “There is no need to imply sentiment to the order. “I am a minister of God, but to say the truth, more Christians are culprits. It is as if we are competing to make noise. Hardly would you visit any

Worshippers

I WOULD ONLY SAY THAT THOSE WHO SAY THAT CHURCHES ARE THE ONLY TARGETS OF THE GOVERNMENT ARE IGNORANT; MAYBE THEY DO NOT READ NEWSPAPERS OR LISTEN TO NEWS TO SEE REPORTS ABOUT MOSQUES AND BUSINESSES THAT USE LOUD MUSIC TO ADVERTISE THEIR PRODUCTS WERE CLAMPED DOWN ON.

church these days where they don’t make noise almost on daily basis with their speakers and other forms of equipment. I can vouch for my church because if you go there; I am speaking for every branch; you won’t see loud speakers mounted outside the church. Even, during our night vigils, we don’t use loud speaker.”

On Christians who have accused the government of being biased, Durodola claimed that those involved speak out of ignorance because they believe that it is only churches that are being targeted.

“I would only say that those who say that churches are the only targets of the government are ignorant; maybe they do not read newspapers or listen to news to see reports about mosques and businesses that use loud music to advertise their products were clamped down on. Another reason they would be witnessing closure of churches than any other place would also stem from the fact that there are more churches in town than any other worship centres. But all said, I would implore on fellow Christians to abide by the law and restrict the nose they make to the stipulated level so that they don’t fall victim to closure by the government”, he admonished.

Pastor Paul Ayamele of Ascension Pentecostal Mission, Apapa also condemned the use of external loud speakers during religious worship. He noted that the use of public address system had been grossly

abused in churches and other religious centres particularly in the past 10 years.

According to him, Lagos used to be a sane society where people slept peacefully and researched without let or hindrance, but regretted that religious overzealousness has gripped Lagosians.

“No civilized country in the world allows such confusion in its society; I am in total support of the Lagos State action on the ban of the use of external loud speakers and musical instruments outside the church during religious service. In other climes, noise pollution is taken very seriously and is working with policies, strategies, legislation, and monitoring and research to

reduce noise interference in society. Moreover noise, is any sound that is unpleasant to the ear and medically, when it persists, it can damage the ear. Considering the ear as an organ, it has been said that human ears were designed to process naturallyoccurring sounds, and they are beautifully adapted to handle that task. They are able to detect sounds of intensities that vary across many orders of magnitude, and to meaningfully transmit those signals to our brains.

But they are not well equipped to deal with the high noise levels that are common today, because such loud sounds occur only rarely in nature. I am not a medical practitioner, but I do know what noise is detrimental to the health of a human being”, he explained.

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From the

Pulpit Sunday September 27, 2015

God’s time to take over (2) General Overseer of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministry, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, in this piece, teaches on God’s time to take over. Excerpts:

L

ast week I told you that God has come to take over your problem, for it is His time to take over that battle you have been fighting long ago to no avail. He has come to deal with your enemy, that mounting that has remained insurmountable shall now be surmounted.

God has come to lift up a standard against all negative flood targeted against you by the enemy and to put your enemy to flight.

Isaiah 59:19 says, “So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”

Over the period you have been struggling with that family problem and till now do not know how and when it will be over, it may have been tumultuous paying school fees, gaining promotion, dealing with recalcitrant spouse, feeding the family and you have been asking when the problem will come to an end. I want to assure you that God has come to take over the difficulty, for it is God’s time to takeover. The battle is no longer yours but that of the Lord’s. He shall fight for you and you shall hold your peace.

As He make known Himself to your enemy today, impossibility in your life shall become possible. Your troubled soul shall have peace. If you are bound, today, liberation is coming your way. If you are sick, no matter how many years you have been afflicted; today the yoke of that sickness shall be broken in Jesus name.

Matthew 17:14-18 says, “And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him hither to me.

And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.”

The ease by which our Saviour cured this lunatic demonstrated the ease He could solve any problem when He comes into your situation. With a mere spoken word He delivered the lunatic from the malice and power of Satan. It does not matter how long or strong Satan’s possession may be on a p e rson, G o d c a n eject and Pastor Muoka

cast him out both easily and speedily as was the case of the lunatic. Your case will not be an exception, God has spoken that it is time He takes over your matter. And so, you shall be transformed, blessed and advanced in your entire endeavour in Jesus name.

Mtt. 8: 16 says, “When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: When God takes over your problem, you will assuredly be elated for joy because the work will be thorough. You will not only experience an improved better life, but all your enemies shall bow to you. You shall be made whole in all ramification of life.

Mtt. 9:20-22 says, “And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.

And the woman w a s made whole from that hour” The woman with issue of blood was made whole instantly, and the sickness was taken away.

Today, your sick-

ness must be taken away, promotion shall replace your demotion, and blessing shall rejoice over your burden. Your problem will never survive today, as the Lord did it for them the moment they had encounter with Him, that same God will do it for you.

Matt. 11:4-5 says, “Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers and cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.”

During the Bible days, Jesus raised the dead, made the blind to see, made the lame to walk, cured the lepers and had all sicknesses and diseases completely taken away

by His power. We should take note He has not changed. What He did yesterday, He could do again today and ever more. There was no exception as all those that came to Him had their problems solved. Therefore, certainly, if you are sick, you shall be healed, whether your sickness is spiritually or not, you must be healed, whether you have nothing working in your family or not, your family must be healed, everything about you that needed divine touch, will receive it today.

This is because the Lord is taking over your matter.

Mtt. 15:30 says, “And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus feet; a n d

he healed them:” No sickness or disease has ever escaped the supremacy power of the Lord. The story is the same today as it was in the beginning.

And if that been the case consider yourself as a privileged person for salvation is coming on your way, deliverance is coming on your way, abundance of blessing is coming on your way, and unspeakable joy shall be your portion in Jesus name.

I do not know what you are going through, but what I can assure you is that impossibility in your life must be made possible. If you are bound, today, liberation is among your way. If you are sick, no matter how many years; today the yoke of that sickness shall be broken. If you have any person that died suddenly, today that person is coming back to life. So, as the Lord has healed them of old, today shall be your turn, I said today shall be your turn, your turn to be healed, your turn to be promoted, delivered and favoured. I do not know what your problem is but, get ready, for, by the power of this gospel your case will be over.

OUR EXPECTATION AND GOD’S INTERVENTION do Beloved, having known what God can d done by taking into account what He has don be before, your expectation therefore will b that whatever is your problem shall be taken over from you today. No matter how deteriodeterio see rating those problems may be, you will se them no more. Victory shall be your portion; portion Jeincluding, deliverance and dominion in Je sus name.

In Isaiah 45:19 says, “I have not spoken in not secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said no vain: unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain declare I the LORD speak righteousness, I declar things that are right.”

Beloved, the Lord has not availed this thi benefit message to you so that you will not benefi from it neither is He calling you to seek Him decin vain. There is no doubt that all the dec laration of God come to pass. So, you are a privilege person for, whom God wants tto proviredeem, He reveals His nature and by prov deliverance. dence leads him in the way of deliverance vain, So take note, you can never read this in vain afflicthat problem shall be no more, that afflic your tion, that poverty and that sorrow in you shall life, in addition to curses, barrenness, shal that be seen no more. Remember tha nothing can hinder hinde said Him. He sai “I will wil work

CONTINUED ON PAGE 41

PASSION

A Lifestyle Magazine

APPLAUSE

>>27

I started acting while in primary school -Bridget Chigbufue >>26

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Sunday September 27, 2015

‘I use beauty shows to empower younger women’

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Passion

Sunday, September 27, 2015

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I started acting while in primary school –Bridget Chigbufue Bridget Abiodun Chigbufue is an actress, TV presenter and voice over artiste. This University of Benin graduate, who has featured in many movies, began stage acting while in primary school. She tells ADAEZE AMOS in this interview about her growing up, challenges and life as an actress, among others.

Which movie shot you into the limelight?

Funnily, it was my very first soap opera where I played ‘Essien’, the bush Calabar girl, that brought me out. A lot of people saw it, it’s funny, and they loved it. That was how I started really. Then ‘Game Plan’ another movie, a lot of people referred to me because of the fame I got from that movie. Those are the two major movies that brought me into the limelight.

Interestingly, ‘Game Plan’ is a production that is always aired in ‘Africa Magic’. You can imagine how many people watch ‘Africa Magic’. It’s crazy, we are getting better and stronger.

What was your most challenging role so far?

I have been in movies and soaps; I think every role is different and challenging. That particular one I did where I played as a Calabar bush girl, I had to watch a lot of Calabar movies just to be able to act to reality, to be able to deliver the right accent for the character. She was supposed to be a bush Calabar girl as I said who couldn’t speak English well. I had to learn about it, watch so many movies that had Calabar intonations.

I just had to learn it. I changed my L to R and my A to G, it was crazy. But it turned out right. Even in the ‘Game Plan’, I played the role of a bad girl. Every role has a weird challenge.

But the idea is to beat that challenge, so as to deliver. So every production has been a challenging one for me.

Which actor would you love to be paired to bring out your best in a romance role?

Truth is that there isn’t anyone in particular because you can never tell what goes on in a person’s mouth. There is really nobody that I have thought about.

How was your growing up?

Growing up was very interesting and nice. I grew up in Lagos. It was at an estate, so we had kids playing up and down and going to the same school. We played downstairs and never forgot ‘Tales by Moonlight’ or ‘Super Ted’ as a child. I never forget all those games we used to play, ‘Twinkle-Twinkle’ and the rest of them. Those were the childhood days and everyday even when I’m down now as a grown up, I relive those moments. I would also never forget my secondary school days, I was a boarder all through and it was crazy. You know how it was junior girls being punished. It was interesting and it’s a moment I would never forget. And, of course, my three weeks camp in Lagos as a youth corps member. Lagos was an amazing place and it is still amazing. All these experiences have impacted in one way positively in my life, especially in school when I used to do stage dramas and all that. It was an

amazing experience. I mean that I started acting on stage and it has right from primary school now become something else for me.

Who do you aspire to in n Nollywood and HolAs I said, I’m an acat present I have so people I’m aspiring to Rita Dominic is one She has tried her best.

Stephanie Okereke for her carriage and She is strong woman. I ad-

be like lywood? tor and m a n y be like. of them. them m.

I like lik ke Linus strength. strength h. a

mire Joke Silva, she has an amazing diction, loving home and marriage. I love the fact that she has been married for so many years in the industry and there here is nothing wrong and they are still going strong. Mercy Johnson is a versatile actress and I love her for that. There are lots of up-and-coming actresses that are also amazing. I can’t an’t really mention all their names. For Hollywood, I love Angela la Basset she is an amazing actress. I love Charlize Theroh, she e has a strong personality and she carries her character really a y strongly. I love the weirdness that it brings along from Jehnifer n nifer Aniston, she is crazy and the will to want to defeat every a ry crazy thing you have is amazing when she does it. Then forr presenting, I still love the a late Joan Rivers. She was witty. la In entertainment industry, fashion on and lifestyle, it’s kind of like my main it thing in n presenting. As a TV presenter, I love her. I p also love Tricia. I like a down-to-earth her h even mannerisms m doing her show. It’s d one that I think every o show sh how in Nigeria both the th he TV should have… an a opportunity to be b down-toearth, to be able to say things t h e right w a y a n d to be able to criticise or scold whoever w that th hat is on set o eve n when t h e p e r son so on is wrong. w Do D it because b the th he pers o n needs to o hear t h e

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Sunday, September 27, 2015

truth. Only the truth should be on air. That is what she does. Oprah Winfrey is an inspirational woman who has given and built a lot out of her career. I would always like to be like her when I grow up.

Can you relive your debut on movie? ? entitled It was in 2011 in a movie entitle ed ‘Open Heavens’. I got that role ro ole through an audition in Benin. I had finished school and I was awaiting youth service. I was good, he liked the way I interinter preted that role. I’m glad that he gave me that opportunity. LanceLance lot the movie producer also put me that through in some other things tha we needed as a screen actor. It was a nice experience and I would never forget that one thing he did for me. It kicked up my that acting career and tha was even before ‘The Next Movie Star’.

What if your husband in future asks you to quit acting?

I would oblige him, he is my hushus band but we would come to terms with something. There has to be some unun derstanding before I get married. He should understand what I was doing. doing If he should ask me to quit, quit it has to be for

some r e a l l y strong reasons that I can’t possibly refuse. We would have to talk about that.

What are the qualities of your ideal man?

My ideal man might not always be available but he should be tall. He should be fair-complexioned and humhum ble. He should be generous, considerconsider ate and tolerant. He should love God, I mean someone who can impact on me and I on him. Someone who gives the best advice and he is business-oriented. business-oriented He should be handsome because I’m not ugly so that when I wake up and look at you in the morning, I would be happy (laughs loudly).

What puts you off a man?

Pretension and lies. If I discover these two things in you, I would put my two hands on my head and run.

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‘I use beauty shows to empower younger women’ ADAEZE AMOS

A

ffable Lady Juliet Geoffrey-Porbeni is the managing director 2Side Modelling Concepts and the founder of Miss Green And White Nigeria, a company that organises the popular ‘Miss Green And White Nigeria Beauty Pageant’.

According to this ex-beauty queen, she is determined to use the platform she knows well to empower younger women by giving them a chance in the beauty world.

“I was once a beauty queen, I love fashion and I’m determined to use beauty pageantry as a platform to empower younger women. I will use it as a vehicle to pass good messages to people, create a stronger platform for young women to voice out their passion and work towards achieving their dreams. So, the next beauty pageant is on October 4,” she disclosed.

Lady Geoffrey-Porbeni still remembers vividly what her tenure was as a beauty queen.

“I was awarded ‘The Most Intelligent Queen’ at ‘The Miss Hospitality Nigeria’ beauty pageant which took place in 2009.

I remember I had lots of projects I worked on. And from the popular cliché which says that once a lady is crowned queen she is always a queen, I’m still working very hard to affect my generation positively. Believe me, I have never relented! As you can see that among all my peers, I’m proud to say that I’m the last one standing. Though most of us are married, I’m still very much in the

game,” she stressed.

Unveiling what stands her beauty pageant out as a person who had experienced what it is like to be a queen, she said that “presently the world is changing and young people are being used as an instrument of destruction, violence and terrorism. As a lover of peace, I have been looking for ways to pass important messages across to my country and the world. I’m glad that God has given me a concept with which to use to pass my message. Hence, I decided to use my pageantry as a medium to promote peace and unity in my country.”

She emphasises on what the participants stand to gain from the show.

“My beauty pageant is unique because it is a national programme that promotes peace and unity in Nigeria and brings into memory Nigeria’s independence. When I’m sourcing for contestants I opt for intelligent girls because my crown is also about beauty and brain.

“That is why after selecting them, I make sure that my crew and I create different activities that would educate them more on what we stand for and make them get better.

They would be camped for seven days to be groomed thoroughly. We have lots of activities mapped out for them, including seminars and workshops, acquisition programmes for some of the models that want to be presenters.

They would also be taught how to get hotter on catwalks, aerobic exercises, health management, cooking competition, etc. No beauty aspirant is expected to while away her time in camp,” she said.

Her queens are not meant only to wear

beauty crowns and sash.

“The reason is that the sole objective of my pageant is to promote peace and unity in my country. Hence, my queens are meant to work/act on the objectives of the pageant. Though they may as well have their own personal projects,” she explained.

Lady Porbeni is however confronted with some challenges in what she does because no good thing comes easy.

“Finance is one of the major challenges.

Nigerians are waiting for you to be a celebrity before they come out in force to support you even if your idea is meaningful and positive. But by God’s grace, I will get there. This is what I’m doing with a passion. If I have sponsors or not, I must move forward,” she said.

This workaholic says she enjoys every aspect of her job.

“I enjoy every part of my job because it is what I love to do and what thrills me most about my contestants is that they are all very determined to clutch the diamondstudded crown,” she said smilingly.

To some Nigerian mothers who don’t allow their daughters participate in beauty pageants believing that it is unnecessary exposure for the girl child, she has some words: “Parents if you don’t allow your daughters make use of their God-given creativity, they might end up choosing wrong profession. Please allow them discover themselves even if not through pageantries but through other heart-desired professions.

I would like if parents could learn to support and guide them in their choice of career,” she said.

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Sunday, September 27, 2015

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GROWING UP with

Aunty Titi

Hello Children, How are you going about your studies? Ensure you read your books so as to excel in your class. In this edition, there are interesting and educative articles that are meant to improve your learning ability. Have a brilliant week.

Once upon a time

The Kiwi

T

Fox and the goat

O

nce upon a time, a fox was roaming around in the dark. Unfortunately, he fell into a well. He tried his level best to come out but all in vain. So, he had no other alternative but to remain there till the next morning. The next day, a goat came that way. She peeped into the well and saw the fox there. The goat asked “what are you doing there, Mr. Fox? ” The sly fox replied, “I came here to drink water. It is the best I have ever tasted. Come and see for yourself. ” Without thinking even for a while, the goat jumped into the well, quenched her thirst and looked for a way to get out. But just like the fox,

she also found herself helpless to come out.

Then the fox said, “I have an idea.

You stand on your hind legs. I ’ll climb on your head and get out. Then I shall help you come out too. ” The goat was innocent enough to understand the shrewdness of the fox and did as the fox said and help him get out of the well.

While walking away, the fox said, “Had you been intelligent enough, you would never have got in without seeing how to get out. ” Moral: Look before you leap. Do not just blindly walk in to anything without thinking.

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

ANIMAL FACTS

he kiwi is a flightless genus of birds endemic to New Zealand.

They belong to the Apterygidae family and have about the same size as domestic chickens do. All kiwi species are endangered or threatened. They are flightless birds and are the smallest living ratites, which is a diverse group of large, flightless birds like ostriches, emus and rheas. The species is commonly known as Roroa, Great Spotted Kiwi and Great Gray Kiwi.

It is the biggest kiwi species, having an average height of 45 cm (18 in.) for males, 50 cm (20 in.) for females and an average weight of about 3.3 kg (7.3 pounds).

It comes with a grayish-brownish plumage with lighter bands. There are currently less than 16.000 individuals remaining, distributed mostly through the mountainous areas of northwest Nelson, the northern West Coast, and the Southern Alps.

Females lay one egg, which is incubated by both parents. Like the majority of ratites; kiwis have no keel on the breastbone to anchor their wing muscles, while their wings are barely noticeable. Although most birds have hollow bones to be lighter and to fly easier, kiwis have bone marrow, like mammals and young birds do.

They have long, pliable and sensitive to the touch bills no tail, only a small pygostyle. Their feathers lack barbules and they have 13 feathers in total. Similarly to most flightless birds, they also have no uropygial gland. The sense of smell is overdeveloped, an unusual trait for birds. Furthermore, there are the only known species of bird that have nostrils at the end of their beaks. Their sense of smell is so strong that they can actually locate underground prey (like worms and insects) without seeing or feeling it.

Kiwis are shy and nocturnal animals. It is believed that their nocturnal habits are the results of the intrusion of various predators (humans included) that weren ’t present in their

habitat during the past. This belief is further enhanced by the fact that in areas where predators where later removed, the residing kiwis started to appear more often during daylight time. They generally prefer subtropical and temperate podocarp and beech forests, but they are forced to adapt to different kinds of habitats, like subalpine scrub, tussock grassland, and mountainous areas.

Kiwis are monogamous animals which after bonding spend their entire lives as couples. Mating usually occurs from June to March during this period, the pair calls to each other at night, meeting in the nesting burrow once every three days. Their relationships are reported to last a period of at least 20 years. The eggs produced are very large compared to their size.

To have a visual idea, they are about 6 times bigger than the ones produced by chickens, while chickens and kiwis are more or less equally sized. These eggs have a smooth texture and are greenish white or ivory colored. They are incubated for 63 to 93 days, depending on the species.

The number one threat for kiwis is the numerous mammalian predators that have been introduced directly or indirectly by humans includes Cats, Dogs, Ferrets, Stoats.

It has been estimated that Stoats are to be blamed for about half of kiwi chick deaths in most New Zealand areas, while cats also prey and eat chicks, although on a lesser degree.

However, not even adult individuals stand a chance against ferrets and dogs. These two animals easily kill adults and are many times responsible for extensive and abrupt declines of kiwi populations. For some unknown reason, most dogs find the scent emitted by kiwis irresistible, tracking it and then killing the animal behind it. Many kiwis also die trying to cross roads. Finally, badly set possum traps account for many accidental kills each and every year.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

29

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Dude Style

victorudoh804@yahoo.com 07067124302

‘My style is unusual’ Kingsley Okechukwu Anaroke is the Chief Executive of Kings Communications Limited, a public relations firm that is also into publishing and consultancy. In this interview with VICTOR UDOH, he speaks about his lifestyle, dress sense and what puts him off people.

Tell us about your style.

My style is unusual in the sense that my dressing is directed by my thoughts and the occasion. Most times, my style is not complete without my wife commending it. Hence, the way I dress is the way my wife wants me to appear. On Fridays when I want to dress low, I may opt for jeans and top. My wife plans most of what I wear, she gives them to good tailors who design them perfectly. But suits are what I buy myself and sometimes she buys for me too.

What perfumes do you wear?

I may not remember their names but my wife knows it all. She created a dressing mirror for me which is full of designer label perfumes.

What fashion accessory wouldn’t you mind spending a fortune on?

I could have said my golden wedding band but I hardly wear it. It was bought in 2004 when I did my wedding. I can tell you that I have not worn it for upwards of six months. I don’t like to wear jewellery. When I see men who wear these things and I begin to wonder what could be wrong with them.

Some men would battle with th necklace and earrings. They should leave e those stuffs for women.

What is that fashion accessory ory you like?

I like good shoes, even though I may not tell you the particular lar brand.

I also like belts. Belt constitutes titutes 70 per cent of what I bought sometime I travelled to South Africa. I like to wear shoes that blend with my belts. elts.

What fashion item forms a larger part of your wardrobe? ?

Ties. But I hardly wearr them. I just buy them and keep there in my wardrobe.

In fact, sometimes I give them out.

What else is Kings Communications Limited all about?

Kings Communications Limited publishes Maritime Management series and a weekly newspaper. We also publish Nigeria Tycoon magazine, a general interest magazine in entrepreneurial and leadership development. It is a newspaper that focuses on oil and gas, aviation, logistics and leadership in the industry y.

We deal more in investigaative reports that turn things gs around.

Do you write on women issues ues too?

In fact, we came up with a concept

which is titled ‘Woman of Fortune’. These are women who have attained success in life and we use them to inspire the younger generation. We don’t feature women who dress in skimpy attires and encourage prostitution. We are into publications that encourage women to discover things about other women. That was one of the things that pushed us into our annual Hall of Fame.

There are many successful women in the various careers that we have not discovered. We intend to discover them and bring them out and then use them to impact on the younger ones.

Why didn’t you channel this effort on youths?

It is better to involve women to do generational occupation. Women can mould you.

One woman can train a child to adulthood.

But most men don’t have time for that. Even when it comes to transfer of knowledge, women are more receptive, in fact, talk about leadership, you learn fast from them.

We looked at it from that angle and said let’s begin to use women in capacity building. We are graduating to the level where we’ll bring the mentors and the mentees together so that they mentors)) would tell y (the ( them (the mentees) how and h what they did right to succeed. It should be done don practically and not theoretically . theor

could be misinterpreted. I’m a deacon in my church. I have had the opportunity of duping people or going into 419 and I didn’t do it. I have had the opportunity of being involved in one type of illicit trading or the other and I didn’t do it. I didn’t want to soil my integrity. To me, integrity is everything. I was once given an award by a magazine as the integrity personnel of the year. I have been that mindful of integrity and that is now bringing me to what I’m driving at. Despite being a deacon in my church, I believe that there are too many ways to unwind. For me, I like clubbing.

You still club, a deacon?

You see, that’s what I’m saying. People mistake this clubbing of a thing for a different thing. There are different types of clubbing. There are some clubs that are into stripping. That’s not the one I’m talking about. The one I’m talking about is the normal club where you go and dance.

Sometimes, I go with my wife, we dance together and we go home. That is unwinding for me. Sometimes, I find it difficult to go to gym, which would have been another form of unwinding g for me.

Who are those ose in our society you admire?

I admire e Prof Pat Utomi because he is one person n that inspires people. It’s from him that I learnt that in whatever one is doing, he should strive to create a value When you are less le and when you create it, money would busy, what do you yo do to come. Thiss is one principle I have learnt unwind?

Let me begin by saying from him. I like him because you get inthat sometimes I don’t don bring spired when en he talks. Then people like Richard my other side to the th public, rd Branson, the man who owns Virgin. In fact, there are a lot not because e I’m shy of Richard Branson’s prinbut because bec cause prrinciples I applied in my somem company but unfortutimes, times, unforrtunately, they didn’t work i t wo ork here because Nigerian Nigeriian society is different differe ent from his. It couldn’t could dn’t work because e Nigeria is a peculiar environ-ment

business wise. I like his ideas. He is not bossy. He is humble, and when you see him with his workers, you wouldn’t know he is the MD of his company.

What puts you off people?

Lies! One thing about a lie is that it is not sustainable. When you tell a lie today and you are caught, you would tell another lie to cover it. And when you are telling those lies, you forget that the person you are telling is more knowledgeable than you. He may not even tell you that you have told a lie. Another thing about lie is that you may never have an opportunity to tell the truth in future.

What lesson has life taught you?

Life has taught me to treat a woman kindly. Maybe that is why I’m passionate about issues that have to do with women.

My father told me that no matter how enraged, do not beat your wife. For me, I like crisis in marriage, because when you are out from your crisis, the love would increase.

What did you study?

I studied English at University of Lagos, did OND in Mass Communication.

I hold a Master’s in Transport Management from Lagos State University.

What books do you read?

As a graduate of English language, I have read so many books. Only one course in a semester and you would be given up to 10 books to n read.

In my priI m a ry r school, I was was reading ing novels. But now, I read a lot of management books.

As As a matter ter of fact I have up to 50 management books on my shelf and I read them.

&

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Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

You can call this line 08050324794

CELEBRATING THE JOY IN MARITAL BLISS Sunday, September 27, 2015

Glamour, as Tope weds Tope

BABIES OF THE WEEK

TITILOPE MORAKINYO

I

t was joy as family members, friends and wellwishers turned out recently to felicitate with Temitope Aluko and Temitope Ajao as they exchanged marital vows at the Raffles botanical gardens at Raffles Hotel Dubai.

The couple has a serendipitous love story - it all started as a joke, but led to true love, and now, marriage The bride was gorgeously dressed in a flowing glistering white bridal gown and the groom decked in a black suit and white shirt was obviously elated as they danced to the admiration of the congregation -a potpourri of guests, dignitaries and colleagues. It was fun as they mingled, danced and even sang with their guests.

The excited couple revealed that they met five years ago and became best of friends. According to the bride, she said “My first semester exams just ended and I was home on holiday, when I got this Facebook request from Tope, which at the time I thought was a coincidence. I went through his pictures and I thought he was too much of a nerd - but just for the fun of it (and the namesake thing), we talked online from February 2010 until March, be-

Hamzah Olarewaju Salako

H fore we eventually saw each other in school. From that moment we became inseparable. He was in his final year and I was in 300-level so the first three years were a long-distance relationship, but we did not miss any opportunity to see each other. ” On the proposal, she added, “He proposed in April 2014. In December 2013, I travelled for his graduation which was same date as his birthday, so I expected a proposal but nothing happened during the trip. Not long after we got back, he started behaving weird and secretive, especially with his phone, iPad and laptop, which made me suspicious he probably met someone during his Master ’s in UK. I spoke to my mom, who assured me to be calm, that he was ordering my ring and making payments, so that ’s why I couldn ’t even play game on his gadgets without him acting funny. It turned out he had asked my mom ’s permission, so she already knew.

On the ‘proposal day ’ he was tak-

ing me for dinner. On our way to the restaurant, police stopped us because of tint permit and stuff. I wasted the whole night (I was all dressed up to get his attention) and the restaurant was closed when we got there. I was pissed and blaming him because he came late.

