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Alleged N108bn fraud: Again, EFCC grills Akpabio

Fulani herdsmen vs. farmers:

Time bomb in the making

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Vol. 5 No. 41

Sunday, October 18, 2015

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Money laundering

NDLEA arrests man with 108 ATM cards at airport P. 7

TUC vows to resist hike in electricity tariff

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NSCDC trains 10,000 personnel on counter terrorism P.7

L-R: Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara; wife of celebrant, Mrs. David Lawal; celebrant, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir David Lawal; APC National Chairman, Chief. John Odigie Oyegun and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, during the thanksgiving service/reception in honour of the SGF at the ECWA Church, Wuse 2, Abuja, yesterday.

Nigeria in safe hands, says SGF ••Tinubu, northern governors hail appointment

Man dies after drinking 16 bottles of gin News One dead, houses, cars burnt as fuel-laden truck crashes in Ogun

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What ’s new Politics

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Ministerial screening: Soft landing for Buhari ’s men

Seven Days TALKING POINTS OF THE PAST WEEK October 18, 2015

FG probes NNPC, NPA, NIMASA Never had any ministerial screening exercise attracted as much expectations from Nigerians as the present administration ’s did, which took place last week.

Perhaps, this was as a result of the high hopes and expectations created by President Muhammadu Buhari himself, when it took him as much a four months before making public, the names of the would be ministers. This may have also resulted from the high standards set by Buhari for the would-be ministers as people with near no blemish.

Passion

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Federal Government has commenced probe into activities of its agencies over remittance of revenue into the Federation Account This was disclosed yesterday at the meeting of the National Economic Council, NEC, by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele. Emefiele told the Council how some Federal Government agencies short changed the country by remitting naira into the Federation Account instead of the dollar revenue

they collected.

Briefing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa after the meeting, Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade said Emefiele presented brief report on government agencies involved in the inappropriate remittance.

According to Ayade, the agencies include Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and Nigerian Port Authority, NPA, among other agencies.

Lagos Assembly conrms Ambode ’s 20 commissioner nominees,14 SAs Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday confirmed the entire 37 nominees sent to it by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

The confirmation was granted at Thursday ’s plenary after the last nominee, Yetunde Onabule, was screened and report of the Ad-hoc Screening Committee was taken at the Committee of the Whole.

The 37 nominees comprise of

20 would-be commissioners and 14 Special Advisers.

They are: Former Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Lola Akande; Adebimpe Akinsola; Dr. Jide Idris (former Health Commissioner); Musiliu Folami, Babatunde Hunpe, Ganiyu Johnson, Tunde DurosimiEtti; Gbolahan Lawal, Folarin Coker, Abdul-lateef AbdulHakeem.

Alamieseigha to get state burial as Dickson sets up burial committee I would never use sex to curry favours –Aniebet Francis Wellness

16

Coping with Leukemia

Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, has promised an elaborate state burial for the late former governor of the state, Chief Diepreye Alamieseigha, just as he announced the setting up of a committee to plan for the burial rites of the first civilian governor of the state who recently passed on at the

University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

A statement by the chief press secretary to the Governor, Daniel IworisoMarkson, said Dickson, constituted the committee at an enlarged emergency State Executive Council meeting in Government House.

Senate resumes ministerial screening Tuesday Senate said yesterday that it would resume the screening of the remaining ministerial nominees on Tuesday next week.

The exercise, which began on Tuesday, was supposed to continue yesterday, but was called off by the leadership of the Senate. Senate President, Bukola Saraki explaine that the call off was informed by the fact that as at yesterday, most of the fresh nominees were yet to forward their resume and other relevant documents to the senate to enable the exercise.

He stated that the postponement was to give ample time for the candidates to furnish the Senate with all necessary

Pressure on Boko Haram responsible for soft target bombings –CDS Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Abayomi Olonisakin, yesterday, said that the high rate of soft target bombings by the Boko Haram insurgents witnessed in the past couple of months, were due to the increased pressure on the insurgents in the North East.

He disclosed this in Abuja, at the 2015 Nigerian Navy Research and Deve lopme n t seminar, with the theme; ‘Innovation and Research and Development (R&D): Turning Bright Ideas to Operational Solutions.

“The issue of suicide bombings that we have been witnessing is as a result of the pressure on the Boko Haram

HID instrumental to getting Awolowo to serve in my govt –Gowon Former Head of States, General Yakubu Gowon, yesterday declared that his military administration would eternally remain indebted to late Yeye Oodua and matriarch of the Awolowo family, Mama HID Awolowo, for getting her husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo to serve in his administration.

General Gowon, who led the delegation of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation (OAF)

on a condolence visit yesterday to the Ikenne country home of the Awolowo dynasty on the death of their matriarch, Chief (Mrs) Hannah Idowu Dideolu (HID) Awolowo, also revealed that if not for Mama HID who prevailed on her husband, the late sage wouldn ’t have accepted to serve in his government as the Federal Commissioner for Finance in the civil war era.

MON

My Monday is always cool. I start with the day by checking my mails, twitter, facebook accounts, and general news. I go to the gym to work out, after which I go to my studio to make beats and produce for artists.

TUE

I go to the gym before heading for the studio. I focus basically on working for my clients and artists abroad in UK and the U.S.

FRI THU WED

ens the immune system of the person resulting in the skin problems such as rashes, skin disorders. It has a treatment such as chemotherapy which aids in decreasing the abnormalities but it cannot cure it completely.

Blood is a part of the body and has different components such as red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma.

CEO, TWIN AFFAIRS

I spend my Wednesday lecturing upcoming producers on how to produce music.

SUN SAT

Blood cancer or Leukemia is a malignancy of cellular component in the blood and bone marrow. It is mainly related to the blood cells such as White blood cells which include blood disorders in the blood cells and the symptoms are exposed in the immune system of the person which weak-

to power come 2019 by exposing the hypocrisy of the ruling party through checks and constructive criticism.

At a well attended National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the party, the first since the general election, PDP also adopted the Senator Ike Ekweremmadu Post Election Fact Finding Committee, which recommended way forward for the party.

terrorists in the North East.

“They are now aiming at soft targets, and Nigerians must be security conscious and report any suspicious movement around them, because security is everybody ’s business especially the face we are in now, ” he said.

The CDS emphasised that the pressure has been on the terrorists and they were fanning out, and in the process of fanning out, they are hitting the soft targets.

He however, urged members of the public to be wary, security conscious, and as well report any area where they observe suspicious movement or activities.

Taiwo Olusola

Buhari ’s victory would have failed forensic analysis –PDP Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said 2015 presidential election was far from perfect and that forensic and scientific analyses of the result would have exposed its deficiency.

The party said it would have challenged the outcome of the election had it not being because of the states manly approach by former President Goodluck Jonathan. PDP also said it is determined to return

information to assist the lawmakers carry out the exercise thoroughly.

The nominees who would have their turn next week are former Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Mr. Adebayo Shittu, who were not screened alongside the first batch of the nominees. They would be joined by 15 candidates, who made the second and final list sent by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday.

The senate has already completed screening and confirmation of 18 candidates, who formed the first batch of the nominees sent by the President on September 30.

I rest, do piano rehearsals and learn something new in music.

Most of the songs recorded in my studio are usually mixed and mastered today.

I spend my Fridays booking appointments for next week. Also, I stay with my loved ones.

I go to church to praise and pray to God. *By Adaeze Amos (08023012293)

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SUNDAY SPECIAL INVESTIGATION

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2015

Fulani herdsmen Vs. farmers: Time bomb in the making B

arely two weeks after some Fulani herdsmen attacked and kidnapped the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, right on his farmland in Akure, Ondo State, a group of herdsmen have again allegedly attacked and destroyed the same farm. According to the farm Manager, Bruno Akhigbodemen, while conducting newsmen round the farm located at Ilado in Akure North Council area of Ondo State, over one square kilometer plantation of maize was destroyed during the invasion.

Akhigbodemen said that the Herdsmen stormed the farm with their cows and wrecked the havoc despite the horrible experience the workers and their boss had in the last two weeks sequel to their menace.

“Efforts by the guards to prevent the destruction of the farmland were rebuffed as they were threatened by the herdsmen until their cows grazed to their satisfaction.

This incident is coming after his kidnap and payment of N5m ransom to free him from his abductors.”

The former Minister for Finance has been having a running battle with the Fulani herdsmen whose cows have on several occasions destroyed his crops. The latest

‘CATTLE RANCHES SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED NATIONWIDE’ 6

The Nomadic Cattle Fulani have over the years built deep resentment among many farming communities, which have lost billions of naira worth of crops to their grazing activity. Lives and property have also been lost in clashes between the Fulani herdsmen and farmers. However, the kidnapping of former secretary to the Federal Government, Chief Olu Falae by herdsmen has added a new dimension to the menace of the cattle Fulani, which has fuelled ethnic tensions and calls for a permanent solution to this problem. Paul Omo Obadan examines the situation and how all citizens can enjoy their constitutional rights without trampling on those of others.

‘HERDSMEN INVADE FARMS WITH IMPUNITY’

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

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The Big Read

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Sunday, October 18, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Herdsmen invade farms with impunity’

Sobulo

Fasheun

Yussuf Shettima

Buhari

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 destruction according to findings is the fifth within two months. Before his kidnap, two Fulani herdsmen were arrested and detained for destroying over N500,000 worth of farm products. They were released after some of their leaders wrote an undertaking that they would pay compensation and would not encroach on the farm again.

Three weeks after the incident, Falae was abducted by gun wielding Fulani herdsmen on the same farmland and was released after 72 hours. This unfortunate incidence has brought to the fore, the menace of the herdsmen and the need to deal with the issue promptly before it spirals into an ethnic conflagration.

It is has also brought to the front burner the lacuna of tolerance amongst the various ethnic groups in the country. In this case, the Fulani herdsmen from the Northern part of Nigeria.

Herdsmen have over the years contributed their quota to the economy of Nigeria. The place of Fulani herdsmen is inevitably important as they have sustained the production and sale of meat in markets across the country.

However, despite this positive inclination, their activities in recent times leave much to be desired, according to reports. The conflict between the Fulani herdsmen and the farmers usually arise when the former invade community farmland with their cattle and let them graze unrestricted both on cultivated and uncultivated land thereby destroying valuable food and cash crops, which are the mainstay of the host communities. When the communities try to resist them and request their exit, the Fulani herdsmen become violent and attack the community. Armed with sophisticated weapons, including AK 47 rifles, they usually attack their target communities at the

THE HISTORY OF THE FULANI ENCROACHMENT ON PRIVATE LAND IN

NORTHERN NIGERIA

TELLS A STORY OF BITTER

CONFLICT DOWN THE YEARS, ESPECIALLY BETWEEN THE UNWELCOME GUESTS AND THE

TIVS IN PLATEAU STATE.

time they are most vulnerable such as at night or on Sundays when they are in their churches, killing people with impunity, mostly women and children, burning houses and looting properties. The Middle Belt has been the worst hit with communities in Plateau, Nassarawa and Benue states suffering a heavy toll in human lives and property.

The history of the Fulani encroachment on private land in Northern Nigeria tells a story of bitter conflict down the years, especially between the unwelcome guests and the Tivs in Plateau State. There is the story of how the Fulanis would leave many of their animals to graze all over the rich valleys and hillsides of the plateau, at the beginning of each season, while they wandered away with the rest to seek pasture in other parts for more greenery, to the consternation of the landowners. On their return, the nomadic herdsmen would simply gather their cattle, which would meanwhile have grown fat, and be on their

way.

The Tivs then devised a plan to deal with their unwanted guests. They simply ate many of the cows and sheep that were left behind at the beginning of the season and waited for the owners. When the Fulani herdsmen returned for their cattle at the end of the season, the Tiv looked them straight in the face and blantantly confessed, “Munchi.” That is, “We have eaten them.”

This resulted in several conflagrations with the Tivs being victorious since they had the home advantage and were themselves steeped in a culture of warfare. The Fulani hardly gave up but spread their search for grazing fields to other parts of the country like Kwara State. From Kwara, they spread their tentacles to the South-West and South-East.

Most worrisome is the brutality and impunity with which the herdsmen operate without regard for the law and the sanctity of life coupled with the inability of the Nigeria Police to defend the victims mercilessly slaughtered in their homes.

According to a Public Analyst and strategist, Ayodeji Taofik Sobulo, it is unfortunate that this level of criminal impunity is happening in a sovereign state with a constitution, which declares that the security and welfare of the citizens shall be a major responsibility of the state.

“I think our government should do more in the area of security and protection of lives and properties not only in affected areas but also all over the country.

The government must urgently summon the political will to forge a lasting solution to the Fulani herdsmen and farmers clashes to prevent its escalation into tribal wars CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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The Big Read

Sunday, October 18, 2015

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‘Kidnappers of Chief Falae not Fulani herdsmen’ Is-Haq Akintola is a Professor of Islamic Studies in the Department of Religion, Lagos State University (LASU). He sheds more light on the imbroglio caused by the nomadic Fulani herdsmen in this interview with PAUL OMO OBADAN What is your take on the present imbroglio between land owners and the Fulani herdsmen?

Concerning the Nomadic Fulani cattle herdsmen, ordinarily, one would want to say that they have been doing this over the years for decades. It is a way of life. I have run into herdsmen in several places and cities in Yoruba land when I was a kid, and I still see up till today. I think it is there way of life. In view of the fact however that conflicts have come up in recent past, I want to say it is up to the government to resolve the crisis. And when I say government, I mean the Federal Government because state governments may not be able to handle it appropriately. But at the same time, it can be extended to the state government too. We all use cattle. We all eat cattle.

We don’t want cattle rearers to say no, we don’t want to bring cattle to the south.

There is what we call specialisation which necessitates division of labour. Even in international trade, there is need for specialisation. Certain countries are good in so, so things and vice versa. From the North, the Fulani herdsmen are good in cattle rearing. As a Yoruba man, give me a stick with just one cattle to drive it, it is me that will run away. But they can drive a hundred and so on and so forth.

Both the federal and state governments can find solution to this. It is just that our leaders once they are in power, they hardly think of solutions to issues likely to cause conflicts.

If they think hard on this, state governments can set aside certain portions of land where the herds of cattle can graze.

And they can let Fulani herdsmen know that they are always free to go to these areas since farmers and land owners are accusing you of trespassing on their land. Again, the Federal Government also can evolve a means of communicating with herdsmen. A committee can be set up to look at the issue. State governments can be brought in as stakeholders.

And then, leaders of troubled groups can be brought in as stakeholders. And after discussing issues, we might find solutions. I don’t want to see a situation whereby we start chasing Fulani herdsmen all over the place. Because it will create another crisis.

There is freedom of movement, free of speech, and this should not be abused. A southerner can move to the North, and he is supposed to be free to move. A northerner can move to the south, he is supposed to be free to move around.

There is a school of thought that says that those abductors of Chief Falae might not be Fulani herdsmen?

I commiserate with Chief Falae. He is an elder statesman and one of our leaders in Yoruba land, and he does not deserve that kind of harrowing experience. He is also one of our leaders in Nigeria. The role he has played in politics in the past, and we have always admired him.

But I want to say with all sense of seriousness that kidnappers are getting sophisticated these days. If I am a kidnapper and I don’t want the police to have inkling where I came from

Akintola

THERE IS FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT, FREE OF SPEECH, AND THIS SHOULD NOT BE ABUSED. A SOUTHERNER CAN MOVE TO THE

NORTH, AND HE IS SUPPOSED TO BE FREE TO MOVE. A NORTHERNER CAN MOVE TO THE SOUTH, HE IS SUPPOSED TO BE FREE TO MOVE AROUND.

and where I am hiding, I can dress like a Fulani. I can disguise.

And I want to bet that those guys were not Fulani herdsmen.

Fulani herdsmen have never been known to kidnap and demand ransom.

Their focus has always been different. It’s not about material things but about their interest in herding cattle. And so, we should not get confused about this. And I think the Police have been deceived. I want to advise that the Police in Ondo state, should look beyond the Fulanis. Ondo and Ekiti State has been known to be another den of kidnappers like Delta, the South/ East. Lagos is still relatively safe.

Oyo State is still relatively safe. But we hear so many kidnappings in those two states of Ekiti and Ondo perhaps due to their closeness to the East. I don’t want us to make that mistake of believing that Fulani herdsmen were the ones who came to kidnap Chief Olu Falae for those two major reasons that they have never been known to be involved in kidnapping.

And two, it was a ploy by the kidnappers to keep the police away from their trail and send them on a wrong trail. And the kidnappers actually succeeded. Don’t forget Chief Olu Falae talked about the kidnappers who kept moving and did not remain in one place for single day. You don’t see Fulanis being that sophisticated in the act of committing crime.

I will want to appeal to all Southerners to simmer down and not to direct their suspicion to the wrong places.

Do you think the various ethnic groups in the country have fully integrated into one another?

Nigerians need to be fully integrated. The various ethnic groups are still not integrated. I want to say without any fear

of contradiction that some of us in the South have this dogma about the North/South dichotomy. And we believe everything from the North must be bad. And instead of accommodating people from the North, we are hostile.

This may have formed the background for what is happening presently. Whether somebody is Ibo, or Yoruba or Hausa, depends on where God actually created him and where God decided to send him. Who are his parents, his parents gave birth to him, he did not decide who his parents where. I could have been a Japanese, I could have been an American. If I were born in Japan, I would have been a Buddhist, not a Muslim. In matters of religion and ethnicity, we should be religion blind.

We should ethnicity blind. We should not look at the colour, the race, religion, the tribe of a particular person or hate a particular people based on perceptions. Perceptions are often misleading. In the same Yoruba land, we the Yorubas, we tell are sons, don’t marry an Ijebu girl.

We tell our sons, don’t marry an Egba girl. Okay, which one will they marry? When you take the Ijebus and the Egbas, Yorubas are finished. Of course, there are the Ijeshas, there are the Ekitis. I am from Ile Ife but I don’t believe in this dogma that the Ijebus are bad, the Egbas are bad. What of us in Ile Ife that are always fighting the Modakekes? So why are we always hating ourselves? Love should not have any barriers at all. You must be liberal and look beyond the fence of your house. Look beyond the borders of your town. Look beyond the boundaries of your state and look even beyond the boundaries of your country. That is why I say we will not accept the wrongful teachings of people Bin Laden and Al Qaeda and ISIS that says that wherever you meet Americans you should kill them. Wherever you see Britons or anybody from the West, kill them. What have this Westerners done to us? Because of their colour, no.

Even among people of the West, there are Muslims. So what do you gain there? So you cannot hate a people because of their colour, religion, tribe, the region they come from. Even from among Afghans, you would find truthful, honest, sincere, kind and benevolent people. Among the Ibos, the Yoruba will find very sincere, very friendly people.

And among your own kith and kin, the Yorubas, you will find those who are looking forward to your downfall, those who are working openly, not even hiding it towards your downfall for no reason at all. Hatred or love should not be based on people’s race, colour. In fact, you should mot hate. When you hate, you hate a creature of God. You cannot create an ordinary ant or fly. And God created all these people that you want to hate. At the end of the day, you find out that amongst this people that you tend to hate, or you don’t to associate with, there are very kind hearted people, there are good people.

There are people better than people that you think you know. I want to urge us to simmer down.

The press also has a role to play here. You shape the minds of society. For the sake of peace, I am urging the press to lay more emphasis on those things that bind us together. And where you find that people are going different ways and animosity is growing, find a way of bringing them back together.

Because if it happens, wars and conflicts do not discriminate between professions or status.

Whether you are a teacher, you are a journalist or whatever, when it happens, it happens. We don’t want that to happen. We have witnessed too many crises in this country. We have killed ourselves for no just cause. We have destroyed homes. What we should be doing is building and we should stop anything that is likely to cause further destruction.

‘Security agencies must stop attacks’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 and to avert further loss of lives and property.

The FG must as a matter of priority reposition the intelligence agencies, the police to stop the attacks, killing and wanton destruction of property by the Fulani militia and retaliatory attacks by the victims. They need to be arrested, disarmed, prosecuted and jailed if guilty while their sponsors should be smoked out and brought to justice,” he said.

There pertinent questions begging for answers. Is there a clandestine agenda of the herdsmen? Who are those arming the Fulani herdsmen to unleash mayhem on innocent and defenseless Nigerians? Why are the police incapable of protecting the farmers from violent at-

tacks by Fulani herdsmen? Is it true that they are better armed and sometimes out-number the police? Why is it difficult for the Federal Government to contain the terror of the herdsmen? Why is it that the Fulani herdsmen alleged to be behind the inhuman killings and destruction of property in the affected states and indeed across the country always get away with their crimes without being brought to justice?

Analysts believe that there is certainly grave danger ahead because some of the ethnic nationalities incessantly attacked by the Fulani militia have warned that if the government fails to protect them, they are left with no other choice than to form their own militia to defend

themselves and their land from the marauders.

Yoruba leaders give red card to Fulani herdsmen For instance, Yoruba leaders have been spitting fire and brimstone against the backdrop of the abduction of Chief Olu Falae. Prominent Yoruba leaders rose from an emergency summit in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital a fortnight ago and handed a red card to Fulani herdsmen in the South-West.

The leaders, who include President of Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), General Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd), who was a former military governor of the defunct Western Region; Chairman of pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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Sunday, October 18, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Cattle ranches should be established nationwide’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 political organization, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo amongst others. They all frowned at the abduction of Falae and described it as unacceptable to the Yoruba race. In the communiqué read to reporters by Dr. Kunle Olajide, Yoruba leaders sought an end to grazing in Yoruba land and directed all nomadic herdsmen to wind up their activities in the region. Failure to adhere, according to them, may lead to a breakdown of law and order.

The communiqué also demanded immediate arrest and trial of culprits involved in the kidnap of Falae, adding that those found culpable in the alleged killing and torture of farmers on their farmlands by the herdsmen should be dealt with accordingly.

“The return of the herdsmen to his farm on Monday, October 6, 2015, to continue their mindless grazing is to us an open declaration of war on the Yoruba people by these invaders. The summit was not unmindful of the fact that the ordeal of Chief Falae is a continuation of the series of attacks these herdsmen have inflicted on our farmers over the years in their contempt for our land and the people therein, which now appears to mean nothing to them than a grazing reserve,” the communiqué read in part.

However, in a reaction to the statement by the Association of Fulani Chiefs of South West Nigeria and Miyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, that banning nomadic cattle rearing as proposed by Afenifere is a violation of 1999 Constitution.

Afenifere Chieftain, Yinka Odumakin described the Fulini leaders’ position as absurd and inconsiderate.

He insisted that the South West has had enough of the marauding activities of the Fulani herdsmen which must end.

He said: “The Cattle Rearers Association quoting the constitution and other treaties to justify the violation of our people by the Fulani herdsmen is quite absurd and very inconsiderate. Do those laws they quoted abolished the rights of our people at the appearance of herdsmen? If they insisted nomadic grazing is a way of life for the Fulani, why are they not doing it on their soil since the north has the biggest land mass?

“We insist that we have had enough of the marauding activities of the Fulani herdsmen on our land, he said.”

However Sunday Mirror findings dug out a twist to the whole imbroglio as a native Yoruba and Professor of Islamic studies in the Department of Religions, Lagos State University, (LASU), Is-Haq Akintola said that the various ethnic groups are still not integrated in the country.

According to him, “Some of us in the South have this dogma about the North/South dichotomy and we believe everything from the North must be bad. And instead of accommodating people from the North, we are hostile. This may have formed the background for what is happening presently.”

He also said that the abductors of Chief Olu Falae are not the Fulani herdsmen. “I don’t want us to make that mistake of believing that Fulani herdsmen were the ones who came to kidnap Chief Olu Falae for two major reasons. One, they have never been known to be involved in kidnapping. And two, it was a ploy by the kidnappers to keep the police away from their trail and send them on a wrong trail. And the kidnappers actually succeeded.

Also incensed by the vituperations of the Yoruba leaders, the National President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF, Alhaji Shettima Yerima, who spoke to Sunday Mirror in a telephone chat said the utterances of the South-West leaders to say the least, is unpleasant and capable of plunging the nation into unnecessary crisis. Yerima also noted that the position of the pan-Yoruba group was an embarrassment and disappointment to the North.

His words: “It is unfair and unfortunate. I am working and collaborating with leaders of Fulani herdsmen

Odumakin

Nwaghodoh

HE ALSO SAID THAT THE ABDUCTORS OF CHIEF OLU FALAE ARE NOT THE FULANI HERDSMEN. “I DON’T WANT US TO MAKE THAT MISTAKE OF BELIEVING THAT FULANI HERDSMEN WERE THE ONES WHO CAME TO KIDNAP CHIEF OLU FALAE FOR TWO MAJOR REASONS. ONE, THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN KNOWN TO BE INVOLVED IN KIDNAPPING. from all over the geo-political zones of the country to find a lasting solution to the imbroglio. Very soon, we will come out with a communiqué,” he said.

A public affairs commentator, Mr. Olubodun Yusuf, however said the only way to forestall this is to stop the proliferation of arms in the country and if I may tell you something, during the election we all saw a large amount of arms on our streets and after the elections where have they all gone to, some for robbery, cultism, land grabbing and other nefarious activities and this include our borders. Sometimes ago, a military man was slaughtered on the long bridge going to Ibadan by this same herdsmen and till date nothing was done.

We need adequate security in all parts of the country and the government can introduce what we have in Lagos, (Neighbourhood Watch) all over the country. This is how the dreaded Boko Haram sect started in Nigeria and because the government of the day then was not ready to nip it in the bud, it has festered to a monster that we are struggling to curtail, and if care is not taken we will lose our grip on the Fulani herdsmen.

Clashes threat to peace and unity Barrister Emmanuel Nwaghodoh, is a Staff Attorney with Social and Economic Rights Center (SERAC), an NGO that protects the social and economic rights of Nigerians.

He argued that the clashes between the Fulani and farmers is another major threat to the peace and unity of this country.

“It started some years back and people seem not to realise where they are coming from and how far they are going. Few years back now, it has become a serious threat not just among the Western states but all parts of the country. Even recently, the kidnap of the elder statesman has also been attributed to the activities of Fulani herdsmen. The government needs to see it as a serious security threat and begin to put in motion machinery on how to curtail the activities of the Fulani herdsmen.

I see it as a task that is beyond the state governors. I am looking at a situation where the Federal Ministry of Agriculture begins to put in place designated grazing areas in some states. It could be in the six geo-political zones.

So that even if they migrate from the North, and come to

the South, instead of moving from one community to the other destroying people’s crops, they just move straight to the designated grazing ground and begin to raise their cattle there.

Since they are mainly from the North, northern governors should also do more to also curtail the incessant movement. I know that five states in the North could take care of all the grazing of all the cattle in this country. But if they feel five states is not enough that each state in the North including also the Middle Belt should set up areas for grazing to minimize their movement from the North to the South,” he said.

However, the last administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan budgeted N100 billion to begin the first phase of the resettling of the herdsmen. What has become of that plan or the project? The resurgence of kidnapping and other forms of insecurity show that Nigeria still has a long way to go, in making the country safe. The situation should be checked before it spins out of control.

They should be checked and seek other modern ways to feed their cows. A stitch in time saves nine.

Reverend Ayo-Oluwa Ogunyemi, Chairman LACOMFOR, said “The Yorubas should not be tempted into waging reprisal attacks against their assailants in order to safeguard their lives, properties and territories. The mantra of this administration is change.

“One of the changes I want to see is the difference in the way the Fulani nomads earn their livelihood The Federal Government already has enough of inherited security challenges to cope with which are yet to be resolved.

And so these criminal elements within the Fulani herdsmen fold should be put in checked before their activities become another inglorious national phenomena. It should not be allowed to snowball into another security storm where some unscrupulous politicians can profit from as the case may be with the Boko Haram issue now.

Frankly speaking, while the Yorubas duly recognise the Fulani herdsmen as their fellow countrymen and brothers, however the criminal elements among them, who have constituted themselves into social menace should be flushed out after scrutiny/ due process without further delay.

Sunday Mirror Sunday October 18, 2015 www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Man dies after gulping 16 bottles of gin on a bet ADEJUWON OSUNNUYI

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25-year-old man identified as Ahmed Aderisekola reportedly met his untimely death on Friday night at Apongbon area of Marina Lagos after consuming 16 bottles of Bazooka dry gin.

Sunday Mirror gathered that shortly after drinking the 16 bottles, Ahmed slumped and died.

It was gathered that around 6 p.m., a group of Bazooka sales reps had approached Ahmed and his friends introducing the drink to them.

According to eyewitnesses, the sales reps had told them that anyone who could buy and drink up to 10 bottles would be rewarded with five free bottles.

After getting the products from the sales reps, Ahmed and his friends then resorted into betting to know the person who could drink the highest number of bottles.

Sunday Mirror learnt that while one of the friends drank about 18 bottles, Ahmed was on his 16th when he slumped.

While he was rushed to the Lagos Island General

Hospital, the medic on duty, Dr. Owoseni, confirmed that he had given up before they got to the hospital.

In the report entitled: ‘BID’ (Brought in dead), Dr. Owoseni said the patient was involved in drinking spree as he suddenly slumped while dancing.

“He was clinically dead and was advised to be admitted into the morgue,” the doctor stated.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that Ahmed had just spent three days in Lagos as his uncle, Alhaji Adesekola Olomi, was said to have just been brought from Ajase, Kwara State to be assisting

his wife in supplying pure water.

“This is unexplainable.

How would his uncle go back home and tell his family that the boy he just took to Lagos barely 3 days ago is dead?”

One of the neighbours who was shocked with the incident had told Sunday Mirror. According to him, Alhaji Adesekola, who was said to have travelled when the incident happened had explained to his parents that Ahmed could be useful and become responsible if he’s allowed to come to Lagos.

The wife of Alhaji Adesekola could hardly utter any word when Sunday Mir-

ror attempted to interview her.

Meanwhile, a close observation by our correspondent shows that the product named Gold Bazooka Dry Gin is blended and bottled by an Indian company, Krimpi Distillery. Surprisingly, while the product does not have any traceable address of its Nigerian distributor, only two telephone numbers were written on the

Protests over plot to discredit female ministerial nominee OMEIZA AJAYI

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mass protest has trailed Friday’s petition by some stakeholders from Sokoto State against the nomination of Aisha Abubakar as a minister of the federal republic.

L-R: Chief (Mrs.) Olusola Ayoka Adebayo, Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, during a church service to commemorate the 80th birthday ceremony of Mama Adebayo at the Chapel of Christ The Glorious King, Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, yesterday.

Stakeholders task FG on renewable energy

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elegates rose from a three-day conference on alternative energy yesterday in Abuja with a call on the Federal Government to pay adequate attention to the country’s renewable energy sector.

The call is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the fifth Nigeria Alternative Energy Exposition (NAEE) with the theme: “Consolidating Energy Transformation Gains.”

Mr Chidi Onuoha, a renewable energy consultant and advocate, signed the communiqué on behalf of other delegates.

The stakeholders commended the Federal Government for putting in place the Renewable Energy Policy (REP) and called for its effective implementation.

They described the policy as a critical blueprint for the national search for permanent solutions to the country’s lingering energy crisis.

The delegates empha-

sised the need for the policy to be backed by law in order to sustain the contribution of clean energy to the energy mix and attract investors to the sector.

To this end, they pledged their support for a Green Economy Nigeria Bill (GENB), which they said would soon be in the National Assembly.

The bill, according to them, seeks to give legal teeth to sustainable agriculture, renewable energy and infrastructure.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NAEE is the country’s largest gathering of policy makers, researchers, manufacturers, investors and consumers of renewable energy.

This year’s edition, held between October 14 and October 16 at Shehu Yar’adua Conference Centre, was declared open by President Muhammadu Buhari, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Mr. Godknows Igali.

It attracted French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Denys Gauer; the Director General, Energy Commission of Nigeria, Prof. Eli Bala; French Ambassador for Climate in Africa and Middle East, and Mr. Stephane Gompertz.

The communiqué read: “We commend the Federal Government for putting in place the Renewable Energy Policy (REP) and Energy Efficiency Policy (EEP) document.

“The REP document, no doubt, will serve as a blue print for sustainable supply and utilisation of renewable energy sources within the economy for both on-grid and off-grid solutions.

“The document also advances an Energy Efficiency Policy (EEP) which will reduce inefficient consumption, thereby providing greater access to electricity consumers.”

The delegates expressed concern over the “deficiency” in the country’s energy infrastructure over the years despite being the most popu-

lated and largest economy in Africa.

Among other recommendations, they advised the Federal Government to encourage private sector investments in renewable energy using feed-in tariffs as obtainable in other climes.

They advised the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to provide a regulatory framework for off-grid power supply solutions.

The delegates cited high import tariffs on renewable energy facilities and high bank credit as major obstacles to investment in the sector.

They, therefore, urged the Nigerian Customs Service to implement relevant aspects of the REP, especially the provision on zero import duty for renewable energy technologies.

“The Federal Government through the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) should ensure the importation of only quality renewable energy equipment into the country.

label. Also, the product has no batch or NAFDAC number, no manufactured date or expiry date.

When our correspondent put a call through to the two telephone numbers, 08182545559, 07018525242, the first one (08182545559) identified by True Caller App as Ifeanyi Okoye was switched off while the other one kept on ringing without being picked.

The protesters, who went round some strategic points of Abuja, the nation’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday, said the plot to discredit Ms Abubakar was an affront on womenfolk.

Senator Ibrahim Gobir from Sokoto State had submitted the petition which he said came from stakeholders in the state to the effect that the nominee be dropped from the list and be replaced with a ‘more competent person’ from the state.

However, the protesters under the aegis of Concerned Stakeholders for Good Governance, CSGG, argued that there was no basis for the petition, especially as the nominee is qualified for a ministerial appointment.

Their protest came barely 24 hours after entrepreneurs in the country faulted the petition and commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment of the nominee who they went further to describe as a proven international development-driven expert.

Speaking in Abuja, president of CSGG, Emmanuel Ojembe, observed that there was already disenchantment from women against the petition, owing to the few number of women appointed by President Buhari.

He disclosed that there was no way anyone would convince Nigerians that the

president settled for a bad nominee who would assist him deliver on his campaign promises for an appointment into his cabinet.

Ojembe wondered how a nominee who serves as Director, Corporate Services at the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) and who had worked as Managing Director/CEO of Abuja Enterprise Agency as well as chairman of Kwali Microfinance Bank could be said to be incompetent.

He alleged that those opposed to her nomination were simply not comfortable that a woman was appointed from the state.

Ojembe insisted that it was time for those who seek political compensation to know that it is no longer business as usual in terms of appointments in the country.

According to him, it was rather such international development-driven experts like Aisha Abubakar that should be fished out and called to come and help in repositioning the country at this crucial time.

“It is our belief, as a group, that the Senate is knowledgeable enough to know who is competent or not and not portfolio stakeholders who may have positioned themselves for political offices and were angry that the President disappointed them,” he said.

He went added, “Let those who said the nominee is not qualified come out and say what parameters they used in measuring the competence. They should be told that their rather frivolous petition is not needed to distract the respected lawmakers at this time.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News 8

Sunday October 18, 2015

Alleged N108bn fraud: Again, EFCC grills ex-A’Ibom governor OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

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n continuation of investigation into the alleged N108 billion fraud, a former Akwa Ibom State governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, was yesterday grilled by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The Senate minority leader was on Friday drilled by the anti-graft agency for about six hours after which he was granted administrative bail

… I have nothing to hide, says Akpabio with a condition to appear the following day (Saturday).

Akpabio’s present predicament follows a petition written against him by an Abuja-based lawyer and activist, Leo Ekpenyong, on June 8, urging President Muhammadu Buhari and the EFCC to look at his books while holding sway as the executive governor of Akwa Ibom State between 2007 and 2015.

Reliable sources at the

Abuja office of the commission told our correspondent that Akpabio returned for interrogation at about 11.45 a.m. yesterday.

He was said to have been accompanied by one of his counsel, Rickey Tarfa (SAN).

It was further gathered that the former governor was interrogated by a combined team of EFCC interrogators for several hours. It could not be ascertained if he was grant-

ed an administrative bail by the EFCC as at the time of filing in this report.

Speaking with a Premium Times reporter shortly after he left the EFCC headquarters late on Friday night, Akpabio admitted that he was summoned by the anti-graft body to respond to several allegations of corruption against him.

He however said he was not arrested, but that he honoured the commission’s invitation volun-

Staff of Standards Organisation of Nigeria on a walk-for-standards to mark 2015 World Standards Day celebration, in Kaduna, recently.

PHOTO: NAN

NDLEA arrests man with 108 ATM cards at Lagos airport

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he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday said it had arrested a 34-year-old man (names withheld) suspected to be working for an international criminal organisation.

The agency stated through a statement by its Head of Public Affairs, Ofoyeju Mitchell, that the suspect was in possession of 108 automatic teller machine (ATM) debit cards.

