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Jewel of inestimable value

HID Awolowo dies at 99

...Buhari, OBJ, Afenifere, Amosun, others mourn FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

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he matriarch of Awolowo dynasty and Yeye Oodua of the Source, Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, yesterday died in her Ikenne country home in Ogun State, according to family sources.

Mama Awolowo, widow of the late sage and former Premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, died yesterday afternoon at the age of 99.

This was barely two months to her Centenary birthday anniversary, which was already slated for November 25.

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Air Force offers insurgents nal chance to surrender

Opponents plot Saraki ’s removal

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Seven Days

What ’s new Politics

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The travails of a senate president

TALKING POINTS OF THE PAST WEEK September 20, 2015

Rivers tribunal: INEC denies ballot box snatching

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ndependent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday told the Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja that contrary to evidence of witnesses that were produced by the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its gubernatorial candidate in the state, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, there was no incidence of ballot- snatching or multi-

ple thump-printing of ballot papers at Obiakpo.

The witness, Mr. Ebikoru Tebekaemi, who told the tribunal that he was the electoral officer that superintended the governorship poll at Obiakpo Local Government Area in Rivers State, insisted that election was duly conducted in 15 of 17 wards in the local government area.

Nigerian pilgrim dies in Mecca crane tragedy

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I ’m a fashion addict –Ruth Ayabina Wellness

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Controlling the incidence of Sepsis

ational Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, yesterday said a pilgrim from Kaduna State was among the 107 people who died in Saudi Arabia on Friday, when a huge crane crashed through the Holy Ka ’aba Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Boko Haram insurgency ’ll end in 8 weeks –Army

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epsis is a life threatening complication of infection. It is a global healthcare problem which often occurs in people who are elderly or have weak immune systems. It is more common than heart attack, and claims more lives than cancer diseases. It remains a leading cause of death in developed and developing countries.

A statement issued by Head, Media, Kaduna State Task Force on Hajj 2015, Alhaji Saidu Adamu, said NAHCON has identified the deceased as Alhaji Adamu Shuaibu Kargi who hailed from Kubau Local Government.

hief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, yesterday declared that the military would end Boko Haram insurgency in the next eight weeks to meet the three months presidential deadline.

One month has passed since President Muhammadu Buhari gave the military three months to put

an end to the Boko Haram carnage in the North East.

Buratai, answering questions from journalists shortly after declaring open the 10th Nigerian Army Finance Corps Biennial Training Conference, 2015, held in Kaduna, noted that with the military winning the war on daily basis, it was possible to meet the deadline.

Again, Wada picks PDP ticket against all odds

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olitics is indeed war without bloodshed as propounded by the late Chinese leader, Chairman Mao Tse Tung. This was manifested in the just concluded Kogi State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship primary election which came up last Monday.

It was a war between the centripetal and centrifugal

forces as to who becomes the next governor of Kogi State on the platform of the PDP. God ’s intervention and voice of reasoning seemed to have stopped history repeating itself, when a sitting governor was denied the opportunity to seek second term in office in Bayelsa State in 2011 by power that be then.

SAHCOL may sack 250 workers over ‘redundancy ’

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kyway Aviation Handling Company, SAHCOL, may any moment from now disengage about 250 workers from its payroll over what it termed “rightsizing and redundancy. ” This is also as the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company, NAHCO Plc, has finally agreed to promote 400 staff, who had not been promoted for over eight years.

A source in SAHCOL yesterday told our correspondent that the management had drawn up list of those to be sacked with three months gross pay as compensation irrespective of the number of years they have put into the company.

According to the source, the

management gave the poor economy as an excuse to lay off the workers.

Acting General Secretary, National Union of Air Transport Workers, NUATE, Comrade Olainka Abioye confirmed the development in an interview with our correspondent.

He, however, said the unions would not assent to such maltreatment of workers in the ground handling company.

Spokesman for NAHCO, Mr. Tayo Ajakaye confirmed an ongoing meeting with the industry unions, but noted that both parties were yet to reach agreements on contending issues.

Shafar Cole CEO SHAFCOLE USHRETTES

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First and foremost I would like to say that I work with E star Television for Africa. So, on Mondays when I get to the office, I arrange the station ’s movies schedule for the week.

TUE

Passion

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

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There seems to be no respite for the embattled Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki as the Federal Ministry of Justice last Friday asked the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja to issue bench warrant for his arrest for his failure to turn up before the Tribunal .

now in military custody.

This disclosure is contained in a statement signed

by Col. Tukur Gusau, the Deputy Director Army Public Relations.

The statement reads: “The arrest of the accomplices were made possible after a Boko Haram terrorist, who was earlier arrested confessed to Joint Investigation Centre that the suspected persons were in the business of producing ID cards for the terrorists group.

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, approached the appellate court to challenge the decision of the tribunal, asking the court to set aside the decision of the tribunal to hear Alex Otti ’s petition because it was not properly filed.

However, in a unanimous ruling delivered by Justice H.A, Baka and Justice J.S. Abiriu, the Appeal Court overruled Ikpeazu, saying the governorship election petition tribunal reserved the right to keep all the motions till the final date.

ourt of Appeal sitting in Owerri, Imo State capital, yesterday struck out an appeal filed by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State against the ruling of Abia State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia.

The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal had earlier struck out the governor ’s application, stating that all preliminary objections should be taken along with the substantive petition.

But the governor and his

On Wednesdays I do go to a movie location and get updates of the movie they are shooting for a segment on my show which is known as Nollywood-In-Check which I present every Wednesday from 5-6pm and every Sunday from one pm to two pm

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en of the 7 Division, Nigerian Army, in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, yesterday identified a business centre, which specialised in the production of fake National Identity Cards and other documents for terrorists.

The business centre, located around the popular and busy Post Office area of the metropolis, was be ing operated by Mr. John Zakariya and Mallam Makinta Umarm, who are

Abia governorship: Again, Appeal Court dismisses Ikpeazu ’s appeal

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Boko Haram: Military arrests producer of fake ID cards for terrorists

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

Most Fridays, I go for movie premiers

On Saturdays, I record my show which I told you is Nollywood-In-Check. That is when interviews, movie location updates, premiers and new movies are reviewed.

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

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Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Big Read SUNDAY SPECIAL INVESTIGATION

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SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2015

Fleeing death: The global refugee crisis The global refugee crisis and number of displaced persons has hit an all-time high. The surge by refugees into Europe has created nightmares for the home countries. PAUL OMO OBADAN examines the trend and how this problem could be assuaged.

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n recent weeks, chaos at border crossings and train stations across Europe, squalid conditions in makeshift refugee camps and a heartbreaking photograph of a drowned Syrian toddler have all helped bring Europe’s refugee crisis into global spotlight. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency UNHCR, more than 380,000 migrants and refugees have landed on Europe’s southern shores so far this year, up from 216,000 arrivals in the whole of 2014. They are fleeing persecution, poverty and conflicts that rage beyond the continent’s

‘WARS, CONFLICT FUELING REFUGEE CRISIS’

borders, but not all manage to reach safety. This year alone, 2,850 people have drowned in the Mediterranean.

Ukraine and Iraq have partly driven the crisis, but more than half of all refugees worldwide in 2014 came from just three countries: Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia.

The increased numbers have also been encouraged by German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s pledge to Syrians that if they could manage to reach Germany, they could apply for asylum there – effectively suspending an E.U. law that requires the first country an asylum seeker arrives in

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to be responsible for documenting and processing his or her application, and resettling them. The rule has placed a disproportionate burden on the southern countries of Italy, Greece and Malta, who see the most arrivals from the Mediterranean.

Today, the world refugee crisis coupled with the surges in internally displaced persons appears to be getting worse. A U.N. report released a couple of days back estimates the number of forcibly displaced people to be nearly 60 million, a 40 per cent increase within the past three years alone.

The UNHCR report says more than half of those displaced are children, with aid reaching breaking point.

In today’s world, displacement emergencies erupt with alarming regularity. Whether it’s a sudden outbreak of fighting that has forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes, or a massive earthquake displacing hundreds of thousands, a rapid humanitarian response

‘MIGRANTS HOPE FOR BETTER LIFE IN EUROPE’

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The Big Read

Sunday September 20, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Wars, conflicts fuelling migrants’ crisis’

Refugees sit under a bridge at the border between Austria and Germany, in Freilassing, southern Germany this morning

African refugees

Refugees are making increasingly desperate attempts to cross Europe. A group of migrants are pictured trying to cross the river Sutla near Senkovec, Croatia on their way to Slovenia

Refugees from Eritrea

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 is crucial if lives are to be saved. As the international community continues to grapple with the challenges posed by surge, worldwide, the UN estimates there are now 33.3 million internally displaced people.

Large numbers of refugees and IDPs fleeing to new areas inevitably put a strain on resources, and can even destabilize host countries.

All through the Syrian crisis, Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey have kept their borders open. Lebanon now hosts more than a million Syrian refugees, meaning a quarter of its total population is Syrian. The pressure on housing, education and health services is causing tensions in a country, which itself has a history of conflict.

The biggest driver of the crisis by far is Syria. Four million people, nearly a fifth of Syria’s population, have fled the country since the war began in 2011.

It’s not hard to understand why Syrians are fleeing.

Bashar al-Assad’s regime has targeted civilians ruthlessly, including with chemical weapons and barrel bombs; ISIS has subjected Syrians to murder, torture, crucifixion, sexual slavery and other appalling atrocities; and other groups such as Jabhat al-Nusra have tortured and killed Syrians as well.

Most of these Syrian refugees have ended up in underfunded and crowded camps in neighboring countries. But seeing little future for their families in the camps, and knowing they may never be able to return home, many have decided to set out on the dangerous and uncertain journey for a better life in Europe.

But it’s not just Syria; older, longer-running conflicts have displaced, for instance, 1.1 million refugees from Somalia and 2.59 million from Afghanistan.

Political and sectarian repression in other countries has contributed as well. Many families in Eritrea, for example,

MOST OF THESE SYRIAN REFUGEES HAVE ENDED UP IN UNDERFUNDED AND CROWDED CAMPS IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES.

have fled the dictatorship there. In Myanmar, a Muslim minority group known as the Rohingya has endured brutal violence and ethnic cleansing, sometimes with the tacit support of the Myanmar government or even at the hands of government forces themselves. Fleeing Rohingya made headlines after thousands became stranded at sea, marooned in dangerous boats because neighboring countries refused to take them in.

But the global refugee crisis is more than just a collection of these individual humanitarian disasters. There are a few common elements tying much of them together. One of them is the Arab Spring, the wave of anti-government protests that hit the Middle East in 2011.

How Arab Spring jump-started the refugee crisis For years, the EU kept refugees out of sight and out of mind by paying Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi’s government to intercept and turn back migrants that were heading for Europe.

Gadhafi was something like Europe’s bouncer, helping to keep the potentially significant number of African migrants and refugees from ever reaching the continent.

His methods were terrible: Libya imprisoned migrants in camps where rape and torture were widespread. But Eu-

rope was happy to have someone else worrying about the problem.

But then came the Arab Spring. In 2011, Libyans rose up against Gadhafi, Europe and the US eventually intervened, and with Gadhafi’s regime gone, Libya collapsed into chaos. Though the journey through Libya remained dangerous, it was also suddenly open, making it easier for both refugees and economic migrants from across Africa to use the country’s shores as a launching pad for the crossMediterranean journey to Europe.

At the same time, the Arab Spring also helped lead to Syria’s war, and to conflict in Yemen, and eventually to the rise of ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Syria’s neighbors are hosting the majority of Syrian refugees, often in camps that lack sufficient food, shelter, or other resources.

As the crisis has grown, and particularly as more refugees have left camps in places such as Jordan or Myanmar and set out for wealthier countries, the crisis has also become far more difficult to ignore.

This summer, the European Union, United States, and Kuwait respectively pledged $1.2 billion, $507 million, and $500 million for aid to refugees. That’s good, but it’s still far short of the $5.5 billion in aid that the UN says is needed for these refugees, as well as another $2.9 billion for displaced Syrians within Syria. As a result, the camps are often crowded and undersupplied, which leaves the people who live in them cold, hungry, and subject to the ravages of disease.

And so, hundreds of thousands of refugees have made their way to Europe, with most crossing the Mediterranean in rickety boats and rubber dinghies. Those boats are barely seaworthy, so tragedies are frequent.

UNCHR estimates that 2,500 people have died just this CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

The Big Read

Sunday September 20, 2015

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Tackling refugee crises requires coordination – DG, NEMA refugees from Cameroun and Niger has changed the humanitarian outlook from short-term relief intervention to rehabilitation, reconstruction and recovery of the affected persons A committee for safe return, reconstruction and rehabilitation of the North-East has been set by the President of Nigeria.

NEMA has distributed return packages for returnees in liberated LGAs of Adamawa State while working towards empowering the most vulnerable groups especially women through training and the provision of tools on sewing, weaving, food processing, small scale fish farming, market gardening etc.

The Federal Government and private sector partnership initiatives for the North-East have been put in place.

These include the SSI, PINE and the VSF. Under the SSI more than 2,000 students have been transferred to unity colleges outside the North-East.

The Federal Government is working with state governments, the private sector, local and international donor Agencies, the UN System and development partners to ensure the sustainable recovery of the North-East.

The Federal Government plans for a more resilient reconstruction of damaged infrastructure and services for the entire region.

Director General National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi sheds more light on the disturbing internal displaced persons and global refugee crisis in this interview with PAUL OMO OBADAN A section of the people feel NEMA is not doing enough to alleviate the plight of the IDPs? Attacks by Boko Haram Islamists have sent more than 2.1 million people fleeing their homes in northeast Nigeria. The task is enormous and NEMA is in full grasp of the situation. In situations of emergency, perceived to be beyond the capacity of the affected state to cope, whether natural like the 2012 flood disaster or human induced like the ongoing insurgency in the North East, the government through the coordinating and integrating platform of the NEMA provides to the various needs of the vulnerable populations, ranging from search and rescue, temporary shelter, non-food items, food and nutrition, camp coordination and camp management, protection, security, basic education, water sanitation and hygiene, logistics and telecommunication.

To ensure efficient management of camps, trained personnel in camp coordination and camp management (CCCM) are deployed to manage camps and to provide to the specialized needs of vulnerable populations during emergencies.

Emergency education for IDPs Children became a major priority after unprecedented insurgency attacks on students, teachers and schools infrastructure.

The Safe School Initiative has provided for the transfer of 2,400 students from high risk areas in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, 800 each to 43 Federal Unity Colleges across the country. The Safe School also provided for schooling of IDPs at camps through UNICEF. In the area of water and sanitation, Federal Government is currently complementing the effort state Government by deployment of water tankers to provide clean drinking water and sinking of boreholes in some IDPs Camps with severe shortage of water for drinking and domestic use.

Federal Government through NEMA, provides medical consumables to Health facilities treating victims of Insurgency attacks in the S.O.E in complimenting the effort of the state governments. It has also deployed ambulances at strategic locations to support and evacuate victims to hospitals or provide first Aid were necessary.

The recent decade has recorded significant growth in the number of reported natural disasters such as droughts, floods and epidemics including the Ebola scourge in the West Africa Sub Region and indeed the continent at Large. Nigeria has also witnessed increase in both natural catastrophes and human induced disasters with attendant loss of lives, large scale human displacement, socio-economic dislocation and environment degradation. The unprecedented flood disaster of 2012 and the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency are the most outstanding in this regards.

The humanitarian outcome of wars, conflict fueling refugees crisis the insurgency has equally impacted CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 summer while attempting to make the crossing.

Within Europe, countries are also trying to restrict refugees from getting to or staying within their borders. Hungary has erected a razor-wire fence along its border with Serbia in an effort to prevent refugees from crossing into Europe over land. It also announced new laws that will make it a crime to damage the fence or cross it, and will make illegal border crossing punishable by up to three years in prison. The Hungarian government also shut down train service to Germany in an apparent effort to discourage refugees from using Hungary as a transit country on their way to seek asylum there.

And Austria has now introduced checks along its inter-

Sidi

THE BOKO HARAM CRISIS HAS PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AN EFFECTIVE POST MORTEM AND A SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT RECONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION OF THE

EAST.

NORTH-

the contiguous States of Gombe, Bauchi, Plateau and Taraba and the neighboring Republics of Niger, Chad and Cameroun.

What are some of the challenges militating against caring for the affected populations?

Some of the challenges militating against caring for the affected populations in emergencies in Nigeria include poor data management, disconnect between jurisdictions as some stakeholders don’t want to be coordinated, capacity development. Some MDAs with responsibilities do not have capacities and sometimes there is disconnect between communities and populations at risk.

For response to disaster situations to be effective, it has to take cognisance and satisfy the requirements of preparedness and it has to involve in a coordinated way, all jurisdictions, sectors, disciplines and resources.

What is NEMA doing to integrate the IDP’S back to their homes since the liberation of the communities?

The liberation of most of the communities in the North-East, coupled with the massive return of Nigerian

nal border with the rest of Europe to search for refugees and other immigrants being smuggled into the country.

Although the government claims that the checks are a humanitarian measure intended to prevent tragedies like the recent deaths of 71 people who suffocated in the back of a smuggler’s truck, critics have charged that they constitute a violation of the EU’s open-border policy.

Australia, meanwhile, has gone to great lengths to prevent so-called “boat people” from reaching its shores, including imprisoning them in abusive detention centers on remote pacific islands, and shipping them off to Cambodia.

Europe divided For years, the world’s wealthiest countries have, for the

What is the way forward and lessons learnt from Boko Haram insurgency?

The Boko Haram crisis has provided an opportunity for an effective post mortem and a sustainable and resilient reconstruction and rehabilitation of the North-East.

Experience has proved that most prevalent hazards are trans-border in nature and can be better addressed through cooperation and coordination among countries concerned.

Cooperation and coordination among countries is of great significance, as actions or inactions in one country have quick repercussions on immediate neighboring countries.

What does future portend for NEMA? Sentiments apart, there is no doubt that disaster management efforts in the country is currently receiving unprecedented breakthrough. For humanitarian service delivery to be efficient, it must be driven across jurisdictions, sectors, disciplines and resources. This requires the ownership and commitment of all; federal, state and local governments, civil society organisations and the private sector.

Governments at the federal state and local government levels have the onerous responsibility of providing leadership, rallying point, enabling environment and mechanism for coordination, collaboration and cooperation.

All inclusive growth, bridging social and economic development remain necessary for sustainable peace and stability. An educated populace is a driver for national growth and development, an uneducated populace on the other hand is a great danger to itself and even more so to others.

Countries need to incorporate across border response in their preparedness and mitigation plans. Neighboring countries may be able to provide valuable support to one another, in evaluating risk, mitigating, forecasting, developing and communicating early warnings, and responding to disasters.

most part, steadfastly refused to accept more than the barest possible minimum of the world’s refugees. Now that the crisis has gone out of control, there is no plan in place to handle it, and no agreement on how the burdens should be shared.

The European Union is supposed to handle refugees collectively, to act sort of like a unified country in the way that, say, the US collectively takes responsibility for refugees who show up in Arizona, rather than making Arizona carry the entire burden. But in practice, most EU member states don’t want to take their fair share, and EU rules CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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The Big Read

Sunday September 20, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Migrants hope for better life in Europe’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 mean they don’t technically have to. As a result, the majority of incoming refugees are stuck in the same two or three countries, which quickly became overwhelmed. That is bad for those countries and bad for the refugees.

European countries could, and in theory should, accept many of these refugees into their own borders. This would be much better for the refugees, and also healthier for the EU, whose ideals of burden-sharing have been strained nearly to the breaking point by the migrant and refugee influx. But most EU nations are instead acting selfishly to keep refugees out.

Germany, to its credit, recently agreed to suspend application of the Dublin Regulation for Syrian refugees, who will now be permitted to apply for asylum directly in Germany. But the rest of Europe has largely failed to follow Germany’s moral leadership. There are signs that the stringent measures might be softened. On Friday, the UK announced plans to accept “thousands” of Syrian refugees, however there is as yet no unified EU response, and thus Europe’s status quo remains unfriendly to refugees.

The United States, for its part, has largely ignored the crisis. Thus far it has resettled only 1,434 Syrian refugees, and has pledged to take only a few thousand more. The entire US refugee resettlement program is capped at 70,000 refugees globally, a cap that has remained the same for years, despite the growing crisis.

History of UNHCR The UN refugee agency UNHCR, emerged in the wake of World War II to help Europeans displaced by that conflict.

The budget has grown from $300,000 in its first year to US$7 billion in 2015. At the start of 2014 there were more than 51 million uprooted people worldwide. In mid-2014, meanwhile, UNHCR was dealing with 46.3 million people of concern to the agency: 26 million internally displaced people, 13 million refugees, 1.7 million returnees, 3.5 million stateless people, more than 1.2 asylum-seekers and 752,000 other people of concern.

Barrister Ezeobi Chinedu believes Europe can and should do more. According to him, the industrialised world should be taking the lead in solving the issue of permanent camps, but while it coughs up resources for food and tents, it rarely does so for solutions.

Rich countries should support efforts to get all refugees out of camps and more out of the host country. The more refugees can be integrated into the local economy, the better for both refugees and their host communities.

“I think it’s very important that Europe fully assumes its responsibilities,” he said.

“I think it’s also clear that we have in Europe good examples, Sweden, Germany, have taken very generous measures. But we need a joint expression of European solidarity. Also, Europe, Japan and the United States must do more. Developing countries particularly those with global ambitions should also make a meaningful contribution to global security by accepting larger numbers of refugees.

“What frustrates me is the suffering of people, to see so many innocent people dying, so many innocent people fleeing, so many innocent people seeing their lives completely tarnished, and the world being unable to put an end to this nonsense.”

But the world’s refugees are far out-numbered by the internally displaced people who have been forced to flee their homes, but remain inside their own countries. Nigeria’s version of UNHCR is the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, which is saddled with the responsibility of caring for people displaced internally within Nigeria.

NEMA advocates for lifesaving assistance and protection for displaced people and promotes solutions to displacement crises. As the leading advocacy organisation on refugee crises in Nigeria, we successfully challenge policy makers and aid agencies to improve the lives of displaced people around the world and increase stability before conflict spreads, said Muhammad Sani Sidi, Director General of NEMA. “Our field-based knowledge of humanitarian emergencies and expert recommendations are sought out by global leaders whose decisions bring immediate relief to refugees and solutions to large-scale crises.

“Due to our efforts, refugees receive food, medicine and education; displaced people return home; peacekeepers

Struggling to cope: Croatia’s Prime Minister said today that his country will redirect migrants to Hungary and Slovenia

PEOPLE FLEEING PERSECUTION, HAVE RIGHTS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW, AND THERE ARE OBLIGATIONS ON STATES IN RESPECT OF REFUGEES’ FLIGHT.

Chancellor Angela Merkel

protect the displaced from harm; and stateless people obtain legal status,” he said.

The NEMA boss also gave a piece of advice to countries trying to give a safe haven to migrants. “People fleeing persecution, have rights under international law, and there are obligations on states in respect of refugees’ flight. On the other hand, economic immigrants are not fleeing persecution; they’re seeking a better life. They don’t have the same rights under international law.

Solution The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) speaks of three “durable solutions” to refugee crises: return, local integration and third country resettlement.

The most desirable way to end forced displacement is for people to return home when conflict ends. To return in safety and dignity, families need help with transportation and require basic goods for restarting their lives, including a provisional supply of food, seeds and tools, and building materials for home repair or construction. In addition, support for the reconstruction of schools and health clinics is also critical.

If instability persists or if the individual will face persecution when they return, then integrating into the country of asylum is another option. Most countries hosting refugees, however, are reluctant to allow refugees to integrate and become citizens, fearing competition for scarce resources between the refugees and residents of a particular

Barrister Ezeobi Chinedu

locale.

Resettlement to a third country can also be a solution for refugees who cannot return home, cannot establish a new life in their country of asylum, or are considered to be particularly vulnerable. Resettlement can never be an option for more than a tiny minority of the world’s refugee population, but still benefits tens of thousands of refugees who have made new lives in countries such as the United States, Canada, Sweden, and Norway.

The countries most affected by the Syrian refugee crisis within the Mediterranean are Turkey, Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon, home to more than 3.6 million.

Latin American governments have announced that they will accept more Syrian refugees, yet the numbers mentioned are paltry. Considering Brazil’s population of 200 million, even doubling the number of refugees the country as accepted (currently standing at less than 8,000) falls short of what should be expected of a country that aims to play a leading role in global affairs and which is home to more than 10 million people of Arabic descent. Germany has said it will spend $6.6 billion to cope with the 800,000 migrants and refugees it expects to welcome by the end of 2015. The country had already accepted 99,000 Syrians by July 2015, while Sweden has taken in 65,000.

On Wednesday, the European Commission’s President Jean-Claude Juncker proposed national quotas to relocate an additional 120,000 asylum-seekers across Europe, on top of previous plans announced in

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NEWS

Sunday September 20, 2015

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Jewel of inestimable value: HID Awolowo dies at 99 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

According to a statement issued yesterday by the family and signed by her eldest daughter, Mrs. Omotola Oyediran, Mama died while praying for her children and grandchildren who were all busy with the preparation for her 100th birthday.

Sunday Mirror gathered that the Yeye Oodua passed on at about 3:15pm, shortly after she held a family meeting with her children and other members of her family, particularly the grand children who had clustered around her, “singing her a befitting song” for the centenary birthday.

It was further gathered that immediately after the meeting with her children; Mama Awolowo went into her room where she was later discovered to have given up the ghost. The one-page statement entitled, “Glorious Exit” disclosed that Mama Awolowo died

“This afternoon, September 19, 2015.”

The statement added that she spent the day in company with her children, grand children, great grand children and close family members before her final exit.

It added that she prayed for all of them before they went into the meeting aimed at planning for her 100th year birthday anniversary.

The statement further said that Mama Awolowo died “as she had always wished; surrounded by her children, grand children and great grand children.”

The statement reads, “With gratitude to God for her remarkable and illustrious life, the entire Awolowo family announces the glorious home-calling of our dear Matriarch, Yeye Oodua, Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo this afternoon, September 19, 2015.

“Mama died as gloriously as she lived, she spent the day in the com-

pany of her children, grand children, great grand children 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, grand children and great grand children.”

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Government has disclosed that it would be fully involved in the funeral ceremonies of the late matriarch of the Awolowo family.

The Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa said this while paying a condolence visit to the Awolowo family in Ikenne.

Adeoluwa who described the death of

the matriarch as “very shocking” expressed regret that Mama Awolowo’s demise occurred at a time when preparations for the celebrations of her 100 years birthday had got to an advanced stage.

The SSG, who said he was a member of the planning committee for her birthday celebrations however expressed gratitude to God for making it possible for her to live a good and worthy life.

According to him, “The Government of Ogun State will be heavily involved in her burial.

She was a mother to all of us. Mama had a very close relationship with His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

So, the Government of Ogun State will be fully involved.”

Former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel who was one of the early callers to the country home of the Awolowos, said the

L-R: Ogun State Deputy Governor, Yetunde Onanuga; wife of State Governor, Mrs. OlufunsoAmosun; former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; Awolowo’s eldest daughter, Mrs. Tola Oyediran and another daughter, Dr. Tokunbo Dosumu.

HID was a role model of distinction, says Amosun

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gun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has the governor described the death of the matriarch of the Awolowo family as a great loss.

In a press statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Barr Taiwo Adeoluwa, the governor however said Mama’s exit deserved celebration because her life and times were noble and golden.

“This was an exemplary life that truly ran its full course,” the governor

said.

“Mama HID stood by her husband like the Rock of Gibraltar throughout the tough political career of the foremost nationalist and leader of the Action Group and Unity Party of Nigeria. She was indeed a ‘jewel of inestimable value’ as was fondly described by Chief Obafemi Awolowo,” the statement said.

According to Amosun, “Nigeria has lost a role model of distinction, a highly disciplined and

principled woman, a trustworthy ally and dependable politician who equally made her mark in the business world.”

Amosun recalled that following the formation of the United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA) in 1964 between the Action Group (AG) and National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), Mama stood in for Chief Awolowo who was then in prison in the hope that she would contest the federal election and upon victory step

down for her husband in a by-election in order for the late sage to realise his political dream.

“In spite of the political vicissitudes of the First Republic, Mama HID toured the entire country with her husband campaigning in the Second Republic. She was a woman of valour and a friend indeed,” Amosun said.

The governor urged the younger generation of women to follow in the footsteps of Mama HID.

Yoruba and the Nigerian nation have lost a matriarch.

Daniel described her demise as the “end of an era.”

He however promised that the members of the Awolowo political family left behind by mama would “keep the flag flying.”

Also, the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga described the demise of Mama Awolowo as

a shock, especially at a time when preparations were in top gear for her birthday celebrations.

Other sympathisers who visited the Awolowos to condole with them include the state Secretary of the Social Democratic Party, Alhaji Abimbola Awofeso; APC senatorial candidate for Ogun East in the last elections, Mr. Dapo Abiodun; wife of the Governor, Mrs. Olufunsho Amosun and others.

Buhari, Ambode, others mourn

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resident Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his condolences to the Aolowo family on the demise of their mariachi, Chief HID Awolowo.

“On behalf of the Federal Government and people of Nigeria, President Buhari extends sincere commiserations to the children, grand children and great grand children of the “Jewel of Inestimable Value” on the death of their famed matriarch, just a few weeks before her hundredth birthday, the statement signed by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Mr. Femi Adesina, said.

“The President joins them and millions of admirers of her late, revered husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo in mourning Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo who will be long remembered and celebrated as the famous spouse and pillar of strength of the late nationalist, political leader and sage.

President Buhari said he believes that Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo “will always be honoured too for the indelible legacy of very significant, behind-the-scene contributions to communal, state, regional and national development” which she has left behind.

The President prays that God will comfort Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo’s family, relatives, friends, associates and admirers, and grant them the fortitude to bear her irreparable loss.

He also prays that the Almighty will receive the late matriarch’s worthy soul and grant her eternal rest from her long, earthly service to her renowned spouse, family, community and country.

Also, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday expressed shock and sadness over the death of Chief Mrs. Awolo-

wo, wife of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

The Governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna said he was one of mama’s many followers looking forward to celebrating her 100th birthday, which was just few months away.

“Mama would have clocked 100 on November 25 this year. It was going to be a milestone, not just for her, but for our great country.

She was the matriarch of the Awolowo family, a well respected dynasty in the history of Nigeria”.

“Mama’s demise at this time is painful, especially coming at a period when Nigeria is gradually enjoying democratic bliss, which her late husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo fought for till his death”.

“We however take solace in the fact that she lived a fulfilled life. We celebrate her for what she stood for, uniting the Yoruba race for a common course and keeping her family together since the demise of her husband”.

“She was the pillar behind Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s legacies. She was the backbone of the brand of progressive ideas that defined the politics of the South West in the First Republic and in subsequent Republics”, the Governor recalled.

The Governor prayed for the peaceful repose of her soul, urging her family to draw strength from the legacies she stood for while she was alive.

“On behalf of my family and the good people of Lagos state, I want to express our heartfelt condolence to the family of Mama Awolowo, the people of Ogun state and Nigerians on this great and irreparable loss”, he said.

More stories on Page 52

8

News

Sunday September 20, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Godfrey Emiko emerges new Olu of Warri •Itsekiris declare 90 days mourning for late monarch THEOPHILUS ONOJEGHEN WARRI

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peculations of the death of Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, were yesterday put to rest following the official announcement of the demise of the monarch and declaration of a new Olu designate, Prince Godfrey Ikenwoli Emiko, to be known as King Abiloye.

Atuwatse II died three Fridays ago in a Lagos hospital after a brief illness. He reigned for over

28 years.

His death was made public yesterday at OdeItsekiri (also known as Big Warri), the ancestral home of the Itsekiri nation for the first time after the media broke the news of his passage on September 6.

The Olu designate emerged after weeks of selection. Abiloye as he is fondly called is the immediate younger brother to the late Olu. This is the first time a brother was taking over

from a brother in a monarchy that ’s purely hereditary.

The new Olu is a graduate of University of Benin. He studied Business Administration. He ’s in his early sixties and married with several children.

Chief Yayah Pessu, who is the Chief Priest and most senior chief in Itsekiri nation, pronounced the death of the monarch at exactly 11:50 a.m. with firing of canons in the presence of palace chiefs and notable Itsekiri indi-

genes.

A total of 17 canon rounds were fired to traditionally announce the death of the Olu. At about 12:16, the Olu designate, also refers to Om ’ Oba, was presented to the Itsekiri nation by the Chief Priest. The announcement was greeted with great jubilation from the people.

Following the announcement of Olu ’s death, a 90-day mourning period has been declared.

Addressing journalists

Itsekiri Chief Priest, Chief Yayah Pessu (right) announcing Godfrey Ikenwoli Emiko as Olu Designate at Ode Itsekiri (Big Warri), Delta State, yesterday.

Boko Haram: Air Force offers insurgents nal chance to surrender …troops reclaim two villages, rescue 62 people UBONG UKPONG

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he Nigerian Air Force, NAF, yesterday offered all categories of insurgents, including their leadership, another chance to approach security forces and willingly surrender to avert the massive bombardment to come in days.

Chief of Air Staff, CAS, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who spoke in Abuja, at the conclusion of the annual route walk/jogging competition, said the military was determined to end the war within the stipulated three months.

He said the Air Force was giving all the required air support to the troops

in the general areas of the operation, which had continued to degrade the efforts and capacities of the terrorists to escape or defend themselves.

“The deadline has been set and we are going to achieve it. Give up your insurgency or face the forces. We are putting everything in place and hope that they will heed the advice and surrender, if not, the consequence will be highly unbearable, ” the Air Chief warned.

The NAF had continued to sustain its air bombardment in the North-East destroying the insurgents ’ camps in the Sambisa forest and elsewhere in the areas of operations.

The efforts since last Sunday, witnessed scores

of Boko Haram terrorists surrendering to the ongoing Operation Lafiya Dole.

The massive surrender was said to be due to the new strategies being employed by the military.

The new strategies employed, the military said, included sustained offensive operations, preemptive air strikes by the Nigerian Air Force and routes blocking by ground troops all geared towards constricting and snuffing out the Boko Haram terrorists.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army yesterday said the advancing troops have captured the villages of Jerre and Dipchari and destroyed Boko Haram terrorists ’ camps located in those areas.

In an operational update through its Director of Army Public Relations, DAPR, Colonel Sani Usman, the Army said that 62 fleeing Boko Haram victims were rescued as 77 other fleeing people also returned to Bama with additional eight terrorists surrendering to troops in the ongoing operations.

Usman said that the military was vigorously pushing the terrorists for their final defeat.

According to the update, “The advancing troops in the Bama axis have rescued yet another 62 people fleeing from Bitti and Pulka.

“The troops are also combing all known enclaves of the terrorists within Bama, Banki and Pulka general area.

after the ceremony, Chief Pessu said the mourning period forbids Itsekiri ’s sons and daughters worldwide from every form of celebration including burial activities until the burial rites for the demise monarch were completed.

He disclosed that new Itsekiri Monarch would officially be crowned before the end mourning period.

According to him, “The new Olu is widely accepted by all Itsekiri people.

You can see the jubilation the moment he was announced. There was great crowd of acceptance.

“All Itsekiri worldwide should be in a mourning mood until the burial rites are performed. The mourning period will take three months.

“All Itsekiri adults should put their clothes upside down both male and female. The new monarch will be crowned after the necessary burial rites are concluded. ” How new Olu emerged Secretary-General, Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, Barr. Edward Ekpoko said, “Olu designate is the choice of the people. There ’s something significant you must note; this is transition period

from Atuwatse II to the Olu designate. As a matter of fact, for over 200 years, this is the first time a brother will be succeeding a brother. It has always been from father to son.

“The law regulating the succession to the throne is that he (son) is disqualified because maternally he doesn ’t fit in. The qualification is that your (prince) mother must come from Itsekiri or Benin. Anyone who doesn ’t fit into that is automatically disqualified. ” On his part, Professor Jim Omatseye described the Olu designate as a very intelligent and upright person who can lead the Itsekiris to the path of light and development.

“The Olu designate is very sound, intellectually inclined and culturally exposed. We expect the best from him. We pray his reign will bring peace and tranquility to the Itsekiri people, ” Omatseye stated.

Ogiame Atuwatse II succeeded his father, His Royal Majesty Ginuwa II (Gbesimi Emiko) on April 2, 1987.

Sunday Mirror gathered that King Abiloye Godfrey Emiko, was the preferred successor of his father, Ginuwa ll who mounted the throne on Feb 7, 1936 till 1987.

IPAC accuses INEC over leadership crisis UBONG UKPONG ABUJA

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he leadership of the Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, has raised the alarm over what it called the efforts by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to destabilise the council through its unnecessary interference in the activities of the body.

It accused the electoral body of overheating the polity through its several acts of impunity and meddlesomeness in the affairs of IPAC, even as it vowed to resist any attempt to make IPAC an appendage of INEC, noting that the body is a voluntary council.

In a statement issued in Abuja at the weekend by the IPAC National Secretary, Mr. Godson Okoye,

and made available to newsmen, it called INEC to desist from any acts of impunity capable of overheating the polity, but to focus on its constitutional role of sanitising the electoral process.

“We, the registered political parties in Nigeria hereby call the attention of all Nigerians to INEC ’s efforts to destabilise and overheat the polity through its several acts of impunity and meddlesomeness in the affairs of IPAC, ” Okoye stated.

The statement said part of INEC plan iwas to divert attention from burning issues crying for attention.

It condemned the continued harassment and intimidation of state officers of political parties by INEC using the police and the DSS.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Sunday September 20, 2015

9

Opponents plot Saraki ’s removal before ministerial screening …APC paying for gang-up against South-East, says Igbo Forum A ZA MSUE AND EMMANUEL EZEH KADUNA, ENUGU

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trong indications have emerged in Kaduna that the camp of President Muhammadu Buhari and national leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, has perfected plans to remove Senate President Bukola Saraki before the submission of names of ministerial nominees to the Senate for screening this month.

Already, one of the antiSaraki groups, Northern Ethnic Nationalities Unity Congress, NENUC, that was not comfortable with his emergence as Senate

President has called on him to resign before Tuesday or face impeachment over the 13-count charge against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau.

The CCB had on Friday ordered Sakari ’s arrest following his failure to appear before it to defend charges on false and non declaration of assets, which the Senate President has dismissed as politically motivated.

National President and Convener of NENUC, Mr. Bako Benjamin, gave Saraki a three-day ultimatum to honourably resign to prevent impeachment proceedings against him.

Sunday Mirror gathered that as from next

week, many anti-Saraki groups would spring up calling for his resignation to pave the way for Senator Ahmed Lawan, who was initially backed by Tinubu.

It would be recalled that since his emergence as Senate President against the wish of APC, Saraki ’s relationship with Buhari and Tinubu has remained frosty.

One of the sources said the plot to remove the Senate President before the transmission of names of ministerial nominees to the Senate for screening was informed by fear that Saraki and his friends in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,

may prevent some candidates favoured by the Tinubu group from scaling through.

“Some of Bola Tinubu ’s ministerial nominees and that of APC may not scale through with Saraki and his deputy in charge. This is one of the reasons why President Buhari has delayed the ministerial list till now because they don ’t want Saraki to preside over the screening, ” the source said.

Saraki ’s Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, had accused the Federal Government of using state institutions to fight political opponents and seeking to achieve through the back-

door what some people cannot get through democratic process.

Saraki said: “We are not unmindful of the fact that the Tribunal is acting under political influence and external pressure. This is dangerous to our democracy. We want to emphasise the fact that this is not part of any war against corruption but using state institutions to fight political opponents and seeking to achieve through the backdoor what some people cannot get through democratic process ”, the senate President maintained.

Meanwhile, a SouthEast group, Njiko Igbo Forum, yesterday said the APC was paying for sidelining the South-East in its government President of the Forum, Rev. Okechukwu Obioha, who spoke on the current ordeal of Senate President Bukola Saraki, added that the country was sick.

Okechukwu said the cri-

sis was one of the prices the present administration would pay for excluding the South-East from the three tiers of government.

“The South-East is an integral part, a major partner in this project called Nigeria; because he has sidelined the region deliberately without recourse to the Federal Character, which is in the constitution, the polity is now reaping the fruit of that problem. So, this government has been sick and with what is happening now, the ailment has become chronic ”, he noted.

While accusing the Buhari-led government of being insincere with the war against corruption, the Igbo group wondered why the CCB went to the archives and brought a matter against Saraki “simply because the election of the principal officers of the National Assembly went against the wishes of powers-thatbe ”.

NSCDC test-runs drones to track pipeline vandals OMEIZA AJAYI

N Ordinary President of Brekete Family, Malam Ahmed Isah (left) addressing complainants from construction and allied companies over unlawful dismissal and poor treatment they received from their employers, during a gathering at the Unity Fountain, in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Federal lawmaker warns of impending food crisis LIVINUS MENEDI YOLA

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federal lawmaker elected under the platform of the Social Democratic Party, SDP in National Assembly, representing Demsa, Lamurde and Numan state constituencies in Adamawa State, Kwamoti Laori, has berated the Federal Government for its continued failure to curtail the perennial flood disaster caused by the release of excess flood waters from Lagdo Dam, located in neighbouring

Cameroun.