I was just going to lie down and rest before his sister ’s traditional wedding that weekend, then have a big talk with him after the wedding. But in the middle of the night, he started this talk which was first annoying and sounded like a breakup speech, before he said other things I did not hear again after I saw the ring (when I read about brides saying they did not hear anything again I didn ’t believe, but then it happened to me). I said yes to my man after four years and the ring was perfect, ” she blushed.

On the advice to singles, they said, “start planning early, pray and attend premarital classes. Carry your family and friends along, though the final decisions are between you and your partner.

amzah Oluwatobiloba Olarewaju Salako was delivered at Gbagada General Hospital, Lagos to Nurudeen Salako and Basirat Salako. He was delivered at exactly 5:40 a.m. and he weighed 2.7kg at birth.

Mrs Basirat told Sunday Mirror that during her pregnancy she desired fruits. I craved for watermelon, mango, and apple, and my normal diet remain the same; nothing irritated me she said. She however explains that no much body changes aside from the growing stomach and vomiting.

What do hamzah parents love about their son? According to the father, he has been a blessing and a great source of joy ever since we noticed his arrival and he loves eating and he smiles a lot.

On the meaning of his names, hamzah means strong and steadfast and oluwatobiloba means God is a great king.

What does Basirat want him to become in future, She said, God who gave him to us has already known what he will become and ours as the parent is to guide him as he strive for the best in life.

Aderonke is very gentle –Christopher

A

ll roads led to Yidi, Agodi, the peaceful town of Ibadan, Oyo State. as Aderonke and Christopher tied the knots recently.

The wedding took place at the Living Faith Church, Bashorun branch, Ibadan.

The reception followed immediately at the Apex civic centre, Yidi Agodi.

The courtship which culminated in t wedding began in April 2011, as the couple decided to become wife and husband after being friends for a while.

The groom who works as a tour operator said, “We met coincidentally in a cab which I left because it was not getting occupied by other passengers. I decided to do a stopover with another cab in order to make my journey quicker; unknowingly I was sitting next to my wife.

He said further, “We chatted like friends who had known each other for long about many issues.

After three weeks to the friendly familiarity, the response of my wife when I asked her out was that she would only say YES to the relationship if it is going to result in marriage. To me, that was a very deep statement which made me more

Jedidiah Oluwafehan Ogunjumelo

J

focused.

The bride could not resist Christopher who she showered encomiums on for being hardworking, wise, intelligent; respectful above all God-fearing.

On what the groom loves about his wife, he said: “She is very gentle, calm and loving. ’ ’

According to him, “it was never a mistake that they are going to spend the rest of their life together as husband and wife.

The families were full of praises as they gave thanks to God for making the day come to pass and the challenges that threatened to hinder the wedding overcome.

edidiah Oluwafifehan Ona abayo Ogunjumelo was born at the Redeemed Maternity Centre, Shomolu Lagos to Adeola and Paul. He was delivered at 6.50 p.m.

What did Adeola crave for during the pregnancy? According to her, she craved for eko and moimoi, jollof and fried rice, amala and two-three days old eba.

According to Adeola, “the obvious physical body change during the pregnancy was my swollen legs; I vomited once in a while and not so much of morning sickness but I dint spit at all ”

What do Jedidiah ’s parents love about him? “Everything is lovely about him; he is cute, hairy and smiles a lot, ” Paul explained On the choices of his name, the mother explained that oluwafifehansimi means “extending God ’s love to me ” while Ona abayo means “the way out ” she further explained that I and my husband don ’t deserve such gift but God extended his hand of love towards them.

What do they want Jedidiah to become in future?

The parents said “we want him to become a man after God ’s heart.

31

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

What to wear ...to green and white beauty pageant Sunday, September 27, 2015

ADAEZE AMOS

I

n four days time, Nigeria would be celebrating her 55th independence anniversary.

One of the events usually used to mark the occasion is a beauty pageant called Miss Green And White Nigeria founded by amiable Lady Juliet Geoffrey-Porbeni, an ex beauty queen and the managing director, 2Side Modeling Concepts. This year’’s event comes up on October 4.

If you are getting set to attend this event, not as a beauty contestant, you need to abide by the dress code which of course is green and white. Check out what Millen Magase the 2014 Miss Nigeria is donning on this page and catch the feel.

32

Perfect Cut

Sunday, September 27, 2015

African Look Go in green African print fabrics ADAEZE AMOS

A

frican fabrics can be used to design whatsoever you desire in fashion. And now that green is the colour in vogue because of the country’s independence anniversary, then opt for green-coloured African print and make your life greener. Join the bandwagon of ladies in this colour!

Remember that green symbolises vegetation and life.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Getting rea

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Perfect Cut

Sunday, September 27, 2015

ady for Independence Day bash ADAEZE AMOS

A

s the country marks her 55 years independence anniversary, ladies how prepared d are your robe for this event? No lady ought to be taken unawares, especially when it comes to glamous events. We feel it is better to start getting prepared on time.

What do you wish to wear? Remember that whatever attire or style you choose for th this his occasion, bear in mind that you need to rock green maybe with a touch of white. Those are the colours our flag.

If you have not made up your mind on what to wear, r, overhaul your yo our wardrobe and choose some something splendid. In the fashion world rld this action n is called dress-up. It pre prevents you from hurriedly scampering ring for what to wearr at the ele eleventh hour. eventh

wardward or-

of p l ay -

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34

Sunday, September 27, 2015

L

OVE

TALK

with Yemisi

Adeniran

Kissing is part of the game T

hat kissing is very important in the game of intimacy is an understatement. It is a key instrument and that real romantic couples cannot but observe before making love. It serves as a form of introduction.

However, much as almost everyone would agree that kissing is significant, hardly do many make the best use of it. For instance, for most men, it is most of the time not properly explored before a plunge is taken into the real sexual activity. That is, even when it is being carried out as foreplay, it hardly lasts. It is done in a hurry.

Many may not agree with me, but the problem many have is that couples don ’t know how to kiss! Yes. Kissing is not all about putting the lips together or running the tongue on the other person ’s tongue or lips.

Effectively done, it gives a good feeling that couples would normally want to last very long.

Why most couples prefer to get it done with very fast is because they don ’t enjoy it the way it should be. The truth of the matter is that only if couples find time to learn or do it the proper way would they know what they are missing.

Let ’s go through the techniques as put down by those who know better:

Do a few soft kisses. Start slow with soft, gentle kisses and skip the tongue and the teeth — for now. If your partner seems receptive, you can move forward to French kissing. In case you don ’t know, French kissing is a system whereby you use your tongue during a kiss. One cannot understand why it is so referred in Western culture, anyway. While doing the kissing, avoid making your lips smack as the sound might distract. All you need to do is slow down and part your lips a little bit more if you find out that you are smacking. Also, avoid your lips against partner ’s mouth. The slow gentle move allows you to ascertain the level of his or her interest. It also allows the partner to stop if he or she feels uncomfortable.

Maintain a moderate level of saliva. Avoid too much saliva. In case your lips are becoming too wet, you should withdraw and nicely reduce it.

“Lock ” lips. If your initial kisses have gone well, try a lip lock, which can lead to closer kisses. Essentially, you ’ll “stack ” your lips. Putting your partner ’s lower lip between yours is the safest bet. Most people have larger lower lips,

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

making them easier to grab gently with your lips.

Breathe while you kiss. Ideally, you ’ll be able to breathe softly through your nose while you ’re kissing. If that ’s not possible, though, break away for a second to take a breath.

It will be wrong to feel suffocated. If you breathe hard, you will only be showing a sign of being nervous or that you are rather excited, making your partner feel flattered.

Don ’t hang your hands. Put them to use. You can place your hands lightly on your partner ’s shoulders or around his or her waist. (In Western culture, girls generally put their hands on boys shoulders while he puts his hands around her waist.). You could pull your partner closer.

Also, put your hands on the sides of his or her face, using your thumb to sweep across the cheekbone, or put one hand under his or her chin and tilt it upward. Another seriously good move is to put both hands around the back of your partner ’s head and tangle them in his or her hair, gently pulling.

Test using tongue. Once you ’re in a lip lock with your partner ’s lower lip between both of yours, lightly run the tip of your tongue over it. If you can move it slowly, the better.

Then, gauge your partner ’s response. If he or she presses in closer or returns the gesture, you ’re probably clear to keep increasing the intensity of the kiss. If your partner pulls away, maybe it ’s best to pull back the tongue for now and stick to lips-only kisses.

Try French kissing (if you like). Sweep your tongue along the inside of your partner ’s lower lip. Try to move slowly and lightly at first, increasing speed and pressure only if your partner seems to respond well. Slide the tip of your tongue inside your partner ’s mouth and gently move it against the tip of his or her tongue. Use light, darting motions and keep your tongue moving — letting it sit limply in your partner ’s mouth isn ’t appealing and will bring a quick end to the kissing. Try deeper and harder strokes if your partner seems responsive.

Be sensitive however, to your partner ’s response to know whether to slow down or pull the brake. Ensure not to be too excited also to avoid hurting each other. Remember again that either of you can take the lead and of course, there is still room for an improvement. Enjoy.

Sexual solutions and love products for adults I worry that I objectify women a lot.

Many times when I see a beautiful woman, I go straight to imagining having sex with her. I begin to remove her clothes in my mind. That is the first thing that I think of and I feel dirty for being this way. How can I change? Elo Elo sexual desire is a primal human response that is embedded in male DNA. It does not make you dirty. It is how our species was created and it is how we survive.

The day men stop wanting women is the day the human race begins to go extinct.

So it is not a coincidence that women ’s bodies are this alluring. The female form was built to seduce and be desired. The way female hips jiggle and swing when women walk; the manner in which their bosoms bounce and quiver. These are not accidents. These female parts were designed to get men ’s attention and they get it plenty. So men are built to see these things and desire them. There is a natural order to reproduction. Men must be seduced. Women must get pregnant.

Babies must be born. Your sexual urges were predetermined millions of years ago.

So you don ’t have to feel guilty about these sexual impulses provided you don ’t go raping women. It is okay to appreciate the female form and still respect it. Selfcontrol is what separates normal people from sick perverts. Self-control is what ensures that we don ’t pounce on women when we are seduced by their beauty because sex must be consensual. Once you have that control over your natural impulses, then you are a well-balanced person even with your ‘active ’ imagination – Uche I have a really small penis. My mates in boarding school used to make fun of me back in the day. I thought I was still growing back then and that it will get bigger.

But nothing has changed. I am an adult

man now and I feel uncomfortable around women. I want enlargement – Justin Justin there are many enlargement options for you to choose from. A combination of Vimax and Machismo Penis Pump can help you gain three to four inches over time. Extenze Maximum Strength and VigRx are also effective penis enlargers so the choice is yours – Uche I have been using the Stud Extension Sleeve I bought from you for some months now. I just want to know how much longer I can use it before discarding it – Benjamin The Stud Extender is used primarily for prolonging sexual action before ejaculation and for making the penis look bigger and fuller. If it is not torn, you can use it for as long as it lasts. Just wash it properly after use and store in a cool dry place – Uche I need a realistic vibrator that feels like the actual thing. Not too big but big enough. If it vibrates, that will be okay too – Cindy The Jelly Chocolate Dream fits that description so I recommend it. There is also another version of it with a suction base that enables you to stick it to a bathroom wall or floor. It is called the Jelly Chocolate Wall Banger. You can go for any of these – Uche I have a problem. At 56 years, my erection is so soft that sex is impossible. It has been that way for two and a half years now. I want help but I am diabetic. I don ’t know if anything can be done. Thanks – Chukwuemeka There are drugs for erectile dysfunction which can be used by diabetics. Libigrow is a good example and very effective too – Uche Please do you have Rhino enhancer?

If you do, please how can I get it? I have heard so much about it. I am in Uyo – Festus

Yes we do. Rhino 7 is available and can be delivered to you in Uyo or wherever you choose – Uche I just tested the Gladiator Cream. It took a while for me to climax. For some reason, I couldn ’t believe that it can help me with premature ejaculation but it is working.

Thanks – Bukola You are welcome – Uche My wife and I need some nice films we can watch on our honey moon in December. What should we get?

Also do you have games for couples?

Rotimi Feature films like Duality and Cockstar will be perfect for both of you.

For the games, you will enjoy Love at First Bite and The Bedroom Game.

Cong ratulations on your wedding - Uche.

And that is it for today.

Adults in need of these treatments/ novelties

can call 08171912551, 08027901621 or 07086754515 for help or visit www.zeevirtualmedia.com Zee Virtual Media delivers all over Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com- Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

ZEE VIRTUAL MEDIA LOVE AND SEX PRODUCTS For strong erections/performance, get Rhino 7, Libigrow or Man Up. For Penis enlargement get VigRx, Vimax, Extenze or Potent Pump.

To maintain erection use Couple ’s Vibrator or Sta Hard Cock Ring.

Stop premature ejaculation with Forever Yours Cream or Gladiator Cream.

For painful intercourse use Mood Sensitive Lubricant or Colt Lubricant.

To reach orgasm, get Nympho ’s Desire Arousal or Encounter Orgasm Gel. Female libido boosters are G Female Oral Tablets or Kangaroo for her.

To tighten vagina use Liquid Sex Tightening Cream or Tighten it up V Gel. Women ’s Vibrators: Hunni Bunny Vibe or Fancy Night Heat Series.

To attract a partner use Optimale Cologne or Sex Aphrodisiac Essence.

Male Masturbators are the Real Skin Latin Pussy or Hustler ’s Choco Pussy.

Female strap-ons are the Afro Wooper Strap-On or Limited Edition Strap-On. Male strap-Ons for weak erection: 6 inch, 8 inch or 10 inch Penile Extension.

Educational adult lms are Adam & Eve Sex Positions & Maximising G Spot.

Feature Films: The One, One Wild & Crazy Night or Young Hollywood We also have magazines, lingerie, games, love cushions and condoms.

To order by phone, call: 08171912551, 08027901621, 08051924159, 07038845262 or easily order at www.zeevirtualmedia.com & pay online.

Other payment options include bank deposits, internet transfers, phone Transfer or cash on delivery. We deliver discreetly all over Nigeria!

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35

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Pregnancy Talk

Naughtiest Thing

with

The naughtiest thing I ’ve ever done

Adaeze Amos

Precious Mary Akaba

߾ࠆ߾ࠀࠁ߾߿ࠀࠀࠇࠁ ߶ࠡࠛࠡ ࠝࠜࠚࠧ߷

Pregnancy shouldn ’t be hindrance to enjoying Independence Day bash

A

ssuming you h a v e a bash that falls on October 1, the country ’s independence ann ive r s a r y and you have to abide by the colour code, pregnancy should not be a hindrance. Who says you can ’t be psychedelically dressed in a green maternity dress accessorised with white? What you should know or have at the back of your mind is that pregnancy is not a punishment, diseases or ailment.

Once you are no longer nauseated, you wouldn ’t even know you are pregnant. You start living your life freely provided you avoid things that would stress or expose you to danger. So, it ’s not a taboo to attend a wedding or

‘I killed a rat and ate it ’

T

all

bash.

What this means is that there is no need to miss out all the celebrations of this once-in-ayear thump because you are pregnant. You can carefully navigate the minefields of tiredness and enjoy a fun night out with your bump.

It ’s true that with champagne and late nights, it can be hard to face the celebrations as a pregnant party goer. But if the thought of canapés makes you gag and the idea of squeezing into a glamorous dress fills you with fear, don ’t worry. Go with your hubby to be on

the safe side.

But

k n o w that being pregnant doesn ’t mean you have to be a party pooper. Your newly discovered ability to fall asleep while standing up may cause a few odd looks at the party, so take control and watch it.

Sit when you are tired.

To save energy for this bash, start by not accepting

party invitations.

I n stead, s a v e y o u r precious energy for the best event and ensure you g e t some early nights and plenty of rest in between. Also, don ’t be afraid to leave when you have had enough. If you begin to feel tired and your attention is waning, it may be time to call it a night.

his naughtiest thing I did may sound disgusting or repulsive to some people, especially those who have not eaten a rat meat before. I choose to call it rat meat because that is how best I can describe it. I know that the pig meat is called pork, cow is beef and cock is chicken.

It happened one evening when I stepped into my kitchen to cook. When I opened my cupboard about to bring out my pot, I noticed that something moved suddenly. When I looked very well, it was a rat. A very gigantic one for that matter.

It couldn ’t run fast at least to escape because it was very big. When I saw the size, I suddenly became angry.

I remembered how economical I had been with food lately in my house just to save for the ones I would eat in the

rainy days if you know what I mean. And a stupid rat had been feeding fat on me without apology. So, filled with fury, I suddenly grabbed a heavy object and threw at it because I was determined never to allow the ‘thief ’ escape.

The object I threw got at its target, it landed heavily on its head. It gave out a cry. I wasn ’t done. I went to where the thing was wriggling on the floor and killed it.

I dissected it, brought out its intestine and threw away, then cooked the remaining.

Don ’t ask me if I threw away its head because I won ’t answer that. I made a delicious meal with that and honestly it was sweet.

I never knew that rat meat could be that tasty.

•Precious Mary Akaba is an actress and model.

-ADAEZE AMOS

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Sunday, September 27, 2015

Z African Breadfruit Porridge

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frican breadfruit is in a food class of its own. It is known as ukwa in Igbo and the scientific name is Treculia Africana. Ukwa is such a versatile food with a natural delicious flavour. It can be cooked plain without any ingredient, not even salt and it will taste great especially when prepared fresh. It can be roasted and eaten with coconut or palm kernel. It can also be prepared as porridge.

Ingredients 700g African Breadfruit 2 medium dry fish 2 small seasoning cubes 7g edible potash Palm oil 5-6 fresh bitter leaves Pepper and salt (to taste) Common additions to breadfruit Porridge: White Puna yam Corn/Maize, you can also use sweet corn Before preparation Freshly peeled ukwa or dried ukwa can be used for this recipe.

You can use stock fish instead of dry fish or both.

Fresh bitter leave not washed and squeezed.

Always add enough palm oil to make your Nigerian meals look appetising.

Edible potash acts as food tenderizer only a very small quantity should be used Before you cook the Ukwa If using dry ukwa, soak it overnight in plenty of cold water. If using fresh ukwa, skip this step.

The next day, soak the bone and wash the dry fish or stock fish and break into pieces.

Wash the ukwa thoroughly in cold water. Stones and sand usually settle at the bottom so watch out for those.

Pound the pepper.

Rinse the bitter leaves and set aside.

Cooking directions

Put the thoroughly washed ukwa in a sizeable pot; Pour enough water to cover the ukwa. The level of water should be about one inch above the content.

Add the edible potash, dry fish or stock fish, cover the pot and cook till its soft.

The ukwa is done when the seeds melt when pressed. You may need to top up the water while cooking so watch it closely. If using a pressure pot, top ups will not be necessary.

Add enough palm oil to the well done ukwa; add pepper, seasoning cubes and salt to taste.

Stir. cover and cook on medium heat till the palm oil changes colour from red to yellow. This should take abou five minutes.

Stir and add the bitter leaves. Cover and leave to simmer or till the leaves wilt but still green and the ukwa is ready to be served.

Cooking ukwa with a Pressure Pot If you have a pressure pot, ukwa is one of the Nigerian recipes that you should use it for because it cuts the cooking time by a lot.

For pressure pots, follow the directions above till step 2 Then for step 3, add edible potash, dry fish or stock fish, pepper, salt to taste, stock cubes and palm oil.

Cover, pressurise and cook for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, the ukwa should be well done. Depressurise the pot under running water and add the bitter leaves.

Cover and cook till the vegetables wilt but are still green. There is no need to pressurise the pot during this step.

Stir and it’s ready!

Note: Breadfruit porridge gets thicker as it cools down so ensure you have enough porridge in the meal when done.

Serve with chilled palm wine or any soft drink other chilled drink

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Zinfandel

infandel grapes were destemmed, but not crushed. This technique minimises the extraction of harsh, bitter tannins from grape skins and seeds, resulting in concentrated, fresh raspberry flavors in the finished wine. To enhance the extraction of color and flavor, the grapes were cold soaked for one day at 60°F, followed by four to six days of fermentation at a maximum temperature of 88°F. Five to seven days of skin contact contributed to a deep ruby color that visually hints at the ripe fruit flavors of the wine.

After primary fermentation was complete, the wine underwent malolactic fermentation to soften the acids and tannins. The wine was aged on its lees to enhance the mouth feel and then was filtered prior to bottling.

Our 2010 Sonoma Heritage Vines Zinfandel captures Jammy blackberry and spicy black pepper flavors, demonstrating the classic and distinctive characteristics of Zinfandel. With caramelized flavors and toasty notes complementing the dark, rich fruit flavors and approachable mouth feel, this wine is a versatile partner to a wide range of foods.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Growing Up

Sunday, September 27, 2015

TONGUE TWISTER

WORDS ON MARBLE

WHO INVENTED WHAT? Thomas Moore produced the refrigerator

T

Betty Botter’s better butter Betty Botter had some butter, “But,” she said, “this butter’s bitter.

If I bake this bitter butter, It would make my batter bitter.

But a bit of better butter, That would make my batter better.”

So she bought a bit of butter – Better than her bitter butter – And she baked it in her batter; And the batter was not bitter.

So ‘twas better Betty Botter Bought a bit of better butter

JOKE Mightiest of Animals A lion woke up one morning with the urge to assert his superiority over his fellow animals.

He walked over to a monkey, and roared “Who is the Mightiest of Animals? ” “You are, Master, ” said the monkey, trembling.

Then the lion approached a dog.

“Who is the Mightiest of Animals? ” roared the lion.

“You are, my Lord, ” said the dog, shaking with fear.

Next the lion met an elephant and asked; “Who is the Mightiest of Animals? ” roared the lion.

The elephant grabbed the lion with his trunk, swung him in the air, slammed him six times against a tree trunk, threw him into a dense patch of thorns, and strolled away.

“Okay! ” shouted the lion. “There is no need to turn nasty just because you don ’t know the answer! ” He stood up and walked away.

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he first electric refrigerator was invented in 1803 by Thomas Moore. The first commercial refrigerator designed to keep food cold was sold in 1911 (by the General Electric Company) and in 1913 these model consisted of a unit that was mounted on top of an ice box.

A self-contained refrigerator with a compressor on the bottom of the cabinet was invented by Alfred Mellowes in 1915. Mellowes produced this refrigerator commercially each unit was handmade), but was

No institution can possibly survive if it needs geniuses or supermen to manage it. It must be organized in such a way as to be able to get along under a leadership composed of average human beings.

– Peter Drucker

RIDDLES

QUESTION: What kind of room has no doors or windows?

ANSWER: A mushroom.

QUESTION: I have keys but no locks. I have space but no room.

You can enter but can ’t go outside. What am I? ANSWER: A Keyboard QUESTION: What is next in this sequence: JFMAMJJASON_?

ANSWER: The letter D. The sequence contains the first letter of each month.

QUESTION: A man was cleaning bought out by W.C. Durant (the aire Company in order to masspresident of General Motors) produce refrigerators in the the windows of a 25 story building. He slipped and fell off the in 1918, who started the Frigid- USA. ladder, but wasn ’t hurt. How did he do it?

ANSWER: He fell off the 2nd step.

QUESTION: How many seconds Snails have microscopic teeth are there in a year?

ANSWER: 12. (January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd ….)

QUESTION: One night, a butcher, a baker and a candlestick maker go to a hotel. When they get their bill, however, it ’s for four people.

Who ’s the fourth person?

ANSWER: One night can also mean one knight. That makes four: one knight, a butcher, a baker and a candlestick maker!

Snails are so diverse that there is composed of rows of them. QUESTION: What instrument can are land snails, sea snails and The “giant tiger land snail ” you hear but never see? freshwater snails, while land also known, as “giant Ghana ANSWER: Your voice! You can snails have microscopic teeth! snail ” is the largest land snail sing with your voice like an instruThey are contained in a struc- in the world, their length can ment and hear it, but no one can ture called the radula and that reach up to 12 inches. see it!

DID YOU KNOW?

GAME The great circus The Great Circus, the sequel of Circus Romance, is a hidden object game. To play this game, you will need only your mouse. Aurelia, the daughter of the owner of the Circus, had to escape so she could find her happiness with the man she loves somewhere far away. Now she had arrived back at the circus, and she has to find her belonging very quietly so her father won’t find out that she was there. She needs your help to do that and again escape unnoticed. Hurry up!

38

Movies & Music

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

Omawumi makes first post baby appearance at 2face #Fortyfied Concert

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inger-songwriter Omawumi inger-songwriter, Omaw wum u i who who rer re cently gave birth to her sec cond d ch child d delivered a stellar perffor orma m nce at a #Fortyfied all star tribute co onc n errts helld recently at Eko Hotel and Su uit ite es.

The concert, which was spons nso ored by Starr ored Radler and put together to cel eleb e ra eb ate t 2face Idibia’s 40th birthday, had the si singer er – who has shed her baby weight – perform rm his popular hit, ‘Only Me’ to the delight off gue ests present.

Also present at the event includ ude Senator ud Florence Ita Giwa, Annie Macau au ula l y, Kli l ntt D Drunk, Yaw, Bovi, KSB, Baskett Mo M uth, h AY, Keke Ogungbe, Tee A Ebuka, Inii Edo, Funke Akindele, Don Jazzy, Korede Be ell llo, o Reeka k do Banks, DJ Spinall, 9ice, Dayo Ad Aden eneye and Banky W. Others are Wande Coal, DJ J Sp Spin nal a l, Wizkid, Darey Art Alade, Timi Dak kollo, o Tan nia Omotayo, Jimmie, DJ Jimmy Ja Jatt tt,, De tt Dest stiny Amaka, Kayode Peters, Funny Bo one ne, Al Alib ib baba, Gbenga Adeyinka, all of who took k tur urns ns to enjoy Star Radler.

Omawumi D’banji

Geoffrey Oji thrills at MTN’s 10th anniversary

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t was an evening filled with music, stage performance, fun, laughter er and celebration when MTN Foundation (MTNF) celebrated its 10th year anniversary y of restoring hope to many families and communities in Nigeria, recently.

With the theme: ‘A Decade of Impact... New Hopes, Possibilities’, the event which held at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko, Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, and, Lagos, was an exciting one as some Muson Music Scholars (Beneficiaries ies of MTNF Programme) opened the stage by entertaining the audience with a brilliant performance that illustrated the good works MTNF is doing to alleviate the suffering of the masses.

The plays ended when a parent invited his family and friends to rejoice ice with him after one of his children told him that MTNF has awarded herr a scholarship to study in a tertiary institution.

There was no dull moment as Vintage Band thrilled the audience e with good music, followed by MTN project Fame Season Winner 7, Geoffrey Oji, who electrified the audience that was wowed with his performance. In his welcome address, the Chairman, MTNF, Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi (OFR), began saying that September 15 is a special date in the world as it is also a date MTNF is going into a new decade of making impact in people’s lives.

Explaining the next step, he said: “MTNF is now going into a new decade that will make us unparalleled.”

He thanked MTNF stakeholders for their immense support.

“We would have never achieved all that we have done without you,” ” Adelusi-Adeluyi. He expressed gratitude to those who have helped and nd are still helping to ensure that they achieved the feat. He thanked the indefatigable foundation board including the foundation’s immediate past chairman, Ambassador, Hamzat Ahmadu, who he said showed dedication cation and leadership. He also thanked the past and present management staff ff of the foundation. In his goodwill message, the Chairman, MTN Nigeria (MTNN), TNN), Dr. Pascal Dozie (CON), said that in the past 10 years, what MTNF had achieved hieved was overwhelming. Because of MTNF, according to him, “we really don’tt know what MTNN is now. Are we health-giving organisation? What types of services vices are we giving? All I know is that MTNN together with MTNF makes greater contribution ntribution to the economy. Those of you who are interested in statistics, if you try and nd look at the contribution of this organisation to the growth of domestic product of this country, I am sure you will see that the company, just one company is making a contribution of about four to five per cent to the growth of domestic product of thiss country,” he said.