According to the agency, the arrest took place at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos while the suspect was attempting to board a Qatar Airline flight to China.

“The debit cards belong to five commercial banks,’’ the agency said. It quoted its commander at the Lagos airport, Mr. Ahmadu Garba, as saying that the suspect was arrested in connection with alleged money laundering. The agency also added that the suspect was immediately transferred to the Assets and Financial Investiga-

tion Directorate of the Agency for investigation.

“First City Monument Bank (FCMB) had the highest number of cards with 58, Stanbic IBTC Bank has 23 cards, Zenith Bank 19, Fidelity Bank, six, and Diamond Bank, two.

Director of Assets and Financial Investigation, Mrs. Victoria Egbase, said the agency had established a prima facie case of financial crime against the suspect. She said that the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahma-

du Giade, had ordered the transfer of the case to the EFCC for further investigation.

The agency quoted the suspect as saying in his statement that he was asked to take the cards to China.

Nigeria in safe hands with President Buhari, says SGF •Tinubu hails appointment

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ecretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mr. Babachir Lawal, has assured Nigerians that the country was in safe hands under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He gave the assurance yesterday in Abuja at a reception ceremony organised in his honour by his friends and well wishers.

“The country is in safe hands and we will try our best to deliver the change the All Progressives Congress (APC) promised Nigerians, we have no time to waste in ensuring this,’’ the SGF said.

He expressed optimism

that the ministerial nominees would do well to advance the course of the nation and the people, when they are eventually allotted portfolio.

The SGF added that his faith in the ministerial nominees to deliver was based on his personal relationship with some of them over the years.

The country’s chief scribe thanked God and the organisers of the reception for honouring him and assured Nigerians that he would leave up to their expectations in office.

He, however, added that though many Nigerians

had been praying for his success in office, he sees his assignment as SGF as very simple because of the supportive staff he met in office.

He promised to continue to do his best to advance the success of the Buhari-led administration and the country generally.

Earlier in his remarks, APC National Chairman, Mr. John Oyegun, described the SGF as “a loyalist and a man of impeccable character’’.

He stressed that the SGF was humble to a fault and “brutally frank and ferocious in defending whatever he believes in’’.

tarily.

“A young lawyer from my state has been petitioning the EFCC accusing me of corruption,” the former governor said.

“So shortly before I got involved in an accident in August, the EFCC summoned me to come and respond to the allegations.

“But following the accident, I wasn’t well enough to honour the EFCC summon. And I let them know.

“So today, since I’m now well, and the Senate did not sit, I decided to honour the EFCC so as to answer questions concerning the allegations against me.

“I wasn’t arrested. I walked in there myself and now I’m back at home. The EFCC operatives were professional.

They asked questions, and I answered.”

Akpabio insisted the allegations against him were false, saying, “those making the allegations do not understand how government works”.

The former governor, who is now Senate Minority Leader, said the lawyer who dragged him to the EFCC submitted at least four different petitions, and that it would take a while for him to respond to each of the allegations.

“So I will return to the EFCC again as necessary,” he said.

Akpabio added, “I am a law-abiding citizen,

and whenever I’m summoned to answer questions about how I served my people, I will always respond. I urge everyone who has served in public office not to be afraid to explain what they did and how they served.”

It wiould be recalled that an Abuja-based lawyer and activist, Leo Ekpenyong, had on June 8, petitioned President Buhari and the EFCC, calling for Akpabio’s probe.

Probing the alleged fraud, the EFCC was said to have invited Ekpenyong on Wednesday, June 17, to adopt his petition and provide more details.

In another petition to the EFCC, dated June 22, and copied to President Buhari and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, Ekpenyong gave more details of some of Akpabio’s alleged financial fraud.

He had indicated that between January and December 2014, the ex-governor allegedly connived with two of his top aides to steal a whopping N108.1 billion from the state’s treasury.

Ekpenyong was also said to have linked the former Government House Permanent Secretary, Etekamba Umoren, and the former Accountant General of the state, Udo Isobara, with the alleged fraud.

NSCDC trains 10,000 personnel on counter terrorism

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ommandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr Abdullahi Gana, said more than 10,000 personnel have been trained on counter terrorism with the aim of tackling insurgency in the country.

This is contained in a statement issued by DCC Emmanuel Okeh, CD Public Relations Officer NSCDC, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja.

The statement said the personnel were trained on counter terrorism in Israel, Pakistan, Italy and also at the Nigerian Army school of counter

terrorism and insurgency.

It said that Gana made this assertion at the reception of the courtesy visit by the United Nations counter terrorism committee led by Mr. Weixiong Chen at NSCDC headquarters, Abuja.

According to the statement, the CG of NSCDC enumerated the corps mandate, stressing the need for support and training in the area of protection of critical infrastructure and other national assets in the country.

They are in most cases readily available targets for both terrorists and vandals.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Sunday October 18, 2015

9

TUC vows to resist increase in electricity tariff PAUL OBADAN

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rade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, has said it would resist any attempt to raise electricity tariff, which it said was already prohibitive.

In a statement issued yesterday signed

by Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, President and Comrade Musa Lawal, Secretary-General, the TUC said any tariff hike would be an invitation to anarchy.

In the statement it said that it had “noted with dismay recent media reports on plans by electricity distribution companies, DISCOs, in the country to increase the tariff on electricity by an average of 49.4 per cent. ” “We understand that a number of proposals have already been submitted

to the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, pursuant to this objective. In view of the present harsh economic realities in the land, it is our view that the proposed increase is wrong and lacks human face ”, it said.

The union wondered why the masses should be at the receiving end of every wrong and retrogressive policy in the country.

“Why must they always pay for what the rich consume more of ? What sense does it make for a man who earns less than N20,000 per month to be made to pay over N8,000 for electricity bill alone within the same month?

Why should they pay so much for what they do not use regularly enough, with officers of the distribution companies rarely bothering to read the

analogue metres? Why should these questionable issues that are spared no thought in other climes always take centre stage in Nigeria? Surely Nigerians deserve a much better deal.

The TUC claimed that it was aware that NERC was considering introducing measures that will facilitate reduction of the rate of the fixed charge on consumers.

“What has been happening all along is same with what is obtainable in the telecom sector.

They either assign tones to subscribers or enroll them on plans that attract daily, weekly or monthly deductions. We say no to this nonsensical idea.

The N750 charge is fundamentally fraudulent and unjust and must be out rightly abolished. Anyone canvassing its sustenance

or any increase in tariff does a grave disservice to the nation.

It insisted that the implementation of the planned increase would amount to an invitation to anarchy.

“It is totally oppressive, indefensible and retrogressive. Little wonder that the NERC has been foot-dragging on the issue of making prepaid meters readily available to consumers of electricity because of the excessive billing they have been imposing on all and sundry.

There is no gainsaying the fact that the present billing system is crazy, and any increase in tariff at this time is bound to make it even crazier. ” The NERC and DISCO would do well to shun anything that would attract the wrath of the masses.

Rather, Nigerians expect

them to earnestly adopt genuinely consumerfriendly policies. The fact that power supply is relatively improved within

the last few months does not mean that the myriad of challenges bedevilling the sector are over.

One dead, houses, cars burnt as fuel-laden truck crashes in Ogun FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

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t least, one person has been confirmed dead, while property worth several millions of naira was also destroyed when a fuel-laden truck crashed in the early hours of yesterday at the Sango Ota axis of Ogun state.

The incident which occurred at the popular Owode bus stop near the Ijako/Tipper Garage along the old Abeokuta - Lagos road also left a commercial motorcyclist popularly known as ‘okada rider ’ critically injured, with three houses and three cars completely burnt.

Sunday Mirror gathered that the PKG (diesel) laden truck had crashed into the road divider, fell on its side, thereby forcing its content to goose out, spilled over the expressway and crossed to the residential areas.

Public Relations Offi-

cers (PROs) of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC), Kareem Olanrewaju as well as that of the State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement agency (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi who both confirmed the auto crash said the incident happened around 4:30am yesterday morning.

Olanrewaju ’s account of the crash further stated that the driver of the truck identified as one Alhaji Wale Olaitan died after making fruitless efforts to put out the fire.

“The driver who was already soaked with the petroleum product, while trying to seek help, unconsciously moved near a generator as a result of which he caught fire and consequently spread to tanker and the houses affected ”.

An Okada rider who came to pick a client-passenger from one of the houses affected was also

Mexico ’s drug lord ‘El Chapo ’ Guzman injured in recapture bid

F L-R: Members of the Sagamites Club: Otunba Seni Adetu, Prof. Lawon Odusoga (Club President), Dr (Mrs) Tokunbo Awolowo- Dosumu, Mrs Omotola Oyediran, Prof Tunde Ogunanwo and Asiwaju S.K . Onafowokan during a condolence visit to the family of late Chief H.I.D. Awolowo in Ikenne, Ogun State … recently.

Akwa Ibom Gov advocates liberalisation of petroleum downstream sector

G

ov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has advocated the liberalisation of the petroleum downstream sector to regulate the cost paid by the public for petroleum products.

Emmanuel, who stated this during the monthly prayer meeting at the Latter House Chapel, Government House, Uyo, on yesterday regretted the artificial scarcity of premium motor spirit (petrol) in the state.

The governor regretted

that the artificial scarcity was created by the marketers who closed their stations and in the process denied motorists and the public access to the product.

He said that with the liberalisation policy, anybody could come in, refine and sell the product, adding the product would be cheaper in the long run.

“Petroleum marketers are hoarding fuel on the pretext that the just concluded National Economic Council would push for the removal of petroleum

subsidy.

“Let me clarify that during our last meeting, even at the Nigerian Governors ’ Forum, subsidy issues were not deliberated.

“If at all it (subsidy) will be removed, it ’s not going to be immediately.

“So there ’s no point hoarding fuel hoping that subsidy will be removed for them (marketers) to enjoy super profits, ” he said.

The governor cautioned the marketers against allowing the fuel scarcity in the state to de-

generate, noting that no fuel station opened in the state on Friday.

According to him, the landing cost of crude oil is currently N78 in the market, adding with liberalisation, the product will be available and cheap.

He announced that three companies had indicated interest to start refinery operations in the state and warned marketers against contravening the Miscellaneous Code, which he said was punishable by law.

ugitive Mexican drugs lord Joaquin “El Chapo ” Guzman suffered face and leg injuries as he narrowly evaded a police operation to recapture him, officials have confirmed.

The operation happened in north-west Mexico in recent days but few details have been released.

Guzman, head of the Sinaloa cartel, escaped from a high-security prison in July through a specially dug tunnel.

His escape was an embarrassment for Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.

The government said in a statement that efforts to recapture Guzman had been focused in the northwest of the country, not far from Guzman ’s native Sinaloa state.

“As a result of these actions, and to avoid his capture, in recent days,

the fugitive engaged in a hasty retreat, which, according to the information received, caused him injuries to one leg and the face, ” the statement said.

“It ’s important to clarify that these injuries were not a product of a direct clash, ” it added, without giving further details.

The statement added: “The security cabinet continues to conduct all actions that will allow the recapture of this criminal. ” Mexico has arrested several prison officials since Guzman ’s escape.

Investigators said he had inside help to flee through a tunnel that ran 1.5km from under a shower in his cell to outside the prison.

After his escape, Guzman took to Twitter to taunt the police and insult President Pena Nieto.

Guzman was first ar-

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

10

Interview ENCOUNTER WITH A NEWS MAKER OCTOBER 18, 2015

Gov ’t duty is to protect all citizens –Gen Atom Kpera Brigadier-General John Atom Kpera (rtd.) came into prominence as one of the participants in the January 1966 coup that ended the First Republic. He later served as former military governor of both old Anambra and Benue states between 1976 and 1979, 1984 and 1985 respectively. Thirty years after, the veteran warlord has remained himself, forthright and always ready to bare his mind on issues affecting the nation. The septuagenarian, who is also a Tiv chieftaincy title holder of Nomor U Tiv spoke with HENRY IYORKASE on issues of national interest. Excerpts: What is your opinion of the state of the nation ’s military in recent times?

Those of us who had gone through the military and have the experience of Nigeria military have every reason to be ashamed of ourselves and of the things that are happening that the military seem to be completely ignorant of or totally unable to do anything about. However, the light has come at last and so we can hold our heads high. We want first of all to thank God for bringing this change.

Those of us who are Christians and I believe, even the Muslims were praying very hard for the change and we believe God hears prayers and He heard our prayer. And the military also woke up and now, the situation has changed. Everybody knows that Nigeria has been in the fore front fighting terrorism in other parts of the world. We have fought all over the world including with United Nations, ECOWAS, AU, and all the kinds of organisations that required our support.

We haven ’t been a failure in any of these. In fact, on all occasions, we came out in flying colours. So when this came now to us and we seem to know nothing about what we knew very well, it was not particularly good. We thank God now that things have changed and the insurgents are on the run. We hope that they will keep running until they get completely out.

With the Fulanis attack on one hand and the insurgents attack on the other, what risk does this pose for our democracy?

Definitely not. For any government, democracy, autocracy or whatever it is, definitely not. There is no healthy aim of attacking one another or each other; it is not acceptable in any kind of setting. Peace is embodied in the Constitution. No Constitution has given a section, which promotes violence and crisis. The essence of having a Constitution is for cordiality in the society. There is definitely nothing good about crisis and incessant attacks and destabilisation of peace in society. If you have no peace you cannot develop. So it is condemnable in any kind of human setting.

With the renewed efforts in curbing insurgency at the North East by Nigeria ’s military, do you envisage any remarkable improvement in the near future?

Certainly, I think so. The military has really re-established its credibility; that is what it was meant for, to defend the country. And where it appears to be totally ignorant of what to do to defend the country, it was not something that anybody should be proud of.

I think the military have bounced back and they are doing the job they are supposed to be doing.

In spite of the impressive showing what would you suggest should be the true yardstick for their performance?

Keep on doing the work you are paid for. It cannot fail the nation because if it do, we are one step into total destruction; one full step.

So the military, keep on doing the job, which you are supposed to be doing. Nigeria cannot go anywhere and we should not; we should be the last resort to go anywhere because we have a well trained and I believe now, a well equipped military and it ought to be doing

farmers. I would say that the killings and the attacks on families vanished and everybody knows that our people went back and farm lands were even cultivated. It appears to me as if that arrangement will not last long and if it does not, the question is, is it as a result of our failure to completely eradicate it? I don ’t think so. We were given an assignment and a period of time and one of the things we were supposed to do is to bring out the immediate and remote causes of the crisis and to recommend what can be done to either completely wipe it out or minimise it. I say we went out full blast and did the findings; we found out why things were happening the way they were happening and we made our recommendations. Now, whether or not these recommendations, and I believe they were taken, but whether or not they are being implemented is another question that should be asked. Here, I am not in the position to say whether or not they are being implemented because we have done our job and we are out. It does appear to me as if there are still some skirmishes. In fact, there are brutal attacks by the Fulanis in Guma, in Gwer, in Buruku, in Vandeikya, in Kwande and the whole of Taraba is still having that type of thing. I think something ought to be done to curb this renewed attacks. It appears to me as if the Fulanis are taking advantage of the transition that is taking place between the outgoing and the incoming government. We are all embroiled into that and it appears to me as if they know, that is the Fulani attackers, they know that there is indeed, that transition and they are taking advantage of it. Otherwise, they can ’t carry out the way they are reported to be with impunity attacking villages, destroying farms and at this time. We only hope that this will draw government ’s attention to it and they will do something positively. There is need to really get up and do something now.

Kpera

the job properly.

Until recently, you were the chair of the Benue State Peace Initiative and Reconciliation Committee, which has since completed its assignment. The purpose of the committee was to find ways of resolving the crisis between the cattle Fulani and natives. It is

evident as killings continue in the state that the crisis is far from over. Can you say you are justified for that assignment?

I cannot say I didn ’t do my assignment.

Whether or not, what we did will help or not is another question. We were given an assignment to try and know the causes of crisis between cattle rearers and our local

As a military veteran yourself, what do you think should be the way out of this impasse?

It is certainly government security agencies that should be on their own toes and should protect the weak; those that are defenseless, those that seem to be the prey. It is the duty of security operatives of government to protect and defend their own liberty; internal liberty and freedom. It doesn ’t take a war veteran to understand that. I think it is common sense that any government ’s duty is to protect its citizens from internal and external violence and attacks. So, that is entirely the duty of government.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ministerial nominees:

Matters arising

P 12 & 53

11

Politics PROVIDING FRESH PERSPECTIVES TO ISSUES OCTOBER 18, 2015

AS A GOVERNOR MY JOB WAS TO ENSURE THAT NOBODY DIED OR WAS ROBBED. I HAD TO BE RIGHT ALL THE TIME WHILE THE CRIMINALS HAVE TO BE RIGHT JUST ONCE

–FORMER GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE, MR. BABATUNDE RAJI FASHOLA (SAN) ON WHY HE PAID MUCH ATTENTION TO ISSUE OF SECURITY WHEN HE WAS THE GOVERNOR

Ministerial screening: Soft landing for Buhari ’s men

Fashola

Kachikwu

Eighteen ministerial candidates were screened and confirmed last week by the Senate as ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. GEORGE OJI reviews the outcome of that exercise.

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ever had any ministerial screening exercise attracted as much expectations from Nigerians as the present administration ’s did, which took place last week. Perhaps, this was as a result of the high hopes and expectations created by President Muhammadu Buhari himself, when it took him as much a four months before making public, the names of the would be ministers. This may have also resulted from the high standards set

by Buhari for the would-be ministers as

people with near no blemish.

Indeed, the reason the President explained, that informed his delay in choosing the ministers was to enable him ample time to go for the nation ’s best of human resources; people who would as much not have questionable records, also share his change initiatives; people who would assist him drive the policies that would change the country for the best.

That was perhaps why, when the list of the ministers were made public by the

President through the senate on September 30, it drew as much condemnations as it attracted applauses.

Before the screening of the ministers as required by section 147(3) of the Nigerian Constitution, the senate came out to announce to Nigerians through its ad hoc committee chairman on media and publicity, Dino Melaye that, this time around, the exercise would not be business as usual.

Nigerians were all told by the senate that a new set of rules had been evolved and designed to guide the exercise in order to make the outcome more open, more genuine and indeed more credible.

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Osun APC convulsing over ministerial nomination

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Briefly

Akpabio ’s arrest: CACOL hails EFCC

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he Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL has hailed the effort of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC at bringing the corrupt politicians to book.

This came on the heels of the arrest and quizzing of the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio by the Commission on Friday, 16th October, 2015.

Akpabio was quizzed in respect of a petition written against him by an AbujaLawyer, Leo Ekpenyong and some indigenes of Akwa Ibom State. The petitions border on the misappropriation of state resources while he held sway as governor of the state. The Senate ’s minority leader was alleged of misappropriating N108.1billion of Akwa Ibom funds plunging the state into huge indebtedness.

The petitioners also noted that they had, sequel to their earlier petitions dated June 8th and 22nd respectively, further discovered an uncommon diversion of the state ’s tax-payers ’ monies for the acquisition of massive estates property by Godswill Akpabio and his surrogates. As a result of the petitions, the crimes commission had swung into action to investigate the matter.

Speaking on behalf of the Coalition, its Executive Chairman, Comrade Debo Adeniran described Akpabio ’s arrest as another step in the right direction in the war against corruption in Nigeria and commended the EFCC for their effort so far on the case.

He said, “Akpabio ’s arrest is a further reassurance that the President Mohammadu Buhari means business at ensuring that no corruption criminal, no matter how highly-placed or influential, go unpunished.

“Many of the past public office holders who thought they have successfully bamboozled the people they pretended they served by presenting fake, over bloated and over-priced projects should begin to count their days as free men and women. However, the authorities should not make these arrests mere window dressing where the ritual ‘arrest, arraign and release ’ for political reasons will reenact.

Akpabio

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Politics

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Sunday October 18, 2015

Screening of ministerial n AYO ESAN

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he Senate last Tuesday began the screening of the ministerial list sent to it by President Muhammadu Buhari. The list was received penultimate week and it contained 21 names. The second batch of 16 was only received last week Wednesday. Though the Senate has concluded the screening and has confirmed the appointment of 18 nominees. The screening exercise which had attracted great attention from Nigerians has been seen differently by Nigerians.

While some felt the Senate did a good job during the screening, others believe that it was not more than a rehearsed theatrical perfromance and they didn ’t see anything serious in the exercise.

It would be recalled that week preceding the exercise; the 8th Senate had vowed that it was not going to be business as usual and that the screening would be thorough.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki assured that the Senate will do a thorough screening of President Muhammadu Buhari ’s ministerial nominees and said that this would be against the old norm where ministerial nominees were usually not thoroughly screened by the Red Chamber, but were asked to ‘take a bow and go ’ during screening exercises.

The Senate had also said that it would responded positively to the clarion call by Nigerians for a thorough screening

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Some of the new approaches were that unlike before, this time around, the senate would insist that for any of the ministerial nominees to pass through the screening of the senate and get eventually confirmed, the candidate must first deposit evidence of his assets declaration certificate, particularly for all those who had held public offices in the past.

Expectedly, some Nigerians shouted foul, while some others impugned politics and raised objections to this conditionality. But the senate was quick to flash its rule books, as defense.

Indeed, order 120 of the senate standing order rules 2025 states that, “The senate shall. To consider the nomination of any person who has not held public office as contained in part 11 of the Fifth Schedule to the constitution prior to his nomination, unless there is written evidence that he has declared his assets and liabilities as required by section 11(1) of Part 1 of the Fifth schedule to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Such declaration shall be required for scrutiny by the senators. ” We were also told by the senate that any of the nominees who did not enjoy the support of at least, two out of the three senators who come from his state would not make the exercise.

This was also as Nigerians were regaled with the assurance that the hitherto practice of bow and go would no longer have any place in the new exercise.

All these were in addition by the members of the red red chamber of the parliament that the screening exercise would be characterized by thoroughness, pains-

However in its reaction to the screening exercise, the Coalition Against Corrupt leaders, CACOL has berated President Muhammadu Buhari and the Senate for the ministerial appointment of some of the nominees especially former Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State.

After President Buhari had submitted his list, CACOL wrote various petitions to the Senate asking the upper chamber of the Assembly to investigate before some of the nominees are confirmed as minister.

Reacting to the endorsement of some of the nominees, the Executive Chairman of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran, said he wasn ’t surprised at Fashola ’s confirmation.

He said since Senate President Saraki was undergoing trial for alleged corruption, there was no way he could have denied a nominee on the grounds of corruption.

“Imagine Bukola Saraki who is being tried for corruption sitting in judgment over people of the same character! He has no moral authority to say that anyone is corrupt or fraudulent because his integrity is under trial. ” “So, he will want to tread softly because what goes around comes around and that is what has just played out. ” He said Nigeria ’s democracy still had a long way to go as some of the senators did not know how to screen nominees. Adeniran wondered why senators asking questions would be praising Fashola during the screening.

Speaking further Adeniran said, “A person who has questions to answer was approved by the Senate. Just look at the

spectrum of those doing the approval; look at the screening exercise itself; you will agree that they altogether seemed simulated. It was a premeditated question and answer session. The moment someone that is meant to be screening starts singing the praises of a candidate, the entire exercise becomes nothing but a joke. ” The senator representing Abia –South senatorial district, Eyinnaya Abaribe, had, during the screening, questioned Fashola over the N78m spent on his personal website and N139m on the drilling of two boreholes. Fashola responded by saying he was not in charge of signing cheques or contract awards.

However, Adeniran said, the Senator erred by not being thorough. “One would have expected that a follow-up question be asked – as to what his responsibilities were, as the chief executive and chief accounting officer of the state if he would not be answerable to monies spent by his administration for whatever purpose. ” He said if Fashola could give such a response, it was unwise for the Senate to see him fit to run a Federal Government ministry. “The fact that Fashola had been endorsed by the Senate did not imply that he was clean. We would recall that all the corrupt ministers that served under the Peoples Democratic Party, for the entire 16 years, were similarly screened and endorsed by the Senate. This is exactly what the late Fela had rightly described as paddy-paddy arrangement. They have had their way but we will continue to have our say. The fact that a person is confirmed by

Moh hammed d

the Senate doesn ’t mean he is not corrupt, ” he said.

“Our overall assessment of the whole show clearly shows that it had remained all motion and no movement. “Come to look at it; the roll-call of the nominees is replete with either cross-carpeters who earlier lost out in the intra-party power play in the past or those who were only brought on board as payback for party-jobs done and not on the basis of performance record or competence; not even on

Ministerial screening: Sof taking and every known seriousness.

Unfortunately, the first part of the exercise, which took place last week, was characterized by anything but seriousness. First, there were no evidence that the requirement of provision of assets declaration was observed at all.

Secondly, the condition of nominees ’ support by their senators was consigned to the trash bin. Thirdly, the practice of bow and go was not only observed in surfeit, but taken to a ridiculous heights, as the lawmakers turned the hallow chambers of the senate to a theatre of humours.

However, notwithstanding, the shortcomings of the lawmakers, some of the candidates showed sparkle and class as they went through the exercise. Some of the very outstanding star candidates of the screening included the following; Senator Udoma Udo Udoma Even though he was not allowed much time and opportunity to showcase his qualities because of the special privilege of being a one time senator, the much opportunity he had to make a few remarks, the candidate demonstrated that he merited every inch of the opportunity to serve this country as a minister. The nominee paraded a very rich and outstanding resume that showed that he has acquired very high experience not only in the private sector but the public sector also; experience, which no doubt would be great asset to the new office of a minister.

Indeed, Udoma who is the immediate past chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Nigeria, Chairman of Union Bank Plc, Chairman of UAC of Nigeria, a lawyer, an accountant and financial consultant demonstrated in his brief remarks that his nomination was not by accident.

Even while answering the only question posed to him by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki on the issue of what policies he considered would be imperative to drive local and foreign investments into the country, Udoma demonstrated in his answers the versatility and knowledge that marked him out. There were not enough opportunity for Udoma to showcase enough of his intelligence as he was asked to take a bow and go as a mark of privilege as a former senator by the Presiding officer.

Dr. Kayode Fayemi The former Ekiti State Governor was another very outstanding candidate among the ministerial nominees. An economist, educationalist, a rights activist, and indeed a scholar of great repute, Fayemi seized the opportunity of the platform to lecture the lawmakers on issues bordering on foreign policies, investments, education, security and democracy.

Perhaps, the best way to demonstrate Fayem ’s astute knowledge on wide range issues is to recall some of his responses to the issues raised by the senators.

Ngig ge

While denying the purchase of a N50m worth of bed in the N2.5bn ultra modern Government House, which his administration constructed shortly before he left office this year,the former governor challenged anyone to bring the invoice of the N50m bed he was accused of buying in the Government House during his tenure as

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Politics

Sunday October 18, 2015

13

Osun APC convulsing over ministerial nomination BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO.

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efore the announcement of Prof.

Isaac Adewole, the outgoing vice chancellor of University of Ibadan, UI, as the ministerial nominee from Osun, there was never a pointer towards his nomination.

Several names of influential members of the ruling APC were being mentioned and attached to the names were reasons why they might have been preferred by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Since the swearing of President Buhari, former Osun state governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola had been on the radar as the man to fill Osun ’s position in the federal cabinet.

The reason attached then, was the role the former national secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, played in collapsing new PDP, the platform created by the five dissenting governors into the All Progressive Congress, APC. The relatively large following Oyinlola still enjoys despite his unprepared exit from office about five years ago and his military background, with the believe his path must have crossed with that of Buhari while still serving, were seen as mileage that might work for him.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola, it was believed was also favourably disposed to Oyinlola getting the post of minister, even when pressure was coming from some of his trusted allies, who were said to be pushing for the former lawmaker representing Osun West in the Senate, Mr. Mudashiru Hussein and another APC chieftain from Osogbo, Senator Bayo Salami.

Names of the immediate past commissioner for health in the state, Dr. Temitope Ilori and Chief of Staff to Governor Aregbesola, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola were also mentioned at a point as likely Osun candidates with Ilori appearing close to clinching the job on the strength of her, being daughter of pioneer APC chairman, Chief Bisi Akande.

However against all expectations, Prof. Isaac Adewole, an Ijesa indigene, was nominated, the development that has since been drawing varied reactions from within APC circle in the state, so also from the opposition PDP, and non align too.

Clearly, the ruling party in Osun was jolted with Adewole ’s nomination as minister-designate from the state and implications of having a technocrat serving at that level of government, representing a politically conscious and volatile state like Osun are being weighed by its leaders.

But for PDP in the state, Oyinlola and indeed other known APC leaders not getting ministerial post was a good development, as many of its members see it as capable of widening cracks in the ranks of the ruling party, thereby brightening its chances of recapturing some of lost members and even new ones.

Political discussions around how and why all candidates earlier being mentioned got brushed aside by Adewole revealed many interesting underground moves that ensured none of them even-

Areg gbe esola a

Oyin nlola

THERE WAS ALSO AN INSINUATION THAT PRESIDENT BUHARI, DELIBERATELY WENT FOR ADEWOLE, WHO LED NATIONWIDE STRIKE OF MEDICAL DOCTORS THAT PARALYSED THE NATION ’S HEALTH SECTOR DURING BUHARI/

IDIAGBON REIGN AND WAS FORCED INTO EXILE BY THE ADMINISTRATION, AS PART OF EFFORTS TO CORRECT SOME OF THE WRONGS OF THE PAST tually made it.

A school of thought within Osun APC believed that the fear that Oyinlola as a minister with his deep knowledge of the state, may, should there be crisis in APC, use his position to empower only former PDP members that defected into the ruling party with him and attempt staking a bold claim on the party structure bearing in mind the political permutations ahead of 2018 poll.

It was also rumoured that inability of all interests within APC in Osun and other forces outside it to agree on a generally accepted candidate for the post of minister, forced President Buhari to pick a technocrat from the state, who reportedly, got nominated by a “big friend ” of Mr. President, who hails from Rivers state, working in the same institution with Adewole.

There was also an insinuation that President Buhari, deliberately went for Adewole, who led nationwide strike of medical doctors that paralysed the nation ’s health sector during Buhari/Idiagbon reign and was forced into exile by the administration, as part of efforts to correct some of the wrongs of the past.

While the murmur against Adewole ’s nomination continued with in APC, a group based in the state has come out to express opposition against his nomination as a minister from the state.

The group, Coalition Of Osun Youth Group, though admitted in its statement that the immediate past Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan, UI, hailed from Ilesa, a town in Osun, which qualifies him to fill seat meant for the state at the federal cabinet.

But in a statement, signed by Prince Popoola Timilehin, its secretary, copy of which was obtained by National Mirror in Osogbo, it said Adewole had never added any value to the development of Osun, hence its decision to oppose his nomination.

The statement reads: “we also want to challenge President Muhammadu Buhari, if the ministerial list is to bring forth change that Nigerians clamour for or to compensate those that worked for the emergence of his party, APC, fraudulently or otherwise.

“We want to remind Mr. President that he once said: “I belong to nobody, I belong to everybody ”. If this is true and genuine, why using Osun ministerial slot to compensate the INEC returning officer of Lagos state during the last election?

“As a concerned youth group, who understand the political terrain of the state, we strongly say no to the nomination of Prof. Isaac Adewole, who is from the same town, federal constituency and the same Senatorial District

Ade ewolle

with the sitting governor of the state. ” Another group within the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun, The Reformers Group, also told President Muhammadu Buhari to withdraw the ministerial nominee for Osun, Prof.

Isaac Adewole.

The group in a statement issued in the state capital, Osogbo and signed

by Comrade Ade Ajayi, said Adewole should not be Osun ministerial nominee, because he is from the same Local Government Area as the present governor of the state ,Ilesa-East local government, It insisted as such, he should be dropped the way the former nominee from Niger state was dropped because he hails from the same local government as the sitting governor of the state.

The group claimed: “if Senate goes ahead to screen Prof Adewole, this would negate the principle of fair sharing as agreed by the founding fathers of the state and in line with the understanding among the party leadership.

“There are thirty local governments and an Area office spread across the three senatorial districts (of Osun) and it will be unfair for the governor, Head of Service, Majority Leader of the State Assembly and now Minister to come from a local government while several others did not have a political appointee representing them. ” From all indications, the fear in Osun APC over the choice of Adewole seems being fueled by the fact that the former Vice Chancellor may choose not to associate with, or patronise party members, even as a serving minister, representing them in Abuja, since he does not belong to them.

However, convulsion over his ministerial nominations does not look like be feigned by APC, underlining the need for intervention.

Opinion

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Sunday, October 18, 2015

Uncensored U nc

Sheriff S Folarin

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

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hich takes more lives in Nigeria: Boko Haram or the plethora of parlous Nigerian roads? This question will require no difficulty in answering, for, Boko Haram is limited to the Northeast of Nigeria with intermittent strikes in Abuja; while bad roads are in every nick, corner and region of the federation.

Whether on the international roads, the many long stretches of inter-state (federal) roads, intra-state roads and local council roads, including streets, avenues and closes, Nigerian roads are irredeemably deteriorating and could be classed among some of the worst in the parts of the world that one has ever been to: Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.

The unavoidable road accidents every other day, when summed up, would claim more lives daily than the Boko Haram attacks and tropical diseases put together. The roads are just not good. On most of the highways, vehicles cannot go two ‘smooth or healthy’ minutes without encountering unexpected potholes, gullies or a deteriorating part in most unexpected places.

For the regular users of particular roads, they slow down and maneuver whenever they approach such spots; but for the first-time users, they run into such ditches or potholes and get their vehicles damaged and in most cases, run into deathtraps that would claim their lives.

Tyres burst or remove forcefully whenever such incidences are encountered- the vehicle could summersault, leaving the occupants crushed. Sometimes, heavy duty trucks carrying containers of products, including cement

Safety Tips with

Jonas s Agwu

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

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henever I ponder over the bad driving habits by some motorists and the spate of avoidable road traffic crashes deaths and injuries, three scriptures from the Holy book pops up in my mind .The three scriptures are from the books of Deuteronomy, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes; the three scriptures emphasises Gods concern and His urge to see us live and not die. In Deuteronomy 30:19, God said, I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; Therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.

In Proverbs 18:21, Heaven warns us to guard our tongue saying that the tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruits. The third and final scripture is my guiding scriptures whenever I gave safety talks to religious groups especially Christians. I am still searching for the appropriate scripture from the Holy Koran to strike a balance and meet the yearnings of the readers and publics.

The third is Ecclesiastes 7:17, and it says, Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish; why shouldest thou die before thy time?

Despite these powerful Godly and Fatherly worry and instructions, a handful of motorists drive with a death wish on their mind. Some know these scriptures but care less about the

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Please, give us good roads! overturn at bad spots and fall on smaller vehicles, killing occupants; and when they do not kill people, they create traffic gridlock and virtually kill everyone’s time. A small bad spot is enough to create traffic jam, as every vehicle slows down to maneuver and in the process keep the hundreds of vehicles behind trailing and driving very slowly for their turn to get to the same spot.

In many cases, vehicles break down due to engine exhaustion, overheat, kick issues or burnt clutch, which adds up to the traffic gridlock as vehicles behind are stuck and would have to wait until there is an opportunity to outmaneuver. In the process, thousands of cars, lorries, trucks and trailers queue up and move like chameleon to get out of the quagmire of a road.

Man-hours are killed in the process and this directly has bad effect on the economy of the people and that of the country’s. Moreover, heavy traffic all the time with heavy duty trucks and others on a particular stretch of road can cause a deterioration of the road.

The road is weakened and sooner or later, expires or collapses. The roads thus become not motorable, yet they are still in use. Disasters on such are fatal and could take people’s lives.

Aside bad portions that cause fatalities and traffic chaos, there are also roads that are due for expansion or dualisation. Built in the 1970s to service the needs of that time, the expansion of the Nigerian population and economy requires complementary expansion of the roads. But they have been left unattended to, which have created a new dimension to the road fatality issue. For instance, from the Chelsea factory side, the stretch of road from Sango-Ota to Idiroko (Nigeria-Benin) border is too narrow to be a major international route. The amount of trailers that ply this route with very heavy loads cannot be quantified. Sand and stone sellers also use it on regular basis to convey their wares to builders at construction sites. Then lots of car smugglers have no alternative route. Work-

ers and residents are in their hundreds of thousands. Yet, they all have to use and contend for space on this pitiably narrow road.

Unusual and unprecedented traffic gridlocks occur here every day- particularly from the Chelsea factory through the very narrow and blood-cuddling “death bridge” to Iju town; and from the Atan market to Agbara junction. Motorists can spend hours on these two spots, not because of bad road, but because of the contention among thousands of vehicles to outmaneuver one another on the narrow stretch of road.

“Blood-curdling death bridge”? Yes, the bridge that links Chelsea with Iju claims lives every day. Just last Tuesday, a heavy duty truck fell into it. The driver did not survive.