Kwamoti, who said this while speaking to newsmen in Yola over the weekend after distributing relief items worth over N2.

5 million, noted that government ’s shortcoming in fashioning out a proactive response to the perennial flooding caused by the release of excess water by Cameroun, can create a food crisis for the country.

He stressed that after the country ’s leaders failed to secure any benefit from the damming of the Benue River in Lagdo, in neighbouring Camer-

oun, the country ought to have taken proactive measures to mitigate the impact of the flood released from the dam, but which he said the government had failed to do.

According to him, even the relief agencies saddled with providing succour to the victims of the flood, have also been mired in unnecessary bureaucracy.

He said his concern was that the government inaction in either dredging the Benue River, so that it can be deep enough to contain the waters re-

leased from the dam or the construction of embankment along the water course has perennially resulted in destruction of farmlands lying along the Benue trough thus exposing them to a food crisis.

“There ’s going to be food crisis with this perennial flooding of communities lying along the Benue trough and that is why government has to be serious, ” Laori said.

He regretted that over 50 communities in Adamawa alone had been affected by the floods with all their un-harvested

igeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, is testing drones outfitted with infrared cameras which are designed to document evidence of vandalism.

The disclosure was contained in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday and signed by the corps ’ spokesman, Emmanuel Okeh.

He recalled how in 2014 alone, Nigeria lost over N1.2 trillion to oil theft, saying the government continued to incur heavy costs in a bid to repair vandalised pipelines and at the end of 2014, recorded losses of 50,000 to 60,000 barrels of oil daily.

He said the NSCDC has found a new way to fight back.

“In the coming weeks, NSCDC will test the new technology to catch the perpetrators in action, ” he quoted the NSCDC boss, Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu as saying.

The drone, outfitted with an infrared camera and the NSCDC ’s logo, will use GPS to document the times and places

where vandals are observed, making it easier to prosecute offenders.

Flying at an altitude of some 150 metres (492 feet), it will be able to keep watch for more than 80 minutes at a time, quietly whizzing through the sky at up to 54 kilometers (33 miles) per hour. It can also be put on autopilot function for stretches as long as 40 kilometers, the CG explained.

These capabilities will allow the corps to observe large areas in a short amount of time, Sunday Mirror learnt.

Meanwhile, the NSCDC boss has ordered the strengthening of security in and around all critical infrastructure of government to guard against the sort of incident that occurred in Konu, a border town between, Arepo, Ogun State and Ikorodu, Lagos State, where suspected pipeline vandals allegedly shot dead some operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS).

The pipeline vandals reportedly ambushed the operatives in a very bloody encounter.

10

Interview

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ENCOUNTER WITH A NEWS MAKER SEPTEMBER 20, 2015

Buhari yet to bring change –Abba Moro

geria. If you look at what is happening in Benue State now, the signs are very ominous that we are in for the worst of times.

In spite of the much touted bailout and loans that the Benue State government under Dr. Ortom has taken to pay salaries, salaries are not paid.

The governor had ordered that two months salaries be paid recently but as I ’m talking to you, I am on good authority that no salary has been paid. I think that for a government that is anchored on change, headed by somebody who says he is going to run the government by the fear of God, these steps are missteps.

They are not good steps in the right direction because the first set of activities that is expected of a government that is coming on the heels of despondency on the part of Benue State workers and the Benue people in general are activities that are supposed ordinarily to ameliorate the conditions that they met on ground; the nonpayment of salaries, the fast decaying infrastructure on ground, these are areas that pronouncements should have been made on and actions taken to ameliorate.

Minister of Interior in the ex-president Goodluck Jonathan administration claims that vestiges of authoritarianism are prevalent in the present government.

Abba Moro in this interview with TORDUE SALEM, also expresses fear that President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress might employ the power of incumbency to win Rivers, Bayelsa and other states now controlled by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

There are fears among your party men that the APC may use its incumbency to influence decisions at the tribunals. Do you share that thinking?

I think that fear is palpable because of activities that have been set in the past in the development of democracy in Nigeria.

There is this fear that President Muhammadu Buhari, who is a product of the APC can most likely use his position as the President to influence judgements in the various tribunals in favour of APC-elected officials whose elections are virtually in the courts and tribunals.

The fear was actually accentuated a week ago when the newspapers were awash with stories that the President had set up a 10-man committee, which he is heading to help salvage APC members where their elections are threatened either in the courts or in the tribunals.

And of course, particularly in Benue State, when the outcome of the meeting of APC gubernatorial candidates, aggrieved on the emergence of Samuel Ortom as the candidate for the party that won the election eventually, there was palpable fear, quite frankly, that the President could continue the intervention up to the level of the tribunal. We are all aware that in Benue State, the governor has desperately been looking up for people to intervene to persuade his aggrieved colleagues in APC to withdraw their cases against him.

And for the obvious reason that Mr. President has come out to say that he was going to fight corruption head on and all of us believe in him because of his antecedents, all of us also trust that he will do it to a logical conclusion. Nigerians are waiting that he fights corruption to a standstill.

Mo oro

THE GOVERNOR HAD ORDERED THAT TWO MONTHS SALARIES BE PAID RECENTLY BUT AS I ’M TALKING TO YOU, I AM ON GOOD AUTHORITY THAT NO SALARY HAS BEEN PAID

How would you assess the Governor Ortom-led government since it took over the reins of power in Benue State?

While I can candidly say that it is too early to assess the performance of government, especially that in Benue State now;

I want to say that having been in government before at various levels, I know that people ’s minds are fixated on a number of activities and periods of administrations.

For instance, you know that 100 days is a celebrated period in governance in Ni-

What is your reaction to the recent dissolution of governing boards of parastatals by the federal and Benue State governments?

I don ’t know whether that one is also change. You know that it has been the attitude of governments in Nigeria that as soon as they are elected and sworn in, they dissolve boards of parastatals whether they are statutory boards or are administrative boards, or whether they are regulated by law or not regulated.

That is exactly what has been happening in Nigeria. What is happening in Benue State is not an exception from what has been happening around Nigeria. When governments come, the first action that they take is to dissolve boards, sack this person and that person, institute probe panel so that people will see you as being active. I think it is wrong.

What steps should the government in Benue take to address the problem of insecurity?

First, I want to see the state government ensuring 24-hour patrol of the various communities that are vulnerable; number two, strenuous efforts must be made to arrest those persons that are responsible because they are not ghosts, they are there and it is not one instance.

What pronouncements have we seen from the government now as to the condemnation of what is happening, rather than trading blames? This is not the time to trade blames, somebody must take responsibility and charge of the situation.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Buhari has performed well so far –Shekwo P 12 & 53

11

Politics PROVIDING FRESH PERSPECTIVES TO ISSUES SEPTEMBER 20, 2015

LET THEM BRING ALL THE GIRLS AND THEN WE WILL BE PREPARED TO NEGOTIATE. I WILL ALLOW THEM TO COME BACK TO NIGERIA OR TO BE ABSOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY

–PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI ON THE PLANNED NEGOTIATION WITH BOKO HARAM SECT.

Saraki

The travails of a senate president

Level of decadence under Jonathan intolerable –Ereola

P 13

Briefly

Oshiomhole urges Ogbemudia to quit politics

G

ov Adams Oshiomhole of Edo has advised former Governor of the Defunct Bendel State, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, to retire from active politics and remain a statesman.

Oshiomhole gave the advice at an event to mark the 83rd birthday anniversary of Ogbemudia on Saturday in Benin.

The governor said Ogbemudia at 83 deserved a rest as his legacies as former civilian and military governors were enough reference points.

According to Oshiomhole, there is nothing more for Ogbemudia, than be our father and continue to pray for the success of those governing the state.

He noted that the celebrator ’s contributions to the development of the state in particular and the country in general had remained immeasurable as he ruled the people with passion.

Describing Ogbemudia as the founder of modern Bendel, Oshiomhole said that the collective resources of the state were doggedly managed during his tenure as head of affairs in the then mid western state.

He called for contributions from the elder statesman to enable government function well and succeed.

Lagos lawmaker seeks support from opposition

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Saraki

AYO ESAN

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here seems to be no respite for the embattled Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki as the Federal Ministry of Justice last Friday asked the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja to issue bench warrant for his arrest for his failure to turn up before the

Tinubu

Tribunal .

A deputy director in the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. M.S. Hassan, applied for the arrest order following Saraki ’s refusal to appear before the tribunal to enter his plea to the13- count corruption charge against him.

The charge sheet al¬leged that Saraki failed to make full declaration of his as-

sets in 2003 .

The Senate president early last week was accused of acquir¬ing assets beyond his le¬gitimate earnings while in office as governor and operating foreign accounts both at the time he served as governor and during his time in the Senate .

The body said the al¬leged offences CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Moshood Oshun on Friday solicited support from the opposition, following the verdict of the tribunal sitting in Ikeja, upholding his electoral victory in April 11 elections.

Oshun (APC-Lagos Mainland 2), who made this plea in a statement signed by himself, said his victory at the Lagos State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal was a confirmation that he truly earned the confidence and trust of the people. “ An election should never be a do-ordie affair. It should be a fair contest where the loser hugs and congratulates the winner where it is obvious that the winner actually won freely and squarely.

“In this case, my people wanted me, they showed it to everyone and voted for me during the election. But the defeated PDP decided to focus on technicalities.

“I am happy the ruling was fair. It is not a case of winner takes it all. Rather, it just shows that the time has come to join forces for the development and progress of my constituency. ” The lawmaker, who solicited more support from electorate, promised to continue touching lives, work for the security of lives and property of the people.

12

Politics

What would be your rating of the 100 days in office of Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura?

As I have said in different fora, ours is not the issue of 100 days. It is a continuation of what has been going on for the past four years. You could see that even during electioneering, work never stopped. Most of the times when we go out for campaigns, the governor would take time off to inspect one project or the other. For us here, it is not an issue of one hundred days but a continuation of good thing that Governor Al-Makura has been dishing out in the state.

How do you view the allegation by local government workers in the state that the governor has mismanaged the local council funds which consequence led to the irregular payment of their salaries?

Honestly, this thing to me is coming up because of lack of understanding by the workers. The governor has explained at different times, the local government officials have also explained.

Al-Makura cannot be the cause of any shortfall in salaries. Somebody has paid your salaries faithfully for the past four years without any problem, is it now that he will come and cause the problem?

Everyone knows that there are several states today in the country that are unable to pay salaries for about several months. But this man has kept faith with the workers of this state; he pays salaries as and when due. Not just pay

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

violated sections of the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Con¬stitution (as amended).

The CCB alleged that Saraki also breached sec¬tion 2 of the Code of Con¬duct Bureau and Tribunal Act. A Deputy Director in the office of the Attorney Gen¬eral of the Federation, Mr. M.S. Hassan, prepared the charge.

But dismissing the allegations in a statement his office issued, Saraki insisted that he had not breached any law either as a governor or as a senator.

He described the allega¬tions as “forum-shopping wondering, ” wondering why the CCB waited till now before al¬leging breach of the law against him.

“Dr. Saraki has consis¬tently declared his assets as required by law at every point before resuming any political office and that of 2015 is not an exception. It is surprising that the al¬leged charge is now refer¬ring to his asset declara¬tion made in 2003 while in office as governor of Kwara State to formulate their charges ”, the statement said.

Saraki who was billed for arraignment last Friday morning, sent his lawyers to serve the tribunal with a copy of the ruling of Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, which last Thursday summoned the Ministry of Justice to appear on Monday to show because why the trial should be allowed to proceed.

The Code of Con¬duct Bureau, CCB had slammed a 13-count charge bordering on cor¬ruption on him.

This is coming less than a month after his wife, Toyin Saraki was quizzed

Sunday September 20, 2015

AL-MAKURA CANNOT BE THE CAUSE OF ANY SHORTFALL IN SALARIES.

SOMEBODY HAS PAID YOUR SALARIES FAITHFULLY FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM, IS IT NOW

THAT HE WILL COME AND CAUSE THE PROBLEM?

salary but paying it promptly. I expect workers to be understanding now that there is a little problem. Even with this problem, he has not stopped paying salaries, but let ’s try and see how people can sustain their families pending when situations would be better and then everybody would get his full salaries. Is it an offence or a sin against them? Workers should understand and trust in the

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Buhari has performed well so far –Shekwo

Philip Tatari Shekwo is the Nasarawa State chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC. In this interview with IGBAWASE UKUMBA, he speaks about the 100 days of the present democratic dispensation in relation to his state, Federal Government and other political issues. Excerpts: governor.

If he had wanted to tamper with the local government funds like other

states do, there is nothing they can do about it.

But this is a man that is compassionate. I overheard him saying several times that if he stays

The travails of a s by the Economic and Finan¬cial Crimes Commission, EFCC over alleged shady contracts when her husband was the governor of Kwara State.

The bureau in charge number ABT/01/15, dated September 11 and filed be¬fore the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) accused the Senate president of en¬gaging in anticipatory dec¬laration of assets.

It also alleged that Saraki made false declaration of assets in forms he filed before the Code of Conduct Bureau during his tenure as gov¬ernor of Kwara State.

However Saraki whose emergence as the Senate president in June this year caused serious crisis in his party , the All Progressive Congress, APC which had picked Senator Ahmed Lawan for the position dismissed the allegations by the CCB, describing them as cocktail of lies.

Saraki in his reaction to the allegation of corruption approached a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and the court last Thursday summoned the Code of Conduct Bureau,CCB to appear before it tomorrow September 21, 2015 to show cause why it should not be restrained from arraigning Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, over allegations bordering on false and improper declaration of assets allegedly acquired during his tenure as Governor of Kwara State from 2003-2011.

THE BUREAU IN CHARGE NUMBER

ABT/01/15, DATED SEPTEMBER 11 AND FILED BE¬FORE THE CODE OF CONDUCT TRIBUNAL (CCT) ACCUSED THE

SENATE PRESIDENT OF EN¬GAGING IN ANTICIPATORY

DEC¬LARATION OF ASSETS Ekw werem mad du

The Senate President, who approached the court via an ex parte motion wants the Federal Ministry of Justice, Code of Conduct Bureau, Code of Conduct Tribunal and Barrister M. S Hassan stopped from taking any further step to arraign or prefer any charge

against him, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit he filed before the court.

Senator Saraki is also praying the court to declare that the Ministry of Justice has not complied with the provision of the 3rd Sched-

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Politics

Sunday September 20, 2015

13

Level of decadence under Jonathan intolerable –Ereola Hon. Babatunde Ereola was a member of the 1988/89 Constituent Assembly. He was also one of the newbreed politicians during the General Ibrahim Babangida transition programme. He speaks about his impression of President Muhammadu Buhari ’s administration and bemoans the profligacy during President Goodluck Jonathan ’s government, among other issues. Excerpts: You have been away from politics for quite a while, when are you going to change your stand?

As I always say, the idea of my staying away is not far from the fact that those of us who participated in the Babangida transition were sort of used and dumped. We believe in his philosophy of grassroots politics and we went the whole hog to make sure that we did everything under the sun to lay a good and solid foundation. And if that journey Babangida started during his transition had been made to get to a conclusive destination, that would have been the beginning of a solid foundation for politics in Nigeria. Along the line, some of us almost lost our lives. We wasted money and went through several miseries, accidents armed attacks and what have you.

These new people that have been part of the system since 1999 just had opportunity because they have not been properly screened. Look at the Assembly of the 1988/89 of Babangida. If you look at the people that came on board then you would know that Babangida had genuine advisers. His cabinet is even better than those you have now if you put them side by side. But because of the fact that human element, factors set in at that time, Babangida took the opportunity to the wind. If Babangida had brought his transition to a logical conclusion, people would have been begging him to come and be president of Nigeria.

Having said that, with the new government in place and with the calibre of people the president is trying to bring on board, maybe we would have a new beginning. The issue is that leadership is the problem of Nigeria. Leadership has always been the problem.

Buhari was once in government. Buhari that we all know has always given the conviction that he is not after material wealth. He has always given the indication that he is not a person that is not disciplined. He is a disciplined, honest, gentle and amiable officer That is the sentiment that gave him the followership that he got across the country. When he was coming in, people were ready for change. What that change would bring about they don ’t even care but we are lucky that we have the likes of Buhari coming to midwife the change and he actually started well. Whatever misgivings people have when you put side by side with other people that have come before him, you will still give Buhari a pass mark that he is a man that should be supported.

I want to believe that Buhari is on course.

What is your advice for President Buhari as he announces those who would be working with him as ministers?

One, I want him to ensure that those people that are being recycled are not back . This issue of cabinet, I think what Nigerians actually want and I think what he must do is to look for round pegs in round holes regardless of whether they are politicians or not . If it is possible he should not appoint politicians as ministers. He should appoint

Ere eola

I HAVE SAID THAT THE GOVERNOR THAT IS THERE IS BEING OVERRATED. HE DIDN ’T PREPARE FOR GOVERNANCE. BEING A COMMISSIONER IN LAGOS IS DIFFERENT FROM COMING TO RULE A STATE LIKE OSUN those of them who have values who can contributed positively , who have clean records, who have not been tainted . I know there is no angel among human beings anyway , but I am saying that he must set some kind of standard that he will want people that would work with him to have. So those standard should not be compromise and he should try as much as possible to make sure he does all these appointments with the fear of God too because definitely there are certain things that Nigerians are skeptical about . They have a feeling that he is pronorth. I don ’t want to look at this issue as being pro-north or pro –east or pro-west but there must be some level of fairness, equity and justice as a nation considering our divergent ethnics and religious background.

You are from Osun State and the pres-

ent situation in that state has been very precarious, the workers are at loggerhead with the governor who is owing them several months of salaries . What is your reaction to the happenings in the state?

It is very unfortunate that Osun State has found itself in the situation that it is today. I am not particularly happy because I am a stakeholder in Osun state and I was one of those people who canvassed for the creation of Osun State in the 1988/89 constituent assembly along with others. But ever since that time, Osun has not been very lucky I have said it severally. With exception of Chief Bisi Akande who made some marks, look at the edifice , the state secretariat he built.

It is there for all to see. And if he had not done that may be we would still have been operating from a dilapidated building which has always been there before.

Having said that, the new government that came about , came because people were disappointed, people were fed up with the PDP ‘misrule ‘. But if you put that government side by side with this one I think you will go and beg Oyinlola to come back and readdress all these issues. But having said that again, I think those people who brought the leadership that is in Osun State didn ’t do their homework well. And right from the beginning. I have said that the governor that is there is being overrated. He didn ’t prepare for governance. Being a commissioner in Lagos is different from coming to rule a state like Osun. I want you to believe that Osun has the largest number of tertiary institutions in the country. So we have people who are educationally sound, we have people who have not been to the four wall of the university who have what you called native intelligence , who would do analysis of everything and will come to a conclusion that will be at par with what a professor would do after researching.

So a state like that require somebody who has seen it all and have experience.

Aregbesola was overrated. And when he came and he was being given reception at Ilesha which I was privilege to be part of, he said in Lagos State as commissioner the last payment he made to a single contractor was over a billion and the first allocation he received as governor of Osun State after removing all the overheads and whatever what was left for developmental project was half a billion.

Then I asked myself the question , what has this man come to do in Osun?

And if you see now he said he wanted to build roads in Osun , he wanted to construct millennium schools, he now introduced Opon Imo, are those the things that Osun really need. What I expect him to do initially was to have a blueprint on agriculture . Osun is basically agrarian. And if he had developed that sector people will resort to farming with this problem of no salary . People who have been farming before will have something to fall on . He should have even made a policy pronouncement in his government that all civil servants must be given land allocation and supported with farm implement and little loan.

In other words he didn ’t have clear economy planning for the state and that is part of why he have this problem.

And my own worry is that people that supposed to advise him, talk or make pronouncements are not doing so.

And silence in this instance is no more golden. So people that brought him to Osun must have to speak up and advise him on the way to go . When you now begin to ask Directors, Assistant Directors , Chief Executive Officers, even the middle cadre officers who left primary school in the last 35 to forty years to now go and start looking for primary school certificates , that is uncalled for . If he did this before election or two , three years into his administration, it would have been okay but not now when you are owing them salaries . He who seeks equity must go with clean hands . There is no clean hands in this particular matter he should go and pay them their salaries . And anybody who collect salaries fraudulently knows the recourse of the law that he will go to jail. So that is my take on the issue.

14

Opinion

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Uncensored U nc

Sheriff S Folarin

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

T

he option taken by the Federal Government of President Muhammadu Buhari to negotiate the release of the Chibok girls comes across as a rude shock, not only because the federal might appears deflated and submissive to the subterfuge of the criminal group, but also because the huge stature of the President as a tough and irrepressible military tactician, who had subdued similar terror groups in the past, now seems submerged in some form of helplessness. It had been speculated that the government was contemplating the dialogue and negotiation option, but this had been widely dismissed as figment of the prolific imagination of the media and contraption of the opposition party.

But the President himself has confirmed this, saying that some form of negotiation is being commenced to see to it that the Chibok girls are freed.

But this assertion tends to contradict what the same presidency had speculated not too long ago that the Chibok girls had already been dispersed with some sold far away and many married off. It could also not be impossible that

France visit, Chibok girls and the negotiation option some of them had been used as human shields and human bombs (suicide bombers) in the last one year. If the presidency could speculate this, then there would be no basis to commence a dialogue process culminating in negotiation with the criminal group for the release of “dead” and married girls.

The contradiction on the Chibok girls from the presidency goes to show that the government might be taking not well calculated steps. What should be coming from the government should be authentic, authoritative and instructive. Not speculations and contradictions. This is contrary to what obtains in Chad (which, anyway, I have often described as a culprit in the Boko Haram terrorist movement), when the presidency there is often assertive and authoritative on Boko Haram.

Idris Deby once said in a broadcast that he was aware of the whereabouts of Abubakar Shekau and that he was warning him to give himself up or be combed out and dealt with. This Chadian missive was coming the same time that the Nigerian military and government were claiming for the second time that they had killed Shekau. Just recently again, Deby told the world that Shekau had been badly wounded and had given the reins of power to a new leader. But the Nigerian authorities have got no word about Shekau or any reliable and authoritative information on the Boko Haram group. Only hard talk, stern warning and speculations!

These developments do not portray Nigeria as a country that knows what it is doing or that has what it takes to defend itself. Yet, so much is expected of our President, who has an image so huge and respected that one is not sure he is aware of it. Mr. President should please know that he is not only loved by many around the

Jonas Agwu

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

I

t is about three weeks into the 2015 ember months. In my usual practice during this season, i wish to commence my weekly focus on specific safety issues that should interest the average traveler. My focus for this week is no doubt on tyres because of the yearly worry by the federal road safety corps on the increasing cases of tyres burst and the need to address this.

The FRSC report for 2013 for instance, indicated that tyre related crashes accounted for 92 cases out of the 760cases recorded between 19december 2013-12january2014 representing 12percent of total of the road traffic cases recorded within the period. The report further indicates that tyre violations accounted for 1479 out of 25,475 traffic offences recorded within the same period. Aside the concern over tyres, the report reveals that excessive speed which will form the focus of another piece accounted for 409 cases representing 54percent with dangerous driving accounting for 98cases representing 13psecent.The report was almost similar in 2014 and 2015 respectively Tyres are among the most important parts of the vehicle but unfortunately the least understood. Without the tyres, your vehicle is useless. You need the tyres to start, move and stop the vehicle. So buying tyres is a task you need to undertake very carefully otherwise your safety and that of other could be put in great danger.

Before you buy any tyre, give serious consideration into the size of the tyre, the age of the tyre and the physical conditions of the tyre.

Tyre size: On the side wall of your tyres, you will see figures like 215/75/15r, 195/65/14r and so on. These are designations for your tyre sizes.

Check your own tyre to know what is written on it. The first figure from the left is the width (from side wall to side wall) of the tyre in millimeters;

country and the world, but that he is also highly regarded as a tough military leader, who has so much to offer in crushing Boko Haram than dialoguing with the group or making speculations that betray inadequate military intelligence operations regarding terrorism and national security. President Buhari should also put up a stronger and firmer body language; at the moment, his body language regarding national security, more importantly Boko Haram has not been particularly inspiring. He should be atop of information and be more authoritative and assertive so as not to allow leaders of smaller neighbours steal the show off him, and by extension off Nigeria.

Not also inspiring was the visit to France.

There was nothing wrong in visiting France or any of his newfound G-7 friends; but what was below par was the body language and some of the assertions of our dear President. In the presidential address in Paris by the Buhari and Hollande, the former made it too obvious that Nigeria was incapable of solving its own internal problems without France. Yes, Nigeria’s neighbours are Francophone countries, but the emphasis on the joint forces backed by France entering Nigeria’s soil to “save it” and “dislodge” Boko Haram was very embarrassing indeed to Nigeria. The President should understand that France is not, has never been and will never be Nigeria’s friend.

We have been friendly, but we are not friends.

For obvious reasons: Nigeria remains a threat to France’s West African and Francophone interests on the continent. Nigeria is considered as a strategic rival and not a strategic friend. It is political civilization that only compels both countries to describe each other as “allies”. They are not.

Giving so much kudos to France and saying we could not have done it without that “suspi-

cious ally” is reminiscent of Esau’s selling of his birthright for a morsel of meat. Buhari could have been more careful in his choice of words in that address and in the media chat. The words were patronizing and re-contextualizing as well as reinventing Nigeria’s history and foreign policy, which have always been known for putting Nigeria side-by-side with any world power, because of its military potentials, political antecedents and economic power. While the visit was strategic to get France compel its Francophone countries who are Nigeria’s neighbours to help intensify vigil around our borders; it lacked the substance of a regional power characteristic of the country in the days of the grandiloquent foreign policy body language of Jaja Wachukwu, Joe Garba, Ibrahim Gambari, Bolaji Akinyemi and President Olusegun Obasanjo, when gleaned from the Paris presidential briefings of Buhari.

While Buhari is still our preferred leader in view of his pedigree and moral and political antecedents, we implore him to revisit his 1980s reassuring stance when it comes to national and global affairs. Democracy might have reworked his disposition to public life, and age has come with wisdom and these two factors probably explain the President’s soft mien today; but at this point in time that the country had been battered by previous cases of maladministration and thus requires immediate and deep turnaround, the President cannot afford to be soft on every issue.

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

Buying tyres?

Safety Tips with

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the middle number is what is known as the aspect ratio used to calculate the height of the side wall of the tyre. The last number is the ream diameter. When you go to buy tyres you will mention those entire figure to the tyre seller so that he will give you exactly what you want, there are various sizes of tyres in the market that can fit your type of vehicle but that does not mean that those sizes are good/safe for your vehicle.

Every vehicle has tyre sizes specified by the vehicle manufacturer. If you check the tyre placard by the end of your driver’s door, hood or the vehicle’s manual, you will see the specification for your vehicles tyre sizes, please stick to these specification while buying replacement tyre.

Don’t let the tyre seller give you something else.

The manufacturer of your vehicle have taken a lot of factors into consideration before specifying your vehicle tyre sizes. If you change that, your vehicle may not handle well, may be risking a blowout and a crash. Changing to fatter tyres like some people do may look better but not safer.

In most cases, the manufacture provides alternative sizes should you not find the original sizes the vehicle came with. The tyre placard will specify this alternative. However, there are some calculations you can make to get sizes apart from what the manufacturer specified that will give you the same result as the original specification, but you need to know how to do the calculations otherwise stick to the original specification. Determining the age of the tyre: Even more important that the size of the tyre is its age. Unfortunately most motorists as well as tyre sellers themselves don’t know how to check for the tyre age they depends only on visual inspection of the physical conditions. Some will invite a vulcanizer who will do a press up (or is it press down) on the tyre to certify if it is okay what a wrong and dangerous thing to do.

Why the emphasis on the emphasis on age of a tyre? Just as age could disqualify and otherwise promising marriage mate, age will disqualify a tyre even if every other thing seems alright from a visual inspection. Do not be deceived by a

tyre’s looks every tyre has an effective life span beyond which you will be entering the danger zone. As a general rule, any tyre more than 6 years old should be discarded. This rule, however, applies to quality tyres with branded known names. Less quality tyres of course, may not last that long.

So how do you determine the age of a tyre?

On like humans who can hide their ages, every tyre provides information about its age but in a coded form. Look at the side walls of your tyre and check for the letters dot. Look around the dot (to the left or to the right) until you get to either a three digit or four digit number boldly imprinted on the tyre without any alphabet attached to it. Some tyres though, may not have the letters dot printed on them. Just look around the side wall you definitely will see a 3 or 4 digit number clearly imprinted on the tyre. The 3 or 4 digit number is the code designating the date of manufacture of the tyre. Since it is a code, you need to decode it to get the age of the tyre.

So lets decode it. If it is a 3 digit number, check to see if it has a triangle sign attached to it. A 3 digit number without a triangle means the tyre was manufactured in the 80’s , the first two number from the left tells you the week in the year while the last number tells you the year in the 80’s. For example if you have the number 341 (without a triangle) it means 34 week of 1981 (34 is the first two numbers from the left indicating the week while 1 is the last number indicating the year in the 80’s) if the 3 digit number has a triangle it means the tyre was made in the 90’s. So 341 with a triangle means the tyre was made in the 34th week in 1991. If it is a 4 digit number, it means the tyre was made any year from year 2000. For example, a tyre with 2302 means the 23rd week of year 2002. The first two numbers from the left indicating the week while the last two numbers indicating the year. Four digit numbers do not have triangle signs with them.

From the date of manufacture you can now determine how old the tyre is do a simple calculation on tyres made in the 80’s or the 90’s and

see how old a such tyres could be. Even if a tyre looks brand new don’t be deceived. Check the age repeat, check the age. If possible find out for how long it has been left unused because the more unused a tyre is the more unsafe the tyre becomes. Please note that you start calculating the age of tyre from the date it was manufacture and not from the date you bought it.

Check for physical conditions: After you are satisfied with the signs and age, check for cuts, wears (either at the edges or the center) bulges, swells, cracks, warp. These may be the time to do your press up (or is it press down) with the tyres.

Any of these deformities could be a warning signal to stay off the tyre.

Spare tyres could be a death trap if……Given two tyres of the same age, the one not in use (for a long time) is more dangerous than the one constantly in use. Surprised? Well that is the way it goes with tyres. For instance, if you bought two brand new tyres and kept one as spare and didn’t use it for say 12months, the one in constant use is far safer than the one not in use. Why? When not in use, atmospheric gases have more damaging effect on tyres (whether brand new or not) such gases harden unused tyres and make them like brittle. When such tyres are eventually engaged, they could simply disintegrate and cause a crash. A tyre that is in use counteract with effect of the atmospheric gases as it rolls and flexes. So if you have to engage spare tyres that you have not used for a long time drastically reduces your speed and change to a better tyre as soon as you can. From this you can see that those who park their vehicles for a long time may need to change the tyre when they eventually engage the vehicle again. It doesn’t matter if you remove the tyres and store them somewhere else as long as they are affected by the air, you can be sure the damaging atmospheric damages will impact on them.

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

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

15

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Man in the News Alhaji Bamanga Tukur

Quits partisan politics at last AYO ESAN

OLAFISOYE OMOTAYO.BZ 08084285802

F

ormer Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, last Tuesday announced his retirement from active politics.

Tukur, who made the declaration at his residence during a lecture organised to commemorate his 80th birthday, said he was quitting to give the younger politicians the opportunity to showcase their experience.

In his speech on the occasion, he declared, “I deem it fit to use this opportunity of my 80th birthday celebration to announce my retirement from partisan politics. It is time to say goodbye to formal politics. ” He, however, stressed that he had used several political platforms to serve his country and that it was time for him to rest.

“I leave partisan politics for the younger generation. I want to be a statesman and an adviser. At 80, I feel I can serve our dear nation more in the capacity of a statesman and father figure,e ” he stated.

Tukur, who called on politicians to play the game according to the rules and to take the interest of the country at heart, stressed that, “politics should be seen as an avenue for rendering of service to the country and not a bread and butter affair. ” He said “my nation has given me so much, it is now pay-back time. I want to rededicate my time, life and resources to the service of our nation as an elder statesman and father. My aim is to help to take Nigeria to the land of promise, to make her truly great and to ensure that she assumes her rightful position in the comity of nations ”.

He stated that he was among the founding fathers of the PDP under the G-34 pressure group and that he had the privilege of serving as the national chairman of the party, “during which I tried to introduce sanity in the party affairs and the idea of internal democracy, party discipline and supremacy ” which he claimed are “strong ingredients of strong party systems that drive democratic process. ” Interestingly, during his tenure as PDP chairman the party witnessed serious crises which led seven governors of the party storming out of the mini-convention organised by the party in Abuja in 2013.

On August 31, 2013, the chairmanship of Tukur was openly challenged when seven state governors, 22 sena-

tors and 57 members of the House Representatives, all from PDP were led by former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, to declare a ‘New PDP ’ with Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje

as its chairman.

The governors are: Alhaji Murtala Nyako, Adamawa; Alhaji Sule Lamido, Jigawa; Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, Kano; Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, Kwara; Dr

Mua ’zu Babangida Aliyu, Niger; Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, Rivers and Aliyu Magatakarda Wamako, Sokoto.

Tukur, a onetime governor of the old Gongola State, which now comprises the present Adamawa and Taraba states, was also a former member of the Board of Trustees of the PDP. He came to national attention in the mid-1970s, as the General Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA During his tenure, the government built a few more seaports to ease the transaction cost associated with shipping and to ensure adequate facilities for Nigeria ’s import and export needs.

In 1982, he left his position as general manager and soon contested for Gongola gubernatorial race.

Tukur served as governor for three months before the democratic administration was sacked via a military coup. After leaving the Gongola State House, he entered full scale entrepreneurship, and was the founder and chairman of BHI Holdings (DADDO Group of companies).

In 1992, he was an unsuccessful presidential candidate for the National Republican Convention, NRC, during which he and a few rivals of Adamu Ciroma lobbied for the cancellation of the first primaries due to allegations of favouritism levelled against the leadership of the party.

Alhaji Tukur serves as the chair of NEPAD Business Group and Executive President of African Business Roundtable, ABR. From 1993 to 1995, he served as a member of the Federal Executive Council and Minister of Industry. He is a honorary life president of the west and central Africa Ports Management Association, and a member of various Chambers of Commerce in Nigeria.

He is a member of the UNIDO International Business Advisory Council, the Ghana Investors Advisory Council and the OECD Africa Investment Advisory Board. He was elected chairman of the NEPAD Business Group in March 2002. Dr. Tukur was awarded doctorate degree of law (honoris causa) by Benue State University and he is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, Zaria.

He was awarded the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in recognition of his contribution to business in Africa. He holds the traditional title of Tafidan Adamawa and Wakilin Ganye in Adamawa State.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

16

Wellness YOUR HEALTH AND HEALTH RELATED ISSUES September 20, 2015

Controlling the incidence of sepsis TITILOPE MORAKINYO

S

epsis is a life threatening complication of infection. It is a global healthcare problem which often occurs in people who are elderly or have weak immune systems. It is more common than heart attack, and claims more lives than cancer diseases. It remains a leading cause of death in developed and developing countries.

Sepsis is a medical condition that arises when the body ’s attempt to fight an infection results in the immune system damaging tissues and organs. This chaotic response, designed to protect us, causes widespread inflammation, leaky blood vessels, and abnormal blood clotting resulting in organ damage.

In severe cases, blood pressure drops, multiple organ failures ensue, and sufferers can die rapidly from septic shock. Patients vary in their response; the severity of their sepsis and the speed with which it progresses is affected by their genetic characteristics and the presence of coexisting illnesses, as well as the numbers and virulence of the infecting microorganism. However, patients seem not to deteriorate until late in their illness as it progresses rapidly and can be fatal within a few hours.

According to the World Health Organisation, WHO, sepsis affects millions of people around the world and kills more than one in four people who contract it.

Also, it is said to have increased by an annual rate of 8-13 per cent over the last decade, and now claims more lives than bowel and breast cancer combined.

In an interview with Sunday Mirror, Dr Rosemary Chidera, a medical practitioner with Ideal Eager Hospital Yaba, Lagos defined sepsis as a life-threatening complication of infection which often occurs in people who are elderly or have weak immune systems. “t happens when the body suffers from

Victims

an infection and the chemicals released into the blood to fight the infection cause inflammation over the entire body. This inflammation can trigger a cascade of changes that can damage multiple organ systems, causing them to fail.

“When sepsis progresses to septic shock, blood pressure drops dramatically and leads to death. Anyone can develop sepsis while early treatment of sepsis, usually with antibiotics and large amounts of intravenous fluids, improves chances for survival ”. She maintained, ” she said.

She also spoke about the risk of the ailment.

“Those whose immune systems (the body ’s defence against infections) are not functioning well, because of illness such as diabetes, AIDS or medical treatments such as chemotherapy for cancer which weakened the immune eystem, are more prone to develop sepsis. It is important to remember that even healthy people can become infected.

Also, young babies because their immune systems are not completely developed, may be infected with the disease if they ’re not treated in a timely manner.

HEALTH NEWS

NMA pledges to eliminate measles by 99%

P

resident, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr Kayode Obembe, said at the weekend that the association would eradicate measles by 99 per cent from Nigeria as it had successfully kicked out polio.

Obembe said this in Ilorin, assuring Nigerians that the Physician Week slated for October 2015 would focus on total eradication of the disease from the country.

He lamented that measles usually occur in epidemic proportion and was highly infectious to people, adding that this condition could be preventable with commitment and support from all tiers of government.

Obembe disclosed that the disease was draining a high toll in the lives of Nigerian children, adding that it is among the disease with highest infant mortality rate in the country.

“Measles is next to malaria and those who get the disease have neurological problem, where the nerves are damaged.

“About 60 per cent of coverage in fighting measles had so far been achieved but for this year, we want to achieve 99 per cent. We are set in promoting the propaganda, talking to mothers and the government. We want to reach out and educate them on everything about measles and prevention, ” he said.

They, however, develop signs of an infection such as fever. Hospitalised patients are also at risk to develop sepsis from infections due to intravenous lines, surgical wounds or bedsores. ” On the symptoms, the medic added that they include “fever above 101.3 F, heart rate higher than 90 beats a minute, breathing rate higher than 20 breaths a minute, possible or definite infection, high temperature, chills and shivering, a fast heartbeat, fast breathing. In some cases, symptoms of more severe sepsis can develop within hours. These can include feeling dizzy or faint, a change in mental state, disorientation diarrhoea, nausea, slurred speech, severe muscle pain, severe breathlessness, decreased urine production such as not urinating in a day, cold, clammy and pale or mottled skin and loss of consciousness. ” Dr Chidera explained that if the immune system is weak or an infection is particularly severe, it can quickly spread through the blood into other parts of the body. This causes the immune system to go into overdrive, and the process of inflammation affects the entire body.

“This can cause more problems than

the initial infection, as widespread inflammation damage tissue and interferes with the flow of blood. The interruption in blood flow leads to a dangerous drop in blood pressure, which stops oxygen reaching your organs and tissues ” she added.

On the treatment she said, “Aggressive treatment boosts the chances of survival as patients with severe sepsis require close monitoring and treatment in a hospital intensive care unit. Life-saving measures may be needed to stabilise breathing and heart function. Antibiotics begins immediately even before the infectious agent is identified. Initially you ’ll receive broad-spectrum antibiotics, which are effective against a variety of bacteria.

“The antibiotics are administered intravenously (IV), and on getting the results of the blood tests, medical practitioner switch to a different antibiotic that ’s more appropriate against the particular bacteria causing the infection. Other medication includes low doses of corticosteroids, insulin to help maintain stable blood sugar levels, drugs that modify the immune system responses, and painkillers or sedatives. Patients with severe sepsis receive supportive care including oxygen and large amounts of intravenous fluids depending on the condition, as they may need to have a machine to help breathe or another to provide dialysis for kidney failure, ” the medic said.

Nigeria, Cuba partner on health technology transfer

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he Cuban government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Federal Government on health technological transfer.

Representing Cuba during the event, its Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Carlo Sosa, assured that his country has everything is takes to transform the health standard of Nigerians positively through technological transfer.

While reiterating his country ’s commitment to assist Nigeria by sharing their acquired health -based knowledge, the ambassador said that historically, Cuba regarded Nigeria as her ancestor.

He stressed that Cuban Government cannot hesitate to exchange ideas with Nigerian scholars, especially on research towards finding lasting solutions to some dreaded health challenges both in Nigeria and Cuba.

Carlo expressed confidence that Cuba had, through research produced various vaccines that have sustained the country from some deadly diseases ravaging some countries in the world.

This goes as far as cancer according to him.

“Cancer is no longer a threat to the lives of Cubans, ’ ’ he said.

The collaboration will also be extended to boost agricultural development in the two countries.

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Sunday, September 20, 3 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

Addressing the indiscriminate use of sirens A F or the umpteenth time, the Nigeria Police Force has reiterated its resolve to enforce the restriction on the use of siren fitted vehicles (SFV) in the country. This disclosure was made penultimate Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole (acting Assistant Commissioner of Police) in Abuja.