D’banj, Don Jazzy, 2face set for collabo hit album

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Geoffrey

f you are one of those who have for years yearned for a comeback, then this should excite you as 2face Idibia has pleaded with Don Jazzy and D’Banj to make one more hit together.

The pop icon made the plea during the all star concert held recently at Eko Hotel to celebrate his 40th birthday alongside Star Radler and thousands of his fans, ‘All that one wey una dey do, I no send una, my own be say, make una drop one more hit,’ he said.

The concert sponsored by Star Radler had top celebrities including Senator Florence Ita Giwa, Annie Macaulay, Klint D Drunk, Yaw, Bovi, KSB, Basket Mouth, AY, D Keke Ke Ogungbe, Tee A Ebuka, Ini Edo, Funke Akindele, Don Jazzy, Korede Bello, Reekado Ak Banks, DJ Spinall, 9ice, Dayo Adeneye, Banky Ba W, W, Wande Coal, DJ Spinall, Wizkid, Darey Art Alade, Timi Dakolo, Tania Omotayo, Jimmie, Al DJ DJ Jimmy Jatt, Destiny Amaka, Kayode Peters, Funny Bone, Alibaba, Gbenga Adeyinka, all of Fu u who wh h took turns to enjoy Star Radler.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Movies & Music

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Middlemen premieres on TV

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overs of edge-of-the seat soap operas are in for a blast with the premiere edition of Middlemen taking over TV screens across the nation. The TV series which is sponsored by IDL distillers, makers of VELETA fruit wine, features established thespians such as Femi Jacob’s (Arc), Hadiza Abubakar (Pamela), KC Ejelonu (Tap), Chucks Ogene (Tim) while the Executive Producer is no other than the affable Joseph Oamen.

In his words, Bolaji Alalade, head of Marketing, International Distillers Limited, mited, who explained his companies involvement vement in the project series said, “We have ve decided to support this project because cause we have come to discover that soap p operas are seen as a mode of relaxation ation for scores of families. The soap reaches aches out to people of all walks of life and it also cuts across all age strata. Thatt reach cannot be overlooked and it is a veritable opportunity to showcase our products while families are entertained.”

The suspense-filled soap opera a sees Toju Aisha Peters (TAP) and Adeola Remilekun Coker decide to start their own advertising agency in a small apartment after both losing their jobs when they failed to land

The Walnut Incorporated account.

They start the agency ARC & TAP right there in Adeola’s small apartment much to his girlfriend’s dismay and go through a series of clashing ideas, constant struggle to land accounts (big or small), making a mark in the industry and their never ending story of who actually is boss.

Every year Walnut Incorporation gives AD agencies a chance to pitch to them why they think they should handle their accounts and forward. how they can move the brand forward Toju and Adeola are determined to get that chance. They do. And the becomes big question of who become boss comes to play.

The soap opera is being aired on various TV stations station such as MITV, STV and sat satellite platforms such as a DStv, Startimes Startimes, C O N S AT a n d GOTV.

Nigerian U.S.-based guitarist, Kunle, shines in new single

K

unle Olorundare, an international brand, whose stage name is Kunle, is an acoustic guitarist and singer/songwriter, whose folk and soul music bridges contemporary styles with roots in West African stories, Iyrics and rhythms.

His new single ‘Ami N Rele’ is another hit you can’t wait to listen to, and share…. It’s all about home.

Kunle, the Nigerian-born and currently based in Toronto, USA brings together his unique guitar tapping, harmonica, talking drum, global influence and rich vocals into what he terms ‘Music with no

T

wrong reasons. If he wants to head the guild, let him go through the right process. The process is, get the form, go through the required screening, then contest for the elections when certified. It is when he becomes victorious at the election process he can then declare himself as the president of AGN. “He has been claiming to be the AGN president since I left as the head of the guild in 2011 before Ibinabo came in. Why didn’t he purchase the forms to contest elections then? This is how he will continue till Ibinabo’s tenure expires next year and another individual will emerge president. He is hallucinating and he needs to wake up from his slumber,” he further stated.

On the court’s declaration on Ibinabo’s election, Segun said “There is no problem with that.

The court said the guild should return to status quo which in military parlance means ‘to return to normal or as it is’. Ibinabo still remains president and her tenure expires next year.”

Segun

Adenike

Emeka Ike

boundaries’.

Kunle sings in Yoruba, English, Pidgin and once in a while German. He has performed on various world stages such as the famous Mariposa folk festival, Habari African music festival and had one of his works ‘My little finger’ awarded songs from the heart best instrumentals 2015 by folk music Ontario, USA. Kunle has also opened for Shaggy (Yes Mr. Bombastic himself) alongside other artistes such as Fred Penner, the famous French Classical guitarist-Thaibault Cauvin and host of others.

Femi Jacobs

Segun Arinze blasts Emeka Ike, calls him attention seeker he last is yet to be heard of the age-long crisis that has rocked the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN). In the last few months, top shots and other members of the guild have battled with unending court cases from different sections.

Popular actor, Emeka Ike, had instituted a suit against embattled AGN head, Ibinabo Fiberesima, that the election process that brought her to office for the second time was conducted against a court order.

Speaking with journalists, top actor, Segun Arinze, who is a past president of AGN said Ike who had publicly declared himself as the head of the guild is an attention seeker who is convinced on what is best for him.

“I don’t want to trade words with him because he lacks pedigree. Emeka Ike was never AGN president. The media should stop giving him attention because he is just an attention seeker who wants to be in the news for the

39

Kunle

Nigeria’s Adenike makes top 12 in TLC’s great presenter

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he search for TLC’s Next Great Presenter is underway. After a rigorous selection process, Discovery Networks decided to extend its Top 10 semi-finalists to a Top 12, based on the high quality of entries received. Now the first semi-finalists have been revealed on TLC Entertain‘ ment Making it into the Top 12 so far are Nigeria’s Adenike, Felix from Kenya, Tendai from Zimbabwe, Bahumi and Lisa both from South Africa. More semi-finalists are being revealed daily on the channel every evening from 5 p.m.

“We are extremely impressed “W with the quality of entries received for our ou Next Great Presenter campaign. We had a difficult time paign nominating and narrowing down nom the Top T 10 as TLC fans are just so talented and passionate about the talen channel!” said Lee Hobbs, VP of chan Channels for Discovery Networks.

Chan “So we decided to extend the “S semi-finalist list to a Top 12 and semi offer two extra lucky fans the opportunity to make it through to por the next stage of the competition. tio These semi-finalists are all confident, engaging and enthuco siastic and a perfect fit for TLC s in terms of their passion, attitude and vibrancy.”

After all the Top 12 semi-

finalists have been revealed, they will go through to the next phase of the competition; a three-day boot camp where they will attend various mentorship sessions hosted by experts in the industry.

The sessions will include: performance and presenting coaching, media training and wardrobe styling to help them prepare for the next round and avoid elimination.

In the end, it will be up to the viewers to choose the winner from the three shortlisted finalists who make it through the boot camp stage. The winner will ultimately be crowned TLC’s Next Great Presenter and become the official host of TLC TOP 10 – a brand new series coming to TLC Entertainment in December.

The competition has had an incredibly overwhelming response, with amazing levels of engagement; including over 1 million page views on the website so far and 1,500 auditions submitted from Kenya, Nigeria, Botswana, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Cape Verde, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Swaziland, Lesotho, Namibia, Angola, South Africa and Malawi.

“We would like to thank all our fans that entered the competition, together with our Top 12, they are a true testament to the phenomenal talent that the African continent has to offer,” Hobbs ssid.

40

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Lessons of Life TRUE LIFE STORY ON MATTERS OF THE HEART

ADAEZE AMOS Adanneamos@gmail.com 08023012293 (sms only)

‘My prophetess wants me to marry her ’ (2) We conclude Victor Kenneth and Prophetess Happiness ’ story started last week. The duo were dating secretly but after a while, they couldn ’t pretend about it any longer.

“

When it became obvious that my relationship with the prophetess was becoming amorous, mouths started wagging in the church. Some brothers, especially the old faithful who wanted to come closer to her but she didn ’t accept them went to town with the story.

They called me all sorts of names but I never cared because the lady is a great beauty. Though she already had five children, she was so pretty you wouldn ’t be ashamed to hang out with her. Her shape and waistline were still intact. Somehow, I was beginning to fall in love with her as well as seeing her as my future wife. I was enjoying myself and was happy with her. Just as she was called Happiness, she was a source of happiness to me. She made sure I never lacked money.

“But the people I was more concerned about were my mother and two sisters who heard that I was dating Prophetess Happiness. When my mother asked me, I tried to convince her that the lady meant well. That she was the one who set up my music ministry for me so much that I was well known in the gospel music genre.

I told her how she was determined to train me to become her assistant in the vineyard of God. That she would train me to be a prophet so that I would be assisting her in the work of God because her members were increasing in leaps and bounds, ” he said.

But when Uloaku, Victor ’s mother got wind of her son ’s amorous relationship with this woman, she went straight to warn her.

“When my mother walked in angrily, the receptionist noticed her rage and spoke to her gently to sit down first if she wanted to see the prophetess. She gave her a form to fill just as others who were waiting did. She asked her to drop the sum of N500 consultancy fee into the offering box.

She did all she was told to do. Then she was given a tally number. When she looked at it, she saw that she was number 72. That made her flare up.

She started shouting that she wasn ’t there to consult her. That she came to warn her to leave her son alone. That her son Victor Kenneth would never marry a woman who had lived with two previous husbands and wasn ’t satisfied with them and ran out of her marriage. ‘A woman who already had five children, old shameless cargo who would not concentrate on the charm and magic she was doing for people as miracles. Tell her to leave my only son alone. She would never charm my

son to marry her. Go o and tell her that I said so. Tell her I said it would never be e well for her if she refused used to leave my son, ’ she thundered.

“At that, I heard d my mother ’s voice ce from Prophetess ss Happiness ’ office ce where I was sitting ng beside her. I sprang ng up from my seat to caution her. That was when the prophetess tess came out to see the uproar my motherr was causing in her church ’ hurch ’s reception, ” he said.

When the two women were standing face e to face, there was calm for a few seconds until Prophetess Happiness asked who she was and what she was looking for.

“Don ’t pretend as if you don ’t know me Happiness.

You know me in this village.

I am Uloaku Kenneth, a widow with three children, the mother of Victor Kenneth your church member. Why A model are you pretending as if we never worked in Ala-Nkwocha Secondary School in this our village where you were their Home Economics teacher before you decided to be using magic to charm people in the name of miracles? ” she roared.

At that, the prophetess lost her temper. “Oh you? I used to see you in that secondary school you just mentioned before I resigned to answer the call of God. You were a mere cleaner, who busied herself washing the school ’s toilets, that was why I never recognised you at a first glance. Yes? Why were you shouting like a mad dog Uloaku the tigress? When will you learn to respect yourself ? ” “Oh I thank God you already know I ’m a tigress. I have come to warn you for the last time to leave my son alone. He would not marry a retired cargo like you. Or do you want to milk his destiny dry and trap his star like you did your two ex-husbands whose lives are now nothing but misery. Chai Happiness, you are wicked!

See what you have turned those two men to, just because their eyes opened and they got wind of who you truly are. But I want to tell you that my son would never be one of them else I would devour you like a tigress devours its prey. He would never marry you, Happiness. It would only happen over my dead body, ” she retorted.

“Then, be ready to die Uloaku because it

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NOTICE: Please note that we don ’t do personal connections outside this column. Calls to connect privately are not allowed. Just send an SMS or email and we ’ll get your request published. The request is published on first come first served basis. Thank you!

would happen, ” she turned, looked at Victor who was trying to calm her down. “Victor, be ready to bury your mother because what she said would happen. Both of us have come a long way, did you not tell her? ” she quipped and walked to where Uloaku was standing.

“Or you are just waking up from slumber? Were you asleep when Victor started consulting me? Were you never told that all he is today is the fruit of my prayers?

Woman, don ’t bite more than you can chew.

I called you a tigress but know that I ’m a lioness, no one ever dares me. If not for the love I have for your son, I would have made you walk round this village naked, picking empty tins from trash bins, just for daring me. But know that my patience can snap.

I won ’t tolerate this from you any longer, ” she said, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Prophetess angrily stepped out to the centre of her church premises and looked up to the sky, to the scorching sun as if she saw something up there. She muttered some words, pointed at Uloaku and commanded her, ‘Get out of my church, now! ’ Uloaku sprang up like a frightened cat and walked away not saying a word nor picking her wrapper which dropped. She continued walking home in her under-

skirt. People who were waiting to consult the prophetess noticed that something powerful took control of Uloaku at hearing the command of the prophetess because she walked out like a moron. They laughed and clapped for the prophetess who dismissed them and asked them to return the next day.

When Victor picked his mother ’s wrapper and went home that day after apologising to the prophetess, she spoke with her mother at length.

“Mama, you see it was needless to do what you did. In fact, you disgraced me.

As it is now, I would not leave her, not now that she was getting ready to train me to be her assistant. I have not voiced it out to her that I would marry her. Though she had been telling me that she would never live to see me in another woman ’s arms. So right now, I ’m confused Mama. This is not what we would do forcefully. Things would normalise on its own, okay! ” His mother didn ’t answer him. She knew that her son was already trapped by Happiness ’ magical powers.

•Readers, do you think Victor Kenneth knows what he is doing? What ’s your opinion on his relationship with his Prophetess lover?

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

From the Pulpit

Sunday September 27, 2015

41

Let God take control of your affairs

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any people want to take care of themselves and want to do their own wish instead of allowing God who created them, who is protecting them, guiding them, and providing for them to direct their lives. Some people do not give God the opportunity to take control of their affairs. These people always fail to seek for what are in tune with their destiny. Consequently they opt for what could cause downfall or untimely death for them. Brethren, I implore you to be patient to receive what you deserve from God. Some people embark on or do something which they are not destined to do and they do these things but they like doing them.

For instance someone is not destined or supposed to wear red coloured clothes, he or she continues wearing it because he or she loves it, or sees people wearing it and find it befitting and want to imitate those that are wearing it. These people fail to inquire from their creators. In the same manner people at particular age brackets eat foods, take drinks that are injurious to their body system.

They take these foods and drinks because they are sweet and palatable whereas these foods and drinks cause sickness that can lead to untimely death. Why is it that people do not like truth? People do not allow God to direct and control the journey of their life. It is their own will that they allow to prevail. This has led to downfall of people and disaster for some people. For instance, some people do not permit God to choose the kind of spouse they want for them. In the long run they make wrong choice which may destroy their marital life. Prospective wives look for men that are very handsome and rich believing they will be loving and caring. In the same vein, prospective husbands look for spinsters

General Overseer of Omnipotence Mission of God, Prophet Joshua Daramola Oloruntimilehin, in this admonition, advises that God should take care of your affairs. Excerpts:

that are pretty, light-complexioned and with good body statistics. Both prospective husbands and wives do not ask God the kind of would-be spouse to marry.

A man may be destined to marry a lady with tribal mark on her face but eventually wed a lady with spotless and smooth face whom may be attractive to other men that are rich, wealthy and powerful than the husband.

Any of these men may be interested and want to have the woman, and then he starts plotting how to achieve his desire. He can employ any method either to charm the woman to love him or eliminate the husband. The elimination can be through assassination or placing ‘thunderbolt’ on the woman so that when the husband makes love to her he will die. But if the husband initially marries the lady with tribal mark, she would not be attractive to men; the couple would live their life devoid of trouble end external aggressors. Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us how to pray i.e.The Lord’s Prayer Matthew 6 vs10 ‘………your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’.

The question is who is doing the will of God? Some people are destined to do the will of God by winning souls for God instead they seek for money throughout their life which they do not get. Parents are created to nurture their children to a level where the children become prosper and responsible in the society but some parents neglect their children in pursuit of their own business or work thereby the principalities of this world to snatch the children’s glory. Eventually the children

Prophet Oloruntimilehin

become useless, not-well-to-do so when the parent grow old and retires, the children will be able to cater for the parent. Jesus Christ always involves God in whatever he wanted to do.

When he wanted to raise up Lazarus from the dead, he firstly acknowledged God performed the miracle. John 11 vs 41 ‘………..

Father, I thank you that you have heard me, I knew that you always hear me……..’

Brethren, invite God into your work, family

‘God’s time to take over’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24 and who shall let it” (Isaiah 40:13). Nobody can stop Him from taking over your matter and no demon, sickness, disease, poverty, physical or spiritual affliction of any kind can hinder Him. So you should be in expectation to recover everything your enemy has stolen from you and your family, everything must be recovered.

Mtt. 15: 13 says, “But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up” The garden and temple of the Lord which is your life shall be cleared of weeds.

Whatsoever is not planted of by our heavenly Father, the great Husbandman shall be rooted up. All the encumbrances, including the accursed things in the garden of your life shall be purged because it is God’s time to take over His garden and restore its dignity and flavor. All the while, the seed of God which you represent has been covered by weeds which have hindered hitherto its growth and progress but power must change hand today, every plant not planted by the Owner shall be uprooted.

Devil may have been rejoicing because he thought he has buried you in the grave of poverty, sickness, pain, disappointment, confusion, sin or occultism but little did he

know that you are a seed of God Almighty and that wherever you are buried you can germinate. God can turn any situation to good soil for His seed to sprout. A seed cannot become a tree except it dies and when it dies; it will grow and become a mighty tree. Do you see yourself; you shall come out strongly from that sickness, from that poverty, disappointment, demotion, etc and shall be what God wants you to be. The purpose of your creation shall be actualized in Jesus name.

In Luke 19:10 says, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

I want to let you know that man’s condition is a lost condition, and every unregenerate man is a lost man, because in his original nature he has lost his God, his soul, happiness, liberty, Excellency, gaiety and grace. However, the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ has brought succor and salvation to man. His manifestation has restored all that man lost. Whatever you have lost is coming back to you, just be in expectation for God Almighty will take over your entire problem. What you are expected to do now is to align yourself with the Saviour so it shall be well with you, so that your lost glory shall be restored. The great errand that Christ came into the world upon was to seek and to save lost sinners: this He has

done by His blood, word, and by His Spirit.

Mtt. 11:28 says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Today, as you come in expectation, as you come with that load, the Lord will take over it. Why are you toiling and creating burden for yourself while you have somebody who has offered to take over your trouble. Do you not know that as you are carrying the heavy load which nature has laid upon your head, every step you take reduces your strength and renders the load more oppressive? This message is meant among other things to design action plan for your escape. So, if you are a sinner, wearied in iniquity, through this message you are invited to come to Christ and find relief. If you are burdened with the guilt of your crime and thinking you may not be forgiven, God is inviting you now to partake in the benefit of His sacrifice and receive pardon cum mercy. If you are a believer and feel the enemy is pressing you into temptation by intimidating your carnal mind, God is inviting you through this message to appeal to the precious blood of Jesus Christ that was shed for you and have it cleanses you from all unrighteousness and powerfully secured you in every temptation.

So, all are invited to come, and all are promised rest, therefore come.

so that he can direct, and guide in His own way. Do not allow your will to prevail over that of the Lord.

Even Jesus never allowed his own will to prevail over that of God. Matthew 26 vs 39 ‘…….. My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as your will…’ Finally all the things people do, do they do them in the way of the Lord? If not, that is why they always fall sick, lack many things. Let the will of God prevail in our life.

1 Peter 5:7 says, “Casting all your cares upon for He careth for you.”

God shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. So, cast your entire burden upon Him and I am assuring you He will sustain you. If you have lose your job, friend or properties or you are sick, under heavy trails by the enemy, or you feel you have no strength and are in danger of being crushed by what the devil laid upon you, God is calling you to cast that burden upon Him, for He cares for you.

I don’t know the problem you are going through, one thing that is very certain is that all your problems shall be no more in Jesus name. Remember the Bible said concerning Jesus, that He healed them all and also it said that He healed them there. I am confident He will heal you all and He will heal you here and you shall go rejoicing in Jesus name. So I want you to bid your problems bye –bye, bid that enemy terrorizing you bye-bye, including that affliction, cancer, barrenness and that crisis in your marriage, because after today, you will see them no more. I do not know how many years, you have been in that trouble neither do I know who may have afflicted you or who may have been battling to destroy your life, but look at them for the last time. There is nothing to fear again, God who is coming to take over all the problems is greater than all.

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From the Pulpit Learn with Kunle

Macaulay

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Email: profkunlemacaulay@ yahoo.com (08023032698, sms pls)

igeria is at a stage where many people are afraid to speak the truth, not because President Muhammadu Buhari is a terror but because people do not want to offend him as he is considered a well disciplined and honest leader who has a large image and respected by many Nigerians and international communities of the world.

What we should consider is that the President of this nation took over from a government that had no clear vision and there are many things to put right first before implementing his programmes. He has just spent only four months which is 1/12th or 8.3percent of his period in office.

I believe it is too early to assess his worth in office. We should not forget that this same man was a disciplined military officer who became a State governor, a military head of State and a minister and came out with clean hands. He has demonstrated that he is not after material wealth.

It is true that President Buhari is from the Northern part of Nigeria but I need to remind you all that we all prayed to God to give us a leader of his choice that will bring about a change and if our prayer was answered, which it was, then God gave us President Buhari after we had been ruled by the biggest and largest political party in Africa that offered us nothing but suffering. How soon can we forget that he is a “Nigerian” given to us by God to lead us out of slavery, poverty, corruption, joblessness, starvation and insecurity of life and property? Cyrus was neither a Jew nor an

Desti Destiny Hour with Pastor Femi

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ut when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

Matthew 9:36-38 Welcome to a new week in the name of Jesus. Last week we started a title on Kingdom harvest and looking at the passage above, we spoke at length on the place of the harvesters’ squad. We said in particular that these people are those who actually go out to in one way or another (directly or indirectly) to speak the good news to perishing souls.

However, in the same passage above, apart from the harvesters’ squad, we also have a group of labourers called the Intercessors’ squad (Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest). Their responsibilities are multi-faceted, they function before the harvest, during the harvest and ensure the preservation of the harvest Intercessors’ responsibility before the harvest: The heartbeat of God at this dispensation

Sunday September 27, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

We cannot help speaking….

Israeli but God used him to set Israelites free from slavery. Thank God that President Buhari is a Nigerian, so, let us give him a chance to lead us right.

My concern is that he needs Nigerians not necessarily politicians in his cabinet but men and women with values who are not selfish and can contribute positively to the development of Nigeria. He should avoid recycling those who have contributed to the fall of this nation. Some long time politicians especially those who have served this nation in the past should voluntarily leave the stage now that the ovation is loudest and allow some young, dynamic and selfless men and women to take over. I know that Nigerians are not very patient but we must know that our President is not a magician. He needs time to study the present situations before applying his own methods. Let us give him more time and also continue to pray for his success.

We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard Acts 4:20. When Peter and John were instructed by the Sanhedrin – the leaders of Jews to stop preaching and healing in the name of Jesus, the reply of these bold men was simply ,’’We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard’’ Acts 4: 20. Some of us believe that it is our right to speak nothing but the truth. If Christianity is about preaching the Word of God and transforming humanity through the power of Holy Spirit and in the name of Jesus, then why the doctrinal rigidity of orthodox churches and the inconsistencies in the spirituality and teaching of many Christian groups in Nigeria. If Bible is the only book of all Christians, then the authority of the Bible should be strictly adhered to all the time.

As much as I know, there are three different types of interpretation of the Bible – literal, biblical and theological but today

we have special interpretations of the ‘’ founders’’ of some churches. Some historical aspects of the Bible have been given personal interpretations that some of our Christian leaders have suddenly become Moses, Joshua and Jeremiah of our time.

These leaders do not see the need to learn from the past history of some men and women of the Bible. Some still see their members as being in slavery in Egypt, some talk about some Christians crossing the Red Sea while some say that their members are still in the wilderness of life. A friend of mine hoists a red flag in front of his house and gives people the impression that sickness and poverty will pass over his building because of the presence of the red flag.

This is the teaching of the founder of his church. God once said ‘’ My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge’’ Hosea 4 : 6. This bible passage confirms here that ‘’ people of God’’ are destroyed because they’’ lack knowledge’’ of the truth. What we call ‘’ Church’’ – the people of God should show the world that Christianity is about holiness, righteousness and humility.

I am convinced that 70 per cent of the church leaders in Nigeria are not trained while 20 per cent of the remaining 30 per cent are corrupted as they compromise with the world and the last 10 percent are struggling to keep the Word going. What is Christianity about? It is not attending a ‘’particular’’ church, regular payment of tithes but confession of sins, acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and living according to the will of God through the presence of the Holy Spirit in every believer. I am not condemning the gathering of believers but it must be a gathering that is ‘’ unto the Lord’’, not one that is deceitful, sentimental and spiritually- destructive. Christians should also study the Bible

always and live by it.

Media is the last hope of Nigerians to get correct information about the activities of the government. The conflicting reports about insurgency in some national newspapers are disturbing. While a report confirmed that insurgency will end in eight weeks’ time, another reported that the Federal Government of Nigeria is giving conditions to negotiate with Boko Haram. If the report of amnesty and negotiation is true, then it is disturbing and heart- breaking that a criminal group that had slaughtered numberless Nigerians, burnt down many houses that made millions of people homeless and turned many children, orphans will sit down with the government of a military tactician that has promised total overall defeat of insurgency. Media is respected in the country that people do not only rush to buy newspapers every morning, they also tune their radio set to hear news. Anything from media must be informative, educative and authentic.

Mama is gone The matriarch of Awolowo dynasty, Chief Hannah Idowu Awolowo has passed on to glory. A woman who stood by her husband Chief Obafemi Awolowo during his political sojourn on earth and who continued to maintain what her husband stood for during his life time deserves kudos.

At 99, she will be remembered for her contributions to the development of Nigeria and especially Yorubaland. Her life reminds many of us that we are created not for selfish life but to affect humanity. May her soul rest in perfect peace.

•Prof. Kunle Macaulay is the Director of Studies of United Bible University, Lagos. Phone: 0802 – 303 – 2698; email : profkunlemacaulay@yahoo.com; Twitter. com/Kunle Macaulay1

Kingdom harvest 2- the intercessors’ squad is the salvation of souls that are perishing.

We said last week that the true definition of wisdom in the kingdom is to be about the Father’s business and snatch souls from hell.

When you do this, you enter the covenant of Matthew 6:33, you begin to seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and then the harvest of all the other things that people are dying to get can come to you.

However, praying that the Lord of the harvest should send forth labourers is a crucial responsibility because: 1.

God’s people have been seduced by the flashy things of this world and they are chasing after the world and its lusts. Because the lusts of the world are quite enormous, God’s children are never tired of chasing after one achievement after another. Hence, the primary responsibility of saving souls has been relegated to the background. Therefore, prayer helps to re-focus the energy, awareness and passion of the Church to the heartbeat of the Groom which is the salvation of perishing souls. Intercessors’ squad must pray that the heart of God’s people will return to their first love in order to see revival. When labourers are at their job and souls are saved then your reward and harvest will come.

2.

Also, the labourers have the impression that the harvest is not ready, John 4:35; “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest ‘? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest”. The people of God keeps procrastinating the harvest when God is ready. The people of God thinks a man’s readiness for salvation can be measured by his eagerness to listen to you. No! A

man’s readiness to salvation is a function of the convicting power of the Holy Ghost and that brings me to the next responsibility of the intercessors’ squad.

Intercessors’ responsibility bduring the harvest: Intercessors’ squad must pray that the convicting power of the Holy Ghost will bring in the harvest once the harvesters’ squad begins to work. Why? The gospel of Christ and the way of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. The unbeliever, the un-redeemed cannot discern what we say, he cannot see it when you weep and tell him/ her that hell is real.

The unbelieving laughs at testimonies, discards dreams and jeer at near death experiences. He/she doubts proofs and can hardly believe that Jesus can save.