Trailers disappear in the belly of this “small water”, while cars that fall into it cannot even be traced. In some cases, such incidents are not even known. An entire Lagbus carrying passengers had fallen off this bridge into the river before and only few persons could be rescued.

The bus sank deep down. Why do these happen? The bridge complements the narrowness of the road and is directly at the end of a sharp curve (bend), so that speeding vehicles would not know how to stop or where to turn to whenever they reach the end of the curve and are supposed to straighten their steerings. There is a “jungle” of sorts (thick bush) between the point of descent at Iju and the bridge, which blocks the view of motorists from afar. They simply, accidentally, plunge into the river and lose their lives. On daily basis.

The same international road from Sango, between the overhead bridge and Joju roundabout, has totally collapsed. The collapse is indescribable. Yet, that is Nigeria’s gateway to and from West Africa!

The Lagos-Abeokuta express road completed only in 2004, now has many, many expired spotsTollgate to Sango bridge, Sona Breweries to Ifo wood market, and Papalanto junction to Lafarge

cement company. The roads are unimaginably bad that the people pass through the most harrowing of driving experience. The LagosIbadan expressway is still in comatose. The Lagos-Benin express road has witnessed some cosmetics; but it still causes notorious accidents and some bad spots have become the natural breaks for armed robbers to lay in ambush for speeding vehicles, which have tyres thrown to their wheels or are ambushed when they slow down at the danger spots. Jebba-Mokwa-Kaduna and Jebba-Minna roads should no longer be described as a road. The Sahara Desert would be more motorable.

On a lighter note, the last time I drove to Lome in my car, I had to patronize a carwash close to the border before departing Nigeria because the Owode “gully” with murky water had rubbished the tyres and body. It became sparkling clean and remained so outside Nigeria for four days until I returned to Nigeria and passed through the same Owode spot.

That is the story of the Nigerian road. It messes vehicles up; messes up the motorists and messes up lives.

I beg the Nigerian government at all levels to please be true to their words on giving us good roads. Has the Ogun State Government abandoned its road projects? Five months to the elections and five months after, road construction/ reconstruction has stopped and not been continued. President Buhari should kindly bring the “change” effect to bear on the so-called federal Nigerian roads. Aside messing people up, the very poor condition of the roads also messes up our image abroad and messes us up indeed as the only big-time oil-producing country that is grappling with road infrastructure.

•Sheriff Folarin (PhD), an Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations, writes from Sango Ota, Ogun State.

How to die this ember consequences of their bad driving habits. Others don’t or better still feign ignorance.

If you call them suicide driven motorists or maniac on the wheels, you won’t be wrong.

These motorists drive as if they have a special immunity or what in our parlance; we call jazz or juju which promises false protection in the event of a crash. Today, I have chosen to guide such motorists on the best way to hit the ground and depopulate the driving population and meet their maker or devilish mentor.

Truth is that I hate bad drivers; I equally detest reckless and irresponsible drivers who litter our roads daily. These are the drivers who will insult, assault and threaten to run you over for the audacity to pull them over. These drivers are seen daily creating additional lanes even when it is obvious that there is only one lane. They take delight in committing all kinds of traffic infraction and become a law unto them self.

They forget that deaths and injuries during the EMBER MONTHS are caused by such driving tendencies. They forget God’s concern for their lives and the divine injunction contained in the Ten Commandments which says, thou shall not kill. They forget that there is a consequence for killing, including killing yourself .They also forgets the concern of the Nigerian government to protect their lives on the road, through the activities of the Federal Road Safety Corps which for the past 27years has consistently warned against such bad driving. Even the ones who are parents forget that between 19-28, December, 2013,55 children were killed,227 injured and 489 involved in road crashes.

They equally forget that the World Health Organisation (WHO) is worried that( 1.24 million) one million and twenty-four thousand deaths occur on the world’s road annually with over 50 million injuries sustained through avoidable

road traffic crashes. WHO is also worried that people under the ages of 25years die at an average of more than 1,000 deaths a day.

The figure says WHO, is worse in the subSaharan Africa which although accounts for four percent of world vehicle, accounts for over sixty percent of global crashes. According to The Global status report on road safety 2013 from 182 countries, accounting for almost 99% of the world’s population, including Nigeria, road traffic deaths remains 1.24 million per year.

As at 2014, the figure stands at 1.3million. Only 28 countries, covering 7% of the world’s population, have comprehensive road safety laws on five key risk factors: drinking and driving, speeding, and failing to use motorcycle helmets, seat-belts, and child restraints. Nigeria through the activities of the Federal Road Safety Corps is among these countries.

The report further states that another 20 to 50million sustain non- fatal injuries. These injuries and deaths have an immeasurable impact on the families affected and their communities. Road traffic injuries are estimated to be the eighth leading cause of death globally, with an impact similar to that caused by diseases, such as malaria and remain the leading cause of death for young people aged 15–29years, and as a result take a heavy toll on those entering their most productive years. Yearly, 400,000people under the ages of 25years die at an average of more than 1000 a day.

These deaths are more in low and middle income countries among vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclist, motorcyclist and those using public transport. Speeding remains the single most common traffic violations and explains why the Federal Road Safety Corps has fixed mid 2015 as deadline for enforcement of speed limiters in vehicles beginning with com-

mercial vehicles. The use of phone while driving, dangerous driving, unlicensed and under aged driving are also prevalent violations, in addition to lane indiscipline among others.

Economically, the report notes that disadvantaged families are hardest hit by both direct medical costs and indirect costs such as lost wages that result from these injuries. At the national level, road traffic injuries weans the national purse particularly in developing economies and are estimated to cost low-and middle-income countries between 1–2% of their gross national product, estimated at over US$100billion a year.

Despite these facts, road safety has been neglected not just in terms of policy formulation but also in terms of resource allocation and individual responsibility despite the fact that road traffic injuries are largely preventable. Although road traffic injuries is projected to become the fth leading cause of death by2030, if nothing concrete is done, corporate and individual engagement is still not in the magnitude needed to make a significant difference. The African region has the highest road fatality rates with 37 of the 44 countries surveyed having death rates well above the global average of 18.0 deaths per 100,000population.While the region accounts for 2% of the worlds vehicles, it contributes 16% to the global deaths with young men as the most vulnerable. Most countries lack policies for protecting vulnerable road users. And most are yet to enact comprehensive laws concerning the major risk factors such as speed, drink driving, helmet use, seat belt use and child restraint. Post crash is either inadequate or lacking while law enforcement is weak or ineffective.

•Agwu, a Corps Commander, is Corps Public Education Officer, Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

15

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Man in the News Dr. Kayode Fayemi

Round peg set for the round hole AYO ESAN

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ormer Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, recently came back into political reckoning following his nomination as a minister by President Muhammadu Buhari. His name was among the 21-man list of ministerial nominees submitted to the Senate by the president through his National Assembly Liaison Officer, Senator Ita Enang, for screening two weeks ago.

When the Senate carried out the screening last Tuesday and Wednesday, Fayemi came out smoking. Unlike other nominees, he was asked questions on various sectors by the senators who were gambling through his curriculum vitae as to the ministry he would be posted to.

Thus questions were put to him as a Foreign, Education and even as Interior minister. The grilling lasted over an hour before he was allowed to leave the podium and ‘take a bow ’.

Fayemi, who was screened after Senator Udo Udoma, took the shine off the exercise as his oratorical skill was later appreciated by senators and thousands of Nigerians both in the gallery and those who sat glued to their television.

His unique quality as a lecturer, orator and human rights activist were well displayed to the admiration of his kith and kin in Ekiti State who trooped to the streets in jubilation.

During the grilling, Fayemi while reacting to claims that he left a heavy burden in Ekiti while he was in office as governor said that he borrowed to offset debts owed by his predecessor, Engineer Segun Oni, and also to develop infrastructure which he promised his people during his election campaign.

He said the debt figures being bandied about was not correct adding that he did not borrow to pay salaries but to build infrastructure which is a legacy he left behind.

On the question that he spent unwarranted sums of money to build a government house during his tenure, Fayemi said he met a 2-bedroom apartment as a government house, insisting that the government house he built is multi-purpose and refuted the claim of buying a N50 million bed for the room in the House.

He maintained that there was even no N1.5m bed in the Ekiti Government House he built. He dared anyone to bring forward an invoice showing that he paid N50million for any bed in government house.

His words; “I challenge anybody who claims that I bought a bed for N50m to prove it. Anyone who knows me personally knows that I am not given to frivolities. Not even a bed of N1.5 million is

there. I left everything when I left. All I did was to build a befitting government house for the state. ” On the question as to how he could handle the education crisis in Nigeria, he said, “We need to do more about Nigeria ’s teachers ’ quality. ” According to him, much still needs to be done to make public school education attractive. He further said that Nigeria need do more on the curriculum as well as enrolment of students, particularly in the northern states.

On the spate of Boko Haram insurgency, he called for a better judicial system and asked that people involved should be prosecuted for Boko Haram activities.

Kayode Fayemi was born on February 9, 1965. A native of Isan-Ekiti in Oye local council of Ekiti State, he attended Christ School Ado- Ekiti from 1975-1980 and received degrees in History, Politics and International Relations from the universities of Lagos and Ile-Ife. His Doctorate in War Studies was from Kings College, University of London, specialising in civil-military relations.

His research and policy interests include: Democratisation, Constitutional-

ism, Security Sector Governance and Regionalism in the Global Context.

He is a former Director of the Centre for Democracy & Development, a research and training institution dedicated to the study and promotion of democratic development, peace-building and human security in Africa.

As a prominent leader of the Nigerian opposition to military rule in exile, he was responsible for the founding and management of the opposition radios Radio Freedom, Radio Democracy International & Radio Kudirat - and he played a central role in the opposition ’s diplomatic engagements in exile.

Among his numerous academic and public policy engagements at home and abroad, Dr Fayemi had lectured in Africa, Europe, the Americas and Asia.

He had also served as an adviser on transitional justice, regional integration, constitutionalism, security sector reform and civil-military relations issues to various governments, inter-governmental institutions and development agencies. He was the main technical adviser to Nigeria ’s Human Rights Viola-

tions Investigation Commission (Oputa Panel), which investigated past abuses and currently serves on the Presidential Implementation Committees on Security Sector Reform, NEPAD and the Millennium Development Goals.

He was technical expert to the ECOWAS on small arms and light weapons and United Nations Economic Commission of Africa on governance issues. He is also a member, Africa Policy Advisory Panel of the British Government. At other times, he had served as a consultant to the OECD on Security Sector Reform and chaired the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiatives Committee of Experts on developing guiding principles and mechanisms of constitution making in Commonwealth Africa.

He is a Fellow of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Ibadan, Adjunct Professor of Security Studies at the African Centre for Strategic Studies, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C., and USA. He was also a Visiting Professor in the African Studies Programme at Northwestern University, Evanston, USA in 2004.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Wellness YOUR HEALTH AND HEALTH RELATED ISSUES October 18, 2015

Coping with Leukemia TITILOPE MORAKINYO

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lood cancer or Leukemia is a malignancy of cellular component in the blood and bone marrow. It is mainly related to the blood cells such as White blood cells which include blood disorders in the blood cells and the symptoms are exposed in the immune system of the person which weakens the immune system of the person resulting in the skin problems such as rashes, skin disorders.

It has a treatment such as chemotherapy which aids in decreasing the abnormalities but it cannot cure it completely.

Blood is a part of the body and has different components such as red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma. The red blood cells, platelets are also called monocytes because it belongs to the myeloid group and other white blood cells belong to the lymphoid group. However, lymphoid cells are affected because the disease progresses quickly and it is most common among children.

It affects the production and function of the blood cells and starts in the bone marrow where the blood is produced.

Stem cells in the bone marrow mature and develop into the three types of blood cells. In most blood cancers, the normal blood cell development process is interrupted by uncontrolled growth of an abnormal type of blood cell. These abnormal blood cells, or cancerous cells, prevent the blood from performing many of its functions, like fighting off infections or preventing serious bleeding.

The three main types of blood cancers such as Leukemia which is a type of cancer found in the blood and bone marrow caused by the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells. The high numbers of abnormal white blood cells are not able to fight infection, and they impair the ability of the bone marrow to produce red blood cells and platelets.

Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which removes excess fluids from your body and produces immune cells. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that fights infection. Abnormal lymphocytes become lymphoma cells, which multiply and collect in the lymph nodes and other tissues. Over time, these cancerous cells impair your immune system. While myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells, they are white blood cells that produce disease- and infection-fighting antibodies in the body; also prevent the normal production of antibodies, leaving the body ’s immune system weakened and susceptible to infection.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Blood cancer affects millions of people around the world and found out that blood cancer are found in the blood of people under the age of 40 as it becomes more common with age and appears in more than 10% of people over the age of 70.

HEALTH NEWS Elite Wellness urges fitness to stop heart diseases

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

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

According to the General

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

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

“It wouldn ’t take much

to reduce this situation as authoritative studies show that just 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by over 40%.

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

In an interview with Sunday Mirror, Dr Ola Areola, a medical practitioner with Divine Will Hospital Festac, Lagos explains more on blood cancer. It is an umbrella term for cancers that affect the blood, bone marrow and lymphatic system. It affects a large number of people. The exact cause of leukemia is not known, but it is thought to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Leukemia cells have acquired mutations in their DNA that cause them to grow abnormally and lose functions of typical white blood cells. It is not clear what causes these mutations to occur. Most cases of leukemia are not believed to be hereditary, but certain genetic mutations and conditions can be passed along to offspring that increase the chances of developing leukemia. A condition known as Li-Fraumeni syndrome is characterized by an inherited mutation in a tumor suppressor gene known as TP53, and individuals with this condition have an increased risk

of leukemia and other cancers. ” he explained, “Exposure to radiation is known to increase the risk of developing leukemia also exposure to benzene, used commonly in the chemical industry, increases the risk of leukemia. Cigarette smoking is known to increase the risk of developing the disease. Down syndrome and other medical conditions can increase the risk of developing leukemia.

Having risk factors does not mean that a person will definitely get leukemia, and most people with risk factors will not develop the disease. Likewise, not everyone who develops leukemia has an identifiable risk. ” medics revealed, “Signs and symptoms of leukemia includes, fevers, night sweats, swollen lymph nodes that are usually painless, Feelings of fatigue, tiredness, easy bleeding or bruising, causing bluish or purplish patches on the skin or tiny red spots on the skin, or recurring nosebleeds, Frequent infections and weight loss that is otherwise unexplained, or loss of appetite.

On the treatment for leukemia, he said “it include chemotherapy radiation therapy, biological therapy, targeted therapy, and stem cell transplant. Combinations of these treatments may be used. Surgical removal of the spleen can be a part of treatment if the spleen is enlarged. Acute leukemia needs to be treated when it is diagnosed, with the goal of inducing a remission therapy may be given to prevent a relapse of the leukemia.

Chronic leukemia ’s are unlikely to be cured with treatment, but treatments are often able to control the cancer and manage symptoms. Some people with chronic leukemia may be candidates for stem cell transplantation, which does offer a chance for cure. A preventive treatment includes vaccines against the flu or pneumonia, blood or platelet transfusions, anti-nausea medications to treat or prevent infections ”. He maintained,

HIV: 750,000 positive still below target –NACA

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

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

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

That is why there are lots of efforts to test people and get people to know their status because it based on their CD4 count that we offer these treatments. ” Of 33 million people living with HIV, only patients with CD4 count up to 500

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

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

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Sunday, October 18, 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

That report on ‘stalling governance ’ in Africa

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n Monday October 5, data from the Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG), an annual publication of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, showed that governments in many African countries have failed to improve the way they manage their countries in the last four years. The 2015 IIAG report shows that in the period under focus (2011- 2014), governance progress in the continent stalled. It also reveals that 21 of Africa ’s 54 countries have weakened performances compared to previous years. The average score for overall governance is put at 50.1, an improvement of only 0.2 above the 2011 average.

The index itself takes into account 93 indicators (ranging from corruption and rule of law to infrastructure and sanitation), which are broadly grouped into four categories of safety and rule of law; participation and human rights; sustainable economic opportunity, and human development. The assessment of governance performance for each of Africa ’s 54 countries was based on these parameters. The current index shows that only six countries, Cote d ’Ivoire, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia and Zimbabwe, have registered improvements across each of the four categories of IIAG. Equally revealing in the report is that Southern Africa has become the best performing region with an average score of 58.9, followed by West Africa (52.4), North Africa (51.2) and East Africa (44.3). Central Africa, with an average score of 40.9, ranks lowest and thus becoming the only region that deteriorated since 2011. The marginal improvement in overall governance at the continental level is said to be underpinned by positive performances in human development (+1.2), and participation and human rights (+0.7.

Both sustainable economic opportunity (-0.7) and safety and rule of law (-0.3) have, however, slipped.

The top five-ranked countries are Mauritius, Cape Verde, Botswana, South Africa and Namibia, while the bottom five-ranked countries are Eritrea, Sudan, Central African Republic, South Sudan, and Somalia. Worrisome are the signs of reversal at the top of the list. Of the 10 countries ranked best, five have

TAKING THE 2015 IIAG REPORT HOLISTICALLY, IT IS GLARING THAT THE MEASURES OF ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE HAVE SHOWN SOME OF THE BIGGEST DECLINES,

THE RESULT OF THE PREVAILING GLOBAL FALLING COMMODITY PRICES seen a decline in their governance scores since 2011, and they include Mauritius, Cape Verde and Botswana, the current top three countries.

Overall, Ivory Coast is said to have shown the most improvement since 2011, a development traced to the resolution of the conflict arising from the disputed election of 2010, while South Sudan, enmeshed in a civil war two year after her independence in 2011, has shown the greatest deterioration. The report ranked Nigeria 39th.

At the Monday launch of the report, Mo Ibrahim, the Sudanese-born billionaire founder of the Foundation, giving a panoramic view of the general trends across Africa, asserted: “While Africans overall are certainly healthier and live in more democratic societies than 15 years ago, the 2015 IIAG shows that recent progress in other key areas on the continent has either stalled or reversed, and that some key countries seem to be faltering. ” And for the import of this trend, he asserted: “This is a warning sign for all of us. Only shared and sustained improvements across all areas of governance will deliver the future that Africans deserve and demand. ” Taking the 2015 IIAG report holistically, it is glaring that the measures of

economic governance have shown some of the biggest declines, the result of the prevailing global falling commodity prices. It is also quite revealing that the successful countries are those with diversified economies.

For Nigeria, now ranked 39th, an improvement of the 41st position in 2013, she scored below Africa and West Africa average in the four categories of safety and rule of law; participation and human rights; sustainable economic opportunity, and human development, and recorded the most improvement in human development in the continent. But she registered improvement in business environment, largely seen as an indication of the progress made in addressing the security challenge buffeting her.

If the Ibrahim Index of African Governance, which came into existence in 20017, has become the dashboard that African governments are now using to track their governance progress, then Nigerian leaders must heed the advice offered by Mo Ibrahim that they fix the “deterioration ” in the country ’s education system, a sin qua non for the optimisation of the great potential of the country. Since 2011, the index shows Nigeria has consistently dipped in education and rural development. The facts sustaining the assertion are incontrovertible. President Muhammadu Buhari must have to act fast to reverse the trend in the interest of the teeming youths and the mass of people living in rural areas that require government ’s sponsored economic empowerment for their own socioeconomic upliftment.

There is no doubt that Nigeria ’s increasingly improving business environment, her increasingly successful counter-insurgency measures, and improvement in public power supply, would be a boon to both direct foreign investment in the country and local entrepreneurial efforts, especially at the informal sector of the economy. However, our past and recent experiences dictate that a fundamental move be made to reverse the mono-cultural status of the economy.

As the 2015 IIAG has shown, the most successfully governed African countries are those with diversified economies, it is thus imperative the Buhari administration must look beyond oil revenue if Nigeria must be properly mended.

Reminiscences OCTOBER 18 IN HISTORY 1931: American inventor, Edison, dies Thomas Edison dies, amongst his thousands of inventions the most well known include the phonograph and the practical electric light bulb. He also originated the concept and implementation of electricpower generation with distribution to homes and businesses.

1922: How BBC was set up The British Broadcasting Company (a commercial company) is formed with a share capital of £100,000. It ’s dissolved in 1926 and all assets are transferred to the British Broadcasting Corporation or the BBC as it is now known.

1924: U.S. - Democrats Republicans announce election funds The current election funds for the Democrats and Republican parties have been released for the upcoming national elections. Democrats $750,000, Republicans $3,000,000.

1935: Italy bombs Ethiopia Italian bombers have started bombing camps where Ethiopian women and children were thought to be safe while Ethiopian warriors attempt to fight using the invading Italian army well equipped with artillery and aircraft.

1944: Russia attacks Czechoslovakia The Russian army invades Czechoslovakia as a follow up to the Second World War. 1963: Britain gets new Prime Minister Lord Home, a Scottish Conservative aristocrat with the title of a ‘Lord ’ becomes the new British prime minister.

1968: Lennon, girlfriend arrested John Lennon and his girlfriend, Yoko Ono, are arrested in London for possession of marijuana 1968: Beamon breaks Olympic record Bob Beamon breaks the world long jump record in Mexico during the 1968 Olympics beating the previous record by nearly 2ft.

Many believed part of the reason for this astounding jump was the high altitude of the Olympics that year.

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Sunday, October 18, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

EDIFYING GOD Sunday, October 18, 2015

How to pprepare p for divine visitation,,

by Pastor Muoka 24

Patience –Thee Present Need of Nigerians 42

QUOTE Among the mystery that establishes our glorious destiny in Christ is the mystery of feet washing. Remember that mysteries are simply divine secrets embedded within scriptures and apostles are custodians of the mysteries of the Kingdom.

Bishop David Oyedepo

The hee ppla plac ac sou sso oul-winni ou oul-wwinnin oul-winnin wi i CChurc Church hhurch urch rcch ggro gr byy Pro Proo Oloruntimil Ol Olorunt Oloruntimil orunti i

41

Women in church leadership 22 & 23

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Vineyard

News BGOM holds healing crusade

Celebration

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ll is set for the four-day Jubilation Healing Crusade of Beloved Global Outreach Ministry located at Shekoni Plaza, Iyana Ejigbo, Lagos.

The programme tagged “Katakata in the kingdom of darkness” holding at Ejigbo Local Council, NNPC Bus stop, Lagos from October 21-25, 2015 will culminate with the ministry’s 2nd anniversary which will be celebrated at the church premises.

According to Evang. Hillary Esikalam, General Overseer of Beloved Global Outreach Ministry and the President and Founder of Jubilation Widows and Orphanage Foundation, the purpose of the program is to show love to the less privileged by distributing food items, such as rice to widows, also free books and scholarships will be given to the children of some of the widows who do not have the means to train the children in school.

Gospel acts such as Lanre Teriba (Atorise), Praise Machine, Evang.

Dan Ike (Battle Axe), Ndubuisi Kalu and a host of others are expected to minister in songs while Evang. Peter Scruley from Australia and other anointed ministers of the gospel will also grace the occasion.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Okonkwo urges church participation in national development …as TREM, Ipaja branch commissions new building

Convention 2015 at WAGC

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he stage is set for the annual and twelfth convention of Wonderful Apostolic Gospel Church Worldwide.

The event tagged “The Saviour” adopted from Matthew 1:21 holdss from November 26-29, 2015 from 10am at Plot 76, Whairf Road Ogbonto, Ikotun, Lagos.

The host, Prophet (Dr.) Ezekiel Oke aka Baba Fire-Fire speaking ahead of the celebration revealed that God is on a round to save all who attend the programme, adding that as many who will grace the occasion is sure to receive divine protection, salvation, healing, deliverance and promotion.

“Breakthrough, prosperity, spiritual/physical upliftment and open doors will be the lot of everyone who avails themselves of this wonderful opportunity to meet with the Lord, now and forever more”, he prayed.

Evang. Esikalam

Presiding Bishop, The Redeemed Evangelicals Mission, TREM , Bishop Mike Okonkwo and his wife, Bishop Peace Okonkwo at the event

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he presiding Bishop, The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Bishop Mike Okonkwo has noted that the church has a role to play in the development of the country, as he pointed out that if it (church) does play its part well, the Nigerian nation would be to greater heights.

Okonkwo who made this statement t during the commissioning of new church building for TREM, Ipaja Branch recently in Lagos, further stated that if the church plays it role properly, the nation would move further than the citizens envisaged.

According to the Bishop, the church is part of the transformation agenda of any given nation because the church bridges the gap of any nation. He added that it is high time Nigerian churches realize that they are a prominent force and need to play their god-given role in the development of the nation.

On the president declaring himself as the Minister of Petroleum, Okonkwo said: “I must say that President Buhari declaring himself as the Minister of Petroleum is a welcome idea because I believe that would help stem corruption in the sector. He would be able to unearth some of the corruption in the Petroleum sector; with him taking up that responsibility, he would be able to unravel the mystery of corruption behind the Ministry”, he said.

The cleric also noted that the church is bridging gap in the country, adding that even with the number of churches being established in every nook and cranny of the na-

tion, the country’s situation is still nothing to write home about.

“Though, churches have done a lot of good things for the sake of this country, one can imagine what the country would be like if there are no churches at all”, he lamented.

He claimed that part of the responsibility of the TREM fold is to transform and impact lives positively in any environment they find themselves.

“Part of our focus in TREM is to transform and impact lives in our host environment. We aim to see to the social, economical and positive transformation in every sphere of life of the people we come in contact with. I believe as the church continues to transform people; they will begin to live responsibly and at the same time also affect the lives of others around them. One of the things I usually discuss with my Pastors is that they should not be in a community without the community feeling their impact. Every life in the community they find themselves must feel their impact and I believe our churches are doing just that. We provide scholarships for indigent students, educational facilities to schools, pipe borne water among other facilities and I believe this branch that we have opened will do same for those who reside in the area”, he said.

Okonkwo also advised Ipaja residents to team with and work for the progress of the community.

“This is not the time for criticism as each one has a responsibility and a role to play here. Therefore, whatever input each

person can make to move the community forward, that they should do in good faith.

You need to also show cooperation to the church so that the church can play its developmental role effectively”, he admonished.

Resident Pastor of the Church, Rev. Rotimi OLukorede revealed that the building of the church started in 2014 and the success was based on simple obedience to God’s command.

He added that members of the church had undergone a full month prayer and fasting to make the dedication a success as he thanked members of the TREM Wealthy Place for their support and contributions towards the success of the building.

Also, Chairman Building Committee, Mr. Bode Oladotun said the leadership and vision under Rev Olukorede which is anchored on love, discipline, dedication and commitment gave birth to the glorious edifice.

The church which is located at Iyana Ipaja, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos is a storey building with a sitting capacity of 2,000 members.

The three day programme which began on Friday October 2was rounded up with special thanksgiving service last Sunday. Dedication of the house of worship also known as TREM Wealthy Place was done by the Presiding Bishop of TREM international, Bishop Mike Okonkwo and his wife, Bishop Peace Okonkwo with other Bishops in the Ministry.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

From the Pulpit 21

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Born to die

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n continuation of our last week’s topic: I hereby submit as a recap that biblical prophecies about Jesus point to His suffering and death as His destiny. The only begotten Son of God was born to die. His death was the only surety of our eternal life. He was born to die a voluntary, substitutionary death for mankind (Gen 3:15; Isa 53:5, 6, 11; Dan 9:26; Matt 20:28; John 10:11; 1 Cor 15:3; Gal 2:20).

In continuation of our discussion on the above topic, below are some of the scriptures which agree with the predictions that the Messiah was “born to die”: (9). He was born to be pierced in hands and feet (Psalm 22:16; Zech 12:10).

This was the prophetic evidence sought by doubting Thomas when He got the news of Christ’s resurrection from His fellow disciples; and Jesus did not slack in revealing it! (John 20:2529). These scars will shine with eternal glory in the earth made new. Jesus would boast with them in glory: “and one will say to him, ‘what are these wounds between your arms?’Then He will answer, ‘those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends’” (Zech 13:6-7; see Isa 22:23; Mark 14:27; John 19:34; Rev 1:7).

However, as predicted, His bones were not broken (Exod 12:46; Num 9:12; Ps 34:20 see John 19:36). (10). He was born to be crucified with thieves. He was “numbered with the transgres-

sors” (Isa 53:9, 12; Mark 15:27-28; Luke 22:37; 23:39-43) even though He knew no sin, neither was any guile found in Him (1 Peter 2:22). (11). He was born to pray for His persecutors (Psalm 109:14). “He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isa 53:12).

That was why Jesus could sincerely and vehemently pray for those who crucified Him: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:34). (12) His garment was gambled for by soldiers as predicted in Psalm 22:18 and fulfilled in John 19:2324. The only earthly possession He had was the cloth on His back.

He became poor so that we might be rich through His poverty (2 Cor 8:9). He who owns all things gave up all things and became nothing that we might become something.

(13). He was born to be deserted by God. He cried out: “My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1; Matt 27:46).

Even the sun could not afford to behold its Creator: the Sun of Righteousness being tortured on the cross! The sun hid Jesus for a while on that cross from a gaping crowd by darkness covering all the land for about three (3) hours (See Amos 8:9; Ps 22:2; Matt 27:45). Yet, He committed Himself to God (Psalm 22:20; 31:5). He resigned to God totally: “Into your hand I commit my spirit” (Matt 27:43; Luke 23:46).

(14). He was born to agonize with thirst at His death (Ps 22:5; 69:3, 21). He was offered vinegar for his thirst on the cross (John 19:28; Matt 27:34, 48).

(15). He was born to be buried with the rich at His death (Isaiah 53:9; see Matt 27:57-61). Even at His lowest point

on earth, Jesus remains the “High and lifted up”. Though crucified stack naked, He clothes the lilies of the field and gives all creatures their meat in due season with no need for worry.

When He appeared the weakest and most vulnerable, He lost no virtue as the Almighty Omnipotent Potentate.

When humanity died, divinity never winked a moment! Christ’s birth and life demand our humble contemplation. “Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up in due season” (1 Peter 5:6; James 4:10). “Let this mind be in you as it was in Christ Jesus” (Phil 2:5-8).

“For all those who exalt themselves shall be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Luke 14:11; 18:14). The higher your status or state in life, the lowlier you are supposed to be. Do not get too big for heaven’s blessings. God hates the proud.

You and I are also born to die. The art of being born again is a process of the death of the old life and the birth of a new man in Christ Jesus (John 3:7).

“You are dead and the life you live now is in Christ Jesus” (Gal 2:20). Paul says “I die daily” (1 Cor 15:31). Jesus said it is in losing your life that you find it (Matt 10:39; 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24; 17:33). “Except a corn of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone: but after it dies, it brings forth much fruit. He that loves his life shall lose it and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal” (John 12:25).

I challenge you to die to self, sin, and the pleasures of this world. Die to pride; overeating; and the desires of the flesh! Make your life a living sacrifice to God (Rom 12:1). Embrace a life

of sacrifice. Your life is a gift from God to you. In turn, you must give your life back to Him. Don’t struggle for control. Don’t take it back.

Just give it to Him who knows your end from the beginning and you will surely gain it back.

With God, it is a win-win situation. Men may use men and dump them, but God lifts whoever surrenders to him/her beyond their wildest imagination. Don’t struggle for control with God! Just give Him your life totally and you will be the blessed most profoundly. He was born to die so you can live in Him. Accept Him and stay on course therefore. May God bless and keep you as you do so in Jesus’ name!

Tunde Ojewole, PhD, is the Babcock University Pastor in charge: Division of Spiritual Life. Get a copy of his book: GOD’S FOOTPRINTS for more. For enquiries, contact: ojewolea@babcock.edu.ng or call/ SMS 08058299434/08060376577 Pastor Agape S. DOMINIC, District Leader, Rivers West Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA), Ahoada East Local Govt Area (AELGA), Rivers State & Media Relations Manager to Associate Vice President/University Pastor, (Dr. Tunde A. Ojewole), Babcock University,Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria.

CellPhones: +2348034602813/+2348050401747.

I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST...Phil 4:13

Church leadership success: Clean the mirror image The Shepherd with Pastor Akinyele

Aluko

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eadership in the Secular and the Spiritual is extremely vital to growth and development.

We don’t need to go far to appreciate what good or bad leadership can do in the life of a people. Nigeria remains a typical example. In the Church of God leadership is not just about management of the human and material resources it is more about leading as many as possible to Christ Jesus. The first step to becoming an effective leader is to look in the mirror. Master the art of leading yourself and you will lay the foundation for helping others to do the same.

How do you lead yourself? By becoming more commanding so that you can bend the will of others to your own? Work on your Charisma so that you can inspire others to do what you want? Develop the ability to identify what people want and provide it for them as an incentive to comply? Learn how to uncover the shortcomings of others and berate them for their failures?

All the above may work for a short while but they are not foundations for effective leadership.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:3-6 3.Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice

the log in your own eye? 4. Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? 5. You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye. NRSV What Jesus is saying is that as Leaders, we need a careful self examination of ourselves and a sincere willingness to seek ways of improving ourselves as a sure way of providing a foundation for effective leadership. When we don’t engage in this honest self evaluation and corrective process, we set ourselves up for doing more harm than good as Leaders. In summary: To become an effective leader for others first learn to lead yourself. Mark 9: 33-35.

“Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34 But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. 35 He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” NRSV (The Last indeed shall be first) Optimal leadership requires that we keep our insides, that is, our self-leadership heart as well as our outsides clean. Mark 7: 18-23 -18. “He said to them, “Then do you also fail to understand?

Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile, 19 since it enters, not the heart but the stomach, and goes out into the sewer?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20 And he said, “It is what comes out of a person that defiles. 21 For it is from within, from the

human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, 22. adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” NRSV Transcending worry can unleash the vitality and strength that leaders need to lead themselves and others. In Matthew 6: 25-29 and 34, Jesus said: 25. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26. Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not of more value than they? 27. And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 28. And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29. yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these… 34. “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today. NRSV True leaders act with integrity and expect their followers to do the same. It is therefore important for leaders to commit themselves to Ethical Behaviour at all times. Luke 20:20-26. 20 “So they watched him and sent spies who pretended to be honest, in order to trap him by what he said, so as to hand him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor. 21 So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you are right in

what you say and teach, and you show deference to no one, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth.

22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” 23 But he perceived their craftiness and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius.

Whose head and whose title does it bear?”

They said, “The emperor’s.” 25 He said to them, “Then give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 26 And they were not able in the presence of the people to trap him by what he said; and being amazed by his answer, they became silent.” NRSV Effective leaders let their light serve as a beacon that lead followers to their own best light.

This is a tremendous responsibility. Acting in short sighted, self-serving, unethical ways will surely sabotage any attempt at positive leadership. Jesus said in Matt 5:13-17. 13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

•Apostle Pastor Akinyele Aluko is the Shepherd of the English Service Chapel, Cherubim & Seraphim Movement Church, Surulere Sub-Headquarters, Ayo Ni O.e-mail: eyealuko2002@yahoo. co.uk, 08050463889.

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Women in church T

he question of women ministers, pastors, priests, etc., is controversial within Christianity. Many of the larger Christian denominations such as the Anglican, Episcopal, Evangelical Lutheran, United Methodist, Presbyterian (USA), United Church of Christ and a host of others do ordain women, but the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches do not.

In the Old Testament, women were mostly in a subservient roles, but a number of women were mentioned as leaders and prophets of Israel, including Miriam in Exodus 15:20, Deborah (Judges 4:4-5), Esther (Esther 4:15-17), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14) and Athaliah (2 Chronicles 22:10-12). In the New Testament, Jesus chose only men as His 12 apostles (Mark 3:13-19), and that is sometimes cited as the reason why only men should be appointed to church leadership roles.

However, Jesus sent His apostles out to spread the gospel to the world, and they sought food and shelter where they could find it, and such help definitely, also came from women whom the apostles came in contact with as they went about preaching the good news. Looking at the gospel of Matthew 27:55-56, John 20:14-18 and some others, it is obvious that Jesus did have a number of women among His larger circle of disciples.

Despite some biblical prohibitions, a number of women held important positions in the early Christian churches, this could be confirmed in Acts 1:12-14, 18:24-26, 21:7-9 and Romans 16:1-16. Much of the opposition to women in ministry is based on first Corinthians 14:33-35 and first Timothy 2:11-12 which states ‘A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.’

Though as mentioned earlier, a number of women held important positions in the early church, but biblical-era society was very much male-dominated and the status of women was much like that of children today; totally subservient to the male headof-household. It would have been considered scandalous for a woman to take a leadership role with authority over men.

But today, gender restrictions have become a thing of the past and unlike the biblical-era women, the women of this present era have and are still standing out as they play prominent roles in the church. Many are enlightened, educated and are bringing to realisation the passion some of the women of old pioneered as many are ordained ministers with specific titles, some hold important leadership roles in churches while others have gone as far as presiding over ministries of their own.