“We will still go by the Federal Government circular in implementing the directive, ” was how she put it. It is good that the police hierarchs are revisiting a directive earlier given in 2012 by the former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, on the matter. This newspaper hopes that IGP Solomon Arase must be seen to walk the talk this time around.

The enforcement of the restriction ought not to be problematic because the nation has a list of the category of public officers permitted to enjoy the privilege of using siren-fitted vehicles. They include the President, Vice-President, state governors and deputy governors. Others are the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker of House of Representatives and his/her deputy, service chiefs, the IGP and Deputy InspectorsGeneral of Police, Assistant InspectorsGeneral of Police, Commissioners of Police, the General Officers Commanding (GOCs) of the Army, and first-class traditional rulers. Also in the list are cashcarrying bullion vans on active duty, ambulances on emergency health services and fire service operators.

Unfortunately, the existence of such list has not deterred unauthorised use of siren in the country, especially by wealthy Nigerians and non-Nigerians.

For example, executives of corporate organisations are known to use SFVs with the sirens blaring, especially in the night after close of work even in the full knowledge that such vehicles are only meant to enhance their business operations. For residents of Lagos metropolis that use the Third Mainland Bridge in the night after close of work, this is one of the impunities they contend with on daily basis. Even the military and paramilitary workforces are not left out of this uncouth conduct. It is not unusual seeing military personnel going to work blaring sirens to intimidate other road

PRACTICE THAT

ENCOURAGES SOME HIGHLY PLACED PERSONS TO DISOBEY TRAFFIC REGULATIONS WILL NOT HELP THE

QUEST FOR SMOOTH FLOW OF TRAFFIC AND RESPECT FOR LAW AND ORDER IN THE SOCIETY users, or the vehicles of security officers recklessly taking one way, using siren and revolving light for effect.

The same is true of policemen attached to some wealthy Nigerians taking their wives to the market or escorting their children to school putting on the sirens to facilitate ease of passage.

Even ambulance drivers not on emergency services now harass and intimidate other road users with their siren-fitted vehicle by putting on the facility. The list of those involved in this act of impunity is endless. The chaos is cashed in by armed robbers, kidnappers, insurgents, oil thieves, etc, who make their getaway after their heinous acts with SFVs. What is very certain of this egregious development is that it has become a popular culture of self mystification by the privileged and wealthy class in the country. The security agencies, by various acts of commission and omission, have

helped in the sustenance of this odious culture of disregard for social orderliness. The most efficient way to arrest the decline into this dystopian state is to punish offenders. This will make Nigerian motorists learn to take their turn in traffic and obey all traffic regulations.

A practice that encourages some highly placed persons to disobey traffic regulations will not help the quest for smooth flow of traffic and respect for law and order in the society.

The indiscriminate use of siren has wreaked heavy toll on the nation, as individuals have had to perish or suffer serious injuries from accidents induced by it; and businesses have had to cope with heavy losses through damage to property and non-optimisation of manpower caused by traffic snarls. So, it is not enough for Mr. Arase to just reiterate an earlier directive made by his predecessor, only the enforcement of the restriction will achieve the desired objective. Mr. Arase should galvanise the intimidating forces at his disposal to ensure full compliance with the directive. The nation ’s three tiers of government and other relevant security agencies should work in synergy with the police to checkmate this social disorder. Even for the privileged public officers allowed under the regulations to use sirens, we urge they exercise their rights with circumspection. Such caution will enhance social order and promote harmonious coexistence.

Unrestricted blaring of sirens constitutes major source of noise pollution that leads to health hazards and disorderliness on the highways. Sanitising the system through the enforcement of the restriction of the use of sirens will be a most appropriate intermediation measure. Moreover, it will give a boost to the nation ’s drive to end the pervasive challenges of the Boko Haram-induced insurgency, especially in the North-East region; the vice grip kidnappers have on Nigeria; and the collateral damage unleashed on the country by armed robberies, oil thieves, illegal bunkerers, and the evil merchants of oil pipeline vandalism, etc. It is a well known fact that many of these criminal-minded Nigerians and their foreign collaborators disguise as security escorts and use siren fitted vehicles for their escape.

Reminiscences SEPTEMBER 20 IN HISTORY 1962: U.S. - James Meredith barred from enrolling at University of Mississippi Black student, James Meredith, is barred from enrolling at the University of Mississippi by the segregationist Governor, Ross R. Barnett. Following the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals which ordered Meredith admitted, he became the first black student at that university.

1933: Cuba civil war affects Americans The civil war in Cuba is causing Americans to seek protection from U.S. warships as the fighting continues to intensify. Also to make matters worse, malaria is breaking out in Havana and other cities with the number of cases growing daily 1942: Britain moves to conserve fuel As part of British war effort to conserve fuel, every household is asked to bathe in no more than five inches of water; the royal family is leading the way with black lines painted on all baths in the royal household at a depth of five inches with posters all over the palace reminding all of the need to conserve energy.

1946: France stages annual film festival The first annual Cannes Film Festival opens at the resort city of Cannes on the French Riviera.

1967: Israeli tanks sink Egyptian patrol Boats Israeli tank gunners sank three Egyptian patrol boats carrying armed soldiers travelling down the blocked Suez Canal heightening tension in the area.

1967: UK - Queen launches cruise liner Queen Elizabeth launches the new Cunard cruise liner Queen Elizabeth 2, at a ceremony on the Clydebank with the words “I name this ship Queen Elizabeth the Second. May God bless her and all who sail in her. ” 1978: Earthquake kills 16,000 in Iran The death toll in the area hit by an earthquake which hit Tabas and the surrounding villages has now reached 16,000. Iranian aircraft are spraying areas effected with disinfectant in a hope to keep diseases from spreading.

1985: South Africa unbans Stevie Wonder ’s music The South African government has returned Stevie Wonder to the air waves after banning his music from being played on radio stations for dedicating his Oscar to the imprisoned anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela.

1999: UN peacekeepers land in East Timor A multinational United Nations peacekeeping force has landed in East Timor in an attempt to restore law and order to the area.

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

EDIFYING GOD

QUOTE However, it is not enough to access the plan of God, we must learn how to actualize it, and the Spirit of faith is the master key to fulfilling God’s plan and purpose for our lives.

Bishop David Oyedepo

Sunday September 20, 2015

God’s time to take over 24

Revealingg the revealed truth 42

Puttttt Putt love oove vee iinn act act ct 41

Sowing seeds: The Biblical facts

22 & 23

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Vineyard

Briefly Born Again Church holds crusade

Celebration

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ll is set for three-day powerpacked of The Born Again Revival Church of Christ International Open Crusade tagged “The Promised Land”.

The programme holds from Wednesday, September 23 to Friday September 25, 2015 at 6pm daily at the church Headquarters located at 65, King’s Avenue, opposite Bemil Nigeria Ltd., Ojodu Abiodun, Berger, Lagos.

While inviting all to the crusade, the General Overseer, Pastor Emmanuel Akinbobola, assured those who come with great expectations of positive results from God as He is set to perform great miracles during the programme.

The Church also has its branch at 14, Opeyemi Street, Off New Koye Road, Koye-Oke, Lambe, Ogun State headed by Evangelist Oyewole.

Sunday September 20, 2015

Christians urged to build morals …as theologians hold conference

Double Supernatural Power at CFPM

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onsuming Fire Prayer Ministries is organising a double supernatural powerful Holy Ghost filled seven-day programme billed for 66, Ijaiye road, opposite area G Police Command, Ogba, Lagos.

The programme, which has “Money answereth all things and I Shall Not Die But Ordained to live long” as theme, adopted from Ps. 118:17 is scheduled for September 21-27, 2015 with sessions holding from 6:30am -9:00am and 6:00pm respectively.

Quoting Ecclesiastes 10:19, the host, Pastor Sebastine Ndu advised attendees to pray fervently into their millions, adding that all creatures on earth are fully ordained to live long as well as urged everyone to pray and fast and meditate on Matthew 17:21 as they attend the programme.

Women Revival Fire Crusade at GGDM

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lorious Gospel and Deliverance Ministries will on September21 begin its five-day women revival tagged “Fire Crusade” which is expected to end on September 26, 2015.

The programme, which begins on Monday, September 21 will feature medical services, counseling and advice on Tuesday and Wednesday tagged the “Threshing Floor” at 3, John Adeghedalu Close, off Afisuru Street by Shobiye Bus-Stop, Ajuwon Road, Agbole, Ogun State.

The host, Prophetess Amaka Comfort Nwabueze revealed that God gave her the revelation to gather women from all over the Nigeria nation, adding that it is good to hear and obey God rather than man.

According to Nwabueze, the programme will also cover marital relations in the society, the Nigerian nation, destiny and vision. She admonished Christians not be carried away with their position in life, but be at their threshing floor just like Esther.

Those expected to minister at the programme include Pastor Patience Ewuro (WIIF), Prophetess Shekina Igho Paul and ministering in songs are Denikeys, Malvina and Glogadem Family Choir.

Participants

ODINAKA URUAKPA

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he President of Association of Christian Theologians, ACTS, Prof. Augustus Olakunle Macaulay has called on the Federal Government to reconsider its policies on education and accept Christian and theological education as a way of building morals in Nigeria.

Giving this charge in a speech delivered at the National Theological Conference held recently in Ibadan, Oyo State, Macaulay encouraged Christians, Christian leaders and theologians to be involved in building the morals of citizens and consequently that of Nigeria as an entity.

He said: “If education including Christian and theological education is one of the ways of meeting the needs of a nation, then the Federal Government of Nigeria should reconsider its policies on education and accept Christian and theological education as a way of building morals in the country.”

He also advised Nigerians to be mindful of products of secular colleges whom he claimed concentrated more on preaching affluence, seek status and encourage religious inclusivism.

The theologian expressed satisfaction at the turnout of theological experts, theologians, Christian scholars and theological students from nearly all the states of the federation to the conference which

Rev. Mrs. Modupe Oshitelu recieving post-humous award on behalf of her husband from Prof. Kunle Macaulay

he claimed confirmed the importance of the gathering.

Also speaking at the conference, octogenarian Christian scholar and Special Guest of Honour on the occasion, Modupe Oduyoye, enlightened participants on the workings and expectations of the church and state which he claimed are not the same in the country.

“Taking into consideration the differences in the church and state, I therefore urge ACTS to create acceptable standards and determine where the products of theological colleges accredited by the association will work, since no secular government as you and I know, will employ any faith-based graduate.

Oduyoye also advised the theologians to do everything possible that would assure that the theological profession maintains respectable code of ethics that Nigerian communities will accept and respect in return.

Speaker of the day, Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Akoma, while giving a brief history of theological education in Nigeria claimed that one of the major reasons for secularism in Christianity is the proliferation of Bible colleges by virtually every church and para-church organisation in Nigeria.

Akoma further claimed that these theological colleges are manned by incompetent teachers and leaders who know little or nothing about theological education.

He also advised that theological insti-

tutions in Nigeria must be repositioned in order to generate adequate manpower to fill in the gap that otherwise gives room for the invasion of secularism.

The Christian group took time from the gathering to briefly remember Rev. Dr. Gideon Adebandele Oladele Oshitelu, a theological icon and former head of department of Philosophy at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State who passed on to glory on September 9, 2010.

Rev. Mrs. Modupe Oshitelu, widow to the late theologian was on hand to receive the post-humous Outstanding Performance Award presented to her husband for his contribution to Christian and theological education while alive. She expressed her appreciation at the gesture of the association as well as thanked both the friends and students of the deceased.

Also present at the opening ceremony of the conference were Rt. Rev. Dr. Egbetakin, Provost of Immanuel College of Theology, Ibadan, Rev. Dr. J. O. Bolarinwa, Principal of Redeemed Christian Church of God College of Theology, Lagos Campus, Prof. O. E. O. Ita, Provost, The Apostolic Church Bible College and Seminary, Calabar, Cross River State.

Others include Rev. (Dr.) and Pastor Mrs. Ogunbode, Dr. A.O. Dada, Senior Lecturer at University of Ibadan, Rev. (Dr.) A. Omololu Oladosu of Maranatha Bible University, Mr. Paul Emokhare, Station Manager, Diamond Radio and Olaleke Fagbola.

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Abiding in God’s presence (3)

Miracle Arena with Bishop

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From the Pulpit 21

Sunday September 20, 2015

Theo Ugochukwu

found out from the Scripture that no man ever succeeds or makes any impact in his generation without the presence of God. Every successful man or woman in Christ Jesus had their share of the troubles and challenges, but what sustained them was nothing but the abiding presence of God. Let us look at what the psalmist had to say in (Psalm 23:4) “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy rock and thy staff they comfort me”.

David knew this principle; he knew it doesn’t matter what came his way, no matter how rough the road may be, including death, as long as God was with him.

Exodus 33:13-14 says “And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever”. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace, and the Lord said to Moses, why do

you cry to me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward”. How? Why? Because my presence is with you. Each time God sent His people out, each time He asked them to do anything, God will always give them the assurance of His presence. The presence of God upon your life breaks every satanic protocol.

I was pulled out from the debris of my Montero Jeep that a trailer scattered beyond repair.

That morning like a trance I saw dead bodies scattered all around me, I called my family and we all prayed, two hours later. I received a distress call from a woman who came back from London the previous night and lost her eldest son of about 17 years. The following morning, on the way with my wife to answer that call, we were involved in a ghastly accident, that till today how my wife and I were pulled out remained a mystery.

The presence of God in your life can close the grave and also can burn the coffin the enemies actually bought for you.

Just last August, Sunday 16th, I prophesied to the church that somebody travelling on the 18th would have an accident,

which we prayed against. That Sunday I received an invitation for a conference in Benin City and it fell on the 18th of August. But it just came to my mind on the night of 17th that I will be honouring the invitation to the conference at Benin on the same 18th God spoke to me concerning accident.

So I had to summon my family and we prayed over it. Behold, on the way to Benin, my driver fell asleep while driving and swerved to the other lane, within a speed of light, another vehicle rammed into us.

It was only God and His presence that helped us to be in the land of the living. After the incident just a few meters away we saw a tanker squeezed a jeep with all the occupants dead.

God’s presence keeps you safe from the plans of the enemies. Anytime David wanted to go out to war, he will say “God shall I go? Will you go with me? And God will say, “I will go with you”. Anytime God said, He is not going; there is nothing you can do about it.

When the children of Israel were about to go to the land of Canaan, God was an-

gry with them because they doubted Him and Moses said to them. “You are no longer going to posses to land, you are going to be in this place for 40 years”. They said no, let us go now and posses the land and they left without the presence of God, what happened when God said, “I am not going with you”. And as soon as they left, the Amorites descended on them and destroyed them even though they were in the wilderness with the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire Numbers 14:42-45.

It doesn’t matter the array of battles before you, if the abiding presence of God is with you, then you are more than conqueror. 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 (The Coach) Pastor Moses A Omogbehin

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ne of the things that makes sense and attracts God’s presence into a place is making one’s life a continuous sacrifice, as a leader. Why? The whole essence of life is living for the benefit and blessings of others day by day.

The subject of leadership is very important, both in secular things and spiritual matters, reasons, everything God does rises and falls on leadership.

Anything that does not cost you cannot make you. It takes something that cost you to make you-1 chr 11; 16-19. (i)An offering, (ii) A sacrifice 1. There is a great difference between an offering and a sacrifice. The oxford Advance Learner’s Dictionary defines as “something that is given to God as part of religious worship”. Personally, I see “offering” as a token given out of man’s abundance and according to individual ability. It can also be said that an offering is what is given out willingly.

“And Moses.............. “Exodus 35; 4,5 In summary, offering is a kind of giving with a willing heart.(EX 25;23;30;15;35:5,16,21-22,24,29;36:6) ii. “Sacrifice “is defined by the Oxford Advance Learner’s Dictionary. As the fact of given up something of importance or value to you in order to get or do something that seems more important.

Sacrifice will always demand from you what is your very best. (Rom8:32) that is sacrifice in action.

Example of Sacrifice: there are different examples or let say models of sacrifice.

Some of them are: 1.

God’s kind of sacrifice: John 3:16.

God offered it Jesus Christ His only son as a sacrifice for the whole world.

2.

Abel’s Kind of sacrifice (Gen 4:35) Abel’s kind of sacrifice was not only ac-

cepted because it was bloody; it was because it was what the creator desired then.

3.

Abraham’s kind of sacrifice: Gen 22:1-3 4.

A certain poor widow’s kind of sacrifice: (Luke 21:1-14) Read also : I chr 11:16-19 ,Judges 16:23,1 Sam 2:9,I Kgs 18:63;21:27;18:29,33,36,38.

Sacrifice is to children of God what risk and discipline is to the world. 2 Kgs 10:19; 17 :35:30 ii Chr 33:17, II Kgs 14:4, ii Chr 7:5,12. Psalm20:30; 40:6; 50:5 There is no limit to what a man can receive as a result of giving a sacrifice unto God, but there is a limit to what you can get when you give an offering to him.

NOTE that :(I) the price of a product or commodity is mostly determined by its quality.

(II) The quality of a product/commodity determines its durability.

There principles above also apply to leadership anywhere, anytime and every season but there is to more to leadership than what have been mentioned. Leadership also covers the scope of: 1.

Motivating 2.

Challenging 3.

Influencing 4.

Correcting 5.

Controlling 6.

Managing among others.

Types of sacrifice 1.

Making your body the temple of the living God: this is the number one, and the best sacrifice anyone can offer to God in this New Testament dispensation. Every other sacrifice answer to it. Giving everything in your pocket or/and bank account to God amount to nothing without living an holy and acceptable life to Him, in other word any sacrifice devoid of holy living and uprightness is a strange sacrifice.

Remember, also that there is nothing a person gives as a sacrifice to God that is not first given from God Himself. Rom 12:1 2.

Giving of thanks or Thanksgiving:

psalm 54;16; 107:22; 116:17 3.

Giving painfully to God : II Chr 7:5,12 Now, talking about leadership, how can you, as a leader attract or command much respect?

Leadership, first and foremost, is not a position, title or influence over a particular group of individuals. It is all about responsibility, group of individual. It is also about responsibility, acceptability and ability to go on extra mile irrespective of the prevailing circumstance. Therefore, as a leader, you should not ask for respect or force to respect or honour you. You can- and should- earn respect of everybody and four every quarters in life and ministry. People, who are highly placed, more educated, exposed, richer and for richer than you may consider those privilege as advantage or an edge over you both in the secular and spiritual things. But, to gain or garner great respect, you must earn it. Respect is what you get from your follower by merit and not because you demand it oftentimes, respect demanded for it respect not deserved. So when you keep demanding for respect. You over admitting your insecurity.

Leadership is to be sold out to your followers at a cost.

The followings will boost the level of respect you will gain from your followers.

1.

Expression of love and care with wisdom daily: prov 4:7:27:23. It is not enough to profess that you love and care for somebody. You most express the love and care.

That is what given meaning to the profession • God loves the world. As a result, He gave His only son the giving here is the expression of love.

• Jonathan, the son of King Saul, loved David. Someone his father saw as his great enemy consequently, he revealed the evil plot of his father (King Saul) to David.

He also went ahed to make a covenant of peace and security with him.

• Reuben, the first son of Jacob, loved Joseph he did not allow the other nine brothers to kill him.

So as a leader, you most love your member

(followers) or people, if you want them to always respect and honour you.

2.

Anointing: The anointing of God upon yours life will produce uncommon result anywhere and anytime. Anointing automatically attracts all manner of problems in order to bring solution. A nonentity with anointing will be respected by all men while a rich man without anointing may lose the respect of people sooner or later. It is only a mad man that argues with proof.

Elisha was man with a proof: that was why his colleagues bowed before him. II kgs 2:15.

Hear this: if you are anointed, and you are not respected by somebody, that person is under the cures of God. (ps 105) Anyone that is cursed.1sam 6:6-7.

3.

Integrity: People naturally respect men of integrity. Integrity speaks volumes; it expect more than anything. Anointing is good. But, even if you are anointed just put on the garment and the spirit of integrity .people will be attracted to you from all quarters.

• People were attracted to Abraham.

• People were attracted to Joseph even in the prison • People were attracted to Jesus Christ not only because of his anointing but also because of his integrity.

4.

Capacity and commitment: People respect men and women with skills and commitment. One major factor that facilitated Joseph’s fulfillment of his purpose, apart from anointing, integrity and his love and care is his capacity and commitment to his work or duties as servant in the house of his master.

Continued next week •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 20, 2015

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Sowing seeds:

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iterarily speaking, to sow a seed simply means to plant a seed. The word of God uses this as a metaphor to describe the concept of working to achieve something positive. The Bible often uses symbolism associated with agricultural production to describe this act (seed sowing) because it was such an important part of ancient people’s daily life, unlike what is obtainable today.

In Genesis 3:15, the name, ‘the seed’, is given to Jesus, also in Luke 8:11 and first Peter 1:23, the word of God is designated as the seed. In John 15, the growth of the believer is compared with that of a plant, and in the gospel of Matthew 13:30, the evangelization of the world is compared with the harvest. These and other passages in scripture are examples of the symbolism of seed sowing, which the Bible uses, and has been developed by many evangelists of this age into concept of the seed of faith.

A close examination of these passages indicates that the concept of seed sowing, not only has to do with financial gains, but also draws attention to the impact of God’s word in people’s life and spiritual growth of believers. Nowadays, a good number of clerics are wont to compelling or even cajoling worshippers to sow seeds of faith as they call it; claiming that with strong faith, they (Christians) need to first give generously to God, to receive the best from Him (God), and this has led many to focus on getting only financial profits at the detriment of spiritual benefits and as such oppose Jesus’ teaching in the gospel of Mark chapter 4 in the parable of the sower to His apostles and the people who came to listen to Him. According to Pastor Tony Richards of Overcomers Bible Church, Isolo, Lagos, the Bible speaks specifically of two types of seed that believers can sow, namely; the word of God and finances, which they should know how and when to sow these.

“The Bible speaks much more about financial blessings than it does about giving just as a farmer receives back more than he sows; it speaks about two types of seed that we can sow as believers. The first is the word of God and the second is finances and as Christians we should know how to sow these two types of seed and in which order. One of the unique things about the Bible is that it makes some extraordinary claims about itself and promises that those who live by what it says will know a much better quality of life. In the same vein, the scriptures also speak of a cause and effect that will happen to any Christian namely, that if they cherish, desire and live by the word of God, they will be blessed of God. We are made to understand that when we apply the word of God to our life, we will then know the blessing of God. Moreover, the Bible often uses words such as prosperity, success and blessing to describe Christians’ reward as regards the seed of faith. Psalm chapter 1 state’s ‘But this

The concept of sowing of a seed in Christendom is one which Christians believe that when they invest financially in a generous manner in the ministry they belong to, this opens or paves way for hundredfold return in terms of financial and or spiritual blessings. ODINAKA URUAKPA speaks to clerics on the biblical teachings about sowing seeds. delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.’ Proverbs 3:1 also states ‘My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring prosperity.’ More importantly, Joshua 1:8 states ‘Do not let this book of the Law depart from your mouth meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it; then you will be prosperous and successful.’ Consequently in light of the above scriptures, if we want prosperity, success and blessings in our finances, then we must base our financial dealings on what the Bible says we should do. Sadly, many Christians want the blessings that the Bible speaks of, but they don’t want to go about it God’s way and they refuse to systematically give into the work of God”, he explained.

Richards further explained that there is a large obligation on each individual Christian to be well versed and acquainted with the Bible adding that if they are seeking financial blessings in particular, Christians need to know what the Bible says about finances.

“People say that ignorance is bliss, but in the Kingdom of God ignorance will kill you for Hosea 4:6 states ‘My peo-

THE BIBLE SPEAKS MUCH MORE ABOUT FINANCIAL BLESSINGS THAN IT DOES ABOUT GIVING JUST AS A FARMER RECEIVES BACK MORE THAN HE SOWS; IT SPEAKS ABOUT TWO TYPES

OF SEED THAT WE CAN SOW AS BELIEVERS. FIRST IS THE WORD OF FINANCES AND AS

THE

GOD AND THE SECOND IS

CHRISTIANS WE SHOULD KNOW

HOW TO SOW THESE TWO TYPES OF SEED AND IN WHICH ORDER.

ple are destroyed from lack of knowledge’, so we must be resolved to seek out and understand God’s finically systems and laws.

The bible in several places refers to the words within it as seeds and as we become knowledgeable of the Bible through reading, meditating, listening and memorizing, as the Bible refers to this process as sowing seeds. One of the major parables of Jesus was the parable of the sower. He himself declares in Mark 4:13 that if you do not grasp the meaning of this parable you will not understand how the Kingdom of God works. Consequently, the parable of the sower is of special importance and one of the central themes of the parable is that the word of God is like a seed that is sown into the hearts of men. So, the first type of seed that we sow is the word

of God, through a knowledge of what the scriptures say about finances we will put ourselves into a good launching pad to sow the second type of seed, which is financial seeds. Through the word of God sown into our hearts we will gain knowledge about sowing and reaping, seedtime and harvest and giving and receiving”, he maintained.

In his contribution, Pastor Steve Adeniyi, Pastor in charge of Faith Dominion Evangelical Ministry, Mushin, claimed that the concept of being able to seed a ministry and receive a hundred or more in financial gains as some clerics would tell their members, is not biblical.

“The nearest statement to this concept is found in 2nd Corinthians Chapter 9:68 where Apostle Paul speaks of sowing

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Sunday September 20, 2015

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The Biblical facts generously. Though he spoke of reward, however, he advises that each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion. The passage simply explains that when we give to the saints, God will bless us according to our gift. If we give little, God will give us little. If we give much, then God will give us more. We should note that the apostle is talking about giving to the saints, which includes pastors, missionaries, and others who do God’s work because they have sown spiritual blessing, they should reap a financial blessing. The Apostle Paul did not take any money from the Corinthians, but he did teach them this principle in first Corinthians 9:11-12 which states ‘If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.’

The concept of receiving back a certain amount of money because you have given to the correct ministry is not biblical. God only talks about giving to other individuals and to your church. There is a great risk in giving money, time, or effort to someone or some organization that you do not really know and cannot watch. When a person gives to an organization or to missionaries they cannot see or observe week after week, there is risk that they may be contributing to an individual who is a false teacher, immoral, or unbiblical in his activities. However, it is important to give to our missionaries in order that they may preach Christ to other cultures. It is also advisable to regularly communicate with them in some way in order to know them.

Adeniyi, also spoke on what the giver or sower as he puts it stands to gain or reap from giving generously to those who work in the vineyard of God. “We can reap money, but that is not the only possibility. As Apostle Paul said in second Corinthians 9:10-12, there is a reward in righteousness and thanksgiving to God by others who receive your gift.

There are other rewards also. First Corinthians 3:6-7 is one example of a reward where God reaps the benefit of our sowing as it states ‘I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God that gives the increase.’ So we can see that we can be rewarded in different ways when we sow to God’s ministry”, he explained.

Pastor K.I. Bona, General Overseer of Chapel of Holiness and Testimony, Ikotun, Lagos said though, it is biblical for Christians to sow seed in the ministries they belong to, but the problem is that so many men of God are abusing the privilege.

“Though a good number of people who call themselves men of God misinterpret and abuse the privilege given in the bible for believers to sow their seed

Church gathering

THOUGH A GOOD NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO CALL THEMSELVES MEN OF GOD MISINTERPRET AND ABUSE THE PRIVILEGE GIVEN IN THE BIBLE FOR BELIEVERS TO SOW THEIR SEED OF FAITH, THE CONCEPT OF SOWING OF SEED SHOULD BE HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM AS LONG AS BIBLICAL DOCTRINE IS CONCERNED.

of faith, the concept of sowing of seed should be held in high esteem as long as biblical doctrine is concerned. But sometimes you see the difference because you will see some men of God who will because of their financial interest begin to capitalise on sowing of seed as the means to answered prayer or the channel, which God uses to resolve matters or settle cases. But in the actual sense, it is biblical. Abraham was tested by God as he was asked to give his son, Isaac; and with faith he was ready and willing to sow his son as his own seed and God blessed him because he obeyed God who eventually provided him the seed that he sowed. There are many places in the scriptures that confirm sowing of seed.

In the gospel of Luke the Bible states; ‘Give and it shall be given unto you in good measure, pressed down, running over. Seed sowing is quite different from giving up something from or of yourself to God; seed sowing is a higher level of challenging God through your faith. The Bible made us know that as you sow your seed by faith, so you shall be blessed”, he stated.

The cleric further said that sowing of seed come mostly in financial form, but people can use cars, houses or any other tangible thing they can afford to sow seed.

“One can sow seed according to how

they are moved or led by the spirit. When a seed is sown according to the tenet of the Christian faith and belief, the reward and result is always amazing. Like I said earlier, seed sowing is biblical and we can sow with money or other tangible things, but nobody could use his own life to sow seed. Our life cannot be used to sow seed; we cannot say ‘I sow seed with

my life or I sow seed with my time.’ Those are sacrifices. We make sacrifice with our life and time doing God’s work. That is the biblical term used for it. You can sacrifice your life; you can sacrifice your time in doing God’s work. You cannot use your life to sow seed to the Lord like some people may think. Though many people do say or think this way, but it is a wrong application”, he submitted.

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From the

Pulpit Sunday September 20, 2015

God’s time to take over

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:

J

oshua 5:13-15, says, “And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? And the captain of the LORD’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.”

Beloved, whether you believe it or not, I am assuring you that after reading this message and accepting Jesus as your personal Saviour, your life will never remain the same again. You shall experience a physical and spiritual transformation that will place you on a positive higher pedestal. The reason being that by this message God will take over your challenges, restore all that you have loss to the enemies and bless you abundantly in Jesus name.

When God took over the battle from Joshua, He rolled away the reproach of Egypt from the Israelites. Consequently the covenant He had with the Children of Israel was restored. And from that point Joshua started conquering nations beginning with Jericho, Ai and etc. Beloved, if you will be on the side of God today, I am assuring you, God will take over your problem.

1Sam 30: 18-19 says, “And David got back everything the Amaekites had taken; and he got his two wives. 19 And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all” When the Amaekites invaded the city of Ziglag, they took captives of the inhabitants including David’s wives. But because David strengthened himself in the Lord, God took over the challenge and gave David victory. David and his men not only recovered all their own properties but they also recovered all the spoils that the Amelekite took from them. Even some of the soldiers who spoke against David to the extent of stoning h i m s a w h i s success and

Pastor Muoka

sang praises of him.

I don’t know what the enemy has taken away from you, but I am not in doubt that you are going home with everything stolen from you. All those mocking you shall see your success and triumphantly celebrate your praises. As David recovered all, you will recover all. God has come to takeover that battle you have been fighting all these years including all the sufferings, pains and disappointment and give you a new hope and life.

Joel 2:15, ..19- 20 say, “Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: …Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: 20 But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink s h a l l c o m e up, and his ill savour shall come up, because h e h a t h d o n e g r e a t things.”

I do not know what you have lost, restoration is coming on your

way. God who can never lie says, ‘You shall be satisfied’. Truly, you shall be satisfied and never be disappointed if you believe. Everything taken from you is coming back to you.

Today the Lord has come to take over your soul, problem, family and you shall be totally free. And so whatever that is after your life, business and family shall be destroyed and you shall see them no more in Jesus name.

This is because from today, my Father and Lord will go before you and give you victory.

By virtue of your faith, He has already gone ahead of you as a consuming fire, to deal with the obstacle and barrier on your way and position you for victory. He will give you victory, He will fight for you, He will deliver you in Jesus name. Take note: The Lord has taken over that battle you are going through and victory is sure for you. What you will do now is to begin to bid your problems today bye-bye, that affliction bye-bye, that sorrow bye-bye, for you will never see them anymore. Is it cancer, bid it bye-bye, or stomach ulcer it bye-bye, or HIV bid it byebye, or poverty bid it bye-bye.

I don’t know what you are going through but note that Pharaoh, his servants, magicians, and army were drowned in the Red sea by the power of God. And that power never diminishes.

God re-

mains the same yesterday, today and ever more. And if that is the case, the same God says it is time for Him to take over your problem, and I want you to believe that what He says shall come to pass. Then, get ready for total freedom. Whatever is the battle God has taken over and henceforth the battle is not yours but God’s. My father will fight for you, victory shall be yours in Jesus name.

OUR POSSIBLE PROBLEMS & THE EXAMPLES Many people that are going through terrible battle in life attributed the cause of their problem to their enemies. But we have only one enemy and that is the devil.

Your father or mother is not your enemy, neither your brother nor sister. No human being is your enemy. The only enemy you have is the devil.

1Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring seeking g lion, o , walketh a et about, see g whom o he may devour:” verse The Scripture has by the above vers devil describes who our adversary is. So, devi is our only opposition, rivalry and enemy.

He is angry and going about like an angry lion, looking for whom to swallow, destroy and kill. Thus we are advised to watch out ou for him by being vigilant and moderate moderat in enjoyment, recreation, in our worldly cares, mostly in our mode of dressing, etc. etc And above all, we are exhorted to be caucau our tious and diligently circumspect all ou we thoughts, words and actions so that w This will not displease God in anything. Thi not is because your enemy the devil will no mischief hesitate in doing you all possible mischie he if you derailed from this advice, for h against goes about seeking all advantages agains him, you in order to devour you. It grieves him fill to find the souls of men appointed to fil up those vacant places in heaven, which plunge he missed. It is a delight to him to plung and souls into the same condemnation an misery with himself. not, John 10:10 says, “The thief cometh not destroy: but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy and I am come that they might have life, an that they might have it more abundantly.”

The devil as a thief is not no joking about his hi business o n

CONTINUED ON PAGE 41

PASSION

A Lifestyle Magazine

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‘I’m fulfilled caring for kids ’

I’m a fashion ictAyabina, add-Ruth >>27

>>26

model

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I’m a fashion addict –Ruth Ayabina, model Bayelsa State-born Ruth Ayabina, who grew up in Lagos, is a Nigerian model making the country proud in Ghana. This Human Resource Management undergraduate of Zenith University College, Accra, Ghana was discovered after a beauty pageant where she came out the first runner-up. Ever since, she has remained very hot on catwalks. In this interview with ADAEZE AMOS, she speaks about her modelling career and what thrills her most.

You studied human management, why did you opt for modelling?

I have always had a passion for it right from when I was little.

I have always watched the TV, read fashion magazines, do the look and pose. Now that I have grown and with the right body, I opted for it.

Can you relive your first time on the fashion runway?

I was scared and jittery the very first time. Though I had done similar things, that first day I felt quite different. But I looked at the crowd, did my thing, walked well and I really did fine for the camera. I wasn’t camera-shy because I had been on beauty pageants before. It was somehow similar. I was in my school pageant when I was in 100-level and I came out first runner-up. Then I did another one and I’m also about to do another pageant immediately I’m back to school.

What thrills you most about modelling?

I love and I’m bold to face the camera. They make me feel good about myself.

Can you counsel those that want to join the modelling world?

To start with, when people hear that someone is into modmod elling, they y tend to think of the negative part of it. It’s not always like that. hat. Don’t be weighed down by those negative thoughts off people. For instance, when I came into modeling, I started rted with beauty pageants. From there, I got to know many any people. When you are doing pageants, a lot of people eople come in as judges and they have agencies. I got to know people who told me that I was good and that I could also do well in modelling. There re and then, an agency picked me up, trained d and groomed me to become a model. For those out there that want to be models, I think they y should start by going oing for pageants ts first.

Haven’t you had challenges in your career? r?

I have had some challenges! I have once been duped. d. I paid ignorantly to dupes for a fashion show and behold there was no such h show. When I got to the location that day, I saw aw some other models who were also duped d like me. We were more than 15 girls who ho paid N15,000 each. You can imagine how ow much the person made all together. It’s ’s challenging at times but the passion keeps eps me going. I don’t have any regrets becoming oming a model.

Who are you ou aspiring to be like in modelling?

Naomi Campbell! She has been there for a while. I love her zeal and passion forr what she does. She started out small ll and later almost everyone got to know w her.

You once said aid in instagram that fashion is your addiction, can you explain?

I love everything verything about fashion. I can be in my house, not doing anything for that day, I would start tart bringing out my clothes and begin to blend them. In the fashion world, it is called play-dress-up. So, I love to do play-dress-up dress-up in my room and get to know w what looks good on me. Another her day when I want to go out, I would just pick itt up and wear. I play y with fashion, it is

my addiction.

Have you ever imagined the world without fashion?

A world without fashion is numb. It’s boring and out of the ordinary. Thank God there is fashion because I don’t know what the world would have looked like without it. Fashion gives people the creativity, knowledge and ability to make something out of nothing. Because most of the clothes we wear, these things we see, if you get to know what they make them from, you would be amazed. I went for a photo shoot one time, the necklace and everything I had were made of nails, false nails.

They used it to make nice necklace and earrings. It’s all fashion.

Where do you think some models are getting it wrong?

I think it is the notion some of them have about going to see some big people behind just to get to the top or get jobs. You can get to your peak joyfully when you work hard for it. And you get more fulfilled remembering that you didn’t have to use your body to get to where you are. They always rush into it, they don’t take things in bits. Because when you rush into it, at the end of the day someone might blackmail you and you don’t feel satisfied. The guilt would begin to show that you knew what to get to that position. But when you get there you did gradually, you would be proud of yourself.

When you want to o attend event, a glamorous eve ent, how do you dress to o stand out and show who you are as a model? mother My mot ther is a fashion designer d and a style s aficio-

nado, so she puts me right most of the time. She designs what I wear. With her help, I have got to know how to dress well for events. It depends on the type of event I’m getting set for. If it’s an evening thing, I would wear a straight gown with slit.

Where do you think some ladies are getting it wrong in fashion?

What some girls need to understand is that not everything you see fits. They see some kind of dresses on people or mannequins and they just wear. But on your own body, it doesn’t look good on you. You have to wear what looks good and befits your confidence. Someone fair who wears something flashy would look too flashy. If you are dark and you wear something flashy, it complements your complexion. People abroad wear what suit their weather whereas some of us don’t even consider that. I went out one day and I saw a girl putting on summer boots. The weather here is hot, you don’t wear that.

How do you blend your colours?

I don’t like flashy colours, I’m not a flashy person. I like cool colours like brown, white, grey etc.

What fashion accessory forms a larger part of your wardrobe?

My shoes! Because there is this indisputable saying about shoes, that they give you a class. Even though you dress simple and put on a pair of nice classy shoes, you would still look good.

Fashion is about covering up your flaws and flaunting, if need be, your good sides. What part of your body wouldn’t you mind flaunting?

I show off my legs; they are long and good to be flaunted. And I’m free flaunting them.

Are there some skimpy outfits you aren’t daring enough to model?

I can model everything because if you begin to be choosy about the things you model, you wouldn’t get to where you are aiming aimin at. I can model bikini but I can’t do nude. But there are nudes that can be done, maybe you use your hands to cover some n some vital areas so that they don’t get the whole body. But the up som revealing I can’t do because it doesn’t reveal ling nude, speak well of my family. I consider my in what I do. family y too As a

model who had worn some mind-blowing styles on various fashion runways, what advice do you have fo for or fashion designers? designe ers?

I think fashion n designers sign ners

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Sunday, September 20, 2015

should devise something that people can wear.

I say this because at times some of the dresses they give us (models) to wear on fashion runways are just somehow that you begin to ask yourself who exactly would wear this. Let them give us something unique, something that can be worn outside the runway.

Can you define your style?

My style is comfort. I don’t follow vogue.

Tell us styles you can’t be seen wearing.

You can’t see me wear tubes or bustier. I can wear a very short dress, I mean extremely short but not bustier because I’m very passionate about my boobs. Whenever I’m given a tube/bustier to model, I often see myself trying to pull it up and that shows I’m not comfortable in it. But I can wear the shortest of skirts.

But to show off my boobs? No! It feels like I’m revealing my whole body.

What lesson has life taught you as a model?

As a model, life has taught me that your time would surely come. You don’t need to rush it. Because when you rush, you might get there but you may end up regretting or you start having guilt. I think you should take your time and let it go gradually. That is how fame comes or success comes. You have to struggle to get there. But when you get it the other way round, it doesn’t last.

What is your philosophy of life?

My philosophy about life is take your time, do what you love best, trust God and you will get there.

What do you like about the Nigerian fashion designers?

They are really trying, not doing badly and they are advancing. I think they have really upgraded.

Do you hope to attend international modelling competitions in future?

That’s my aim. I want to be an international model and make the country proud.

How do you come about those poses you strike on your pictures?

During my leisure, I try some poses and that happens without knowing that th I have a shoot to do. I just do it on my own, so, when I eventually have a shoot, eventua those poses would keep reflecting back on my refl mind. At times, I do min some unconscious som poses that come p out great, so that’s how it works for me.

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‘I’m fulfilled caring for kids’ ADAEZE AMOS

T

he amiable Chief Amaka Anakwe, the Ada Igbo (1) Na Nollywood is a charming lady and fun to be with. She has oil of gladness and charity flowing right inside of her. Little wonder she was recently seen at the children’s ward of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idiaraba showing love, caring, playing and giving out gift items to the kids in children’s’ ward. Those who had been on admission for long due to one ailment or the other.