The work of the intercessors’ squad is to pray that the convicting power of the Holy Ghost will penetrate the stony and unbelieving mind of the un-regenerated. Let me make a quick illustration.

The Bible says a child of God has the mind of Christ according to 1 Corinthians 2:16.

It is this mind that makes it possible for us through the Spirit of God who resides in our living spirit to understand and comprehend the scriptures, righteousness, morality and many other issues.

The absence of the Spirit of God to influence the mind of the un-regenerated man makes it impossible for anything spiritual to get across to him because only a spirit can discern the things of the Spirit. But the Spirit of God has the special ability to convict souls and hearts of sin even when their spirit men

are still dead.

Acts 2:37 tells us t after the infilling of the Holy Ghost, the people’s heart pricked them when Peter spoke and they asked what to do.

This was only possible after Pentecost not before. Therefore, intercessors must rise and pray for the convicting power of God if we intend to see more souls saved and secured in this end time.

The harvesters’ squad open their mouths to speak, share tracts and many other things but none of these things can save a single soul or convict any of sin, and only the Holy Spirit at work in a sinful heart can convict that heart of sin and unrighteousness. The same Holy Ghost can now come in after true repentance to ensure that the discerning mind of God is at work in every believer.

Doing all these brings in the harvest into the Kingdom and once the harvest begins to come in the labourer is worthy of his wages, therefore, your own harvest as an intercessor begins to stream in. The final responsibility of the intercessors’’ squad is the preservation of the harvest and we shall discuss this next week. But let me charge you now to make a commitment to God to become a part of the intercessors’ squad today and God will definitely reward in the open what you are doing in the secret in Jesus name. Amen.

Stay blessed.

•For further prayer & counseling, Please contact: Pastor Femi Lanre-Oke, Jesus Praise Evangelical Ministries International, Plot A22 Power Crescent, Arab road, Kubwa. Abuja, +2348030752799, +2348053695097, Email: femi_lanre01@yahoo.co.uk

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Sunday September 27, 2015

Born to die

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n continuation of our last week’s topic: I hereby submit as a recap that biblical prophecies about Jesus

point to His suffering and death as His destiny. The only begotten Son of God was born to die. His death was the only surety of our eternal life. He was born to die a voluntary, substitutionary death for mankind (Gen 3:15; Isa 53:5, 6, 11; Dan 9:26; Matt 20:28; John 10:11; 1 Cor 15:3; Gal 2:20).

In continuation of our discussion on the above topic, below are some of the scriptures which agree with the predictions that the Messiah was “born to die”: (9). He was born to be pierced in hands and feet (Psalm 22:16; Zech 12:10). This was the prophetic evidence sought by doubting Thomas when He got the news of Christ’s resurrection from His fellow disciples; and Jesus did not slack in revealing it! (John 20:25-29).

These scars will shine with eternal glory in the earth made new. Jesus would boast with them in glory: “and one will say to him, ‘what are these wounds between your arms?’

Then He will answer, ‘those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends’” (Zech 13:6-7; see Isa 22:23;

Mark 14:27; John 19:34; Rev 1:7).

However, as predicted, His bones were not broken (Exod 12:46; Num 9:12; Ps 34:20 see John 19:36).

(10). He was born to be crucified with thieves. He was “numbered with the transgressors” (Isa 53:9, 12; Mark 15:2728; Luke 22:37; 23:39-43) even though He knew no sin, neither was any guile found in Him (1 Peter 2:22).

(11). He was born to pray for His persecutors (Psalm 109:14). “He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isa 53:12).

That was why Jesus could sincerely and vehemently pray for those who crucified Him: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:34). (12) His garment was gambled for by soldiers as predicted in Psalm 22:18 and fulfilled in John 19:2324. The only earthly possession He had was the cloth on His back. He became poor so that we might be rich through His poverty (2 Cor 8:9). He who owns all things gave up all things and became nothing that we might become something.

(13). He was born to be deserted by God. He cried out: “My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1; Matt 27:46).

Even the sun could not afford to behold its Creator: the Sun of Righteousness being tortured on the cross! The sun hid Jesus for a while on that cross from a gaping crowd by darkness covering all the land for about three (3) hours (See Amos 8:9; Ps 22:2; Matt 27:45). Yet,

He committed Himself to God (Psalm 22:20; 31:5). He resigned to God totally: “Into your hand I commit my spirit” (Matt 27:43; Luke 23:46).

(14). He was born to agonize with thirst at His death (Ps 22:5; 69:3, 21).

He was offered vinegar for his thirst on the cross (John 19:28; Matt 27:34, 48).

(15). He was born to be buried with the rich at His death (Isaiah 53:9; see Matt 27:57-61). Even at His lowest point on earth, Jesus remains the “High and lifted up”. Though crucified stark naked, He clothes the lilies of the field and gives all creatures their meat in due season with no need for worry. When He appeared the weakest and most vulnerable, He lost no virtue as the Almighty Omnipotent Potentate. When humanity died, divinity never winked a moment!

Christ’s birth and life demand our humble contemplation.

“Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up in due season” (1 Peter 5:6; James 4:10). “Let this mind be in you as it was in Christ Jesus” (Phil 2:5-8).

“For all those who exalt themselves shall be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Luke 14:11; 18:14). The higher your status or state in life, the lowlier you are supposed to be. Do not get too big for heaven’s blessings. God hates the proud. You and I are also born to die. The art of being born again is a process of the death of the old life and the birth of a new man in Christ Jesus (John 3:7). “You are dead and the life you live now is in Christ Je-

sus” (Gal 2:20). Paul says “I die daily” (1 Cor 15:31). Jesus said it is in losing your life that you find it (Matt 10:39; 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24; 17:33). “Except a corn of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone: but after it dies, it brings forth much fruit. He that loves his life shall lose it and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal” (John 12:25).

I challenge you to die to self, sin, and the pleasures of this world. Die to pride; overeating; and the desires of the flesh!

Make your life a living sacrifice to God (Rom 12:1).

Embrace a life of sacrifice. Your life is a gift from God to you. In turn, you must give your life back to Him. Don’t struggle for control. Don’t take it back.

Just give it to Him who knows your end from the beginning and you will surely gain it back. With God, it is a win-win situation. Men may use men and dump them, but God lifts whoever surrenders to him/her beyond their wildest imagination. Don’t struggle for control with God! Just give Him your life totally and you will be the blessed most profoundly.

He was born to die so you can live in Him. Accept Him and stay on course therefore. May God bless and keep you as you do so in Jesus’ name!

•Tunde Ojewole, PhD, is the Babcock University Pastor in charge: Division of Spiritual Life. Get a copy of his book: GOD’S FOOTPRINTS for more. For enquiries, contact: ojewolea@babcock.edu.ng or call/SMS

Church leadership success: Clean the mirror image The Shepherd with Pastor Akinyele

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eadership in the Secular and the Spiritual is extremely vital to growth and development. We don’t need to go far to appreciate what good or bad leadership can do in the life of a people. Nigeria remains a typical example.

In the Church of God leadership is not just about management of the human and material resources it is more about leading as many as possible to Christ Jesus. The first step to becoming an effective leader is to look in the mirror. Master the art of leading yourself and you will lay the foundation for helping others to do the same.

How do you lead yourself ? By becoming more commanding so that you can bend the will of others to your own?

Work on your Charisma so that you can inspire others to do what you want? Develop the ability to identify what people want and provide it for them as an incentive to comply? Learn how to uncover the shortcomings of others and berate them for their failures? All the above may work for a short while but they are not foundations for effective leadership. Jesus said in Matthew 7:3-6 3.Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? 4. Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the

log is in your own eye? 5. You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye. NRSV What Jesus is saying is that as Leaders, we need a careful self examination of ourselves and a sincere willingness to seek ways of improving ourselves as a sure way of providing a foundation for effective leadership. When we don’t engage in this honest self evaluation and corrective process, we set ourselves up for doing more harm than good as Leaders. In summary: To become an effective leader for others first learn to lead yourself. Mark 9: 33-35. “Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34 But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. 35 He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” NRSV (The Last indeed shall be first) Optimal leadership requires that we keep our insides, that is, our self-leadership heart as well as our outsides clean.

Mark 7: 18-23 -18. “He said to them, “Then do you also fail to understand? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile, 19 since it enters, not the heart but the stomach, and goes out into the sewer?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20 And he said, “It is what comes out of a person that defiles. 21 For it is from within, from the human heart,

that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, 22. adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” NRSV Transcending worry can unleash the vitality and strength that leaders need to lead themselves and others. In Matthew 6: 25-29 and 34, Jesus said: 25.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26. Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27. And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 28. And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29. yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these… 34. “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today. NRSV True leaders act with integrity and expect their followers to do the same. It is therefore important for leaders to commit themselves to Ethical Behaviour at all times. Luke 20:2026. 20 “So they watched him and sent spies who pretended to be honest, in order to trap him by what he said, so as to hand him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor. 21 So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and

teach, and you show deference to no one, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. 22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” 23 But he perceived their craftiness and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose head and whose title does it bear?” They said, “The emperor’s.” 25 He said to them, “Then give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 26 And they were not able in the presence of the people to trap him by what he said; and being amazed by his answer, they became silent.” NRSV Effective leaders let their light serve as a beacon that lead followers to their own best light. This is a tremendous responsibility.

Acting in short sighted, self-serving, unethical ways will surely sabotage any attempt at positive leadership. Jesus said in Matt 5:13-17. 13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. NRSV •Apostle Pastor Akinyele Aluko is the Shepherd of the English Service Chapel, Cherubim & Seraphim Movement Church, Surulere Sub-Headquarters, Ayo Ni O.e-mail: eyealuko2002@yahoo. co.uk, 08050463889.

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From the Pulpit

Sunday September 27, 2015

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Engaging the spirit of faith to fulfil divine plan! (2) T The voice of wisdom o

with Dr. David

Oyedepo

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ast week, we began this teaching with the understating that God has great and enviable plans for us, but it takes the operation of the Spirit of faith to actualize them. We also examine what the spirit of faith can do and what it would take to maintain its manifestations. This week, we shall examine what impartation is and the channels through which God imparts and empower us to fulfill His plans and purposes for our lives.

What is Impartation?

• Impartation is the tangible transmission of virtue through an anointed vessel. For instance, the woman with the issue of blood was imparted through the anointing upon Christ. As she touched the hem of His garment, the Bible records that she was made whole, and Jesus said, “Virtue has gone out of Me” (Luke 8:43-46).

• It is also the release of spiritual gifts from anointed vessels to others: It is important for us to understand that every apostolic grace is transferrable, and every true prophet is a carrier of this transferrable grace. Paul said: For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established (Romans 1:11; see also Philippians

Priesthood House with Pastor Bola

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Bello

“ esus answered Nicodemus, verily, verily, I say

unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (Jhn. 3:5). The concept of Salvation and conversion looks so identical, yet they are fundamentally different. Hence, we need to begin this study of the circumcision of believers with a brief explanation on the principle of salvation and conversion.

This is to enable you to revisit your salvation experience and draw a line between your conversion and your day to day journey of salvation. Every man is born of the flesh, only those that are in Christ are born of the Spirit. “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:, old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”(2 Cor. 5:17). A new creature is not a refurbished person. He is entirely new; hence his past is inconsequential with his new status. However, it becomes vain for a man to profess affinity with Christ, when he is unaffected with the new birth.

“To be in Christ” is a strong word and it denotes being established in the life of Christ or having a heartfelt relationship with Christ.

To be in Christ is to be begotten unto Christ. It is to be wholly rooted and grounded in Christlikeness. Therefore, being born again is more than a mouth confession of Jesus’ Lordship but it is a lifestyle that portrays the Lordship of Jesus over one’s life. Many people believe that once they confess that Jesus is Lord, they are born again. Yes to a certain extent, but the truth is that, it is the beginning of a journey to salvation. “For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth con-

1:7).

What are the Channels of Impartation in scriptures?

• Through the Word: Words are the most valuable assets in the race of life. As it is written: The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel (Isaiah 9:8; see also Luke 5:17).

For instance, in March 1984, the Lord sent a Word into my life concerning Church growth. Today, that Word is speaking across the nations of the earth. Also, He sent another Word on the prosperity of the Church on September 4, 1987 and it still speaks louder by the day.

• Through prophecies: Prophetic words have an unusual entrance into us. It is sent to impart our lives with prophetic virtues and set us upon our feet (1 Timothy 4:14, Ezekiel 2:2).

• Laying-on of hands: Through this channel, hands are laid on us for blessings and release of gifts, among others (Habakkuk 3:4, Acts 19:1-6).

• Through the prophetic mantle: A mantle is any material that came in contact with a prophet or from a prophet and it is a medium of transference of grace (2 Kings 2:814, Acts 19:11-12, Luke 8:40-48, Matthew 14:36).

What are the Virtues in a Mantle?

• It carries the spirit of the prophet: As it is written: And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets (1 Corinthians 14:32).

Through the mystery of the mantle, God transmits the spirit of the prophet to set free the captives. For instance, the spirit of Elijah was in his mantle and when Elisha said,

“Where is the Lord God of Elijah,” then the spirit of Elijah answered and the water parted (2 Kings 2:8-14).

• It also carries the anointing upon the prophet: The anointing upon the prophet, which is in the mantle that comes from him, enables us to manifest at the same frequency with that prophet. When Jesus was on earth, His garment was flowing with the anointing upon His life, and everyone that touched Him were made perfectly whole (Psalm 45:6-8, 133:13; Matthew 9:20-22; 14:34-36).

Therefore, when we hold a prophetic mantle with the understanding that it carries these two virtues, then we experience the miraculous in our lives.

But for the mantle to deliver, we must: • Believe the word concerning the prophetic mantle: If we don’t believe in it, we cannot partake of the virtues in it (Hebrews 4:2, 2 Corinthians 11:3, Matthew 9:20-22; 14:34-36).

• Believe in the person and ministry of the prophet concerned: For instance, Jesus could not impart upon them in Nazareth, because they wouldn’t believe in Him and He marvelled at their unbelief (Mark 6:4-6, Matthew 10:41, 2 Chronicles 20:20).

• Maintain a right heart: As it is written, Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men (Isaiah 29:13; see also Mark 6:4).

Remember, every plan and purpose of God thrives on faith. But, we must understand that

faith is no cheap talk; faith is hard work. Any faith that makes God absolutely responsible for the outcome of our lives is an irresponsible faith. We must also understand that our part is non-negotiable and it must be played before the deal can be delivered.

Thus, we don’t just receive the Spirit of faith; we must stir it up, nurture, build and keep it alive in order to birth our testimonies.

Let us therefore labour to enter into the rest that faith offers. Today marks the dawn of a new day for you in Jesus’ name!

Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord? If you haven’t, you can do so as you say this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood.

Deliver me from sin and Satan to serve the Living God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!” For further reading, please get my books: The Law Of Faith, Exploits Of Faith, All You Need To Have All Your Needs Met, Miracle seed and The Force Of Freedom. I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have five services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:35 a.m., 9:10 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 12:20 p.m. respectively.

•I know this teaching has blessed you.

Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 7747546-8; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww. org

Church as God designed it – Circumcision of believers (2) fession is made unto salvation, (Rom. 10:10).

The word “unto salvation or unto righteousness” is a statement of a daily journey to salvation. Confession does not bring you to the end of the salvation of your soul, but it affirms you a ticket for that trip.

Your righteousness before God as a believer is obtained through confession of Jesus as Lord, but the salvation of your soul is an act of daily walk and daily communion with Christ.

What Nicodemus lacked was the righteousness that is obtained through the confession of the Lordship of Christ. Yes, Nicodemus kept the Law of Moses, but needed more than the Law of Moses for salvation.

The principles of salvation are not through the keeping of the Law of Moses alone, but most importantly through obedience to the law of the Spirit. Though salvation is a product of grace; yet, grace has its own perfect work.

This is very technical but it could be understood. Paul in his sermon to Romans warned the Church thus; “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein (Rom 5:1b)? Grace is an enabler which makes a person to embrace what is right and gives a person the capacity to walk therein. What grace does is to empower individual to walk against sin. Grace is the mercy of God in its simplest form which draws men to Christ.

Grace in its strongest term empowers us to sustain relationship with Christ through the obedience to faith. Grace is circumstantially a tool for mortal man to become a Spirit-led man.

The evidence of grace in man is proved by the lifestyles. Grace should not be reduced to owning things alone; grace is more powerful than that. Nicodemus owned things yet deficient of

grace for salvation.

“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Rom 5:2). There are two privileges of grace which we must access.

The first is the privilege to access Christ and experience salvation. This is the first deposit of grace and it is a token of salvation experience but not exclusive on its own. Though this privilege is accessible to all men but most people ignore this grace because of the wisdom of the world. The gospel of Christ is the power and wisdom of God to save humanity (Rom. 1:16). However, man professes his folly through the ignorance of God’s wisdom and claim justification through his own efforts.

This happens when an individual ignore the grace made available for salvation. The story of Nicodemus is an example for all men in this category. Nicodemus was morally ok but needed the “righteousness” accepted to God before he could be saved. He needed to access the first token of salvation which is to confess Christ. This is also applicable to many who profess Christ or confess Christ yet walking disorderly to what they professed. Professing Christ should bring you to Christ life and obedience.

There is hope in Christ life for man. Christ life makes you a spirit led person. The hope of experiencing the glory of God by man is when he becomes a spirit led person. “That which is born of the Spirit is Spirit and that which is born of the flesh is flesh (Jn. 3:6). To be born of the flesh is to be prone to death, and to be born of the Spirit is to obtain eternity. Death is not cessation of human existence, for every soul lives eternally either with God

or with Satan. Death is when a man continues to live perpetually in sin without turning to life which is in Christ Jesus. Human flesh is prone to sin. The flesh of man craves for sin on daily basis. Flesh is a great warrior.

He daily strives against man to conquer man and to lure man to its whims and caprices.

Man with own efforts, cannot overcome flesh except he access the grace of God in Christ Jesus. What grace does for man is to crucify flesh. Crucifixion is the circumcision of heart or bringing flesh to death so that flesh does not have dominion over man. A circumcised man is a gracious man.

This is a man who lives differently from others. He does not hear the voice of the flesh but that of the Spirit. He is entirely born again with a new nature. Circumcision is not a Jew rite, but the instructions of God to Patriarchs.

“For he that is dead in flesh is free from sin” (Rom 6:7). As a dead man does not have capacity to commit sin so is a Saint who is circumcised in his flesh. Paul admonished the Church to reckon self as being dead indeed in the flesh for he that is dead does not have power to sin.

It however requires grace to access this.

We shall continue in this journey of circumcision next week. Please do follow us as we maintain to discuss this important law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. I ask the Lord of glory to prosper your soul and to enrich you greatly with His heavenly treasures. Do join us to worship together at Power and Glory Tabernacle, Futa South Gate, beside Solab Hotel, along Futa Road, Akure.

•Pastor Bola Bello – The Priesthood House, bolabelo@gmail.com 08033704564

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Determination (1)

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etermination is an art of coming to a strong decision about something.

It is a quality of having an unwavering decision on a matter even in the face of so much opposition. Determination is the bridge that connects our dreams to reality. Every dream that will come to fulfilment must cross this bridge. A lot of people still find themselves in the dream land because they still refuse to cross this bridge. A lot of things will happen to discourage you from achieving your dreams in life but you must determine not to give up until you get and become what God desire for you.

Joshua was charged by the Lord to be strong and courageous, I believe this is another way God was telling Joshua to be determined or else he will not get to the promise land. As we can see many who left Egypt couldn’t make it the promise land because they easily gave in to the factors of oppositions on their way. That God has promised you something does not mean that you will get itby folding arms. God promised the children of Israel the Canaan land but they still have to fight to possess what has been given to them by God. Every great accomplishment comes on the platform of determination. When there is no determination the story of a man remains the same. Determination is the bedrock of every success. There is a difference between wishes and determination, someone can wish for something but when steps of determinations are

The Bride’s voice with Pastor Moses

Alu

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From the Pulpit

Sunday September 27, 2015

n Bride Assembly, if we catch you as a homosexual, we will bind you physically and take you to Yaba Psychiatric Hospital!

In Rom. 1:18, Apostle Paul caught the picture of how man has degenerated. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” He explains what he means by holding the truth in unrighteousness in verse 19-25. “Because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.

20. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21. because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

22. Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23. and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man and birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things.

In some places in India, they will not eat cow because they worship cow. Some worship other animals as their gods. You can imagine a god that is eaten! Verse 24-25. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25. who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.

Bishop Opayinka

not added, whatsoever we wish for cannot be achieved.

Languages of determination include: (i) I can move forward (ii) I can do it (iii) I will achieve it It takes determination to serve God, move forward and carry God’s power.

It takes determination for a man called Peter to move forward in life. After failing Jesus on a number of occasions, but refused to be discouraged. It is not only prayer that takes you out of problems; prayer may bring revelation and light but it takes determination to end your troubles and problems. Renew your determination every day because it makes you remain focus. If you are not determined you cannot buy a car, build a house, get married or achieve success in your physical project. Luke 5: 4-6, Peter was determined to abide by Jesus word, until you are determined to abide

by Jesus’s word breakthrough cannot

come. If the bridge of determination in your life breaks, you will never move forward. When you are determined you will surely have a result(Mk 9:28-29). There is a price to pay for every good thing in life, even prayer takes determination because no one moves higher in life without the input of a supernatural force, so you see it takes determination to move forward in journey of life. Luke 15:15-20, this story is a lesson of determination to everyone. It takes determination to stop committing sin;miracle will never come to an undetermined person but to those that have determined in their heart to pay the price. We need determination to cross the bridge to success, you need determination to stop coming late to church. Many are lagging behind because they lack determination and they say God is not answering their prayers.

Anything you need in life required steps and determination to take those steps, bring realisation of our dreams.Every man is a door to his own achievement, the password to your miracle is in your hand and that password is “I can do it” Principles of Determination (i) Be Focused A determined person is focused man or woman who will not mind the mockery of discouragers, the oppositions of challengers but the end result. Jesus was a perfect example of this principle of determination. Hebrews 12: 2 says looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of

our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is et down at the right hand of the throne of God. Jesus was determined to reach the end and obtain the joy that he has seen already. A determined man or woman doesn’t see what others are seen; others may see failure because of the factual circumstances surrounding you, but you are looking beyond the fact of the circumstances around you. Others may be seen cross and shame but Jesus was seen path to joy and glory. What you see in your situation will go a long way to help or destroy your determination to achieve success. (ii) Be a man of your own word Another principle of determination is found in people who can keep their words. If a person cannot keep his/her word, determination on a matter will be a serious problem. Elisha was another man that exemplified this principle. He was discouraged by his own master and colleagues, but refused to back down from what he has said: to follow Elijah to the end.

Continued next week See you next week as we journey to the throne together. Bishop Joshua KolawoleOpayinka is the presiding Bishop of Glorious Tabernacle International located Behind Ondo State Cultural Centre, Akure, Ondo State capital. Share your testimonies and prayer points with me at: O8060297831 joshuakolawoleo@yahoo. com

Homosexuality: An abomination (5) Amen.

When you take a wood that has been created

by God, carve and paint it and then begin to worship it more than the creator of that wood, is it not foolishness?

Verse 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.

Vile affection here is when a woman will look at another woman and begin to have sexual feelings. It is truly affection but it is wild. It is the same thing with a man that will be sexually attracted to a fellow man. It is vile! You want to hold and kiss him or fondle him. And since he also has a hole, you want to enter that hole too! Can you imagine where a man will derive pleasure from! The Bible calls it vile affection; a crazy affection! It is not human because God did not create anyone that way. He didn’t create a man to have sexual affection towards his fellow man. And in most cases, a man becomes so protective of another man that he won’t allow any woman to come near him. And for the homosexual, no matter how beautiful a woman is, let that woman come naked to him, he will have no feelings for that woman. But when he sees another man, his feeling will be aroused.

This is more of a psychiatric case because God purposely created a woman to be attractive to a man. That is why her physique is different from that of a man. A man’s body is filled with bones and muscles. A woman gets attracted to this because it is a symbol of protection. A woman needs protection and when she sees a man with muscle, she feels secured around him. It is not for sex but for protection.

The woman is made pretty to attract the man so that you can fulfill the law of procreation.

The woman is designed to satisfy the man in every way. When a man that is designed by God rejects what God has created for him and

begins to look elsewhere, it is a vile affection.

This affection gets to a point where a man will profess his love to another man to the extent of desiring to marry him. And they are saying it is their human rights. ‘This is the way I like to live my life’ they will tell you. You are like a mad man that is living and eating from a dunghill and people are saying you are mad but the man will tell them it is the way he wants to live his life. ‘I like to sleep in the dunghill. I am enjoying my life’. Truly, he is enjoying it but by a spirit. The same way, we that are not homosexuals know that you have a serious psychiatric problem. It is not normal. See what God says concerning it.

Verse 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.

There are some women that sleep with dogs. Some who don’t want to have children just surround themselves with pets like dogs and cats. And you dare not touch those pets because they will sue you. That is where their affection is.

We have animal right groups internationally. If you maltreat even your dog, they can take you to court and you can be jailed because to them, animals have the right to life.

Let us read verse 26-27 again. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.

27. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

The recompense is the incurable sicknesses prevalent in the world today. The anus is a waste canal and putting your private organ

there, what would you collect? Waste!

Verse 28. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; No conscience anymore! Verse 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evilmindedness; they are whisperers When we say fornication, it is the commonest sin. You are not married to a man; God did not ordain a man you are not married to have sex with you. It is only your husband that should have sex with you and it is for procreation. God gave women womb to fulfill his ordained purpose of being fruitful and replenish the earth. But what are women doing with their womb? They are taking contraceptives and if they mistakenly conceive, they abort.

Why? ‘I was not ready for the pregnancy’. You were not ready but you went to sleep with him!

The doctor then does what he wants and the reward is what we see now; all manner of things inside the reproductive system.

No animal has sex for pleasure! All of them have sex for procreation. God ordained it that way. You can’t see a dog having her puppies through caesarian. No matter how a male dog disturbs a female, if she is not on ‘heat’, the male does not even bother to come near her. But when she is on ‘heat’, she excretes some things that smells and even when a male dog is a kilometer away, it will perceive the smell. But it is only the humans that you will see the female hanging around hotels looking for men.

•Pastor Moses Alu; The Bride Assembly, Odofin Park Estate, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Ijesha Bus stop 08033524903 : Email: pastormosesalu@yahoo.com

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From the Pulpit Chapel of Holiness and Testimony with Pastor K. I.

Bona

Continued from topic 14 of last week

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ays are gone when problems and many human challenges are swept under the carpet, because of heresies and man-made doctrines, that were preached then. Countless number of Christians are today being re-oriented with the fact that palliative measures and teachings of what people want to hear cannot bring solution to stubborn problems. These days all over the world, the Holy Spirit has ignited Pentecostal fire in the heart of many believers which has stirred up to a great extent radical changes in the prayer life of many.

I believe enough is enough. I also believe that we are in for surprises, because God is prepaid to raise any person up from the dung hill, to a seat of honour to dine with prince and princess, provided such person is prepared to be aggressive in prayer to break the protocol. Dear child of God, how is your prayer life? Is it full of fluctuations, caused by weakness, laziness and excuses. Mark chapter 10:46-52. The Bible says “And they came to Jericho, and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people blind Bathimeaus, the son of Timeaus, sat by the high way side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, Jesus thou son of David have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace, but he cried the more a great deal. Thou son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. And they called the blind man, saying unto him, be of good comfort, rise he calleth thee. And he casting out his garment rose and came to Jesus. Jesus answered and said unto him. What will thou that I should do unto thee. The blind man said unto him, Lord that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said

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Sunday September 27, 2015

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Breaking the powers of evil family altar – The summary unto him go thy way thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way. As I had already said, no one can ever enjoy total life victory or breakthrough without applying some measures of force or violence on the field of battle. In the field of battle there is no gentleman. The only language soldiers understand in the battle field is move and attack. The word move is a function of force. It is not contested that God blesses, but the approach to receiving the blessing in something else. In the passage we read above, blind Barthimeaus received his sight from Jesus, but he fought for it. Through his aggression he was able to break the protocol. Remember, Bible said that Jesus stood still. That means Jesus was on a motion for another purpose, but because of the aggression and perseverance of the cry of blind Bathimeaus, Jesus had to suspend every other pressing matters to attend to him. That is breaking protocol. Dear child of God, could be the reason why your case has not been attended to by heaven is because you are comfortable being on the long queue. Today, why not rise up in holy anger and aggression to break the protocol, so that your testimony could come earlier than expected. Remain blessed. This is the end of this teaching on breaking the powers of evil family altar.