According to Bishop Oscar Osai, General Overseer City of Refuge Church, Lagos, though women have played prominent roles in the church, some Christians have decided to restrict themselves to the Old Testament part of the Bible.

“It is not that women have not played prominent roles even in the Bible, the problem is that many of us who are Bible preachers and users of the word of God,

Women were recorded to have served in the early Christian church in a variety of ways, but their roles were not acknowledged due to gender restrictions at the time. Though some denominations continue to relegate women, others have allowed them pursue their passion to be recognised and hold leadership positions in the church. ODINAKA URUAKPA looks at this sometimes controversial issue. restrict ourselves to Old Testament and forget that the New Testament is a fulfilment of the old. Esther, a woman in the Bible was a clear leader and a queen. The woman, Prophetess Jeho who led Israel to war, was as much a prophet as Samuel was in the Old Testament. There are so many examples of women in prominent and leadership roles in the Bible. Etheu, and Ruth, the grandmother of Jesse, father of David were leaders in their own right.

Then when we start coming down, in New Testament, we heard of Priscilla, who was called a fellow worker of her husband, Aquila. These were women who played prominent roles and stood out in the scriptures. Even in recent times, there are women who have distinguished themselves as presiding Bishop over the gathering of God’s people. The scripture that people are holding unto, i.e. first Timothy 2:12 is a scripture that is time based. Saint Paul was saying that in the time in which they were. Most of the women were uneducated illiterates who couldn’t add much to the church and therefore, in his mind, it was better that they stated back at home and look after their family. It is not a standard practice that women shouldn’t be involved in church leadership. The Bible says in the book of Judges that in the days of Sander, highways were free and men chose to walk by the by-ways. Until Jael, a mother in

THOUGH AS MENTIONED EARLIER, A NUMBER OF WOMEN HELD IMPORTANT POSITIONS IN THE

EARLY CHURCH, BUT BIBLICAL-ERA SOCIETY WAS VERY MUCH MALE-DOMINATED AND THE STATUS OF WOMEN WAS MUCH LIKE THAT OF CHILDREN TODAY; TOTALLY SUBSERVIENT TO THE MALE

HEAD-OF-HOUSEHOLD. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED SCANDALOUS FOR A WOMAN TO TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE WITH AUTHORITY OVER MEN.

Israel took leadership and brought about a change. Women have always been in leadership; they have always contributed immensely to nation building, to the advancement of the gospel and such women have been given the due recognition. It is not a blanket thing simply because Paul said he didn’t permit women to participate; he was dealing with illiterates and people who could not add much to the ministry, and he decided that they had better sit back. But where we are today, there are many great women of God. The popular Foursquare Gospel Church we hear about today was founded by Amy Macpherson, a woman. Catherine Cooman, a frontline revivalist of old was a woman. These women

did creditably well and stood out in leadership”, he explained.

Osai further explained that Paul’s statement against women having authority in the church was not due to the culture at the time like many people would think, but to the type of women available in the church then.

“Paul’s restriction wasn’t made out of cultural leanings; it was just the type of women in the church in which he was ministering at the time and in that particular circumstance.

The cardinal argument is that it is the Holy Spirit whether it is in a man or a woman. You lay hands on the sick and they are healed; who cares whether you are a male or female. You minister Holy Spirit baptism and

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leadership people are speaking in tongues; who gives a hoot whether it is a man that ministered or a woman. The Holy Spirit is the same; in this world, as rightly stated in Galatians 3:28, there is neither male nor female, there is no freeborn or slave; it is the same spirit producing the same result”, he maintained.

When asked what he thinks of men who do not support the idea of women ministering or assuming leadership roles in the church, the Bishop said: “However they view it, it is their business; all I know is that women have done well and stood out in the work of the ministry, from old testament through the new testament, through the older history of the church to the time in which we are in; so if these people refuse to submit to the women, then let them submit to themselves.”

In her reaction, the General Overseer, The Truth Visionary Mission (TTVM), Ikotun, Lagos, Prophetess Ngozi Okafor, said that women have always been involved in leadership right from the Bible days, adding that women were the first to witness Jesus Christ’s resurrection from dead.

“We can see women like Deborah and Esther who did the work of God in the Bible days. When you go through the word of God very well, you will come to understand that women have always been involved in the leadership of the church. When Jesus Christ died, women were the first to go to the place he was buried when the men were still asleep and in hiding and they were the first to witness His resurrection. We can see that women have passion to work for God and when the Lord saw this passion in the women, He decided to grant them the authority and this is the reason women are able to lead in church now. Any church you see a woman heading, you will see how effective things would be there. Moreover, in Saint Paul’s time, it was the tradition for women not to be actively involved in church leadership, but times have changed, and women are more enlightened and educated to handle things in the church”, she pointed out.

On men who want women to be restricted from church leadership, Okafor said: “These men are still leaving in the time of men having all the authority. If they go into the biblical way of worship, they must know that there is nothing like man or woman. It is God alone who decides who He gives authority to work in His vineyard.

I am a prophetess today because God gave me the authority from birth that I would a minister of His word and I followed the path I have been called into for thirty nine years now.”

On what women who have the calling, but cannot fulfil it due to one reason or the other should do, the prophetess said: “If God has actually called them, they cannot be deterred by anything, even their husbands.

When God calls you, it is a personal thing. For example, when I was called, I was a spinster; my husband married me as a minister of the gospel. I let him know about my calling from God and my intention to keep to it, he promised not to deter me and

WE CAN SEE WOMEN LIKE DEBORAH AND ESTHER WHO DID THE WORK OF GOD IN THE BIBLE DAYS. WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD VERY WELL, YOU WILL COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT WOMEN HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CHURCH. he has been very supportive ever since.”

She further said that in the past, it was just the culture for only men to minister or lead in the church as they were following the Law of Moses, but now people should realise that God can call anyone male or female.

“People need to know that no one can stop the work of God. If God calls you, no one can stop you. For those men who don’t want to go into a church that a woman is leading, it is left to them, but He that called us will help us”, she claimed.

Pastor John Oni of the Good Tidings Evangelical Church, Mushin, Lagos, claimed that the doctrine and practices regarding women in ministry is built on the foundation of God’s redemptive plan for humankind as fleshed out in the life, teachings and ministry of Jesus Christ.

“Pentecost was the crowning act for Christians, both women and men in leadership.

Women and men were present at Pentecost, which marked the coming of the Holy Spirit. Peter declared in Acts 2:17-18, that what they were experiencing was the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy in Joel 2:2829. Until this time, only a few select people were given the Spirit of God for a limited time to carry out a special task. What Joel prophesied was an abundant out-pouring of God’s spirit on all people; not on Jewish people only, but on Gentiles as well; not on

men only, but on women as well. There was no shortage of women leaders in the First Century church. Possibly, many more ministered than are mentioned in the Bible.

Romans 16:1-16 clearly indicates the importance of the ministries in which women were involved. Phoebe was a woman minister in the church of Cenchreae whom Paul asked the Christians at Rome to welcome as a minister which indicates that her ministry extended beyond her own congregation.

She was described as being a help to many, therefore, her ministry was fruitful. Paul confirmed that she was of great assistance to him.

In Romans 16:3-5 Prisca or Priscilla was in ministry along with her husband Aquila.

They are called fellow-workers, a term of equality. When the couple was mentioned in writing, Priscilla’s name was listed first, indicating that she may have been the leader of the two. Other women mentioned in Romans 16 who served as co-labourers in Paul’s ministry were Mary, Tryphaena, Tryphosa, the mother of Rufus, Persis and Julia.

The Acts of the Apostles records the ministries of Dorcas, Lydia, and the four daughters of Phillip who prophesied or preached”, he revealed.

Oni said that Apostle Paul clearly utilized women’s God-given leadership skills and gifts for ministry. He added that Apostolic Church was very relevant to the wom-

en in that it gave them unparalleled freedom and released them from centuries of cultural oppression.

This he said is the reason women were so extensively and intensively involved in the life of the apostolic church.

On the examples of women who served with Paul in leading the developing churches, and why he said that he did not permit women to teach or have authority over men in 1 Timothy 2:12, Oni said: “How could the same person who wrote words of gratitude to eight or nine women in his letter to the Romans, say so emphatically in the letter to the Corinthian church, first Corinthians 14:34 to be precise, that women were to be silent in the churches and were not allowed to speak?

Either Paul was the victim of a personality disorder or there is more than meets the eye in these several short verses of biblical text.

I believe Paul’s seemingly prohibitive statement about women in public ministry is likely a response or plan of action to deal with women who were new Christians, talented, and endowed with spiritual gifts of leadership, but not yet trained and seasoned for leadership in the congregation.

These new Christian women likely were also mixing pagan practices and Christian doctrine. One must keep in mind that prior to this time; only the men had the privilege of learning through formal study. Paul’s assertion in verse 11 that women should learn was indeed a new day for the believing woman.”

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From the

Pulpit Sunday, October 18, 2015

How to prepare for divine visitation, by Pastor Muoka General Overseer of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministry, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, in this piece, teaches on how to prepare for divine visitation. Excerpts:

T

he time has come for the glory of God to appear upon His people. There shall be no equal to such divine visitation.

Therefore Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the time to favour Zion has come, the time when the enemies of the Children of God shall submit has come. As God intervenes in our situation, the tinge of sorrow, grief and mourning that have dominated our minds in this present time will become a story of the past.

By this divine visitation yokes shall be broken; diseases shall be cured, sicknesses shall be healed and the afflicted shall be delivered. Now having gotten the knowledge of this outstanding visitation that will cause our enemies to submit, what then shall be your preparation?

Amos 4:12 says, “Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel”.

Whenever it falls on us to receive any visitor in our homes or offices, there is something we always do and that is preparing ourselves for the visitation. We all know that the level of our preparation is always according to the regard we have for the expected visitor such as our seniors, bosses, kings, Governors, and Presidents. In all these classes of people, the measure of preparation for each is determined by our expectation, feeling of love, respect and admiration which we have for the expected guest.

If a president is scheduled to pay a visit to somebody, it is expected that the person will be better after the visit. This is because it will be very unethical for a President to pay a visit to a hungry person without meeting him at the point of his need. The only essence of the visit of the superiors to the minors is to give hope. And because superiors are expected to give succour to the minors, the degree of preparation for their visit is always done magnificently.

But if this grand preparation is meant for a mortal man, what then will be our preparation when the visitor is no other person than the Almighty God, the Lord of Hosts? It is expected that the preparation will be grandiose bPastoryMuoka

nature because there is every belief that the divine visitation will definitely bring succour to as many that are prepared for the visit and actually participated in the happening. I am very sure that as He comes, He will bring our enemies to submission.

But before we get to know the type of preparation that should be made for our God, it is very prudent we have the knowledge of His nature to enable us be conventional to Him and have Him bless us.

Lev. 19:2 says, “Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy”.

The way of preparation to receive God in the old as well as in the present time has never been in doubt but open to all that seek the face of God. The principle is that He who wishes to receive the intervention of the Lord in his life time must be holy and separated from all the known defilements, and entirely consecrated to God in essence and obedient to all His laws.

1Peter 1: 15-16 says, “But as he which h a t h called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is writ-

ten, Be ye holy; for I am holy”.

We should remember that God is not a man. While men have sinful nature, God has a holy nature. He is pure and holy and thus no unholy person can be allowed to be in His presence. So, for us to be among those He is coming to address their problems and bring succour to their needs, we must prepare to be holy. If you desire to benefit from this visitation, you must be holy. If you want your enemies to submit to you, you must be holy to be able to receive from the Almighty God the power to subdue your enemies. If your case is disappointment and lack of promotion, and you want to experience favour, you must prepare to be holy in all manner of conversation in order to be allowed in His presence. The qualification to be at His presence is that you must be holy. You must form your character in accordance with His. You will regard what He regards and learn to p practise freely y what He is supposed to approve.

If you are a pertinacious sinner and you are looking for mercy, you must sanctify yourself like King David and ready to do restitution like Zacchaeus who climbed the Sycamore tree in order to see Jesus and did restitution when he met Him. Heb. 12: 14 says, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord”.

No soul c a n

be fit for heaven or God’s presence that has not suitable dispositions for His presence. God is the embodiment of peace, so without making peace with your neighbour, you cannot see Him. He that hates his brother is a murderer and no murder can see God or expect any good thing from Him. So you must follow peace through all places, trace it through all winding circumstances and have it with all men with a good conscience. You must detach yourself from the world and all its lusts. Without such detachment and sanctity, no man shall enjoy His presence in the world of blessedness. God is pure and only the pure in heart shall see Him. Matt. 5: 8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God”.

Those whose souls are not delivered from all sin, through the blood of the covenant, can have no Scriptural hope of ever being with God or receive from God except they repent. Those whose minds, motives, and principles are pure, who seek not only to have the external actions corrected, but who desire to b be holy in heart shall see God. It will be a miserably mistake for one to expect tto see God here or in the world to come iif he refuses to repent.

Still on what should be our preparaprepara tion? Exodus 19: 10-11 says, “And the th LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the peo people, and sanctify them today and tomortomor row, and let them wash their clothes, 11 1 And be ready against the third day: fo for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon moun mount Sinai”.

In the days of Moses, whenever Go God proposed to visit the children of Israel Israel, He must direct Moses to sanctify them tto conform to His nature of holiness. Thi This is because without holiness, no eye shal shall see the Lord. Moses accordingly woul would cause them to cleanse and prepare them themselves. The outward washing of clothe clothes commanded was a sign of the inwar inward cleansing of the heart from sin, which God required of every one. During thos those Bible days, two things particularly wer were prescribed as instances of their prepa preparation.

First, in to token of o

CONTINUED ON PAGE 41

PASSION

A Lifestyle Magazine

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Sunday, October 18, 2015

APPLAUSE

‘Nigerian women make the best out of anything’ >>27

I would never use sex to curry favours -Aniebet Francis

>>26

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Passion

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

I would never use sex to curry favours –Aniebet Francis Akwa Ibom State-born Aniebet Francis is an up-and-coming Nollywood actress. This only daughter in a family of two siblings is a writer, movie producer and coordinator ctims. In this of Conscience Alive Foundation, an NGO that takes care of accident victims. ing right in interview with ADAEZE AMOS, she talks about what she has been doing order not to succumb to the pressures of sexual harassment in the industry.

Besides acting, what else do you do?

I’m also into humanitarian service because I have passion for it.

Tell us about your educational background.

I graduated from University of Calabar with a BSc in Genetics and Biotechnology.

What motivated you to go into acting?

I have been interested in acting since the age of six. This made me join the drama group in my church and secondary school. My outstanding performance made me popular, coupled with my good academic performance. I was appointed the assistant senior prefect of the school in 2000.

Can you name some movies you have starred in?

They are ‘Mixed Feelings’, ‘Beneath Her Veil’, ‘Where Does Beauty Go’, ‘Akan’, ‘Nollywood Scandal’, ‘New Mainstreet’, ‘Daddy’s Girls’, ‘Iquo’s Journals’, ‘When To Die’, ‘Black Bird’ among many others I may not remember off hand.

Which of them was more challenging?

‘When To Die’ was more challenging because I had to walk, talk and smile as a detective. I had to learn how to hold a gun, un, cuff a suspect.

I had to get rid of my catwalks and all ll that.

Which brought you ou into the limelight? ght?

‘Mixed Feelings’ brought ngs’ me out because I played layed a sub lead in n that movie.

As a producer, you which movies did yo ou produce? roduce?

My first movie as a producer ucer is a short one on ne entitled ‘One Morning’.

One Bright Mornin ng’. It’s a film ilm that highlightss dangers misplaced of m isplaced

priorities at an accident scene in Nigeria. geria. u most in what What thrills you you do as an actress?

What thrills me most are my y artistic interpretations tions of movie roles. s. Another thing that at makes me happy appy about acting ng is the press interviews that go with stardom as an actress. There is also this peace and inner joy I derive from acting.

What have you been doing right to overcome the problems of sexual harassment in Nollywood?

The battle of sexual harassment is continuous in a girl’s life. This does not only happen in Nollywood but also in other industries and establishments. I have managed to come this far without succumbing su to pressures the pressu ures of sexharassment. ual harass sment. For me, sex is not a curtrade. rency for any a use I would never n it to curry y favour anyone. with anyon ne.

What is your worst fear in life? ?

Failure has been always bee en my worst fear in life. lesson What lesso on has life

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taught you? grace I have learnt that passion and grac one are two major things that can take on to stardom.

What’s your philosophy of life? back No man is rich enough to buy bac you his past. Don’t do or say things yo will not be proud of in future.

When you are less busy, what do you do to unwind?

I play music and strip, tease teas in my room for my girlfriends.

Who would you love to be paired with in romance roles to bring out the best from you?

I have not don done any movie that th requires much muc romance yet, ye but I ala w a y s do my m best to t breathe breath life into int a n y character I inin t e r p r e t .

However, Howeve I wouldn’t wouldn mind being bein paired with wit Majid because I love his delivery. An And if not that I have made mad up my mind never to date a an actor, I wouldn’t mind having a crush on him.

Meaning that you can’t date an actor?

No, I don’t like da datatDraing colleagues. Dr rama is imminent imminen nt in such relarellationships.

What NGO all My NGO an awareness paign against and effective sponse to accident scenes.

is your about? started c a m rape re-

Will you be able to interpret semi-nude roles?

No, I wouldn’t be able to do so. My mother is a founder of a church.

What is the craziest thing a male fan has ever done to you?

A male fan once touched my m boobs and ran.

Applause

Sunday, October 18, 2015

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‘Nigerian women make the best out of anything’ ADAEZE AMOS

W

ofai Samuel, an on-air personality is an amiable, energetic lady, and fun to be with. This Cross River State-born persona is the last and only daughter of her parents.

Wofai as she is fondly called by admirers is also a broadcaster who loves travelling, watching movies and singing, especially when she is downcast.

“I sing to derive my inspiration,” she said.

This Environmental Biology/Zoology graduate of the University of Calabar feels elated that her country clocked 55 years some weeks back, and she assured Nigerian women that she would have done a lot to put smiles on their faces if given the opportunity.

“It’s amazing how enthusiastic and elated I feel about Nigeria’s 55th independence anniversary. I want to confidently say that Nigerian women have become more aware of the polity and their supposed roles in nation building for their children and great grand children. Thus, we have become more proactive. It’s a pointer to the fact that putting smiles on the faces of Nigerian women would be effortless if that opportunity comes.

I would dwell more on the basics, which I feel centres on enlightenment and self-realisation, then I would provide endless opportunities to express themselves productively and confidently. These basics cut across women in all strata of society, whether in urban or rural areas,” she said.

Wofai is not done with what she would have loved to do for fellow women.

“Also, I would also have loved to develop/ nurture positive mind sets and right attitudes in women. Once these are achieved, everything else is secondary. I would like to see more Nigerian women compete and complement activities on the global scenes, especially with their contemporaries,” she stressed.

Apart from her obsession for empowering women, Wofai also has an undying passion for her job. Hence, she talked about the most thrilling aspect of her career as an on air per-

sonality.

“Engaging political stakeholders in intelligent discussions on live TV platforms has been one of my most thrilling experiences as a broadcaster. The feedback from our astute Nigerian citizenry has been exceptional. Getting on TV whether for a political interaction or hosting celebrities on red carpet is always interesting because I get countless feedbacks and lovely amazing comments,” she said smilingly.

This damsel asserted that women would have achieved a lot more if they had loved themselves the more. And which is why “the affirmation of women being their own worse enemies is not new to me at all though I have had very cordial working relationship with various women in different spheres. There is bound to be rivalry, especially with women who see others as competitors. But God has helped me overcome this by accepting women just the way they are, whether they are highly placed than me, on the same cadre or even coming behind me. I subtly create an air of ‘let’s be our keeper, look out for me and I will do same for you’. The aura of ‘if we must compete, let’s be positive about it’. Our collective success matters most in the end because we could easily assist one another to grow,” Wofai stressed.

She has been making efforts in her own little way to fight this silent battle relationship amongst women.

“I have been helping to nip this situation in the bud by constantly sending out love messages on unity via my body language and disposition. For a female boss or a woman above me, respect is the thing she may need to be at ease with me. This has worked for me a great deal,” she recalled.

As a TV personality who has anchored numerous red carpet events, she believes so many Nigerian women are getting it wrong in the fashion circles.

“For me, the highest fashion blunder most women commit is dressing in a particular way that doesn’t fit the occasion. My advice has always been to study the event properly before time and choose the right clothes and accessories appropriately. Women have flaws

a lot in this regard. They should know exactly when to go denim, girly, conservative and sensual,” Wofai advised.

She also unfolded experiences she had had with women on the red carpet and how the majority of celebrities fumbled with their questions.

“This is inevitable, I think women fumble with questions on the red carpet a lot more than politicians do on my live shows. What do you make of a celebrity who is asked to qualify a subject in one word and she gives you a sentence. When you ask for a sentence, she gives you a word. It’s so funny and this always recurs. My production crew will always lose their cool at the sight of some of these excerpts. Very few celebrities get it right,” she said.

But one thing this affable lady does not regret in life is her sex as a female. Though Nigeria is a male-dominated society, she is still proud to be a woman.

“Nigerian women make the best out of anything. And for me that creative, undaunted, resilient spirit in women makes them unique.

In the international clime, we have got Nigerian women complementing their foreign counterparts favourably. This has made the global audience realise that we’ve got a lot to offer the world. The opportunities enthroned in them is maximised to the letter making even the male folks here delegate more challenging responsibilities to the females. It’s evident in politics, media, oil and gas industries, to name a few. I will be a Nigerian woman over and over again,” she shrugged.

What lesson has life taught her?

“Life has taught me patience, humility and appreciation for my mother. Life has also taught me to trust God in all ramifications.

But one memory which has been etched on the mind of this TV girl is the thing some male fans did to her some months past.

“Two male fans once knelt in front of me at the airport, asking if they could marry me.

That was highly embarrassing; I felt like disappearing into thin air but I handled the situation,” she retorted.

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Sunday, October 18, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

upon a time GROWING UP Once The Apple with

Aunty Titi

Hello Children, Hope you are all enjoying and learning new things at school? Also don ’t forget to help mum and dad out at home. This week is fun packed with lots of exciting stories and games to play. Remember to always read your books and observe necessary hygiene to give you sound health and make you stand out.

The Pig

D

A

pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the Suidae family of even-toed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic pig and its ancestor, the common Eurasian wild boar (Susscrofa), along with other species; related creatures outside the genus include the babirusa and the warthog. Pigs, like all suids, are native to the Eurasian and African continents. Juvenile pigs are known as piglets. Pigs are omnivores and are highly social and intelligent animals.

A typical pig has a large head with a long snout which is strengthened by a special pre-nasal bone and by a disk of cartilage at the tip. The snout is used to dig into the soil to find food and is a very acute sense organ. There are four hoofed toes on each trotter (foot), with the two larger central toes bearing most of the weight, but the outer two also being used in soft ground.

Adult pigs have total of 44 teeth.

The rear teeth are adapted for crushing. In the male the canine teeth form tusks, which grow continuously and are sharpened by constantly being ground against each other.

With around one billion individuals alive at any time, the domesticated pig is one of the most numerous large mammals on the planet.

The ancestor of the domesticated pig is the wild boar, which is one of the most numerous and widespread large mammals. Its many subspecies are native to all but the harshest climates of continental Eurasia and its islands and Africa as well, from Ireland and India to Japan and north to Siberia. Although it has been exterminated in some areas, its numbers are stable, or even increasing rapidly, in most of its native range.

Long isolated from other pigs on the many islands of Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, pigs have evolved into many different species, including wild boar, bearded pigs, and warty pigs.

Humans have introduced pigs into Australia, North and South America, and numerous islands, either accidentally as escaped domestic pigs which have gone feral, or as wild boar. These have typically adapted well, and are increasing in number and broadening their range outside human control.

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

o the names Tom Putt, Ross Nonpareil, Charles Ross, Tan Harvey, Tommy Knight, Sidney Strake, Roy Rowe, Peter Lock, Johnny Voun, John Broad and ClaygatePearmain ring any bells? Could they all have been farmworkers at a long-forgotten Cornish estate? And what of Polly Whitehair, Ivy Pearce, Fern Pippin and Scotch Bridget?

Were they the faithful ladies who prepared tea for the men at harvest-time?

In fact, every one of these curious names are species of apple which were, until the middle of the 20th century, familiar and important elements of West country fruit harvests. How times change; look in the average fruit bowl today and the likelihood is the apples are from France, America, New Zealand... anywhere but from an orchard up the road.

In recent decades, Britain – a country that enjoys a climate conducive to the production of healthy, abundant and disease-resistant apples – has imported apples by the ton from abroad. And it was this somewhat perverse development which led a couple from the Tamar Valley – an area famed for its fruit produc-

tion – to begin searching out and preserving the remaining old Cornish and Devon varieties that might have survived.

Thirty five years later, well-known painter Mary Martin and engineer James Evans have recorded their findings in a detailed book, complete with colour photographs and descriptions for easy identification.

A Cornish Pomona lists dozens of varieties, from Adam ’s Permain to Zennor Beauty. Describing their size, colour, flavour, uses, heritage, cropping, location of specimen and a host of other details – including which ones have now been added to the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale in Kent – Mary and James ’s original research contributes hugely to our knowledge of the subject.

As well as recording the various varieties, the couple began their own orchard of native trees 21 years ago. Then, in 2007, they established an eight-acre “Mother Orchard ” on the National Trust ’s Cotehele estate. Containing 300 trees representing 120 varieties, this living collection will ensure that the surviving Westcountry apple types will continue to thrive.

FAIRY PUZZLE

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Sunday, October 18, 2015

Dude Style I like looking simple –Mayowa Oriola What do you do W ffor or a living? li i ?

I run a fashion store and d other handful of investments. nts.

What part of you do you consider nsider sexy enough to flaunt?

My chest of course What is your style?

My style speaks the language guage of simplicity.

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

My shoes and jewellery When is your best time to compose your songs?

My suitable time is midnight.

When did you start acting?

I started acting when I was eight years old, in my church with the Juvenile Drama Group. I have loved d acting right from day one. ne.

I officially joined the acting ing world in 2007. It has been part of me and I was motivated ed by the Mount Zion movies back then.

What movies have you starred red in?

I can remember some, which are entitled Orin Dola a movie e produced

by Okele, Zoobomania produced duced by Bisola Balogun, Teach Oko, Esan, Iyawo Ajanpe, The Activist, Ika Lokunrin, okunrin, Okiki, Akpors and many others. s.

How do you blend songwriting, ing, acting and movie production?

I bless God the finisher. With the support of my brother Joba and nd my manager Shola Adeniyi, I walk through hrough every-

victorudoh804@yahoo.com 07067124302

M Mayowa Ma Oriola aka Proff Baba is an actor, songwriter and mo m movie producer. After studying Physics at Ladoke Akintola Un U University of Technology, Ogbomoso, he proceeded to Am A American University in Egypt for a degree in Theatre Arts. In th hi interview with VICTOR UDOH, he unfolds his new single this a n style. Excerpts: and 02Gang Records, we have two artistes on the label and one of them dropped his video last two months on Hip TV and other channels and Sisi Coke was recently signed on the label and she is dropping her new hot single this year. ‘Sisi Monika’ is my first musical video I’m dropping. It is directed by Ist Xpression Visuals.

What really inspired your song W ‘Sisi ‘S Monika’?

Hmm, seriously Instagram did.

H You u see, ladies post ost pictures with big asset asse et behind on pants ants or shorts. I was on someone’s page so s e and didn’t realise I looked look ke 1074 pictures res because they all comprise asset front com mp ontt and d back. b k So, S I thing. decided deciid to do something mething on ‘Sisi Monika’. ika’ Though it was as crazy but hmmm As a songwrit songwrit(smiles). er, which songs have you dropped lately?

What actually thrill thrills most s you mo ost about I’m dropping a new your music career? ? single this month enFans’ supportss thrill me titled ‘Sisi Monika’ most and the fact that 02Gang t 02Ga ang produced by Freelabel is doing very verry well in i styleK and mixed the industry. We W started starte ed

by Indomix. Under four ur years ago but we’re bu ut officially launched two tw wo years ago. ag go.

How

about some movies you have produced?

Under 02Gang productions, we have produced Bernard and Beatrice and The Sinners which should be out soon. The Trailer is on U-tube, Facebook and other social media or better still follow my instagram page for more information @proffbaba.

Who would you like to be paired with in romance roles to bring out the best in you?

That should be Joselyn Dumas.

What was the crazicrazi est thing a female fan ever did to you?

A female fan fa once hugged me m so tight that my m shirt tore.

&

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Weddings Engagements CELEBRATING THE JOY IN MARITAL BLISS

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

You can call this line 08050324794

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Dunni is everything I want in life –Babatunde

O

ladunni and Babatunde are meant to be as their love and bountiful romance for each other is so pure and utterly unique. It was elation for the families of Okewale and Adetoba last Saturday as they witnessed the nuptial knots of their son and daughter.

The solemnisation of their marriage took place at Dorothy Ikoku Memorial Anglican Church, GRA Ikeja, Lagos State, while the reception followed immediately at The Haven Events Center, Ikeja, Lagos.

The classy wedding was graced by the high and mighty in the society.

The colours displayed by families and friends of the couple ranged from royal blue and blush pink, while the serene of the reception was agog by the popular music band Sugar and the master of ceremony Gbenga Adeyinka the 1st entertained the audience with rib cracking jokes.

The bride looked eyecatching in her pantone

BABIES OF THE WEEK Baby Damilola Adejuwon

Marsala aso-oke, which was enhanced with multi sized pearl beads and Swarovski crystals while her face looked gorgeous and breathtaking.

The couple ’s colorful wedding show the sincerity of love and respect Dunnie and Tunde have for each other. According to the dashing groom, “I knew from the moment I met Dunni, that there was something about her I needed in my life. Turns out it wasn ’t something about her at all. It was everything about her. ”

Speaking with the bride ’s mother, the proprietor of Splendor Hotel and Suites, she advised the couple to be steadfast in the Lord, humble and always listen to each other.

On the names they call each other, the bride revealed that she calls her husband “Bae ”, while the groom also said he call her Baby.

At the end, it was all smiles as everyone had fun as there was dancing, singing and enjoyment of an amazing array of foods, drinks and desserts.

Our love is divinely ordained –Couple

N

ewly-wed, Miracle Moses and Anthony Salami, were ecstatic recently when they were joined in matrimony at The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Mercy Seat Parish in Iworoko, Ekiti State.

The couple, who revealed that they met seven years ago as undergraduates at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State described their love for each other as divinely ordained.

The duo whose love appeared intense held tightly to each other to the admiration of all during the ceremony.

The groom described his bride as a prayerful and supportive woman.

According to him, “Miracle is the best thing that can happen to any man. I have known her for seven years, and I keep falling for her again and again.

Just like her name de-

notes, she is my miracle in life. ’ ’ The wedding, which was well attended by friends, members of the families and well wishers of the couple saw an array of dressing styles added to the Aso-ebi uniform of blue and

pink which added panache to the occasion.

As a requisite for any relationship to stand the test of time, Miracle and Anthony advised young couple, who intend to get married, to go for their best friends.

B

aby Damilola Adejuwon was born at the New Testament Clinic at Okitipupa, Ondo State.

His mother, Alice Adejuwon, a trader, explained how she felt when she was pregnant.

She listed the body changes she experienced to include back ache, chest burn, swollen hands and feet.

According to her, she enjoyed eating the local soup of the Apo people which she said was made with blended vegetable. She revealed that she loved eating this

soup because it was nutritional and also possessed medicinal values.

Mrs Adejuwon disclosed that her baby was named ‘Bidemi ’ because he was born at a time when his father was not around, adding that her husband was away at the time on official duty.

She described her son as a calm and peaceful baby since he sleeps well and hardly disturbs her.

The mother nurtures the hope for her son to become a banker when he grows up.

Precious Oluwadamilola Adekunle

B

aby Precious Oluwadamilola Adekunle was born at the Redeemed Christian Church of God maternity home, Oyingbo Lagos, to the Mr. and Mrs. Adekunle. She weighed 3.2kg at birth.

Mrs. Adekunle while describing her experience during pregnancy as a wonderful one, noted that besides the normal pregnancy signs like swelling in the face and feet, she had the urge to spit frequently.

“In my previous pregnancies which were all boys, I never felt irritated at all as to have the urge to spit, rather, I frequented the loo to pass urine, unlike Precious ’ case where I experienced the urge to spit at every given time.

“I believe the difference is as a result of my carrying a girl

child as opposed to the times I was pregnant with her brothers. ” The mother also revealed that she favoured Zobo drink, a local beverage during the period.

According to the parents, their baby girl is their precious jewel and joy.

“Since her birth, Oluwadamilola has been growing in power, wisdom, favour and miracle of God. Our beautiful jewel is a source of joy to the family. Everything about our princess is special from birth till now, ” said the parents.

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What to wear …to a headgear exhibition Sunday, October 18, 2015

ADAEZE AMOS

I

t ’s just a couple of months to Christmas. Did you say how times flies? Oh yes, you are right. Yuletide season is the time the annual headgear exhibition usually takes place. It is the time Abiola Atanda, fondly known as Madam Kofo, takes delight in showcasing some new styles in the headdress world.

Last year ’s event was really groovy. Models were hot on catwalks with their traditional crowns (Gele) on their heads tied in different sizes, shapes and styles. This year ’s will be hotter according to the organisers. Even the spectators of the show are expected to come tying their headgears to the event. If you would attend, it ’s better you start getting set early enough. Tie your Gele the way it feels good on your head and face. Or better still check out how Ruth Soma, one of the fashionistas/models, who came for last year ’s show tied hers.

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Perfect Cut

Sunday, October 18, 2015

African Look Look fabulous in print fabrics A DAEZE A MOS

T

here is no need to beat about the bush concerning how versatile African print fabrics are. Take a closer look at the style aficionados on this page and you can choose some styles for those African print materials in your wardrobe.

You surely can look splendid these African fabrics.

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Fashion sho

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Perfect Cut

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ould conceal flaws and flaunt good sides ADA DAEZE AMOS

O

ne of the major fashion rules that seem outdated is covering your flaws and flaunting if need be yourr good sides. This simply means that what you wear should be able to conceal those flabby folds in your tummy, light yellowish stretch on your thighs, spotty legs and you flaunt those firm waistlines and hot legs, etc.

But t e n d Bu remember while flaunting, to do so reasonably considering the event you want to atand your age. Don Don’tt just show off like a sweet-16 or sweettt-16 16 would when you are already 30 above. a ve. abov The bottom line is that whatever w sstyle of dress you choose into, cover up c ose to slip choo p those parts partts you consider an eyesore. e sore. eyes

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Sunday, October 18, 2015

L Making up with your partner after a ght OVE

TALK

F

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

with Yemisi

Adeniran

ights do occur in any relationship. Often times, it is not intended, but they do happen. This is, most of the time, as a result of our inability to see something in the same way. We are not likely to see things the same way all the time, anyway. This is because of the different backgrounds and orientations of the partners, notwithstanding the number of years that they may have spent together.

What is however important in this instance is not whether the partners fight or not, but that they settle at the end of the day. Also significant is how long it takes them to do that. Ordinarily, it should not take days to settle problems.

Once it runs to days, then, there is a big problem and that is not good enough.

There are ways out, anyway. Below are some tips on how to solve those problems that may keep you distant from your partner.

Which is more important: Being right or your marriage? Ego has made many to get estranged with their partners. Many would want to remain right at the expense of getting close to their partners. So, in this instance, one has to decide which one is of more priority. Is it the marriage or to be proved to be right. It often times does not matter whether you are wrong or right. What is important to you is that your relationship is not endangered. So, you know which to go for now to get back on the track.

No excuse please: It is needless to start giving reasons for the fight or why it started in the first place. If you do,

you might end up igniting the fire of the fight that you are trying to quench.

Admit guilt if truly you are wrong: What do you lose by admitting that you are guilty when you truly do. It takes nothing away from you. Rather, it makes your partner have respect for you. You may not be absolutely wrong, but if you admit guilt where you are wrong, you will help solve the problem. Saying sorry when it is necessary will go a long way in getting you back to your beloved.

Calm down, please calm down: You don ’t need to wait for your partner to calm you down after you have “slugged it out ”. Calm yourself down by doing what will ease that tension. Go talk to a friend or play some good music. You may also get a good novel and enjoy.

Show maturity: It is not enough to be mature. You have to show you are at a time like this when you have disagreed with your wife and each of you has decided to remain confined to your own corners. Prove to your partner that you are more mature, so handle the problem at hand with some sense of responsibility. It could be a good way of teaching her to be mature too.

Begin communication by pointing out his or her good points raised during the fight. Try not to attack or defend your positions during the fight. If you do, you may be on the way to starting another session of fight. It helps to remain calm.