That was where Sunday Mirror saw her and wondered what she was there for. “let me start by saying that I have always loved giving back to the society and when I say this, some people really don’t know what it means to give back to the society. Coming here to visit children on admission due to one illness or the other is my own way of giving back to the society. There is nobody that comes around to see them except their families. At times, their families even find it difficult to pay their bills. So, they need people who can show them love. I came up with a project that takes care of these kind of problems because I already know that showing love to people is an endless thing. No one should be tired of giving, it is a way of sowing which the Bible says would never cease.

And at times it is not money alone that you need to give, a pat on one’s shoulder saying it is well works wonders. I started this project in order to promote love in the society because what is happening now is what I don’t understand, nobody cares for anybody and

that is not fair,” she said.

Ever wondered how far the love and affection this one time Nollywood star was showing to sick children would go? “It would go a long way in their lives,” she nodded.

“It would motivate them to carry on with life, that somebody actually cares for them.

It would be registered in their psyches that there are some people out there that want them well. Hence, they would strive to get well and be discharged to a society that is loving, caring and ready to embrace them back. That is a huge benefit,” she enthused.

This celebrity said that she is fulfilled as a woman doing what she was seen doing.

“As a woman, I’m a mother, every woman is a mother. Whether you are married or not, whether you have children or not. The love I plant in a child’s life gives me inner joy and satisfaction. In fact, I’m fulfilled when I care for kids especially those of them that are ill.

And that’s the fact. Remember also that the Bible says that what you give is also what you receive or reap. If you give love and care, those are also what you receive. There is nothing one does that has no reward. You reap what you sow. So, I see what I’m doing as one of the things God d said we should be doing,” she stressed.

To some women who prefer to spend forp tune on gold and jewelry jew welry, she has some so ome words. “There is a whole lot you can c do with your money to benefit the m society than n to lavish it on gold g and diamonds. diamo onds. You think this t is your own ow wn way of getting gettting self satisfaction. satisfa faction. But to me, m I think nothing noth hing else can give g you self satisfaction than th han making g someone happy happ py, putting g smiles on the e faces of o those who have already cried a their eyes sore.

So, in whatever ways you think you u can reach out to such r such people, peoplle, please do. ReaRe eason so on is that when whe en you give out ou ut

enough happiness to people, you get happiness in return. When you begin to give wealth out and appreciate people, you too would begin to be appreciated,” she enthused.

She also made mention of blessings of God be which would be drawn down when you care for others. According to her, such motives do open the doors and windows of heaven for more blessings. “If you have been married for years and you have no child, and all you do is to lock yourself up in your room and weep, you are getting it wrong. Come out and join me in caring for kids. The Lord said that those that give on to the poor, gives to the Lord and it would also be returned on to them. See every child as your child and whatever love you give to them, you would surely reap. Or haven’t you read the biblical story of Hannah who was barren and God later gave her the best of sons. So, you don’t know why your own is being delayed. Maybe God is preparing to give you the best. So, come out and do some things that would please God and mankind and you would surely reap bountifully,” she said, finally.

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Sunday, September 20, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

GROWING UP with

Aunty Titi

Hello Children, I wish you well as you resume your new class at school this term. Don ’t forget that this is a new school year; so ensure that you read your books to excel in your studies.

Today promises to be fun-filled, with the entertaining articles and stories we have for you.

Once upon a time

The Horse • •

The Cunning Fox and the Clever Hen

O

nce upon a time, there lived a very cunning fox who always wanted to cheat and deceive others with its awful and stupid acts.

The fox used to deceive others with its sneaky mind. He used to speak to other animals sweetly to make him trust.

One day he tried to cheat and have fun with a hen. He befriended the hen gained the trust.

The fox acted like he is a very good friend and cares a lot for the hen. One day, he invited the hen to have a feast with him as he wanted to treat his friend with delicious food. The happy hen accepted the invitation.

The fox promised to offer rich and tasty foods for the hen. Considering the delicious dinner proposed by the fox, the hen remained hungry for a whole day.

Fox took the hen to his home. He apologized that he could not make anything due to his illness and offered soup. The hen although disappointed, cared for fox and was happy with the soup.

The cunning fox put the soup in a shallow bowl and offered it to the unsuspecting hen. The hen was stunned to have the soup in the shallow bowl.

The long beck of the hen prevented it from putting its head inside the bowl.

As the fox easily licked the soup from the plate, the hen wasn ’t able to even wet his taste a bit of the soup. It was just able to touch the soup with the tip of its beck.

Fox enquired the hen, ‘How was the

soup? Don ’t you like it? ’ Hungry hen replied, ‘Oh it was good, but I have stomach upset and I can ’t take anymore soup! ’ I ’m sorry for troubling you, said the fox.

The hen replied, ‘Oh dear, please don ’t say sorry. I have some health problem and cannot enjoy what you offer. Please take care of your health. ’ And left the place thanking the fox!

However, in the meanwhile the hen understood that it was cheated by the fox and decided to give it back. After few days, the fox met the hen again and decided to play another prank on him again. This time it was hen ’s turn. The hen welcomed the fox happily and invited to pay a return visit to have a dinner.

The fox was happy and they decided on a date to have the dinner. Hen asked fox ’s favorite food and offered to cook the same for the dinner.

The day arrived and fox reached hen ’s place. The hen served soup to the fox and asks him to have soup first.

The soup was served in a narrow jar with a long-neck. The hen was able to drink the soup very easily with its long beck, however fox couldn ’t.

The hen asked fox to enjoy the soup, and there are many foods waiting in the row. The hen showed several delicious foods in the long-necked jars.

The disappointed fox said, ‘My stomach is very painful. I ’m leaving now ’ and left the place running.

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

•

• • • • • •

ANIMAL FACTS

There are about 75 million horses in the world.

Horses ’ hooves grow approxi mately 0.25 in a month, and take nearly a year to grow to the ground.

A healthy adult horse should have a pulse of between 36 and 40 beats per minute while at rest.

A horse typically sleeps two and half to three hours a day.

No two horses are identical.

The left side of a horse is called the “near side ” and the right side is the “off side ”.

A horse ’s teeth can be used to estimate its age.

Horses generally dislike the smell of pigs.

A female horse is called a ‘filly ’.

•

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

Horses have fairly good eyesight, thanks to their very peculiar eyes. The horse eye has three eyelids —two ordinary ones and a third called the nictitating mem brane —which is located in the inner corner of the eye and occasionally sweeps the eye, lubricating and cleaning it if need arises. Horses can ’t properly focus their eyes like humans do. Instead, the lower parts of their retina see objects at a distance, and the upper ones are for closer viewing. This means that if you want to know where a horse is looking, you should pay attention to how it ’s hold ing its head.

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Sunday, September 20, 2015

Dude Style

victorudoh804@yahoo.com 07067124302

‘I was paid N500 to perform in 2005’ Sunday Ayodele aka Saco, is a popular comedian. In this interview, he tells VICTOR UDOH about his rise to stardom, lifestyle and upcoming event.

You have been in comedy for 10 years, what have been the challenges?

The challenges are that some people feel they have been there from the beginning and preach superiority; some others would not allow you to take their platforms because they feel that you are not mature enough. But the amazing thing is that the more you do it, the better you get and people see a new side of you and start to compare with others.

Sometimes, professionalism is not appreciated. Imagine after performing, having to go after the organiser for your balance or not even hearing from them at times. Other times, people may not like to give you a job because you don’t have a car; they want to see what you come with. Thank God, we are getting better with time.

So, there are always challenges but for the fact that I love what I do; which is why I could do it for free because I have passion for it. But these challenges didn’t stop me because I am always looking to the future.

What is the idea behind the Spirit of Saco?

I started with what could be termed as ethical comedy, where I not only make jest but also make my fans happy. Hence, everywhere I go, the feedback is encouraging as people enquire when Saco will return. That is why we put up a platform for Saco.

I have been building the foundation alone for 10 years, which is why I think it’s time to let people get to know us better. And the amazing thing is that this would climax on October 4 when I launch my Comedy school of Compere and Public Speaking.

We can’t teach you how h to become a comedian comedia an but we will let you know where comedy fits in a n d about your audience

the first born, which I had to meet up to.

That made me to fail JAMB (Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board) examinations several times, while my sister gained admission before me. I was reading, but I just didn’t know what was happening. But the story has changed now for good.

Tell us about your forthcoming comedy I however remember once with former school and comedians that work with coach of Nigeria in Ilorin where he told you?

Besides that most comedians that work me and others how he used to talk to himwith me are unique, I am honoured that God self in a mirror. I learned to see myself brought them my way. I have learned from doing well and the Lord has brought me them, particularly those who are older than success.

Now if I am not in a family meeting me. or other programmes, it is like I am not As to the school, I always ask myself what do I know. The school is not going to teach complete. So, my value has been seriously how to crack a joke but where its students enriched. Invariably, now people call me to learn some presentation skills from top co- say they watched me on stage; as did my medians and public speakers in Nigeria. So uncle recently who called to say he saw we are not going to teach them how to crack me on television. They feel joy and pride jokes, as much as to let them know about to identify with me, which makes me also events and jokes that fit such event. It is also very happy. a learning point for me because when you start the school, you will be checking their How has the journey in handling the performance and in the process, you learn brand that you are today been?

I will say most of the impact I have more. made has come since 2008, or precisely in 2005 when I was paid N500 to perform. But How was your growing up?

Growing up was fun. This is because I before then, I met a man called MC Mark grew up with my parents who always cared who gave me names of comedians and turned my life around in 2008. I would say for me.

I have been hanging in there, in the busiA decade ago, did you see comedy thriv- ness. As my friend would say, there are many social media but each is different. I ing like it is now? years ago, I used to see a lot of feel my lifestyle is quite different. I grew Ten yea comedians on television and watch up in church, which is why I want to be comedi other talk shows of which I was careful about what I do or say, though I am opportune to participate in some not perfect. oppor Nevertheless, we are going about letting measure. Sincerely, I did not see measu people to know what we are about and domyself as successful as I am now. mysel professional and ethical comedy g We do p y, Despite not seeing myself as ing.

De w e successful, succe essful, I knew I would be where great. great t.

There were challenges all around me as analysis. These are products of some courses I had opportunity to learn. That’s why I decided to come out with the Spirit of Saco.

I believe that is the only way I can give back to the society.

teach people how to love Nigeria, to respect it because when you have passion for your nation, you teach people to value it.

With your church background, what has been the acceptance towards your profession, and how were you able to break even?

When I started comedy in church, some of my pastors didn’t understand what I was doing and started to antagonise me.

But with time when I moved out of the church and started attending another church, they began to value what I was doing. When I was in my former church, I saw the value attached to comedians by their bringing them on stage. We had two other former comedians in the church then.

I always saw myself climbing the stage to the glory of God. Honestly, they didn’t understand what I was doing but now the story has changed and those who didn’t understand then have now seen what someone can achieve when consistent.

Apart from comedy, what else do you do?

Apart from comedy, I like reading though I don’t read much due to lack of time. Also, I like travelling and can stay like three, four days once I have a little chance. I like to visit and see other countries, and once the opportunity is there, I would utilise it.

What is your plan in the next five years?

I have a global outlook. In a recent accomplishment, I had a colleague present in one of the videos we did for a church.

This can become a global work, where people would call from America and other parts of the world to demand my performance. I know God will help me achieve this.

&

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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 20, 2015

Dolapo ’s adorable smile enthralled me –Oyeniyi BABIES OF THE WEEK TITILOPE MORAKINYO

L

ove is indeed a beautiful thing as it is obviously seen in the affection displayed by Ibidolapo Akinola and Oyeniyi Oyesina on the dance floor at their wedding reception.

The persistence and eagerness for good thing made the groom go after the beautiful bride and waited for four months before giving a YES to his proposal.

The church wedding took place at the Redeemed Christian Church of God True Vine Parish, Ikorodu, and was followed immediately by a grand reception at Fkelly Banquet Hall, also in Ikorodu Lagos State.

According to the groom; “It all started five years ago precisely the month of October, on our way to the Redemption camp for a youth convention, I was all quiet with the hope of getting blessed and healed by the programme because somehow I started feeling feverish just about the time the journey began.

The vehicle broke down and I had to seat somewhere because I was weak and my head was aching, all of a sudden I heard a sweet and soft voice saying Are you okay? I managed to

B look up then I saw this beauty wearing the best smile I have ever seen.

She asked again and then I knew there was something about her that I couldn ’t place at the moment, we got talking and I noticed she was gentle and patient with me even when I didn ’t sound like I wanted a chat. I got her name and her contact. However, getting home after the conversation surprisingly I became so strong. I studied her for three years, checked up on her via bbm and I tried to be more of an encourager and adviser.

“I became thrilled by her gentle smile, kind hearted calm and caring nature but more importantly I needed to be convinced if she was the one to spend the rest of my life with which I did, I asked her to marry last year and

it took her four months to say yes.

According to the bride, “I appreciate him, because he is God fearing, cute and responsible, he is the best person for me and I thank God for having him.

On the proposal, “I proposed over the phone because she was not at my reach so I couldn ’t wait for her to get back because I needed to seal it up, ” the groom said.

On the advice to singles, they said “singles should be patient, and they need to know that when the right person hasn ’t come, God is giving more time to work on themselves, so be the person you want as a soul mate, and show some care to people if you want a caring spouse, as they need to love themselves because if you don ’t appreciate yourself no one will.

Bayo is good-natured man –Ayomide

A

yomide Carim and Adebayo Gbemisola recently tied the knot at grand wedding attended by friends and members of their families.

An elated Ayomide, the bride, shared their love story and journey into marriage with Sunday Mirror.

“Bayo and I met exactly 28 months ago through a lovely friend. I had a job which I hated terribly shortly before I met him and it was through the job I met Funmi my friend who introduced me to Bayo. Now I know why I had to have that job.

We spoke on the phone for a couple of weeks before we eventually decided to meet for a movie.

“Bayo couldn ’t stop being extremely generous with his gazes. It seemed like he watched me more than he watched the movie ’ ’.

On how she became attracted to her husband, Ayomide said, ‘To call Bayo an

amazing man is an understatement. He is one of the few people who always put me first. He is half man, half extraordinary. ” The couple had their white

wedding at The Haven Event Centre, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos and their traditional wedding was at the UCH Multipurpose Hall, Mokola, Ibadan, Oyo State.

aby Daniel was born at Oriade Memorial Hospital, Iwo, Ibadan, Oyo State to Mr. and Mrs. Ayinde Adebayo.

Daniel, who weighed 2.8kg at birth briefly alarmed his mum by crying unceasingly just after birth. According to her, a few hours after having her son, she started to panic because he never stopped crying.

She feared that something was wrong with him, but her fears were later assuaged when he fell asleep.

On her pregnancy, Mrs. Adebayo explained that it was problem-free, and that

W

hen Mr. and Mrs. Akpan were told by their doctor that they would be having twins, their joy knew no bounds.

This was because they had waited for seven years after marriage without a child.

When they eventually had their babies, they named them Henry and Henrietta.

Mr Akpan said he chose the names because they are symbolic to royalty and this was how he saw his children ‘as royals ’.

Their mother described her pregnancy period as one through which she learnt a lot, especially in terms of caring for her body.

She said it was usually not easy sleeping in the night, specifically from the

the only hitch was in her body changes and preference of certain foods.

She had heart burns occasionally, and also enjoyed eating beans and yam. However she was reacting to spicy foods.

Asked what she loves and enjoys most about her son, she said everything. According to her, ‘I am just bonding with my son; I want to get to know him better. ’ On his future career, Mrs. Adebayo would encourage her son to excel in life and would never choose what he should become or do, as she believed that would be his own decision to take.

fifth month. However, she explained that despite the discomfort she constantly felt in her body, her antenatal classes helped her overcome most of her fears and uneasiness.

On taking care of the twins, and she described it as hectic. She said it took a lot of work caring for two babies because “they want your attention at the same time. ” In respect of what she enjoyed eating, she said she never had any food preference while pregnant.

The Akpans told ‘Sunday Mirror ’ that they are glad to have the twins as theirs after several years and that they are ready to support them all through their lifetime.

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Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

What to wear …to native festivals Sunday, September 20, 2015

ADAEZE AMOS

D

o you still remember the days when our natural hair were tied with thread and either packed into styles or left standing up?

If you have a native festival to attend and you want to dress to evoke the memories of the days when women were seen dressed completely African, then try out what up-and-coming actress, Belinda Effah, wore recently to an event where African cultures were celebrated.

According to her, “It was a well thought out plan. I am an African, a proud Calabar girl who loves her culture, so I decided to flaunt and promote my pride. When I was a little girl, my mother would thread my hair and when she finished, she would nod in satisfaction and say to me, you look beautiful.

“Ladies of today however focus more on Brazilian hair and it shouldn ’t be all about Brazilian human hair or what have you, let ’s go back to our roots.

There was a time these human hair extensions didn ’t exist except our natural hair and we were surviving so it shouldn ’t always be all about these weaves and all that. We need to start importing and selling our own culture, ” she urged.

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Perfect Cut

African Look Hidden panache in African attires ADAEZE AMOS

A

re you a proud African? Then dress it! This simply means that you shouldn’t be seen in English h attires all the time. You need to slip into African wears, maybe, on Sundays or Fridays and rock them well.

If you don’t know how, let these ladies on this page inspire you. And that is when you may y realise that there is always hidden panache in African attires.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

You can

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Perfect Cut

look fabulous in a black dress ADAEZE AMOS

Y

ou can actually make a black dress to look fabulous on you. The choice is yours because black costume is exactly what you make of it. You can make it a formal wear or a fabulous outfit for that special event.

Let’s take a detailed look at these ladies on this page and see how wow they all look in black k dresses. You can actually dress it up or down. Try it; you won’t regret.

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Sunday, September 20, 2015

L

OVE

TALK

with Yemisi

Adeniran

How men bore their women

“

A Woman needs Love Just like You Do, ” is a song recorded by R & B vocalist and song writer Ray Parker Junior. A hit song it was in the 80s for both men and women, unfortunately, the real message up till today, is yet to be considered and applied by men, the concerned people. With civilization and the mega hype of technology awareness, it remains a wonder that Nigerian men still find it hard to give love to their women just the way they will want the latter to give them. Is it that they are selfish? Are they just acting under the influence of the male-chauvinistic African culture? Whatever the answers may be, it is important that men improve in their loving acts with their women this year and beginning from right now. They will do justice to this by taking note of the following mistakes they make with their women.

Not creating a conducive environment: Creating the right atmosphere for intimacy is always helpful towards seducing your partner, but not many men do realise this. There is no doubt that everybody loves a clean environment. So, making the scene clean will help. Having your dirty clothes thrown around or having dirty glasses of wine or bottles of drinks will make things untidy. Rather, put on a cool and good music, dim the light and let the environment smell sweet. With almost everything put in the right place, you are sure of having a pleasant experience.

Avoiding foreplay most of the time: Hard pressed,

so to say, many men often forgo foreplay and jump into action at the least opportunity. This is wrong. It denies your partner the kind of sweet sensation derivable from having sex. Foreplay should never be considered a waste of time. And if forgoing foreplay cannot be avoided, then, it should not be made a regular thing. Remember that unlike men, she needs a little “warming ” before the action. That lustful caress, whispering of some sweet nothings, sensual kisses among others go a long way in making that moment more wonderful than you can imagine.

Going too fast: Some restraint should be observed in bed because it will make the sexual experience a lot hotter than you may think of. Taking time, for instance, to dwell on the different sections of the exercise will be very rewarding to the two of you. Restraint on your part will make her want you more and lead to a better sexual experience.

Ignoring her body language: Many women are too shy to say exactly what they want in bed, but the onus lies on the man to listen to her body language as that will tell what she wants. It will therefore be wrong of you to just treat her your own way without being sensitive to her. What to do is watch how she responds

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

to your touch or certain movement or pace. A careful study of her responses will tell you what to do at any particular time. So, don ’t ignore her body language. It is also in your interest.

Ignoring her erogenous zones: Forgetting her erogenous zones while the in bed is a mistake a man can make.

Fondle her breasts during sex; kiss her collar bone; run your fingers along her back; caress and kiss her hips and she will in return respond in ways t h a t will make you enjoy that moment of ecstasy.

Disrespecting her: Exposure to pornography has made normal, many things that some consider as odd. Some men now take things for granted and carry out some of these things they watch on their partners. To many women, it is like disrespecting them in bed. For example, calling a woman a derogatory name or ejaculate on her all in the name of having sex can be annoying to some. Except you are sure that it is what she agrees to, doing such things will amount to disrespecting the woman and that is a mistake men should avoid.

The list can be longer and it will include being too bossy, believing that you have satisfied her and abandoning her after the coital experience.

Sexual solutions and love products for adults

G

ood afternoon sir. Please I need your help regarding my girlfriend.

Sometimes when we are having sex, she urinates. I have told her to always ease herself before sex and she does. But it still happens. Please how can we cure this? – Lekan Dear Lekan, your girlfriend does not urinate during sex. She has been having an orgasm all this while. It is called a Squirting Orgasm and it is the most satisfactory kind of orgasm known to womankind. I know it is strange because you are not aware of it but you have nothing to worry about, infact, you should have a beer and celebrate. You must be doing something right to have her climaxing like that. Just ensure you use waterproof bed sheets during sex to make it easy to clean up afterwards – Uche Hello sir. I am 43 years old and each time I have sex, I will release quickly between 3 to 5 minutes. And it will take several hours before I get another erection. And my sperm is always watery. Please I want to be able to last long, stay erect for a long time and have multiple rounds of sex . I also want a thick sperm that can result in pregnancy. Also my wife complains that each time we are having sex, the tip of her vagina will be painful and peppery. Please we need your help – Mr. Badmus Dear Badmus, there are several ways you can achieve all the results you want.

First of all, a delay cream can help you control the premature ejaculation you experience. You can achieve this with Forever Yours Delay Cream or Colt Stay Hard Delay Cream. And then for you to be able to have multiple rounds of sex and also recover fast enough for the next round without having to wait for hours before you get an

erection again, supplements like Man Up Now and Magic Mike can help you. That is what they do and they will also give you days of performance stamina. Either you combine all of these products or you take just one enhancer that will handle everything for you such as the Boss Rhino Gold.

Boss Rhino Gold will control your quick ejaculation, give you super hard erections, enlarge your penis, thicken your sperm and help you have multiple rounds of sex as you wish. One capsule will last you for several days too. For your wife, she needs to see a doctor about the pain. It sounds like an infection – Uche I am a 34 year old woman and I have been married for three years now and I have never experienced an orgasm in my life- Chioma Understanding the female body and knowing how to get the best out of it is the key to orgasmic sex. Of course many women depend on their men to give them orgasms too which can be problematic because a lot of men do not last long enough in bed to achieve that and many do not even know where and how to touch a woman. I am going to recommend a movie, a vibrator and an orgasm gel for you. For the movie, get the Guide to Female Ejaculation DVD. It teaches you the step by step process of reaching orgasm. For the vibrator, what you need is the multiple function type like the Diamond Heart Rabbit vibrator. It stimulates you in many ways such that an orgasm is a sure thing. And finally get an orgasm gel. Many women experience low genital arousal without being aware of this. A good orgasm gel like the Girlgasm Gel will make it easier for you to be aroused during stimulation – Uche Hello Sir. Weeks ago, I wrote you about

wanting to enlarge my penis and you rec- ties can call 08171912551, 08027901621 or ommended VigRx supplement. I also forgot 07086754515 for help or visit www.zeevirto tell you that my erection is weak some- tualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivtimes but since I started taking VigRx, the ers all over Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.comerection problem has gone – David Most organ enlargers strengthen the Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media. erection of the user so I am not surprised that VigRx is doing that for you. It is the best – Uche My wife and I need some nice films we For strong erections/performance, get Rhino 7, Libigrow or Man Up. can watch on For Penis enlargement get VigRx, Vimax, Extenze or Potent Pump. our honey To maintain erection use Couple ’s Vibrator or Sta Hard Cock Ring. moon in December. What Stop premature ejaculation with Forever Yours Cream or Gladiator Cream. should we get?

For painful intercourse use Mood Sensitive Lubricant or Colt Lubricant.

Also do you have games To reach orgasm, get Nympho ’s Desire Arousal or Encounter Orgasm Gel. for couples?

Female libido boosters are G Female Oral Tablets or Kangaroo for her.

Rotimi F e a t u r e To tighten vagina use Liquid Sex Tightening Cream or Tighten it up V Gel. films like DualWomen ’s Vibrators: Hunni Bunny Vibe or Fancy Night Heat Series. ity and Cockstar will be To attract a partner use Optimale Cologne or Sex Aphrodisiac Essence. perfect for both Male Masturbators are the Real Skin Latin Pussy or Hustler ’s Choco Pussy. of you. For the games, you will Female strap-ons are the Afro Wooper Strap-On or Limited Edition Strap-On. enjoy Love at Male strap-Ons for weak erection: 6 inch, 8 inch or 10 inch Penile Extension.

First Bite and The Bedroom Educational adult lms are Adam & Eve Sex Positions & Maximising G Spot.

Game.

Con- Feature Films: The One, One Wild & Crazy Night or Young Hollywood g ratulations on your wed- We also have magazines, lingerie, games, love cushions and condoms. ding - Uche.

To order by phone, call: 08171912551, 08027901621, 08051924159, And that 07038845262 or easily order at www.zeevirtualmedia.com & pay online. is it for today.

Adults in need Other payment options include bank deposits, internet transfers, phone of these treatTransfer or cash on delivery. We deliver discreetly all over Nigeria! ments/novel-

ZEE VIRTUAL MEDIA LOVE AND SEX PRODUCTS

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Sunday, September 20, 2015

Pregnancy Talk

Naughtiest Thing

with

The naughtiest thing I ’ve ever done

Adaeze Amos ߾ࠆ߾ࠀࠁ߾߿ࠀࠀࠇࠁ ߶ࠡࠛࠡ ࠝࠜࠚࠧ߷

Showing tenderness to your pregnant wife

W

hich pregnant mum wouldn ’t want to be pampered, loved and spoilt by her man at this delicate period of her life? None!

This then means that fathers-to-be should learn to be caring at this time when most women feel that their shape and beauty are gone till the time they would be delivered of their babies.

Is there anything wrong to be closer to her when you are at home and less busy?

Listen to her plight and at least show some concern?

If you are a good cook like a few men are, you can prepare her favourite food and serve. Medics have said this has a way of easing off their tension.

Pregnancy is an ideal time to start taking really good care of yourself, both physically and emotionally.

So, when your man shows more interest in you irrespective of the fact that you aren ’t sexy, it helps

you give yourself the best chance of having a problem-free pregnancy and a healthy baby if you follow guidelines of your doctor.

It ’s been ascertained that unborn babies tend to know the voice of their mother. No wonder when a baby is delivered, it recognises the mother from her voice. Same applies to a caring husband who is always close to his wife when she is heavy with child. Your baby would be quick to know your voice.

Anxiety and fear of delivery is reduced. A husband ’s closeness somehow works on the psyche of his pregnant wife.

A pregnant mum, Theresa Israel, unveiled what she benefitted from her husband ’s tender care during the period: “Being pregnant isn ’t easy. There are many emotions, frustrations, pains and complexities involved in carrying a child for nine months.

Men must know this! How-

ever, I have heard a number of pregnant women gripe about how their husband ’s idea of supporting them throughout the pregnancy was to capitalise on their cravings. I feel fortunate.

“My husband is so attentive and has done a number of things in my first pregnancy (and in this one) to help me feel supported throughout the childbearing process. For those of you who are not as fortunate, here is a list of things that your husband can do to make the duration of your pregnancy more bearable. ” Listen We always need our man to listen to us but now is more important than ever! Hear our woes. Sympathise with our worries. Sincerely listen and hear what we are saying.

Help Oh my goodness, there ’s no better time to pick up a vacuum cleaner, wash the dishes, do the laundry or make the occasional supper!

We are tired and we need help. If you don ’t want to fall victim to the onslaught of pregnant, hormonal explosions of frustration, then

Olivia-Sandra Chuma ‘I pretended to have fainted when my sister, aunt beat me ’

make sure to help o u t around t h e house. A side note to the ladies … compliment him GREATLY for how he helped (even if he didn ’t do it the way you would do) … he ’s more likely to volunteer to help out again.

Be at her beck and call If she ’s craving for something, don ’t try to talk her down from her craving. Get out there and drive around the city to find what she is asking for. Trust me … these are memories in the making and although it seems odd or frustrating now, you ’ll both laugh about it years later.

Take her on a date Just because she ’s carrying your child doesn ’t mean that you ’re off the hook for taking your lady out on town.

Take her out to dinner, see a movie, or simply browse in a book shop and afterwards go out for tea/coffee.

Be eager If your wife is ecstatic about a birthing or parenting class, try your best to share in her excitement. Even if you have to fake your enthusiasm … do it!

T

he naughtiest thing I have ever done?

Frankly, I have always been a good girl but there was this one prank I would never forget.

Some years back, I said some hurtful words to my elder sister and my aunt so badly that they had to team up to give me a terrible beating of my life. I knew if my mother had been around, they wouldn ’t have descended on me so badly the way they did. This is because I was pampered and loved; no body dared lay a finger on me. So, while they were beating me, I knew they were angry and were bent on dealing with me.

However, I decided to scare them by pretending that I had fainted in the process of their beating.

That was my only way of defence. I suddenly

slumped on the floor but I knew what I was doing.

They stopped and started calling me. I lay down motionless.

They started blaming each other for beating me hard. I heard all their arguments. They started crying and tried everything to wake me up but I acted as though I was dead.

They had to call my mother to come see what happened, I laid there and waited too. When my mother came in, I sneezed and got up. I didn ’t want to put fear in her.

Immediately I heard her voice, I pretended coming round. It was hilarious to me, but it wasn ’t funny to them at that time.

•Olivia-Sandra Chuma is a beauty queen.

-ADAEZE AMOS

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Sunday, September 20, 2015

B

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Barbera wine

arbera wine has made Italy’s Piedmont region famous. The region has a treasure of well-known wines. Chief among these is Barbera, the supple, cherry-inflected red made from the grape of the same name.

When grown on prime sites and farmed for quality (not quantity), as with this example from the Molino estate, Barbera wine yields lush, fruity reds with crisp, food-friendly acidity and low tannins. The Molino brothers—Franco, Tommaso and Dario—own six vineyards in Treiso, which is the heart of Piedmont’s Barbaresco zone. This Barbera comes from the Ausario vineyard, located on the prime southwestern side of one of Treiso’s most important hills. Its excellent sun exposure got grapes for this cuvée perfectly ripe.

There’s both heft and suppleness to this juicy red, which delivers loads of energetic black plum, tea and black cherry flavours on a complex, mediumbodied palate. Bright and bold, it’s a refined interpretation of Barbera that doesn’t sacrifice sheer drinkability for complexity.

Barbera is an incredibly food-friendly wine, as its high acidity and low tannins make it a natural with tomato-based sauces and meatless meals.

Jollof Spaghetti J

ollof Spaghetti or Spaghetti Jollof is a quick meal that got its name from the popular Nigerian Jollof Rice. It is quite easy to prepare and can be made with or without vegetables.

The recipe below shows how to prepare with common vegetables.

easy-cook vegetables of choice Cooking directions Before cooking Jollof Spaghetti Wash and chop all the vegetables you’ll be using.

Then prepare your stew, if you don’t already have some stew.

Ingredients: This recipe serves 2 to 3 persons 50 pieces spaghetti (approx. 200 grams) 4 cooking-spoonful red stew (tomato stew, chicken stew or beef stew) 1 carrot 1 handful green beans 1 small Irish potato (optional) 2 runner beans (optional) 2 table spoonful Sweet Corn (optional) 1 onion (chopped) Meat or Chicken stock (you can use water as a substitute) 1 tablespoonful ground crayfish (optional) 1 Maggi cube Vegetable oil Scotch bonnets peppers/atarodo (to taste) Salt to taste Water You can also add chopped whole tomatoes, green bell pepper or any other

1. Put some water to boil, when it starts to bubble, add the spaghetti and a little salt and parboil for three minutes.

Then strain into a sieve.

This pre-cooking process helps to get rid of the excess starch that comes with most spaghetti, but you can leave it out if your brand of spaghetti has low starch content.

2. Place the prepared stew into a pot, pour the vegetable oil in the pot, add the vegetables, the ground crayfish, salt and pepper to taste. Add a little of the meat or chicken stock into the stew pot and leave to boil on high heat for 5 minutes.

3. Add the precooked spaghetti 4. When the liquid in the spaghetti is almost dried, add the remaining stew to the top, cover the pot and simmer for 1 minute until the spaghetti is done.

Now mix thoroughly and turn off the heat... and your Jollof Spaghetti is ready.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Growing Up

Sunday, September 20, 2015

FAIRY PUZZLE

37

YOUNG FASHION

Tips on caring for your socks

A

DID YOU KNOW?

QOUTE OF THE WEEK

1. Everything you can do with “It’s the children a ruler and a compass you can the world almost do with the compass alone 2. 90% of everything written in breaks who grow English uses just 1,000 words.

3. Blue and white are the most up to save it.”

–Frank Warren common school colors.

4. Coca-Cola was originally JOKE green.

5. Grasshoppers have white How do bees get to school?

(By school buzz) blood.

TONGUE TWISTER

s children, socks is an essential clothing that your all must have, either you are a girl or boy.

You wear stockings to virtually everywhere, from school to church, to a party. Since this is an important part of your wardrobe, it would be ideal that you keep them clean and fresh. Below are tips on how you can have clean and germs free stockings.

Do not wring dry, just squeeze them, and hang them to dry.

Do not wring dry, just squeeze them, and hang them to dry.

For antibacterial socks and odor control socks, do not bleach or use harsh chemicals.

WHO INVENTED WHAT? The Airplane The first working airplane was invented by the Wright brothers. Their “Wright Flyer ” was a fabric-covered biplane with a wooden frame. The power to the two propellers was supplied by a 12-horsepower water-cooled engine. On December 17, 1903, the “Flyer ” flew for 12 seconds and for a distance of 120 feet (37 m).

The flight took place at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, USA.

What is the biggest ant in the world?

(An eleph-ant) Why can ’t a leopard hide?

(Because it ’s always spotted) Why do hens lay eggs?

(If they dropped them, they ’d break) What animal keeps the best time?

(A watch dog)

RIDDLES

If Pickford’s packers packed a packet of crisps would the packet of crisps that Pickford’s packers packed survive for two and a half years?

Little Johnny ’s teacher asks him, “If I gave you two cats, then two more, and two more cats; how many would you have? ” Little Johnny replies, “Seven! ” His teacher asks him again more slowly, “If I gave you two cats, then two more, and two more cats; how many would you have? ” But again Little Johnny replies, “Seven! ” Next she asks, “If I get two cats, then two more, and two more cats; how many would I have? ” Little Johnny replies, “Six! ” “Good Job Johnny! Now if I gave you two cats, then two more, and two more cats; how many would you have? ” Johnny thinks for a second, “Seven. ” But Johnny is not wrong. Why?

POP

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Movies & Music

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

Don Jazzy, Akpororo, Obey thrill at C&S concert

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he mus usic ical al conce c rt rounding off the wee ek-lon ek-l ong g 90 90th th ann niiv versary of the Eternall Sa Sacr cred ed Order of the Cherubim and Seraph him Chu hurc rch h wen nt amid surprises and great pe erf rfor orma manc ncess.

It wa as an even as nt long ng due, according to the church h fai aith th hfu ful. Thi h s is as the church which is one of the th he Africa an indigenous churches has giv ven pl ven ve plat atfo forms and trained great stars in the mus usic ic ind n ustry y.

Amo ong th ong t em are reaf afro juju creator, Sir af Shina Pe Pete ers,, vete era ran n juju singer, Prince Adekun nle e, th the late I K Dairo and Don Jazzy!

Not ma any kne n w that at the Marvin Crew leader was a C C&S &S me m mber er. One of the leaders, former DG G of Nigeri raC Ciivil Aviation Authority, NCAA,, Dr Harold d Demurin, De stunned journalists in a chat wh whe en he disclosed that the church h was at the fo forrefront re of creating musicians an and in i sp s irin ng many in the way of the Lord viia ia mus u ic.

A majo majorr highli lig ght of the show was the appearrance of secu cullar music producer, Don Jazzy and Korede Bello with their aides at the gospel music con nce cerrt. They arrived around 1 a.m. to the the surprise se of the church faithful and all who o were there re.

Don Jazzy

Jazzy participated in the prayers and singing before he mounted the stage with his boy, Bello as he sang ‘GodWin’. The crowd sang along. In the middle of the performance, Jazzy grabbed the basss gui u tar. Many were surrpr p isse ed d to se see th the master produc cer er play lay th la the in nst strument.

Later, r, a lad r, dy an a d me member of the chu ch urrch h rem min ind ded the audience de th hat at Col olli l ns ns Ene n beli learned how ho ow to o perrffo orm rm all instruments wh w hile at atte te end nding d the church as a youth. Jaz azzzy stated that his rank in the church was that of an evangelist and was in tune with things in the church, having grown up as a C&S. He was later presented an award of recognition by Demuren.

Other artistes whop performed are Ebenezer Obey y, Adegbodu Twins, Lanre Teriba, Akpororo, Midnight Crew, Evangelist Osit Molokwu, Aurora Dance Grou oup an a nd Th The e Se Sera raph Bra ra r n nd ds fr from rom m diff di iff ffer eren ent pr prov ovin ince ces. s

Star to celebrate 2Face at 40

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n Nigeria’s 100-mile-an-hour music industry, it is often easy to forget how long some artistes have been around. Who can believe that 2Face Idibia is 40 already? From his days frolicking onstage at Star Mega Jam with Plantashun Boyz to lifting entire crowds off their feet while headlining Star Music Trek shows in Lagos and Makurdi, 2Face Idibia has come a long way.

“We’ve had the privilege of watching this unique talent for the last 18 years, and now on the occasion of his 40th birthday, STAR is bringing a bunch of his buddies together for an All-Star tribute concert tagged #Fortyfied,” said the organisers.

The concert will feature Star Music Trek performers DJ Jimmy Jatt, Burna Boy, Sound Sultan, Blackface, Seyi Shay, Wande Coal, DJ Neptune, Gbenga Adeyinka and Wizkid in addition to D’Banj, Patoranking, Dammy Krane, Timaya, Gloria Ibru, 9ice, DJ Spinall, Omawumi, DR Victor Olaiya, Vector and many others. Packaged by Hypertek Digital and Buckwyld Media, the concert holding on Sunday 20 September 2015 at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotel, Lagos will be hosted by star comedian Basketmouth.

Waje, Eva, Bez ready to delight Lagos fans

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ome next Sunday, the trio of Waje, Bez Idakula and Eva Alordiah will hold down the city of Lagos in a spectacular evening of 100 per cent live music experience. The event which will take place at Lagoon Restaurant, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Will showcase a lot of performances from top celebrities in Nigeria.

According to a statement by the founder of Tenstrings Music Institute, Mr. Akapo Emmanuel, ‘the Ones2Watch Project is a series of promotional activities culminating in a world-class music concert featuring some of the incredible talents the institute has groomed to date, alongside several notable musicians and comedians The concert which will be covered by over 50 local and international media organisations, including MTV, Soundcity and MNET, is aimed at giving the audience a stunning shower of good music and the projected artistes a strong push that would launch them directly to millions of fans around the world.

Tenstrings Music Institute is Nigeria’s leading college of music which currently ranks as the best-spread and most patronised music school in Africa. It was established about eight years ago and has trained over 5,000 persons since inception.

2 Face

Waje

It will be the chance to finally explore 2Face as an artiste and watch him perform many of his relatively obscure songs which you probably only heard on the Star Music App, in addition to his hefty catalogue of hit songs.

Not to mention STAR’s renowned carnival atmoshphere.

Now what could be better than an evening of 2Face and the best Nigerian music artistes along with Basketmouth and some Star Radler?

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Movies & Music

Sunday, September 20, 2015

A Soldier’s Story set to hit cinemas

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etermined to bring home the story of the broadcaster; Tope Tedela, a graduate of University courageous soldiers who bear arms and of Lagos, who came into the limelight after playing face several harms in defence of their the lead role in the 2003 film, ‘A Mile from Home’, for countries, a new movie that celebrates Nigeri- which he was nominated for Most Promising Actor an soldiers, some of who have been battling the Category at the 10th Africa Movie Academy Awards, plays the lead character as Major Egan.

Boko Haram insurgents in the g The movie also features feature a daughter of a soldier North will hit the country’s and civil engineer, Adesua Etomi, who plays the charcinemas in October. tober. acter “Lebari”, Major Egan’s Ega beautiful wife who has This much-talked-about talked-about to deal with the realities of a soldier’s spouse. Ademovie, ‘A Soldier’s ier’s Story, sua debuts her acting career in 2004 after studying ca celebrates and appreciates Physical theatre, Musical Music theatre and Performing the sacrifices and contriArts at the City College, Colle Coventry, United Kingbutions of the heroic Nigedom. This action movie was produced by verm rian soldiers and nd their often satile filmmaker, Martin Gbados, an indepenM traumatised families milies to the dent film producer based in the United States unity and sustenance enance of the of America, in conjunction with Frankie c peace, progresss and wellbeOgar Films production. produc ing of the country ntry and the Versatile Martin Gbados studied film makcitizenry, just ass it seeks to ing in the prestigious prestigiou New York film academy encourage the soldiers’ oldiers’ sense while Frankie Ogar, the Writer and Director of of patriotism.