The mystery of polygamy This is another source of spiritual bondage that has ravaged a great number of people, worldwide. Cases of polygamy is more common within the black continent, than in the Western world. In the black continent, it is a major source of foundational bondage. This is because history has shown that seventy-seven percent of the spiritual problems of many people are traceable to foundational polygamy. Those, whose foundations are polygamous has a lot of both spiritual and physical battles waiting for them. However, it is highly disheartening that those who are held captives by the powers of foundational polygamy are not aware. They spend their prayers hours binding witches and wizards. While the rest would go about casting out spell, believing, they were spelled. The truth is that the demonic

powers attached to foundations polygamy operates through the genes. Those, who are attacked by the powers of foundational polygamy may not understand a) Why things are turning upside down for them b) Why they behave the way they do c) Why they cannot control their excesses d) Why they see themselves doing what they hate to do e) Why they cannot help themselves Powers of foundational polygamy are the architect of many causes of marriage divorce that has plunged so deep in our society today. God hate it with perfect hatred. It was not in the original plan of God. In the beginning God made them, man and woman. That a man should leave his own family and cleave to a woman in marriage union, thus forming the institution of marriage. As time progressed, because of lust and insatiability in man, God permitted marriage of more than one wife. Which is the origin of polygamy.

What is polygamy?

It is an act of marrying more than one wife.

Matthew 19:4-6 “And he answered and said unto them, have ye not read that he which made them at the beginning, made them male and female. And said, for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife and they twain shall be one flesh. Wherefore they are no more twain but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Here Jesus, re-emphasized that they were only made for each other. Two, which in marriage union become one flesh. He did not advocate polygamy. Polygamy was man’s desire not God’s desire. Many families are already broken, scattered and stolen become of the menace of the powers of polygamy. The power of polygamy has marine spirit origin. That means they came from water. Almost all idolatrous families are polygamous. Powers attached to foundational idolatry manipulated their worshipper to embrace polygamy.

Why is it a mystery?

The spirit of polygamy is a foreign spirit.

It was not there when God laid the foundation of institution of marriage on a holy ground.

That a man, should leave his father and mother to cleave to his own wife, and they shall be one flesh. The spirit of polygamy creped into families at the fall of the first man and woman on earth. In Genesis chapter 6:5 “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thought of his heart was only evil continually” When this spirit entered into the heart of man, the thought and imagination of man became corrupted against the holy ordinance of God. Before creation, heaven and earth had existed made by God. The Bible told us, that the entire earth was covered with water and was full of darkness. It was also void, and empty.

Prayer point Every seed of quarrel and divorce sown into my marriage by powers from my village river which is today shaking violently the foundation of the peace in my marriage be uprooted by fire in the name of Jesus.

Testimonies YOKE OF POVERTY BROKEN I joined this church, when things were very hard for me and my family. I had a house, it was uncompleted building. That was where I was living with my wife and family. Few months after joining this church I began to see the light of God in all did. My first son travelled outside the country. Today, God has actually broken the yoke of poverty in my life and family, you see I have built a new house and completed the one I was living before. God has also blessed me with a new jeep, praise the Lord!

Bro. Akebwe ADDRESS: Pastor Kingson I. Bona General Overseer Chapel of Holiness and Testimonies Ministries No. 6, David Egbetuyi street, Fagbile Estate, Ijegun-Ikotun, Lagos 08023404926, 08038206508 Website – wwwchapelofholiness.org

There is need to wipe out corruption

ow the earth was Corrupt in God’s Sight and was full of Violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways.”

Gen 6:11-13.

What is corruption? It is the act of corruption or impairing integrity Virtue or moral principles the state of being corrupted or debased; loss of purity or integrity; depravity wickedness; impurity; bribery.

You will agree with me that corruption is as old as the world itself. Corruption is also ubiquitous it is prevalent in every section of the society be it private or public until and unless this ubiquitous called corruption is trained and or wipe out in the family, church and the nation the chance of development will be a mirage.

Corruption emanates always from the top which is coupled by the followership that is why it is considered can regroup and it is difficult or impossible to tame it. When the nation of Israel left the Egypt on it way to the promised land it was the Levites who were changed with the responsibility of managing the tabernacle and alter that engaged in getting married to foreign woman can tarry to the injection herded down to them (Ezra 9:1-2) Various ways are devised to perpetuate corruption one of such is false weight. A motorist goes to the filling station to buy fuel he pay for 10 litre but seven litres or less is dispensed. A bag of cement or flour that is supposed to contain 50 kg as its contort in

most cases had less than 49 kilo.

A false balance is abomination to the lord; but a just weight is his eyesight. Proverbs 11-1.

Inferior quality material is sold as superior quality at a premium price In essence there is no Value for such good purchased. The effect of this malpractice to the buyer is repeated purchased there by leaving no room for him to purchase another good considered basic to his life. The fool hath said in his heart there is no god. They are corrupt they have done abominable work there is none that does good.

Psalm 14-1 There is no gain saying the fact that expensive cost of administration by the government which ch leave little or nothing for other social service vice has caused and is still causing unmold hard ship to the public. c. King Solomon in order to finance inance his buoyant life, increased ased tax at impunity, which h led the people to rebelled against Rehoboam when theirr plead for red chon on the burden n placed on them it was that rebellion lion that led to the split of his kingdom gdom into two; Northern kingdom and Southern kingdom.(1 kings 12:1-24) 24) Late payment yment of salary to workers has demoralizing ralizing effect on both the workers rs and the society at large. The worker can not feed eed their Primate I.O Oyelowo children nor

pay their school free which may force them to take bribe. Some may abandon their duty post to wok for something else to do thereby leaving the job undone which is not healthy for the nation. “For the woman is worthy of his bread. (Matthew 10:10, 2 Timothy 2:6)” Greed is the insatiable appetite to amass riches, and in the process, all sort of untoward act is employed to meet the morbid ambition For the greed people God advice that man should eat of the sweat of his labour is ignored (Gen 3:19) The scripture counsel in Hebrew 13:5 that man should be satisfied with what he has.

It is a known fact that in Nigeria of tobidder day justice goes to the highest bidd treatGod insists on fair tre petiment of both the pe defends tioned and defen may failure which m disaffection bring disaffecti and to the victim a use may force him to u power extra judicial pow to get justice. Surely opo pression makes a wise wi destroys man mad; a gift destro Ecclesiastes the heart. Ecclesiast 7:7(Exodus 23:8) What then is solution to this despicable probpro everybody lem everybo m u s t agree agr that th

he is and can not be exonerated from this monster called corruption? There is an adage that says that: the acknowledgement of one fault is the beginning of improvement All and sundry must agree that the deplorable situation in Nigeria must stop forth with. Why should ye be stricken any more?

Ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick and the whole heart faint.’’(Isaiah; 1:5; 1:6-7) Everybody must be ready and resolved that there must be a positive change in our beloved country, church and respective families. (Isaiah 1:16-19) If there is going to be corrupt free society the move has to come from the leadership.

Leadership is the foundation upon which a virile society, church is built on.

The foundation of the church was built on the confession of Peter. (Matthew 16:18-19; 1Cor 3:10-11, Psalm 11:12) Asa had the Courage to dethrone his mother as the Queen because of her Idolatory. (2 Chronicles 15:16) The nation cannot rise above its leader, ditto for the church. The current leadership in Nigeria should hold the monster (corruption) by the horn with a view to dismantle it. (Hagai 2:22) Corruption is the Kingdom of the heathen in the Country which must be pulled down. Till then, Shalom!

•You can contact us at: The Word of Life, Agbo Igbala Ti Kiish Aladura Church 70 Patey street Lagos State. Tel: 07040517413

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

From the Pulpit

Sunday September 27, 2015

Endtime Revelation with Bishop Bernard

Ojemeni (JP)

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he sin of unforgiveness is one sin that anybody who is heavenly minded must fight with the last pint of his or her blood. Having an unforgiving spirit spells a great doom to its victim. If you are a born-again child of God and you are still having unforgiving spirit, you are simply digging your grave.

This particular sin has led many children of God to hell fire. Many people claim to have forgiven those who offend them only in the mouth while their hearts are far from what they say, thereby turning themselves to be hypocrites. In our Lord’s prayer, Jesus said we should pray to God to forgive our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. The implication is that we can receive God’s forgiveness when we ask, only when we have forgiven those who trespass against us.

He said if we fail to forgive our offenders who ask for our forgiveness from our hearts, God will not forgive us our offences when we ask for forgiveness. If you cannot have mercy on your fellow human being, and you want God to have mercy on you, He will not. Some people received God’s mercy in their lives and refused to show mercy on those who offend them. And what they do not know is that sooner or later God is going to pay them in their own coins.

Unforgiveness can deny you of your salvation. In Luke 17:3-4 “Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.”

And Apostle Peter in Matthew 18:21 came up with this knowledge of forgiveness of 7 times in a day to somebody who offends you and ask for forgiveness and Jesus knowing whom man

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The evil of unforgiveness Bishop Bernard Chukwuma Mbamalu Ojemeni, General Superintendent of Endtime Believers’ Ministry Inc, in this piece,teaches on The evil of unforgiveness. Excerpts: is, that is easy for man to offend his fellow more than 7 times a day now came up with a figure that will be very difficult to be achieved. Which is 70 x 7 times in a day. A total of 490 times. Matthew 18:21-23 “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” When Jesus was saying 70 x 7 times, He was having in mind the number of years (70 x 7 years = 490years) God’s program for Israel that will last 490 years before Israel will be totally forgiven, restored and be fully reconciled to God with Jerusalem as God’s headquarters on earth during the millennial reign of Christ. Israel has spent 483 years as at A.D. 33 when Christ was crucified opening up the door of the church age – A.D. 33 to date which is 1,975 years having taken into consideration the 7 years the change of the Jewish calendar to the Gregorian Calendar of 1582 A.D. brought about. We just have 25 years more to the last 2000 years of man’s 6,000 years earth lease. 7 years to the end of the remaining 25 years will witness the commencement of the 70th week of Daniel’s prophecy i.e. the remaining 7 years to complete 490 years. Thus 483 + 7 years = 490 years. It then means the church age has only 18 years to run its course. Within this period, so many world shaking events will take place including the last sign before the rapture which is supernatural destruction of Russia and her allies, all things being equal. When Jesus said the number of forgiveness is 70 x 7 times in a day, He is indirectly saying that man should continue to forgive nonstop because come to terms, there is no way somebody can offend his fellow for a number of 490 times in a day.

In Matthew 18:22-35, we see an account of a servant who was forgiven by his master of a

great debt and he went home and was celebrating his freedom. He received forgiveness because he asked for it. And the master had mercy on him. He went and found a fellow servant who was owing him a little amount and held him to pay. And the fellow servant begged for forgiveness and mercy and he refused and sent him to prison. The news got to their master and their master called him and asked the whereabouts of his fellow servant. And when it was clear that he failed to forgive his fellow servant and sent him to prison, their master then withdrew his forgiveness and he himself was equally sent to prison. That is how he lost his freedom or salvation so to say when we fail to forgive our fellow human beings, God is not happy because He is eventually going to lose both of us to the devil in hell fire.

That is why the Bible is very particular about question of forgiveness. Unforgiveness has the capability of denying the answer to our prayers.

Mark 11:25-26 “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” And we discover that it was when Job prayed for his friends who spoke harshly to him during his trials, that God answered Job’s prayers of healing and restoration. As long as he was holding them in his heart nothing happened.

But the moment he let go and prayed them which means he has forgiven them from his heart, God restored him. The earlier you forgive, the quicker your prayers will be answered. Job 42:10-17 “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his

acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and everyone an earring of gold. So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters.

And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch. And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations. So Job died, being old and full of days.” From the above passage, you can see how forgiveness can turn around one’s fortune. An adage says the person who holds his fellow on the ground in also holding himself. Think of this picture of two people holding themselves in a dispute and someone is in upstairs throwing down money for them and because they fail to let go, they missed the blessing. This is how we also miss God’s blessings in our lives if we fail to forgive one another. In conclusion, if you know you have not repented from all your sins, please do so now and give your life to Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour. I invite you to come and worship with us on Sunday 9am in the address below:

•For further information, contact us at: Endtime Believers’ Ministry Inc.16/18, Johnson Street, off Kajola Street, Yakoyo, Lagos. Tel: 08023261219, 09095268897, 08036116881; Email: bishop.bernard@yahoo.com

Power for accomplishment via God’s grace

Prophet Lai Bamidele, General Overseer of Christ Glorious End-time Evangelical Church, Abule-Egba, Lagos, in this sermon, teaches about solving problems. Excerpts:

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started a teaching last week on how one can enjoy God’s Grace. What do we mean by accomplishment? To accomplish means to get things done or let me put it this way “to achieve a thing”.

God’s Grace can produce, it can achieve, and can make things work out with ease. God’s Grace can deliver a man who has been soaked deeply in problems of life to come out of that same problem overnight.

Take a good look at the story of a man called NOAH in the bible. When God wanted to destroy the whole world with flood, it was his Grace that made NOAH and his entire household and family to be singled out for God’s deliverance. God’s Grace has no respect for your strength, your connection, your position, because your arm of flesh cannot carry you far except his Grace that abound.

God’s Grace does not disappoint. In the book of Isaiah 31: 1-3. The bible says in verse 3 “Now the Egyptians are men and not God, and their horses flesh and not spirit, when the Lord shall stretch out his hand both he that helpeth shall fall and he that is helped shall fall down, and they all shall fall together”.

When you rely on men for your help and deliverance, God will fold his hand and watch you. That is why you must learn to put your trust in God. Jeremiah 17:5. God’s Grace can deliver a man from the jaws of death. That is why a times you hear that so many people are dying of a particular sickness. When God’s Grace is upon a man the same sickness that killed others fast, will deliver, heal the other person in the midst of thousands who has

been suffering the same affliction.

God’s Grace can make whatever is impossible to become possible. Others might have tried doing a thing several times but when God’s Grace is in place another person will attempt it once and he get it. There are certain things that ordinarily you may not have the strength or while wither to do it, but when his Grace is upon you, you will be able to do what seems in your eyes and the eyes of men impossible to become possible.

Let me give you a brief example of what we are talking about. In the book of Esther, it was God’s Grace that made Esther after her three days fasting and prayer with the Jews i.e her kinsmen that Esther appeared before King Ahasuerus in the book of Esther chapter 5: 2-8 in verse 2 the bible says “And it was so when the King saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight, and the King held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand, and Esther drew near and touched the top of the scpter”. When God’s Grace is upon you he makes you to be distinguished in the midst of the crowd. God’s grace makes a man to appear before Kings.

It is God’s grace that made our former President, Olusegun Obasanjo who was implicated in a fathom coup, and was jailed to be brought out from prison to come and rule Nigeria the second time around. In a country of over one hundred and fifty million, it takes God’s grace for a man in a cage to be brought out and found himself in the palace as a ruler.

It is God’s grace that made him to have ruled Nigeria three consecutive times.

It is God’s grace that made our newly sworn-in President to have attempted it three times before he finally succeeded at the fourth time. When Grace is at work, opposition is displaced.

It is God’s grace upon a man that made men to favour a man. God’s grace can make you becomes whatever God had purpose to you to become. Let me sight a brief illustration of myself. It was his Grace that brought me out from darkness i.e from Islam to Christianity. No one ever dared it in my family to get converted to Christianity. I dared and risked all including my life to surrender my life to Christ even when the whole family disowned me at an extended family meeting that was held because of me about 15 years ago that I should either renounce Christ or return to Islam.

It was his Grace that sustained me in the midst of this greatest trial of my life when I had nobody to run to and I had no one to rely on. I took the bold step then; by his Grace I am privilege to be a preacher of God’s word today.

Grace has no respect for where you are born and how you are born. God’s Grace has nothing to do with your connection, education, position or statues.

Every journey of life is a race. In the natural you might be the least but it is supernatural he can make the last be the first. It is God’s Grace that made David to confront Goliath and killed Goliath. In the natural he was too

Bamidele

small compared to the physique of Goliath, but because the supernatural being was with him. He was able to tame that bloody Giant.

Listen, I pray for you every Giant of your father’s family that said you decree this year God will bring them down for your sake.

Finally, it is God’s grace that makes a believer to be able to own up to himself and escape sin. It is his Grace that made a man who has been indulging in one sin or the other either drinking, fornication, adultery etc to finally drop all those things that one loves so much and forsake it.

God’s grace brings salvation from sin and also all our desires in every areas of our lives. Eph 2:8 says “For by Grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourself, but it is the gift of God”. There are so many Christians that are gifted but when God’s Grace is not upon them, they die with that Gift without making any impact in life.

•For counselling, contact: Pst_lai@yahoo.com.

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From the Pulpit

Let’s go

BIBLE with Favour

Tioluwani

Email: letsgobible@gmail.com

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https://letsgobible.wordpress.com

he last part of the series you can put it right or you can make it work is that; why don’t you take the right step now.

Some have mentioned as conclusion in the precious write ups. But l will still want to list out some points.

1. The prodigal Child: Luke 15:11-24.

•In verses 21-24, “And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.” the son came to himself, realising that he made a very big mistake, that he had

Sunday Mirror Sunday September 27, 2015 www.nationalmirroronline.net

You can make it work been taking wrong steps all these while, that he had succeeded in wasting part of his life. He came to the father, not even expecting that the father will accept him but the father even did more, he threw a party for his return showing how happy he is. So also you are looking at the great level of sin and immorality that you’ve committed, that it will be impossible for God to accept you back. No, his hands are stretched out to receive you. He has always been knocking and waiting for you to come back. Did just like the prodigal child, ask for his forgiveness, on all the wrongs that has been committed. Just make sure you have a repentant heart, never to go back into it again, God helping you.

2. Abraham exit: Gen. 12:1-5. ”Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee”. Leaving behind all sin and immoraluty(those you have been cohabiting with, taking drugs

with, the cultists, committing abortion with etc.) though not easy because it looks as if that’s the kind of life you’ve know and to leave it will cost you a lot.

However Abraham obeyed, he left everything behind so as to be able to get into God plan for his life. So also obey.

3. • Doing it right: 1. If you are cohabiting decide, determined and go your separate ways. 2. If it was the mistake pregnancy that brought you together and you now claim you are husband and wife, after asking for mercy go and do a proper wedding. 3. If you’ve aborted so many stop don’t do it again and let God restore your virginity back spiritually. 4. If you’ve not been faithful in your marriage. Stop all act of immorality, come back home. God who is love can make things right.

However, am more interested in th second one. There is a special programme whereby l ask all concerned, like those that have never done their wedding, those that want to renew

their vows, those that came back together after a serious storm, those that just want newness, etc, to come together, each couple with their witnesses before God where a proper wedding ceremony will be conducted for them. It’s not a church thing, it’s not even a religion thing, no matter your religion, all that is important is coming before God so at to put all things right.

No matter your age or the no of years that you have been married or the number of children you have, so many people coming together on that particular day will cover any shame that you might have been fearing. A day when so many will make it right.

The new date will be mentioned later, just make sure you do it right before it is too •You can send in your QUESTIONS and the Holy Spirit will be set to give you the ANSWERS. Barr. (Mrs.) Favour Tioluwani Tel: 08050272259 or 07062738213. Email: letsgobible@gmail.com

News Christ Embassy Adopts 10,000 Children Nationwide THEOPHILUS ONOJEGHEN WARRI

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total of ten thousand homeless and underprivileged children have been adopted across the country by Christ Embassy also known as Believers Love World through its Reach Out Nigeria programme as part of it social corporate responsibility.

The church also brought succor to over 20,000 children in different communities drawn from Warri metropolis through its food bank drive in Delta State.

This was disclosed at a news conference in Warri by Pastor Cji Darah, Warri Zonal Pastor of Christ Embassy ahead October 1st independence anniversary annual event of Reach Out Nigeria, RON. Pastor Darah, who was represented by Pastor Yemi Morackinyo said rather than blamed government for the nation’s woes everyone should join hands in the new aural of change.

He noted that, it is time to celebrate Nigeria potentials in the world stage, stressing that there is need for Nigerians to express inner change to move the country forward.

This year’s edition of RON tagged “Dawn of a new Nation” will witness several activities including visit to prisons and hospitals as well as distribution of Rhapsody of Reality.

Darah said, “Reach-out Nigeria as you may well be aware, started in the year 2007 with the mass distribution of over 2Million Copies of the Rhapsody of Realities devotional throughout our NationNigeria to commemorate our Nation’s 47th Independence.

“Reach out Nigeria is a project initiated by our Man of God Rev. Dr. Chris Oyakhilome. This was birthed and in-

…Feeds 20,000 children in Warri spired by the Holy Spirit to build and rekindle the patriotic spirit and generate the drive for Nation building in Nigerians both individually and collectively as a people.”

According to him, “1st of October, is a day to reminisce on the good old days and how we as a Nation has found ourselves where we are today; many complain and blame the government for the deployable state of affairs in virtually every sector of our National life.

But there is a new light in the horizon and it’s bringing with it a fresh hope and belief in Nigeria’s greatness.

“Through Reach out Nigeria, we are boldly declaring that our independence day is not a day to moan and regret or curse our Nations and our leaders for what we perceive as our failures or missed opportunities. It’s a time instead to bless Nigeria; to rejoice and celebrate her greatness and thank God for giving us a Nation with such extra-ordinary wealth and great potentials that we expect would be realized on the world’s stage.

“It is the desire of every right thinking Nigerian, to see a growing and improving Nigeria. However, for our Nation, to experience this transformation, the people must first have an inner transformation; nothing reaches the depth of the human soul to produce that undeniable permanent change, as effectively as the word of God. God’s Word is the veritable agent of a lasting permanent change.”

On the RON milestones since its inception, the cleric noted that “we have been able to achieve the adoption of 10,000 children throughout the country and we are still doing more. We have also made presentation of food items to over 20,000 children in Warri and its environs through

our food bank.”

Adding, he said, “As a Zone, We have translated this daily devotional into Itsekiri, Ijaw, Urhobo, Ukwani Isoko and Warri Pidgin. We not only distributed the Rhapsody of Realities but turned the attention of the citizen’s to patriotism and believe in our great country, Nigeria and our state in particular.

Over the years, we have embarked on several Community Development Projects like the medical/clothing outreach to Igbudu, Agbassa, NPA and Iyara Communities, School furniture to some secondary schools, supply of medical gadget to the labour ward of Warri central hospital, food and clothing outreach to old people’s home and

orphanages, borehole projects to Mechanic Village, Merogun and Agbassa communities, public toilet project to Iyara and Mechanic village and several other projects.”

The Warri Zonal Pastor said 2015 edition promised to be better, bigger and more exciting as well distributing 30Million Copies of ROR and as a zone our contribution is 2.5Million Copies.

As part of the activities marking this year’s independence day celebration, it bills to make donation of hospital equipment, Warri Prison Project, Medical Outreach At 8 Locations and football tournament amongst community youths and clubs.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business

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FRESH BUSINESS NEWS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Sunday September 27, 2015

80% of products in Nigeria imported, says SON DG … seeks change in consumption pattern

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he Director General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Joseph Odumodu, has said that Nigerians must change their consumption pattern for the economy to thrive.

Odumodu in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Abuja at the weekend said that currently, the country’s consumption pattern was about 80 per cent of imported products.

He said no nation would become independent through importation and as such Nigeria needed to do more to ensure that its industries were functional to provide jobs for the youth.

“Anytime you are importing, you are paying salaries of people abroad.

“This is a highly populated country, where will our graduates work when there are fewer industries today than there were 20 years ago?

“There are more graduates today than we had 20 years ago; we have to begin to address these inconsistencies.

“So, as I am talking to you, eight out of 10 products used in Nigeria are imported.

“It is not good, it is something we must try to change in the next three to four years to reduce it to 50”, Odumodu said.

He expressed regret that some people preferred to do business that harmed other Nigerians by importing substandard products and that SON was determined to ensure the situation did not persist.

He said that in so far as the law had empowered SON to act, it required the personnel to enforce rules on the standardisation of products.

Odumodu said there were over 1,000 markets in Nigeria as well as many borders and that the only way to address the issue of standards was to get people to enforce rules.

“You do not keep the same person, if you keep the same person for three to six months, he will no longer see anything wrong

with the importation of substandard products.

“I think government should approve over 1,000 people within the next three months and then people can see real impact of our enforcement activities.

“We currently have about 1,400 people in SON and most of us are in technical areas, such as biologists, chemists and engineers.

“I think we have fairly enough to do the background job that we need to do”, Odumodu said.

According to him, some Nigerians have made bil-

lions of naira from importing sub-standard products into the country.

He said the new SON Act of 2015 had given the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment the power to designate a port on the advice of SON for a particular set of products.

“Most of the bad cables that come into Nigeria are coming through the borders, they do not come through the ports.

“So, the new Act of SON, 2015 enables the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment to designate a port on the advice of SON for a par-

ticular set of products when they are life endangering.

“We can now go to the minister and say we do not want the cables to come through the borders, we want them to come only through Apapa or Tincan Island.

“When that is approved by the minister it automatically becomes law and what it means is that if I see any cable at Seme Border, I can destroy it without testing,’’ he said.

According to him, when such law becomes effective the level of sub-standard products will reduce.

“I assure you that the new act brings relief to Nigerian industries, which means more employment, economic development and government will generate more tax.

“This is how it is all linked up and it is possible,’’ Odumodu said.

Odumodu said SON’s new disposition was giving those involved in illegal businesses a lot of nightmares with some in Alaba International Market, Lagos, and other markets ac-

BEDC introduces new electricity metering model in Edo, Ekiti, Ondo, Delta SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

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L–R: Marketing Manager, Gulder, More, 33, Life and Stout category, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Emmanuel Agu; Zonal Business Manager, East, Ansel Alokha; winner of a brand new Hyundai Elantra car of ‘The Chase’ leg of the 2015 edition of the Gulder Ultimate promo, Chinedu Odimgbe; Regional Business Manager, Obiora Okoli; Brewery Manager, Ama Breweries, Ethel Emma-Uche and Public Affairs Manager – East Patrick Ejodoh, during the presentation of prizes, at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, yesterday.

Stakeholders want FG to boost tourism sector

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takeholders in the tourism sector in Nigeria have called on the Federal Government to evolve policies that would boost industry, saying that it had become redundant.

They spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Abuja yesterday According to President, Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN), Mr. Tomi Akingbogun, President Muhammadu Buhari must do something to revive tourism and make it a big revenue earner.

Akingbogun said that tourism was one of the major players in international commerce and represented the main income source of many developed and developing countries.

“Nigeria’s need for urgent diversification cannot

be over emphasised and tourism has been identified as the main sustainable and achievable option,’’ he said.

He, however, said that there were some challenges impeding the growth and development of the country’s tourism industry.

As a step, he called for the reconstitution of Presidential Council on Tourism to give leadership and direction to the sector.

“The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation at present does not work with private sector companies that are real investors.

“Many programmes are drawn and executed at ministerial level resulting in policies and programmes failure,’’ he said.

President, Hospitality and Tourism Management Association of Nigeria (HATMAN), Mr Aliyu Badaki,

noted that the laws establishing agencies in the sector had become obsolete.

“Government should overhaul the entire tourism sector; the decrees establishing the agencies to handle tourism in the country are obsolete and weak,`` he said.

He also said that professionals should head the ministry of tourism, noting that iff tourism professionals headed the ministry and its agencies, ‘’we will witness remarkable development in the sector.”