Be positive about your partner ’s continued verbal at-

tacks: It does not matter how much your partner attacks you after the fight. Do not participate in it if you find it difficult calming her down. Not participating in the verbal assault is good enough and that may just help solve the problem.

Change your ways: During your argument, you partner must have made some vital criticism of , perhaps, your attitude. Try and correct the wrong aspect of you. It does not mean that he or she has overpowered you. Rather, you will earn his or her respect.

Restate your desire for a happy marriage after a fight: Tell him or her how much you love him or her; express your desire for a wonderful relationship with her. It will go a long way in making the relationship return to its original wonderful state.

Don ’t rush your partner to reconciling: To make up is to show signs that you welcome reconciliation; that you want to reconnect. It may not be granted immediately. So be patient and wait for her to truly reconnect with you.

Sexual solutions and love products for adults

H

ello sir. Please I have a concern. I have noticed for a while now that during intercourse, when I ejaculate, the semen is really small. Sometimes I don ’t even realize that I have ejaculated something. My wife and I have two kids and we are trying for a third one. I worry about this semen situation – Obafemi Femi the good news is that you have two children already so clearly, you are potent and virile. Also, semen quality is more important than quantity when it comes to a man ’s ability to get a woman pregnant. Sperm Count and motility are the two key things that matter the most and if you are alright in these areas, you are fine. Like I said, you fathered two children already without problems so obviously, you are capable. However, just for your own peace of mind, I will recommend something that can help increase your semen quantity. It is called Volume Pills and it also boosts motility, strengthens your erections and intensifies sexual pleasure and enjoyment. Volume Pills have the capacity to increase semen quantity by over 500% so you are in for significant increase when you start taking it – Uche Please what is the best sex position for couples who want to get pregnant. I hear that there are specific positions that are recommended – Maria There are many ways to make love and conceive. The most important thing is that the woman lies on her back afterwards and lifts her legs up for ten to fifteen minutes. Within this period, the sperm cells should have reached the egg for fertilization – Uche Please I have small breasts for a 32year old woman and I desire a bigger cup size.

I need affordable help – Jacinta Try using the Max Enhance Breast Cream. The new formula of this popu-

lar cream enlarges the breasts, smoothens and lifts it. So try the Max Enhance Breast Cream – Uche I read your article about premature ejaculation. I am 39 years old and I don ’t last for up to two minutes in bed. This is affecting my five months old marriage. I need that cream please – Fredrick There are many types of creams for premature ejaculation. If I were to choose one for you randomly, I would say go for the LS Desensitizing Spray. The bottle is bigger and therefore lasts longer – Uche My wife used to like sex so much that it was scary. Back in the day we used to do it up to four times in a day and in strange places. Now she hardly feels like it. I don ’t know what happened – Okey Well Okey, you forgot to mention your wife ’s age and whether or not she has had kids. These are all factors that can affect a person ’s sex drive. Work stress and family issues can also cause the libido to wane. In any case, there are supplements that can help her under a variety of circumstances such as G Female Tablets. It is very powerful and can bring the worst libidos back to life – Uche I read about the Stiff Nights supplement. I am 61 and I have weak erection.

Is it good for me? Ali Yes it is. Stiff Nights gives strong erections – Uche Hello. I used to buy Max Size penis enlarger from you many years ago. I recently was notified of your new enlarger called Prosolution. Please which one is better? I will like to buy again – Fred Fred Prosolution is better and does a lot more for you. Max Size is quite strong and gave users headaches so we stopped carrying it. Prosolution is safer, more effective and also helps you last longer for multiple rounds of intercourse. With Prosolution, you can gain up to four

inches in penis length but remember that all penis enlargers work best when combined with a penis pump – Uche I was given one capsule of Boss Rhino by your boss last month and I have been trying to contact you people since then.

Please I am interested. I have never seen anything it like it before – Iyke Hello Iyke.

Uche here. I am glad you like it. Your order is being processed.

Take care – Uche I have been looking for a G Spot vibrator that is realistic. Most of the ones I have seen are either pink or some other colour – Jessica There are not many G Spot vibrators that are realistic looking.

I just know of one and it is called the Cyberskin G Spot Buzzer – Uche And that is it for today.

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

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For painful intercourse use Mood Sensitive Lubricant or Colt Lubricant.

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

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Sunday, October 18, 2015

Pregnancy Talk

Naughtiest Thing

with

The naughtiest thing I ’ve ever done

Adaeze Amos

Rachael Aniah

߾ࠆ߾ࠀࠁ߾߿ࠀࠀࠇࠁ ߶ࠡࠛࠡ ࠝࠜࠚࠧ߷

Skin changes you ’ll notice during pregnancy ‘I defecated in my W pants in class ’ hen Maryanne missed her monthly flow three months into her pregnancy, she chose not to disclose her state to her friends and colleagues in her place of work for reasons best known to her.

But when her face started glowing, she thought it was because of the new foundation and compact powder she was using.

But when some married women who had the experience started teasing her about her pregnancy, she was shocked how they knew because her tummy was still flat, being a first timer. It was indeed the shimmering of her face that gave her out.

To be sure, your body goes through a lot of changes during pregnancy. And your skin is no exception.

Below, according to medical experts, are some common skin changes you may experience when you ’re heavy with child.

Pregnancy glow This was exactly what gave Joan out. Pregnancy glow is one of the most common skin changes when you are expectant. This facial shine actually has a biological basis. According to health experts, the increased volume of blood causes the cheeks to take on an attractive blush, because of the many blood vessels just below the skin surface. On top of this redness, the increased secretions of the oil glands give the skin a waxy sheen.

The flushed face on many pregnant women is similar to the one non-pregnant people experience when they are excited, cry or do anything that increases their heart rate (which pregnancy does constantly).

month of pregnancy, the inside of your hands and the bottom of your feet may itch and take on a reddish hue, called palmer erythematic. The increased colour is nothing more than one of the curious skin changes during pregnancy.

ever taken oral contraceptives, you may already have experienced this particular hormonal side-effect.) Brunettes and darker-skinned women may notice darkened circles, resembling eye shadow, around their eyes. Chloasma cannot be prevented, but you can minimise the intensity of these blotchy, darkened areas by limiting your exposure to ultraviolet light (i.e. sunshine), which further stimulates melanin production.

Acne You probably thought your pimple days were over, but one of the skin changes during this period you can expect is acne. While the acne of pregnancy is rarely as severe as that of adolescence, you may need to return to some of your teenage cleansing rituals. Fortunately, pregnancy is much shorter than adolescence; the bumps and pimples will subside shortly after delivery. Avoid abrasive facial scrubs; pregnant skin is too sensitive for these. Milder, oatmeal-based facial scrubs (available at nutrition stores) can help unplug the oily pores and are kinder to sensitive skin.

Because of the risk of birth defects, the anti-acne prescription drugs, Accutane and Retin-A, cannot be used during pregnancy.

Pregnancy mask Sometimes during the second trimester, you may find yourself gazing at a different face in the mirror. Brownish or yellowish patchy skin changes during pregnancy called chloasma (also dubbed the mask of pregnancy) can appear anywhere on the face, but are seen most commonly on the forehead, upper cheeks, nose and chin.

What happens is that the pregnancy hormones estrogens and progesterone stimulate the melanin cells in the skin to produce more pigment, yet because these cells do not produce extra pigment uniformly, your facial skin may acquire a blotchy tan. (If you have Linea Ingra

Many women normally have a faint lineal alba (white line) running from their navel to the centre of their pubic bone. It is barely visible before pregnancy. (You may not have even known it was there). One of the skin changes during pregnancy that occurs sometime in the second trimester is the lineal alba becoming lineal Ingra, a dark line that is much more noticeable. In some women, the line extends upward from the navel as well.

The lineal Ingra is darker in dark-skinned women and disappears several months after delivery.

Spider veins Those much-discussed pregnancy hormones, along with increased blood volume, cause those tiny, squiggly red or purple capillaries just below the surface of the skin to branch out and become more visible during pregnancy. It ’s also common for spider veins (they resemble a small spider web), to pop out on the face or on the sclera (white part) of the eyeballs during delivery; intense, red-in-the-face pushing can break tiny blood vessels. Known as nevi, these burst vessels can be camouflaged by the appropriate use of makeup. Nevi takes longer to disappear than many of the other skin problems of pregnancy, some spider veins on the legs or torso may not go away on their own. A dermatologist can remove them, using injections if you feel that ’s necessary.

Skin tags Some pregnant women develop tiny polyps, called skin tags, in areas where skin rubs on clothing or skin rubs together. Commonly found under the arms, between neck folds, or under bra lines on the chest, skin tags are caused by hyperactive growth of a superficial layer of skin. They disappear a few months following delivery, Dark areas becoming dark- but can be easily excised if er they bother you.

Little moles and freckles that existed before may now be- Heat rash come bigger, and brown spots You may think that only or birthmarks become brown- babies get prickly heat er from skin changes during rash, but it is one of the pregnancy. New moles may skin changes during pregalso appear. (Consult your nancy that women experidoctor or dermatologist if ence, too. Caused by the these moles seem particularly combination of an already raised, dark, or have irregu- overheated pregnant body, lar borders). The areola and dampness from excesnipples of your breasts will sive perspiration and the become quite a lot darker; un- friction of skin rubbing like other areas of your skin, against itself or against which return to their original clothing, prickly heat rash colour after pregnancy, your is pimply and slightly irriareola will probably always tating. It is most common be somewhat darker than they in between and beneath were before you were preg- the breasts, in the crease nant. where the bulge of the lower abdomen rubs against Red palms and soles the top of the pubic area, Even as early as the second and on the inner thighs.

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hen I was in primary school, about 10 years old, I was afraid of my class teacher.

I couldn ’t even go to her to take permission for anything I considered very important. Even when I was pressed and needed to go to the toilet, I couldn ’t go to her to seek permission.

I would endure and hold it until we were on break or when we had closed for the day.

But one day I wasn ’t that lucky. I was seriously pressed and couldn ’t ask for permission from her.

She was a no-nonsense class teacher whose presence kept the entire class still or silent. To summon the courage and ask to be allowed to use the toilet, for me, was unthinkable. I was as well shy. How could I say such a thing to a tough class teacher? She would flog me, so I thought.

Consequently, I eventually excreted in my pants. It dripped down my legs, stained my uniform and stockings. The stench was nauseating that my classmates reacted. Even my teacher perceived it and asked everyone to stand up.

When she asked who was responsible for the foul odour, I raised up my finger. I was shaking when she walked to me. As she looked at me, she took pity. When she asked why I couldn ’t take permission to go to the toilet, I confessed that I was afraid of her.

She eventually took me home where I took care of myself. It ’s a day I would not forget.

•Aniah, an actress, featured in ‘Do Good ’, a popular soap currently running on Durban, DSTV. -ADAEZE AMOS

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Sunday, October 18, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Fried Bulgur Wheat

Sweet Vermouth wine

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B

ulgur makes a healthy and quick addition to any meal because it is made up of wheat; it is specially prepared to decrease cooking time. A good source of fiber, protein, iron and vitamin B-6, and reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Fried Bulgur wheat is a lower calorie alternative to rice. It can also be enjoyed as a breakfast cereal because it is simple and tastes very much like fried rice.

Ingredients 2 cups bulgur wheat 1 can coconut milk 1 ½ cups shrimps 4 chicken drumsticks (bones removed and cut) 4 tablespoons vegetable oil 2seasoning cubes 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon thyme powder 1 teaspoon white pepper 2 cups mixed vegetables (Carrot, peas, cabbage, sweet corn) 1 green pepper (Tatashe) – Chopped

Directions Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Set aside Chicken Place a large pot (with a good fitting lid) on medium heat; add 1 part each of oil, curry, thyme, 1 seasoning cube, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Stir.

Add in coconut milk & 1 cup water.

Cover the pot, increase heat to high and bring the mixture to a boil.

Reduce the heat to medium and add in the bulgur and stir. Cover the pot tightly and leave the rice to cook for 15 minutes.

Set aside to cool Bulgur Place another large pot on medium heat, add in the left over oil and heat slightly. Add in chicken and cook on all sides (about 5 minutes). Add all left over ingredients and cook for 2 minutes.

Add in the precooked bulgur wheat, stir to combine. Taste and adjust for seasoning as needed.

Serve with vegetables and plantain

hile there are several types of vermouth to choose from, a popular choice is sweet vermouth.

Thought of most often to be a product of Italy, sweet vermouth is often red in color, although some brands will be white.

As the name suggests, the fortified spiced wine has a sweet flavor, which is probably derived from the upwards of 15% percent sugar that it contains. Sweet vermouth is usually anywhere from 30 to 32 proof, which is between 15 and 16 percent alcohol.

This type of vermouth is most often used in sweeter tasting cocktails, like a Manhattan.

But, many enjoy it straight up or as an aperitif.

The secret to a better tasting sweet vermouth is to serve it after it has been well chilled.

As is true when it comes to its dry counterpart, sweet vermouth is offered under several different brand names, making it difficult to figure out just which one is right for you and your palette. You’ll just have to try them all to find your favorite.

Cinzano Bianco is known for being delicate, fragrant, and also full-bodied. This brand’s sweet vermouth can be used as an ingredient in your favorite cocktail or as an aperitif. However, it is recommended that, when serving or consuming this sweet vermouth, the aromatized wine should be well chilled beforehand.

Another type of sweet vermouth offered by the same brand is the simply named Cinzano Sweet Vermouth. This type of aromatized wine is amber-red in color. It’s full, rich bouquet is attributed to the select blend of spices and herbs used to infuse the liquid. This sweet vermouth does offer a bitter aftertaste, but is delicate enough to make a wonderful addition to the classic cocktail recipe. You don’t have to mix this type of sweet vermouth with other ingredients to enjoy its flavor. Cinzano Sweet Vermouth is fabulous served with a splash of soda and the optional lemon peel or straight up.

Martini & Rossi is a brand known for its dry vermouth, as well as the following two sweet vermouth varieties.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

37

Sunday, October 18, 2015

POP

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

JOKE

WHO INVENTED WHAT? Philippe made rst wristwatch

T

ROACHES So these two roaches, Tom and Oscar, are hanging out next to a dumpster enjoying a snack. “Hey Tom ” said Oscar to his friend, “You know that restaurant down the block? I went there yesterday

to pick up some scraps, and I couldn ’t believe how clean it was, I could practically see my reflection through the shiny waxed floor. ” “Oscar ” hollered Tom spitting the food out of his mouth, “please not while I am eating!! ”

he first wristwatch was made for a woman, Countess Koscowicz of Hungary, by Swiss watch manufacturer Patek Philippe in 1868. Although it was the first timekeeping device to be designed specifically for use on the wrist, it was intended primarily as a piece of decorative WORDS ON MARBLES jewellery.

Those who love deeply never It has been claimed that pocket watches were adapted to be worn on grow old, they may die of old wrist bracelets prior to 1868, perhaps as age, but they die young. early as the 1570s. However, there is no concrete evidence to support this, and Patek Philippe ’s design for Countess Koscowicz was the first true wristwatch in the modern sense of the word. Wristwatches were a natural progression need some new shoes for school. They have to be black and flat obviously but I from pocket watches, but men did not want them to be stylish, what ’s in at the moment? They have to have good soles and initially take to the idea, preferring to last a long time so I ’m not throwing away money on crap! The price doesn ’t matter rely on the larger, more traditional (and as long as they are good and stylish and will last me. masculine) timepiece. However, the practicalities of the wristwatch, which could be operated with one hand rather than two, eventually won over popular opinion, appealing especially to those in the military, who needed to be able to monitor the time while also operating machinery and weaponry. Consequently, the first wristwatches to be produced in large quantities were those manufactured specifically for the German military in the 1880s by Swiss watchmaker Girard-Perregaux.

YOUNG FASHION School shoes

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DID YOU KNOW? Crab

C

rabs live in all the world ’s oceans, fresh water, and on land, but covered with a thick exoskeleton and have a single pair of claws.

RIDDLES

Q 5: A rooster lays an egg at the very top of a slanted roof. Which side is the egg going to roll off on?

A: Neither, roosters don ’t lay eggs.

Q 6: What is put on a table, cut, but never eaten?

A: A pack of cards Q 7: In a small cabin in the woods, two men lay dead. The cabin itself is not burned, but the forest all around is burned to cinders. How did the men die?

A: It ’s the cabin of a plane and the plane crashed.

Q 7: When asked how old she was, Suzie replied “In two years I will be twice as old as I was five years ago ”. How old is she?

A: 12 Years Q 8: What seven-letter word has hundreds of letters in it?

A: Mailbox Q 9: If there were nine cats on a bridge and one jumped over the edge, how many would be left?

A: None. They are copy cats.

TONGUE TWISTER

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

Did Peter Piper pick a peck of pickled peppers?

If Peter Piper Picked a peck of pickled peppers, Where ’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

38

Movies & Music

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

Fanfare as Orijin hosts Enugu fans to lavish party

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t was an electrifying atmosphere in Enugu, when Orijin, the iconic drink from the stables of Guinness Nigeria, hosted the city to an exquisite party at the prestigious de dome indoor centre, Enugu.

Spiced with lots of music and entertainment, famous disc jockey, DJ Neptune, got guest grooving, while rave of the moment, Patoranking, ensured the esteemed guests got nothing less than a spectacular performance with his superb rendition of ‘Alubarika’ to girlie o ‘remix’ and the latest club song ‘my woman’.

The Enugu party is in line with the fivecity tour slated by the brand to herald its Orijin’s Orijinal Nite parties across the cities.

In the next coming weeks, the party train would move to Port Harcourt, Abuja, Oshogbo and Markudi. In addition to providing consumers with unforgettable experiences across the country, Orijin continues to satisfy numerous consumers across the Nigerian market.

Patoranking

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he International Committee of AFRIMA and the African Union Commission, AUC, recently, unveiled Lagos, as the host city for the 2015 All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA. This puts to rest high expectations among AFRIMA stakeholders about the Nigerian city to capture hosting rights.

Announcing the host city, the Director of Communication and Sponsorship, AFRIMA, Ms. Matlou Tsotsetsi said: “Following the recent and inspection of facilities and infrastructure of four states in Nigeria namely Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos and Rivers by the African Union Commission, AUC, and AFRIMA production team, Lagos has been chosen to host the continental awards ceremony this year.”

Ms. Tsotetsi further said: “It is worth mentioning that Nigeria won the rights to host AFRIMA for three years – 2014 to 2016 – as announced at a world media conference by the International Committee of AFRIMA on October 6, 2013. Nigeria vied for the hosting rights alongside 13 other African countries eventually winning the competitive bid. As a result of this, the 2014 edition held in Lagos, while AFRIMA 2015 holds at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on Sunday, November 15.”

The most populous city in Nigeria, Lagos, is renowned as the hub of music, entertainment and commerce in West Africa. Lagos is also globally recognised as an African megacity for business and tourism. The state is famous for her aquatic splendour and vibrant festivals/events such as Eyo Festival, Badagry Festival, Lagos Black Heritage Carnival, Lagos Carnival, Eko International Film Festival, Lagos Seafood Festival, Lagos Photo Festival and the Lagos Jazz Series.

The 2015 edition of AFRIMA is geared to increase the tourism and entertainment equity of the state as the International Committee prepares to receive an influx of international and Africa dignitaries, AFRIMA 2015 nominees, music stars and executives who are attending the events.

Basketmouth, Trevor Noah, others to perform at Comedy Central Basketmouth

iger ig eria er ian ia n co ome m dy superstar Basketmouth is set e to ap appe p ar a at the first ever Comedy Central Intternatio onal Comedy Festival in Johannesburg, South Africa.

A The annual, super-ssized comedy extravaganza, staged by comedy c channel Comedy Central and Savanna Premium m Cider will bring African and internationall comedy stars together under one roof for a hilarious, h world-class celebration of comedy gen enius.

Playing to packed audiences at the Silverstar Casino, Johannessburg, South Africa from November 26 to Decem mber 5, the Festival would combine spectacular gala g concerts with more intimate Late Night Comedy C shows and sidesplitting Open Mic se essions, themed specials, late-n -nig ight sketch showss, spontaneous street theatre e and n Imp mp prove come edy “happenings”.

Repr Re pres esen enti ntiing ng Nigerria, Basketmouth would bring br g his ow wn di d stincttive brand of fun to the Festiv Fe val in tth he form of o a star-packed Best of Africa com Af omed edy showca ase (on December 5) that promis pr ises es to o em e ulate th he success of his sell-out co ome m dy y spe pect cta acular ‘C Comedy Central Presents Lo Lor ord of th the e Ri Ribs’. Uga andan comedian Salvado woul uld ld al also so joi oin n the line e-up.

T evorr Noa Tr oah, h fresh ffrom his hosting duties at The Da Dail ily y Sh Show ow, will k kick off the Festival with gala ga la perform rma an ances of his upcoming SA tour, Nation on nW Wiild ld, at The Globe G (26-28 November), whiil ile US stand-up lege end and Comedy Central “Ro oa tmaster Generall” Jeff Ross will make his oast oa firstt ever trip to South Africa to head The Roast Gala a (on December 4) 4 . Representing South Africa can n comedy would ld b be Schalk Bezuidenhout, w o will feature in The wh T Afrikaans Comedy Show Sh ow w (on Dec ecem e be er 5)), and Goliath & Goliath.

Ebuka Furtthe her co come medians me s would w be announced at a laterr da d te e.

AFRIMA 2015 set to host Africa in Lagos

Yemi Alade

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Movies & Music

Sunday, October 18, 2015

39

Elvis Chucks premieres Royal Castle

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opular actor and movie maker, Elvis Chucks, premiered his new TV series ‘Royal Castle’ recently at Raddison Blu Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Royal Castle which is produced by Diamond Groove Pictures is the story of the Nigerian class system, following the lives of everyday people, from the rich and famous to those at the lowest rung of the ladder.

The show builds on storylines of betrayal, deception, corruption in high places, and love that unites all. It is designed to bring together families of all tribes, races and religions in understanding the common challenges faced by families regardless of their status or background.

It stars the best of Nigerian acting talent including Victor Olaotan, Chris Attoh, Yul Edochie, Gloria Young and others.

According to Chucks, the producer and director, Royal Castle would bring refreshing time to TV viewing.

“We already have antecedent of good movie and TV series at Diamond Groove, but Royal Castle is way ahead of our past works. We invested heavily from the pre-production to the post-production. If you look at the quality of our cast, it says a lot about our intention. This is a TV series like no other,” he said.

Chucks is an award -winning actor and movie producer. His production works include but not limited to, ‘Secret Scandal’, ‘Hustlers’, ‘Playing Safe’, ‘A Wish’, ‘True Citizens’ and lot’s more.

Raphael Saadiq

Grammy award winner, Saadiq, set to perform at BET Yul Edoche

Matthew, Atang emerge Mr &

Miss Nigeria International

he 2015 edition of Mr & M Miss Nigeria International happened live rec cently with all its attendant fun and glamo our at the prestigious Bespoke Event Centre, Lekki, Lagos.

Beautiful 21-year-old Miss A Akwa Ibom State, Mercy Atang, emerged the n new queen while handsome 23-year-old Mr. Kog gi State, Matthew Monday, became the new king.

The road to the official crown ning of Mr & Miss N geria 2015 has all along bee Ni en a fun-filled and dema de m nd ma n ing, with the over 40 males and female fin li na list stts dr draf a ted from the auditio af ons cutting across 14 sta t te tess off the federation, und dergoing rigorous trrai ain niing ngss a an nd tutorials on variious aspects of etiqu uet ettte ett es an nd showmanship for tthe grand finale.

Ho H ost forr the colourful gran nd finale was the imma m cu ula ate and dapper lookin ng James Ogbaloi and d hi h s hostess was the mercu urial and beautiful host stess; Tobi Daniel, both loo oking resplendent an nd gorgeo eous us in their variouss colourful outfits for th fo the day.

The Th e of offi ficiial judge es fo for th the n night include forme er Most bea e utiful Gir irll in n Nig geria, e Amina Ekpo, Amba Am b ss ssad a or o Chr hris i Ode ey, y, Santi antiiago an i Robert, Mimi Yiina, Mssoo Ver ersh hima, Ayo yotu tund tu nd de Fabanwo, Maria Eliish am ha an and d Mrrs Eloha. a.

On han nd fo forr the Sp Spec ciia al G Guest appearance f r th fo he even nt wa wass an Internattional Artiste and MO OBO B Awa w rd ds 20012 Best Go ospel Act, Rachel Kerr, wh who fl f ew w in alll th the e way frrom UK. Ente En terrtai ainm nmen e t fo forr th the e ni nigh ghtt was provided by vari r ou o s arrti tist ste es whi es hich c inc nclu lu uded Naomi Mac, RONN NNIE I , Sw Swee eets ee tsou ts oun nd, Di Dill ll, Slick Joe, Sammie Grav av van a o, Eas asys y tta ys ar, ar, r Buzzdor uz or Billz B and several othe her up pco om miing ng sta ars.

I

nternational R&B and soul artiste, Grammy award winner, songwriter, musician and record producer, Raphael Saadiq will join R&B sensation Maxwell in December for the BET Experience Africa. Saadiq, appearing for the first time ever in Africa, would perform during the gala concert at the BET Experience Africa, a spectacular global celebration of urban culture, music and lifestyle, from entertainment channel BET. The inaugural BET Experience Africa takes place at the Ticketpro Dome, Johannesburg, South Africa

on Saturday 12 December 2015. Further performers will be announced shortly.

Saadiq is a multi-talented musician with 11 Grammy nominations to his name plus a BET Award nomination and Soul Train Award.

Over the past two decades Saadiq, who also plays bass, mellotron, keys, guitar, percussion and drums, has worked behind the scenes as a celebrated producer, collaborator and sideman for big-time acts like John Legend, Stevie Wonder, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dog, Whitney Houston and Elton John, among others.

DeeJay PCT moves to honour Nigerian DJs, producers

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anagement of Xtreme Concept led by renowned radio disk jockey, Mayaki Peter Seyi widely known as Deejay PCT, has come to town with the first-of-its-kind award.

Dubbed Nigerian Deejays and Music Producers Award (NDAMP), it is organised to celebrate the unsung DJs and music producers all over the country and beyond.

According to Deejay PCT, who started his career as a club DJ and later moved on as a guest DJ on Rock-City FM, the idea of NDAMP was initiated over a decade ago to appreciate and celebrate the importance of Nigerian DeeJays and music producers.

“We at Xtreme Concept are trying to be the front-liners in the entertainment business by contributing our quota through this means. We want to celebrate all music producers and Deejays on radio and television and because there is no way a hit song can be successful without them working on it and playing it so they need not only to be supported but also celebrated,” said Deejay PCT. He stressed that the maiden

edition of the award would come up in the first quarter of 2016 and would be an annual event which in the next five years would traverse the six geopolitical zones of the country.

Mayaki

40

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Lessons of Life TRUE LIFE STORY ON MATTERS OF THE HEART

ADAEZE AMOS Adanneamos@gmail.com 08023012293 (sms only)

‘My twin brothers scare off suitors ’ (2) We conclude Cornelia ’s story started last week. She is sad because of what Timothy and Thomas her twin elder brothers are doing to her, dictating the kind of husband she must have.

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In fact, they are not helping matters in relation to suitors coming to ask for my hand in marriage. Now because of their great expectations from suitors who had been wooing me and the embargo they placed on me, they no longer come as before. I ’m worried, ” she bemoaned.

Cornelia had always been the gem of the family. “When I was born, I had always been the toast of the family. I had been loved and pampered. My twin brothers were always there, protecting me from any abuse one could think of.

More so, they said I was the prettiest in the family, so I was loved.

But they expected a lot more in return probably from men who were wooing me. That was how I grew up, ” she recalled.

Now she is fed up with their over-protection and high expectations.

“Honestly, it ’s no longer funny.

My twin brothers are quick to condemn suitors who come to ask for my hand in marriage. Their yardstick has always been money. They were good at finding the kind of business they were into and how financially endowed they were. If they didn ’t measure up, they were sent home rudely, ” she said.

Her brothers were prying into her privacy.

“They were inquisitive to know my dates and who was taking me out and to where. And if my date is not rich, they would go behind me to issue a serious warning to him and that would be the end of the relationship as they were afraid to withstand the trouble of my brothers. I think I need my privacy. They should let me be, I want to be the one to choose who would be my husband and not my brothers. My parents are not even nosy over my affairs, it ’s just my brothers. But with what is happening, I ’m beginning to suspect that my parents are in support of what they are doing, if not they would have cautioned them. My father seems not to care, he only told me that, according to our tradition, that my elder brothers would be the one to accept my bride price and hand me over to my husband … that I should cooperate with them so that they would make things easier for me. My question is, how

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A model

do I cooperate with them? These are people who are making life miserable for me.

At times, they abuse men who come with good intention. The worst is that age is gradually ticking away. I ’m 32 years old and you can imagine what would happen if my brothers continued this way until I hit 40! ” she retorted.

Though her mother is prayerful, she said she is not comfortable with her method of prayers.

“Mama would shout and wake people up with her prayers. When my elder sister Elizabeth was about getting married, Mama invited both her friends and enemies to the marriage ceremony through her prayers. She would wake up at 4 a.m. when the whole village was calm and her voice would be heard by everyone. Now, she has started praying about me, telling God how she needed a grade-A suitor like the one her first daughter had.

A suitor that would come and conclude the remaining things Uncle Akanna, my elder sister ’s husband was yet to do. She would bind and destroy every poor suitor, ‘who had nothing to show he is a man except his trouser and manhood. My doors would never be opened for such a suitor.

Holy ghost fire would make his ways slimy if at all he wants to come for my precious second daughter Cornelia ’.

“I usually feel uncomfortable with her prayers and I had complained to her on several occasions never to mention my

name in such prayers.

But, she would not listen. My father didn ’t see anything wrong with my mother ’s method of praying. He would be answering amen in a low tune on his bed, while my mother would shout and shout. After which she would drink

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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!

hot tea with lots of honey. Little wonder her voice has never failed her, ” she said.

At 32, Cornelia, according to her, ought to be left alone to make her choice.

“Else, I would be forced to leave home for another town where I would stay with a friend. I had started planning this but somehow, I ’m afraid of breaking the hearts of my loved ones who are of course members of my family. I had already discussed with my childhood friend who is staying in town and she said I should come.

What pissed me off the more was that my two brothers came and told me that they had already mapped out the kind of business they would do with the bride price my suitor would bring. And that I should also follow the footstep of my elder sister Elizabeth whose husband is rich.

Thomson ’s voice is still etched in my

memory. ‘You know you are beautiful, so make good use of this beauty by bringing a good suitor home. I think you saw what Auntie Elizabeth did: how her husband came in and elevated Papa ’s status. Today, Papa is a car owner and chief. And he has extra cash to take care of himself and Mama. We are expecting you to do the same. Even the villagers would be expecting such a suitor too for you. So, don ’t disappoint us ’.

“That was the kind of advice that infuriated me. Must I marry the kind of man my sister married? Do we have the same destiny? If they continue this way, I would be forced to leave the village and I ’m serious about this decision.

•Readers, what do you think Cornelia should do? Leave her village and relocate to another town, and perhaps bring her choice of man home and force her parents to accept him?

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

From the Pulpit

Sunday, October 18, 2015

41

The place of soul-winning in Church growth, by Prophet Oloruntimilehin

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he God Almighty does His work and He does it miraculously. It is the work I implore the people of the world particularly Christians to do. The Bible says in the Ecclesiastes 3:1-8: “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace”.

Therefore, there is time for everything but I would like us to focus and look at the time of planting and time of harvesting.

What is the meaning of harvest? Harvest is what Cain and Abel observed and they were the first set of people to embark on livestock and rearing of animals and planting of food crops. Cain and Abel brought to the Lord as offering some of the fruits of the soil and fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock respectively. The Lord favoured Abel and his offering more than Cain. So Cain was very angry (Genesis 4:2-5). God favoured Abel because Cain did not offer God tangible fruits from his harvest. Harvest started with Cain and Abel because they were the first set of people that Adam and Eve had. Harvest and Tithes started with people when annually they offer to God part of the proceeds from their farm product or work.

All that I have narrated concern livestock and farm products but my major

General Overseer of Omnipotence Mission of God, Prophet Joshua Daramola Oloruntimilehin, in this admonition, explains the place of soul-winning in Church growth. Excerpts: concern is on human beings. How many souls have you won for Jesus into the ministry? My errand for the followers of Jesus is to commence winning souls for Christ. How many people have you won their souls into your ministry? Pastors, Patroness, Deacons, Deaconess, church workers and Choirmasters are expected to ensure that the ministry where they worship or serve God do grow in population by winning souls for their respective ministries. The Shepherd in-charge of a ministry must be a respectable, kind, loving and disciplined person that the members are proud of and a person that has firm control of man, material and money of the ministry. All these people are soul winning persons for the ministry.

Soul winning is the harvest of all members of the ministry. Soul winning can be done in various ways. For instance, you can win souls when you see people that need food to eat and you are providing for them. You see people that need clothes and you provide clothes for them or render help to people that are troubled. If you talk and invite these people to be worshipping with you in your church, they will oblige.

Similarly, people’s souls can be won through patience. A female member of my ministry in Headquarters won souls by being patient and generous. She is the Iya-loja general of one of the markets in Lagos. She was a staunch member of Islamic religion. Her soul was won when she brought a medically certify dead body of her first daughter to me. God Almighty revived the dead body and she

Prophet Oloruntimilehin

came live through me. Subsequently, she became a member of my ministry. By this miracle, many people became members of the church. Prior to her being follower of Jesus Christ and born-again, she was a tough woman that no one could over-ride easily. She became a different person after I counselled her to be patient and enduring.

One of her tenants slapped her when an argument ensued between them. She did not take revenge but cried to me that I caused her the embarrassment by counselling her to be patient and enduring. I pacified her and she went back home.

In fact, many people thought she would revenge by engaging thugs and area boys to deal with the tenant who had already fled with his family. Instead, the woman went in search of them, settled the matter with them and brought them back to her

house. She preached the word of God to them. She did not allow the spirit of anger to take control of her. To the glory of God, this woman is now gentle and generous to the extent of that she helped a lot of female members of my ministry to secure shops where she was the Iya-loja general.

Therefore, let people emulate this woman. Be friendly and help your neighbours who need help. My message is for people to go on a soul – winning exercise by spreading the good news. The Bible says in the book of Mark 16:15-16: “He said to them, go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned”.

‘How to prepare for divine visitation’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24 cleansing of themselves from all sinful pollutions, they must wash their clothes.

Not that God regards their clothes, but while they were washing their clothes, He would have them think of washing their souls by repentance. It behooves us to appear in clean clothes when we wait upon great men; so clean hearts are required in our attendance when preparing for the coming of our God. Secondly, in token of their devoting themselves entirely to spiritual exercises like evangelism, fasting and prayers upon this occasion, they must abstain even from lawful enjoyments during these two days, and not even come near to their wives. In so doing, the Lord visited as He promised and blessed them.

If you are barren, prepare to be fruitful in this visitation. He has given us promises to encourage us to prepare, we must therefore prepare to meet Him. He said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11: 28). Those who will remain in their state after His visit will have themselves to blame.

This we ought to do now that God has remembered us and has promised to visit and cause our enemies to submit and turn our sorrow to joy. For we are very sure His visit will change our lives and make us better, because when He comes into a situation, there is always a solution. Jer. 29: 11-14 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive”.

The Lord will give you in this His coming, not the expectations of your fears, or the expectations of your fancies, but the expectations of your faith in preparation. The various packages of blessing He is coming to deliver to us will not depend upon our merits, but upon His own

mercy, and kind thoughts and purposes He has for His Chosen people.

Our required preparation and example of old Amos 4: 12 says, “Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel”.

Everybody must be in attention to receive God’s blessing in this divine visitation when our enemies shall be submitted.

There is no doubt that after that day, our lives shall never be the same again. The dumb shall speak; lame shall walk, blind shall see and the afflicted delivered. If we could honour human beings, the honour we have for God should be higher. If we believe that God is higher than the President, we must therefore prepare to honour Him in a special way. We must not come alone as that will amount to greediness. Evangelical holiness is required here which is a proof of a humble, growing, progressive and self-denying holiness, and such holiness towards God attract blessing and healing. So, we must all go out to invite people that are deaf, insane, blind, afflicted, etc.

When we invite them with faith and believe that God will heal them, I’m assuring you my God will give answer to their problems in Jesus name.

It is no longer in doubt what our God can do. This is because testimonies are everywhere to attest to what He can do.

Mt 9:32 -33 says, “As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. 33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel”. In the Scripture above, it was very clear that wherever our Lord Jesus Christ went during His earthly sojourn, He was always greeted with multitude of afflicted people and He healed them. Those that have knowledge of His visitation went about inviting people to come and the people they invited did not regret honouring the invitation. Likewise, you are expected to go about inviting people for this visitation as a matter of preparation.