‘The Soldier’s Story’, Story holds a Master of Arts In the movie, ovie, degree in Media Production from BirmingP AMVCA awardrdham City University , United Kingdom.

Un winning actresss Gyana Gyan Zidon, the executive and model, producer of the film which p Linda Ihuoma many in the industry Ejiofor, known have tagged- A movie to for her role die for, is also a product as Bimpe of The London AcadAdekoya in emy of Media, Film M-Net’s TV and Television and a series Tinholder of Masters Desel, plays gree in Public and Inthe lead ternational affairs and Linda Ihuoma Ejiofor character a Bachelor’s degree in as Regina.

Theatre Arts from The Renowned University of Jos. voice-over

Nollywood stars storm Ikorodu for Jaiye Kuti dad’s burial

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t was a gathering of Nolllywood stars recently at Local Government School, Bayeku, and field, Ikorodu, Lagos when Nollywood actress and Queen of soap opera, Jayeola Oluwakemi Kuti, buried her fat h e r S u -

Mina Horsfall marks 13 years in showbiz

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ntrepreneur, beauty queen cum actress Mina Horsfall has everything working for her as she plans to celebrate 13 years since she joined Nollywood in a grand style at Palazzo Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Sunday.

Multiple award-winning actress, Horsfall had featured in famous movies with lead roles in films such as ‘My house help’, ‘Red-night’, ‘Under the sky’, ‘Area Mama’, ‘The Empress’, ‘Beyonce’ and ‘Rihanna’.

She has also played lead roles in TV series ‘D8’, ‘Dilemma of love’, ‘The journey’ and ‘Going West season 1’.

Her guest appearances also added pep to series such as ‘One love’, ‘Spider’, ‘Tinsel’, ‘Secrets and scandals’.

However, the Rivers State-born actress hinted

that she was currently working on a new series from the stable of Tendencies Media, producers of ‘Together and Dilemma of Love’ Family Series and a few other productions to be out in the market before the end of the year.

Commenting on her birthday to mark the celebration, the graduate of English of Lagos State University said, “It’s my 13th year in the movie and entertainment industry, as such, I have been on a low key because I don’t want to be involved in anything and everything. I am in a world of my own; I only want to be involved in meaningful ventures.”

The birthday groove continues at Polo Club, Port Harcourt next weekend, where Mina will play host to Nollywood folks and high society personalities in the oil-rich state.

Nse Ikpe Etim Horsfall

39

perior Evangelist Rufus Adisa Oluwale.

Yinka Quadry led Faithia Balogun, Aishat Abimbola aka Omoge Campus, Ronke Ojo, Bimbo Oshin, Madam Saje, Sewa Coker, Nancy Shuaib, Henretha Kosoko, Dipo Olatunji, Bukky Raji and Bukola Gold to the sleepy town of Ikorodu Jaiye Kuti could not hold her joy when her colleagues proin the make-believe pro fession came in their support numbers to suppor their own.

“I felt delighted seeing my colcol leagues here to come and pay my late father respects. their last respects alMany people al (actors) ways say we (actors don’t always come and celebrate with one other whenever we important have an importan least occasion, at leas this has proved otherwise. I am really happy for the success burial of the buria ceremony,” Jaye K u t i emphaempha sised.

Kuti

The Visit set to storm cinemas

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he Visit’, a movie that has been dubbed the most sensational in 2015, is set to hit the cinemas ‘ come October 16.

The movie which stars Nse Ikpe Etim, Femi Jacobs, Blossom Chukwujekwu and Bayray Mcnwizu is the story of two couples living together togeth in the same house, but with completely different lifestyles. lifestyles Their parallel lifestyle at a point collided and the resulting effect was an res intriguing plot and sub-plot, intrigu that have ha made those privileged to view the movie privately as the most senprivat sational sation Nollywood thriller of 2015.

201 The T fascinating thing that tha stands the Kogaproduced movie out is pro the th four-cast member, which brings to the w fore fo the production ingenuity of the people g behind the movie. b ‘The Visit’, which is produced by Biodun Stephens, directed by Funke

Fayoyin and executive-produced

by Koga Entertainment would be in cinemas across Nigeria from October 16.

It promises entertainment value, and excitement for cinema lovers.

Robert Jeyibo, executive producer, Koga Entertainment, said, “ ‘The Visit’ is a movie with lots of lessons, that explores the happenings in the home of average Nigerians, it’s a movie filled with suspense, drama and worth going to the cinema to see”.

“When I got a call to come on set for the movie ‘The Visit’, what motivated my being part of it is the creativity and ingenuity of the film, it’s a movie everyone should see, I think it’s about time we started having more of this type of movies in Nollywood,” Jacobs said. Bayray Mcnwizu said, “The exciting and intriguing part of ‘The Visit’ is the four-man cast, it’s something that is not common in Nigeria, and everyone should see this movie in the cinema, it’s a blend of entertainment, drama plus lots of lessons.”

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Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday, September 20, 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 ’ Victor Kenneth has a particular prophetess he had been consulting for close to a decade. She is Prophetess Happiness fondly known as Sister Happy. She sees visions for her members and those who consult her. Somehow an affair blossomed between her and Kenneth.

“

I started consulting Sister Happiness when I was about to write my West African Examinations Council examination. A friend took me to her church. When her prophecies and visions started being real, her name was changed from Sister Happiness to Prophetess Happiness, a title she came to accept whole-heartedly. When she prayed and gave me a special pen, I passed my exam though I studied hard on my own. One of her instructions after giving me a special pen was to study hard on my own, that God frowned at laziness. She said her special pen would make me not to forget what I have read. I passed all my papers, although some other students who went with me failed and when they started questioning her why they failed, she said it was because they didn ’t complete their payments. That it was an abomination to owe God ’s anointed.

“For that reason, she began to lose members and that was when she thought it fit to go and learn how to be a prophetess. She was enrolled in the care of another stronger prophetess who coached her for two years. She came out stronger according to her. While she was undergoing her training, I never consulted her, maybe because there was no reason until I started having some difficulties, ” Kenneth said.

When he graduated and searched for a job for some years and he couldn ’t get, he went into gospel songs.

“I studied History and International Relations at a wellknown university in Nigeria and when I searched for job for some years and couldn ’t get, that was when I remembered Prophetess Happiness. I remembered that her prayers used to work for me and decided to consult her once again. When I got to her church after some years of not being there, it was bigger than it was, with numerous new members and of course some old faithful whose faces I recognised. She was indeed happy to see me and gave me audience. She asked me if I still sing because I was one

of her choristers. sters. She then advised me to use my God-given talent alent to make a living ing for myself.

She counselled selled me to go into o gospel music proper, roper, that she would be doing special pecial prayers on my albums for favourable sales.

She sponsored my first song because se I had no money. When she prayed on it before I started selling, ng, she told me that my music would sell like a hot cake in the market, but that I shouldn ’t forget to pay my tithe, ” he said.

K e n neth now became popular in gospel music; he was b e i n g invited to big events for live A model performances.

“Things were okay for me, with my music I was able to buy my first car, take good care of my aged mother because my father had died. I was also able to sponsor my two sisters in school. I became closer to Prophetess Happiness, an idea my mother and two sisters frowned at. They even refused to attend her church because of rumours making the rounds in the neighbourhood. People said she was using charm to perform her miracles, some said she was using marine powers and that was why she built her church very close to her village river.

The major gossips were that the powers behind the miracles she was performing were attacking her marriage which crashed twice. And she was good in sleeping with her male members. Prophetess has five children from her two previous marriages.

My mother warned me not to get too close to her. I had told her earlier that she promised to train me to become a prophet so that I could help her run her church and would still be doing my gospel music business. She kicked against the idea and

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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!

went straight to warn her to leave her son alone.

What transpired between Prophetess Happiness and my mother

shocked me. What she told her and her threats frightened me the more, ” Kenneth recalls.

•To be continued.

RESPONSE Dear Amanda,

Re: Help! I have fallen in love with my doctor

You toyou. have gradnow, God is with Juliet, must have been brilliant God is connecting the two of you together and you must make good use of God ’s privilege and not procrastinate over His divine favours. You are on your sure way to marital bliss and favour. So, dear make hay while the sun shines. I wish you happy marriage.

Apeji Pateince, 07044445550.

uated and married at the age of 22. UnforJuliet, I ’m worried that the manner in which Dr Eric ’s wife left him is suggestive of the possibility of infertility of one or both of them. So, you must be wary of this danger to avoid plunging into a waiting disappointment. You must probe more into the past and present social life history of Dr Eric. Look before you leap.

tunately, you lost your pregnancy, which you had four months after your wedding

Apeji Onesi, Lagos, 08060504740.

due to the shock of your husband ’s death.

Julie dear, There is no need for perambulating or procrastinating as opportunity comes but once. This is your time and chance so hold on to Eric at no other time but now. Delay is indeed dangerous. Act

Ms Saiki Ometere Tina,

You unexpectedly entered into another Gboko.

Benue State, 09098704470.

relationship with Greg, shortly after his

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

W

hat is the meaning of help? Help can be viewed from several perspectives. For instance help could be viewed when a person is lifted up from falling down or to deliver a person that is about to be killed or to take care those that are sick or to see a broken home and mend it or to show the way to a person that is about to fall into a pit or gutter. Three things are joined together and become one that is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Similarly help, love and endurance are one. If we have love and do not know how to render help, then there is no love. What we know as love is helping somebody out of problem.

Help does not end in a place; if you help me another person could help you too. If you help someone, your child could be helped in another place or town. Help is love and we can help the work of God. God owns his work and He can help Himself. But He allows us to help His works.

There are lots of things that God can do but He wouldn’t do them. You would know for sure that He can do it but He would not do it. If God should raise help for somebody, we then help some people to help those that God had already helped. For example good cars are made in overseas by white men and brought to the country. The manufacturer are not required to maintain them, there are trained auto mechanic personnel in the country that take care of the maintenance not the makers. Similarly God created a lot of things in the world and send some people to be helping His works. The question is who have you helped or are you helping? What help have you rendered for God before or for the children of God or house of God? The bible says in the book of Proverbs verse 25 – 26 “ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so…” Do not withdraw your hands of doing good from those that are yours. Who are yours? It is the person sitting beside you and those you see with your eyes, they are your own. It is not the person you have not seen. These are the works of God He wants

From the Pulpit

Sunday September 20, 2015

Putting love into action

General Overseer of Omnipotence Mission of God, Prophet Joshua Daramola Oloruntimilehin, in this admonition, teaches on love. Excerpts:

you to amend. Sometime ago I mentioned that the help we render is for ourselves.

There is nobody that has not received help one way or the other from somebody. Help is useful for everybody. Help someone so that others could help you. The world is a place where people require services from each other to satisfy people desires and wants. Therefore help my child over there so that I could help your child here. The Bible says whatever you sow is what you would reap Matthew 7:18 a good tree would bear good fruits and a bad tree would bear bad fruits. So a person cannot sow maize and reap beans. Whatever you sow you would reap. So there is no goodness you do to another person’s child that your child would not reap it wherever he or she goes.

If you forcefully do good your child would forcefully receive goodness. If you do good for ordinary sake your child would receive goodness ordinarily. Learn now how to do good to others. God is always happy with the person that does good to others. There are different goodness e.g. helping someone to make his or her family stand firm or assist a sick person to get healed. These are better than given out money to people.

Imagine a politician gave out N50,000 to area boys in a community. The money led to the death of two people and the setting ablaze two houses. Preferably the politician could have created job opportunities for the youth to be engaged. Brethren, who are you helping? Any person that fails to help the work of Jesus, would not get happiness from Jesus. He gathered his disciples to be preaching and proclaiming His work.

The help Jesus needed from Christians is to move from one hamlet to the other to preach the gospel. There are some countries that have the largest population in the

Prophet Oloruntimilehin

world but Christianity is not well established there for instance China and India. These two nations account for about 30% of world population. The Bible says in Matthew 28 verse 18 “And Jesus came and spoke to them saying all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. So if Jesus got the authority, why has Christianity not well established in China and India.? It is because we have not done very well in the work Jesus gave us.

Even many people have not embrace Jesus in this country and we are claiming that Christians are many all over the world. Therefore, the Bible says in Matthew 28:19? Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations”. This is what Jesus sent His people to do .So what

God’s time to take over CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24 earth. His only duty is to destroy souls. To this end he is unwearied and restless as he goes about looking for whom he may ensnare to eternal destruction.

I don’t know the activities you are engaged in life but take note that sometimes the devil may use somebody close to you to attack you, sometimes it could be your mother, sister, other relations, your mate or boss in the office. Sometimes he uses occult men or women, witches or wizards, spirit wives or spirit husbands, marine agents, and in some cases, it could be just curses placed upon you and the problem have been there in your family, in the place of work, or in your body. Today, I want to let you know that no matter who the enemy may be, the Lord will discover them today. It could be that what the enemy is using to attack you is poverty, failure or syndrome of near success and yet no success. It could be delay in marriage, or broken marriage, or troublous marriage where there is no peace at all, or it could be barrenness or having only female children or only one child whereas you need more, I assure you God is taking over and all that problem shall be no more. Sometimes, your ordeal may be

41

that accidental deaths from time to time have been occurring in your family, and you are praying such should stop, I am assuring you, it must stop. That still birth that has characterized your marriage shall not be experienced again, you will see it no more, and that delay in promotion, no employment or, maybe nobody is doing well in your family shall from today be a thing of the past.

That yoke must break today, I said, that yoke must break today. I do not know what you are going through, maybe some of you are having afflictions such as diseases, moving objects, fibroid, diabetes, high blood pressure, evil dreams, eating in the dream, been pressed in your dream every night, I am assuring you, the Lord shall take over the battle and it shall be no more in Jesus name. In some cases, it could be hatred from people, it could be promises without fulfillment, failure at the edge of breakthrough, disappointment, some may be heart-problem, but whatever may be the problem, you will see it no more today in Jesus name.

I do not know what you are going through, it could be liver or kidney problem, HIV, it could be deaf or dumb, paralysis, blindness or insanity but all these problems, the Lord is taking them over today. No matter the problem confronting

you, the Lord has come to take over them, and they shall be no more in your life in Jesus name.

Matthew 15:13 says, “But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up” Beloved, no matter the problem, whether it is mentioned or not, so long, it is a problem in your life, it will never survive today because whatever God has not planted in your life will never remain in your life. Jeremiah 32:27 says, “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?”

I want to let you know that nothing is too hard for God to do. What He says He will do, that He will do. And as long as you abide by Him, your problem shall cease. So, be ready to bid your problem bye-bye, that Egyptian you see today, shall be seen no more forever in Jesus name. Do not forget that you are not the first person who has gone through that problem in life. Many people who came to Chosen in time past, with this kind of your problem were totally freed and you heard their testimonies even today, so I am assuring that today you will be the next testifier.

Matthew 4:23 says, “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all

are doing to help the work of the ministry.

How many souls have you won for the ministry? What did you use to win them? The Bible says in the book of Mark 16:15-16 “And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believe and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned”.

Brethren help your ministry to proclaim the work of God .START NOW. And use what you have to accomplish what is mostly desirable for Jesus Christ. I have done it and I will continue to do it, all my people at home that never know Jesus have been converted and they are now worshipping in the branch of my ministry in my hometown.

Help the work of God.

manner of disease among the people. 24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.”

These were some of the cases that people brought to the Lord in the time of old and He took them away. And in the same way, you are receiving answer to that problem that you are presenting to God to give you solution now.

I do not know what your sickness or disease may be, but whether I mentioned it or not, as the Lord has done it before, He will do it again. You will not see that your problem again today, in Jesus name. Over the period you have been struggling to ensure you do not have any problem and all the while the enemy has been resisting all your efforts but now God has come to takeover 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.

Impossibility in your life must be made possible. 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.

42

From the Pulpit Learn with Kunle

Macaulay Email: profkunlemacaulay@ yahoo.com (08023032698, sms pls)

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he Bible is said to be the revelation of the mind of God. It is the holy book that gives direction to the life of an average believer of Jesus Christ. The Bible said “The secret things belong to the Lord our God but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever …. Deut. 29:29. The life-style of an average believer is determined by the revelation of God. Jesus once said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” Jn. 14:6. The Bible revealed why Jesus came to the world. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” Lk. 19:10.

The Bible is a book specially written to direct the thoughts, footsteps and actions of man. It is very difficult to understand hence God appointed among Christian officers, teachers who are blessed with the presence of Holy Spirit to interpret the Word of the Bible, so, that many will understand and walk according to the will of God. Christians are people who accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. They meet regularly to study the Word of God, pray to God and break bread as directed by Jesus Christ. The revelation of God requires teaching and learning because of its technicality. Every word of God has a meaning and purpose that is why the Bible is full of mysteries, histories, prophecies, promises and spiritual directives.

The Bible is not a book of philosophy but a theological book. Philosophy as defined by Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionary is the science of being as being; the knowledge of the causes and laws of all phenomena or reasoning. Bible is a revelation of the truth as revealed

by God himself. While philosophy searches for God, how man came to the world, the purpose

Desti Destiny Hour with Pastor Femi

Lanre-Oke “

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hatever you know is a weakness in your life must be dealt with on the altar of sacrifice and this is done by entering a covenant with God who alone gives divine enablement to abide by the terms of it Romans 7:15, 24-25.Sin is the flesh’s and the soul’s weakness and it’s so unfortunate that its greatest consequence attacks the spirit. I put it to you that you don’t have what it takes to live a holy life by yourself, you can’t wage a one-man war on sin and win, you need heaven’s divine enablement (1 Samuel 2:9).

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” 1 Corinthians 15:10 Grace which is the divine ability to do or be who you are meant to be in Christ is supplied when you covenant any area of your life with God. A covenant is struck with one’s freewill, abiding to the terms as dictated by the word of God on an issue in your life. The desire to enter a covenant with God comes from a deep understanding of the implication of a weakness in your life on your destiny and purpose.

Sunday September 20, 2015

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Revealing the revealed truth of man on earth and the destination of man, the Bible reveals the God who created the world and everything in it.

The Bible said, “In the beginning God created the heavens and earth Gen1:1 and that the same God created all things Gen 1:3-26. The Bible also revealed that “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them” Gen 1:27. The knowledge of the man created by God was corrupted by the deceit of Satan and the Bible used the word “fall” to mean separation of man from God or “death” to mean spiritual disconnection from the knowledge of God. But the loving God chose Shemitic family, one of the children of Noah to prepare man for the blessings he has prepared. The other children of Noah, Ham and Japhet and their families became non-Jews, non-Israelites and pagans while Shemitic family became the favourite of God and eventually became a nation called Israel.

Jesus came from this Shemitic family to show us the way to God the Father. The death of Jesus on the Cross does not only bring salvation but brings into fulfillment all the promises of God. Though no man is asked to contribute to the works of salvation which is said to be free but all the same, God expects obedience, steadfastness, patience, perseverance, tolerance, honesty and humility for man to succeed in this world and to walk the path of integrity.

The closeness of any man to God is determined by these qualities. The Bible said, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches

over the way of the righteous but the way of the wicked will perish” Ps. 1:1-6. This and many like this are revealed in the Bible for the progress of man. Many are deceived today that we can do whatever we like without following the will of God and we can prosper. I confirm it today that it is not true. If we on our own cannot set aside or add to human covenant that has been duly established how then can we set aside the will of God and prosper.

It is easy to know those who do not belong to God or who do not walk according to his will.

The Bible reveals this as it is called “the act of the sinful nature”. They are sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, adultery and witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy, drunkenness and orgies….. those who like this will not inherit the kingdom of God’’. Gal. 5:19-21.

The Bible reveals that there is only one “Universal church of Jesus Christ” and not many churches, denominations, groups as we experience today. Bible said, “There is one body and one Spirit……one Lord, one faith ,one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all”. Eph4:3-6.I have seen some church leaders teaching polytheism in Christianity, allotting different responsibilities to every deity in the church. The god that fights with fire is different to the one that provides prosperity. So the teaching of monotheism in Christianity has been distorted because of the many gods introduced in some churches today.

Christianity is not about many gods as the Bible reveals “For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”) yet for us there is but one God, the Father from whom all things came and for whom we live and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live” 1 Cor. 8:5-6. Christianity is about serving one God through his Son Jesus Christ and by the power of Holy Spirit in every believer. It is one church

that comprises of people who believe in Jesus Christ.

The Bible reveals the truth about Christianity and the end of every believer. Christianity started at the day of Pentecost and its major aim is to prepare people for the arrival of Jesus Christ who will come back to take his. In preparation for his arrival, there are hills, mountains, valleys, bumps and rough roads. There are also distractions, temptations, confusion, anxiety and uncertainties, hence everybody needs Holy Spirit and everybody holds on to this promise, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel and watch over you”. Ps. 32:8.

We all need Holy Spirit now more than any other time. This is the time to dissociate ourselves from evil, time to be close to God in prayer and actions, time to listen to the Spirit in us and time toadhere strictly to this advice, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praise worthy - think about such things…. put it into practice….” Phi 4:8-9 Let me quickly give you the graphical event of the last day of a believer on earth. “We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with a voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

And so we will be with the Lord forever”. I Thess.

4:14-17.

•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

The fear of God (3) A covenant is a way of showing God that vulnerable side of you so that He can assist you. Stop struggling to get out of that besetting sin by yourself falling today and rising tomorrow. See; He has His hands stretched out to you only if you can let go and sanctify all at the altar of sacrifice.

A covenant is a conscious and at times a painful act of letting go of who you are for whom God wants you to be. It involves a daily consciousness of what you’ve sacrificed in order to allow God work your life to perfection (Philippians 2:13). Holiness is not for fun; it is an attribute of God you work towards by His enablement on a daily basis. We are not perfect but we strive towards perfection which is perfected in the fear of God. God is ever committed to keeping the terms of any covenant He makes with man. Remember the heaven and earth can pass but His word can’t. God’s covenant is His word on your life.

How to enter a Covenant with God • Sit down with the help of the Holy Spirit and itemize areas in your life you are weak in your walk with God. • Get into the word of God and by inspiration get a passage that commits God to helping you out of each situation.

• Go before the Lord in prayer and solemnly surrender that area of your life to Him, let Him know that you are willing to go of all the pleasures of this world and all your struggles for who He wants you to be.

• Put down the covenant you’ve

The power of covenant made with God so that it will be a memorial forever before the Lord and you’ll also be reminded of what you’ve done.

HOW TO GROW SPIRITUALLY AND PARALYZE SIN 1.

Come alive and have the Holy Spirit in you – until you’re born again, you are not living yet, the Holy Spirit is the one that quickens your dead members.

2.

Consecrate yourself; sanctify yourself on the altar of sacrifice – refuse to go back into sin, do not even indulge in them, don’t allow the thought of them. See sin as something God abhors and as a thing that kills the real you.

3.

Chase out all serpents and block all broken hedges by the power of the Holy Spirit – sin has caused you enough havoc, now that you have decided by His grace not too sin, now arm yourself and fight out all hands of the enemy over the affairs of your life, your home, body, career and all areas you see his handiwork.

Only the Holy Spirit can help you fight this, ask Him to reveal areas to you where the serpents of hell are biting you and thoroughly purge them with fire in Jesus name.

4.

Get into a covenant with God which will uphold your destiny. When you enter a covenant with God, you become an in disposable partner in His kingdom, you’re divinely enabled to carry out your part of the covenant and He is not a covenant breaker so He will forever hold His part.

Whatever you see as a weakness in your life covenant it to God and you’re divinely enabled. If fornication is yours make a pact with God to forever glorify Him with your body. If it is lying, sign a pact to use your mouth to bring in truth and justice the kingdom way.

5.

Above all, fear God so much that sin becomes an abomination to you. The moment you see the things God hate as abomination, you are able to overcome them. Let your heartbeat be for God and Him only, let His fear rule your life and nothing else.

You are set to enter a covenant of life, holiness and consecration with God today, you must begin with a re-dedication of your life to Him. Take this prayer with me; Father, I return to you today in the name of Jesus, I re-dedicate my spirit, soul and body to you and I ask that you grant me the grace to live a righteous and holy life acceptable in your sight. I ask that you wash me clean of filth and all sins with the blood of Jesus and make my garment whiter than snow. I ask with faith in Jesus name.

Congratulations!! The Holy Spirit will ensure that you live a righteous life in Jesus name.

•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 20, 2015

MOMENT OF MIRACLES with Pastor W.F

Kumuyi Continued from last week

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e demanded obedience from all people to whom He had revealed Himself. Immediately after revealing His will, He demanded obedience. When He gave redeemed Israel His law – the divine rule of living – He immediately asked, not for the memorization of the Word but for commitment to obedience, faithfulness and loyalty. Whenever there was disobedience, the mere knowledge of His Word was not rewarded; rather, their disobedience was rebuked and punished.

God’s word has always been applied to all people – members and ministers, parents and children, husbands and wives, masters and servants, employees and employers, priests and princes, men and women, old and young. Christ, in His earthly ministry, as Saviour and Lord, as Shephered and Teacher, also re-established this pattern. He revealed divine truth and immediately challenged the people to obey, emphasizing the eternal consequence of disobedience. And He also applied the revealed truth to each and everyone.

Titus chapter two reminds Titus and all ministers that we are not mere teachers of religious knowledge, preparing our listeners for academic examination and certificate. We are preachers, prophets, teachers of divine truth, calling all our hearers to break away from sin, self and Satan, come to God through faith in Christ, and then live by the revealed truth, in readiness for eternal fellowship with God whose nature and habitation is holy.

1. Sound teaching for Christian maturity in God’s church Titus 2:1,2; 1 Timothy 4:6,15,16; Psalm 92:12-14; Hebrews 5:14; Romans 13:11-14; 1 Peter 4:7; 1 Timothy 3:8-11; 1 Corinthians 9:25-27; Romans 4:20,21; Colossians 3:1214; 1 Corinthians 13:1-7; Luke 21:17-19.

The messages and teachings of Ti-

His inexhaustible grace tus were to have practical application to “the aged men” (verse 2), “the aged women” (verse 3), “young women” (verse 4), “young men” (verse 6), “servants”, that is, employees (verse 9), “all men” and every “man” (verse 11 and 15). All who claim to be “ours”, who profess that “they have believed in God” (Titus 3:14,8), must be taught and systematically guided towards maturity. “Speak”, preach, teach and instruct “the aged men”. The aged are those who have advanced in age, who have experienced disappointment and disillusion in life and who find it difficult or hard to accept change. As a creature of habit, the older people grow, the more difficult it becomes to see anything in a new way, to desire richer experiences in Christ, to focus on new goals and purpose for living, to break from the past and reach forth for new challenges. The older believers are in Christ, the more they think that they have known all there is to know and have done everything that can be done in the best way possible. Tired and weary, most “aged men” desire to be free from new challenges.

A few aged men have young hearts and eagle’s strength. At the age of 83, after having travelled some 250,000 miles on horseback, preached more than 40,000 sermons and authored some 200 books and pamphlets, John Wesley was still reading, writing, preaching and working for more than 15 hours a day. After his 86th birthday, he was still able to preach twice a day. The older we grow, the nearer we get to the end of life, the closer we are to the brink of eternity, and the more receptive we should be to divine truth and revelation.

The older we become, the more we should discard earthly knowledge and pursuit and give attention to spiritual knowledge to prepare us for our eternal home.

“Speak sound doctrine that the aged men be sober” – sober-minded, balanced and temperate, not intoxicated with chemical substance or unrealistic ideas.

The sober aged man is free from being intoxicated with pride or self-deception and he lives his life wisely, using his energy, resources and time carefully and selectively, knowing he does not have much time to waste. He keeps eternity in view and orders his priorities. He learns to be “grave” and weighty, not frivolous or careless. He keeps his “faith” sound,

strong and steadfast, knowing that as his physical energy decreases, his faith will compensate for the lack. The older he gets, the more he realises that “charity” or love for others is what gives life value.

He also needs to learn being “sound in patience” as things may not happen the way or the time he expects them to happen.

Let the aged keep on listening, learning, loving, labouring, leading, longing and loosening; our redemption, our reward is nearer than when we first believed.

2.

Spiritual transformation through convincing models in a godly church Titus 2:3-5; 1 Timothy 3:11; 2:9-15; 1 Peter 3:4-6; Luke 1:5,6,38-56; Proverbs 31:10-31; 1 Thessalonians 2:7-10; 1 Timothy 5:5,10; 2 Timothy 1:5; 1 Timothy 5:9-14; Ephesians 5:22-33; Proverbs 22:6.

“The aged women” were to learn who they would be and what they should do.

That church is really blessed that is adorned with the presence of spiritual older women in the Lord.

The “behaviour” of the aged women is first addressed before their blessedness or teaching, influence and impact in the fellowship and family of God. In behaviour, they are to be holy – obeying the commandments of the Lord gracefully from the heart. The holiness will not be a virtue that is put on and put off like the dresses we wear but an outflow from Christ who is resident within the heart. They are “not false accusers” or slanderers; these are mothers who love all their children in the Lord, brothers and sisters in the church, they have no desire to hurt anyone with malicious gossip. They refuse to listen to, much less propagate hurting words about others. They love the young women and the young men as they love their real children and will protect them from any hurt or harm. In all ways and in all things, they are “teachers of good things.”

These “aged women” are respectable, dignified Christian women who “teach the young women to be” (1) sober, living by the standard of God’s word; (2) to “love their children”, teaching and training them, giving time and attention to them; (3) “to be discreet”, applying godly discernment and wise judgment in all relationship with other men and even women; to be (4) “chaste”, pure, modest with all passions subdued and kept under control; (5) “keep-

Titus 2:11

ers at home”, being a good homemaker; (6) “good”, having more than natural goodness, but the higher goodness which is a fruit of the Spirit abiding within her; (7) “obedient to their own husbands”, cultivation of the same mind with the husband so that obedience really becomes what she wants to do from the heart, causing her real joy and delight.

“The aged women” are to “teach the young women” and influence them with (1) godly example, (2) guided exhortation, (3) gracious expression, (4) gradual exposure, (5) growing edification, (6) gospel experiences and (7) great encouragement.

3. Scriptural truth challenging men in a growing church Titus 2:6; Psalm 119:9-11; Proverbs 1:4,5; 1 John 2:13-17; Philippians 2:2-5; Colossians 1:28,29; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:6-24.

Titus was to exhort, urge, teach, challenge, charge the young men to be soberminded. Paul referred to Timothy as a “youth” or “young man” and he exhorted him to maintain “a pure heart and a good conscience”, to “war a good warfare, holding the faith, and a good conscience”, to “behave” and act reverently “in the church of the living God”, to be “nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine”, to “take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine”, to “continue in them”, to “meditate upon these things”, to “give thyself wholly to them”, to “do nothing by partiality”, to “follow after righteousness”, to “hold fast that good thing which was committed unto” him. In the same way and after the same manner, Titus was to exhort the young men. And so are we to exhort young men in the church to be sober-minded, to live for God and not for self, putting their passions and desires under control, rendering sacrificial service to God, to Christ’s body and to humanity, God’s creation.

In the New Testament, the age of young men range between 15 and 60. This period is very important and would be very useful to God and humanity if the young men are well-guided.

They are to be exhorted, entreated and encouraged to be prudent, discreet and serious in their passions, appetites and propensities. Everyone should be taught to live and act as if he were in the immediate presence of his Maker, King and Judge.

News

Local communities urged to make concrete gesture for refugees

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ead of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has urged local communities of believers in Italy to make a concrete gesture by putting up Syrian refugees until they are granted asylum by the Italian authorities.

The Pontiff who allegedly is putting up a Syrian refugee family from Damascus in a Vatican apartment, also called on every religious sanctuary in Europe to take part in the gesture.

The Christian family is the first of two that Francis has promised to find space for as part of a broader Church effort to help shape Europe’s response to an ongoing migration crisis partly caused by the conflict in Syria.

It is speculated that as Christians who have fled a Syria wracked by a deadly

…as Pope Francis puts up Syrian family

civil war and the persecution of minorities, they are highly likely to be quickly granted leave to remain in Italy though the processing of their application could however take months, possibly years, unless they are made a special case.

In his call for the Church to take a lead on the migration issue, Francis urged local communities of believers to make a concrete gesture ahead of a Jubilee Year of Mercy starting in December.

“Every parish, every religious community, every monastery, every sanctuary in Europe, should take part in this act of mercy. Faced with the tragedy of tens of thousands of asylum-seekers

fleeing death as victims of war and hunger who are hoping to start a new life, the gospel calls on us and asks us to be the neighbour of the smallest and the most abandoned, to give them concrete hope,” he said in a Sunday address in St Peter’s square.

The Argentinian pontiff has made the fate of society’s weakest, including the hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving in Europe, the dominant theme of his papacy.

His call for a grassroots response to the crisis has been widely praised and he acknowledged that initiatives across Europe had inspired him, comparing them

to a biblical miracle in which Jesus heals a deaf and mute man.

“We have been healed of the deafness of selfishness and the silence of retreating into ourselves. The closed couple, the closed family, the closed group, the closed parish, the closed country, that comes from us, it has nothing to do with God”, he said.

Since taking office in 2013, Francis has stepped up the Vatican’s support for the homeless living within its walls and across Rome, notably by having showers installed in public toilets in St Peter’s square.

He also personally eschewed the Vatican palace and summer residence he could have occupied in favour of a modest boarding house.

44

From the Pulpit

T The voice of wisdom o

with Dr. David

Oyedepo

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elcome to your regular column. From scriptures, we understand that God has great and enviable plans for us, but it takes the operation of the Spirit of faith to actualise them. This is because every plan and purpose of God is according to His size and no human hand can fully deliver it, except His hand. As it is written: Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand fulfilled it (1 Kings 8:15; see also Isaiah 53:1; Habakkuk 2:2-4).

For instance, every child of God has greater potentials than all the Old Testament saints.

We also understand from scriptures that we are empowered to do greater works than Christ did.

Therefore, we possess enviable and colourful potentials, but it takes faith to realize them (Matthew 11:11, 12:42; John 14:12, Philippians 4:13).

However, it is not enough to access the plan of God, we must learn how to actualize it, and the Spirit of faith is the master key to fulfilling God’s plan and purpose for our lives. Therefore, a discovery of what is written about us and commitment to it, believing, is what secures our glorious destiny. This is why I believe we need an impartation of the Spirit of faith, to actualize God’s plan for our lives and maximize our glorious destiny (Mark 9:23).

What does that spirit do?

The Spirit of faith is a vital treasure of the

Priesthood House with Pastor Bola

M

Bello

oses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses; but of the fathers ;) and ye on the Sabbath day circumcise a man (Jn. 7:22).

The misrepresentation of God’s intention, program and purpose has become the major reason why the Church has not fully annexed her full potential in God. This could be understood through the above statement, when the Pharisees were reprimanded of having wrong interpretation of the intention of God about circumcision. In our days, like Pharisees of old, the Church is also guilty of the same distortions, inaccuracy and wrongness, hence the need to shed more light on some grey areas of doctrinal misrepresentations for the purpose of clarity. In this write up and subsequent ones, we would be looking at circumcision as a life rather than rite.

Circumcision predated the Law of Moses but became part of the laws when the rites, cultures and instructions of God are being compiled in a book called the Pentateuch. Circumcision was first mentioned to Abraham, and it was a token of God’s covenant for separation and dedication unto God. “And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant between me and you” (Gen. 17:11). The circumcision of Abraham foreskin was a precondition for liable relationships between Abraham and God. What it denotes is, God was extending certain privileges to Abraham which was rare amongst the contemporary of Abraham.

Such gestures must however, be reciprocated with obedience and in submission to God’s in-

Sunday September 20, 2015

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Engaging the spirit of faith to fulfil divine plan!

Kingdom that defines the quality of every man’s life on earth. This Spirit also empowers us to believe all things. Apostle Paul said: But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets (Acts 24:14).

Interestingly, the Spirit of faith is the same through all ages, and delivers the same order of results. The Bible says: We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak (2 Corinthians 4:13). (See also Jude 1:3, Hebrews 11:32-34).

However, every gift of God comes with responsibilities and if we don’t perform those responsibilities, we waste the gift. For instance, Jesus spoke a parable about a nobleman who gave his servants a pound each and said to them, “Occupy till I come!” At his return, they delivered results at different levels by reason of how well they engaged the talent. This means that it is not enough to receive a gift, we must also engage it for maximum results (Luke 19:13-26). It is also important for us to know that God cannot intervene on our behalf beyond our level of faith. For instance, two blind men came to Jesus to receive their sight and when they believed that He could heal them, Jesus said: “According to your faith, be it unto you.” Therefore, the outcome of our lives is according to the faith at work in us (Matthew 9:27-29).

How, then, do we keep the spirit of faith alive?

• Through the Word: The Spirit of faith feeds on revelation, which is spiritual understanding of God’s Word. As it is written: So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).

For instance, no matter how great a child, if you don’t feed that child, he or she will die. Likewise, if we don’t feed the Spirit of faith, it will be quenched. Therefore, we cannot effectively operate the Spirit of faith without being addicted to the Word as a lifestyle.

Furthermore, the Spirit of faith also thrives on Wisdom. We must understand that we need the wisdom of God to effectively apply the revelation of the Word to our lives. This is why we need the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. Moreover, only doers of the Word can sustain the operation of the Spirit of faith. This is because until we apply the Word to our lives, we cannot have proofs and without proof, it is fake (Ephesians 1:17-18, Matthew 7:24-25).

• Through prayer and fasting: Faith is essentially sharing responsibility with God in line with scriptures so as to commit Him to make good His promise. The Bible talks about Epaphras, who was labouring fervently in prayer. Therefore, we don’t only labour to access the Word; we also labour in prayers to guarantee our breakthroughs through faith (Colossians 4:12, Isaiah 58:6-8).

• Through productive labour: From scriptures, we understand that active faith delivers by work. That is, we work to build our faith, keep it alive, sustain and increase it. Everything about faith requires work at one level or another.

Moreover, no future will ever be greater than the quality of labour invested in it. We will never find an extraordinary man in this world without an extraordinary input. Paul said, “I labour more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” Therefore, I release the grace for tireless and productive labour upon your life in the name of Jesus! (James 2:14-24; 26, Ecclesiastes 10:18, 1 Timothy 5:17, 1 Corinthians 15:10) • The Spirit of faith demands spiritual

discipline: It is important to note that careless believers cannot go far in the school of faith. That’s why we must be disciplined to think scripturally, speak biblically and operate according to the Word.

However, we frustrate the Spirit of faith through negative thoughts, words and actions.

For instance, we cannot think poor and prosper.

Neither can we think defeat and be victorious.

Therefore, we must be spiritually disciplined to align our thoughts, words and actions with the Word to maximize the benefits of the Spirit of faith (1 Samuel 2:3, Philippians 4:8, Proverbs 23:7, 18:21).

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 will conclude this teaching next week.

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 – The circumcision of believers (1) structions and commands. Thus Abraham and his family became a holy people unto God through the covenant of circumcision. This ancient order became an attitude and a religious sacrament amongst the Jews and it was regarded as the only requirement of God for Abraham and his descendant to be known as the people of God. In other words, any religious rites in Israel can only be administered and kept based on the fact that such person has being circumcised; (Exd. 12:48).

It may therefore be assumed that circumcision is not a culture of a race but a religious life which enunciated the hollowness of God in attitude and in conduct. It is also a mark of obedience and submission to the will of God. The Covenant between Abraham and God was a priestly code which holds its significance in the separation of Abraham and all that Abraham owned as unto God and for God. It also affirmed that God’s things could be accessed by Abraham.

This could be made possible through covenant and it was ratified with circumcision. Apart from the fact that circumcision is a ratification of this agreement, it also implies that Abraham is owned

by God and he Abraham would be christened after God. The text of the circumcision is not the cutting of the flesh but the willingness of Abraham to surrender Isaac when God demanded for the soul of Isaac; (Gen 22:2-3).

This is the crux of this circumcision as being initiated, ordered and instituted by God. It intended Abraham to die completely to the flesh and the lust thereof so that he would be inclined to the instruction of the Spirit. Passing this acid text of releasing Isaac as sacrifice made the Yahweh to become the God of Abraham and to channel the blessing through Abraham seed. Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son, the son of his old age and his only son for that matter. Abraham indeed was slain in his

flesh and has become dead to his possession in exchange for God. This is the essence of circumcision and this is what it intend for Abraham and his entire descendants. Abraham posterity would come within the scope of it, hence the promise of God thus; “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice”(Gen. 22:18).

“And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole. And the Lord said unto Joshua, this day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you….”

(Jos. 5:8-9). Sin is the major reproach of man (Pr. 14:34). Poverty is not as reproachful as sin. There were sins imported by Hebrews during the exodus from Egypt to the Canaan land. This sin was basically lust of the flesh and it was a major setback for people during the wilderness journey.