Former Chairman, Hotel Owners Forum, Abuja chapter, Mr. Onofiok Ekong, told NAN that multiple taxations were major challenge to the tourism industry.

Ekong said that federal, state and local governments simultaneously and indiscriminately impose tax on investors in the sector.

cusing it of changing the rules.

“I believe that a good name is better than all these billions.

“So, when I started in 2011, I went to Alaba, went to all these big markets and they said: `Odumodu, you are trying to change the rules. You are making new laws’ “I told them that we do not make law in SON; we merely insist that people must comply with the law,’’ Odumodu said.

n a bid to improve electricity power supply to customers, the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, has announced that it has begun the installation of High Voltage Distribution Substations and pole-mounted energy metres.

The announcement was contained in a company document signed by the management and made available to Sunday Mirror in Benin City at the weekend.

In the document, the BEDC also listed the advantages of the new energy metres and transformers over the older models.

According to the statement, “High Voltage Distribution Sub-station (HVDS) guarantees quality and reliable power supply to customers (and) restricts outage to few customers connected to the HVDS whenever there is a fault rather than plunging the whole area into darkness.”

The statement explained that the new transformer would assist in reducing energy theft; thus saving energy that could potentially reduce retail tariff on the long run.

The company appealed to customers to cooperate with its team of engineers when they come to their neighbourhood to work to ensure a smooth and successful execution of the exercise.

Abuja trade fair: Exhibitors seek closing date extension

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xhibitors at the ongoing 10th Abuja International Trade Fair have complained of low patronage because of the Eid el-Kabir holiday and called for an extension of the closing date.

The fair, with the theme: “Entrepreneurship as a Panacea for Economic Growth’’, opened on Sept.

18 and ends on October 2.

The exhibitors, who complained about poor turnout of visitors and customers at the fair, urged the organisers to extend the fair to enable them to meet their expectations.

An exhibitor, Mr. Okey Chukwudi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that people might have

travelled for the celebration and as a result sales had remained low.

Chukwudi said unlike previous fairs, the patronage was very poor.

“The break is a long one so people will like to travel; the patronage is low so if the organisers can increase the days, I will be grateful,’’ he said.

Another exhibitor, Mr. Paul Makama, said by the end of the month when salaries would have been paid, people might want to buy some goods.

Makama said many people were still waiting to receive their salaries.

“Most people that came to my stand like what they saw but promised to come back when they receive their salaries.

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Sunday September 27, 2015

State of emergency in Sokoto education sector

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technical committee set up by the Sultanate Council of Sokoto State to look into the education sector in the state has recommended an immediate declaration of state of emergency in the sector.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 25-member committee, which was set up recently by the Sultan, Alhaji Sa ’ad Abubakar III, was headed by a former Deputy Governor in the state, Alhaji Ahmed Gusau.

The report of the committee was presented in Sokoto on Saturday at a meeting convened by the sultan.

The executive summary of the report was presented by a member of the committee, Alhaji Ahmed Tsafe, Director, Management Information System of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

“The general public and communities should be more actively involved in education delivery in the state by among other things adopting schools

and providing essential services and materials, ’ ’ the reported read.

“This is to lessen the burden of education on the government, while the issue of integrating ICT in education delivery in the state should be taken more seriously, ’ ’ the report added.

It also called for the creation of a Directorate of Quranic Education to support and regulate the establishment and development of Quranic institutions as well as monitor and supervise

their operations.

Doing so, the report advised, would help greatly in stamping the menace of Almajiranci and improve the quality of education provided in the local Quranic schools.

In a remark, Abubakar commended the members of the committee for diligently discharging their assignment.

“The report is apt and timely and it is not aimed at witch-hunting any individual, government, agency or organisation.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oyeyemi assures of sustained road vigilance

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n continuation of the ongoing special Eid-el-Kabir patrol, the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC. Boboye Oyeyemi has expressed satisfaction with the traffic situation across the country, saying there was no cause for alarm.

He stated this in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital while monitoring traffic on some major roads leading to Ilorin township.

According to the Head, Media Relations and Strategy, Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Marshal says the operational strategies designed by the FRSC National Headquarters, Abuja to ensure crash and obstruction-free Sallah celebration have proved effective. He noted that reports so far received from across the commands indicate significant improvement in traffic management during the celebration with indications of fewer cases of road traffic crashes and obstructions as compared to same

period last year. “Yesterday, I personally monitored traffic on Abuja-Kaduna road, and today, I have just monitored the traffic on some of the major roads leading to Ilorin township, ” he stated.

“From what I have seen here and reports so far received from across the commands, we are satisfied with the overall traffic situation across the country, ” he added.

The Corps Marshal, however appealed to motorists to continue to obey the traffic rules and regulations to ensure safety of all road users.

The Sector Commander of Kwara state, Sunday Maku who was part of the monitoring exercise in the state observed that the command has recorded significant success in this year ’s special patrol as compared to last year, pledging to sustain the temp of activities throughout the remaining period of celebration and beyond.

Ebonyi to reconstruct strategic federal roads

L-R: Director-General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms; Dr. Joe Abah; representative of the Secretary, National Planning Commission, Mr. Tunde Lawal and National Programme Manager, FEPAR, Mr. Ben Arikpo, during the Stakeholders ’ Validation Workshop on Policy Thrusts, Pillars, Strategic Objectives Programme for 2016-2020 Medium Term Plan, in Abuja, recently.

PHOTO: NAN

Kano loses N18.1m monthly to 1,830 ‘ghost ’ street cleaners

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he Kano State Government has uncovered 1,830 ghost workers out of the 2,490 casual workers engaged as street cleaners by the state Refuse Management and Sanitation Board (REMASAB). making government to lose N18.1 million monthly.

The state Commissioner for Information, Malam Garba Mohammed, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Saturday.

He said the figure was presented to the State Executive Council during its meeting on Wednesday by the committee recently

set up to verify the actual number of the workers.

“According to the committee ’s report, out of the 2,490 casual workers of the board, 1,830 are ghost workers.

“So, based on the report, the state government was losing N18.1 million monthly and this is one of the allegations that led to the setting up of the committee to investigate the issue.

“You will be surprised to know that for the past three years, the people had been siphoning the money every month, ’ ’ he said.

He disclosed that names of about six directors, alleged to have been involved

in the scandal, had been forwarded to the office of the Head of Civil Service, for appropriate disciplinary action.

“The office of the Head of Service will investigate their individual involvement with a view to coming up with appropriate punishment, ’ ’ he said.

Similarly, he said, the executive council had approved the release of over N16 million for the construction of drains at Koki and Abattoir quarters in the metropolis.

According to him, the Council also approved N166 million for the purchase of 10 tippers for evacuation of refuse.

“In addition, the Council has approved the release of N36.1 million for the purchase of 50 tricycles for the evacuation of refuse in the metropolis, ’ ’ he said.

Yobe floats tertiary hospital to curb medical tourism The Yobe Government on Saturday said it was establishing a tertiary health facility to curb medical tourism outside the state.

Dr Bello Kawuwa, a Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam on Health, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu on Saturday that the hospital had reached 95 per cent completion stage.

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overnor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi on Saturday said his administration would reconstruct and complete the Nkalagu-Ikem-Obolla Afor federal highway.

He made this known in Nkalagu, Ishielu Local Government Area of the state while inspecting the road.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the road connects Nkalagu in Ebonyi with Ikem and Obolla Afor in Enugu and also serves as a major route to the northern part of the country.

The governor said that the project which would be handled by foreign companies would be completed within one year.

“We would flag-off the reconstruction of the road on Nov.1 and complete it

by November 1, 2016.

“During our campaign

in the area, we promised the people that we would reconstruct the road and we are here to commence the fulfilment of that promise, ” he said.

According to him, the government has informed President Muhammadu Buhari of its intention to reconstruct some federal roads in the state and this project will signal the commencement of that objective.

“The commissioner for works is hereby directed to advertise for bids for the road by Monday alongside the Hilltop-Agbaja road which is however, a state road.

“We would also reconstruct the Amasiri-OkposiUburu road which is a federal road, and we hope to source for the projects ’ funds through bank loans and foreign companies which would be repaid over time.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Opinion

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Ambode and his dream team NIYI ANIBABA

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t the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, many Americans did not know how President John Kennedy would handle the challenge until they saw the composition of his war cabinet. The names gave them hope that the US would emerge from the crisis with some measure of success and hope for a world without a global conflagration. And indeed President Kennedy steered America and the world from a destructive Third World War which would have been fought with nuclear weapons.

That is the way I see the nominees for the cabinet of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State. They offer hope that truly Lagos State and its citizens are in for refreshing times when there would be a revolutionary trend in the delivery of democratic dividends and the provision of good things of life. This is what the future of Lagos State holds in store under the unfolding cabinet.

For sure, the anxiety which trailed the release of the cabinet list for Lagos state has been replaced with excitement prompted by the names on the list. While their portfolios are not yet known, the resumes of the proposed cabinet have been receiving strong and positive reviews in many quarters.

At a glance, the list is made up of one professor, three medical doctors, two engineers, six lawyers, a journalist and one teacher.

There is a healthy mix of technocrats, strategists and politicians on the list.

The list is made up of fresh faces and a few returning coming Commissioners.

The cabinet has five women. There are three former Commissioners on the list and there are five politicians on the list.

Professor Ademola Abass is a Professor of Law with specialty in International Law, International Criminal Law, Equity and Trusts, Peace and Security.

He has served on United Nations projects in Belgium and Ethiopia. Until his appointment, he was the Head of African Centre for Peace and Security Training, Institute for Security Training in Addis Ababa. Dr. Abass has received several academic awards, prizes and scholarships in his career.

The other lawyers in the cabinet are Dr. Benson Oke Akintola, Dr. Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef, Mrs. Yetunde Onab-

ule, Adeniji Kazeem and Prince Rotimi Ogunleye. Dr. Akintola and Adeniji Kazeem are both Political Scientists and Lawyers. Adeniji Kazeem started out as a Tax and Regulatory Consultant with Arthur Andersen (now KPMG) before veering off to start his own Legal practice.

Mrs. Yetunde Onabule obtained her LL.B at the University of Buckingham and her LL.M at the University of London, Kings College and has over 15years experience gained working for reputable firms in Nigerian and the UK. The name of the former Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olajide Idris, stands out amongst the Medical Doctors on the Cabinet. He was the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health from 1999 to 2007 when he was appointed the Commissioner for Health in the second term of the Fashola administration. He is best remembered for his role in the battle to suppress the Ebola Virus in 2014. Another doctor on the list is Dr. Samuel Babatunde Adejare, a former Federal and State Legislator. A highly respected medical doctor and specialist in Public Health, Dr. Adejare has received many honours locally and abroad for his commitment to the practice.

He was a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly from 2003 till 2011 and was in the Federal House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015.

Dr. Femi Onanuga, is a vastly experienced Medical Doctor with specialty in General medicine and Community Health.

He has diverse and rich experience in medical management and administration in the health sector of Lagos State.

A former Permanent Secretary, Special Services in the Governor’s Office, he has been at various times the Medical Director of Randle General Hospital, Surulere, Mainland Hospital, Yaba, Ifako Ijaiye , Agege and consultant to the Lagos State Health Service Commission.

Lagosians who are bothered by the state of the roads in the state now have reasons to smile going by the profiles of the two engineers on the cabinet list.

Engineer Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson is an accomplished Civil and Structural Engineer with over 30years experience. Engr.

Johnson holds a B. Sc. and M. Sc in Civil and Structural Engineering from the University of Southern California. He is said to have a strong record of conceiving, initiating and executing road, bridge

and building projects.

He was a former Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure in the State and during his time initiated and completed projects like the Lekki-Ikoyi bridge, reconstruction of Lagos-Badagry Expressway Lot 1, infrastructural improvement of Yaba to Iddo and environs as well as the construction of jetties and terminals at Badore, Ipakodo-Ikorodu and Osborne. He served on the boards of LAMATA, Lagos State Roads, Bridges and Highway Infrastructure (PSP).

Engr. Ade Akinsanya, like Engr. Johnson was educated in America. He has a B. Sc. in Mining Engineering and an M. Sc. in Civil Engineering, both from the University of Missouri-Rolia. He specializes in transportation infrastructures particularly bridge design and construction, transportation planning and construction of various types of transportation facilities. He was before this appointment, Supervising Bridge Engineer with California Department of Transportation.

Being a financial technocrat himself, Governor Ambode has selected a crop of bright, young and finance professionals for his cabinet. Dr. Mustapha Abiodun Akinkunmi is a Financial Economist and Technology Strategist. He holds degrees from the New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury and Fordham University, Bronx, New York. Dr. Akinkunmi has held high profile positions as a Consultant, Financial Advisor and Business Strategist with AT & T, Goldman Sachs, Phibro Energy, First Boston (Credit Suisse), World Bank and central Bank of Nigeria.

Akinyemi Ashade is an Audit Partner with KPMG Professional Services(formerly Arthur Andersen) and is responsible for the Audit of banking, insurance and assets management companies. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), he joined Arthur Andersen in 1999 and was admitted as a Partner in 2013. He has gained valuable experience in international audit, risk management, public finance and private partnerships.

Babatunde Fuad Durosinmi-Etti is an Investment Banker turned Finance and Public Policy Consultant. His experience includes a banking career where he rose to the position of Deputy General Manager. He was Managing Director of

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Ibile Holdings Limited, the investment company of Lagos State and later Vice Chairman of the Association of African Financial Institutions, an affiliate of the African Development bank. He has been on the boards of Volkswagen of Nigeria, LASACO Insurance Plc and University Press Plc. Olufemi Adeboye Odubiyi is an Information Technology expert. He is presently the IT Director of Dangote Group.

Before then he worked for Airtel holding many key positions such as Systems Support Manager, Head IT and Director Billing and Value Added Services. He holds an M. Sc. in Information Management from Southbank University.

The new Lagos State cabinet also has the names of Dr. Dayo Mobereola and Wasiu Anifowoshe. Mobereola is a Transport expert and holds a Doctorate degree in Transport Economics from the University of Wales. He is the Managing Director/Chief Executive of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and was previously Special Adviser, Transportation. Wasiu Anifowoshe is an Architect and Town Planner.

He holds a Bachelors and Masters degrees in Architecture from the Howard University as well as a Masters in City and Regional Planning.

He is the Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners and has worked in the Lagos State Ministries of Works and Housing and Physical Planning and Urban Development.

Other professionals on the list are senior and celebrated journalist, Steve Ayorinde, Fela Bank-Olemoh and sport analyst, Ayodeji Tinubu.

It is a team capable of installing the governance of compassion which Ambode spoke of in his inaugural address on May 29.

The Governor also spoke of the rule of ideas that will characterize his era.

My take is that he has picked kindred spirits who have been identified as men of ideas in their respective endeavours.

Together I see them-Ambode and these illustrious personalities-working out an agenda to lift up Lagos to the stratosphere of excellent performance the way John Kennedy’s war cabinet gave the US and the world victory over the war mongers during the Cuban Missile blockade.

Anibaba, a policy analyst wrote in from Surulere, Lagos.

Ensuring an AIDS - free generation through the elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV MUHAMMADU BUHARI

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welcome you to this important event. Let me express Nigeria’s sincere appreciation to UN-AIDS for the support and collaboration in organizing this event.

We are on the threshold of history as world leaders adopt the successor development agenda to the Millennium Development Goals. For over 30 years, HIV as a public health challenge has been causing havoc and untold hardship in virtually every part of the world. To date, several million children have been orphaned and some communities have been devastated, while economic activities have been disrupted.

Unfortunately, Sub -Saharan Africa bears a disproportionate burden of this epidemic. The good news is that the effort of the global community has resulted in

greater control, less spread and better management.

Furthermore, we have made significant progress towards the interception of mother to child transmission of HIV. In 2014 alone, over 3million pregnant women were tested for HIV and 63,000 of these tested women, accessed anti - retroviral therapy.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, What is required in our continued fight against HIV/AIDS is improved health delivery system, education, and cheaper production of anti - retroviral drugs through technology exchange.

Our countries should also look at the whole field of medicare and strengthen our partnership with all stakeholders including the civil society, inter- faith and cultural bodies for education and dissemination of information at all levels. Nigeria will also like to call upon all pharma-

ceutical companies for more cooperation and understanding in reducing the cost of anti - retroviral drugs through production of generic items.

Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates.

Nigeria will continue to work with development partners and key stakeholders to strengthen the means of implementation of the SDGs as elaborated in the Post- 2015 Development Agenda. At the continental level, Nigeria remains fully committed to the outcome of the Abuja process as evident in the 2002 Declaration, the Action Framework on Roll – Back Malaria. In addition, the 2013 Abuja + 12 Declaration is a strong commitment towards eliminating HIV and AIDs in Africa by 2030. Globally, the United Nations Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS of 2011 is a major reference point for intensifying efforts to eliminate the epidemic.

Nigeria appreciates the support of our development partners for their support and commitment to the total eradication of HIV/AIDs, Tuberculosis and Malaria as well as other deadly communicable diseases, for example Ebola, when an epidemic arises.

I therefore encourage you to continue in your efforts to sustain the fight against infant and maternal deaths, HIV and AIDs, Tuberculosis, Malaria and other communicable diseases, high on the global development agenda.

Let us work together to make HIV and AIDs history by 2030.

I thank you.

This was a statement by H.E. Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria at the 70th United Nations General Assembly United Nations Headquarters, New York on 25th, September 2015

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Politics

Sunday September 27, 20152015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Kogi guber: Battle line drawn as candidates emerge Following the successful completion of party primaries and emergence of governorship candidates on the platform of various political parties in Kogi state, the stage is now for November 21st,2015 gubernatorial election, WALE IBRAHIM reports from Lokoja

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fter the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC had fixed dates for political parties to conduct party governorship primary election in Kogi State, the All Progressive Congress, APC, blazed the trail holding its primary election on 29th of August, followed by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Monday, 14th September.

Other political parties such as All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Progressive Party Alliance (PPA), Labour Party LP also ensured that their respective primary election were conducted by before stipulated closing date

by INEC. As it is, intense politicking is the order of the day with the gladiators and their supporters leaving nothing tom chance in the race to Government House.

Unconfirmed reports have it that some of strong contenders particularly from APC and PDP may pitched tent with other political parties to realise their governorship ambition and pick the ticket. However efforts to confirm the speculation have not yielded fruit because they had made promises to work with the standard bearer of their original party during the primaries.

Be this as it may, the following party flag bearers have emerged after the hitch free governorship primary election in Kogi State, the incumbent governor of the State, Captain Ichalla Wada on the platform PDP plotting to retain the seat, the former two time governor , Prince Abubarka Audu of All Progressive Congress APC is equally strategising to capture the seat of Power at Lugard House.

Also in the race is the immediate Past Deputy Governor , Chief (Dr) Philip Salawu who picked Labour Party, LP ticket; new entrant, Comrade Goodman Umar Akwu of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, and Enesi Ozigi is also eyeing the Lugard House among others.

As events unfold in the 24 year old state, a lot of contending issues that have been in front burner in party politics may resurface again, major among these issues are power rotation, marginalisation, mistrust and distrust within the component part of the Kogi State.

CAPTAIN IDRIS ICHALA WADA The incumbent Government of Kogi State is currently seeking reelection to Lugard House having survived the sledge hammer of the party hierarchy at national level with the help of Peoples Democratic Party supporters in the Confluence state. Wada, who won the PDP governorship Primary election with wide margin, has promised to reunite all the party members in the state

Wad da

xxxx xxxx xxx

AS IT IS, INTENSE POLITICKING IS THE ORDER OF THE DAY WITH THE GLADIATORS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS LEAVING NOTHING TOM CHANCE IN THE RACE TO

GOVERNMENT HOUSE

Aud du

ahead of the herculean task ahead.

The governor will rely on his numerous achievements in terms of projects as selling point, while the power of incumbency will be another factor. The governor will also be relying on the goodwill of the PDP stakeholder, loyalists and supporters in the battle ahead.

Wada, who is an embodiment of humility is a candidate to beat. If the PDP work hard, Wada looks unstoppable to return as the governor.

PRINCE ABUBAKAR AUDU The two time governor of Kogi State, who left power in 2003 will be knocking horns with the incumbent governor.

The Prince of the Niger, who is flag bearer of APC was said to have done very well during his previous stint at Lugard House, will also rely on achievements in the contest. Audu who defeated 27 other aspirants has stated that he reconcile with all other aspirants to work together for the success of the party in

the coming governorship election.

Audu will be relying of the achievement of the APC in the last general election in the state by winning three Seats, six out of Representatives seats and 11 seat in the Kogi State House of Assembly.

Besides, Prince Audu who has been the leader of opposition party in the state was said to have financial war chest to prosecute his ambition. It was gathered that as political strategy, he has wooed all his former political associates in the state to rally support for him in the battle of the titans ahead.

Under APC, Audu is battle ready to match PDP naira for naira and dollar for dollar.

Another factor that may work for APC is the coming of running mate, Chief Abiodun Faleke, a one time local government chairman and member of House of Representatives. When he visited Kogi last week, it was rousing welcome for him and vowed to unite Okun to work for APC. CHIEF (DR) PHILIP SALAWU Dr. Philip Salawu was immediate past Deputy Governor of Kogi State under the leadership of Alhaji Ibrahim Idris.

Salawu has picked the ticket of Labour Party to contest the number seat of the state. Salawu, who is making second attempt since to 2011 when he contested in PDP primary, will put up a strong showing according to analysts. Salawu, who also has financial muscle to prosecute his ambition will also need to pacify the people of his constituency, EBITDAR who were at loggerheads with him in his days as the number two man of the state.

Observers are of the view that if the former Deputy Governor wants win election, he must spend money to woo followership.

COMRADE GOODMAN AKWU The young and vibrant activist is marking foray into murky water of Kogi State politics. Akwu is contesting the governorship election on November 21 on the platform of APGA. Aside the power shift struggle, Akwu will need work hard to capture the seat of power.

ENESI OZIGI This another new entrant into politics who may prove points particularly if the proponent of Power shift who pledged to adopt Political Party and neutral candidate to actualise their ambition to shift power to another zone.

Meanwhile the watchers of political events in Confluence state have consistently argued that the battle is really between the two main gladiators, Captain Idris Wada of PDP and the former governor of the state, Prince Abubakar Audu.

The question of who win the battle will depend largely on the level political maneuvering in the next few weeks.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Sunday September 27, 2015

ari ’s cabinet

Odig gie-O Oye egun

hari has also downplayed the importance of ministers in the country by saying that they are noisemakers just like politicians.

He said further that the real work of administration is done by technocrats and not

the ministers.

The president made the comment on Wednesday, September 16, 2015, during an interview on French television station, France 24.

“No. It is what we know –and which we learnt from the western system.

The civil service provides the continuity, the technocrat. And in any case, they are those that do most of the work, ” Buhari said when he was asked if the lack of a cabinet was affecting his government.

“The ministers are there, I think, to make a lot of noise; for the politicians to make a lot of noise. But the work is being done by the technocrats.

They are there; they have to provide the continuity, dig into the records and then guide us, [those of us] who are just coming in.

They have been there, some of them for 15 years, some for 20 years. So I think this question of ministers is political. People from different constituencies want to see their people directly in government, and see what they can get out of it, ” he added.

With less than 96 hours to the deadline, anxiety has grown and many names are being dropped as possible ministers.

The level of name dropping for ministerial position in the last three

WITH LESS THAN 96 HOURS TO THE DEADLINE, ANXIETY HAS GROWN AND MANY NAMES ARE BEING DROPPED AS POSSIBLE MINISTERS

months has surpassed what anybody has witnessed in the past and Nigerians are skeptical of any names being mentioned in the media because of the recent appointments which failed to meet the speculations in the media.

As Nigerians are awaiting the ministerial list, issues that are in their minds has to do with the reports that the President and his party, the All Progressives Congress, is contemplating to cut down on the number of ministers and ministries in order to reduce cost.

In doing this, would the President not again wave aside some states and probably favour some?, that is the question in their minds .

However, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has however denied this “The constitution says there would be federal character in the appointment of ministers and I think the President is not going to violate the constitution, ” Mohammed said.

Buhar has also said that he does not know why Nigerians are in hurry

les for political career SINCE HIS EMERGENCE, BUHARI HAS NOT HAD ANY PRIVATE OR OFFICIAL MEETING WITH

SARAKI. INDEED, IT WAS ALLEGED THAT THE PRESIDENT HAD VOWED THAT HE WOULD NOT WANT TO RELATE WITH SARAKI AS THE SENATE PRESIDENT

Tinu ubu

process that would lead to the emergence of the leadership of the National Assembly, albeit, the senate. That for many commentators was the beginning of the problem.

Unknown to many, Buhari had his preferred candidate in Senator Lawan. Party chieftains

believed that if Buhari had declared his interest ab initio, the party would have set the machineries in motion to actualize the President ’s choice.

It was a more politically deft Saraki, who cashed in on the President ’s double speak to ensure that he emerged as the Senate President. Ever since, Buhari has given Saraki the cold shoulder.

Even with the current trial of Saraki, the President has continued to double speak and play hide and seek on the matter. While it is clear to all discerning Nigerians that Buhari is the person who has ordered the trial of Saraki, the President came out at the commencement of the trial to distance himself from the matter. In a public statement last week Monday, the Presidential Spokesman, Femi Adesina, stated that Buhari had

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nothing to do with Saraki ’s present trial and who not do anything to halt the process in any way.

Early signs Indications emerged early in the day that the leadership of APC was going to move against Saraki when two months earlier, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) summoned Saraki ’s wife, Toyin to its Abuja head office to answer questions on her stewardship of her pet project when she was the First Lady in Kwara State some 12 years ago. When the Federal Government could not get to Saraki through his wife, Government then resorted to the present tactic.

Observers also believe that signs that President Buhari was not disposed to the leadership of Saraki and was going to

to know those that would make his list of ministers. But he gave an inkling why he hasn ’t named them. He said he was being careful in order not to make mistakes in appointing individuals to key positions. He said, “I don ’t know why people are so anxious about ministers. But eventually we will have (them). ” But Nigerians who know Buhari and his reputation as someone who would never talk from both sides of his mouth are rest assured that the appointments of the best set of ministers the country can ever boast of are about to be announced.

The president ’s article on Washington Post, in which he explained why he was taking the time to make the right choices.

Buhari wrote: “In Nigeria ’s case, it would neither be prudent nor serve the interests of sound government to have made these appointments immediately on my elevation to the presidency; instead, Nigeria must first put CONTINUED ON PAGE 54

move against i t the th Senate S t President P id t beb gan from the day Saraki was pronounced winner. Since his emergence, Buhari has not had any private or official meeting with Saraki. Indeed, it was alleged that the President had vowed that he would not want to relate with Saraki as the Senate President. One of the reasons why the President delayed the announcement of his cabinet according to sources was that Buhari said he would not like to send his list of ministers to Saraki as the President of the Senate to preside over their screening. The original plan, according to the source was to have commenced the trial of Saraki earlier than now, so that by the time the President was ready with his ministerial list, Saraki would have been history.

Saraki ’s trial What was for many weeks and months consigned to the domain of social media rumour, last week, finally came to fruition. The Federal Government last week commenced the trial of Saraki before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Utako Abuja.

In a 13-count charge preferred against the Senate President, the Government accused Saraki of false and anticipatory declarations in the assets declaration forms he filled and submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau when he was the Executive Governor of Kwara State in 2003.

Once the matter was raised before the Code of Conduct Tribunal the previous Wednesday, the next day, Thursday that Saraki did not appear before the tribunal, trial Chairman Umar, issued a summons on the Senate President to appear CONTINUED ON PAGE 54

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Sunday September 27, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Senate president battles for political career CONTINUED FROM PAGE 53

and by the next day, whilst Saraki and his legal team were still contemplating their next line of action, the chairman issue a bench warrant for the arrest of Saraki. This was when it became very clear to many Nigerians that the trial was not going to be an ordinary one.