And in so doing God will see your good work and bless you.

Rev. 22: 12- 13, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last” Christ is talking to you! He says He is coming to establish comfort and support for His followers. So take advantage of this visitation and do the will of God and prosper.

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From the Pulpit Learn with Kunle

Macaulay

G

Email: profkunlemacaulay@ yahoo.com (08023032698, sms pls)

od is the greatest on earth and in heaven. Knowing God is the greatest thing that has ever happened to humanity. The knowledge of God is his gift that came to humanity through his Son Jesus Christ. God reveals himself through Nature, Jesus Christ, Bible, Holy Spirit and extraordinary events.

The study of the Bible reveals many things about God especially his ability to be patient. Patience is the instrument of God to mould people to conform to his needs.

The way of the Lord is miraculous and we need time to understand it. God is never in a hurry to fulfill his promises. He takes his time and never regrets anything he does. In order to know God and why he does what he does, it will be necessary to pray for his knowledge and wisdom that will reveal to you his intention and action for what he does.

When I consider some of his actions sometime I believe that he is at times very slow to act but the study of his WORD - the Bible confirms that he has good reasons for being slow. I call this slowness PATIENCE. The Bible said, “Those that wait upon the Lord…’’ Is 40:31. Waiting means being patient. The Lord Himself is very patient.

The Bible said that as the population grew on earth, men became wicked and their thoughts were evil. God was not happy and the bible confirmed that God

Desti Destiny Hour with Pastor Femi

Lanre-Oke

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ut for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.

1 Timothy 1:16

What is the essence of the grace of God freely given to me? For what purpose did Jesus die and show me mercy? What qualifies me from the unmerited gift of grace that I am a recipient of ? These are some pertinent questions to ask if we are to fully understand what God wants of us. Remember, we said last week that the grace of God freely given is for a specific purpose just like the cellphone in our illustration. And to fully appreciate the effort of the father who went out to pick a cellphone for his child, the child must understand the purpose for which he was given the gift.

Children of God, do not take grace for granted. Why have I been given the gift of the grace of God, 1 Timothy 1:16 stated earlier that I may become an example of Christ that will draw multitudes to Jesus.

God loves me and just as He loves me, He loves the world and everyone around me.

Therefore, the primary reason why I have

Sunday, October 18, 2015

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Patience - The present need of Nigerians was grieved that he had made man on the earth and his heart was filled with pain, so the Lord said, “ I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth…. for I am grieved that I have made them”. Gen 6:7. His patience eventually took control of his anger and he did not destroy them rather he confused their language. We learned that Noah found favour in the eyes of God because he was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time and moreover, he walked with God. God called Abraham at the age of 75 years when he told him to leave his father’s house, God made a promise to bless Sarah with a child and this was fulfilled when Abram was 100 years and Sarah was 91 years. They had a son called Isaac. God took his time.

Moses was forty years old when God called him to lead the Hebrews in Egypt out. Moses never did it immediately he returned to Egypt from Horeb rather it took Moses another forty years before he could lead them out. God took his time.

God showed himself to Joseph in a dream at the age of 17 years and promised that he would become great and people will bow down before him including his elder brothers. The reality of the dream never manifested in the physical until Joseph was 30 years old. It took God 13 years to make this dream real. God is very patient.

There are many bible passages that revealed the coming of the Saviour to save the world.

The Bible said of the arrival of the Saviour, “But when the time had fully come,

God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law to redeem ….. Gal 4:4-5. The Saviour was to die to shed his blood in order to clean the sin of man and bring man back to God. ‘’For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him” Jn. 3:16-17.

Jesus did not die the very day he was born, it took him thirty three ( 33) years before he walked majestically to the cross to give his life for the reason he came to the world.

God is very patient that he gives everybody a chance to repent for he does not want anybody to perish.

Jesus promised to come back “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” Jn. 14:1-3 and today it is over 2,000 years since he has left, he has not come back.

Many people are doubling his coming back while some heretics said he has come back in spirit.

The Bible confirms that he will come down from heaven “… For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an 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. 4:16-17.

Peter encouraged people to be patient, for according to him “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” 2 Pt. 3:9. He said “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends; with the Lord, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day 2 Pt 3:8.God is patient, He takes his time, so believers should not join the world in rushing to achieve anything. The world is no more patient that everything is almost automatic – we now have instant food, instant tea even journey on land and air has been made shorter by the introduction of automation.

Nigerians need patience now more than any other time in the history of this nation. The present government is trying to first mop up the mess created by the previous government that spent sixteen years in governance.

Even the earth takes its time to bring out the seed entrusted in it by farmer. Let us be patient and pray for the people in government. Let us also watch what they do and how they do it. Moreover, we must see them as our representatives and not lords and we must discourage worshipping them because of money. Christians must discourage their leaders from becoming errand boys for people in politics because of money. Patience is the only instrument we have now and prayer is the present weapon of all Nigerians.

•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 Grace of God (3) been en-graced is to ensure that this love that has saved me is made available to save everyone around me The world celebrates grace but have forgotten the essence of grace. Some see it as an avenue to sin unconditionally as a child of God. Some celebrate the fruits of grace they see in their lives while the main reason for the grace is lost. Ha! The reason why Jesus paid such a heavy price on the cross is not for me to abound unto multitude of sins but to grow and attain His stature of perfection becoming an example to believers and unbelievers alike. The grace I receive is to draw others to Christ so that they also receive what I have.

The kingdom of God today is divided on what grace tolerates and what is not acceptable. Some people are of the opinion that the sins you are yet to commit are covered by grace therefore go ahead you cannot lose your salvation. Others are of the opinion that grace is not an excuse to sin.

Some believe that it is impossible for me to attain righteousness that is why grace has covered the sins I am presently engaged in, after all the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

Let us however, leave the complicated issues and go back to the basics, the great grace that came upon the Apostles in Acts 4:33 was to draw multitudes unto Christ.

Apostle Paul was a recipient of grace to be an example of Jesus to all. The greater the grace of God upon your life, the greater the Christ – like responsibility you carry.

Do not take this with levity.

If your home is secure, your career

and business are booming, your children and family are sickness and diseases free, you pray and God hears you, you pray for others and God hears you, you have the strength to go about your daily business and also to serve God, you labour day and night without stress among many other things that God has enabled you to do; that enablement you enjoy is the definition of grace that we are considering. You have not been able to do these things because you have the ability but because Christ supplied you the ability.

The reason for the ability is that through it all, the world around will see that you exemplify Christ, the world around you will see that you are at peace and flourishing because of the grace of God upon your life. “I am what I am by the grace of God”. The definition of grace you must hold as the basics is that I am what I am to draw souls unto Jesus. If your life does not draw multitudes to Jesus then I put it to you without mincing words that you are abusing grace.

Sir/Ma, there may be a thousand and one scriptures and arguments that you can bring forth right now to justify your view on grace but what I am here to clearly show is that the basics of grace and the primary responsibility I have for the grace i have received is this: glorify God so much with my life that others will through me come to the saving knowledge of Jesus.

The Apostles of old knew this and much more than arguing the benefits of grace they strived for the salvation of souls.

It is therefore time for you to take a

stock of what God has enabled you to do today; attribute all the benefits and all that you are to the grace of God and make up your mind to live a life that will glorify God and will return all the glory to Him for His free gift of grace upon your life. By so doing you will draw the world to Jesus.

Are you struggling with life, sicknesses today, lack and want tomorrow, do you labour without results? Then your answer now is to give your life to Jesus and receive grace to become a child of purpose and if you have said yes to Jesus before and have gone back to sin then this is the time to ensure that you stop abusing grace and be an example to the whole world. The process is simple: Believe in your heart that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself.

Believe in your heart that Jesus died on the cross of Calvary paying the price for your sins and rose from the dead the third day to establish your victory Confess with your mouth that Jesus is lord and saviour.

Repent of all sins before the Lord and forsake them.

Welcome into God’s family.

Please locate a bible believing church and share you new birth experience with the church leaders.

•For further prayer & counseling, Please contact: Pastor Femi Lanre-Oke, Jesus Praise Evangelical Ministries International, Plot A22 Power Crescent, Arab road, Kubwa. Abuja, +2348030752799, +2348053695097, Email: femi_lanre01@yahoo.co.uk

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Sunday, October 18, 2015

Rapture is coming

with Pastor

Ade-David

Rapture Expectant Ministry Email: jacobpastordavid@yahoo.com

A

cceptable year of the Lord”- Isaiah 61: 1, 2. They read how he would ‘set judgment in the earth.”How the isles should wait for His law;’ how the Gentiles should come to His light, and kings to the brightness of His rising - Isaiah 42:4; 60:3.

The dying words of Jacob filled them with hope; “the scepter shall not depart from Judah, not a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come”- Genesis 49: 10. The warning power of Israel testified that the glory of His reign over an empire which should succeed all earthly. While few understood the nature of Christ’s mission, there was a widespread expectation of a mighty prince who should establish his kingdom in Israel, and who should come as a deliverer to the nations.

The fullness of the time had come, humanity, becoming more degraded through ages of transgression, called for the coming of the redeemer. Satan had been working to make the gulf deep and impassable between the earth and heaven. By his falsehoods, he had emboldened men in sin. It was his purpose to wear out the forbearance of God, and to extinguish His love for man, so that He would abandon the world to satanic jurisdiction.

Satan was seeking to shut out from men knowledge of God, to turn their attention from the temple of God, and to establish his own kingdom. His strife for supremacy had seemed to be almost wholly successful. It is true that in every generation God had His agencies. Even among the heathen, there “

Peace Tabernacle International with Pastor Sola

Aderibigbe

O

nly the living can praise the Lord.

Glory be to God for the gift of life and the privilege of meeting with you again. For you to still be alive, there is hope for a living dog than a dead lion. This is the fourth in the series of “Maturity for Mandate Fulfillment.” So far, we’ve discussed the real image which is God’s desire for our lives without shadows. We’ve also discussed the difference between a child and an adult (spiritually and physically). We’ve also been able to establish that it’s only a matured person (spiritually) that would understand and take action in pursuit of the real image of God rather than shadows.

We’ve also had the privilege of examining the truth that maturity is not a function of age.

Progressively, today we would be examining the truth that God wants to and has always handed over power of amazement to a matured person.

Analysis has been previously made in the column that a physical child of twelve year (12), if given the gift of car, could eventually result to the source of such child’s death. He doesn’t possess the maturity to utilize that car effectively. It would eventually lead to misuse.

In the same vein, God cannot hand over the power of amazement/mandate fulfillment to a spiritually immature person. Such a person might possess Metusellaic age but without any spiritual growth into maturity, any power given to such a person would be misused.

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The fullness of time (2)

were men through whom Christ was working to uplift the people from their sin and degradation. But these men were despised and hated many of them suffered a violent death. The dark shadow that Satan had over the world grew deeper and deeper.

Through heathenism, Satan had for ages turned men away from God but he won his great triumph in perverting the faith of Israel. By contemplating and worshipping theory won conceptions, the heathen had lost knowledge of God and had become more and more corrupt. So it was with Israel .The principle that man can save himself by his own works lay at the foundation of every heathen religion; it had now become the principle of the Jewish religion. Satan had implanted this principle, wherever it is held, men have no barrier against sin.

The message of salvation is communicated to men through human agencies, but the Jews had sought to make a monopoly of the truth which is eternal life. They had hoarded the living manna, and it had turned to corruption. The religion which they tried to shut up to themselves became an offense. They robbed God of His glory, and defrauded the world by a counterfeit of the gospel, they had refused to surrender themselves to God for the salvation of the world, and they became agent of Satan for its destruction.

The people whom God had called to be the pillar and ground truth had become representatives of Satan. They were doing the worst that he desired them to do, taking a course to misrepresent the character of God and cause the world to look upon Him as a tyrant. The vey priest who ministered in the temple had lost sight of the significance of the service they preformed. They had ceased to look

beyond the symbol to the thing signified. In presenting the sacrificial offerings they were actors in a play. The ordinances which God Himself had appointed were made the means of blinding the mind and hardening the heart God could do no more for man through these channels. The whole system must be swept away.

The deception of sin had reached its height. All the agencies for depraving the souls of men had been put in operation. The Son of God looking upon the world, beheld suffering and misery. With pity he saw how men had become victims of satanic cruelty. He looked with compassion upon those who were being corrupted, murdered, and lost. They had chosen a ruler who chained them to his car captives.

Bewildered and deceived, they were moving on in gloomy procession toward eternal ruin to death in which is no hope of life, toward night to which cometh no morning. Satanic agencies were incorporated with men. The bodies of human beings, made for the dwelling place of God, had become the habitation of demons. The senses, the nerves, the passions, the organ of men, were worked by supernatural agencies in the indulgence of the vilest lust. The very stamp of demons was impressed upon the countenances of men. Human faces reflected the expression of the legions of demons with which they were possessed. Such was the prospect upon which the world’s Redeemer looked. What a spectacle for infinite purity to behold. Sin had become a science, and vice was consecrated as a part of religion. Rebellion had struck its roots deep into the heart, and the hostility of man was most violent against heaven. It was demonstrated before the universe that, apart from God, humanity could not be uplifted. A new element of life and power must be impacted by Him who

made the world.

With intense interest, the unfallen worlds had watched to see Jehovah arise, and sweep away the inhabitants of the earth, and if God should do this, Satan was ready to carry out his plan for securing to himself the allegiance of heavenly beings. He had declared that the principles of God’s government make forgiveness impossible. Had the world been destroyed, he would have claimed that his accusations were proved true. He was ready to cast blame upon God, and to spread his rebellion to the worlds above. But instead of destroying the world, God sent His Son to save it.

Though corruption and defiance might be seen in every part of the alien province, a way for its recovery was provided. At the very crisis, when Satan, seemed about to triumph, the Son of God came with the message of divine grace. Through every age, through every hour, standing the perversity of men, the signals of mercy had been continually exhibited, and when the fullness of the time had come, the deity was glorified by pouring upon the world a flood of healing grace that was never to be obstructed or withdrawn till the plan of salvation should be fulfilled. Satan was exulting that he had succeeded in debasing the image of God in humanity.

Then Jesus came to restore in man the image of his maker. None but Christ can fashion anew the character that has been ruined by sin. He came to expel the demons that had controlled the will. He came to lift us up from the dust, to reshape the married character after the pattern of His divine character, and to make it beautiful with His own glory.

•Your Steward: Pastor Jacob Ade-David can be reached at No. 54/56 Okesuna Street, Lagos Island Lagos. Tel: 08023535110, 08023539857,, 08034078158, Email:jacobpastordavid@yahoo.com Rapture Expectant Ministry

Maturity for mandate fulfilment (4) Though Apostle Peter was matured in age physically but for a long period of time, he had been living a life of rising and falling. Peter promised heaven and earth to Jesus. Let’s see Luke 22:33. “And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both in prison, and to death”.

However, he denied Christ. Let’s examine Matt. 26:69 – 74. “69. Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee 70.

But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. 71. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, this fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. 72.

And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. 73. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee 74. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.”

Oh! That was the Peter that was meant to show kings and powers -that-be in society the power of Jesus works wonders. That was a Peter that was expected to cast out demons, rebuke every satanic appearance, heal the sick and deliver people from their oppression.

He could not be bold to face only a maid. No wonder within that period, he could not perform wonders and fulfill mandate; No wonder, he went back into fishing. However, after the Holy Spirit came upon him in Acts 2, maturity came in, he became bold. You also need that maturity and boldness of the Holy Spirit if you would fulfill mandate and perform spiritual wonders and amazement.

The aftermath of Peter’s receipt of the Holy Spirit was explosion. He exploded to

manifest mandate. He became matured that he could defend Christ anywhere contrary to the scenes of his denial of Christ before just a maid. That was the moment God handed over the power of amazement to him. Therefore, part of the package that comes with spiritual maturity is spiritual power for amazement and mandate fulfillment. Peter began to perform wonders. An example is in Acts 3 where he healed the lame man at the Beautiful Gate.

Even his shadows alone wroth miracles. In Acts 3:12-13 and other passages of the Bible, we can see Peter boldly defending and promoting Christ.

“12. And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? Or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man walk? 13. The God of Abraham and Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.” He was imprisoned and beaten many times for Christ sake because of his maturity level.

Though Mark 16”15-18 shows that the power for amazement and mandate fulfillment is to be handed over to every believer who followed the instructions of evangelism, yet there is the need for spiritual maturity to sustain such power. This also happened to Peter.

In Luke 9, Christ sent his disciples out (Peter inclusive) to towns, cities and villages around to preach the gospel and perform healing and deliverances. In verse 10, they returned with great testimonies. This has helped us to establish that Peter had performed miracles before.

But lack of spiritual maturity could not allow him to sustain the power. He began to rise and

fall until his maturity could handle the power.

Therefore, you also as a child of God might have performed miracle in the name of Jesus at one point or the other, yet you have to grow into spiritual maturity in order to be able to sustain it. If you don’t, the power would be withdrawn. It is such withdrawal of power that makes some men of God resort into using fake power from the kingdom of darkness.

They might have performed miracles before, they committed errors but they don’t want to retrace back their step and they don’t want people to know that power had been taken from them; they now resort into consultation with darkness. May that not be your portion in Jesus name.

To show spiritual maturity, you have to show high sense of discipline. You must discipline your thoughts, your utterances, your appetite, your association, etc. Part of discipline is to be able to fast and pray as Christ said “this kind cannot be done except by fasting and prayer.”

Also, you must not serve God because you want to collect something from Him but because he is God. That is unconditional service.

That would lead to continual thanksgiving to God (unconditional) as written in Habakkuk 3:17-18 “Although the fig tree shall not blossom ……….. Yet I will rejoice in the Lord …”

Next week, you would know about God’s dream and image for you. Shalom!

• For testimonies, comments, enquires, counseling or prayer, don’t hesitate to contact me at: Peace Tabernacle Int’l (Power Palace) Between FRSC and Atiba Police Barracks Oke-Ebo, Oyo, Oyo State. Or08067142127 Or bunmichristy75@yahoo.com

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From the Pulpit

T The voice o of wisdom

with Dr. David

Oyedepo

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od’s Word is pregnant with wonders but it takes the Spirit of God opening our eyes to see beyond the letters to the wonders in the Word. We must understand that trading the wonders in the Word makes us wonders to our world. This is because God appears through His Word to open new chapters to our lives. That is why every encounter with the Word is an encounter with destiny, when applied (1 Samuel 3:21; Psalms 119:18).

We must recognize that every destiny flies on the wings of applied revelation, which empowers us for change of levels in the journey of life. That means Word practice is key to our enviable destiny. For instance, God (the Word) instructed Isaac not to go down to Egypt. He obeyed and his enviable destiny was made manifest. When we operate according to the dictates of the Word, our enviable destiny manifests. Therefore, the more revelation of the Word we access and apply, the higher we soar in the journey of life (Isaiah 60:1, 8, 22).

Moreover, it is the Word we engage that creates the world we live in. Jesus said: …for without me ye can do nothing. ‘Me’ in this context is Jesus and Jesus is the Word of God. It is important to note that everywhere we see “God” or the “Lord” in scriptures, replace it with the Word. Again, the Bible says: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God (John 1:1-2; see also John 15:5).

That means God is the Word and the Word is God. Thus, without the Word, we are utterly limited. It is important to also note that destiny in the Kingdom is not a destination

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Encounter with Destiny through Feet Washing! but an adventure. For instance, the Church of Christ is ordained for continuous and endless growth. Jesus said: And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).

From scriptures, we understand that we are members of that Church; thus, our destiny is ordained for continuous progress and where we stop is as determined by us (Proverbs 4:18; Genesis 13:15).

Among the mystery that establishes our glorious destiny in Christ is the mystery of feet washing. Remember that mysteries are simply divine secrets embedded within scriptures and apostles are custodians of the mysteries of the Kingdom. Moreover, mysteries are mostly wrapped up in simplicities and that is why complex minds never access or benefit from them (Ephesians 3:1-5; 2 Corinthians 11:3).

But, what is the mystery of feet washing?

Feet-washing is a spiritual medium through which we access all our redemptive inheritance in Christ. It is written: According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue (2 Peter 1:3).

Jesus demonstrated the mystery of feet washing in scriptures. The Bible says: Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter (John 13:3-7).

The above scripture is always seen as Jesus’ demonstration of humility. We must

understand that it is far beyond an illustration of humility but a mystery being transmitted.

That was why when Peter didn’t want Jesus to wash his feet, Jesus said to him: If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me… (John 13:8).

Thereafter, Peter replied: Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all (John 13:9-10).

That means the mystery of feet-washing clears all satanic resistances to our glorious destiny in Christ. Moreover, when our feet are washed, every aspect of our lives is impacted, whatever is not our portion in Christ is removed and our redemptive inheritances are delivered.

How, then, do we take delivery of our inheritance?

• We must believe in the finished work of Christ: Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing (Revelation 5:12). We must understand that all our inheritances in Christ are real; they are not theoretical.

Remember, it is also written of Jesus: He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted (Isaiah 53:3-4; see also John 19:30).

• We must believe in the mystery of feetwashing as a covenant access to our inheritance: It is written: And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord (Luke 1:45).

• Believe God to confirm His Word as our feet are washed: Concerning the disciples, the Bible records: And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following (Mark 16:20).

• Believe in prophetic proclamations while this mystery is being administered: As

it is written: Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper (2 Chronicles 20:20; see also Matthew 10:41). Every statement of scriptures is God’s prescription for our change of position and transformation. This is because God’s Word will always deliver under all circumstances. However, tireless Word practice is our access to the mysteries and revelation in the Word, and every man’s destiny answers to applied revelation.

This is why it is not enough to encounter revelation, we must apply ourselves to it so as to experience full manifestation of the blessings therein. That means how much we engage the Word of God in faith as a lifestyle determines how gorgeous, fruitful, impactful and enviable our destiny becomes. We have an enviable destiny in Christ and thus, we are not ordained to live pitiable lives. Therefore, receive grace to apply the revelation of the truth with delight in Jesus’ name!

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

Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the Living God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour.

Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!” For further reading, please get my books: Operating In The Supernatural, Commanding The Supernatural, Walking In The Miraculous and The Force Of Freedom.

I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have five services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:35 a.m., 9:10 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 12:20 p.m. respectively.

I know this teaching has blessed you.

Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 7747546-8; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww. org

Develop a balanced view of money (1)

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oney is defined as a generally accepted means of exchange and measure of value. How does a Christian view money or put in a modern way, what is the attitude of a Christian toward the medium of exchange called money? Is it a mean to an end or an end in itself ? Does it been regard as a servant or semi God?

First and foremost, characteristics of money will be highlighted in the discourse followed by the view of the bible concerning money. Money, must have a long history of use to guarantee its acceptance; it must be limited in quantity available; it must have a value in itself; it must be consistent, which is why real estate is not used; it must be convenient to carry. Deut 14:25 says ‘’Then shall thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thin hand, and shall go unto place which the Lord God shall choose’’. It must be divisible, and above all it must be durable, which is why wheat or corn is not used.

Having highlighted the positive side of money, it is suitable to state the limitations of money. It is generally accepted that it is on earth that money is relevant, it is not used in heaven; No body brought anything into this world and he will not take anything away. (1 Tim 6:7) Money can buy knowledge, but not wisdom; it can buy food, not appetite; it can

buy drug, not health which is why wealthy people are not immuned from illness. Money can buy bed, it cannot buy sleep, and money cannot buy honour; glitter, but not beauty, splendor, but not warmth; fun, but not joy; acquaintances, but not friends; servants, but not faithfulness. 1st Corinthians 4:2 says: ‘’Moreover, it required in stewards, that a man be faithful’’.

When a person develops a balanced view about money, it is possible for him to enjoy a greater measure asure of contentment.

Hebrews 13:5 says: ‘’Be content with such things ngs as ye have; for He hath said: I will never leave thee, not forsake ake thee’’.

Let it be clearly stated here that God is not ot loathsome about riches or wealth. alth. What he detests is love of money ney. The Bible warns that: ‘’the love e of money is the root of all evil, which ich while some coveted after they have ve erred from the faith and pierced themselves hemselves through with many sorrows’’ s’’ .in fact, an inordinate focus on n money can break cordial al relationship existing sting between two wo friends and d between Primate I.O Oyelowo f amily members.

The bible also tell Christians in a plain language that a servant cannot serve two masters: for either he will take the one and despise the one. Ye cannot serve God and mammon’’.(Mathew 7:24) The bible neither condemns money nor criticizes those who have it. The point is not the amount a person has attitude toward what he has or wants to acquire. Its counsel regarding money is balanced, and it is as relevant today as when it was written Romans 6:16 says: ‘’know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness’’.

Anyone w h o

maintains a balanced view of money will know that his life does consist of the things he possesses-Luke 12:15. He will not take acquisition of riches as a matter of do or die (Proverbs: 4-5) He who ever sees money as a mean to an end will not trust in his riches which can fail at anytime (Proverbs 11:28).

He who is content knows how to put his anxiety in perspective and not over react to financial loss.

Rather, he is expected develop the attitude of paul who wrote; ‘’Not that I speak in respect of want for I have learned in whatever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound; everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need”(Philippians 4 11-12).

By the special grace of God, I will continue from where I stopped today. Anyone who has a balanced view of money will not allow it to soil the reputation he has been building for a longtime. Proverb 22:1 says; “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches and loving favour rather than silver and gold”. Till then Shalom!

•You can contact us at: The Word of Life, Agbo Igbala Ti Kiish Aladura Church 70 Patey street Lagos State. Tel: 07040517413

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Destroying the root of bitterness

itterness is a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will which may be caused by a number of factors. Some of these factors may seem to be very insignificant but the accumulation of such over time may lead to feeling of bitterness. Some people may be able to trace why they are bitter in life while it may be difficult for some to actually trace down their bitterness to a particular single cause. No matter what the case may be, bitterness is like a cancerous cell that effect other healthy cells and destroy them; so is bitterness, it can destroy other good things in our life if allowed to take root.

Some people became so bitter about life that they thought the only way out of their bitterness is to end their life, while some have resulted into destroying others like people committing mass murder.

The root of bitterness is taking root gradually in some people’s life without them taking notice of it. You don’t have to allow bitterness in your life because God holds the power to change people destiny and is re-writing story of men and women. Everyone is given an opportunity through the name of Jesus to destroy and frustrate bitterness.

If you noticed anything in your life that is not making you happy, you have to deal with it before it graduated into a strong root of bitterness.

Bitterness will survive when you allow it, there are things people can do for you while there are other things people cannot do for you. Your joy and happiness in life should not be subjective to what people do and do not do for you. So, rise up today and remove anything that can hold your joy to a ransom.

Sources of Bitterness A seed of the devil: Bitterness can be planted as a seed from the kingdom of darkness just as joy can flow from the presence of God to a life.

The Bride’s voice with Pastor Moses

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From the Pulpit

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Alu

friend of mine from Malaysia visited me some years back and he lodged in a hotel. When I visited him the following day, he told me he didn’t understand what was happening in the hotel; that he had to call the security. He said he was in his room when he heard a knock and when he opened, he saw a girl who asked him if he needed someone to keep him company.

He said he rejected it but the girl kept pestering him and he had to tell her he is a married man.

That man was not a Christian. But I know some people who are Christians and are carrying Bible and some of them may be reading this book that travel on business trip and it is not the women that will look for them but they go out in search of the women. It is a shame and a disgrace to our faith! Some are Christians only when they are with brethren but you don’t know that the depth of your faith is known when you are alone; in a place where nobody knows you. That is where and when you can confirm if you are truly a Christian or not.

I am emphasising fornication because it is the commonest sin in the church today and it is unfortunate. But as I once told you and I am emphasizing it again, a time will come when it will happen and you will remember that I said it. It is not a vision and I am not prophesying but I am saying what I know to be the truth; we are talking about restoration and this church is God’s programme to bring his people; the church back to the Bible faith. We are restored to the Bible days of the apostolic fathers of Mal-

Bishop Opayinka

Some people can be used by the devil to bring bitterness to the life of others and these people will rejoice and make money when others are in bitterness. The Egyptians made life tough for the Israelites; they(Egyptians) made thelife of Israelites bitter but the Lord came and delivered them and gave them laughter and the people who made them bitter sank in the Red sea.

And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor: and they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigor(Exo1:13&14).

Circumstances of life: Situations of life may become too difficult to the extent that one may give up on life. The journey of life may become unbearable and numerous ups and downs may bring bitterness as effort to change one situation may not yield fruitful results. The children of Israel became bitter as they moved through wilderness to the promise land. They faced a lot of challenges on the way that many of them became so bitter that they even complained against God and his servant And when they came to Marah, they could

not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.

And the people murmured against Moses, saying, what shall we drink?(Exodus15:23-25) And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread(Number 21:4&3) Names: The name of a person could be used as a channel for bitterness to enter such a life.

Jabez was a person that was associated with bitterness until he cried to the Lord. And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying because I bare him with sorrow. (1 Chronicles 4:9).

Negative pronouncement: some people’s assignment in life is to shoot bitter words like an arrow. It is an operation of the wicked ones to shoot arrow of bitterness into a house, a life, a family etc.

Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked: from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words(Psalms 64:2&3).

The enemy can cause children to bring bitterness to their parents by releasing negative words upon them. Parents should also be careful of the words that come out of their mouth to their children. Bitterness has a root and when bitter words are released to a life they may not grow immediately but takes time to grow.

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be

defiled(Hebrew 12:15).

When the root of bitterness survives in a life it causes trouble and makes such a person backward.

Un-forgiveness:un-forgiveness is the fertilizer to bitterness. Bitterness will grow very well in an atmosphere of strife and un-forgiveness.

Don’t hold anyone in your heart for evil for this will not in any way help you in life. Ask God to bless those that have hurt you. Reason bitterness survives in our life is because some situations have not been resolved in our life. Un-forgiveness helps and sustains bitterness.

How to overcoming bitterness Prayer: you overcome bitterness through heartfelt prayer. Bitterness will have no place to hold in your life when you engaged in serious prayer and fasting to handle anything that can encourage bitterness in your life.

Strong determination: Your determination to engage in some activities will in turn destroy every stronghold of bitterness in your life. This include: studying the word of God, and giving yourself to make others happy.

Living a consecrated life: One of the channels of bitterness to any life is sin. When there is a sin, that means disobedience to God, the resultant effect is bitterness. When you live your life consecrated unto God, the Joy of God will always fill 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 (6) achi Chapter 4 ministry. And we are restored to the genuine power of the Holy Ghost; to the apostolic doctrines; no addition and no subtraction.

We are restored back to the genuine Christian character.

The first church was known for holiness. Ananias and his wife in Acts Chapter 5 stood before the church and told a lie; they gave a lying testimony and the Holy Ghost struck him to death.

The wife also did the same as they agreed and she died. They packed their bodies for burial and the Bible says that fear gripped the people until sinners were afraid to go to the church.

The purpose of the gifts of the Holy Ghost, especially the gift of prophecy and word of knowledge is to expose sin. We must not only see your container and visa, we must also see the beer you drank before coming to church; we must see the girlfriend you have been sleeping with leaving your wife at home. We must see all the dirt around you if it is a genuine gift.

Unless this church gets to that level, we are not yet restored. Church is not for everybody!

If you are not ready to repent, don’t come to church. You can always join your likes on Friday nights in the club. One day, some people will enter this church and their seats will reject them. It will happen! A time will come when you will have to cajole some people to come to church because of fear that would have gripped everybody.

God has been giving us signs here by chaining some people; but people are not seeing it. Soon, he will be chaining fornicators and thieves until they confess. Same with men that beat their wives! That is when we will know we are restored. For now, we are not yet restored.

Verse 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers.

In talking about murder here, you don’t need to kill someone physically before you are called a murderer.

Some people don’t have to do these things but have pleasure in those that do them. How do I know you have pleasure in those that do them? Let us read 1 Cor. 5:9-10 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people.

10. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.

He is not talking about those in the world; unbelievers who are fornicators. Look at the people he is referring to in verse 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner not even to eat with such a person.

He said we should not even eat with such a person but do you know that there were some people we caught in fornication with evidence after we had investigated them and we drive them out of the church, church members will be begging us concerning them. They make it look as if I am the one they have offended.

Why are they not as angry as I am? They have pleasure in what these people are doing.

They don’t fornicate but they encourage those engaged in it. They are fornicators! And it is the same judgment because the Bible says we should not even eat with such a person.

Someone says he is a Christian brother but he is a fraudster. The Bible says you should run away from him. He is a tare because a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. If I leave a fornicator in this church, fornication will spread. It is like a cancer. Remember that tares

know how to initiate people. When you see evil going on in the church and you don’t report to the appropriate authority so they can take action, you are equally guilty. You have pleasure in it.

Some people take pleasure in watching pornography and they claim they are Christians.

As a woman, if you see another woman on the road naked, that naked woman is a reproach to all women and you should feel nauseated.

If you want to make heaven, don’t behave like a tare. A tare told you, ‘It doesn’t matter’, but I am wheat and I am telling you now that it matters. Let wheat be a wheat and a tare be a tare. Let a seed of God remain a seed of God and let serpent seed remain a serpent seed. By their fruits, we shall know them.

2 Tim. 3:1. This is another prophesy Apostle Paul gave Timothy as to the things he should watch out for. But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: All the things mentioned are in the church; amongst those holding the Bible. Why do you think some churches have several services between 7am and 12 noon? The excuse they give is that they don’t want to waste people’s time; so that they can go home. Service is now per hour on Sundays! And the services are just enough to collect tithes and offerings; long enough to tell the people that ‘God is good’; long enough for them to prophesy to the people, ‘All of you will become millionaires. All of you will make heaven, don’t let anyone condemn you. If a man is in Christ, he is a new creature. Don’t let your heart condemn you. You are a child of God. Just keep confessing it’.

•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 one of last week

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hen, there were some spiritual forces living on earth. They lived in the waters. Which was why, when God made, the first man and woman he gave them power over the universe to exercise dominion and authority over these forces which had occupied the earth, before creation. When they lost their mandate, because of sin, these powers manipulated and corrupted the thoughts and the imagination of man.

Following this corruptions, these lifestyles were introduced into the world.

a) Idol worship b) Polygamy c) Fornication d) Idolatry e) Pagan rivalry f) Sacrifices of sons and daughters g) Killings h) Divorce i) Abortions j) Masturbation k) Homosexualism l) Lesbianism m) And other such related social vices With many other abominable acts that comes from the pit of hell. Deep study of this deliverance topic would reveal to us, why those who live at riverine areas, of our country mostly suffers from divorce, polygamy, fornication, adultery and every other sin of the lust of flesh. Counting back from the fall of satan and his agents, devil had never wished to prosper the things of God, instead he had worked to destroy it. He deceived the first man and woman on earth, and turned them against their God. His presence in the Garden of Eden turned upside down the plan of Almighty to humanity. The beautiful world God created, with good intention suffered setback and corruption from the hand of satan.

This corruption, in addition to the great level of wickedness and evil that has plundered the earth is the invention of satan. When the plan of God in Adam was wrecked by satan, and the world of light turned to the world of darkness. God was moved to create a new world in his son Jesus. This new world came into this world in the personality of Jesus to lighten the old world which satan has turned to darkness. Satan is darkness, he cannot be separated from darkness. He is the embodiment of darkness. When Adam and Eve failed from grace, the seat of authority to rule over this world which God gave them was immediately taken away from them. The seat being empty, had to be occupied. Being that the original oc-

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The mystery of polygamy (2) cupant had been found unworthy, and the seat has rejected them, satan quickly occupied it.

Immediately he did, the light of God which had shinned and beautified the glory of creation disappeared, darkness from the throne of satan covered the entire world. No wonder, satan boldly told Jesus to bow and worship him and he would give him the world and its glories because it has been given to him. In Luke 4:5-6 “And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.” However, in the gospel of John chapter 1: 1-5 “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life and the life was the light of man. And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not” The main target of the operation of the wicked spirits that dominated the body of waters which covered the surface of the earth was to cause misery to the seed of man. It was satan the devil that deceived man from eating the forbidden fruit.

Telling him that if he eat it he would not die instead, it would give him more wisdom. Infact he would have wisdom as God. Thus man was deceived. In the process, his demons who inhabits the entire body of the water on earth from creation, preached to man the doctrine of polygamy.

The demons of polygamy The names of the demons, who are the architect and promoters of polygamy are called Babels. It is a Hebrew name meaning confusion or to mix. They function under the authority of a higher principality and rulers of darkness, named after the ancient city of Babylon,’ Mystery Babylon the great, the mother of harlots, and abominations of the earth.” Revelation 17:1-6 “And there came one of the seven, angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, come hitherto, I will show unto thee the judgement of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters.

With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls having golden cup in her hands full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication. And upon her forehead was a name written. “Mystery Babylon the Great.

The Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth. And I saw the woman drunken, with

the blood of the saints and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus; and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.”

“I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters.”

Polygamous spirits are simply water spirits.

The Bible says, I will show the judgment of the great whore that sat upon many waters. Different bodies of water are his domain, polygamous families are therefore controlled by water spirits. This is because the foundation of such family was laid on marine spirit. Notwithstanding how righteous the family could be or how peaceful they could claim they are, the hidden, truth still remains that their foundation was marine oriented. Which is why God hated polygamy with perfect hatred. Any man that has more than one wife was not led by God, but by flesh, which is marine spirit. Any woman that is in a marriage as the second wife, or 3rd wife was not led by God but by flesh. Marine spirit is the architects of all lust of flesh, fashion, and cosmetics. Beloveth, are you second wife or which ever number of wives in a marriage, provided you are not the first wife, you are on a wrong track. God is not with you in that marriage, repent today and seek the face of God, for the good of your soul. Dear brother, are you living with more than one wife, thinking it is an achievement. In the sight of God, it is not rather, it is abject foolishness, repent today and amend your ways with God. Polygamy is a curse, it is a disease, it is a cankerworm that eats the fabric of the peace of marriage institutions. From the beginning God made them, man and a woman.

Every man has his wife on earth. Every woman has her husband on earth. For a man to marry more than one wife is greediness, excessive lust of flesh, and on exhibition of the spirit of lack of self-control. Someone may say what of those great Biblical characters who, God acknowledged their righteousness and greatness but they had several wives. Such characters were: a) Jacob b) David c) Solomon To mention but these three. If you can vividly recall back the stories of the families of these mentioned Biblical characters who married more than one wife, you will remember that each of them had serious family issues that tore their families apart, if not that God had special compassion upon them. We do not need to wait for such compassion any more from God. The compassion human race needed from God, God has given by sending his only begotten son, who was given for our sins, condemned, for our guilt, and raised for our justification. In Luke 11:29-30 “And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, this is an evil generation, they seek a sign, and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonah the prophet for as Jonah was a sign unto the Ninevities, so shall also the son of man be to this generation” Jesus said, the sign had been

given, as Jonah the prophet, was a sign to the Ninevities, he, the son of God is a sign to this our generation. He is the sign of the mercy, compassion, redemption and salvation of God. The only way to embrace this grace is to embrace the gospel of truth.

THE PROBLEM OF POLYGAMY IN JACOB’S FAMILY Bible told us that other brothers of Joseph hatred him because they noticed that their father loved him more than them. They could not speak peaceable to Joseph. They were always aggressive to him. Their hatred on Joseph increased the more when he told them the dream he had. Genesis 37:6-11 “And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, “What is this dream that thou hast dreamed?” Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.”

Prayer point Oh Lord, my destiny sold in the evil mark by the powers of polygamy, today I recover it in the name of Jesus.

Testimonies Sharp pains disappeared For sometime now, I have been having this sharp pains on my left breast. When I decided to touch the very spot where the pains was coming I discovered a small hard skin, like a strong stone. The pains, continued even after taking medication. When I came to Batherida, healing last week, during the ministration of the man of God, he called a prayer point which I prayed seriously, when the programme was over, I noticed that the pains were no longer there, I touched the spot on my breast to the glory of God, the stone like object has disappeared, praise the Lord!

Sis. Ngozi 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

News

NEMA says 7,000 members serving as missionaries in 96 countries BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

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igeria Evangelical Missions Association, NEMA, has revealed that over 7,000 of its members are currently in 96 countries serving as Christian missionaries.

This disclosure was made in Osogbo during the weekend by the Executive Secretary of NEMA, Mike Adegbile during the inauguration of the Osun State chapter of the association.

According to Adegbile, who was represented by NEMA National Coordinator of Vision 5015, Pastor Victor Idakwoji, the association which was formed in 1982 with its headquar-

ters in Jos, Plateau State is the networking, fellowship, clearing house and association organ of Nigerian Missions Movement.

“The vision of NEMA is to foster a united, purposeful and strategic pursuit of the fulfillment of the Great Commission by Nigerian Church and Missions Movement.”, he said.

He noted that top on the agenda NEMA was set up to achieve was to produce 50,000 Nigerian missionaries within 15 years to cover 196 countries of the world which led to its Vision 5015 and to ensure that the targeted goal was achieved by 2020.

Also speaking, the state Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN,

Rev. Elisha Ogundiya represented by his deputy, Pastor Moses Ogundeji and the state Chairman of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Rev. Olasunbo Ige, promised total support for the association, saying it’s the church responsibility to witness Christ to all and sundry.

Inaugurating the state chapter of NEMA, a National Leader of the association, Dr Olatunde Oladoyinbo and the South-West Secretary, Dotun Adeboye urged all churches in the state to support NEMA executives in their effort at raising missionaries who are ready to preach the messages of Christ anywhere in the world.

“The task is daunting and the job is tasking. Osun is the source of Yoruba and this state has raised prominent Christian leaders such as Pastors Enoch Adeboye and William Kumuyi and the late Elijah Obadare among others. Just as our idols were taken to Brazil and Cuba and other countries, you also need to take the message of Christ to them”, Oladoyinbo stated.

The state Chairman of NEMA, Bishop Gabriel Adebayo promised that the newly executive headed by him would do everything to ensure that all Christians in the state are mobilized not only to support the association but to contribute meaningfully to missionary work within and outside Nigeria.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Endtime Revelation with Bishop Bernard

Ojemeni (JP)

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oday many Christians, even great men and women of God are ignorant of what has been identified as the mark of the beast by Dr. Carl Sanders. In a 17 New World Order meetings, Dr. Sanders was mandated to develop the bio-chip for global use on humans. He produced BT952000 chip measuring 7mm by 0.75mm (about the size of a grain of rice).

BT952000 chip has a transponder and a rechargeable lithium battery. The battery has a thermocouple circuit connected to it which recharges it by changes in body temperature.

Over 1.5 million dollar was spent studying where the chip can be implanted in the human and he found out that it is on the back of right hand and on the forehead.

This agrees with the word of God in Revelation 13:16-18 “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom.

Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”. The barcode is 666.

Today world-wide web in identifying our websites starts with w.w.w. By the time the full implementation of this program of the New World Order, each w. will be replaced with 6.

Thus, instead of w.w.w. it will now read 6.6.6. dot other informations necessary to identify the bearer of the mark. Talking about Mondex

From the Pulpit

Sunday, October 18, 2015

47

The mark of the beast –666 Bishop Bernard Chukwuma Mbamalu Ojemeni, General Superintendent of Endtime Believers’ Ministry Inc, in this piece,teaches on The evil of unforgiveness. Excerpts: Cashless System, Mondex (meaning money on the right hand) is a company with legal right to provide cashless economy through bio-chips.

Mondex is the brain behind Dr. Sanders’ research. Dr. Sanders noted that if the lithium battery breaks in the skin of the bearer, it has the danger of causing grievous boil or sore and will cause much agony to the host. Dr. Carl Sanders left the project and to his amazement he was shown the prophetic scriptures in the Bible concerning the mark of the beast, and the consequences of one accepting to be chipped. Rev. 13:16-18; 16:2 “And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.” He repented and gave his life to Christ. He now conducts seminars on this topic all over the world.

That notwithstanding, Mondex has signed Motorola to produce BT 952000 chips for global use. Over 250 corporations in more than 20 countries are involved in bringing Mondex to the whole world. The first man to receive microchip implantation in his body is Lord of Isles, with his family in 1996.

Today in many advanced countries of the world, many people have received micro-chip or bio-chip implantation at the back of their right hand and they are happy about it not knowing the spiritual implication. To allow yourself to be chipped by any kind of chip, whether microchip, very-chip, bio-chip on your right hand or forehead is equivalent to one signing one’s death warrant.

Revelation 14:9-12. On the physical they will tell you that it suits the operations of cashless economy or society which overcome the de-

merits of ordinary smart card or credit card that can be stolen from the bearer or that can be damaged and therefore be made difficult to read. Part of the benefits is that in countries like Mexico where there is high kidnapping rate, the person can be tracked easily.

A patient with emergency case can easily be identified. And can be used for buying and selling in place of money, etc.The bio-chips can be read by a hand or head scanner depending on where it is implanted.

They are also coded to identify the bearers and bring up a file from the computer. The barcode of course is 666. Revelation 13:16-18.

The question now is, is it right to say that anybody who receives the implantation of any kind of bio-chip on the right hand or forehead has received the mark of the beast even when the rapture has not taken place? The answer is capital YES. Beware any acceptance of the implantation of any kind of bio-chip on your right hand or forehead is accepting the mark of the beast.

And once taken cannot be reversed.

Some of you who go for treatment abroad, shopping malls to make purchases; school and any social engagement that will require the implantation of bio-chip in your right hand or forehead, before you can be admitted or attended to, should please reject it. Now it is voluntary.

But after the rapture, it will be compulsory.

And then it will attract death penalty which I still ask you to reject and when you are killed your soul will be saved.

Your soul will go to God’s altar in temple in Heaven to rest. Rev. 6:9-11; 7:9-17. What is the fate of those in abroad who have received the mark of the beast out of ignorance perhaps. May be

due to the fact that the rapture has not taken place and so to them it is not yet the mark of the beast? Their case is irreversible because the Bible book of Revelation 13:16-18 has been in existence before they were born.

And Endtime preachers have been warning concerning any kind of implantation of biochip on the right hand or forehead. In their case it was not even by force.

They accepted it voluntarily. And ignorance of the law is no excuse. Now let us forget about those who have accepted it. They have already sealed their doom. Let us all come out to sound this warning so that people will reject it whether by voluntary option or by force.

Let all the genuine ministers of the gospel begin to preach holiness messages to depopulate hell-fire and send more people to Heaven.

Prosperity message and miracles at the expense of the true message of the cross will amount to vanity upon vanity at the end of our journey to Heaven.

Please if you have not given your life to Jesus Christ, I urge you to repent today, give your life to Jesus Christ and I invite you to worship with us next Sunday 9am at Endtime Cathedral of Peace in the address below. And I promise to give you one of the best Endtime books in the world written by me and your life will not remain the same.

Remain blessed until I see you.

•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

The danger and rigidity of sin in a beliver’s life

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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he word sin means doing what God has commanded us not to do as a child of God. When you sin you are automatically separated from God. In the book of proverb 1:24-28.

The bible says “Because I have called, and ye refused, I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded, but ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof. I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when fear cometh when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish cometh upon you, then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me”.

This is God’s judgement upon anyone that refuses God’s commandment. No one disobey him by refusing his command that will not go through all these pains, anguish in life. When you refuse his command your heaven will be closed and you are liable to be close to the devil, but when you operate by obeying his commandment, then your heaven will naturally be open and you have a direct access to God. When Moses obeyed his commandment, even before he spake God answered him. When you operate only by his command, you also have an unhindered access to God. When you obeyed God’s commandment you remain permanently in command. When you are in sin God will always move far away from you, you are also separated from God. Sin is an epidemic that is very dangerous and contagious. When you are in sin, your life will always be under pressure, but when sin is far away from you, you then live a pleasurable life. I encourage every child of God reading this message that when you run away from the pleasure of sin, then you will enjoy the pleasure of God.

It is the pleasure of God, that can make you to have a rest of mind. The book of Isaiah 65:24 says “Before they call I will answer, and when they are yet speaking, I will hear”. When you are in sin your life become insecure. When you operate under the yoke of sin, the spirit of fear come upon you, and you remember the word that says, fear leads to failure. Whenever you are in fear you will naturally fail in your pursuit in life.

When you are in sin you become insecure in your house, in your office, you even be insecure over the journey of your destiny. It is only the wicked that will not obey his command. In the book of Isaiah 48:22, the bible says “There is no peace for the wicked”. When you are persistent in committing sin you will fall from grace to grass, you are doomed to suffer disgrace. Samson suffered and fell from grace to grass because of the lust of sin. When you are operating under the yoke of flesh, no matter the position or statues you carry you will end it up on ground, and you know Ground is not God’s master plan for a child of God that obeyed God’s commandment. When your heaven is closed via the yoke of sin, all your appointments before become a disappointments. When you engage yourself in the lust of sin, a man that everybody reference before, that people sees as a wise man suddenly become a foolishman.

When you are living under spell of sin, what seems wrong will look right in your eyes you will not be able to distinguish between the good and the bad. It is at that juncture you’ll be looking for a scripture to cover your evil deeds in the bible, remember even Satan the devil also quotes the bible. Get these right not all church goers are a child of God. This is the main reason why most people will now be running helter

skelter seeking for an alternative.

With all sense of humility, it is sad to say that even some pastors and ministers engage themself in fraudulent dealings and activities, and even visit the table of the devil for false power.

They lead people astray and also deceive them when you operate under a pastor that is under the spell of sin of fornication if care is not taken, you too will soon join the company except you realize yourself quickly and you get out on time. (In the book of Daniel 11:32b) the bible says “but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. When you know the God whom ye serve, you will enjoy the benefits of total rest, you will not suffer disgrace, you will enjoy a close intimacy with him when you intimate or close God your heaven’s will be open and your prayers will be answered. Let me quickly illustrate on the “ Lust of the flesh” The lust of the flesh is an evil imagination that the enemy might be suggesting to you.

God told Adam and Eve not to eat a particular fruit in the garden of Eden, he gave them these instruction in order to test their faith, but because of the lust of flesh, Eve took these fruit and convinced the husband Adam and they both ate it. Remember Jesus said “ye are my friends if ye keep my commandment, in order words you are my enemy, if you do not keep my commandment. Learn to cast out every evil imagination that comes through the lust of flesh, stop nursing the evil thoughts that comes to your mind. You must know the kind of friends you keep, you must know know the people you are friendly with even in the church.

Remember evil communication corrupt good manner. The devil always use the lust of flesh to destroy a man’s colourful destiny. The bible says “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth

Bamidele

speaketh”. Matt 12:34b Be careful what your eye sees is what your mind project. The bible says that the woman saw. The eyes of Eve saw before she ate.

It is your eyes that dictate your conception, and your conception brought about what you do, and what you do is what you become. Never allow any sinful look. The moment you begin to look into another man’s wife, be careful, your eye is already leading you to destruction. Get this clear that you are gentle facially does not mean you are gentle. You can be gentle in the outside and inwardly be proud and arrogant.

Anyone who knows what the word of God says and refuse to do what he says must be proud. Anyone can pretend to be holy when people are looking but how are you when nobody is there for you to impress. The root of this self deception is what we called the pride of life. Pride many atimes seems to make you please men and displease God. Take the case of Saul, it was pride that lead Saul to listen to what people are saying, he then took over the works of his prophet thinking that afterall he is a king, he could not wait for his priest, and saul’s pride before men, self destroyed him.

Everytime you try to please men you will displease God. •For counselling, contact: Pst_lai@yahoo.com.

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From the Pulpit

I do again

Let’s go

BIBLE with Favour

Tioluwani

Email: letsgobible@gmail.com

W

https://letsgobible.wordpress.com

hen the word AGAIN is been used that means something of this nature has happened before, maybe once or more. So for it to happen now, it means that it has happened before, now it is happening again.

For this write-up It has to do with your marital life, it is a phrase that the Holy Spirit impressed on my heart which l am been led to work on.

You once made your marriage vows, you once told your spouse I love you, l do or yes. You can say it again.

However it goes beyond you just going before that person to say, I Love You, there are some steps made known by the Holy Spirit that l will advise, as well will want you to follow:1. Go on your kneels: Say sorry to the creator of the soul, you’ve offended and want to get back together with. Though sometimes, it might not have been your fault that the two of you drifted apart but the question is, “why didn’t you do everything in your power to avert it.” Ask for God’s mercy and His support. Maybe you don’t know that anytime you want to make peace, the devil will not give you a smooth ride. Many atimes making your spouse not to see reason with you. Ask for God’s backing as you decide on taking the step of reconciliation. Also you must know that some of the things(if not all) that led to your disagreement was as a result of demonic attacks and that is why you need God. 2. Look at yourself in the mirror: Yes, l know you are always right, you are the good one, having no fault. However,

Sunday Mirror Sunday, October 18, 2015 www.nationalmirroronline.net

why can’t you just take a minute and go through this checklist:* Did l allow her\him to express herself too on the matter? * Was l ready to consider or even take to her\him own views too.? * Was l patient enough to wait for her\ him response or did l just swing into action without much relevance to her\him.? * Was my reaction too swift? * Did l need to say sorry? * Was she/he expecting me to show her/ him love(expressing it) when l was already late for work? * Is it compulsory l give him/her my detailed itinerary since am the head of the family.? Etc. Break yourself down, humble yourself.

Matthew 23:12, “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” James 4:10, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” Be ready to take any shame with regards to the steps you are about to take. Definitely at first, the other party might want to prove difficult, and might even go to the extent of saying some more annoying things, be patient, take the shame, keep on pressing on, until you are able to break her\him.

3. Physical understanding and spiritual togetherness: After this is spiritual togetherness which comes in before and after physical understanding. Spiritual togetherness is the two of you coming together to pray, going before the Lord to ask for mercy and great strength, Inviting Him to come and be the witness between the two of you as you move to the next step.This we call physical understanding, whereby the two of you will sit down and open up cans of past and present characters and deeds.

Be ready to expose and reveal every-

humor to lighten the tensed atmosphere, even though you are making some serious points.

After all has been said go back to spiritual togetherness and asked God to help each to handle the issues on ground and also for the grace to be able to accommodate each other more than before. Ask for the restoration of your first love.

thing, not keeping anything back, especially those things that he does that easily gets you annoyed or people that he is involved with that are not right, or the way he is living his life etc. Also be ready to receive blames. However no matter how painful and wrongful the claims are don’t get annoyed but be quiet, be calm, listen and get ready to adjust. When it’s your turn to talk don’t talk harshly, don’t start shouting and don’t start attacking her by speaking against her own points but rather list out your own points, put in some

4. Go back: Go back to your church or to someone spiritually higher than you to put you through on how you can come back before the Lord to say “l do” again.

Making it more formal. You can renew your vow, no matter your age, no matter your anniversary years. The church can easily organized a small Programme for you.

However if you want to say “I DO” again or even for the first time( for some are living together now because of the issue they had for each other, without joining them together) and you don’t know how to go about it, you can join others on 19th of December 2015 for a moderate celebration. No matter your religion, we are bringing as many couples as possible together to join them together in wedlock, you can as well join the train. If you are interested you can easily call or send a mail.

The main duty of Christ is Reconciliation and Restoration, why don’t you allow Him to work in your home. He Himself is Love, He will restore Love back into your home and give you a perfect and enviable family that you really desire.

BREAK YOURSELF DOWN, HUMBLE YOURSELF. MATTHEW 23:12, “AND WHOSOEVER SHALL EXALT HIMSELF

SHALL BE ABASED; AND HE THAT SHALL HUMBLE HIMSELF SHALL BE EXALTED.”

JAMES

4:10, “HUMBLE YOURSELVES IN

THE SIGHT OF THE

LORD, AND HE

SHALL LIFT YOU UP.

•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

Abiding in God’s presence (2) Miracle Arena with Bishop

A

Theo Ugochukwu

ny time you are disconnected from the abiding presence of God. Things will no longer be the same.

This was the case of the Israelites defeated by Ai a small city compared to the city of Jericho which the Israelites had defeated. Joshua 7:2-3 puts it more cleanly “ Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to AI, which is beside Beth Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, Go up and spy out the country, so the men went up and they returned to Joshua and said to them, do not let all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not weary all the people there. For the people of Ai are few”.

What a pathetic story of people that has been disconnected from the pres-

ence of their God. So approximately three thousand warriors were sent but they were soundly defeated.

The men of Ai chased the Israelites from the town gate as far as the quarries and they killed about thirty six who were retreating down the slope. The Israelites were so paralyzed with fear at this turn of events and their courage melted away.

After such a wonderful experience at Jericho, chapter seven of Joshua is surprisingly to say the least, suddenly we are presented with a series of failures that stand in striking contrast to the victories of the past six chapters.

The thrill of victory was so quickly replaced with agony of defeat.

This is a lesson everyone must learn in life when walking with God. Mathew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you”’ But Achan deviated from the commandment of God, which affected the Israelites; to the extent they lost war to a small city like Ai. It shows that the distance between a great victory and a great defeat is only one step, and often only a short one at that. One sad truth of reality in a fallen world is that we can be riding high on the cloud of some

great spiritual success and the very next moments find ourselves in a valley of spiritual failure and despairs.

One moment we can be like Elijah abiding and standing victoriously on Mount Carmel and the next moment disconnected and shrinked up under a juniper tree or hiding in a cave in deep despair complaining to God. “I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too”. My prayer for you is that the success you have recorded so far in the kingdom work in your years of ministry will never be disconnected in the name of Jesus Christ. Because of its strategic location, Ai was the next objective in the path of conquest.

As with Jericho, Ai was smaller than Jericho, but its conquest was essential because it would not give Israel control of the main route that ran along the high lands from north to south in the central portion of the land. My prayer is that you will never lose the presence of God in your life for anything in Jesus name.

The disobedience of Israel defined in Joshua 7:1 disconnected them from the presence of God. Chapter 7 opens

with the little but ominous word, “but”.

This word contrasts this chapter with the preceding, but particularly 6:27, “there was thrill of victory, but now there is the agony of defeat”. Never is the believer in greater danger of a fall than after a victory.

We are so prone to drop our guard and begin trusting in ourselves or in our past victories rather than the Lord. One victory never guarantees the next, only as it builds our confidence in the Lord and develops our wisdom in appropriating God’s word.

What this implies is that, when we abide in his presence, what others are looking for will begin to look for you.

The only thing that will cause you to survive, help you to have a breakthrough and sustain you in life is the abiding presence of God. •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

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business

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FRESH BUSINESS NEWS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Sunday, October 18, 2015

Firm to unfold new business opportunities in building industry ABOLAJI ADEBAYO

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ew business opportunities along building industry value chain are set to be presented as Lagos State Government unveils Buildmacex & Interior Conference 2015, where experts and stakeholders in the building and construction industry would brainstorm on the core values of the industry.

The Buildmacex Interior Conference & Expo 2015, organised by Atlantic Exhibition to be held at Eko Hotels & Suites between October 20th and 22nd, is the largest gathering of stakeholders in the Building and Construction Industry; featuring exhibitions and seminars on building, machinery, construction and interior decorations to be highlighted by industry experts.

The Expo, endorsed by NACCIMA, NIA, NIQS and sponsored by Airtel, Vconnect, would be declared opened by the duo of Lagos and Kaduna States Governors, Akin-

wunmi Ambode and Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, and would convene over 70 exhibitors from Turkey, USA, UAE, India, Nigeria, Germany, Italy and China and connect.

At a media briefing yesterday, the Managing Director of Atlantic Exhibition, the organiser of the event, Mr. Ayo Olubade said that there were various business opportunities in the industry which have not been explored

despite their potentiality for the country’s economic development.

He informed that the Expo would serve as a perfect single umbrella to provide unlimited opportunities to find new business leads and showcase innovative products already developed in the country to the regional and international customers.

He said; “It is dedicated to green building and fast track Housing technology

as a positioning exercise to reveal unlimited business opportunities as well as present what we have in Nigeria to the world.

Through this Fair, we commit and look forward to providing our exhibitors and partners with the ideal marketing and platform as they move forward with new initiatives and latest trends.”

“Additionally, from a strategic perspective the fair is an excellent opportunity to

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At the event, papers are expected to be presented by eminent speakers such as the President of NIOB, President of Surveyors, President of Architect and President of IDAN, Managing Director of Arend Industrial Consultant Turkey (Mr. Cem Ergun), Lagos State President of NIOB, Lagos State President of Quantity Surveyors, President of Architect and others.

Nigeria, Israel set to strengthen non-oil ties ABOLAJI ADEBAYO

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L-R: Public Relation Manager, Transcorp Hilton, Mr. Shola Adeyemo; Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Ace Charity, Mrs. Kiki James; members, board of trustees of Ace Charity, Mrs. Aisha Umar and Mrs Emem Opashi, during a news conference on Ace Charity Foundation’s 5th year anniversary in Abuja, recently.

PHOTO: NAN

Glo Dance with Peter: 8 contestants on the way out

y this time next week, some out of eight of the 30 finalists up for eviction in the Globacom-sponsored Dance with Peter reality TV show would have been out of the show having failed to secure the judges’ nod into the next round.

According to a Globacom statement, the dancers put up an amazing show, fusing the Latin American salsa dance moves with contemporary steps, acrobatics and stunts, justifying why Dance with Peter is regarded by entertainment industry watchers as the hottest show on the continent at the moment.

The theme of the night’s performance was “Latin American Dances” and the 30 finalists danced in pairs.

invite potential customers, both local and overseas to tap the biggest integrated business-to-business market for Housing, Construction and Interiors sectors in Nigeria” he added.

He shared his satisfaction on the initiative from Turkish Ministry of Economy’s decision to give more support this time looking at the smooth transition of successful Expo from last year to this year.

Since there were 17 men and 13 women, some of the boys ended up as pairs. Even this proved not to be a disadvantage as the male pairs waltzed and glided on the stage to the salsa beats just like the male and female partners.

After the show, contestants Captain Zee and Mannaseh, G-Stream and Ernest Smiley, Snipe and Tom Tom and Fearless and Ricky recorded the lowest score from the judges. This is despite that they put up a superb performance and elicited spontaneous applause from the audience and judges. However, because of their relatively low scores, only the voting public can now keep them in the competition.

It is a long wait to find

out which of these eight extremely talented dancers will exit the show next weekend.

Globacom says the public can vote for their preferred contestant by sending his or her code to 55518 at the cost of N50 per SMS. Voting lines are open from 8 p.m. on Saturday to 12 midnight on Monday.

The eight dancers and their codes are Manasseh (502), Fearless (505), G-Xtreme (507), Snipes (509), Tom-Tom (513), Ernest Smiley (515), Captain Zee (517), andRicky (522).

The couple Yemi Idemudia and Ambrose T’jark proved that two men can dance salsa together and pull it off. They gave such an entertaining display with flips, stunts and spins which left

one of the judges Flexx saying, “I felt their ‘chemistry’,” sending the audience reeling with laughter. Kaffy said, ‘they had great connection delivering the story.”

By the time voting ends this week, that refrain, “What’s in a name?” may pop up yet again. Will it be victory for Captain Zee whose real name is Samson? Or will his pairing with Mannaseh be his undoing like Delilah was Samson’s undoing in the Bible? Will it be song of glory for G-Xtream whose first name is Gloria? Will the voters see her performance with partner Ernest earnest enough to earn a berth into the next round? Will Ernest Smiley be smiling at the end of the day?

he Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, has joined forces with Israel businessmen to improve Nigeria’s non-oil sector and diversify its mono product economy and improve trade relations between the two countries.

In this partnership, Israel, which is reputed for hi-tech production in medicine, security wares and agriculture, is expected to transfer such technology and knowhow to Nigerian entrepreneurs, farmers, manufacturers and other players in the real sector to ensure that Africa’s largest economy experiences real economic diversification.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a business meeting organized by NACCIMA in Lagos, the National President of the Association, Chief Bassey Edem said that the relationship between the two countries has come of age and needed to be improved upon.

He said that there had been a lot of exchanges between Nigeria and Israel in the area of Education, Security, Technology Exchange and Agriculture adding that these needed to be enhanced considering Nigeria’s position in the West African market and as the most populous black nation in the world.

The NACCIMA boss explained that the peculiar

challenges of Nigerian business and investment environment like any other developing economies in the world have tremendously improved with numerous opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, solid mineral, power and telecommunication.

“In this period that the Nigerian Government is working earnestly to diversify the economy, we wish to state that the State of Israel should take advantage of the several incentives that the Federal Government is providing for all prospective investors that have decided to make our country their next destination.

“There are vast opportunities in the Agricultural Sector which Israel can use its comparative advantage to invest into,” Edem said.

According to him, membership of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, cut across all sectors and covers every area of Nigeria economy and was ready to collaborate with the embassy of Israel in Nigeria to promote bilateral trade between the two countries.

He declared that some Nigerian farmers have the money but lack the knowhow. He advised that the country should take diversification seriously stressing that Nigeria could gain a lot from Israel which had, amid desert and harsh climate, improved farming through technology.

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Sunday October 18, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FRSC, NDA sign MoU to train cadets on driving skills FIDA wants more women

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n the continuation of the efforts to promote road safety ideals among the generality of Nigerians, the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Boboye Oyeyemi and the Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna, Major General Mohammed Ibrahim have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for another four years to enable the personnel of the FRSC continue with the training of the Cadets of the Academy on driving skills.

Head, Media Relations and Strategy, FRSC, Bisi Kazeem, said that at the signing ceremony, which took place at Academy Headquarters Kaduna and witnessed by some principal officers of both the Academy and the FRSC, the Commandant, commended the staff of the FRSC for exhibiting high sense of discipline, comportment and focus in carrying out road safety campaign in the country.

According to him, he decided to renew the existing understanding with the FRSC on the training of the Cadets in driving skills because of

his conviction that the programme was both relevant and beneficial to the Cadets and the Academy.

“When I assumed office here as the Commandant, I noticed that the training programme was already in existence and there was an understanding between the FRSC and the Academy. Considering its numerous benefits to the Cadets, I had no hesitation in endorsing the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding in order to sustain it, ” he stated.

The Commandant further disclosed that he gave the approval for continuity without even formally

meeting with the Corps Marshal, as a demonstration of his confidence in the initiative, saying it has impacted positively on the driving techniques of the Cadets and will enhanced their overall performance while on foreign operations. While commending his predecessor and the former Corps Marshal for the initiative, he stressed that with the opportunity being given to the Cadets, they would not only be able to drive their personal vehicles safely after graduation, but their foreign assignments which involve driving would be facilitated.

L-R: Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Gbemudu Victor; Deputy Comptroller-General, Musa Tahir; Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Ibrahim Ali and Deputy Comptroller-General, Adewuyi Akinade, during the Customs Stakeholders Forum, in Lagos, recently.

300 academics, journalists for UNICAL conference RICHARD NDOMA CALABAR

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bout 300 people from the academic community of the University of Calabar are currently preparing to participate in the 17th Annual International Conference of African Council for Communication Education (Nigeria Chapter) slated to hold at the University of Calabar.

Speaking to journalists in a courtesy visit on Correspondents Chapel ’s leadership of NUJ in Calabar, Head of Department of

Linguistics and Communications Studies, University of Calabar, Dr Godwin Iwuchukwu, averred that about 200 abstracts for the presentation of papers have been sent in from participants from different countries of the world.

Godwin stated that the conference which would have journalists from various media houses would be hosted by the department of Linguistics and Communication studies, University of Calabar for the first time will bring academics and journalists

from universities and media houses in the United Kingdom, United States and Africa.

“The year International Conference/AGM, which will hold from October 2023, this year will have its theme: “Communication, Language And the 2015 Elections, ” is aimed at undertaking a post-mortem examination of the 2015 general elections in Nigeria from communication, language and Linguistics point of view.

Iwuchukwu, who doubles as the Chairman, Lo-

cal organising Committee of the Conference, said it is an opportunity for scholars and practicing journalists to x-rayed issues and events regarding reportage and use of language by media practitioners and academics.

The LOC chairman said that Professor Abiodun Salawu from South Africa and Prof Ozo-Mercury Ndimele of University of Port Harcourt as lead paper presenters while Mr Donald Duke, the former Governor of Cross River State, will be the keynote Speaker.

in government

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ountry Vice President, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Mrs. Hauwa Shekarau, has called on government at all levels to appoint more women into key positions.

Shekarau told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja that the reduction in number of women in government was disheartening, considering the important role women played in national development. ``We expect the government that came with the mantra of change, a government that raised our hopes and expectations not to disappoint us with a complete marginalisation of both women and the youth. ``The past administration has set a record in terms of appointment of women into key decision making positions. ``We expect the new government to even do more but we are getting below 10 per cent and truly it is a complete marginalisation of women and in this 21st century it is unacceptable, ’ ’ she said.

She called on President Muhammadu Buhari to fulfill his campaign promise by appointing more women in key positions in government. `` It is also important to say that he entered into a pact with the Nigerian women before the election. ``So, we expect the All Progressives Congress (APC) government to fulfill its promise by ensuring that we are also given our fair share of appointment into key positions.

Speaking on the implementation of the Violence against Persons (Prohibition) (VAPP) Act, Shekarau urged women to take advantage of the law to report cases of domestic violence, rape and other forms of violence to appropriate authorities. ``We have been popularising the law by carrying out and creating awareness to let people know that the law is in place. `` The implementation of the Act is dependent on the people. Victims of violence should take advantage of the act to report.

A ’Ibom Govt doles out grant to UUTH

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kwa Ibom Government says it will provide a special intervention grant to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) to enable the institution update its facilities.

Gov. Udom Emmanuel announced this during the October edition of Government House Prayer meeting, held at the Latter Day House Chapel, Governor ’s lodge, Uyo yesterday.

The governor in an unscheduled visit to the hospital said the grant would help provide conducive operational environment

for patients receiving treatment in the hospital.

The governor particularly frowned at the poor sanitary condition and dilapidated infrastructure at the accident and emergency ward.

He noted that the situation he saw the patients in was a far cry to the recovery process in which a health institution is known for.

The unit, according to him, has dirty walls; broken tiles on the floor and in the lounge, grass compete with the building for space even as the toilet facilities beg for water.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Opinion

Sunday, October 18, 2015

51

Conquering the menace of Boko Haram using education CHARLIE ORIBAMISE

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he menace that Boko Haram portends for the West African Region must be battled essentially using what it hates most – Education. The ignorance of the sect about education needs to be removed once and for all from Nigeria as a country. According to United Negro Education Fund, ‘a mind is a terrible thing to waste’.

The Federal government of Nigeria must embark on a Nigerian modeled Marshal Plan to transform the North East which is the stronghold of Boko Haram.

The enduring weapon should be educating the teeming youth that has fallen prey to the ugly doctrine called Boko Haram. Do not for a moment think that I do not support the Joint Task Force initiative by President Muhammad Buhari, the root cause of Boko Haram is what I am proffering solution to. After the military might have conquered the sect, what is next? I am sure the world expects victory over Boko Haram as quickly as possible as demanded by President Muhammad Buhari, so that other pressing issues in the Buhari’s administrative agenda can be pursued.

We as a nation must collectively be ready to sacrifice for the common good of all. We must be ready TO PAY for our

children especially in the ravaged North East to go to school so that we are not criticized for neglecting the rest of the country. Whatever we as a nation decide to do must ensure equity and fairness.

From the elementary primary school, let these youngsters know that their government cares for them and willing to give them a chance to succeed in life.

The moment we build this patriotic fervor in our children’s mind, it will be very hard if not impossible for sects like Boko Haram to hijack them from the wheel of progress they know will be the end result.

It is often said that an extraordinary situation demands an extraordinary solution, which is what we must be prepared for especially for the North Eastern part of Nigeria. Our educational system to say the least needs a total overhaul. From our Pre-K to the university level, the standard at the present moment is nothing to be proud of.

The current 6-3-3-4 system should become a free breakfast and lunch provided mandatory 6-3-3-2 fully financed by the federal government. This is the break down that I think will help move our nation forward. Elementary/primary 6 years, where our children are introduced to compulsory sport and athletic activities, a second language and instru-

ment playing. At the junior high school 3 years, STEMAI (Science-TechnologyEngineering Mathematics, Agriculture & Investment) should be mandatory for every student even at their senior high school 3 years. Apprenticeship/community colleges/polytechnics 2 years, where they can learn trades like plumbing, fashion design, electrical training, mechanized farming, nursing, dentistry, radiology, laboratory, real estate management, surveying, hotel and hospitality, tourism, film making etc free and fully paid for by the government.

If we are committed to doing this, Nigeria would have provided every child a tool to succeed in life and become a productive member of our society.

This essentially will create a middle class that is educated, buoyant, and productive. The investment that we as a nation have expended on each child will bear incredible wealth that there will not be any need to build prisons and other facilities that will incarcerate them for any criminal act. No terrorist organization will therefore be able to successfully lure these able, patriotic, educated, vibrant, productive youth to do their bidding of terrorism. At this point, an average Nigerian supported by the government would have attained a level of independence to choose his/her

educational and professional career after working and saving for advancement or to pursue the trade that they have learnt and strife to become experts and entrepreneurs.

University or highly professional academic pursuit should become optional and in which case, the government should provide loans, grants and scholarship for the students in that category.

The current National Youth Service program should be re-organized and extended to 2 years. For every graduate coming out of our universities, the first year should be for compulsory military training while the second year should be for community service.

If Nigeria as a nation can follow this route ensuring that every Nigerian knows that the government is there for his or her wellbeing, each of us as Nigerians should then be ready to give back to our nation the best patriotism and contribution that would see to its wellness and progress. If we can strictly undertake to do these, our youth would no longer be idle and would not be there anymore to be used at will by any dangerous group to unleash havoc on sections of our society.