The flesh of the Abraham descendants lusted for Egyptians food, Egyptians cucumbers and other things based on gratification of soul. From generation to generation, flesh has always being the major obstacle for man to be inhabited by God. As much as God desired man as his habitation, flesh desires what God loathes. It was therefore expedient, for a renewal of circumcision of flesh by the Israelites, at Gilga, so as to show the need to mortify the flesh. The Hebrews people are destined to become the abode of God if they are separated and sanctified. At the instance of the circumcision of flesh by Hebrews at Gilga, God promised to roll away the reproach of Egypt from them which denote the sin of Egyptians.

The effect of this circumcision of flesh was the cessation of manna which hitherto was given to them to satisfy their lusts. They were expected to come to maturity and priesthood activities in which was the major reason for calling them out of Egypt. Again, the termination of manna was the appearance of the Captain

of the LORD’S Host who will engage the battle, warfare and the need of Hebrews (Jos. 5:12-15). over again, the significance of circumcision was highlighted in this event that God was committed to the affairs of Hebrews when they ascribe to the instruction of God through crucified life.

The vicarious value of circumcision was seen in (Exod. 4:24) the “night mare” of Moses, when he would not circumcised the son based on the influence of the wife, who was a daughter of Midianite Priest. The element of dedicating Moses son to God through circumcision was considered as significant with other Moses functions of a prophet of God. While Moses’ wife saw it as bloody rites, it was however regarded as the testimony of obedience and dedication to Yahweh. If circumcision is regarded as sacrament operation of dedication and submission in the Old Testament, it has a deeper meaning in the New Testament. Hence the Lord Jesus, saw it as of the fathers not of Moses. In other words, it is the sacrament that predated law and should not be considered as the Law of Moses but the instruction of God to the Patriarchs. Circumcision is not a custom or rite but a life of priesthood.

We shall endeavor to elaborate more on this as we journey on this fact finding of what is expected of us as circumcised believers. My prayer to God for you is to grant you the heart to understand, the mind to obey and will to abide. May the God of Abraham shower his blessing upon you this new Week. Please do fellowship with us at our Church auditorium, Power and Glory Tabernacle, FUTA South Gate, beside Solab Hotel, FUTA Road, Akure, you will have a testimony of God’s visitation.

•Pastor Bola Bello – The Priesthood House, bolabelo@gmail.com 08033704564

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

From the Pulpit

Sunday September 20, 2015

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The joy of thanksgiving

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hanking God is a function of our understanding of who God is to us.

Understanding God in this regard requires a personal revelation of Him and not a collective understanding of who God is. God is the Architect of our being. He is the reason for who and where we are today.

He offers us constant protections without any commission from us. He provides our needs without asking for a commensurate payment. He gives us air to breathe without us bribing Him. That is why He should be thanked regardless of whether you are in celebration or not. If you can avoid being a big man or woman before God and thank Him for His goodness, God will in turn make you a big man among your fellow men. This implies that, aside having the right understanding, another thing that is needed for effective thanksgiving is humility. It requires humility for you to thank God. Proud people do not understand the language of gratitude.

Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:5) When you offer praise to God, you create for Him a habitation. This explains that, your praise provides a suitable shelter for God. Thanksgiving is the act of offering gratitude to God and those that are committed to doing this will not suffer in life. Suffice to assert that, suffering and offering do not live together. Those who give offering of thanksgiving terminate their sufferings.

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:

The Bride’s voice with Pastor Moses

Alu

Continued from last week

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hen homosexuals started to claim that it is their right and prerogative to choose how to worship God, there was uproar everywhere. They found their way to the parliaments, congresses and senates especially in some countries in Europe and America to make laws to legalize same sex marriage i.e. a woman can marry a woman and a man can also marry a man. They made it mandatory that any priest/pastor or church that is licensed by the government must wed them whenever they come to the altar and they will exchange their marital vows; a man with a man, to live together for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer and the priest or pastor will say, ‘You may now kiss or hug your bride. I pronounce you husband and wife’.

With Bible in their hand; at the altar!

Do you know one interesting thing? If I preach this message in some countries, in the next one hour or less, I will be arrested.

A pastor called me from Spain and was telling me about the condition in that country.

He said the gays are so protected that after they have undergone every process, they will choose the church to go and wed. And the law says you must allow them. They can decide to come to your church purposely for you to wed them and knowing full well that you are anti-gay. If you refuse to wed them, you are courting jail term. That is the state of rebellion that the world has gone into. It

Bishop Opayinka

(Psalms 92:1-3) Anytime we praise God we show forth our love for him. Thanksgiving is an act of doing a good and pleasant thing unto God. Benefit of Thanksgiving (Psalm 92:115) Fresh Oil: Each time you minister to the Lord in thanksgiving, you receive fresh oil. Thanksgiving lubricates your head with the oil of God. This fresh oil implies anointing. One of the ways to grow in anointing is to be committed to thanksgiving. Those who complain cannot thank God. But my horn shall thou exalt like the horn of a unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil. (Psalms 92:10). Thanking God for what He has done for you regardless of what you are still expecting Him to do, prepares you to receive more than what you can ever imagine in your life from God. David lived a life of praise and was always looking for a way to appreciate God for what He has done for him. This made God to do more for David beyond what he

could have imagined. And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou brought me hitherto? And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou has also spoken of thy servant’s house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree. O LORD God. What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant? For thou knowest thy servant. (1 Chronicles 17:16-18) Victory over Your Enemies: God becomes enemy to your enemies when you offer Him praise. Thanksgiving is a strong weapon of warfare. It is a victory carrying arsenal. People who are committed to thanksgiving will always enjoy their welfare even as their warfare would be fought

by God. No battle overcomes such people.

Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me. (Psalms 92:11). The Lord fought for Jehoshaphat and people of Judah against the incoming enemies. It was recorded in the scripture that as the people began to praise the Lord, He sent confusion into the camp of three nations who had gathered against them. And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah and were smitten. (2 Chronicles 20:22) It Makes You To Flourish: Thanksgiving makes you to flourish in whatever you do. It makes you appear like a palm tree that is planted by the river side whose nutrient never fails all year round. It is an obvious fact, that palm tree does not fear

dry season. In the same vein, there is no dry season for those that are committed to thanksgiving. Thanksgiving brings down the rain of miracles. It turns your cloud to rain. Thanksgiving brings you abundant blessing. Thanksgiving brings expansion.

It enlarges your coast and broadening the horizon of your influence (Psalm 92:12).

Fruitfulness at Old Age: Thanksgiving makes you productive at every stage of your life. Thanksgiving does not only give early success and allows you not to suffer at the later part of your life endeavour.

But make you even fruitful at your old age.

Thanksgiving makes you to enjoy life even at old age. A man of thanksgiving does not know old age sickness. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing. (Psalms 92:13-14). How else can a man be planted in the courts of the LORD without a thankful heart.

The benefits of thanksgiving are endless. Always see reasons to thank God. Stop complaining, stop grumbling, and stop fixing blame on others. But be humble enough to thank God daily. See thanksgiving as a spiritual culture of the kingdom and always be thankful for your life.

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 (4) is no more done secretly.

I was telling you about the pastor from Spain. He said gays recently held a rally and they were in thousands with the police providing them protection/security until they finished their rally. Some of us who watched them on television saw men kissing men and women kissing women. They have tried all they can to make it officially allowed by way of legislation in Nigeria. They did this last year and the senate stood against it. Some of you watched the reactions of some Nigerians resident in America. Some Nigerian women were protesting against the Nigerian government (senate) for infringing on what they termed the rights of gays. Some of them carried placards to the Nigerian embassy in the United States and Britain. Some of their placards carried the inscription, ‘I am gay and I am proud’.

All of them go to churches and they have pastors! In those countries, it is done in the open but in Nigeria, it is still a secret but it will surprise you to know that even in Nigeria, many people who go to churches, men and women, many of them are lesbians and homosexuals and they will be there speaking in tongues. Some of them are pastors and they are preaching. But one thing about our God is that he looks at men’s folly. It is a sign of the end.

People are looking at only wars and rumours of war, but it is not only these ones because there is distress all over including breakdown of morality. Immorality has taken the front seat and it has been dignified.

And when Satan wants to strike, he starts little by little. But as Apostle Paul said, “We are not unaware of the device of the enemy”.

There are many end time message churches today that disagree with The Bride

Assembly because we tell the women to veil their hair. When Satan wanted to undress women in the church, he didn’t come to reduce them to what most of them have become today. Brethren, go to some of the Pentecostal churches; those of you who were night crawlers before, enter some of the churches and they remind you of your days in the club. You will be dazzled at what women wear to church.

During the time of John Wesley, when holiness was the watchword, even wedding ring was not allowed. They wanted to run far from any connection with worldly fashion. Satan started his agenda with the women because it is easier to get women.

That is why Satan went to Eve and not Adam because the Bible calls them the weaker vessel. Satan knows the Bible more than all of us. Did he not quote the Bible for Jesus to give him reason to bow before him? Psalm 91 attests to this. He was telling him to tempt God. You will not know that he was telling him to tempt God except you know the scripture. But the Bible says, “Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God”.

Since the Bible says if you carry any deadly thing it shall not harm you, will you because of that carry a viper?

The devil went to 1 Cor. 11:12 and says the hair is given for a covering; so why should you cover your hair? He kept pushing that gospel and that has come to stay in many churches. And it started from America!

However, if the hair is given for covering, is Apostle Paul saying when praying or prophesying, you should grow long hairs?

Satan can carry out his agenda on a man for 50 years. All Pentecostal churches have removed their scarf so that they are now competing in hair styles. Some hairs are

Chinese and others are Brazilian, Indian, etc. And all these in the church of Jesus Christ!

When Satan succeeded with this, he entered another area. Do you see women wearing underwear again? But men continue to wear singlet because we will be uncomfortable without it. And the question is; why don’t women feel uncomfortable when they are not wearing under wear?

Satan was going somewhere. After removing the underwear, he removed the length of their blouse. And they are busy speaking in tongues.

Satan is not disturbed with the anointing and so the anointing keeps increasing.

As long as you remain in error, he will increase the anointing; to deceive them to think that God is with them. This is further to deceive the people because the man that is anointed has even done perming to his hair and his skin is bleached; yet he displays so much anointing.

These days, if you want to see the latest fashion, where do you go? The church!

When you get to the church and some of these women lift their hands, sensual parts of their bodies which should ordinarily be hidden are exposed. And the pastor is saying, ‘It doesn’t matter’.

This is how Satan works. Very soon, nobody will speak against homosexuality or lesbianism. Soon preachers will begin to say, ‘It is okay, let them come and hear the Word. They will hear the Word and change.’

And I keep asking, what is it they have not heard?

•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 13 of last week

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ll these with many other similarities of Isaac unmentioned are what you should lay down on the altar of sacrifice, if you actually wish to break free from the powers of evil family altar. For a comprehensive explanation of what laying down of one’s Isaac is. I take a character in the Bible, who was hunted seriously by the powers of his evil family altar. How he laid down his Isaac and was able to overpower his enemies. The name of this character was called Jacob. His life had complicated challenges. God came to his aid and delivered him. This is because one night he decided to lay down his Isaac.

If God could have mercy on Jacob, and delivered him completely to such extent that he is today being called the God of Jacob.

There is no living being God cannot deliver from his/her predicament provided he/ she follows the principle. Jacob deceived his brother by taking his birth right. He also deceived his father to gain his blessings. In return Laban his uncle deceived him by making him serve fourteen years to marry two wives.

However, when Laban house became uncomfortable for Jacob, he did not know where to run to. He could not return where death was waiting for him in the hand of his brother Esau. He was also running away from Laban who he had deceived.

The situation became very complicated for him. Nonetheless, one night Jacob decided to break free from the powers of the evil family altar pursuing his life. To do this successively, he must lay down his Isaac. In Genesis 32:2224 “And he rose up that night and took his two wives, and his two women servants and his eleven sons and passed over the ford Jabbok. And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had. And Jacob was left alone, and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.” In the book of Hosea 12:4-5 “Yes, he had power over the Angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made

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Sunday September 20, 2015

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Breaking the powers of evil family altar (14) supplication unto him; he found him in Bethel and there he spake with us. Even the Lord God of hosts, the Lord is his memorial” Jacob was able to breakthrough and had an overwhelming victory of his challenges because of the following factors: a) He laid down his Isaac which was his family. He put them out, to avoid distraction b) He was alone with God all the night long c) He engaged in spiritual warfare, that is violent prayer d) He succeeded in having his name changed from Jacob to Israel, meaning the prince of the Lord Dear child of God, can you see that the reason why you have not prayed to breakthrough is because you pray in the mist of distractions. Today, identify the Isaac in your life or marriage you should lay down so that you could pray change into your life. Today I command transformation that brings remarkable change into your life and destiny in the name of Jesus.

Do not accept defeat Refusing to accept defeat is one important strategies in spiritual warfare. You must take cognisance of the fact that your enemy the devil does not easily accept defeat. Likewise you must not in any wise accept defeat. Knowing fully well that your victory has been guaranteed at the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. Obviously you must believe that when you attack the kingdom of darkness with the weapons of heaven a considerable damage is done. You must realize that sometimes after you have demolished, they rebuild again. Which is why it is very important that when you have successively lunched an offensive in the kingdom of darkness, you should place a curse at any demon or human agent who would gather back, what you have scattered or build what you have demolished or yet revive whatever you have killed. Spiritual warfare is a lifelong battle. Do not leave any area untouched. The area you left untouched could be an entry point of their fresh attack on you. When you attack, and they keep responding aggressively even if you have begun to see some dividends of your prayers, do not relent,

it shows that there are a lot of your potentials, stars, virtues, destinies, glories and fames still in their custody. When you are fighting to recover all your praise they have carted away, start from when you were born. Do not start from when you repented, thinking you are starting on a clean slate, if you do you are making a serious mistake. You know that in the early days of our Christianity, we were taught that the moment, we give our lives to Christ every old thing are passed away and behold all things about us are become new. The only old thing about us that became new is our spirit that is born again. Besides that, every other thing about us remains as they were. Such things as a) Our health challenges b) Our business challenges c) Our marital challenges d) Our educational challenges e) Our career needs f) Our professional challenges g) Our conceptional challenges h) The challenges we face in our relationships i) The challenges we face in our families j) Our social challenging k) The challenges we face in our places of work l) Political, social and economic challenges All these our challenges, does not disappear the moment we got born again. Rather they are progressively managed to success through deliverance prayers.

Be aggressive and break the protocol For a very long time, majority of us have been deceived, simply because we lack adequate knowledge of deliverance, few of us who had little knowledge about deliverance lacked the aggressive fire needed to break protocol.

When you hear about breakthrough prayers it is not a gentle man prayer approach rather it is a violent aggressive prayer. To breakthrough, an enemy troop, or a wall or even a gate requires a force. That is forcing yourself, your will, and or your vision through enemy barriers. Beloveth, it is not any easy task. It is just like driving a six inches nail through a

hardwood.

A) It must involve holy cry, from a broken and penitent heart B) It must be a cry of mercy and forgiveness unto the only and one true God, whose mercy endureth forever C) It must be persistent and uncprommising D) It must be sacrificial E) It must be self-denial F) It must involve casting out the old garment of weaknesses Prayer point I command everything programmed against my breakthrough, catch fire and burn to ashes in the name of Jesus.

Testimonies Ten years chronic stomach pains disappeared Since ten years I have been suffering from this chronic stomach pains. It comes periodically. Anytime it came I would never know myself. The pains used to be so chronic that I would be rolling on the floor. I have gone to several hospitals and done several laboratory tests. The situation was not encouraging. I decided to go to churches for prayers but no success was achieved. Not until last Thursday, when I came to this church, I met the man of God, he said that there was something in my stomach, he placed Bible on my stomach and prayed for me. As he was praying my stomach became to bite me seriously I failed down from the chair I did not know where I was again.

When I woke up I saw myself lying down on the centre of the floor of the church. When the deliverance ministers saw I was up they helped me. Brethren, since that very day my stomach had peace. Stomach pain of ten years gone, praise the Lord!

Sis. Chinenye •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

Cross over to the other side (2)

ow it came to pass on a certain day, that He went into a ship with his disciples; and He said unto them, “let us go over unto the other side of the lake”. And they launched forth. But as they sailed He felt asleep; and there came a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and they were in jeopardy” Luke 8:22-23.

Man’s life characterized by series of developmental- stages. He move from one stage to another, and each stage is accompanied with pain which is inevitable and natural. It is very important he must be determined to move, otherwise he will remain stagnant. It is this decision that makes him to be enthusiastic and serve as motivation.

One can deduce from the above Bible passage that Jesus, with His disciples, has converted the souls in that side of the lake and has gotten to saturation point, therefore there was need to go to the other side of the lake to preach to the lost souls with the intent of winning them for God. It is this quest the motivates somebody to leave his country or country home to look for greener pasture in a foreign country or in an urban city.

It will however be noticed in verse 23 that no sooner had they left than the storm struck h rendered the disciples restless and agitated.

This situation can be termed as the middle of the journey. They therefore had no choice

than to go to Jesus for solution which was received instantly. Jesus rebuked the storm and it became quiet and there was peace(Luke 8:24). I decree in Jesus name that the storm of your life will be rebuked and peace restored. As for the first two causes, it is imperative for a believer to confess his own sin and the one he inherited which brought about the storm. Daniel and other prophets of God intercede for the nation of Israel on n her behalf to God and themselves for restoration tion of the lost glory. (Daniel 9:3-22) it is not out of place for a believer to resolve esolve to have a right standing with God for peace to reign. Chronicles onicles 7:14-18 says: “If my people ople which are called by my name me shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from rom their wicked ways; then I willl hear from heaven and will forgive e their sin and I will heal their land.. For mine eyes shall be open and mine ears attend unto their prayer thatt is made in this place. For I have chosen osen and sanctified this house, thatt my name may be there forever ver and mine heart shalll be there perpetually y. As for thee, if thou will ill Primate I.O Oyelowo walk be--

fore me, as David thy father walked and do according to all that I have commanded thee and shall observe my statues and my judgment; then will I establish the throne of the kingdom according as I have covenanted with David thy father saying, there shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.

The middle of the road in a believer’s life is a critical point and man’s faith in this regard will help in no small way in findfin said ing solution. “And He sa unto them, where is your faith? (Luke 8: 25).

Do not find soluso tion elsewhere exe cept through Jesus Jes Christ. He is the way w , the truth and life (John (Joh 14:6). Other ways are ded structive because those tho people from whom you y look for solution will comco pound your already worswo ened problem. The spirit spi of God is not in them; rathra er they th hare ha

commercial Prophets and or Pastors. The solution they proffer can not last long and fraught with danger. However, there is no doubt that Jesus knows you from inside out. He is ready to share your feelings. Listen to what He says in Mathew 11:28-30 “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden light”.

Life of prayer will also go a long way to find solution. Do not resign to fate as this will not help; hold the bull by the horn. To hasten the stillness of the storm, it is also imperative, for a believer to engage in fasting at least once in a week (Mathew 17:21).

Life of holiness in this regard cannot be over emphasized. What then is holiness? It is the act of separating yourself from all unrighteous acts (1 John 5:17). Purify yourself with the word of Gods, the Bible. Take it as a point of duty to read at least two to three chapters in a day. By doing so, you know the mind of God concerning your way to conform with His plan for your life. “Now therefore thus saith the lord of hosts; consider your ways” (Hagias1:5)

•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 20, 2015

Endtime Revelation with Bishop Bernard

Ojemeni (JP)

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he Oxford Advance Leaner’s dictionary defines salvation in the Christian term as the state of being saved from the power of evil. A way of protecting somebody from danger, disaster, catastrophe, calamity, loss, etc. The Holy Bible made us to understand that Jesus Christ is the source and the author of Salvation of our spirits souls and bodies. Hebrews 12:2 “ 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 set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” When God created Adam and Eve, they were in state of innocence. And the Lord God always came down to the garden of Eden in the cool of the day to have communion or fellowship with them.

This continued until the day they ate the forbidden fruit.

The devil came through the serpent to deceive them. You should recall that the devil or Satan used to be the Leader of God’s angels in Heaven by name Lucifer, the morning star but because of pride he lost the position and because number one arch enemy of God and man and that is when he became the devil or Satan.

Before he was thrown down from Heaven he succeeded in taking some angels he was able to deceive to join him in rebellion against God. Some of these fallen angels are residing in the streams, lakes, rivers, sea and oceans as mermaid spirits. Others reside in the trees in the forest, etc. as demons which the idol worshippers pay allegiance to. Some also possess human beings and cause them to always do evil in fulfillment of their assignments

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Garment of salvation Bishop Bernard Chukwuma Mbamalu Ojemeni, General Superintendent of Endtime Believers’ Ministry Inc, in this piece,teaches on salvation. Excerpts: against God and humanity. Many of them are very wicked and are causing a lot of havoc in the world. But there are some of them that knew they made mistake in following Satan, and they try to be lenient in dealing with human beings with the hope that God may consider their pardon. That is why you see a particular native doctor serving them, coming up with solutions to people’s problems, ailments etc. unlike the wicked native doctors serving the wicked demons whose own is just to kill people and commit terrible wickedness in the lives of people on earth. No wonder John 10:10 has this to say “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

The same thing is applicable to false prophets or false Christ who patronize these lenient demons to perform miracles, signs and wonders still using the name of Jesus to deceive their congregations and their unsuspecting audience. Matthew 7:21-23 “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

The pastors who patronize wicked demons always pray for people’s death. In the Garden of Eden, God handed down to Adam and Eve their various punishments and to the serpent, God put enmity between man and serpent and also prophetically initiated His master plan for salvation of mankind when He said the seed of the woman will bruise your head while you will bruise his heels. Genesis 3:15.

The seed of the woman that bruised Satan’s head is Jesus Christ when He descended into hell and made a public show of Satan and took the key of hell and death from him and when He resurrected, He said all power in Heaven, and on earth is given to Him. Colossians 2:15 “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

What a great victory over the devil. What it means is that the devil has no power to kill anybody or cast the person to hell fire without the permission of Jesus Christ. And so to save us from power of sin and Satan lies in the hands of Jesus Christ only. He is the one that the Almighty God has ordained to save humanity from the hands of Satan. And He paid the full price of our sins by dying on the cross of Calvary to obtain Salvation for all mankind and on the 3rd day He rose from the dead for our justification. It is not for the Jews only but for the whole world. John 3:16-21. That is why He said in John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Act 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” When He finished the payment on the cross, He said it is finished.

Salvation is open to whosoever wills. In Matthew 11:28 He said “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” When you make a choice to follow Jesus, the number one step is to repent and confess your sins to God and then receive Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour. Then John 1:12-13 will then take place in your life. “ But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” He now puts on you an invisible garment known as garment of Salvation. Isaiah 61:10 “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”

The book Revelation 19:7-9 made us to understand that the garment is white “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.

And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” And the garment has to be kept white at all times. It is only sin that can stain the garment and it takes the blood of Jesus to wash it away, that is why as a child of God you should always cultivate the habit of pleading the Blood of Jesus Christ into your life to present you holy in the presence of God at all times.

•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

Hard solution (1)

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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solution can be defined as an answer to a problem. It is a way out of any unpleasant situation. However, what some may prescribe as solution may be seen by others as palliative, temporary or something that might even aggravate the problem.

Proverbs 15:28a says; the heart of the righteous studieth to answer. The righteous looks for answer, for solution to problems and get the corect thing to do.

Problems are meant to be solved. As long as we are alive we would be solving one problem or the other. It is only the dead that don’t have challenges or problems to solve.

The eyes solve the problem of seeing. Wihtout eyes, can you imagine how would we have coped on the earth?

Our legs solve the problems of stability, and movement. Our mouths, tongue, teeth, ears solve many problems.

Infact, where a man wil get to in life depends on the kind of problems he is ready and willing to solve. So also, the glory a man carries depends on the problems he is able to solve.

In Genesis 1:1-12. The earth was void, empty, formless, dark, etc but God stepped in and solve the problem. The solution was to make the earth habitable and populated.

God first solved the problem of darkness by (Introducting) forming light. Gen 1:3, And God said, let there be light and there was light.

Next, God put orderliness by making the firmanent, separating the heaven and the earth.

He continued solving the problems until the earth was conducive for habitation.

Everything was going fine until another problem surfaced. Genesis 6:5, And God said that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

The people became lawless, disobeying the laws of God. What should God do? What would He do? He took a hard decision. The solution was a hard one. Destroy everything that has breadth but He kept alive a remnant i.e. eight souls to repopulate the earth. Gen 6:17-22. What a solution! It was a hard one.

God is not known to call white, black, and black, white. God is not known to provide a weak solution. You will never see God providing a temporary solution or refusing to confront evil. His solutions are always equal to the problems been addressed.

Jonah 1:1-3, God spoke to Jonah to go to Nineveh and to cry against it, for their wickedness is come before him. God wanted to give the people the opportunity to repent from their sins before judgement comes upon them. But Jonah disobeyed God. Instead of going to Nineveh, he went in the opposite direction. He took ship and was going to Joppa.

In verse four, God sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.

Note carefully, while others were (throwing their goods overboard) afraid, prayed to their gods, and lighten the ship by throwing their goods overboard. Jonah was fast asleep. Jonah was sleeping in the midst of great danger!

The entrance of Jonah like people into a place will cause evil wind to blow against the place such as a family, business, etc. some people are experiencing storms of life right now because a Jonah is in the boat of their life. Get rid of the Jonah and peace will return. Jonah 1:15, when you apply the right solution, the wind, the storm and the raging against you will cease.

God simply tell Jonah, tell them to throw you overboard. Jonah was the one they ought to have thrown overboard and not their goods.

Jonah was the excess luggage on board. The mariners did not want to throw Jonah overboard even though he told them that was the solution. They rowed hard to bring it to the land, but could not. Anytime you see, “Could not” in the Bible it is simply saying, it is beyond human power. Divine solution and intervention is needed.

If you read the story of the mad man of Gadereness in (Mark chapter five) Mark 5, in verse 3-4, the bible says that, he had his dwelling among the tombs and no man could bind him, no, not with chain. And the concluding part of verse 4 says; neither could any man tame him.

His case defile human solution. Divine intervention was needed.

When David killed Goliath, he was celebrated. The women even sang his praises, singing; Saul hath slain his thousands and David his ten thousands. But when he killed Uriah, God judges him. There is a lesson here for us. David was a man after God’s heart. It means that God love David, God sought him out himself, got him anointed, and crowned him as king. But when

Bamidele

he disobeyed God, and murdered Uriah and took his wife.

God solution was hard. If God was a man, with the kind of love he has for David, David would have been spared and they might even look for a scape goat. If such happen in our country here, there will be endless probe that will not see the light of the day, but not God. When David killed Uriah, only very few people were in the know. Joab his army commander that see to it that David’s instruction of putting Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle was carried out, and may be one or two more servants that were informing David about Uriah’s movement when he was suddenly recalled from the battle field. It was a perfect plot, carefully plotted and executed. Uriah died alonside other soldiers on the battlefield. No one can question his death.

Continued next week •For counselling, contact: Pst_lai@yahoo.com.

48

From the Pulpit

Let’s go

BIBLE with Favour

Tioluwani

Email: letsgobible@gmail.com

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https://letsgobible.wordpress.com

n what is fast becoming a very sexual world, one might wonder if there still the need for abstinence. Here are 10 reasons to wait till marriage.

1. Sex is a powerful force that can destroy if not used properly. Like atomic power, sex is the most powerful creative force given to man. When atomic power is used correctly it can create boundless energy; when it is used in the wrong way it destroys life. Sex is the same kind of powerful force. Sex is a gift from God to give us the greatest pleasure, to help in creating a deep companionship with one’s spouse and for procreation of the next generation. But if you play with this powerful force outside the bounds of marriage, it destroys you and those close to you.

2. Sexual activity for young people arrests their psychological, social and academic development. Studies show that when young people engage in premarital sex, their academic performance declines and their social relationships with family and friends deteriorate. This is because adolescents are too immature to deal with the explosive sex drive and it tends to dominate their life.

Mount up with wings with REV. OLUWAROTIMI

PETER

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will like us to put our concentration on some basic facts in this topic, which will be discussed in series.

Firstly, what is the topic talking about, we are talk about two things here, “mount up with wings like eagle”. Why are we really talking about the eagle because there are many birds that fly but this topic will be discussed of the bird Eagle. Isa 40:31 (But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint). Let us take a look at what the bible is really saying about this bird, what is really special about the eagle that God himself talk about it.

As a matter of fact there are 8,500 and above species of birds, and they look on which bird to talk about is the eagle. Remember this is not an ordinary message or meditation but it is in the bible passage above, this bird is mentioned in the bible and related to our Christian life.

What we need to ask ourselves is why is it that among all the species of birds, it is the eagle that the bible uses? What is so unique or important about this bird? One importance of these bird is that it is mentioned in most of the important places in the bible, this is a bird that is very scarce that it cannot be seen anyhow, anywhere around the world, I believe you have seen so many birds but this particular bird eagle is scarce. For example, in a state there many commissioners but only one governor, and even the governor is not seen in all occasions, these is just a little illustration about what we are trying to say about the bird eagle. My emphasis is that why is it that the bible says “c as eagle” you can understand the scarcity of the bird, this eagle can just be found in only two continents

Sunday Mirror Sunday September 20, 2015 www.nationalmirroronline.net

10 reasons why you should not have sex before marriage 3. The majority of women cannot enjoy sex outside of the bonds of marriage. The development of a fulfilling sex life needs the security and peace of the marriage bond.

Premarital sex usually takes place sneaking around in hidden places dealing with the fear of being caught, the fear of pregnancy and feelings of guilt. All these (worrisome) factors undermine pleasure in premarital sex, most especially for women.

4. Virginity is to be given to the most important person in your life, the person you committed yourself to stay with forever in marriage. Your virginity is the most precious thing you have to give to your spouse.

Once you lose it, nothing in the world can bring it back. Don’t lose something so precious in a thoughtless way.

5. Those who engage in premarital sex run a high risk of contracting one of the many venereal diseases rampant today, as well as losing their fertility. Not just AIDS, but other common disfiguring diseases like herpes that have no cure.

6. Some venereal diseases have no symptoms and many couples discover many years later that they became infertile because of these diseases. Infertility experts estimate that 80 per cent of today’s infertility is due

to venereal diseases contracted before they married.

7. The best and only method that guarantees 100 per cent against AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases is to wait for marriage to have sex and maintain fidelity in your marriage.

8. Premarital sex breaks the 10 Commandments given by God. The 10 Commandments are given to man by God to make man happy. They are not outdated and they are not restrictive. If we follow these laws, we can create happy and prosperous lives. If we don’t follow them, we will pay a heavy price in divorce, disease, abortions, illegitimate children and loneliness. Modern men make a big mistake when they think that they can break these eternal laws and not suffer consequences.

9. Premarital sex runs the risk of conceiving illegitimate children. Numerous scientific studies show that the children of single mothers suffer psychologically and are less successful socially and academically than children from intact families. Above all, children need both their father and their mother. It is wrong to risk having children who will never

have their father’s love, protection and care.

10. If you date and you don’t have sex, you can forget about that relationship when you stop dating.

But if you have sex with those you date and then break up, the nature of sexual involvement creates strong, often unpleasant memories for your whole life. Every relationship you break up where you had intimate relations is like a mini-divorce. The psychological difficulties of these minidivorces does damage to your character.

Later, when you are married and go to bed with your beloved spouse, these unpleasant memories will accompany you.

True love waits. If a boy or girl truly loves you, they will want the best for you. They will not want you to suffer fear of disease, unwanted pregnancy and the psychological difficulties of premarital sex. They will want to experience love with you only in the very best place of all - the love nest of marriage.

•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

Mount up with wings like Eagles (1) of the world which is Australia and Asia. I am just trying to let you know the importance of the bird and we are going to relate it to our Christian life so you must need to understand its importance to our Christian life. It means we Christians should see ourselves as eagles, we need to be scarce not so cheap that people can just be using anyhow, we need to know our stand as a Christian, some pastors or ministers of God will go to meet people for help, you shouldn’t be the one that will go after people seeking help, they should be hungry to see you, so let leave our life like an eagle. Not any place you go, not every food you eat, not every friend you mingle with so you must not be seen so cheap.

There are three kingdoms God created according to the bible - human kingdom, animal kingdom, bird kingdom. Gen 1, 1-26 to support our discussions.

The way God created humans and give us a king or leader, and the animal has their own king so as the birds too has there king. Among the birds that are above 8,500 species, the eagle is the king of the birds as the lion the king of animals, if we want to look at the population of the birds are more than the population of the humans in the world. But why is that God as used this bird eagle in the bible and is special like that. Do you know that this bird was studied to invent an aircraft, we are going to discuss the attributes and characteristics of eagle in the next episode that will convince you that eagle was studied to invent an aircraft, the body, the eyes, the pick, the wings, the nail, and so on. One of the biblical secret about the bird is that this bird eagle is what carried the Israelite to cannan, beloved, you need to continue this reading in the coming episodes where we are going to discus much about the bird eagle.

5 biblical things to know about the reality of eagle 1.

Ex 19:4 ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. Anytime a Christian become an eagle the person will never know how many people is feeding under him, the lord will give him ability to bear people’s burden, That is the reason why the

Lord say I bare the Israelites on eagle wings.

2.

The eagle and the lion carry the same face, eyes of an angel, In the picture which shows the eagle you see the eye of the eagle, the picture will show more light to what we have to said about the eagle we are discoursing in this message, the height of an eagle is 10ft and the height of a man is 7ft, and as we lean further we shall discuss the different speeches of the eagle. The bird is so powerful that among the entire creature made by God. If you look at the eye of an eagle so reddish just like the eye of an angel is always red that you cannot look into the eyes. Eze 14v10 (And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle).

No matter how strong you can never look at the eye an eagle as you cannot look into the eye of angel. If you carry the anointing of angle no evil will stand your way and look into your eyes, no wonder peter and john said look on us, Act 3v4-5.

3.

The wings of the eagle is compare to that of an angel, anywhere you see the bible saying about the length of the wings of the angel is the same to that of the eagle.

The length of the wings of the angel is 12ft, which is the same to that of the eagle, Dan 7:4 (The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it). What I am trying to say is that when a Christian gets the power like an eagle, he will fly high that people will see him and begin to ask questions, that the Lord has really done a great it in his life and will be seining him in the highest place they never expected. You will just discover that you have been elevated above the people around you.

4.

God use the eagle feather to punish Nebuchadnezzar, God command the eagle to hit him with this feather on his face and he ate as oxen, lived in the forest for good seven years, let’s be the Christian of an eagle not the Christian of a vulture, the Christian that if

that the we can stand on our feet and act like an eagle.Dan4:33 (That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws).

5.

The eagle has his own separate way in the sky, Prov 30:18-19 (There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand: 19 the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden).

These is where you will understand that eagle is what they study to invent the aircraft, I believe that you know that the aircraft has his own way in the sky just as the eagle has his way in the in the sky too, just as it was stated in the bible verse that, the way of an eagle in the sky. The way of an eagle is only the eagle that can locate it in the sky. What we are trying to say is that you should try and locate or discover your own way, I have work in different place I did some personal job all is nothing until I discover my own way. Ezek 17:3-6( 3 And say, Thus saith the Lord God; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar:4 He cropped off the top of his young twigs, and carried it into a land of traffick; he set it in a city of merchants.5 He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree.

6 And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs). To be continued next week Olafisoye Street, Oshinle quarters, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.

Contact no: 07031523101, 09097341270.

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Email: powerofhisreality@gmail.com

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Business

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FRESH BUSINESS NEWS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Sunday September 20, 2015

Nation bleeding at the ports … as under-declaration of imports thrives

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n what appeared a startling revelation, the Nigerian Shippers Council NSC, the nation’s commercial regulator for the seaport industry, said recently that more than 80 per cent of all imported cargo into Nigeria do not reflect the actual volume and value of such consignments.

Executive Secretary/ CEO of the council, Mr. Hassan Bello, who spoke with newsmen in Lagos shortly after a two-day training workshop organised for maritime journalists, said that the Federal Government loses huge sums of money annually due to deliberate underdeclaration of ship tonnages by multinational shipping firms operating in the country over the years.

According to him, more often than not, when for instance, ships coming to Nigeria declare 30,000 Gross Tonnage GRT, the tonnage is usually higher because of the unspecific nature of the bill of laden, which is the only document that contains the ship information.

The immediate past Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko, had recently while assessing the progress of the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report PAAR, regime, which is a component of the Destination Inspection scheme, said that the greatest challenge faced by the regime was the low level of integrity of the importers and their agent.

He accused importers and agents of always grossly under-declaring their imported consignment. This reality left the service with only one choice of carrying out 100 per cent physical exami-

Recent revelation by the Nigerian Shippers Council that over 80 per cent of cargo imported into the country is underdeclared has grave economic implications, especially at time oil revenues are on the decline. FRANCIS EZEM, reports.

Tin Can Island Ports

nation, which involves checking these imported items physically and manually. This process takes a lot of time and makes the ports inefficient and uncompetitive.

To the man on the street, under-declaration of import is a fraudulent practice in which a shipping firm reduces the true volume or tonnage of consignment loaded on the ship in the documentations submitted to the ports or harbour authority. For the shipping company, payment of most of the shipping and berthing service depends on the tonnage and so the lower the tonnage, the lower the charges paid and vice versa.

For the individual or corporate importer, it is a deliberate and fraudulent reduction in both the volume and value of the consignment in order to evade duty payment.

One incontrovertible fact in both cases of under-declaration is that the Nigerian government loses revenue.

There are however other forms of sharp practices in the import and export business through which the government loses revenue. They include under-invoicing, overinvoicing, wrong classification, concealment and sometimes smuggling.

Maritime experts have blamed these increasing cases of under-declaration of imported cargo on a number of factors.

Managing Director of one of the service providers under the Destination Inspection scheme, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, blamed this rather ugly trend on weak legal framework in the country.

According to him, there are almost no stiff sanctions in the country’s import and export regulations as contained in the Customs and Excise Management Act CEMA, which fraudulent imported have taken undue advantage of.

“It is almost a disincentive to importers who might to comply with

trade regulations because their colleagues, who adopt fraudulent practices, go unpunished and make more profit in the process”, he said.

He therefore urged the various regulatory agencies in port industry to wield the big stick with a view to checking this trend of revenue loss through under-declaration of imported goods.

Founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders NAAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, however blamed the development on the failure of Customs and other relevant agencies to strictly enforce relevant sections of the CEMA. According to him, strict enforcement of the relevant sections of the CEMA would bring to a final stop all cases of import-related fraud including under-declaration.

He cited sections 46, 47 and 48 of the Act, which he said addressed all forms of import -related fraud such as conceal-

ment, under-invoicing, over-invoicing, wrong classification, double classification, undervaluation and outright smuggling, among several others.

“These three sections of the Act prescribe fiveyear imprisonment without option of fine and forfeiture of the consignment or both for anyone that indulges in these trade malpractices and if the relevant government agencies invoke these sections of the law, cases of import-related fraud will be drastically minimised”, he said.

He observed that humans, especially from this part of the world have the propensity to disobey the law, a development that makes heavy sanctions imperative for anyone caught so as to serve as a deterrent to others.

It was also gathered that apart from the failure to enforce the extant laws strictly, some officials of the agencies of the government connive with the importers and shipping companies to under-declare the content of a ship or container.

Investigations also show that in addition to the relevant sections of the CEMA, the 2006 Import Guidelines also empower Customs to punish those who subvert the guidelines.

It was in line with this growing trend of underdeclaration of imported consignments, especially among shipping companies that the NSC decided to reintroduce the Cargo Tracking Note CTN, which is an advanced information system, which gives the true tonnage of a vessel.

According to him, the CTN supplies all detailed information about a certain vessel generated from the port of origin unlike the shipping mani-

fest or bill of laden which are generated by the shipping company itself and therefore subject to possible manipulation.

“CTN will checkmate under-declaration of the GRT of any ship because it will state in specific terms the nature or type of the consignment and volume in terms of the tonnage while the bill of laden will just say: ‘said to contain’”, he said.

He also said: “The CTN is a major step towards a national single window platform that would connect all the other government and private agencies operating at the ports including Customs, the Nigerian Ports Authority and Standards Organisation of Nigeria etc”.

The newly appointed Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) had on assumption of duty penultimate week, warned that the service under his watch would arrest and prosecute anyone caught in any act of under-declaration or smuggling, adding that all revenue leakages will be appropriately blocked.

He had also said that every act of economic sabotage including false declarations, deliberate misapplication of the tariff, undervaluation and concealment would be dealt with decisively.

Ali however called on all stakeholders to support the service in order to achieve its mandate towards the Federal Government’s resolve to secure the nation, boost the economy and create job opportunities for the youths.

It is expected that with the proposed reintroduction of the CTN and body language of the new CG of Customs, which indicates zero tolerance on import fraud, the nation’s shipping industry would be rid of under-declaration of cargo.

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Sunday September 20, 2015

NPC partners USCB, USAID on 2016 Census ADEOLA TUKURU ABUJA

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he National Population Commission, NPC, has partnered with the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, and the Technical Assistance of the United States Census Bureau on using Android tablets, management of census and survey and migration to enterprise GIS for management staff of the commission.