All efforts made by the legal team of Saraki headed by the respected Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and the former National Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Joseph Daudu, both at the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court Abuja, to stop the arraignment of Saraki were criminally faulted.

As was observed by one of the lawyers at the CCT trial last week, “There was coordinated networking among the top echelon of the judiciary to ensure that Daudu ’s moves was frustrated. ” Anybody who still nursed any iota of doubts that the trial of Saraki was highly political and directed from above had such doubts erased following what transpired at the tribunal last Tuesday.

As was observed by Barrister Ajibo Okpanachi, “The trial has once again exposed the Nigerian judiciary. If you observed carefully, the position of the chairman was somehow. You could see that he was almost doing the case. He descended into the arena. ” Even Saraki, sensing the political nature of his trial did something that was inconceivable in any criminal trial when he seized the public address system to deliver political remarks while in the dock to take his plea. Yet, the Chairman could not muster the confidence and authority to call Saraki to order.

Before taking his plea, Saraki in a short remark, laced with obvious anger, stated that, “My appearance in court today once again demonstrates my belief in the rule of law and respect for the judiciary of our country.

IT IS MY HUMBLE OPINION THAT THIS CASE IS A VIVID EXAMPLE THAT THERE IS STILL FLAGRANT DISREGARD FOR DUE PROCESS IN

OUR POLITY. THIS TRIAL IS NOT ONLY BEING OBSERVED BY NIGERIANS ALONE

“The only reason while I am going through this trial is because I am Senate President. If I were to be just a Senator, I doubt if anybody will be interested in the asset declaration form I filled over 12 years ago.

“The National Assembly made the Code of Conduct Bureau and Code of Conduct Tribunal Act. Section 3 (d) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act provides that if there is a breach or non-compliance with any section of the law, the person involved should be given the opportunity to either admit or deny and that in the case of a written admission, no reference to the Tribunal shall be necessary.

“So, if the CCB had followed the guidelines, procedure or the due process provided in its own law, we won ’t be having this trial.

“It is my humble opinion that this case is a vivid example that there is still flagrant disregard for due process in our polity. This trial is not only being observed by Nigerians alone, the international community is watching because Nigeria is a key member of this community. So, the executive, legislature and judiciary should do the right thing that will truly demonstrate that we have imbibed the spirit of positive change. ” Commenting on the opinion of Saraki regarding the provisions of section 3 (d) of the CCB and CCT act, an Abuja-

based legal practitioner, Barrister Lucky Chukwuemeka Dureke told Sunday Mirror that the Senate president was right in law.

“I am in agreement with Saraki totally not necessarily whether he is guilty or innocent, but procedurally, Government ’s procedure in his prosecution is totally wrong. For me, the process has not yet commended, the action has not yet commenced ”, he said.

According to him, “Saraki ’s position on the point that the act, the law says that he should have been notified; the essence of that is like an institutional action where you are advised to have a preaction notice. Pre-action notice arises where the institution you think is aware might not be aware or there are other strategies of the steps they want to take that will still give results.

“So, if you give notice of your intention to go to court, they will avail, themselves of that notification within the period you have given them to resolve issues before you go to court, possibly approach you and the whole issues will be resolved.

Barrister Okpanachi also collaborated the views of Saraki and Dureke on the procedure. According to him, “The position of Saraki on that matter is the position of the law. ’ Opkanachi ’s further contention was that, “The CCT is not properly consti-

tuted. Three judges are supposed to sit on the tribunal. If you look at the sitting, there were only two judges that sat there. The CCT is not a criminal court of record; it is not regulated by the NJC. Issuing a bench warrant against the Senate President is wrong, ab initio. They are trying to witchhunt him for political propaganda. ” Despite the various opinion held, the truth of the matter is that right now, Saraki is facing trial over alleged violation of assets declaration while in office as former Governor.

What chances for Saraki?

The truth of the matter is that the Senate President is right now facing a serious battle of his life. Expectedly, he might think that he would stall the trial and possibly defer his removal in office through the instrumentality of the nation ’s legal systems, which has in the past served such heinous purposes.

However, sensing the determination of the forces who want him out of office by all means, it is yet to be seen how, Saraki would be able to wriggle out of this current mess.

For now, it is not contestable that Saraki ’s detractors will stop at nothing to see him out of office. The rumour that Buhari vowed that he would not send his ministerial list to Saraki for vetting appear to be making more sense now following the pace of the Senate President ’s trial.

Already, there are indications that Buhari may not live up to his earlier pledge that he would make the list of his ministers public before the end of September. Part of the reasons for this U-turn, Sunday Mirror gathered, was to enable the removal of Saraki from office as the Senate President to be concluded before the ministerial list would be out. Right now, the best lovers and sympathisers of Saraki could do is to wish him well.

Nigerians await Buhari ’s cabinet CONTINUED FROM PAGE 53

new rules of conduct and good governance in place.

“I was elected on a platform of change. I know this is what the people of Nigeria desire more than anything else. I know they are impatient for action. I realise the world waits to see evidence that my administration will be different from all those that came before. Yet reforming my country after so many years of abuse cannot be achieved overnight ”.

Buhari further said he was working towards appointing only those he perceived as patriotic, decent and experienced Nigerians as ministers in his government. The President, who was responding to questions on a television programme, said politicians and technocrats would make the list of nominees of ministerial appointments.

“From what I have seen so far, we

need really patriotic Nigerians – Nigerians that can work very hard, knowledgeable, experienced, committed Nigerians – to be in charge of ministries.

A lot of the institutions of Nigeria – important institutions – were compromised. Everybody was for himself and God for all of us; it ’s most unfortunate. ” The President said last week that he would appoint ministers in September after instilling some degree of ethics and reforms in governance.

The President promised not to appoint those he described as “hostages. ” By this, he said he meant people who have compromised their personal and professional integrity. “It is taking so much time because a number of knowledgeable people have been compromised, ” the President explained.

Speaking further, he said, “They have been compromised by people who would like to depend on them to damage our economy and security. This is what we are trying to avoid and I assure you

that so much damage has been done to Nigeria. We cannot rush to give these responsibilities to people that have unfortunately been compromised. ” is full of expectation for Nigerians who are eagerly awaiting the composition of the President Muhammadu Buhari ’s cabinet Nigerians have also offered advice to Buhari as he is set to name his ministers as they urged him to tread carefully and pick those that will not disappoint him.

Giving his advice, a chieftain of the PDP, Senator Lekan Balogun said: He should be careful whoever becomes a minister will become a minister on his goodwill. They should be people who will recognize and respect and reciprocate his goodwill. In other words, they should be mindful of his interest as Mr. President, not those who will come to serve themselves. One of the things that was responsible for the failure of the PDP president is this fac-

tor I am mentioning now . He brought in some people who were working for themselves and were not working for the nation. They were not working for his own interest and yet his goodwill makes them Ministers in the first instance.

“It could happen to President Buhari too , he should be careful and take a cue from what has happened to former President, Goodluck Jonathan. He is a decent person, he is a good intellectual , but he brought in a few people who were not mindful of his interest , how much mindful of the country ’s global interest . He should be careful of such people He should draw a lesson from that and be very mindful of the need to appoint those who are desirous of serving the Nigerian nation and not serving themselves.

This week announcement of cabinet will show Nigerians the direction that Buhari ’s government will be heading to.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politic News

Sunday, September 27, 2015

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‘Buhari govt is tackling endemic negatives ’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 say that, thus far the steps they are taking are commendable to rightly headed people who do not want us to continue in the same very dark path Nigeria state has followed till today. For me it appears an ungodly path of the Nigerian state to be busy clamouring every day that he must appoint ministers. He must appoint this one, and that one. What are you appointing ministers to go and do in the first place? In which part of the Nigerian constitution have they found out that Buhari must appoint ministers within a stipulated time frame? The man in power who is now in seek of relevant information to which most us are not aware is taking his time to do the right thing. For example, I have always canvassed several times that Nigeria needed not the number of people they called ministers either for or of. Chief Obafemi Awolowo governed the entire western region which is now about eight or nine states with about 15 or 16 ministers. Look at those states now and look at the number you have in the executives. As soon as you appoint them you are going to give them new cars. You go and hire house for them or you monetized all these.

Now they have authority, to appoint their own special assistants, in addition to personal assistants. You must pay their drivers. Some of the chief executives must have two or three cars. One must be available for madam to go to market; one must be available to carry their children to schools and back, before the Oga can perform his duties. I saw the face of shameless characters when Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola did not appoint commissioners for long and they kept on abusing him. But the man know what he was doing, he look at the entire income, the entire money that comes into the coffers of Osun State. And he must have said to himself that if I had removed these ones to pay the commissioners, their special assistants, the personal assistants, and buy vehicles for them how much would remain. And in any case may be for reasons of ignorance or for mischief they failed to understand that in the last 16 years Nigeria has been spending between 78 and 82 per cent of her total earnings to run her bureaucracy, which you called recurrent expenditure. Where is the money for any capital project for any development? And so the clamour is that it does not make sense to just what the military fashioned in the 1999 constitution and said one minister per state. While must you continue in that kind of shoddy state. This government is working on the basis of reducing from 36 or 38 to 19 or 20. The Chief Executive who was elected by the people to provide services must be see of relevant facts to be able to say these following departments, agencies and the likes can go together under one ministry. That is what is being done. So for me I would rather have their snail- speed than to have the jet speed of the marauders who had governed us. That is my preliminary observation as to my understanding of what had happened since they came to office.

Don ’t you think the crisis in the national assembly will be a burden on the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to really move ahead with his programme for the country?

Whether we like it or not one fact is

Opadokun

YOU KNOW ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO MONTHS AGO I SAID BUHARI CANNOT FIGHT CORRUPTION WITH SARAKI AS THE LEADER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. I REMAINED VERY FAITHFUL TO MY RECOMMENDATION

starring us at the face and that has to do with the readiness and the willingness of the party in office to enforce discipline internally. Before anyone calls himself a member of a political party he must have read the party ’s constitution as it relates to its aims and objectives. He must be abreast of the manifesto of the party.

For you to be registered as a member, you must have subscribed willingly, voluntarily to the constitution and the manifesto. So whenever, a party man having run on a party platform decides to frustrate or to deny or to work totally against the party ’s cardinal position on any subject matter, the party must be alive enough to enforce stiffest sanction that is available particularly when the purpose of which the party man decided to do is a total rebellion to bring the party low and subject it to ridicule. Under I think section 9 and several sub-sections in the APC constitution which they presented to the nation and which is in the public domain. Any conduct that brings the party into public ridicule and contempt must be visited with stiffest punishment that is available.

So what happened at the National Assem-

bly has to be understood in that respect.

Some of us are not partisan politicians but we have suffered as activists. Some of us, we paid our sweat some of us lost our blood, some of us lost our liberty and freedom while some lost their lives to restore Nigeria to the current state where we are. We thought that Nigeria are making a choice among the political parties that were around .Two of them seems to me the largest. Many Nigerians made a choice of All Progressive Congress, APC as opposed to the PDP. But it is sad that some members from APC can collaborate with the opposition, PDP for their own selfish gain, giving the impression that they can undermine the party in order for them to emerge as leaders of the National Assembly, those members do not wish the party well, and they do not want the party to remain in office. They have given earliest indication that they can undermine and they will continue to undermine the party about its programmes execution.

Therefore such leaders don ’t deserve to remain in office. So as they keep on now to trying to massage the ego of Presi-

dent Buhari and his running mate, if the party fails to impose the stiffest sanction on them , the party will pay dearly for it. There is no other offence that can be much more grievous than what they have done. Their party , the APC , in attempting to mend fences wrote the so called senate president and the speaker of the House of Reps , this is the party ’s wish for principal offices in your own area of the national assembly one of them eventually , Dogara eventually accepted Femi Gbajabiamila, other things remain the same . The distinguished medical doctor/ political juggernaut had refused to obey the party ’s wish, yet we are reading from various newspapers account his people they are going round to appeal to people so that the party leaders and the president can accommodate their wickedness. So I do not believe that the party will help itself if they submit themselves to such ridicule.

They have been ridiculed publicly, and come to think of it, it was a deliberate act, in every matter if a group of people decided to go and forge party rules in order for them to emerge as leaders and they are now going round to beg people and they think that should be enough, I know such talks are idle talks . What are you talking about, the party says this is what we want, you are not being forced to come to APC, you came voluntarily, you knew the rule, and you undermine the rule. And to give it further dents, you went ahead to forge the House rule. I felt again embarrassed when I read in the papers that a supposedly Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Richard Akinjide said the affairs of the National Assembly is their private matter. I don ’t know where he read his law, that forgery is a matter for the National Assembly to deal with. Forgery is a criminal offence and we have a criminal code that tells us as to what must be done.

So the Nigeria police had concluded its investigation and they have established that the House rule that was used by the 7th Assembly had been tampered with, had been forged. It is on the basis of this forgery that the so called new leaders have emerged. Since, that is the nature there is no ‘I beg you sir ’ in this matter they just must go. And they must face the consequence of forgery as enunciate in our law.

So I have no doubts in my minds, there is no way by which the Nigeria nation, can go on keeping these shameless forgers to continue in office. They must pay for the consequences of their action so that it will serve as deterrents for others to come.

You know about a month or two months ago I said Buhari cannot fight corruption with Saraki as the leader of the national assembly. I remained very faithful to my recommendation.

But some people believe that meting out punishment to Saraki and others may break the party and they feel that it will be too early for the ruling party to face such a crisis now. What is your position on this?

I don ’t know what you mean by breaking the party. A group of people who called themselves members of the party have openly rebelled and they want to sustain the rebellion, then you say the party should not break. It is your refusal to impose sanctions on the erring members that disobeyed the party that will break the party. Because if there is no deterrents, what will restrain other people from doing worst things to the party. That is where I stand.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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with OBASOLUYI TELEWA 07033840936 Email: bazo_ telewa@yahoo.com

STORIES THAT TOUCH YOU Sunday, September 27, 2015

How police nabbed couple, native doctor over sale of two weeks old baby OBASOLUYI TELEWA

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he police in Lagos have arrested a trado-medical doctor and couple over the sale of a two-week-old baby. The incident happened around Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos State.

Our correspondent gathered that the couple, Dele and Oluwakemi Ayangbile, who had also been arrested by the police, allegedly paid the sum of N300,000 to the native doctor before taking the baby to their apartment at the Mile 12 area of the state.

Sunday Mirror gathered that the mother of the baby, 29-year-old Idiat Babatunde, was a student of a polytechnic in Osun State.

According to investigations, the undergraduate was preparing for her convocation when she was delivered of the baby on Saturday, September 5.

It was reliably gathered that Idiat had a quarrel with her husband prior to delivery. She then took the baby to Onalaja, who is said to be a family friend, on September 13, and requested that he kept the child for her, while she travelled to school in Osun.

Onalaja, a resident of Ikola Odunsi Street at Iyana-Ipaja, however, invited the Ayangbiles and sold the baby to them for N300,000, it was gathered. It was further revealed that the police thereafter arrested the Ayangbiles, as well as Onalaja.

The wife, Oluwakemi, said she had been barren since 2009 when she got married, adding that Onalaja, who was a family friend, had earlier advised her to adopt a child.

According to her, “I have known the traditional doctor since 2013. I got married in 2009 and I used to have miscarriages. It was while looking for treatment that I met him. In 2014, he advised that I

NEWS

Arase

should adopt a baby, but I did not agree.

“Two Mondays ago, he called me on the telephone and said I should meet him.

He told me that he had a baby at hand to give us, adding that he would obtain all the necessary papers. I then discussed it

with my husband and he said we should go for the baby since Onalaja was going to get the papers. He did not tell us that the baby ’s mother was not aware of the transaction.

“I paid him N300,000, and brought the

baby home. But after three days, the police came to arrest my husband and I. We have been barren for six years, and we need a child. We mean no harm to the baby, ” Oluwakemi said.

While speaking with journalists, Onalaja disclosed to journalists that he collected only N156,000 from the couple, which was the sum to process papers from the government ministry in Alausa.

He said, “The agreement between the mother of the baby and I was that I would take it to an orphanage. The mother agreed to collect the baby back after three months in government ’s custody.

“It is true that I collected N156,000 from Kemi and gave the baby to her. I wanted to take the baby to Alausa to register in an orphanage. But I was called on the telephone that the couple was arrested by the police. That was how I was also arrested. I do not sell babies. The mother is known to me. ” She said, “I had a quarrel with my husband, and so he was not at home when the baby was born. I gave the baby to Onalaja a week after while I went to school. It was when I returned that I realised that my baby had been sold. But I am happy to be reunited with him. ” Speaking on the development,the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, said the baby had been reunited with the parents, while the suspects would be charged to court.

His words: “The couple, who were the beneficiaries of the baby, was arrested alongside the self-styled doctor. The police have recovered the baby and identified the parents.

“Although the baby has been returned to the mother, he is still under the watch of the Family Support Unit of the command. Investigation is almost concluded, and the suspects will appear in court soon. ”

Five feared dead as boat capsizes in Lagos PAUL OMO OBADAN

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ive persons are feared dead when a ferry conveying 20 passengers and two crew members capsized yesterday at Bayeku Igbogbo, on the Ikorodu water ways in Lagos According to the Lagos State Command and Control Centre, a distress call was relayed to its command at about

1.29pm, however, the incident occurred at about 12.00pm according to information made available to the Agency ’s Emergency Response Team by the Head of Operations Lagos State Inland Water Ways Authority.

The captain, his assistant and 20 passengers were on board before the mishap.

Fifteen passengers and two crew members were rescued by local fishermen around Bayeku jetty, Igbogbo. Four of the people rescued were taken to Micai

Hospital at Bayeku Oduloye busstop, three of them are presently responding to treatment while one has been confirmed dead.

Seven others among the rescued passengers were taken to Ikorodu General Hospital, where four were confirmed dead, two were treated and discharged while one is presently receiving treatment and is in a critical condition.

In all, 17 people were rescued which include two crew members and 15 pas-

sengers and five confirmed dead four male adults and one female adult. \ Further investigation revealed that the boat was not in a good condition and the captain who was said to be inexperienced was over speeding when the boat developed some fault in its steering and thereafter capsized.

The captain has since been arrested and is being been interrogated by Marine Police from Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday September 27, 2015

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North

Sunday September 27, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Saudi stampede: Taraba ’s Amirul Hajj, two wives, conrmed dead

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he Taraba State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has confirmed the death of the state ’s Amirul Hajj for the 2015 pilgrimage, Alhaji Abbas Ibrahim, the First-Class ruler of Zing.

Chairman of the board, Alhaji Hamman-Adama Tukur, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview from Sau-

di Arabia.

Tukur explained that the emir died on Thursday during a stampede that claimed the lives of more than 700 pilgrims.

The Zing Traditional Council has also confirmed that the Emir died along with two of his four wives during the stampede.

The victims, among others, were at the site of the Jamrat, where they were to

fulfil one of the Hajj rites of a symbolic stoning of the devil.

Tukur said the body of the late traditional ruler had been recovered and buried in Makkah on Friday.

He disclosed that many indigenes of Taraba were still missing, while a few others, whose names he did not mention, but who sustained injuries, were

receiving treatment in some Saudi hospitals.

Chief Press Secretary to Taraba Governor, Alhaji Hassan Mijinyawa, also confirmed the death of the monarch.

He however said that consultation was still going on between the State Government and the Zing Traditional Council, before a formal pronouncement would be made.

Commandant, NSCDC, Sokoto State, Mr. Adamu Soja (right) and Command ’s Spokesman, Mr. Hamza Adamu, during inspection of 119 jerry cans of PHOTO: NAN petrol products seized from smugglers in Sokoto, recently.

Nasarawa to make provision for IDPs in 2016 budget IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

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asarawa State Government yesterday said it had concluded plans to include rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the 2016 budget proposal.

State Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, disclosed this when he received the state Deputy Governor, Silas Agara, and other top government functionaries who paid

him Sallah homage at the Government House Lafia.

The decision of the state government to that effect according to the governor, “was that my government has discovered that what the people needed at this material time is beyond relief materials but economic empowerment to be able to revive their communities ”.

Hitherto, Al-Makura was optimistic that the budgetary provision for the rehabilitation of the

IDPs would, in no small measure, address most of their challenges and create avenues for genuine economic activities within the affected communities.

He then assured that his administration would continue to ensure the unity of people in the state hence he urged people to encourage tribal marriages and peaceful co-existence among their communities, even as he called on community lead-

ers and people of the state to reject any form of violence and come together as one.

Agara had during the homage promised the governor that all government political appointees wiould do their best to support the success of his administration, adding that the visionary leadership quality of Al-Makura would go a long way in sustaining the much needed development and creating a better future for the state.

Rainstorm destroys 200 houses in Zaria, Sabon-Gari

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ainstorm yesterday destroyed no fewer than 200 residential houses and shops in Zaria and parts of Sabon-Gari local council of Kaduna State, the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports.

The storm also destroyed electric installations and brought down trees which blocked some streets.

The areas worse hit are Sabon-Gari, Samaru, Danmagaji, Wusasa, Kofar

Gayan Low Cost Housing Estate and parts of Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic temporary site, among others.

A NAN correspondent, who visited the affected areas, saw residents trying to salvage some items, while the debris of destroyed structures were being cleared.

Efforts to speak with the Interim Management Committee Chairman of Zaria local council, Alhaji Ja ’afaru Abbas, were not

successful but a top official of the council confirmed the extensive damage by the storm.

“We have been trying to see how we can assist the victims, ’ ’ the official said, pleading anonymity.

A cross section of victims who were interviewed expressed shock at the incident, describing it as the worst in the past 10 years.

One of the victims, Malam Sani Aliyu, described the development as

``the will of God Almighty ’ ’ that no human could have stopped.

He appealed to the relevant authorities to come to their aid to cushion the effect of the rainstorm.

Another victim, Alhaji Ilyas Is ’haq of Sabongari, said that the disaster came at a time when people had no money at hand, hence the need for the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency, to urgently assist the victims.

The Tafidan Zing, Gurama Bawa, who confirmed the death of the wives in an interview with NAN, said the late

emir was aged 62 and had been on the throne for 19 years.

He left behind two wives and 13 children.

Ilorin Eid ground attack sin against God, says Emir WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

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he Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim SuluGambari, yesterday condemned what he called an attempted effort to disrupt Eid payers in the state capital on Friday.

Making the first public statement on the widely reported disruption of prayers at the Eid-Praying ground where the Senate President Bukola Saraki was allegedly stoned, the emir described the incident as “an offence against God ”.

He made the remark during his traditional yearly Eid Kabir homage to the governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, at the Government House, GRA, Ilorin.

“The efforts of the mis-

creants to defile the sanctity of the place of worship and deny Muslims their right of worship are condemnable and a possible invitation of the wrath of Allah whose abode the miscreants invaded, ” the emir said.

He called on the people of Ilorin to train their children so that they would conduct themselves in a manner that would not “taint the good image of Ilorin Emirate and Kwara State as peace-loving and united entities ”.

Responding, Governor Ahmed said despite the fact that the September federal allocation had not been received; his administration had paid the state civil servants and facilitated loans for local government councils to offset local government workers ’ salaries.

Saraki: We voted for change not war, northern youths tell APC A ZA MSUE KADUNA

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northern-based group, Coalition for popular participation, CPP, has appealed to emirs, chiefs and elder statesmen to urgently intervene in the ongoing face-off between Senate President Bukola Saraki and President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement signed by the coalition ’s National Coordinator, Tasiu Muhammad Ringim, the group maintained that the youth voted for change and not war within APC as being displayed by its chieftains.

The coalition argued that Saraki ’s case before the Code of Conduct Tribunal over alleged assets declaration was not in the best interest of the nation rather for a few political power brokers who were bent on removing him.

The coalition however called on President Buhari to prevail on the polity so as not to provide an entry point for the enemies of Nigeria to derail our hard-

earned change.

The statement reads in part: “The curiosity of our organisation informs us that there is a teeming beneficiary cabal waiting to exploit the hitherto internal party concern to become a magnified national crisis and ego-driven personal tussle between President Muhammadu Buhari and Senator Bukola Saraki. ” Meanwhile, youths of APC in the North have accused the presidency and party leaders of the party of allegedly masterminding the war of litigation facing the Senate president on his assets declaration, stressing that all governors and senators of the party should also declare their assets and the legitimacy of such declarations be probed.

Speaking yesterday in Kaduna, the group led

by Alhaji Shehu Ibrahim Umar lamented that contrary to the party ’s claim of safeguarding internal democracy and upholding the party ’s unity of purpose, the APC had vowed to remove Saraki and warned of dire consequences.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South

Sunday September 27, 2015

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Why APC is opposed to Ekiti Airport project –PDP ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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eoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti yesterday claimed that the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state is opposed to the Ekiti Airport project because the erstwhile APC government lacked the political will to execute it.

The PDP said: “The APC is ashamed that a PDP government is showing the political will to do the project ”, hence unnecessary criticisms.

In a statement in Ado Ekiti, PDP State Public-

ity Secretary, Mr Jackson Adebayo, stated: “The APC lacked the political will to do it while running the affairs of the state.

Also, the APC thrives in making false promises while canvassing voters ’ support and later abandoning the people and not fulfilling such promises after elections. ” Adebayo said Ekiti people had seen through the deceit of the APC and would not fall victims again, adding: “The APC is known for reneging on its promises and this, the people of Ekiti State have known ”.

Adebayo was react-

ing to a statement last week by the APC which described the planned airport project by the state governor as unnecessary and a drain pipe to siphon money from the state ’s treasury as well as a move to neglect initiatives for the growth of local economy for the masses of the agrarian state.

But the PDP spokesperson, who went down memory lane, stated: “We all remember that during the tenure of APC chieftain, Niyi Adebayo, he said the state had no money to dualise any road in the state, Ayo Fayose came on board and dual-

ised all the major entry points to Ado-Ekiti.

“Segun Oni, then of the PDP, came and in 2009 saw the need for an airport in the state and we know what happened to his government shortly after. Kayode Fayemi of the APC came and made political statement about the project to win support, but abandoned if thereafter.

“Fayose is in the saddle now. The political will and prudence that the APC lacks, he has and is showing them. This is not strange. The PDP is known for scoring first in good things in Ekiti State.

“All the states that were created in 1996 like Ekiti have airports or at least airstrips. The APC is only showing malice and bitterness about the project because they know that

by God ’s grace, the project will be executed by the present PDP government and airplanes will land on Ekiti soil very soon.

“Leaders, stakeholders including traditional rulers in Ekiti State who mean well for the state and the people are solidly behind the project. They know there is need to open up the state for businesses. They know that if

it is a standard airstrip they state deserves one.

“If the APC has started to experience belly aches because of the airport project, we advise them to be ready to take more analgesic, as the governor and the PDP will deliver to the good people of the state many goodies. One of it is that flyovers will be built to decongest traffic in some points in AdoEkiti, ” he said.

Adebayo enjoined the people to continue their support for the present government and the PDP, as the administration would deliver to them more dividends of democracy.

JTF arrest two oil thieves, impounded 8 barges loaded diesel OSAHON JULIUS YENAGOA

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L-R: Member, Osun State House of Assembly representing Odo-Otin State Constituency, Hon. Oyeniran Olaolu; Speaker, State House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salaam; former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, during the visit of Prince Oyinlola to Hon. Salaam on the occasion of Ileya festival in Osogbo, yesterday.

I ’am focused on developing Osun, says Aregbesola

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overnor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has said the myriad of awards and accolades that the state has received under his watch will continue to be a motivation for him to leave behind a good legacy of a modern, developed and prosperous state.

Aregbesola, according to a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, spoke in Lagos while receiving an award from the Law society of the University of Lagos over the weekend at the Eko Hotel, Lagos.

In the governor ’s speech entitled “Strictly for those that can see ”, Aregbesola was quoted as noting that he wouldl be focused and determined

at all times not minding detractors to leave behind a far better state than what he inherited.

He pointed out that he was encouraged with the various laurels that had come to the state in recent past recognising the developmental projects his administration had brought to Osun.

Aregbesola while recounting his various developmental projects said his administration when it came on board commenced the building of new state-of-the art 100 elementary schools, 50 middle schools and 20 high schools.

He added that his administration introduced the revolutionary Opon Imo which contains all the recommended textbooks for all subjects ex-

amined by WAEC, NECO and JAMB. Aregbesola noted that the present administration had rehabilitated all the hospitals in the state, stocked them with drugs and made the provision of qualitative healthcare free, as part of the human development programme.

“You have decided to honour me, in your own words, on the basis of my achievements in office, considering the infrastructural development I have put in place in the State of Osun; and you have also considered how I have managed the economy of the state, making me to be worthy of emulation.

“I am honoured by your kind words. For considering me worthy of your honour, God will honour

you too. I am particularly struck by your observation of the infrastructure development our administration has carried out in Osun.

“Before our coming, Osun could be rightly described as backward.

Development is often measured by the quality of human development in terms of education, health, standard of living of the people and the built environment, among others.

“In our first 100 days, we engaged 20,000 youths in the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) and doubled the figure after two years. For this reason, the Federal Office of Statistics recorded Osun as having the least unemployment figure in the country.

he Joint Military Task Force, JTF, has impounded eight large barges loaded with illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO) popularly called diesel and arrested two suspected oil thieves and also confiscated 23 empty barges reportedly used for illegal oil deals.

Commander of JTF, nicknamed Operation Pulo Shield, OPS, Maj. Gen. Alani Okunlola, conducted journalists round the seized products and other items close to Onne Port in Rivers State at the weekend.

He said the troops from OPS ’ Sector 2 achieved the feat on September 23 during an anti-illegal oil bunkering operation at Tamunotonye Ama village in

Ogu Bolo local council in Rivers State.

He said the illegally-refined AGO was loaded in eight large metal barges adding that two of the arrested barges had seventanker truck-loading capacity.

Okunlola said other items found during the operation were large quantities of hoses, 18 pumping machines, 22 illegal product dumps, 44 plastic tanks, three speedboats, two outboard engines and 19 storage tanks loaded with stolen crude oil.

“The sites were destroyed while the barges were towed to Ogoloma jetty. The suspects are in the custody of OPS. The operation is a continuous one aimed at eradication of oil theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta and other oil-producing areas.

Funding, parental attitudes bane for dwindling education THEOPHILUS ONOJEGHEN WARRI

I

nadequate funding as well as untoward parental attitude towards education have been blamed as the biggest challenges facing the growth of private school education in Nigeria.

Popular educationist and proprietress, Macqueen ’s Nursery, Primary and High School in Alegbo-Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, Mrs. Tosan Williams, made this observation during a news briefing to celebrate 30 years anniversary of the

school.

According to her, most parents are in the habit of involving their children and wards in examination malpractice.

She explained that some parents irrespective of their wards ’ preparedness for examinations, go behind to induce officials to enable them pass.

Williams said: “These parents don ’t care on the educational capabilities of their children, especially as regards the grades they make and, in most cases, boycott schools with strict measures and rules to ensure that they bag the required credit. ”

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Valbuena: I’ve always managed to turn things around

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P. 62

SEPTEMBER 27, 2015

N Iheanacho

Super Eagles:

Nigerians queries exclusion of Iheanacho

Iwobi

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Adamu wants Blatter, Platini suspended P. 61

igeria coach Sunday Oliseh has generated another selection controversy after he picked Arsenal starlet Alex Iwobi ahead of another promising youngster Kelechi Iheanacho of Manchester City.

Both players are in the age-group category Oliseh has said he will look at as he begins rebuilding the Super Eagles.

But while Iheanacho has scored his first goal in the English Premier League with City, Iwobi, who at 19 is a year older, has yet to make his competitive Arsenal debut.

Iwobi is registered in the EPL this season mainly because he holds a British passport, while Iheanacho earned his work permit as a “special talent” after he was crowned MVP of the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

This season, Iheanacho has been on the bench for City in the league in six matches and has scored a goal; a famous last-gasp match winner at Crystal Palace.

Iwobi, on the other hand, has yet to be listed even on the bench for Arsenal this season.

Another Nigerian-born youngster, Chuba Akpom, is even ahead of Iwobi at The Gunners and has only been shipped out on loan to Hull City to enjoy regular first-team football and gain more experience.

Iheanacho is also a more versatile player than Iwobi.

The City youngster could play as a left-sided midfielder, playmaker or striker, while Iwobi is a left winger.

And a time when Oliseh’s Eagles are desperately in need of proven class in a problematic midfield, Iheanacho ought to be given a more immediate consideration.

Iheanacho has been capped by Nigeria at U20 level and has trained with the home-based Eagles prior to the 2014 CHAN and would have made the final squad but at the time he was pursuing his move to City.

Iwobi trained with the Nigeria U23, but this was then put on hold as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) needed to clarify his eligibility having played several times for various England age-group teams.

Unlike Liverpool forward Jordon Ibe, Iwobi is not yet knocking on the door of the Three Lions of England.

There are also those who have suggested that Iwobi has only been considered ahead of Iheanacho because he is a nephew of the legendary Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, who is chairman of the NFF study group and a former teammate of coach Oliseh.

Odion Ighalo’s exploits in the English top flight have forced Oliseh to recall the Watford striker after he overlooked him for last month’s AFCON qualifier in Tanzania amid a national outcry.

Iheanaho’s remarkable progress in England ought to have earned him an invite as well on current form and the needs of the Eagles.

With Ighalo now in the team ex international are advising Oliseh to look the way of City kid sensation.

Ene Okon said Ighalo who has scored four league goals for Watford this season, will be better off with Iheanacho striking up a partnership with him.

“I thought Oliseh would invite Iheanacho for the two friendly games.

But I’m disappointed he refused to invite him,” the former BCC Lions star told our correspondent on the telephone on Monday.

“He has his reason for not inviting him. We should respect his decision, because it’s not easy being the national team coach.

“Iheanacho has shown he’s a big talent. I think he will support Ighalo, who has proved he’s a good striker, in our attack.

“If we have Iheanacho playing behind Ighalo and on-loan West Ham forward Victor Moses on the right side of the midfield, we won’t struggle to score goals”, he said.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Sunday September 27, 2015

Adamu wants Blatter, Platini suspended

Knockout

F

ormer Fifa executive committee member, Dr Amos Adamu, has called on the world football governing body’s ethics committee to suspend Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini.

Adamu’s call for two of the most powerful men in world football to be suspended comes after Swiss prosecutors opened proceedings against the outgoing Fifa president, Blatter, over “disloyal payment” to Platini was allegedly uncovered. The amount is believed to be over £1.3 million.

But the 62-year-old Nigerian is “not too surprised” with the happenings in Fifa as he perceived the crisis rocking the world football governing body will erupt at some point. The former Caf executive member further called for “thorough investigation” on Fifa as he feels more scandals will be revealed.

“I am not too surprised because I can see it coming when they started all these corruption charges here and there. I know that somehow

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with

IFEANYI Eduzor

08055829770 ifeduz24@yahoo.com

Adura assures on Olympic qualifier

N

ational

Boxing

Coach,

Adura Olalehin says that the recent good outing of

Nigerian boxers at the All African Games in Congo Brazzaville will spur the pugilists to put up a good performance during the Rio 2016

Amos Adamu

Blatter

when they look at the books they will come out clean; clean in the sense of it.

They have been there for a long time.

They know what is involved there and by and large they will try and hide things. But I am sure if they do more thorough investigation more things will come out,” Adamu said.

The former Director-General of the Nigerian National Sports Com-

mission also described the ongoing inquest into the activities of the world apex football body and its leadership as “unfortunate.”

He, however, tracks the corruption crisis at Fifa back to 2010 when he was suspended from his role as executive committee member. Adamu, who was found guilty by Fifa’s ethics committee alongside Reynald Temarii, for breaching the body’s bribery rules, claimed that he was made a scape-goat.

Olympics qualifiers.

Adura who prior to the Games promised Nigerians that his target was to win four gold medals noted that they did not only met the target but also added three silver medals to their kitty.

“It is a thing of joy that I kept to the

promise I made to Nigerians before the games that we are capable of winning four gold medals. We not only met the target but added three silver medals.

“Having performed well at the All African Games, our focus now is how to put up a good performance at the Olympics.

“Although Olympics is a different ball game, but we have learnt some lessons on how to improve our boxers ahead of the great challenge.

“The coaches are quite aware of the task ahead and will not relent on their efforts to see that Nigeria have a good outing in Brazil.

Rangers keep fumbling Agbim frozen out

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oalkeeper Chigozie Agbim has remained frozen out at Enugu Rangers since his fumbles cost the Enugu club a home game against FC IfeanyiUbah in August.

Rangers lost 3-2 to IfeanyiUbah and Agbim was widely blamed for the home loss and even needed police

escort to escape the wrath of angry fans.

Rangers have picked goalkeepers Akor Itodo and Uche Okafor for Sunday’s gome game against struggling Kwara United.

Others named on the match day squad include Pape Sane, skipper

Okey Odita, Nnamdi Anyasado, Chinedu Justice, Etim Matthew, Hope Fibersima, Christian Madu, Osas Okoro, Bobby Clement, Godwin Aguda, Kola Anubi and Chinedu Udeagha.

Rangers are 12th on the table with 40 points from 30 matches.

Action recorded at the 2015 All African Games in Congo Brazzaville

Kanu Heart Foundation, Vikram to organise health screening AFOLABI GAMBARI

A

rrangements have been concluded by Kanu Nwankwo Heart Foundation in conjunction with Vikram Hospital India to organize health screening for Nigerians.

Coordinator of Kanu Heart Foundation, Onyebuchi Abia told Saturday Mirror that over 1000 people are expected to be receive medical atten-

tion during the programme while inspire nurses network are expected to be on ground to offer voluntary medical assistance to the Indian Doctors.

Abia said that the workshop to be held at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Ikeja is for every one interested in knowing more about his health but particularly as a resource education programme for medical workers.

Permanent Secretary Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Omodele

Joyce Osunkiyesi noted that the aim of the programme is to identify those that have serious cases and proffer medical advice and assistance to them.

“The major objective is to identify those that have serious cases and they would be referred to India for treatments or surgery. A cardiologist from Vikram Hospital would also deliver lecture on Intervention cardiology and it is open for all medical workers”, Osunkiyesi concluded.

Success Tiyu to honour Fresh, Wada, Abel Baba others AFOLABI GAMBARI

O

ne of the fastest growing sports promotion outfits in Nigeria, Success Tiyu is set to honor outstanding Nigerians that have contributed to the development of sports in the country.

Among those that will be decorated with an award of excellence are member of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed Fresh, former President of NFF, Alhaji Sanni Lulu Abdullahi, chairman of Kogi State Football Association, Mallam Umar Isah, his vice,

Mallam Hassan Wada, Chairman of Kogi United and Confluence Queens, Abdul Sule, FIFA referee, Abel Baba and Mrs. Agnes Okai.

Brain behind the concept, Abubakar Musa who is fondly called “Manaman” noted that the award is to say thank you to the sons and daughters from North Central zone of Nigeria who have contributed immensely to the rapid development of sports.

“We identified that some of our illustrious sons and daughters from this zone have been making us proud and we felt that it will be something worthy to appreciate them, spur them to do more and

of course use the medium to tell others to follow suit,” Manaman said.

Among the award recipients for the day also include Honourable Ahmed Don Mohammed, Elder Daniel Olokor, former Chaiman of ABS FC, Kogi United and Confluence FC, Mallam Abdul Adama and Basketball Patron in the country, Justice Nasiru Ajanah.

Others include Professor Aroon Baba, Segun Olobatoke, Alhaji Ahmed Imam and Sunday Okaiyi The inaugural award ceremony will come up in October 3, 2015 at the Hill Top Grant Suites, Lokoja, Kogi State

AAG: Ogbu thumbs up boxing team

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board member of Nigeria Boxing Federation, Osondu Ogbu said that the recent good outing of Nigerian pugilists at the just concluded All African Games is an indication that with proper planning and adequate preparation, the country will regain its leadership position in the pugilist game in the continent.

Ogbu popularly known as Old Skool who is the South/ East representative on the board of the NBF noted that adequate logistics put in place by the Rtd Gen. Kenneth Mimimah led board contributed immensely to the success of

the boxers noting that the NBF boss must be commended for changing the face of amateur boxing in the country. “ I am particularly happy with the logistics put in place by the Gen. Minimah led board which led to the completion of the Brai Ayonote Boxing Gym at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos where the boxers were camped ahead of the tournament in Congo Brazzaville.

“The perfect logistics enabled the boxers and the coaching crew to concentrate in training which accounted for the good result we recorded in Brazzaville and I want all Nigerians to support the board in its drive to change the face of the game.

Helen Joseph eyes rematch against Hans

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fter losing in her bid to win the IBF female featherweight title, Nigerian female boxing sensation, Helen Joseph has challenged the champion, Jennifer Han for a rematch.

Helen last Saturday in El Paso, Texas lost by a unanimous decision to American Hans in a fight which has faced series of postponements in the past.

The Ghana based Nigerian

boxer noted that her loss was a temporary setback; insisting she has what it takes to win the belt if the champion agrees to fight her again.

“I am quite disappointed with the outcome of the fight but I am convinced that if Hans will accept a rematch, I will definitely dethrone her.

“Hans knows that I am better than her but she was just lucky to win the fight and I am promising her that if she gives me a rematch, she will not be second time lucky.

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Sunday September 27, 2015

Simeone

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mathieu Valbuena can justly pride himself on being a key player for France, as he proved again this month with a superb free-kick to help Les Bleus triumph 1-0 in Portugal. Having scored eight times in 50 appearances, the midfielder has earned widespread praise as a gifted picker of defensive locks, not to mention a tireless worker whose energy levels and selflessness demand respect.

But despite his current standing, the 30-year-old had to toil harder than most to carve out a career at the highest level, as he explains in this exclusive interview with FIFA.com.

e v ’ I : a n e Valbu d e g a n a m always s g n i h t n r to tu around FIFA.com: Your passion for football famously began when you travelled to Barcelona with your father as a child.

Could you tell us more about that experience?

Mathieu Valbuena: It’s true that I always went on holiday to Spain, my father’s home country, and I could never resist going to the Camp Nou. The stadium held 115,000 spectators back then and it really made an impression on me. I always went to the museum, to see the boot with which Ronald Koeman scored in the final [of the European Cup in 1992] as well as Hristo Stoichkov’s Ballon d’Or and so on. It was extraordinary for me and I never grew tired of admiring everything there. I only got to see a match once, but I often attended the unveilings of new players followed by training sessions, where 40,000 spectators would show up every time. I was already passionate about the game, but that gave me even more strength and hunger to become a professional.

Which players did you enjoy watching most?

My idol has always been Ronaldo, Il Fenomeno, who could do incredible things with the ball. Romario and Rivaldo also fired my imagination back then and did great things for Barça.

They didn’t play like everyone else – they were football geniuses. When you’re a kid, it’s players like those who get you dreaming. They’re the reason people say football is beautiful, and

they create passion for the sport.

Your own image is that of a player who had to work harder than most to get where you are. Why is that?

It’s never been easy for me because of my build, which raised question marks for a lot of people. I started out at Bordeaux at the age of eight and completed my training there, but when I was 18 and it was time to progress to the first team, they put the brakes on.

It was because of my size, or perhaps because I wasn’t ready to take on the physical challenge at the time. I left and had to finish my training elsewhere, at smaller, amateur clubs. It was tough because when you go from training sessions every day to sessions twice a week, you need to train on your own to be able to continue believing in your dream. When you get rejected at 18 you can’t exactly be a tower of strength, but I busted a gut and never gave up. It ended up making me stronger.

How did you react at the time?

I cried. It really made me sad because I felt like my world was suddenly collapsing. My parents, and my father in particular, were the driving forces who pushed me to keep believing. They told me I was still young and that I needed to work and follow a different path to keep progressing in order to get there in the end. I went to Langon and then Libourne, where it was tough for me to impose myself, but I’ve always been able to achieve my goals.

How did your difficult start in the game

make you stronger?

It was a blessing in disguise. I didn’t get everything hing handed to me on a plate.

Today you see a lot of players who sign professional al contracts very young and suddenly find ind themselves in a comfortable situation. ion. If I’d signed with Bordeaux, perhaps rhaps I never would’ve had the career I’ve had and wouldn’t have become an international. The fact that I was cast aside was like a wake-up call.

What aspect ct of your personality made it possible for you to overcome all those challenges? enges?

I think it’s a kind of carefree attitude. I also had a respect for hard work which I gott from my parents, and I was passionate about football. Football is my whole l i f e and I get huge pleasure from p l ay i n g games o r k i ck i n g the ball around with friends. ds. These days you don’t find as many passionate assionate people in football.

I’m just happy appy when I get to train and kick a ball, l, and when I play I’m not thinking about anything else. That’s what gives me strength.

Does that same quality explain why you have tended ended to perform well in big games?

For me, it’s a pleasure to play in a big game. You have to approach it posi-

tively and enjoy it. If you work hard, you’ll always reap the rewards. It’s true that I got to score in some important matches when I was at Marseille.

My debuts have tended to be successful as well. For example, my first Champions League game was at Liverpool, where I scored. It was the same with my international debut. For me, that’s a positive pressure. I try to make the most of it so as to have no regrets when I end my career.

What do you remember about your international debut?

It was a friendly against Costa Rica towards the end of May 2010, just before the World Cup in South Africa. Before the match, Patrice Evra said to me, “I have a feeling you’re going to score.” Then Abou Diaby gave me the ball after a superb run and, with one of my first touches, I shot and scored. It’s an incredible feelto ing get your f i r s t international goal. To s t a r t out like that, even though I’d only been given 20 minutes on the pitch, set the tone

for what followed and gave me a lot of confidence.

OK, what happened next in South Africa wasn’t great, but I felt positive about

it overall because things went well for me afterwards. It’s never easy to earn your stripes at international level.

How did your experiences at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil change you?

On a personal level, it was an adventure like nothing else I’d ever experienced. Leaving aside the fact that we all performed well, the cohesion in the squad was extraordinary, as were the stadiums and the ambience. And that fact that it was held in Brazil added something very special to the mix. It was a great moment and scoring a goal against Switzerland remains my greatest career memory.

Given your love for the France team, the 2010 World Cup must have been very painful for you. Did reaching the quarter-finals in Brazil go some way to erasing that memory?

A little bit, yes.

It’s true that we’d had a pitiful World C u p , given everything that happened and the e pisode on the bus.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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IFA has confirmed that the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar will be held in the winter, with the final scheduled for December 18.

Concerns were raised about the prospect of a summer tournament when the Gulf nation was initially awarded the hosting rights, with temperatures regularly exceeding 50 degrees Celsius in July and August.

FIFA agreed provisional dates for a winter tournament back in March despite some concerns over the impact of the domestic calendar in European football, especially the Premier League, which does not operate a mid-season break.

Sport

Sunday September 27, 2015

And the Executive Committee ratified the decision on Friday, meaning the finals will begin on November 21 and will conclude on December 18, making it a shorter tournament than the usual 32-day programme.

FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce said earlier this year: “I think it could be a tremendous World Cup because I think players will be fresher than they have ever been.

“It’s going to be 28 days, it’s not a lifetime. It means [domestic leagues] starting three weeks earlier and finishing three weeks later for one year.”

FIFA confirms December World Cup final in 2022

‘I’m never going to walk away’ from Liverpool’

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rendan Rodgers has no intention of turning his back on Liverpool, despite the Reds’ poor start to the 2015-16 season.

The Merseyside manager has been under fire after seeing his side stumble out of the blocks this campaign, only to see the heat increase after they needed penalties to sneak past tiny Carlisle United in their Capital One Cup tie on Wednesday.

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rsenal star Mesut Ozil claims no footballer is worth the 50 million which the Gunners paid to sign him from Real Madrid.

The Germany international became Arsenal’s record signing when he joined from the Liga giants in 2013.

Ozil’s place as the Premier League’s most expensive import has since been eclipsed by both Manchester clubs, with United spending £59.7m (75m) on Angel Di Maria before City splashed out a reported £54.5m (73m) on Kevin De Bruyne.

And Ozil admits there is no top player who is worth such an astronomical fee, telling German publication Express: “No man is worth 50 million, that’s why we have to be careful in the game not to lose our grip on reality.”

Blatter

Brazil court freezes $42m in Neymar assets

Rodgers

Ozil: I´m not worth 50 million eueos

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Neymar

Ozil:

Brazilian court has frozen assets of Barcelona star Neymar, his family and related businesses valued at 188.8 million Brazilian reals ($48 million, 42 million).

The Sao Paulo federal court said on Friday that the 23-year-old is alleged to have evaded 63 million reals taxes in Brazil between 2011 and 2013.

The Brazil team captain moved in 2013 from Brazilian club Santos to Spain’s Barcelona in a transfer whose payment is also under investigation by Spanish tax authorities.

In a statement, Judge Carlos Muta said that Neymar declared assets worth only 19.6 million reals.

The judge says Neymar “is solely responsible for the income declaration.’’

The court has ordered that 150 percent of the funds be frozen to ensure the payment of interests and fines for the alleged tax evasion, judicial sources in Brazil told Correio Braziliense on Friday.

The court said on Friday that it would also freeze assets of Neymar Sr. as well as the following companies: Neymar Sport e Marketing, N & N Consultoria Esportiva e Empresarial and N & N Administração de Bens Participações e Investimentos.

Pellegrini refuses to blame officials M

anchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini refused to blame the match officials following his side’s 4-1 thrashing at Tottenham on Saturday.

Two of Spurs’ goals - the first from Eric Dier and the third from Harry Kane - would not have stood had offside players been spotted by referee Mark Clattenburg’s assistants but Pellegrini was more concerned by his side’s defensive capitulation after they took the lead through Kevin De Bruyne.

The Argentine told BT Sport: “We didn’t play very well in the first half against West Ham, or in the second half here. I don’t want to talk about the goals because it’s a mistake, the referee can make it.

Pellegrini

N I G E R I A

N45bn

Vol. 5 No. 38

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2015

N150

TSA and the universities

Back Page

Comment E-mail:

nwaunah@yahoo.com Jim Unah is Professor of Philosophy, University of Lagos.

with Jim Unah

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www.nationalmirroronline.

-The amount Kogi state Local Government workers received from bailout fund

t the end of the deadline for all Ministries, Departments and Agencies— MDAs—of the federal government to pay all revenues accruing to them to the Treasury Single Account—TSA—as directed by the Presidency some 300,000 MDAs were reported to have defaulted, implying that they disobeyed or disregarded the directive.

For a government that has pledged to tackle official graft head-on through the instrumentality of the TSA, failure to comply, for whatever reason, is unthinkable disgrace; which should be sanctioned appropriately, to send a strong signal that it is no longer business as usual and that the era of impunity is fast fading into history.

Until our leaders who have some pedigree and trusted by the majority as having the capacity to deliver service to Nigerians prove us wrong, every agency of state should be seen to be going along with directives intended as correctives to our national malaise, especially if such directives have their foundation in the country’s subsisting operations manual—the 1999 Constitution.

For a government with a popular mantra of change, the credo of the MDAs should be: “obey first, complain if inconvenient, and get attention if necessary”. It is gratifying to note that some MDAs with peculiar needs to operate their own accounts outside the um-

brella of the TSA are getting attention. The universities, polytechnics and colleges of education—an industry in which I have functioned in the last 30 years—deserve a hearing in the matter of maintaining separate accounts from the TSA. The day by day, hour by hour needs of students, lecturers, medical centers and teaching hospitals in universities and other tertiary institutions make the operation of separate accounts inevitable. For instance, a back-up electricity generator servicing laboratories, libraries, halls of residence, and medical wards with patients on life-support machines could blow up instantly. Without immediate attention unhampered by administrative bottle-necks requiring the instant deployment of funds, situations could go out of control and result in avoidable calamity. Besides, the quotidian needs of direct teaching and laboratory aids so frequently required are such that periodic release of funds from the TSA could never match.

In other words, tertiary institutions’ needs for daily use of materials and response to emergencies and contingencies could be imperiled by delay in processing funds from the TSA. Such institutions depend on the token internally generated revenues at their beck and call to meet those emergencies and contingencies. The wrong place to delay the release of funds to contain emergencies and contingencies are the volatile communities in the country. Tertiary institutions of learning are such volatile communities. The young are impatient, sometimes desperate, and most times aggressive about their demands. It is this category of Nigerians that populate the nation’s institutions of higher learning.

It is my plea that universities, polytech-

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clinic for tests, the club confirmed his period of absence, stating: “Messi has a tear in the internal collateral ligament of his left knee.

He will be out for around

F I G U R E S

N14bn

-The sum Enugu Assembly approved as loan to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi

nics and colleges of education are granted exemption from paying all revenues accruing to them into the TSA. I understand that virtually all of them complied with the directive, even though they have a dire need to operate separate accounts for instant response to needs that cannot wait for the tight bureaucratic time consumption of the TSA. I think that higher education managers appreciate the need for due diligence and proper accountability in operating the corporate accounts of their institutions.

There are adequate checks and balances in tertiary education accounting system to sufficiently reflect the new dispensation’s demand for incorruptibility in the management of public funds. There are governing councils, teaching and non-teaching staff unions as well as the students’ union governments in the tertiary institutions that jointly superintend the execution of major projects in their jurisdictions, to ensure that proper procedures are followed in the application of funds. This does not commit me to be saying that all the institutions of higher learning in the country are efficient in the disbursement of all the funds at their disposal.

Suffice it to state that in tertiary institutions where there are flagrant disregard to proper accounting procedures and due diligence, the convulsions that arise in consequence are so disquieting that national attention is often attracted to such institutions.

The point to be made here is that universities and other institutions of learning should be excused from the TSA to ensure smooth operations in their transactions.

It must also be stated unambiguously that higher education managers should be dutybound to operate their accounts with greater efficiency and transparency once extricated

Messi injured, out for two months arcelona forward Lionel Messi will miss the next seven to eight weeks after sustaining a knee injury in Saturday’s defeat of Las Palmas at Camp Nou. The Argentina international sustained the injury three minutes into the game when visiting defender Pedro Bigas put in a last-ditch challenge to block a shot.

Messi left the pitch to undergo treatment and initially seemed to be ready to continue after rejoining the action but he sat down once more minutes later and was unable to carry on.

Having visited a local

I N

7-8 weeks.”

The news is an obvious blow to Barca coach Luis Enrique with Messi set to miss up to five La Liga games and four in the Champions

League. His obvious comeback target will be the season’s first Clasico against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on the weekend of November 21/22.

IN OTHER WORDS, TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS’ NEEDS FOR DAILY USE OF MATERIALS

AND RESPONSE TO EMER-

GENCIES AND CONTINGENCIES COULD BE IMPERILED

BY DELAY IN PROCESSING FUNDS FROM THE TSA.

SUCH INSTITUTIONS DEPEND ON THE TOKEN INTERNALLY GENERATED REVENUES AT THEIR BECK AND CALL TO MEET THOSE EMERGENCIES AND CONTINGENCIES.

from the trammels of the TSA. They should learn to carry all the stakeholders along and leave no room for idle talk, rumor and unhealthy speculations which imperil even the most genuine of intentions.

Likewise, the orthodox regulatory agencies of the tertiary institutions should be doubly alive to their responsibilities. Exemption of tertiary institutions from the TSA regime should not be construed by the regulator(s) to imply that they should rest on their oars or enter into a spending spree with the school authorities as that would out rightly negate the letter and spirit of their exemption.

This piece does not represent the opinion or thinking of any higher institution of learning in the country.

Premier League Results

Spur 4 - 1 Man City Leicester 2 - 5 Arsenal Liverpool 3 - 2 Aston Villa Man Utd 3 - 0 Sunderland Southampton 3 - 1 Swansea Stoke City 2 - 1 Bournemouth West Ham 2 - 2 Norwich City Newcastle 2 - 2 Chelsea

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