The Chairman of the Commission, Eze Duruiheoma, while declaring the workshop open in Abuja said the knowledge and skills acquired at the workshop will no doubt contribute immensely to the success of the 2016 census.

He explained that processing information in census or survey consists of three main areas - data capture, data validation, data dissemination.

“Each of these has its

own set of activities that can affect the timeliness and quality of the final result.

“The census and Survey Processing System (CSPro) performs these major tasks in a userfriendly manner, allowing persons with little computer experience to participate and contribute.

“It provides users with specialised tools for entering editing and disseminating data using computers CSPro can be used in

conjunction with other software depending on particular circumstances and requirements, ” he said.

Also, the Mission Director, USAID to Nigeria, Micheal Harvey, assured that they are ready to partner with Nigeria to ensure that the census turns out right.

He also said that the commission will show integrity and professionalism with the conduct of the census.

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NOA urges Lagosians to respect national symbols AYO ESAN

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he Lagos Directorate of the National Orientation Agency, NOA has used the occasion of annual Nigerian Ordinance Day to sensitise Lagosians to the need for them to respect the national symbols.

Speaking after a sensitisation walk organised by the agency, which covered the Ikeja Local Government Area of Lagos State, the State Director of NOA, Alhaji Waheed Lawal said the sensitization which is part of the 4th edition of the ordinance day was to inform the people that the national symbols especially the flag should be respected.

He said the significance of the Ordinance Day is to celebrate the day Nigeria ’s national symbols were handed over to Nigerians .

The national symbols ac-

cording to him include Nigeria currency and the flag among others ,saying NOA decided to sensitize people on the importance of the national symbols because of the shabby manner with which people have been handling the national symbol especially the national flag.

“When you travel around the country you see the way people handle and flying the national flags anyhow, this is wrong. When you go to civilized climes you see them hoisting their national flag in good condition.

We are saying our national flag, in fact all our national symbols must be respected ”, he said.

“The message I have for the people is that we must respect our national symbols. That we must think first as Nigerians not as people from a particular ethnic group. Nigeria must come first and we must respect our national symbols ”, Lawal said.

Prof Lasisi appointed Acting CMD, LAUTECH Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) Lagos State, Mr. Waheed Ishola, and other volunteers in Sensitisation rally, during the agency ’s campaign on National Symbols and commemoration of the National Ordinance Day in Lagos.

PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Wada pledges to release funds for accreditation of courses at KSU

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ov. Idris Wada of Kogi on Saturday pledged immediate release of funds for the accreditation of eight courses at the Kogi State University, Ayangba.

Wada, who made the pledge at Ayingba, during the convocation of the university, said that the university should ensure full accreditation of the courses from their current interim status.

The governor ‘s pledge followed the disclosure by the outgoing Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof.

Hassan Isah, that eight out of the 32 courses being offered at the institution were yet to gain full accredita-

tion.

The Visitor, however, said that he had kept his promise to assist the university to sustain quality of teaching and learning and ensure conducive atmosphere by increasing its monthly allocation by over N30 million.

The governor said additional two blocks of hostel have also been provided for the school, while additional supports were in the pipeline for the institution.

He promised that government will continue to meet its obligations to the university in spite of the shortfall in the allocation from the federation accounts.

Wada lauded the ongo-

ing Vice-Chancellor for his quality leadership and service, which he said had reflected in the astronomical growth recorded by the university since he assumed office in 2008.

The governor congratulated the new 6,892 graduates and urged them to be good ambassadors of the university.

Wada urged the graduating students to come back and contribute to the development of the institution.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Hassan Isah, admonished the graduates to make the best use of training given to them by contributing their quotas to the development of the country.

He thanked the governor for the opportunity given him to serve as the ViceChancellor and thanked the staff and students for their support and cooperation.

The Obi of Onitsha, who is also the Chancellor of the university, Dr Nnameka Achebe, lauded the achievements of the institution in the academic and infrastructural development, saying there are rooms for improvement.

He identified funding as the major challenge facing the school and appealed to the private sector to complement government ’s efforts by partnering with the authorities to address some of the challenges.

T

he Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has named an Acting Chief Medical Director for the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, LAUTECH, Osogbo. He is Prof Akeem Olawale Lasisi.

A statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said the appointment takes effect immediately.

A 1990 graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife, Prof Lasisi, after his mandatory national youth service at the Comprehensive Health Centre, Guma, Benue State between 1991 and 1992, worked at the General Hospital, Ilesha between 1992 and 1993.

He started residency training in Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck

Surgery at the University College Hospital, Ibadan in December 1993 and became a Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons in Medical College of Nigeria in May 2002.

He joined the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Ibadan as a Lecturer in December 2000 and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in July 2004 and Professor in October 2010.

He has received several travel and research grants including the Faculty of Clinical Science travel grant 2003 and 2005, MacArthur Travel Grant 2006, National Institute of Health Travel grant 2013 and the University of Ibadan MacArthur Foundation Multidisciplinary Team Research Grant in 2008 for the Immunological study of prenatal risk factors of ear infection in first year of life.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Opinion

Sunday, September 20, 2015

51

President Buhari’s economic management challenges AYO TERIBA

I

t is necessary to distil some of the economic management lessons from the first three months of President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime and highlight needful reforms. Five issues stand out.

Rising Economic Policy Uncertainty: It is true that a myriad of problems were inherited from the previous regime, the new regime appears to have been too preoccupied with its internal challenges within the government to be able to chart a future policy path for others outside government to plug into. The euphoria that heralded President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime is giving way to rising economic policy uncertainty as the regime is not providing any holistic indication of its fiscal or broader economic policy directions that others outside government can base their planning on. The regime appears to be struggling with the present, finding it hard to contemplate a future for the country, and even harder to engage others about that future.

Some positive moves, like the resolution of the States’ liquidity crisis in July and the announcement of a Treasury-Single-Account, TSA, in August, have been made by the regime on the fiscal front, but they have unfolded piecemeal, and there is no effort to give any indication of what more is to come within a holistic fiscal policy framework. It is not difficult to imagine that more good news would filter in on the fiscal front in the next few weeks when the positive impacts of various bold efforts to block government revenue leakages, including saving from ending fraudulent fuel subsidy payouts from excess crude savings, ending crude oil theft, and ending abuses in the administration of import duty/tax waivers, and the increased revenue inflow from implementation of the TSA. But it would have been better for the government to have stated these within a forward looking fiscal guidance document that will leave no one in doubt about the fiscal policy directions of the new government. The fiscal policy direction remains uncertain, and such is not good for the confidence of private economic agents. Beyond fiscal guidance, early indication of broader economic policy directions should help allay fears about the outlook of the Naira and ease the pressures on the Central Bank. More than just doing a string of good things, the new regime needs to demonstrate a clear ability to clarify the future path of its interventions so that private agents can make their plans with much less uncertainty. The weakening naira could indeed have resulted from the loss of confidence resulting from rising uncertainty about fiscal and broader economic policy directions.

Weak Economic Policy Institutions: It is becoming clear that the new regime inherited very weak or non-existent institutions of economic management. Nigeria has strong institutions of security management that ensures no vacuum in the offices of national security adviser, director of state security, military service chiefs, immigrations, customs, inspector general of police, and chief of civil defense corps. These positions are always manned even in the absence of ministers.

President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) can be assumed to be adequately briefed on matters of national security, even in the absence of ministers of defense or interior. No surprise the President engages effectively on security issues.

In the security management set up, ministers and ministries are no more than secretary and secretariats, the actual security management rest in the hands of the agents and agencies of continuity. Nigeria needs to replicate this institutional strength in economic management. A striking reality of Nigeria’s governance system is that there are no

recognizable agents or agencies of continuity in economic policy management in Nigeria.

This has to be redressed.

Since 1946 US Presidents get into office to meet a non-partisan Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) that provides them adequate briefing on economic issues on a daily basis.

From the same year, congressmen get into office to meet a standing staff of a bipartisan and bicameral Joint Economic Committee (JEC) who provides them pre- and post-legislative briefings on economic issues. Both the President and Congress look up to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for insights, foresight and oversight on economic issues.

The CEA prepares and submits the President’s Economic Report to Congress in February of each year and the JEC prepares and submits its response to the President’s report to Congress the following month. In the American set up, economic ministers and ministries are also no more than secretaries and secretariats, the actual economic policy conception and enforcement rest in the hands of the aforementioned agencies of continuity, which are altogether missing in Nigeria. Little wonder that Nigeria has been ineffective in economic management. The economic policy vacuum is becoming very striking in the first three months of PMB. The President will do well to urgently redress this.

Weak Economic Engagement: In spite if compelling reasons to engage on pressing economic issues of the day, the President and the National Assembly have both conspicuously stood aloof in the first three months of the new regime. The President will do well to create economic management agencies that will help him and the National Assembly to directly engage on economic issues and generate ideas and policy directives for ministries to implement.

These agencies must be situated outside the ministries, not within. In the US, ministries necessarily operate within policy visions set by the CEA, endure the scrutiny of the JEC staff at congressional hearings, and are subject to ongoing oversight of the GAO. The expectation that ministers will manage the Nigerian economy is misplaced. Institutions for economic management have to be created to provide ideas for ministries to execute and also provide adequate scrutiny over ministerial appointments and activities. Such institutions are ideally located within the executive office of the President and within the National Assembly to equip the President and Legislators to engage more directly and effectively on economic issues. It was under the Employment Act of 1946 that the US Congress established two advisory panels: the President’s Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) and the Joint Economic Committee (JEC).

Their primary tasks are to review economic conditions and to recommend improvements in economic policy.

The CEA and the JEC help the US President and Congress to routinely conceive economic policy ideas and process them into legislation for government agencies to implement, while the GAO scrutinizes the efficiency of the conduct of all government agencies.

Economic policy conception results from the engagement of President and Congress, while government agencies are only expected to implement Presidential and/or Congressional directives. Little wonder the US President and Congress authoritatively have a lot more to say about all aspects of the US economy than anyone else.

In contrast, since 1999, the Nigerian President and the National Assembly have passed the buck of policy conception and design to agencies that should ideally only implement.

The new regime must overcome the growing democratic deficit in which Presidents and

Parliaments come into office only to pass the buck of economic policy conception, design and coordination to unelected appointees that should ideally only implement. Efforts must now be made to the build the capacity of the Presidency and the Parliament to conceive, design and coordinate economic policies, and exercise meaningful oversight on their appointees.

Nigeria clearly needs to create institutions like the CEA in the Presidency and the JEC in the National Assembly to ensure that the President and Parliament are better able to directly engage to conceive meaningful and effective economic policies.

Budgeting and Policy Coordination: On the execution and coordination side, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) assists the US President to prepare the country’s budget and also helps all executive departments and agencies across the Federal Government to enforce the policy commitments and priorities of the President. The OMB was transferred from the Treasury Department, where it started life as the Bureau of Budget (BOB) in 1921, to the Executive Office of the President in 1939. The OMB also reviews, harmonizes and clears all agency communications with Congress, including testimony and draft bills to ensure consistency of agency legislative views and proposals with Presidential policy Budget Office of the Federation also needs to be moved from the Ministry of Finance to the Presidency so that budget design and policy coordination can also be undertaken from the presidency. Ministries, Department and Agencies should concentrate on implementing policy directives from the President and Parliament. It should be mentioned that Obasanjo regime toyed with the idea of moving the Budget office of the Federation from the Federal Ministry of Finance to the Presidency in 2004 but balked because of strong objections from his newly appointed minister of finance. The same regime eventually not only left budgeting in the finance ministry but also ceded policy conception, design and coordination to a newly created ad-hoc Economic Management Team (EMT) that was also chaired by the minister who objected to the transfer of the budget office to the presidency. The ad-hoc EMT model had remained since then. The Jonathan regime went a step further by adding the term ‘Coordinating Minister for the Economy’ to the title of the finance minister.

This contrasts with the US practice in which: policy conception is the shared responsibility of the President (with CEA input) and Parliament (with JEC input), ensuring that the legislative programme of the Congress is in sync with the economic programme of the President; budgeting and policy coordination are done in the executive office of the President (with OMB input), while all agencies merely execute Presidential and Congressional directives; and, oversight is exercised by both President and Congress (with OMB and GAO inputs). This means that in the US democracy, policy conception, budgeting and coordination are directly undertaken by suitably advised elected persons (President and Parliament), while their appointees merely implement, under the sharp scrutiny of the elected persons.

The PMB regime needs to urgently address the democratic deficit that has emerged in Nigeria in the past 16 years, where elected officials, Presidents and Legislators alike, had not only stood aloof of policy conception, design and coordination, but flagrantly pass the buck to unelected appointees over which they exercised no effective scrutiny, having not been a part of the policy conception and design in the first place. The regime inherited a situation of growing divergence between conferment of powers through elections and the exercise of such powers between elections.

Nigeria needs to learn from the US example and replicate them to ensure democratic effectiveness in delivering better economic outcomes.

Economic Intelligence: It should also be said that Nigeria did have a National Economic Intelligence Committee (NEIC) from 1994 to 2012 when the last regime scrapped the agency in line with the recommendations of an ad-hoc Orosanye Committee who reasoned that ‘the NEIC was established by a Decree, which granted it similar mandates with the National Planning Commission, Revenue Mobilization, Allocation & Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) with regard to performance monitoring and evaluation in the public sector.’ And that ‘the functions that NEIC performs are replication of those of NPC, RMAFC and FRC.’1 The Committee also recommended that NEIC enabling law also be repealed, but it does not seem that the NEIC Act has been repealed by the National Assembly.

It would appear that the Orosanye committee could not tell the differences between NEIC and NPC, RMAFC, or FRC, because none of the seven members of the committee was an economist. As such the committee could not tell the difference between economic planning and economic intelligence. They could also not tell the differences between economic intelligence and fiscal activities like revenue mobilization, revenue allocation, and fiscal responsibility issues.

At different points in time, Nigeria had merged the budget and economic planning functions within the same agencies, demonstrating the ancillary nature of the two policy design and coordination activities. Both must always reflect the President’s priorities and preferences. Economic intelligence on the other hand involves evaluation of the activities of all agencies of government, including the Presidency, to make them accountable.

This function must be independent of the President, and could not have been replicated in NPC, RMAFC and FRC. The US GAO provides the best example of economic intelligence mandate. The GAO was created by the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 that also established the BOB that was to eventually become the OMB, to ‘investigate, at the seat of government or elsewhere, all matters relating to the receipt, disbursement, and application of public funds, and shall make to the President ... and to Congress ... reports [and] recommendations looking to greater economy or efficiency in public expenditures, GAO provides government with oversight of federal programs, insight into ways to improve government, and foresight into longterm trends. Recent GAO work has addressed the use of Recovery Act and TARP funds, problems in mortgage financing, the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, food safety, climate change, postal reform, border security, and the financial pressures facing state and local governments.

The GAO is headed by the Comptroller General of the United States, appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a 15-year, non-renewable term.

The President selects a nominee from a list of at least three individuals recommended by an eight member bipartisan, bicameral commission of congressional leaders. The Comptroller General may not be removed by the President, but only by Congress through impeachment or joint resolution for specific reasons. Since the establishment of the GAO in 1921, there have been only seven Comptrollers-General, and no formal attempt has ever been made to remove any.

•Dr Teriba is the CEO of Lagos-based, Economic Associates Limited

NEWS

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Sunday September 20, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo (1915 – 2015)

Our nation has lost a pre-eminent mother –Saraki

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he Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki has said with the death of HID Awolowo , Nigeria has lost a pre-eminent mother.

“ I have been enthusiastically looking forward to making a big but surprise visit to Ikenne, Ogun State to be part of the Centenary birthday celebration of Mama H.I. D. Awolowo, knowing that she is the last woman standing among the wives and mothers who truly contributed by supporting their spouses in laying the foundation for our nation building.

“To think that she will not be there during the period of the celebration, which is just about two months away, makes me sad, in spite of her ripe age filled with achievements”, Saraki said.

He said Mama Awolowo truly distinguished herself among her contemporaries and not only because she lived longer but because she served God and humanity to the end.

“Even as a nonagenarian, she kept on hosting different fora and contributing to ideas on the unity of the Yoruba people in particular and Nigeria in general. She was an epitome of a good wife and mother and I have no doubt that as she reunites with her darling Husband, Pa Obafemi Awolowo, she

would have good account to give of how far she had held forte in the absence of the late sage”.

Saraki commiserated with the Awolowo family on the death of their matriarch, the government and people of Ogun State and Nigeria in general saying they should all take solace in the fact that Mama lived a good life.

In his own reaction, the former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George described the passing away of HID Awolowo as a passage of an icon.

He said the transition of Chief Mrs Hannah Didelolu Awolowo “is an irreparable loss to our nation and a collective diminution of the Yoruba race.

“She was a mother inIsrael, a superlative patriot, a shining gem and an authentic jewel of inestimable value who walked through the valleys and mountains of life with dignity and with unshakable faith in the will of God”.

“She stood with her husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo with poise and defiant consistency. She never buckled nor faltered even in the face of the harshest challenges of life. She has now entered the pantheon of unforgettable icons like Moremi, Queen Amina, Efunsetan Aniwura and Madam Ti-

spects”.

He described her as “The Jewel of Inestimable value from beginning to the end , even posthumously of the sage”.

HID, according to Kaka, was a rare gem for the womenfolk saying that her death marks the beginning of a glorious dawn for the family and Nigeria as a whole.

End of an era -Aregbesola

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overnor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has described the translation of the matriarch of the Awolowo family, Chief Mrs. Hannah Idowu Dideola Awolowo, as the end of an era.

Awolowo

nubu.

“She has paid her dues.

Her cause is fulfilled. She will never be forgotten where courage, decency, humility, and firmness of purpose are acknowledged

and celebrated.May the good Lord grant Mama’s repose in the eternal sanctuary of the seraphim.

Goodbye and goodnight Yeye Oodua.

Former Deputy Gover-

nor of Ogun State , Senator Gbenga Kaka in his tribute said that mama HID , the Matriarch of Awo dynasty passed on to greater glory signifies the end of an era in many re-

Olajide, Oyo NUJ mourn HID Awolowo KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

A

chieftain of Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Dr. Kunle Olajide, yesterday said the entire Yoruba race, is shocked by the death of Mama HID Awolowo, coming a few weeks to her centenary birthday anniversary.

Speaking with the Sunday Mirror, he said the late matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty, lived a fulfilled life and was a co-traveller with her husband, the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in

the political struggle for the independence of the country.

Olajide who was a member of the last National Conference, stated that she remained steadfast with the political ideals of her husband throughout his life time while she also ensured the success of the Tribune newspapers, founded by her husband.

He added that the late Yeye Oba of Ife, was a pillar of unity for the Yoruba nation, as she alongside the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, few years ago founded a

non-politically partisan umbrella organisation, Yoruba Unity Forum, for all Yoruba sons and daughters in the country and in the Diaspora.

While further stating that she lived her to the full in the service of God and humanity, he said she will sorely be missed by all Yoruba patriots.

Also, the Oyo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has described the death of Mama HID Awolowo, as a rude shock.

The council in a statement issued by its Chairman, Mr. Gbenga Opadotun,

said her death coming at this time when her counsel will be needed, is nothing but a great loss, not only to her family, the Yoruba race but to the nation as a whole.

The statement reads, “Mama as we fondly called her was a woman of substance, a successful entrepreneur, caring mother and a pillar of support. She actually measured up to her description by her husband, Papa 0bafemi Awolowo, as “a jewel of inestimable value”.

“Mama HID Awolowo kept the faith as she faithfully stuck to the ideals and principles that made her

husband outstanding in the nation’s political landscape several years after his dea th.

“On behalf of the entire media confraternity in Oyo State, I condole with the entire Awolowo family, friends and associates of Papa 0bafemi Awolowo, the management and staff of the African Newspaper’s of Nigeria plc, publishers of Tribune titles and the entire Yoruba nation on this great loss.

“May the Almighty God give us all, the fortitude to bear her demise and grant Mama’s soul eternal rest.”

Aregbesola, in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said joined the progressive family in mourning the glorious exit of a matriarch.

He described Mama Awolowo as a solid pillar beside the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo when he was alive.

According to the Governor, Mama stood by her husband during his lifetime and even after his demise.

He stated that the Awo Matriarch worked tirelessly to ensure the Awolowo political dynasty remains united.

The statement quoted Aregbesola as saying, “we join the entire progressive family, Awo political movement as well as the whole Yoruba race in mourning as well as celebrating the glorious translation.

“They set examples for politicians when they were here with us.

The couple typified the best of what politicians should strive to be in their families in our society.

“We believe there will be a celestial celebration of reunion of a couple that exemplified harmony and true wedlock.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Sunday September 20, 2015

53

THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN SO OVERZEALOUS, OVERAMBITIOUS; THEY WANT TO BE GOVERNOR IN NASARAWA STATE AT ALL COSTS AND HAD DRAGGED SO MANY PEOPLE INTO IT

awa State should be more appreciative and understanding. It is just a passing period and it will soon be alright by the grace of God.

She ekw wo

one day without paying workers ’ salaries, he doesn ’t go to sleep well, because he knows that workers are a kind of stabilising force

because iitt iis ttheir iin the th state t t b h i salaries l i that sustain several people within their families. I think that workers in Nasar-

In your understanding, what would you attribute to being responsible for the relative peace being enjoyed in the state at the moment?

When this crisis was going on, we had said it ’s all about politics and the coming election. I think today we have been vindicated. There are people that have been so overzealous, overambitious; they want to be governor in Nasarawa State at all costs and had dragged so many people into it. They have dragged their tribal groupings and religious groups into it and they could go to any level to grab power. We saw that it was a kind of occupation by this people to get power at all costs. We thank God that it is all over and the people of Nasarawa have rejected such tribalists, they have

senate president DR. SARAKI HAS CONSIS¬TENTLY DECLARED HIS ASSETS AS REQUIRED BY LAW AT EVERY POINT BEFORE RESUMING ANY POLITICAL OFFICE AND THAT OF 2015 IS NOT AN

EXCEPTION. IT IS SURPRISING THAT THE

AL¬LEGED CHARGE IS NOW REFER¬RING TO HIS ASSET DECLARA¬TION MADE IN 2003

Law wan

ule of Section 24(1) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act to act before proffering a charge against him.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed, in a ruling in his chambers ordered the Federal Ministry of Justice, Chairmen of the Code of Conduct Bu-

reau and Tribunal and M. S Hassan (1st to 4th respondent) to appear before him to show cause why they should not be stopped from arraigning Saraki.

Senator Saraki in his motion argued that since there is no subsisting AGF, the charge against him by the official of the Federal Ministry of Justice before the CCT is void as the provisions of section 24 (1) of the CCB and Tribunal was not complied with.

Equally summoned by the court were the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar and that of the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, Mr. Sam Saba, as well as Mr. Hassan who signed the charge against Saraki.

However, irked by Saraki ’s absence at the tribunal for the commencement of his prosecution over alleged false

declaration of assets, the Ministry of Justice prayed the Justice Umar-led panel to order for his arrest, saying “he cannot sit in the comfort of his chamber and object to his trial in absentia ”.

The prosecution further maintained that Justice Mohammed lacked the powers to summon the CCT and CCB chairmen, even as it accused Saraki of engaging in “forum shopping ” in a desperate bid to scuttle his trial.

In July this year operatives of the EFCC are reported to have drilled Mrs Toyin Saraki, for about six hours.

She appeared upon invitation before the anti-graft agency to answer questions related to allegations of money laundering said to have been committed while she was First Lady of Kwara state between 2003 and 2011, during which time her husband, Bukola served as

rejected people who wanted to divide this state into religious groupings. The outcome of the last election has shown where the heart of the people of Nasarawa is. Al-Makura was overwhelmingly reelected.

I didn ’t see any reason why he shouldn ’t be reelected. What he has done in the state, we always say it, has never been done before. People are receiving a new lease of life, they are seeing something different. Roads are springing up everywhere likewise hospitals and markets, new schools are coming up. It is not about religion. The governor is not a religious bigot as for instance he wouldn ’t have appointed 10 Christian commissioners out of 17.

So the issue in Nasarawa is beyond religion, it is beyond tribe, even it is beyond politics. It is about developing a state that is lagging behind among its peers.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 54

governor.

Her supporters milled around the EFCC headquarters while she was being interrogated. After her interrogation, she released a statement assuring the EFCC of her cooperation and urged the agency to adopt global best practices.

Saraki was elected unopposed as President of 8th Senate by 57 of 108 senators, with 51 senators, including Senator Ahmed Lawan, absent in June this year.

The other senators were at the International Conference Centre, waiting for an anticipated meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, to resolve the National Assembly leadership crisis, at the time Saraki was declared President.

Saraki and Lawan have been engaged in a fierce contest to clinch the Senate top job.

APC leadership held a mock election before the inauguration of the House to determine which of the aspirants would represent the party to fill the Senate President ’s seat.

The former Kwara State governor boycotted the ‘primary ’ while he also shunned a meeting convened by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The party also sent a letter listing those to be appointed as principal officers of the Senate to him after his emergence as the senate president.

Saraki ignored the party ’s letter and those the party picked for the positions were turned down.

Since then, Saraki has been seen to have offended some strong party leaders who felt betrayed by his action.

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Politics

Sunday September 13, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Buhari has performed well so far –Shekwo CONTINUED FROM PAGE 53

If you go to states that were created at the same time with Nasarawa, you would see that they have gone far ahead of us.

So Al-Makura came saying he is in a hurry not just to catch up with those states, but to surpass them. The best we could do in this state is to cooperate and not to bring tribal and religious sentiments in the way. Some of us have identified with him because of the good ideals and progressive ideas he has for this state.

How would you rate President Muhammadu Buhari ’s 100 days in office?

I had read so many things about the president; some of them good, some unpalatable, some insinuations and all kinds of things. It is usual in a country of this nature. We have divergent interest groups; it is always expected like that.

But it is left for the leader to be focused and that is what I admire in President Buhari. All this things have not deterred him, even before now.

He was the man that was more largely misunderstood by Nigerians, and people who got that picture they did it because they know what he stands for and they know what he will do when he comes.

Those people have not given up till today. But as I said, it is for our leader to be focused. He is not deterred about what people have said against him. One, they have said before that Buhari is a religious bigot. Today, he has put them to shame; they are no longer talking about religion. Two, they said he is a tribalist, today he has put them to shame, they have kept quiet.

The few appointments he has made; which are his immediate aides, he has

YOU KNOW THE POLITICS OF HANDING OVER THAT CAME IN. THERE WAS NO FORMAL OR PROPER HANDOVER. HE NEEDED TO TAKE TIME TO ESCAPE FROM A KIND OF TRAP. IF HE HAD LANDED AND HIT THE GROUND, HE WOULD HAVE MADE A LOT OF MISTAKES

the right to appoint anybody. He must appoint such aides that he knowS very well and can deliver. I think that what our president has done is to take the 100 days to study what he received from the previous government. You know the politics of handing over that came in. There was no formal or proper handover. he needed to take time to escape from a kind of trap. If he had landed and hit the ground, he would have made a lot of mistakes because the handing over was not proper. He was not properly briefed, and that is why you saw that he took his time, as an experienced person.

Thank God there were permanent secretaries that were heads of those establishments and he took time to receive details of such establishments from them in turns and a lot were revealed. What Nigerians should be doing is to appreciate what Buhari is doing. He doesn ’t want to be in a hurry in order not to set off on a wrong footing, but on a good footing.

Remember his slogan during the campaign was change, and God has brought the change. Therefore, anything that he

does mUst be tailored towards a new lease of life for Nigerians and that is where the issue of the change is. He is doing everything he can to ensure that we start on a clean slate. I tell you that it is God that brought Buhari at this time, and he brought him for a purpose to help Nigeria by turning it to a different direction.

As I said, there are those who would not want Buhari to come. I want to plead with Nigerians to please give this man a chance and see what he is going to do. I believe that God is going to use him to chart a new course for this country.

What is your take on the alleged lopsided appointments made by President Buhari?

Within the 100 days that we are talking about, Buhari has asked for the sweeping of the oil spillage in Ogoni land. How many previous governments had done that? Nobody gave attention to Ogoni land. But you see Nigerians today are not talking about that, they are talking about appointments; people have not been appointed here and there. Are they

talking about the good work he is coming to do that would benefit this country? But they are talking about appointments.

This thing he did in Ogoni land is what has being pending. Many people have died because of the environmental degradation in that area. Within the 100 days that people are talking about, he said go and clear that. And every area of this country that there is a disaster or emergency would be touched because he came to work for Nigeria. The issue of appointment does not mean anything, let ’s be patient. You know there are several other appointments, if he had finished then they would be talking about federal character which he has not even done five per cent of the appointments.

Do you see Nasarawa State benefitting from his government?

I thank God that we have been in the same political party with the president ever before, and that is why we always say Nasarawa State is the political laboratory of the president because this was the only state that he could call his own years back. We can say it is here that his springboard to the presidency has been.

I expect that we shall be a special state to the president, and he has not done anything to the contrary so far.

Again, it is not as if he will treat Nasarawa different from other states.

We are not saying he should carry everything and give Nasarawa State, but what we are saying is that unlike before, Nasarawa State would get its fair share now that we have someone that we can call our own, so to say. We know we are going to get our fair share.

Politics News

PDP launched counter-offensive against FG ’s anti-corruption battle –APC AYO ESAN

T

he All Progressives Congress, APC has accused the PDP of openly launching a counter-offensive against the determined efforts of the Buharia administration to rid the country of impunity and corruption, but warned that the opposition party will fail in its attempt to take Nigerians back to Egypt ‘ ’Saturday ’s Press Statement by the PDP is nothing but a thinly-veiled frontal assault on the relentless efforts of the Buhari administration ’s to clean the Augean Stable of the last PDP Federal Government, ’ ’ the party said in a statement issued in Lagos on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed ‘ ’With its statement that is nothing but an unabashed support for impunity and corruption, as well as its major actors, the PDP has now confirmed itself as the official ‘poster boy ’ for corruption in Nigeria, ’ ’ it said.

APC said the long-winding sophistry about the rule of law, democracy and personal freedoms is aimed at couching

the PDP ’s abhorrence and disdain for the fight against corruption in democratic cliches, especially now that the battle is gradually hitting the PDP where it hurts.

The party said that for the PDP ’s National Publicity Secretary himself, the persistent onslaught against the Buhari Administration is neither altruistic nor informed by any belief in higher values, ‘ ’because the allegations of corruption hanging on his own neck, from within his own party, is a clear indication that he is mortally afraid that the wind will soon blow hard enough to expose the fowl ’s rump ’ ’. ‘ ’Neither the PDP as a party nor its spokesman have the moral authority to condemn anyone, least of all a President that is working hard to rescue Nigeria from the abyss to which it has been plunged by the former ruling party. ‘ ’For the PDP to brush aside the latest revelation that a government it sired could not account for $700 million from the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), or the fact that the party could not account for billions of Naira in its own campaign funds, and then launch a frontal attack against a reformist government, is the

height of shamelessness. ‘ ’For the ethically-challenged spokesman of the same morally-deficient party to continue to spew trash under the guise of opposition politics is totally provocative and absolutely unacceptable. Worse

still, the lack of focus in the labyrinthine statements being issued by the opposition party has confirmed the prescience of the APC ’s offer to the PDP ’s spokesman to take a crash course in how to speak for the opposition, ’ ’ it said.

APC will effect positive change in Kogi –Faleke WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

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ll Progressive Congress, APC has promised to effect positive change in Kogi state if voted into power in the forthcoming governorship election.

The Kogi APC Deputy Governorship Candidate, and member, House of Representatives representing Ojodu/Isheri Federal Constituency, Chief Abiodun Faleke said this while speaking at the Town Hall meeting in Kabba, Kabba Bunu Local government area of Kogi state.

He said the party is on rescue mission

and that the state will be better if APC takes over the mantle of leadership. .

Faleke who was officially received by the top hierarchy of APC from three senatorial districts of Kogi state yesterday called on the party supporters to work hard to ensure victory for APC in the forthcoming election in the state.

He later paid a courtesy call on the Paramount ruler and Chairman of Okun traditional Council, the Obaro of Kabba, Oba Micheal Olobayo, where he assured the traditional rulers that change has come to Okunland, stressing that vote for APC is vote for Change and development of Okunland in general.

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SMExtra

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with OBASOLUYI TELEWA 07033840936 Email: bazo_ telewa@yahoo.com

STORIES THAT TOUCH YOU Sunday, September 20, 2015

How Fulani herdsman murdered 33-year-old farmer …for spraying farm with chemicals in Kogi •Family demands justice

WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

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t has always been wish and prayer of aged parents that their children grow up and bury them when they take their last breath, but how do people now pacify the family Pa Efijemue David, who lost his youngest son to wicked acts of Fulani herdsman snuffed life out him unexpectedly right in their presence.

Happy David, 33, was hale hearty on the fateful day, 28th July, 2015 and did not have any premonition of the cruel fate that awaited him as he set off for his farm that morning, that it was a one way journey to the great beyond.

Since that dark day, the family of Pa Efijemue and Madam Christiana David has been thrown into sorrow, tears and mourning following gruesome murder of their son who was pillar the family by a Fulani herdsman.

The deceased, who was stabbed by one Fulani, Usman Haruna, in presence of his father, mother, wife and four children at his farm in Emiworo along Lokoja -Ajaokuta road was rushed to hospital and later died at about 5.00 am on 30th July 2015, the following morning.

The untimely death of the young farmer was said to have been triggered by his directive to the herdsmen that farm had been sprayed with chemical and the Fulani should not to bring cows into the farm.

The angry Fulani reportedly stabbed him several times with a large dagger and the matter has continued to generate a lot of tension in Emiworo community in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Indeed, the entire youth had rose to protest the menace of Fulanis in the area and possible avenge his killing but peace has so far prevailed due to the intervention of the deceased ’s elder brother, Joseph David, who appealed for calm so as not cause addition casualties in the area.

The David have continued to demand for justice over the untimely death of their son, father, husband and the bread winner of the family but little has been done in that direction.

Narrating the family ordeal, Pa. Efijemue David stated that his son, Happy David was on his piece of land uprooting cassava in anticipation to use the same piece of land for planting rice this season.

The 75 year old grandfather recalled that it was like a dream when the Fulani boy ran after Happy and stabbed him with knife in the back; he removed the knife and stabbed again till his intestine came out and then took to his heel and disappeared.

Late Happy David ’s body

Wife and children of the Deceased

He pointed out that It was at this Juncture that the wife tied a rag around him to ensure the intestine did no exposed to air as he was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre but he was not attended to as a result of the doctors strike then and was quickly referred to the Kogi State Specialists Hospital.

Sunday Mirror gathered that against the backdrop of the advice that emergency surgery operation be carried out to safe Happy , the doctor, who attended to him at Tophill Clinic in Lokoja shifted the surgery operation till following morning. But unfortunately Happy gave up the ghost before the operation thereby terminating all the dreams of taking care of his aged parents, wife and six children he left behind.

The mother of deceased, Madam

Christiana David stated she never had any the inkling that tragedy will befall the family and they will never see their bread winner again She explained that she was on the farm with her son when she sighted Fulani boy coming towards them while Happy was working on the farm.

“Then Happy stopped what he was doing and told the Fulani boy to stop the cows from entering the farm because he had just sprayed the farm with powerful herbicide which could be harmful to cows. ” She further stated that as Happy turned back to continue his work, the angry fulani boy rushed towards him and stabbed him several times until intestine came out and his had to rags to tie the his abdomen before he was taken

to the hospital by a good Samaritan.

She therefore demanded justice from the security agents, saying that the aggressor must not go unpunished and must tell the whole world why he had stabbed Happy who bleed to death at Tophill Clinic.

The wife of the deceased and mother of four, Mrs. Gladys David could not hold back tears, said that she had no inkling that her husband would die so soon, stressing that the last discussion with her husband was that after this planting season, he would no longer plant rice again to enable him concentrate on other farm produce.

She lamented on how to cope with five children without her husband, saying that she doesn ’t know from where to start.

She described late husband as very hard working, gentle and the bread winner who was also taking care of his aged mother and father because others are civil servants.

The deceased\s immediate elder brother, Mr. Joseph David, who took up the matter explained that when he was told about the incident, he quickly rush to Ajaokuta Division Police Station to report the incident, adding that the suspect was arrested and later released on flimsy excuses Joseph stated that following the release of the suspects by Ajaokuta Divisional Police Station, he had to petition the state police command to ensure justice is done in this case.

He pointed that he later went to C division in Lokoja and report the matter again and when arrest was to be effected the suspect, Usman Haruna pretended to be sick and was lying on bed at a clinic and was later picked up by the police in Lokoja.

Source hinted that the Divisional Crime office C Division had carried out investigation and subsequently referred the case the State Criminal Investigation Department CID for further investigation before the suspected murderer is charge to court to face wrath of law.

Findings also revealed that the Fulani herdsmen are becoming a serious threat who terrorised residents of the state, and were involved in kidnapping, armed robbery and killings,. Only recently a couple who wanted to buy land somewhere along Ajaokuta road were attacked, robbed of N970,000 and hacked with sword before there rescued by police.

The development, it was learnt has become a source worry for Kogi Police Command that has vowed to rid out all the criminal elements in the state.

Sunday Mirror Sunday September 20, 2015 www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo (1915 – 2015)

President Muhammadu Buhari with HID Awolowo during a visit to her earlier this year

Former President, Goodluck Jonathan with HID Awolowo during a visit to her

Young Mama HID Awolowo with husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, at their wedding in 1937

Mama HID Awolowo with son-in-law, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and his wife, Dolapo

GMD, Energy Group, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim with HID Awolowo during a visit to her

Mama HID Awolowo with former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo

L-R-National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, HID Awolowo and former Ogun State governor, Segun Osoba

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Sunday September 20, 2015

Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo (1915 – 2015)

Mama’s death, passing of an icon –Obasanjo •Afenifere, Dogara mourn FEMI OYEWESO, TORDUE SALEM AND OJO OYEWAMIDE

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ormer president Olusegun Obasanjo, the Acting Governor of Ogun state, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga, immediate past governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Secretary to the Ogun state Government (SSG), Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa, wife of the state governor, Funso Amosun as well as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka were among the early callers at the Awolowo’s Ikene country home who commiserated with the family over the death of Mama HID Awolowo.

Obasanjo, who arrived the Ikene home of the Awolowos at exactly 7: 15p.m was received on arrival by the eldest daughter of the family, Mrs. Omotola Oyediran in company of other members of the family which included Tokunbo Dosumu.

Addressing those present, Obasanjo said that Mama’s death should be celebrated, stressing that her death was the “passage of an icon, a mother and matriarch of the Yorubas” “On occasion like this, for all of us in Ogun and Yorubaland nay Nigeria, it is passing of an icon. Normally for us it should be mixed feelings, mixed feelings because Mama had lived a life most of us would envy.

“However, it doesn’t matter how long our loved ones may stay with us, we must thank God because mama has experienced the vicissitudes of life but she died in peace.

“When I heard, I decided to come because I wanted to be sure, all I was thinking of was the centenary birthday, mama has been a joy to many, she is the matriarch of the Yorubaland, faithful and loyal to her husband, supporter and pillar of the family.

“She was somebody people run to for advice and counsel and they get the best from her. I pray that God will give the family the courage and wherewithal to bear the challenges of Mama’s death. Each and every one of us must learn a lesson from the good life of Mama and may her soul rest in perfect peace.”

In the condolence register signed by former president, Obasanjo said: “mama was the matriarch of Yoruba as the First lady of the Western Region. May her soul rest in perfect peace”.

Obasanjo however, recommended that the family should consider using the occasion of Mama Awolowo’s centenary birthday celebration to bury her.

Otunba Gbenga Daniel said the Yoruba and the Nigerian nation have lost a matriarch, describing her death as the “end of an era.”

Daniel expressed the optimism that the members of the Awolowo political family left behind by mama would “keep the flag flying.”

Also, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, said has received with shock and trepidation; the death mourned the death of Chief Mrs. Chief (Mrs) H.I.D.Awolowo.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, the Speaker condoled with the Awolowo family, people and government of Ogun state over Mra. Awolowo`s death.

Dogara said the late Mrs. Awolowo was a mother to the nation and said she has left a huge vacuum in our lives.

He said she the late H.I.D Awolowo will continue to be remembered for her humanitarian and philanthropic deeds and said she lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation.

He called on both Federal and Ogun State government to honour the late Chief Mrs. Awolowo by immor-

talising her.

Dogara said she was a pious woman who was a pillar of support for her husband, the late sage Awolowo since the days of struggle for independence up to the eighties when he died.

Although we would have loved that she remained with us, as mortals, we all must test death but our joy is that she has gone to rest.

I pray God to give the Awolowo family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Pan Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, yesterday described the death of Chief HID Awolowo as a loss not only to the Yoruba race but to Nigeria as a whole.

The group’s leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, said the woman stood by her husband when he was alive, adding that she remained the pillar of the family after the death of her husband.

Fasoranti prayed for the repose of her soul and advised the family to take solace in the fact that the woman lived a fulfilled live.

The elder statesman said the Yoruba race, Afenifere and Nigeria would miss the woman.

Also reacting, Governor Olusegun Mimiko said he was shocked by the devastating news of the passing of Mama HID Awolowo at a time many were looking forward to her centenary celebrations.

Mimiko said: “She was a supremely intelligent, kindhearted, loving and caring mother of the Yoruba nation. Mama, as no one would doubt, remains a Jewel of Inestimable Value even in transition to glory.

“It is traditional to recognise the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, as the greatest Nigerian ever, but Awo would not have been the colossus that he was if not for the pillar he had in Mama in his battles against the forces of underdevelopment and tyranny, and in the face of unceasing persecutions following his tireless commitment to democracy and the advancement of the African cause.

“As the mother of the Yoruba nation, Mama made invaluable contributions to the Awolowo School of progressive politics encapsulated in the social democratic mantra of Life More Abundant during and after the life time of the great sage.

“She was a rallying point for all Yoruba sons and daughters irrespective of political affiliations as the cochairman, with the late Ooni of Ife, of the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF), a movement dedicated to the advancement of Yoruba cohesion, progress and advancement within the Nigerian matrix.

“The government and people of Ondo State commiserate with members of the Awolowo family, the Yoruba nation and all Nigerians on this irreparable loss.”

Awolowo

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Her life and times

Chief HID Awolowo: The jewel of inestimable value (1915 –2015)

AYO ESAN

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hief (Mrs.) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo (nee Adelana) was born on November 25, 1915. Popularly known as HID, she is the daughter of Chief Moses Odugbemi Adelana (a prince) and Elizabeth Oyesile-Adelana (a businesswoman and member of Nigerian royalty). The family was a modest Christian polygamous family in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State.

Her father Moses Odugbemi Adelana was a tailor and her mother was a trader dealing in Aso Oke and Adire cloths. Both her paternal and maternal forefathers had connections to the royal houses in Sagamu and Ikenne.

Hannah is the daughter of the second of her father’s three wives, and the only one of the seven children born by her mother to survive long after birth. She grew up in a lively and happy home, filled with nine half-brothers and half-sisters.

Her mother, Elizabeth Oyesile-Adelana was related to the Onijagba royal family, and came from a long line of businesswomen, who had grown wealthy through trading Little Hannah started her education at St Saviour’s School Ikenne where her half sister taught. She later transferred to St Peter’s High School, Faji Lagos and then Methodist Girls High School, Lagos where her cousins attended. She returned to Ikenne to become a pupil teacher at her alma mater, St Saviour’s School.

She was introduced to Obafemi Awolowo by a family friend and at the age of 22 years on 26th December, 1937 she got married to Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo. They remained each other’s best friend to the end; together they fought for the cause of justice and for the release of their fellow man’s mind from ignorance and the freedom on his body from disease.

They had five children. The couple’s first child was Olusegun, a lawyer followed by Omotola Oyediran, Oluwole, Ayo Soyode and Tokunbo Dosunmu.

Before her death, she lost three of her five children. First was the brilliant and well-horned U.K-trained international lawyer and first son, Olusegun in the early 60s at the peak of the political tribulations of her husband, her second daughter, Ayo Soyode, said to be her closest confidant and favourite child, passed on after a serious illness at the age of 66 years in 2011 and Oluwole Awolowo died in March 2013 A business woman of great repute, she followed her mother across town to many markets in Remoland trading and she learned the rigour of business while under apprenticeship under her mother Hannah entered business after the departure of her husband to study in England in 1944 and established the Didelou Stores Ltd., Ligu Distribution Services Ltd. after 1946.

She became the first Nigerian distributor for the Nigerian Tobacco Company, NTC in 1957.

She was the first to import lace materials and other textiles into Nigeria.

She also backed the founding of the Nigerian Tribune which later expanded to become the African Newspapers of Nigeria Ltd and African Press Ltd in 1949.

Dideolu was the first lady of Western region when her husband became the Premier in 1951. She played an active role in the politics of Western Nigeria. She stood in for her husband in the alliance formed between the NCNC and the AG, called the United Progressive Grand Alliance, UPGA, while he was tried and in jail.

The greatness in her came to the fore during the crisis in the Western region when her husband was imprisoned.

The plans were that she would contest the elections, and if she won, would step down for her husband in a by-election She vigorously campaigned for her husband in his two unsuccessful bids for the nation’s presidency in 1979 and 1983.She toured the length and breadth of the country with her husband campaigning. She also coordinated the women’s wing of the party and was always present at all party caucuses She lost her husband in 1987 and was awarded the title of YeyeOba of Ife in 1980.

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North

Sunday September 20, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Court reinstates impeached Deputy Speaker in Kuje ADEOLA TUKURU ABUJA

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n Abuja High Court has reinstated the Speaker of the Kuje Area Council, Aisha Yakubu, who was impeached recently.

Hon Justice V.B Ashi, who gave the verdict in

Abuja, ordered that the defendants whether by themselves, their agents or privies, however constituted are thereby further restrained from compelling the plaintiff to hand over government property in her possession.

According to him, “The oral application for

withdrawal of the claim against the 3rd defendant is hereby granted. Substantive suit is fixed for hearing on September 24, 2015. ” A suit was earlier filed with no. FCT/HC/ CV/2609/2015 and motion no. M/ 9516 / 2015 between Hon Aisha Yakubu as the

plaintiff and the Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Hon Shaban Tete , the Secretary of the council, the Acting speaker and the Clerk of the house as defendants.

Some youths of the council, who protested the speaker ’s removal and poor infrastructural

L-R: Rumbi Sithole of Dangote Foundation; Hadiza Maaji of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Muhammadu Sagagi of the DFID; Kano State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Barr. Zubaida Abubakar, and General Manager, British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation, Abimbola Okoya, during the first Kano Women Development and Strategic Empowerment Forum, at the Government House, Kano, recently.

Traditional rulers urged to ensure release of malnutrition funds WILLIAMS ATTAH GOMBE

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Save the Children ’, an international non-governmental organisation, has called on traditional rulers in Gombe State to lend their voice in ensuring that acute malnutrition is effectively fought through the prompt approval and release of funds for nutrition budgeted for.

The NGO, which had embarked on a one week advocacy visit to prominent traditional rulers in the state including the Emir of Gombe and Chairman of the State Council of Traditional rulers, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu

Abubakar and his deputy, the Mai of Kaltungo Alhaji Saleh Muhammadu, specifically called for the release of the 2015 Nutrition budget.

It was gathered that Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo had approved the sum of N55 million earlier budgeted for Food and Nutrition in the 2015 Appropriation, but that no dime had been released up till this third quarter of the year.

Leading the advocacy team of the NGO to the palaces of the traditional rulers that also included, the Emir of Dukku, the Yarima of Gombe, Jama ’atu Nasril Islam,

JNI and officials of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, Mallam Sani Adamu Jauro said it was estimated that Gombe State has 8.1 per cent prevalence rate of acute malnutrition according to the 2013 National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS).

According to him, “This means that the state ’s population will reduce economically in many years to come if investment in nutrition is not taken into consideration as many stunted and malnourished children will not be economically vibrant. ” He said it was based on the NDH survey that the

Gombe State governor approved the creation of a budget line for Food and Nutrition in 2013, 2014 and 2015 amounting to N120 million which was never released for implementation.

His words: “N50 million was approved in 3013, N15 million in 2014 but no dime was spent out of them within this two years. We are now in the last quarter of 2015 with an approved fund of N55 million; we don ’t want history to repeat itself your royal highness.

“This is why we have come to you to plead on behalf of all children in the state for the release

said it has begun fresh drive to assist the victims overcome trauma, which has been identified as a common challenge among them, through an intensive trauma-healing training for health workers in the state which ended at the weekend.

Global Director of Apurimac, Mr Villa Victorio, and the Country Director,

Mr Godwin Okoko, told journalists in Jos after the training that the prevalent rate of trauma among crisis victims in the state was high and as such the need for the NGO to device fresh strategies in order to reduce it to the barest minimum.

“We need to broaden the skills of the selected beneficiaries who will act as community trauma councillors.

We are doing the training in six LGAs. We are sad about the situation and that is why reducing trauma incidence among crisis victims in the state is a commitment we are determined to achieve. ” Okoko further disclosed that the NGO with funding from the European Union had spent over N800 million in its peace building efforts since it started operation in

development of the area barricaded the entrance of the secretariat, displaying placards with inscriptions ‘return our speaker ’; ‘Kuje is dirty ’; ‘we need good roads ’.

Mr. Emanuel Kurei, leader of the group, said the removal of the Area Council officials by the chairman, Mr. Shaban Tete, was not in the best interest of the people.

“The Secretary of the Area Council was sacked last month and now the Speaker of the House has been impeached, which is not good for us and the ruling party in the area.

“We the youth in Kuje Area Council voted in the chairman and now he is paying us back by sacking and impeaching the officials.

“Instead of concentrating on infrastructural development of the area, he is busy removing people, ” Kurei said.

Group seeks peaceful, credible guber poll in Kogi WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

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head of the November 21 governorship election, a non-governmental organisation, Alliance for Credible Election, ACE, has advocated peaceful, non-violent and credible election in Kogi State.

Acting national Secretary of ACE, Nigeria, Ms. Mma Odi, who made the call at a seminar on peaceful, non-violent, credible election held in Lokoja, stated that no development can take place in an atmosphere of violence and destruction.

Odi explained that election was not meant for anyone to die, stressing that the country be-

Plateau crisis: NGO empowers 14,000 trauma victims JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

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n a bid to curb the lingering crisis in Plateau State and ensure peaceful coexistence among its residents, a non-governmental organisation, Apurimac Onlus, has empowered over 14,000 victims on various skill acquisition programmes.

The Jos-based NGO also

He therefore urged the chairman to reinstate the Speaker for peace to prevail in the area.

On her part, the impeached Speaker, Mrs. Yakubu, said the chairman had on several occasions tried to remove her by instigating the councillors to vote her out.

“There was a time he went and held a meeting with the councillors, instigating them to impeach me and I personally challenged him on the matter but he denied.

“Simply because I advocated the extension of dividends of democracy to our electorate, it has generated a lot of problems between him and I, ” she said.

Reacting, chairman of the council, said that the impeachment of the Speaker was purely a legislative affair; as such he had no comments on the matter.

2008.

He said: “We have established four vocational skills training centres in each of the Senatorial zones of the state as well as an established Trauma healing centre in Jos North local government , the first of such health centre in the North central Nigeria, where victims of violent conflicts and bomb blasts receive free

longed to everyone “that is why we are calling for credible election. ” She stated that a peaceful, non -violent, credible election in Kogi State would attract a lot of development and legitimacy of government.

“A violent-free election will allow free participation by all, while credible election will serve as social mobiliser and drum up support for government, ” she said.

Representative of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and head of voter education units, Mr. Daniel Kure, has also called on all stakeholders to support INEC to ensure violentfree, peaceful and credible guber election in Kogi on November 21.

medical treatment and trauma counseling.

“The organisation is currently implementing an EUfunded project in six local government areas of the state under the instrument contributing to peace and stability (ICSP) programme in partnership with Bege Foundation and Centre for Peace Advancement in Nigeria.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Sunday September 20, 2015

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Guber contest: Again, Agi drags Ayade to appeal court RICHARD NDOMA CALABAR

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n aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, aspirant for the 2015 governorship election in Cross River State, Barr. Joe Agi, SAN, has again headed for the Appeal Court seeking to overturn the election of Gov. Benedict Ayade of Cross River State.

Agi had earlier filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja praying that the court disqualify Ayade for allegedly submitting false information about his age to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who lost out to Ayade in the PDP guber primaries conducted

late last year alleged that Ayade provided false information and declaration on oath in INEC Form CF 001 that he was born on March 2, 1969 and in completing the screening form gave March 2, 1968 as his date of birth.

Agi, a guber candidate, who took the 2nd position in the December 2014 primaries, argued that having breached the PDP Electoral Guidelines and the Electoral Act, 2010, the court should nullify Ayade ’s election.

Another of Agi`s prayers was that the court should declare him the candidate of the party and also a winner of the election and governor of the state in place of Ayade.

But Justice Abdul Kafarati in his judgement on

Friday, July, 31 dismissed the suit, saying it lacked merit.

The trial judge had also held that the issues bordering on the conduct of party primaries and election of candidates were purely the domestic affairs of political parties, adding that the court lacked powers to intervene in the internal affairs of a political party.

According to a notice of appeal with suit no. FHC/ ABJ/CS/25/2015 made available to journalists in Calabar, Agi declared that the learned trial judge erred in law and thereby occasioned a miscarriage of justice to the appellant when he declined jurisdiction on the issue of nonpayment of subscription fees by a member of a political party with the ex-

cuse that it is an internal affair of the PDP. Agi also claimed that the judge had failed to make specific findings on the use of submission of false declaration of age by the 3rd respondent (Ben Ayade) contrary to articles 14(b) and 15(2) of the electoral guidelines for the primary elections, 2014 of the PDP (exhibit) A5 and the electoral Act. The lawyer stated that the judgement of the lower court was against the weight of evidence, and stressed that the court overlooked the admissions of the 3rd respondent (Ben Ayade) as it pertained to conflicting age declarations adding that the judge mistook party clearance for payment of party subscription.

He said that exhibit PA2 and PA4 relied upon by the lower court as evidence of payment of subscription dues by the 3rd respondent (Ben Ayade) were made while litigation was pending and are inadmissible.

The guber PDP aspirant maintained that the judge erroneously relied on the Supreme Court decision in Ardo v. Nyako(2014) which did not have the same facts as those of the present case.

“There were verifiable material evidence including exhibits JA1, JA 10 and JA12 demonstrating that the declaration of age given by the 3rd respondent to the 1st respondent were false and which issue was not considered by the lower court and no finding made thereon.

“The purported clearance of the 3rd Respondent by the 1st Respondent is wrongful and not in compliance with the binding constitution of the 1st respondent which is bound to obey and which this honourable court has the jurisdiction to ensure compliance with, ” Agi said.

The aggrieved PDP governorship aspirant who sought an order of relief pursuant to section 15 Court of appeal Act Cap C36 LFN 2004 prayed the court to set aside judgement of the Hon Justice Abdul Kafarati sitting at the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja delivered on July 31 and in its stead allowing the appellant ’s relief as contained in the amended originating summons dated March 2, 2015.

Ekiti estate homeowners threaten contempt charges against govt ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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L-R: Deputy Vice Chancellor, Abia State University, Prof. Elekwa; Acting Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the governing council, Chief Chukwu Wachukwu; Governor Okezie Ikpeazu; Chancellor, Sir Francis Oji and Vice Chancelleor, Prof. Chibuzor Ogbuagu, after the governor ’s investiture as the university Visitor, at the institution ’s pavilion, recently.

Power privatisation: South-East traders vow showdown with BPE EMMANUEL EZEH ENUGU

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outh-East traders yesterday warned the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, against handing over the Aba and Ariara power distribution units to Afrigem Power Company.

Speaking under the aegis of the South-East Markets Traders ’ Amalgamated Associations, SEMATA, they threatened that any move to take the power unit away from the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, would be totally resisted.

President-General of the group, Ichie Okwudili Ezenwankwo, who addressed journalists after an enlarged meeting of the traders in Enugu, said if the alleged plan was allowed to stand, it would cripple businesses in the area.

While noting that the EEDC had stabilised power supply in the South-East zone, Ezenwankwo said: “Geometric power company has always claimed that they will provide 24 hours power supply in Aba since 2005. That has not happened and Aba has been

suffering until 2013 (November), when the EEDC took over.

“We all know that things have been improving and we are hopeful that it can only get better under the EEDC. ” He added that “recently, we read in the papers that the BPE is about to hand over Aba and Ariara distribution unit to a company called Afrigem, which we understand has purchased Geometrics.

“We are very concerned that if this happens, our hope for reliable power supply will never be realised. This is

why we shall resist such plot with every available effort. ” The market leader, who lauded President Muhammadu Buhari ’s anticorruption efforts, urged him not to allow a few cabal to cripple South-East economy.

He further stated that if the BPE failed to heed to our stand, “we shall not hesitate to go on demonstration; but I believe that government will do the needful. If it entails shutting down markets, we will do that, because that plan is totally unacceptable. ”

omeowners in the Ekiti State-owned Irewolede Estate in Ado Ekiti have threatened to institute contempt charges against the state government over the revocation of the sales agreement for their houses.

They have also petitioned the Inspector General of Police and copied the National Human Rights Commission, Department of State Services and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps alleging victimisation and complaining on alleged illegal order by the governor directing the officers of the security agencies to force them out of their homes.

They said the houses were bought from the state Housing Corporation under a mortgage agreement with Primary Mortgage Institution (PMI) scheme with the payment schedule spanning between 15 and 25 years.

Besides, they said there is a pending court action they instituted against the state government, hence for the government to take any action on such amounted to contempt of court.

The threat is coming on the heels of the new dimension that the crisis in the estate took last week

with the delivery by the Housing Corporation of revocation letters to some landlords of the estate.

The state government had on August 6 evicted some homeowners in the estate accusing them of default in the payment on the houses that they acquired on mortgage arrangement.

The government later gave them some time to pay up failure which they would face eviction following which some of the landlords went to court to seek enforcement of their rights.

Among homeowners who received revocation letters last week are the Chairman of Irewolede Residents Association, Ayo Orebe; and Mrs. Bolu Fayemi-Ayodele, elder sister of former Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi.

Orebe disclosed that sources revealed that revocation letters were ready as punishment for all landlords who are parties to the legal action they instituted against the state government.

Fayemi ’s former Senior Special Assistant on Research and Documentation, Hakeem Jamiu, said that he received a call from the General Manager of Ekiti State Housing Corporation, Babasoji Awe, informing him that his revocation letter was ready for dispatch to his house.

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KEEPING YOU ABREAST OF SPORTING NEWS SEPTEMBER 20, 2015

M Iheanacho

Iheanacho arrives at the Premier League

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CHAN Eagles to open camp Oct 11 P. 61

anchester’s City’s blistering start to the season has seen them anointed champions-elect.

They may well fulfil this prophecy come May 2016; their victory at Crystal Palace showed the sort of gritty persistence that defines champions, and had inevitability about it bordering on predestination.

It also neatly penned a wonderful script, as Kelechi Iheanacho , a few weeks removed from his 19th birthday, struck the winner at the death with his very first touch.

For the Nigerian football fan, Iheanacho’s announcement to the Premier League has been the object of frenzied expectation. The Citizens do not command a huge following in Africa’s most-populous nation, and as such their games do not attract the level of viewership the other members of the Big Four can boast of.

However, the moment it was announced Iheanacho would not be going out on loan a fate widely predicted – but would spend the season at the Etihad, this was always going to change. Waiting on his appearances assumed the anguish of a full bladder and the accompanying certainty that, in leaving to relieve yourself, something of great importance would be missed.

Ostensibly City’s third-choice striker, the chances would undoubtedly be few; Manuel Pellegrini would offer him cameos, fleeting windows of opportunity within which to showcase his strengths.

His debut came in the opening day thrashing of West Bromwich Albion, and spanned all of three minutes. With the scoreline at 4-0 and the game winding down, there was little scope for decisive impact. However, it made clear that the little Nigerian’s moments of quality this term would only be vignettes, rather than feature-length.

His move to Manchester on the back of a delightful U-17 World Cup in 2013 was the final act in a protracted drama, complete with purported physical assault, confusion over representation, and concerns over which team would best utilize his talents. For it has never been in doubt that he had ability: six goals and seven assists is as blatant an assertion of dominance as you will find in a major tournament.

If anything, as is deducible from these numbers, the uncertainty stemmed from what his best role might be. While he played a narrow left-sided role, stepping in off the wide areas into the zone between the lines at U-17 level – the sort of wide playmaker role David Silva fulfils when City play 4-4-2 – it was decided he would be converted into a central striker.

It really is no surprise: he was always a wonderfully composed finisher, and at just over 6ft, is not a soft touch. Versatility can be a problem for young players, as they are often played in varying positions simply for the benefit of game time. His anchoring at centre-forward at such an early stage allows him to develop the unique tools for the position; already, he has added bulk to his wiry frame, and is learning to occupy centre-backs and make better movements off the ball.

His winning goal, a quick pounce after a parried shot from Palace goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, would prove the ultimate vindication for Pellegrini. The Chilean let the influential Edin Dzeko leave to Roma, while the unfortunate Stevan Jovetic rocked up with former City manager Roberto Mancini at Inter Milan. His decision to resist calls for another forward was a nudge in Iheanacho’s direction and, just five weeks in, he has won his first three points for his side.

Most remarkably, he is yet to complete ten competitive minutes in a City shirt. That will be rectified sooner rather than later.

Trust has a wonderfully mitotic ability, and it must have been great from the manager’s point of view to hear the excited 18-year-old beam, “I said to myself, ‘if I go in, I will do what he [Pellegrini] asked me.’”

He may be third in the pecking order, but with Sergio Aguero offering a reminder of his own persistently fragile mortality – taken off with injury – there will be many more chances for Kelechi to show how much of the manager’s grizzled wisdom he has taken on.

From now on, Nigerians will be watching..

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Sunday September 20, 2015

CHAN Eagles to open camp Oct 11

Knockout IFEANYI Eduzor

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training camp for homebased Super Eagles will open on October 11 ahead of a 2016 CHAN qualifier against Burkina Faso, officials have informed AfricanFootball. com It was gathered that coach Sunday Oliseh and his backroom staff will return from a friendly against Cameroon and begin training with the players from the domestic league thereafter.

Nigeria host the first leg qualifier on October 18 with the return leg in Ouagadougou a week later.

The overall winners of this

with

08055829770 ifeduz24@yahoo.com

AAG: Obagoriola thumbs up Nigerian boxers

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Home eagles players in action

on their debut at the CHAN, which is reserved to players featuring in their various domestic leagues.

match-up will advance to the CHAN to be staged by Rwanda in January.

Last year, Nigeria finished third

Lack of facilities threatens 2015 NUGA games HENRY IYORKASE MAKURDI

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ith less than three months to the 25th edition of Nigerian University Games (NUGA) scheduled to hold in November at the main campus of University of Agriculture Makurdi, the institution is still battling to fix the needed facilities for the games.

Findings by Sunday Mirror revealed that among facilities expected to be used for the games, only the tartan tracks have so far been completed.

Other indoor facilities to accommodate such sports as badminton, Judo, Taekwondo amongst others are still in poor shape while hostels expected to house athletes from over 100 Universities were still at the lintel stage of construction despite the proximity of the takeoff of the games.

Further investigations also revealed that the school was relying on facilities at the Aper Aku stadium, about 10 kilometers from the university, to stage some of its indoor activities.

However, a source at the university told our correspondent the

challenge associated with the use of external facilities, was the nonavailability of vehicles to convey athletes to such venues. He claimed that the university had no such vehicles to convey athletes to games venues.

Efforts to speak with principal officers of the university proved abortive, but the institution’s spokesperson, Rosemary Waku insisted that most projects are under construction even as it was discovered that the Vice Chancellor, Prof.

Emmanuel Kucha has been shopping for sponsors to complete the projects.

Ighalo dares Egypt for Afcon ticket

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igeria international Odion Ighalo has told AfricanFootball.com that the AFCON 2017 ticket is still within the reach of the Super Eagles.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles are second in their qualifying group, two points behind leaders Egypt after two rounds of matches.

Both countries will clash home and away in March.

Watford striker Ighalo, who is among the 24 players called up

by Sunday Oliseh for friendly matches against Cameroon and Congo, has admitted it’s a tight

situation but the Eagles still have their destiny in their hands.

“The AFCON 2017 ticket is within our reach, this is football never say never.

We still have to play the group leaders Egypt home and away, those matches are of great importance to our ambition,” he said.

“I think we have chance to grab the ticket as the group leaders even though it is a bit difficult but by God’s grace and hard work, we will qualify,” said the Watford striker.

IFEANYI EDUZOR s the 2nd edition of the annual VCN sports U-15 competition enters knockout stage at the Jalisco playground, Oshodi, Lagos, President/CEO of VCN Sports International Limited, Chief Victor Nwaribeaku has promised more support for sports development by his company.

He told Sunday Mirror that he is highly elated by the orderly manner the over 20 teams that registered for the championship has comported themselves; saying his sportswear/kits marketing group would encourage sportsmen and women realize their full potential of being future champions..

“Without mincing words we at VCN Sports

boxing coach with Nigeria Defence Academy, Kaduna, and Lawrence Obagoriola has commended Nigerian boxers for doing the country proud at the All Africa Games which ended yesterday in Congo Brazzaville.

Nigerian pugilists won 4 gold and 2 silver medals at the championship to place second behind Algeria that won 5gold and a silver.

The result is an improvement, when compared with their previous performance at the last Games held in Maputo, Mozambique in 2011.

The Nigerian team had placed sixth with three silver and a bronze medal.

Brook vows to surpass Mayweather’s record

I

Ighalo

International are encouraged by the discipline and sportsmanship exhibited so far in the competition. We are moved to do more as this would bring out hidden talents among our youths.

“It has been our corporate objective to help develop future stars in the mould of Kanu Nwankwo, Victor Agali and Austin Jay Jay Okocha and we are on course to achieve it”, said Nwaribeaku, who restated that the sum of N200, 000, N100, 000 and N50, 000 will go to the top three teams at the final of the competition slated for October 19, at the Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium, Surulere Lagos.

He also disclosed that lot of prizes would be won at the VCN Sports International Beach Marathon coming up in Lagos on October 1, 2015, assuring that top local and foreign marathoners would participate in the event.

Jordon Ibe eager to open Liverpool account

D

espite dazzling defenses, Jordon Ibe is yet to open his account for Liverpool in 23 appearances to date and the winger has admitted that he is frustrated by that statistic.

Ibe

Obagoriola popularly known as “Knuckle” in boxing circles told Knockout that the good result posted by the country’s boxing team deserves commendation even as he charged the National Sports Commission to put modalities on ground to ensure the boxers are adequately prepared ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympics. “ I am particularly happy that our boxers did the country proud in Congo Brazzaville and I expect the country’s sports administrators especially the National Sports Commission to leverage on that achievement and prepare them adequately for both the World championship and the 2016 Olympics.

Action recorded at the 2015 All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville

BF welterweight champion Kell Brook has vowed to beat Floyd Mayweather’s 49-0 pro record ahead of his title defense against Diego Chaves at the Sheffield Arena on October 24.

Brook moved to 35-0 in May with a sixth round stoppage win over Frankie Gavin in London in the second defense of his crown, and is looking to chase down ‘Money’ Mayweather, who declared himself retired after beating Andre Berto in Las

VCN committed to sports development –Nwaribeaku

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Vegas last Saturday.

“Floyd’s last fight last Saturday means that the door is open for someone to become boxing’s new mega-star; and I want to be that man,” said Brook.

“His 49-0 record is incredible and he leaves a phenomenal legacy behind, but I believe I can reach that pinnacle and surpass it.”

The 29-year-old Brook needs 15 wins to surpass Mayweather and Rocky Marciano. That would take him five years if he fights three times a year.

Odua mourns late daughter

F

ormer board member of Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Prince Isidore Odua has expressed appreciation to all those who attended the memorial service of his late daughter, Nana Bolajoko Akaabba Aliyu (Nee Odua) who died last year after a brief illness.

The foremost sports administrator noted that the sudden death of his “little angle” who until her death was the wife of Gen. Dili Aliyu left the family devastated but they took solace in the fact that she is resting in the bosom of the Lord.

Odua, while expressing his appreciation to all those who stood by him during the trying period through personal visits or phone calls and also made out time to be with the family during the memorial service noted that her death notwithstanding, he will continue to contribute his quota towards sports development in the country.

“Her death was very painful and the vacuum her absence created too difficult to fill but it will not deter me from fighting for the enthronement of good sports policy in the country”, concluded the veteran sports administrator.

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Sunday September 20, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

It would be fair that Diego Simeone is very much in vogue these days. Over the last three seasons his Atletico Madrid side - the very epitome of sacrifice and teamwork - have won titles in Spain and Europe and begun writing a glorious chapter in the club’s history. It was, therefore, a fitting reward, to see the Argentinian on the threeman shortlist for the 2014 FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football award.

Simeone

During his trip to Zurich for the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala, the 44-year old sat down for an exclusive interview with FIFA.com.

: e n o e m i S t a h w , e m With you see is t e g u o y t a wh You’ve always maintained that sacrifice is non-negotiable, so what things are negotiable?

The hum an aspects. So long as people are upfront about things, I’m willing to discuss anything. I always say, ‘When we’re both on the same page, then we go for it. If you’re in one place and I’m in another, then no. I don’t like that scenario.

Do you regret any decisions you took in 2014?

Regret, no. With any possibly erroneous decision, you can always look back and think you could’ve done something differently but always with the benefit of hindsight.

As a coach your character is just like it was as a player. There’s no sign of that abating…

No they’re traits of mine. Every coach has them. Obviously when I’m older, I’ll probably – though I can’t promise – have different mannerisms. Right now I feel young and energetic, so one way or another, I participate in the game.

Not long ago, Atletico Madrid were looked upon sympathetically, like a perennial bridesmaid. How do you think people view them now?

Just after I was appointed coach here, I said in a press conference that I wanted Atletico to become a team that causes problem for others. Taking on two giants like Real Madrid and Barcelona is

very hard. If you think about it, in our domestic league we’re up against two clubs who are always expected to win the Champions League. We’ve managed to break that hegemony – just as we did in 1996 when I was a player – and triumph over the kind of financial muscle and great players that they acquire. Over time we’ve become something more than just a troublesome team, and that’s down to consistency, which is the hardest thing to achieve in football. For more than three years now, we’ve been achieving success, and we’re still doing it..

How do you think Real Madrid fans see you?

I imagine they’ve got mixed feelings.

On the one hand I’m sure they don’t like me but, on the other, I get shown a lot of respect when I’m out on the street. I get a lot of people coming up to me saying ‘I’m a Real Madrid fan, but I’d honestly like to congratulate you. I like the way your guys work and how much of a team they are’. I think that recently Atletico have shown something that people need in their everyday lives: energy. They’ve also demonstrated that, over and above the difficulties you face and using the tools at your disposal, you can compete, you can fight and you can find solutions where none appeared to be. We know that nowadays it’s hard to get a job and find stability, but these lads – through their hard work and persistence have managed to show people that you do have the chance to say, ‘Stop, we can do

this. It’s not all ll about having money and using money to get things done’. Even if you don’t have e so much, you can still go places.

Could you see e yourself becoming the Sir Alex Ferguson son of Atletico Madrid, in terms of longevity? evity?

I always say ay that my approach is to think that I might get sacked tomorrow. For it’s the or me, best way of making sure I live for the moment, because in football what matters, aside from w h a t you’ve already achieved and which nobody can take ke away from you, is what’s coming oming next. I see Atletico etico Madrid as a club b that’s growing very strongly ongly and which has greater financial nancial clout thanks to the successs we’ve had. Players want to join us and d we’ve got a team with a very good average verage age, lads like Raul Jimenez, Koke ke and Diego Godin who’ve got years ahead ad of them to keep improving and form the foundations of a side that we can keep eep on strengthening.

Are you ever able to take your foot off the pedal?

I’m not a fan of “switching off” because I know that when I find myself in that situation then I end up losing. Of course, every so often it happens, but I try and fight against it because it’s not a feeling I’m comfortable with.

But you do get the chance to do things like going to the cinema and reading books, right?

Yes, I lead a normal life like any other man on the street, but I also see myself as shouldering major responsibility. The game’s my life and I’m so passionate about it. When you see your life so intertwined with football it can make things very difficult. You might go and watch a film and start imagining footballers running across the screen, you know? It’s not easy to switch off.

Hand on heart, were you offered the Argentina job after the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil?

No, but I know it’ll happen one day.

II’ve ve al-

ways said in the national team you have room for what I call the son, father and grandfather types. In coaching terms, I think it’s a place for a grandfather someone more serene and composed who can see things in a different way. I still feel I need to be on the pitch, doing training and being with players dayin, day-out. The national team cannot give you that.

Is it something I’d like to do one day? Absolutely! I spent 12 or 14 years with the team – it was a privileged time and very much part of my life. Hopefully it will come to pass at the perfect time for both parties.

And coaching Lionel Messi wouldn’t be a bad thing…

Messi is a matchwinner who needs a team built around him to be even more effective. We were very close at the last World Cup and hopefully Gerardo Martino, who already knows him from his time at Barcelona, can assemble a team that gets the best out of him. Above all, hopefully he can encourage his players to be a team. That’s the best thing you can do for Messi.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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osama Alabed Almohsen; the Syrian man tripped up by a journalist while seeking safety in Hungary - and his family have met Real Madrid stars as part of a stadium tour put on by the club.

Almohsen was tripped close to Hungary’s border with Serbia last week - one of the more high-profile locations in Europe’s refugee crisis over recent weeks.

Travelling with children Zied and Mohammad, Almohsen came to the world’s attention following the inci-

Sport

Sunday September 20, 2015

dent and was later invited by Madrid president Florentino Perez to enjoy a tour of the Santiago Bernabeu on Thursday.

Madrid - who have donated to help those refugees taken in by Spain also invited Almohsen and his family to the first team’s final training session before Saturday’s clash with Granada where they met coach Rafael Benitez as well as Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Syrian family will be present for the La Liga match, again at the invitation of Perez.

Syrian family meet Ronaldo as part of Real Madrid tour

Ronaldo

Wenger: Diego Costa should have been sent off twice

Costa

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Martial has unique qualities, says Herrera

rsenal manager Arsene Wenger claims that striker Diego Costa should have been sent off twice in the defeat to Chelsea.

Wenger watched as his Arsenal side failed to capitalise on the poor form of Jose Mourinho’s men, falling to a 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge. However, the story of the match was when Costa and Gabriel tussled after the Spain striker had bumped into Laurent Koscielny.

Costa and Gabriel were both handed yellow w cards card ca rdss for their part in the scuffle, but Gabriel then lifted ifted hiss foot into Costa once the dust had settled and received a straight red card.

Santi Cazorla was then given his marching g orders orde ers r for a second yellow card late on and Wenger was furifu uri rous with referee Mike Dean.

Kaka

I´m the last Ballon d´Or winner ´born on this planet´ –Kaka

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razil international Kaka lauded Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, saying he was the last Ballon d’Or winner to be “born on this planet”.

Then at Milan, the attacker secured the coveted individual honour in 2007ahead of Ronaldo and Messi – who have shared it in the seven years since.

Orlando City’s Kaka, 33, said it was an honour to win an award as he paid tribute to what his successors have managed to do since.

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nder Herrera is confident Anthony Martial will prove to be a fine addition for Manchester United as he offers something the Old Trafford side previously lacked.

United brought in the France international on deadline day of the summer transfer window in order to add depth to their attack and Herrera is impressed by his unique qualities.

“I think he is a player who has some qualities that the rest haven’t got,” Herrera told the official Manchester United site.

Enrique: FIFA won´t allow Enrique: Barca to sign players

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uis Enrique has made it clear that FIFA will not allow Barcelona to sign a replacement for Rafinha outside of the transfer window.

The Brazil international sustained a season-ending injury in the 1-1 Champions League draw with Roma on Wednesday and the Catalans were allegedly keen to bring in a replacement for Rafinha.

FIFA do cater for the possibility of clubs being able to bring players in outside the transfer window in the event of long-term injuries, but Luis Enrique has stressed that Barcelona’s transfer ban means world football’s governing body will not let them bring in any new players until January.

“The club asked FIFA a few months ago whether we could sign new players if there were to be any long-term injuries and FIFA told us we would not be allowed to sign anyone,” the Barcelona coach said at a press conference.

Martial

Enrique

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Vol. 5 No. 37

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2015

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Comment E-mail:

nwaunah@yahoo.com Jim Unah is Professor of Philosophy, University of Lagos.

with Jim Unah he directive of President Muhammadu Buhari for all revenues accruing to the Federal Government—FG—to be paid into a single treasury account in the Central Bank of Nigeria—CBN—with deadline for compliance appears to have worked like a good financial accounting antidote for the new anti-corruption dispensation in the country. The directive, I understand, did not emanate from an unknown or non-existent law decreed in the military fashion by the President but by simply leveraging existing provisions of the law to get things done right and properly.

Fortunately, the CBN has allayed the fears of the commercial banks that hitherto warehoused the multiple accounts of the FG Ministries, Departments and Agencies—MDAs—that the TSA regime, more or less an insistence that things should follow laid down procedures according to the laws of the land, would not necessarily be tantamount to depriving them of business.

The concern of this intervention is to excavate the ancillary social and political imperatives of forging unity in diversity through the TSA regime. As the President merely invoked existing law to issue the TSA directive so would it be quite feasible for him to build bridges across the nation

and strengthen the cohesiveness of the Nigerian State by appealing to the constitution, not base sentiments, in conducting appointments and in directing that all federal and state institutions of learning should uphold the same curriculum in teaching and research and in preparing all Nigerian youths for life in society.

The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, defective as it is, forbids any form of discrimination against anybody on the ground of religion, sex, age or tribe. The same constitution, rightly or wrongly, upholds the federal character principle in appointments and in the placement of candidates in institutions of learning.

Yet in some sections of the country only contract appointments are offered to a category of Nigerians called non-indigenes. It is as if these Nigerians are expatriates in their own country. This is not good enough.

It is one area that President Buhari should extend his unitary TSA principle to bring everybody on board.

The constitution does not say that people should be denied appointments if they did not vote for the victorious candidate in an election. The constitution prohibits discrimination of any type against anybody.

The constitution does not say that Christian Religious Knowledge—CRK—or Islamic Religious Studies—IRS—should not be taught in some sections of the country. Yet this is the concern expressed so vigorously in the National Mirror Editorial of last Friday.

In that editorial, the paper pointed out how the newly elected Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State lambasted his predecessor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, for

F I G U R E S

N925m

-Money ICPC refunded that was diverted to the Ministry of Environment.

failing to employ CRK teachers during his tenure, in spite of the several interventions of the Christian Association of Nigeria— CAN—on the matter. The National Mirror further intimated that Aliyu’s discriminatory attitude is the stock-in-trade of Muslim leaders in the Northern part of the country when issues affecting Southerners and Christians are in the front burner.

My point here is that the deft move of President Buhari in the TSA directive to ensure transparency and aid the fight against corruption could easily by applied to the question of discrimination and marginalization on grounds of religion and tribe already outlawed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is this infraction of the constitution in the realm of tribe and religion which leaders and state actors encourage by their conduct that is at the root of official corruption in the country.

To fight graft successfully, the fighters must be above religious and ethnic sentiments, failure which the clamour for devolution of power to the federating units will continue to be an albatross for the Nigerian State.

The Buhari administration should leverage the success of the TSA to issue periodic directives to the MDAs and the state governments to follow the constitution or existing laws in relating with Nigerians from different ethnic and religious backgrounds to encourage the citizens to support the government in place and its programmes for the over-all well-being of all Nigerians. You cannot be calling for cooperation and support of government policies and programmes and be perpetrating all manners of discrimination forbidden by the constitution of the

Back surgery to keep Woods out till 2016 F ormer world number one Tiger Woods will not play again this year after having back surgery for the second time in 18 months.

The 39-year-old American, winner of 14 majors, had an operation on Wednesday and is hoping to return to playing in early 2016.

“This is certainly disappointing, but I’m a fighter,” Woods said in a statement on his website.

“I’ve been told I can make a full recovery, and I have no doubt I will.”

Woods, who has had a small disc fragment pinching his nerve removed, will miss

I N

Imperatives of Treasury Single Account —TSA

Back Page

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www.nationalmirroronline.

-The amount kidnappers took as ransom to free University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, Chief Imam.

the Frys.com Open, Bridgestone America’s Golf Cup and the Hero World Challenge.

He missed the cut at three of the four majors this year, although he tied for 10th in

his most recent tournament, the Wyndham Championship.

Ranked 283 in the world, Woods has not won a major since the 2008 US Open and

has struggled with form and injury in recent years.

He missed three months of last season after surgery on a pinched nerve in his back in March 2014.

THE 1999 CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, DEFECTIVE AS IT IS, FORBIDS ANY FORM OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ANYBODY ON THE

GROUND OF RELIGION, SEX, AGE OR TRIBE. THE SAME

CONSTITUTION, RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY, UPHOLDS THE

FEDERAL CHARACTER PRINCIPLE IN APPOINTMENTS AND IN THE PLACEMENT

OF CANDIDATES IN INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING.

land.

The Buhari government should go the whole hog in charting the cause of a united and corruption-free Nigerian state. It is my considered opinion that if President Muhammadu Buhari is able to lay a solid foundation in the social and political realm in terms of giving everyone his due irrespective of political, ethnic and religious orientation and affiliation, as he is trying to do with the TSA; that is, if devious people with sinister motives in the corridor of power would not truncate it, the clamour for devolution of power might simmer down considerably, even though it might not obliterate it completely.

Premier League Results

Chelsea 2 - 0 Arsenal Bournemouth 2 - 0 Sunderland Aston Villa 0 - 1 W/Broom Newcastle United 1 - 2 Watford Stoke City 2 - 2 Leicester City Swansea City 0 - 0 Everton Man City 1 - 2 West Ham Premier League fixtures

Tottenham v Crystal Palace Liverpool v Norwich Southampton v Man Utd

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