Charlie Oribamise Minneapolis, MN USA

Understanding Ambode’s new approach to unlocking traffic gridlock RASAK MUSBAU

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n the Lagos of old, townsfolk could enjoy romantic or meditative evenings at the Lagos Marina, enveloped in celestial ambiance from the cool Atlantic Ocean breeze.

That was when the population was barely 350,000. However, as people continue to flock to the state in search of the proverbial greener pasture, the geometrical increase in population, together with political instability, diminished Government’s capacity to enforce law and order. Swiftly, the State became more known for traffic jams, heaps of refuse and decayed infrastructure rather than for the proverbial “Eko for Show”.

Traffic congestion is widely viewed as a growing problem in many urban areas across the world because the overall volume of vehicular traffic in many areas grows faster than the overall capacity of the transportation system. Succeeding governments in Lagos have devised means to tackle traffic gridlock. These include the issuance of ‘Odd’ and ‘Even’ numbers in the early 1980s which allowed motorists ply certain routes within specified periods. The success of this approach may not have been visible and adequate for the Lagos of today.

In the last sixteen years, succeeding administrations in the state have equally devised various strategies to tackle the traffic problem in actualizing their social contract with the citizens. From the establishment of LASTMA, LAGBUS, LAMATA, BRT system, Light Rail, modern Ferry services and Taxi scheme to the construction of bus and ferry terminals as well as the traffic radio, the goal of massive investment in the transport sector by the state government has been geared toward ensuring free flow of traffic, road safety and social and economic development.

Glaringly, in as much as all these plans and actions of the State Government essen-

tially indicate genuine concerns to address the perennial traffic problem in the State, it is important to admit that they have not been sufficient enough to entirely redress the situation. One of the reasons for this is human factor. In Lagos State, it is not uncommon to see vehicles illegally parked on either side of the road. Some even drive in such careless fashions that make nonsense of traffic laws while others drive on or across the road median. Other human activities that complicate the traffic hassles in the State include driving against traffic, making illegal U turn, using reverse drive to cover long distance in order to beat traffic jam and disobeying traffic lights and other traffic instructions.

In recent weeks, transportation has been one of the biggest challenges facing Lagosians. The menace of trucks and articulated vehicles across the State have caused untold hardship and man-hour loss as well as revenue loss for the State coupled with the lawlessness of commercial bus drivers, motor cycle operators and Tricycle riders.

One out of the 11 point agenda of the present administration is to fully pursue an integrated transport management. Hence Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at the beginning of the administration embarked on spot assessment of roads across the State to further tackle the causes of traffic gridlock and subsequently launched massive road maintenance project to ease undue hardship for road users who spend endless hours in gridlock due to bad conditions of the road.

The result is that the deplorable portions of these roads are being repaired daily to enhance free flow of traffic. Another vital part of the State strategies is the relocation of all congested bus stops in the State, particularly those with locations close to markets. It is the view of the State government that bus stops located near markets easily aggravate traffic situation. Indeed, most of the major locations

notorious for depressing traffic jam in the metropolis such as Mile 12, Oshodi, Ketu, Iyana-Ipaja, etc are areas with enormous market presence.

Another essential aspect of the State government’s new traffic resolution strategy is construction of pedestrian foot bridges. Mr. Akin Ambode and his team basically observed that the gridlock in places such as Iyana –Ipaja, Ojo, OjoduBerger, Abule Egba, etc is essentially a product of lack of foot bridges. It is, hence, expected that with the provision of pedestrian bridges, the volume of traffic congestion in such axis would wane remarkably.

As a way forward, the State government has approved the construction of pedestrian bridges across key locations in the State. Additionally, the State government had approved funds for the Lagos State Public works Corporation to rehabilitate damaged roads in the State. It is the conviction of the State government that when the roads are in good condition and motorable, it would reduce the occurrence of traffic gridlock in the State.

The newly introduced approach of arrest and sanctioning of motorists who violate traffic rules in the State is to reposition LASTMA for better service delivery, more robust, civil and polite method of managing traffic and it is anchored on emphasis in ensuring flawless flow of traffic.

It is not a license for unruly motorists to revert to old bad habits but for LASTMA to synergize with other security agencies to ensure that the Lagos Road Traffic Law 2012 is enforced.

The new approach was in response to the demand of motorists, stakeholders and members of the public clamouring for a new approach as against hitherto anachronistic method of traffic control through intimidation and force. It is somehow baffling that same people shouting for enforcement with human-face before the last election are today singing another hymn.

Good enough, we are in democracy and the most important thing is for Government to listen to and plan the best for the people.

The new approach is anchored on documentation procedure where traffic offenders are booked and given a grace period for payment and defaulters apprehended at home through the information on the motor vehicle database deserves commendation. With a grace period, the logic is that drivers will not be denied opportunity of means of livelihood while still expected to pay fine. This is the human-face policy and enforcement people craved for and it is based on the conviction that since LASTMA officials are a reflection of the state government, its activities must add value to the government’s covenant with Lagos residents to make life easier for them.

Solving traffic problems in a mega city like Lagos that houses the two major ports, busiest international airports with concentration of the largest number of oil tank farm in the country would require the support, collaboration and cooperation of all the stakeholders with the government.

The current effort of the Ambode administration to build two roads in each of the 20 local government and 37 local council development areas will not only ease traffic problem but create more jobs, income, savings and investment capable of taking Lagos to greater prosperous height.

We must not damage the roads. We must comply with all traffic rules. LASTMA officials are our brothers and sisters. We must respect them. They have chosen to work in the sun and in the rain to guarantee our free movement, we must not ridicule them.

LASTMA officials should in turn be civil in their dealings and conducts with members of the public.

Musbau is of the Features Unit, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

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Politics

Sunday October 18, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Kogi, Bayelsa guber: INEC heading for constitutional crisis No doubt, the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states would show whether INEC has learnt useful lessons from its previous errors or otherwise. However, OMEIZA AJAYI writes that no matter its level of preparedness, the commission may have a constitutional crisis on its hands in the days to come.

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he Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was established in accordance with section 153(f) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Part I of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution lists about nine functions for the commission, but the first two are to “organise, undertake and supervise all elections to the offices of the President and Vice-president, the Governor and Deputy Governor of a state, and to the membership of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly of each state of the Federation; and, to register political parties in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution and an act of the National Assembly.

After the last general elections, INEC has been organizing series of post-election workshops to evaluate its successes and flaws in that election and as well chart a better way forward.

It has also been preparing itself for the immediate tasks ahead, especially with regards to the conduct of the gubernatorial elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states.

However, there have been arguments as to the legality of INEC as presently constituted to successfully conduct the two elections without violating certain provisions of the constitution.

The present composition of INEC deprives it of the statutory quorum necessary to be in place before certain important and sensitive policy-decisions could

Buh harii

Zek kar

AS A NATIONAL COMMISSIONER, THE TENURE OF THE ACTING CHAIRPERSON, AMINA ZAKARI, SHOULD HAVE ENDED ON JULY 21, 2015, SAVE FOR HER APPOINTMENT INTO HER PRESENT OFFICE. THE ISSUES SURROUNDING THE LEGITIMACY OF HER TENURE HAS NOW BECOME A SUBJECT OF LITIGATION be taken.

Section 159(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, stipulates that Commissions, such as INEC, must have a quorum of one third of its members to take certain top-level management decisions.

Specifically, that section states that; “the quorum for a meeting of any of the bodies established by section 153 of this Constitution shall be not less than onethird of the total number of members of that body at the date of the meeting ”.

The Commission is made up of a Chairman, and 12 National Commissioners. In all, there are 13 commissioners.

By the said constitutional provision, one-third of 13 is, very arguably, five, since there are no half human beings, else one could have said four and a half or thereabout. But, since this is not a journey into the mathematical discourse, we can conveniently take five for the purpose of this analysis.

As at today, there are only two national commissioners in INEC, that is, the act-

NEWS

ing chairperson, Amina Bala Zakari and Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku.

Nwuruku, from Ebonyi state, was first appointed a National Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from 1998 to 1999 and was later appointed the Minister of State for Industry from 1999 to 2003.

Later, in 2011, he was appointed again as a National Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), implying that his five-year tenure ends next year.

If INEC were a two-member commission, then ofcourse, one could safely argue that even Ms Zakari could on her own take decisions having formed a quorum!

However, INEC is a 13-member commission and the validity of past decisions taken by Zakari and Nwuruku might be challenged in the nearest future. Same goes for future decisions that will be taken by the duo in the days leading to the Kogi and Bayelsa elections.

As a national commissioner, the tenure of the acting Chairperson, Amina Zakari, should have ended on July 21, 2015, save for her appointment into her present office. The issues surrounding the legitimacy of her tenure has now become a subject of litigation.

The question one may want to ask again is whether, Zakari, could conduct elections even in acting capacity, especially because a substantive chairperson would have been confirmed by the Senate after the president has consulted with the National Council of State on such appointment.

Can Zakari therefore conduct an election without her being confirmed by the senate? The answer to this question may have to be provided by the courts in the days to come.

INEC has continued to express its readiness for the conduct of the two elections, promising to avoid many flaws of the past. While the commission is doing this, the president may have to take more than a passing interest in the law regarding the composition of the electoral body.

A good Attorney General and Minister of Justice would guide him accordingly in this regard.

Osun lawmaker advocates bridging of digital divide AYO ESAN

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member, State of Osun House of Assembly representing Obokun Constituency, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye has charged youths to step up their games, broaden their knowledge and take advantage of new opportunity provided by the digital age.

The Lawmaker who described this generation as Information Age or Computer Age noted that any one especially youths who is not digitally literate is deficient, weak and cannot be a player in the socio-cum economic environment of the 21st century.

The lawmaker spoke at the maiden lecture of the Federation of Ijesa Stu-

dents Union (FISU) in Ilesa on Saturday.

While stressing that the world has changed tremendously from a community of mechanical, manual and analogue operation to one that moved with supersonic speed on a high plane of gadgets, sophisticated technology, applications and softwares, Oyintiloye said refusal by youths or anyone to join the trend in a creative and proactive manner may perpetually limit him/her from reaping the fruits of the new age abundant life, economic opportunities and personal efficiency.

“Information communication technology platforms such as Social Media tools not only connect people, it also facilitates engagement of citizenry to contribute to governance in a unique way, the youths

should be at the forefront in government engagement and demand for accountability ” The Lawmaker who lamented that several people were being left behind in the new age advocates digital literacy to be powered by private sectors and inspires by government policy.

“Comprehensive training should be encouraged for the citizens as well as public servants to learn new tools for communication, official dispatch, computation, report generation, strategic planning and networking to save cost and promote service delivery ” Oyintiloye noted that the economic possibilities in the ICT sector is enormous with the manufacturing of hundreds of gadgets everyday and develop-

ment of software and applications.

“For any nation however to maximize digital possibility, its government and private sectors must ensure the growth of bandwidth and reduction in the tariffs on the cost of digital hardware. This will encourage widespread access by larger number of the population ”.

He stated that aside job opportunities, young ones can take advantage of rapid development in the industry, key in to sales and services opportunities of new products stressing that knowledge of digital tools will also enhance personal and national security either from cyber bullying, or online predators who lurks at every corner, promote home safety and tracking of crime and criminality.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Sunday October 18, 2015

53

nominees: Matters arising

Sara aki

the antecedence of selfless leaning to the cause of the common man in Nigeria.

In fact most of the nominees contributed to the rotten state of affairs in Nigeria in the past 16years. Except for a few fresh hands, Nigerians may not be too optimistic of witnessing the true change they actually yearn for. Will somebody tell me as to what new things to expect from the likes the former chairman of the PDP in person

of Chief Audu Ogbe or the ‘gentleman ’ Ogbonnaya Onu? By the way, what new innovations are the likes of Kemi Adeosun and Rotimi Amaechi bringing to the table?

Debo Adeniran wondered.

“President Buhari should have realized that administering a complex entity like ours, with its equally complex challenges and demands, requires far more than sheer party loyalty and patronage; it, in fact, goes beyond merely being gentlemanly or uncontroversial. Just as the president had promised, on assumption of office, Nigerians had expected to see a crop of new, fresh, uncontaminated blood, with intimidating credentials of outstanding technocrats and authorities in their various fields, being brought in as co-captains in the ship of governance. Afterall, we once had the likes of Professor Attahiru Jega, Professor Itse Sagay, a former Minister of Agriculture in person of Dr. Adesina; Nigerians applauded their appointment and they never disappointed their fans in the discharge of responsibilities assigned to them. And we make bold to say that we still have their likes in abundance in this country. Sadly, what we now have is nothing but sheer recycling of the same old and outdated hands.

“Without any doubt, the poor masses of this country must have learnt another hard lesson from the whole drama surrounding the nomination, the ongoing senate screening and the ever predictable ceremonial confirmation of our ministers and so will not allow their expectations in our political class to be too high in the future lest they

end up with their blood pressure assuming uncontrollable height.

“Finally, now that our ministers are here, we call on President Buhari to waste no further time in hitting the ground running with the change promised and begin to wage his anti-corruption war against the enemies of this country and we want to assure him that we, on this side, and indeed patriotic Nigerians are ever ready to give him all the support needed to succeed in the war. Let the ministers too be aware that all has not ended with their appointment for we will not relent in beaming our searchlight on them and their offices and will not hesitate in calling them to question whenever the need arises ”, Adeniran said.

Also assessing the screening exercise, the former Presidential candidate of KOWA Party, Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya, said the exercise had been fairly good. ``I feel that a fairly good job was being done, even though there is room for improvements. ``The disparity in the time spent by the nominees is understandable; the well known nominee like Lai Mohammed was not subjected to intense questioning. ``If the portfolios for each of the nominees was attached, it could have helped in posing the right questions, ’ ’ Sonaiya said.

She, however, urged both nominees and senators to be mindful of the seriousness attached to the exercise in the quest for better governance of the country.

Lagos State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Capt. Olatunji Shelle, also commended the senate handling of the screening but said the exercise

t landing for Buhari ’s men I CHALLENGE ANYONE TO BRING AN INVOICE OF A BED IN THE STATE HOUSE THAT IS WORTH

N50M.I DID NOT SPEND IRRESPONSIBLY ON IT. THERE IS NO BED THAT IS UP TO N1.5M IN THE PLACE. IT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE CHEAPEST STATE HOUSES IN NIGERIA

Faye emi

governor.

He said, “I challenge anyone to bring an invoice of a bed in the state house that is worth N50m.I did not spend irresponsibly on it. There is no bed that is up to N1.5m in the place. It is probably one of the cheapest state houses in Nigeria. ”

The allegations of irresponsible spending first began when Governor Ayodele Fayose accused him of callous spending while leaving his state in debt when he was sworn in as his successor.

Fayose alleged that his successor purchased two beds worth N50m for himself and his wife in the new Government House and left behind, a debt profile of N57bn.

But Fayemi while debunking the allegations before the senators, claimed that he took N25bn bond and had paid N14bn and that he borrowed these money from top institutions like the World Bank, DFID, USAID, amongst others, due to the special relationship he had with them.

He said, “I used my relationship to raise a lot of funds with institutions like the World Bank, DFID among others.

There is no country that does not borrow.

I did not borrow to pay salaries ”.

He also explained that the former Governor Segun Oni, left a debt profile of

N30bn, which his administration had reduced considerably before leaving office in May this year to N18 billion.

His argument was that, “Government is a continuum, not in isolation. The state was saddled with some obligation in excess of N30bn owed to banks. I completed all projects. Ekiti was on 35th ladder in terms of federal revenue.

“We were making monthly income of N3bn but paying wage bill of N2.4bn monthly. We raised funding for the state through foreign donors. Raised bond of N25bn for infrastructural development.

Industries and tourism were regenerated. ” He said the Debt Management Office had confirmed that his administration owed N18bn and not N57bn being claimed by the Fayose ’s government.

Reacting to the question about why why he traveled outside the country using illegal routes during the military era, Fayemi denied the allegations stressing

could be better handled.

He said they should have put more seriousness into the screening saying most of them were just relaxed as if they were carrying out a rehearsed drama. ``The screening exercise was okay; I was not impressed at the seriousness attached to the screening of one of the nominees, Lai Mohammed, who was virtually asked to take a bow. It almost took the shine off the exercise ’ ’, he said.

In his own comment, the Lagos State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, Dr Akin Badmus, said that the screening was impressive. ``I am satisfied, indeed impressed by the exercise, considering that the opposition is well represented in the senate in terms of numbers. ``The questions have been relevant and germane to the tasks at hand, ” Badmus said.

The National Chairman of Progressive Action Council, PAC, Chief Charles Nwodo, said it was praise-worthy that the exercise had so far been devoid of rancour.

“The exercise has so far been devoid of the usual rancour; there have not been ridiculous questions in spite of the party differences. Attention has been focused on issues besetting the country, ’ ’ he said.

Nwodo rejected moves by some sections to screen the nominees by one of the Senate committees, stressing that it could lead to confusion and bias.

He urged the senate to add more seriousness to their oversight function in order to check who he termed executive recklessness. thatt he been going outt and th h had h d always l b i d coming into the country through legal borders.

He, however stressed the need to better protect the nation ’s borders especially because of the current security challenge.

Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) A lawyer, an administrator and technocrat, Fashola very early in life rose to the pinnacle of his profession as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). He was the first candidate to appear before the senate on the second day of the screening and spent over one hour being grilled by the lawmakers. At the end of the exercise, the former Lagos State Governor demonstrated that he possessed the necessary intelligence and acumen to govern a very complex state as Lagos.

Fashola also seized the opportunity of the screening to lay to rest some of the allegations that surprisingly found their ways, particularly in the social media platforms following his closeness to President Buhari after the elections and intended to bias Buhari ’s minds against the former Governor.

Like Fayemi, Fashola responded to wide range of issues from the senators and came out very outstanding in his performance.

Some of Fashola ’s responses on such issues as security, state police, loyalty, FCT, VAT, etc no doubt, bear eloquent testimonies to his brilliance.

On his position on the modus operandi for the administration of Value Added Tax, Fashola advocated an arrangement CONTINUED ON PAGE 54

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Ministerial screening: Soft landing for Buhari ’s men CONTINUED FROM PAGE 53

whereby states from where the federal government was generating higher VAT, should benefit more from that source of revenue than states with less contributions.

He put up a strong argument against the increment of VAT, stressing that the current practice whereby food items, baby things and other items were excluded while those consuming luxury items bear the burden to redistribute incomes and reduce inequality, should be sustained.

Fashola said, “I do not have scientific basis to say today that there is an argument for increasing the value added tax and I think that before we increase taxes, we must first optimize the capacity to connect what is in place.

“One of the things we did in Lagos was to increase the number of people who were contributing to the commonwealth instead of seeking to increase the number of taxes that we levy.

“Between 2007 and 2015, the number of people who were paying taxes (in Lagos), grew from half a million to five million but our number showed in the population of about 21 million that there were nine million earning income in the state.

“So, there is still scope for collection of taxes to close to about 5 million. In that sense, the burden of managing the state becomes lighter when responsibility is shared and spread. ” Fashola noted that before the nation could decide whether to take up the tax or reduce it, necessary agencies of government should look at where we are today and the mechanism we can use to stimulate collection.

He recommended that the federal government should embrace online technology being the versatile tool for tax remittance, for payment and settlement of dues.

He said, “As far as distribution is concerned, one of the ways in which we can stimulate the economy of this country at this moment when there is the need in any event to move away from oil is to encourage productivity and to allow the state which generate the most in terms of these taxes to keep as much of them.

“Competition has always been known to stimulate productivity and as much as I can say that I have not probably traveled all the 36 states of Nigeria, the knowledge and information available suggest to me clearly that no state in this country that is unable to undertake some kind of productive activity whether from minerals in most rural areas, whether it is processing cocoa, whether it is timber processing and so on.

“Those kinds of multiplier activities support the growth of industries and are accountable to happening across the nation.

“Yes, some states may be disadvantaged in terms of their level of development but until we are in a passion to say ‘let us make choices, let us encourage things to happen because of tomorrow rather than today ’, the incentive to produce will not be there.

On Security, Fashola noted that the

Ogbeh h

Udo oma a

THERE IS A PROCESS FOR CURING ABUSE OF INSTITUTION BUT THERE IS NO PROCESS KNOWN TO ME TODAY FOR RECOVERING

BACK LIVES LOST. AND THAT IS THESE ARE CHALLENGES THAT ARE BEFORE US AS A PEOPLE AND AS A NATION primary purpose of every government was to protect the citizens and their assets and that it was the toughest job that any government could have.

He said, “It is the challenge that leaders across the world are facing - terrorism, youthful gangs, cults and so on. So, my attitude was to see criminals as my competitors and in a competition, my desire was to use my resources to outspend my competitors, out think the competition and out maniourvre the competition.

“But our risks are different. As a governor, my job was to ensure that nobody died, my job was to ensure that nobody robs. So, I have no magic for error. Every citizen that was robbed, I have failed that citizen.

“So, I have to be right every time, the criminal has to be right only once. But even when the criminals were right, what was important was to tell it straight to our citizens that we were not without solutions and many of the incidents that happened, we were able to resolve, bring the culprits to justice and that puts a lot of confidence in the state. ” On the creation of state police, Fashola, while justifying the creation of state police, explained that, the force remained an architecture that we states do not own, because it is a Federal Government architecture.

Fashola noted with regret that as governor of Lagos, he inherited a federal Police arrangement without enough guns, operated without uniforms, protective

vest and inadequate operational vehicles to even respond to emergency situations.

He said, “When there were vehicles, there was no fuel. In my interactions with them, these were the first things that came out and it was clear to me that this was not going to be something one person could do.

“So, we brought all the stakeholders from the banks who were being robbed everyday then without the capacity to respond and one of the things I told one of the bankers was that if he could protect and bullet-proof his banks, if he cared about his workers and customers can the government bullet proof every home? ” The erstwhile Lagos State chief executive told the Senators how he then mobilized funds and put it in a pool and gave to the police.

He said, “The number available to me is that we have probably a standing Police force of about 500,000, les than a million in every event to a population that is heading to 180 million.

“So, we are under policed and if the federal government decide to take up these responsibilities on its own, can it do so in the micro level that is necessary at the state and local government levels?

“My recommendation is a compelling urgency for decentralization. I have made those recommendations in some of the committees of the constitution amendment where I was privileged to make presentations. ” The nominee further states that,

“There have been argument about why we should not go there but those arguments did not go far. They did not address the fundamental responsibilities that government has.

“I have heard the argument that government will abuse the Police for political purposes. The abuse of political power is not as important as loss of lives. And everything we do to advance that course makes us more respected as government that cares.

“There is a process for curing abuse of institution but there is no process known to me today for recovering back lives lost.

And that is these are challenges that are before us as a people and as a nation. At the state level, you can also wonder what governors are going through.

“They have parliaments that make laws, but they have no capacity to enforce their own laws. We are talking about domestic issues - rape and domestic violence - there are criminal offenses in many states across the country but who is prosecuting them because the Police officer is too busy chasing a robbery.

“Our mothers, daughters and sisters are expected to tolerate rape. If we are afraid of abuse, one of the things I will suggest that we start is state Police. I proposed a system where we have six zonal commands from existing Police force. ” While further aid berating on the modus operandi of state police, Fashole urged that, “It is not every state that can start, if it cannot fund it. States who can fund can decide to employ 1000 men, the Police Service Commission will train and graduate and if at the end of the training, only 800 pass the exam, they would be employed.

“The state buy their uniforms, there is a national licenses. There is no reason they cannot wear the same uniform with different number to indicate they are state Police. We can even limit their jurisdiction if people are so afraid.

“The state Police can start with the issue of domestic violence, rape. I don ’t know the last time any serious conviction was made on rape in any of the states of the federation. ” On ensuring developmental sanity in the FCT, Fashola admitted that he did not have much knowledge of Abuja unlike Lagos where he had lived his life. He however noted that an effective development control, and a review of the master plan designed for the FCT would go a long way to restore sanity in the nation ’s capital.

He said, “In deciding what to do about Abuja, those are the real issues. First, getting a hold of its resources, knowing its districts and its problems, knowing the people, sharing with them what their thoughts are.

“The Master plan itself may perhaps need to be reviewed. Plans are not static documents, they must be reviewed periodically. So, a level of consultation and knowledge would be necessary in other to accurately say this is where Abuja should be heading.

“In spite of our complaints, it is still a beautiful city, getting it to be better than it is, is a matter of choice for all of us.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 56

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Sunday October 18, 2015

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Reps ’ probe exposes the scam, power games in Immigration recruitment that the ministry was already facing the court over the matter and as there was nothing the ministry could do about that, being ready to face the court.

He said that the Presidential Committee should submit its report to the President and secure his approval to the ministry before they would be ready to act on it.

“Mr. President has every right to direct, but there must be a memo to back it up ”, the PS insisted, claiming that the committee didn ’t do so and without that, they cannot get salaries for these people.

He said that all those referred to the ministry for the employment, were not known to him and the ministry. “We only heard about it, we are waiting for Mr. President ’s approval. ”

Our Correspondent, UBONG UKPONG, in Abuja, examines the scam, power game, impunity revealed by the House of Rep ’s probe of the failed NIS 2014 recruitment.

T

he invitation of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, Ministry of Interior and the Civil Defence, Fire Service, Immigration and Prisons Board, by the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Immigration Recruitment Stampede for a hearing at the National Assembly over the matter, was an eye-opener to the kind of scam, power play and impunity associated with that ill-fated recruitment that left about 15 innocent job seekers dead and about 131injured in a stampede nationwide, to the embarrassment of the country..

Deputy Comptroller- General of Immigration, DCG, Yahaya Malgwi; Permanent Secretary, PS, Ministry of Interior, Abubakar Magaji and a Director Ministry of Interior, Abdulkarim Ibrahim, who is Secretary of the Board, faced the House Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, and other Representatives, including Rep Mukhtari Shagari on the revealing hot seat.

It was a blames-trading, buck-passing moment over the recruitment failure and the Presidential effort to save the country some embarrassment in attempt to compensate the bereaved families and injured applicants.

Ogor had reminded the Interior team that the recruitment carried out on March...., 2014, and the accompanying tragedy, was quite embarrassing to the nation.

He thus said that the reason for their invitation was to hear their side before taking decision, following protest and petition to the House by young Nigerians, who lost their loved ones to that tragedy.

After that ugly incident, the then President, Goodluck Jonathan, had inaugurated a Presidential committee, headed by the Chairman of Civil Service Commission, with specific terms of reference to save the situation.

The Presidential Committee was amongst other things, asked to ensure that three family members, with at least one being a female, of all applicants who died, as well as all the injured applicants, are given immediate and automatic employmenent into the NIS. The committee was given 12 weeks to carry out this face-saving assignment as ell as monitor the process of a fresh recruitment by the Board and NIS for all citizens.

Accordingly, letters of employment were duly issued to the deserving persons as directed.

While the Board duly issued letters of appointment to those in the officers cadre, the NIS also issued to those on other ranks as stipulated by law.

However, the PS, Magaji, would ensure that these persons never got down to work claiming that he was not part of the exercise and as such, he doubted the legality of the committee.

Been the most senior man on the team, and team leader, Magaji had the opportunity to address the committee first and attempted to furnish the committee with

Moro

Gba ajab bia amila

BEING THE ONLY ONE THAT COULD EFFECT SUCH DIRECTIVE, MAGAJI WHO INDICATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE DECLINED THAT

REQUEST, SAID THAT HE MERELY DID IT “SO AS NOT TO EMBARRASS MR. PRESIDENT, SINCE HE NEEDED IT FOR THE CEREMONY some documents.

BLAME TRADING, BUCK PASSING Magaji started by making efforts to exonerate himself from the entire failed process by claiming that he merely resumed duties in Interior last November, about seven months after the tragedy.

The PS said that upon resumption, he never actively participated in any of the processes, as he was neither part of the Presidential committee nor carried along by his colleagues.

He said that at this time, action had shifted from his ministry to the committee, even as he openly accused then minister, Abba Moro of sidelining him.

Although he was not involved and thus, may not have been happy with the entire actions of the committee, he said while away in South Africa, he still found it in his heart to direct that the Board Secretary, Abdulkarim Ibrahim, issued letters of appointment for the specified beneficiaries as requested by the Committee.

Being the only one that could effect such directive, Magaji who indicated that he would have declined that request, said that he merely did it “so as not to embarrass Mr. President, since he needed it for the ceremony. ” He therefore made it bold to tell the Ad-Hoc committee that those appointment letters he directed to be issued were merely “ceremonial ”.

This elicited concerns as it was the very reason that the House was probing the stampede, hence the holders of these letters complained that their appointments were rejected by the ministry.

Almost saying that he was on his own

after saying that the letters were ceremonial, the Board Secretary, apparently disowning him, said that the letters were not false, and was the correct letter wthat any employee under the Board should wield, saying that he personally signed them as required by law.

On his own part, the representative of the NIS, Deputy Comptroller- General of Immigration, DCG, Yahaya Malgwi, said that the Immigration had fulfilled its own part of the Presidential directive too, by duly issuing appointment letters to the other ranks, junior cadre as was the practice by law.

He said that the NIS could not take one more step further as the ministry through the PS, embagoed the action.

POWER PLAY It was gradually becoming clearer that there was a superiority contest and battle for supremacy between the Ps, minister, and the Presidential committee, and like it is said, when two elephants fight, the grass suffers. The beneficiaries are really suffering from this now, leading to this outcry.

According to Magaji the PS, the minister, then Abba Moro, was uncomfortable and thus furious about the arrangements that excluded the ministry and took its mandate to a committee.

Non-involvement of the Board in the process as stated by the Act made us unable to accede to the demand by the committee ”, the PS said.

He stated that there was no directive by the President to that effect, that all those people wielding the “ceremonial employment letters ”, should be formally engaged and regularised.

Magaji put to the House committee

THE SCAM Magaji ’s positions and the power play was soon beginning to irritate the sensibilities of the Reps, who at interval expressed provocation.

From the letter from the Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF, conveying the presidential directives, Representative Gbajabiamila, who chaired the committee, asked the PS, since he claimed to be awaiting presidential approval that, “there was a presidential directive and mandate to liaise with your establishment for the purposes of finding out what happened to the aborted recruitment with a view to what end?

The House Leader in his annoyance further told Magaji to watch his tongue that he was making uncomplimentary references to the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, when he referred to the employment letters as symbolic and ceremonial, saying that “it sounds deceptive ”, as if the President arranged to deceive the deceased families and injured persons.

Gbajabiamila said that the committee already had a directive from the President and was working with same, but that what Magaji was doing was aimed at subjecting the directive to procedure and bureaucracy.

He said the committee people that conducted the exercise were convinced that in line with the presidential directives, families of these deceased applicants should be compensated with employment as succour. Based on that, these letters were issued but he worried that the PS refused to obey the presidential directive to regularise them. Thus his question, “why haven ’t you respected and obeyed the directive? ” Magaji said he was suspecting the legality of the committee and again, that he didn ’t know where to get salaries for these people.

This gave a clear answer to the Reps, that there was a foul play by the agencies involved from the beginning of the recruitment, as they worried over where they intended to get money before to pay the salaries in the first place that the ministry is now crying foul.

The NIS had in March 2014, called for application for recruitment of additional personnel into the Service.

All applicants for the exercise paid 1,000 naira each, before they could complete their registration for the test. They were also mandated to provide a medical report before being considered eligible for the exercise.

Since the Nigeria Immigration Service is a Paramilitary agency, they were instructed to put on white sporting attires for fitness training and easy identification.

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Laws have to be enforced and it should be rigorously followed. ” On the N78m website and N258m borehole constructed in Government House, Fashola attributed the alleged misinformation to people ’s poor understanding of how his administration operated as neither him nor any of his commissioners were either awarding contracts or signing cheques.

He said, “Let me say first that it raises the question of public understanding of the role governors, public servants and some have may be surprise to hear that as a governor of Lagos State, I don ’t sign cheques, none of my commissioners sign cheques.

“I don ’t fix contract prices. It is an institutional process. The only training I have is that of a lawyer. Nobody can award cntract over benchmark price.

“Throughout my tenure, I have been confronted with the price of things and the reality is that when designing a road, what you meet in reality when construction starts is usually not what you end up with.

“In all of these, nobody has alleged that I have corruptly enriched myself I could not have been a master in computer and technology. I need something to do my work. ” Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachukwu This ministerial nominee, amongst others, demonstrated that Nigeria is very richly endowed with great human resources. After listening to the new Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC), one would begin to wonder why it took the nation this long to discover such an amazing talent.

By his own addition, Kachukwu described himself as an advantaged person, being a child of a one time High Court Judge in Nigeria, and with that enjoyed all the privileges of elite upbringing. A doctoral degree holder in law from the famous Harvard University, United Staes of America, Kachukwu admitted that he enjoyed series of scholarship from both the Nigerian Government and Harvard.

Kachukwu demonstrated that his appointment by the President as the new GMD of NNPC was a choice in the right direction. By the time his screening was over, Kachukwu demonstrated so much understanding about the workings of the oil and gas sector such that the lawmakers, albeit, Nigerians no doubt, gained a lot of knowledge about the sector.

Kachikwu, while answering questions from the senators, said government will from next year, commence the distribution of free cylinder to every homes, while gas stations would be constructed closer to residential areas.

He justified contract cancelation and restructuring at NNPC and debunked rumours of pump price reduction.

On the issue of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the nominee revealed that $15bn was being lost yearly due to non passage of the bill, and that the thinking of Buhari was that subsidy removal will come after putting palliatives to cushion the effects of the action in place.

Onu u

Ade eos sun n

I HAVE GIVEN A 90-DAY PROGRAMME WHICH IS WORKING AND I AM GLAD THAT OVER THE LAST THREE WEEKS, PORT HARCOURT, FOR EXAMPLE HAS COME OUT OF THAT AND IS

PRODUCING RIGHT NOW AT ABOUT 67 PERCENT CAPACITY

On the reduction of the oil pump price, Kachikwu said, “We have come out very clearly that there is no such plan. In the next one, two days, you find that individuals will open their stations and products are there. We have enough storage in this country that will last us for the next 40, 50 days.

On the state of the refineries, the GMD of NNPC disclosed that, “The refineries are operating today at about 25, 27 percent capacity. I know that there had been this whole number bandied around to the fact that we are at 65 percent performance level; that ’s not true and I ’ve advised His Excellency as such. My analysis over the last six weeks confirm a consistent, because the issue is not an upsurge.

“But on average, our performance level is between 25 and 28 percent. If we can ’t run them, then we need to get out, make adequate arrangement to privatise them and take them out. We have instituted a process of not giving crude to any refinery that is not producing properly.

“I have given a 90-day programme which is working and I am glad that over the last three weeks, Port Harcourt, for example has come out of that and is producing right now at about 67 percent capacity.

“Our intention is to grow Port Harcourt to about 70, 75 percent capacity by the end of the year. Warri is beginning to signal that there is likelihood they would come on stream because right now, both Warri and Kaduna are shut (down).

“We just finished repairs in the pipe-

lines. We are going to begin to pump crude into Kaduna refineries tomorrow (today) and hopefully over the next four, five days, they will get the stock that they need to get the plant kicking.

“We will then know whether they are in a position to continue to produce seamlessly above 65 percent. If any refinery produces below 60 percent, there is no production because the reality is that the performing capacities of refineries worldwide are in the 90 percent and above categories and that is when you begin to make yields that turn into a profitable refinery. So, we are hoping that Kaduna, when it starts, will begin to benchmark on what Port Harcourt is doing.

“What I have clearly as a mandate will be that at the end of December when the 90days is over, we will sit down and say which ones have shown a capacity to consistently perform at levels that make optimal sense?

But those that are not, we will have to shut down and do complete maintenance.

On why refineries not producing at optimal capacity, Kachikwu said, “Over the last 10 years, we have not really done a serious shut down routine maintenance on the refinery. Most of these refineries are 30 yearsold and above. Refineries have a lifespan of 50 to 60 years if you continue to maintain them constantly.

“But lack of maintenance has shut them down to a point where they cannot work.

And our engineers have done a fantastic work or tinker our mechanics with every little part of the refinery to keep it going.

“The cost of imported product are exorbitant. And at the end of the day, the landed cost of imported product are far more than the authorised sales prices of these products. We have to get the refineries to work, shut down the ones that can ’t work and get them maintained so that they can work better and building strategic reserves.

“The long term solution is to privatise as much as we can, the whole rudiment of downstream sector performance because once you do that, people will go into the business for profit, they will do investments that are required for long-term basis and you find solidity in terms of availability of these products ”.

On reduction of the cost of Kerosene, The ministerial nominees stated that, “What we are doing right now is do an interim, holistic but firm and forecasted management in the sector to ensure that our citizens do not suffer. Kerosene is a different ball game.

“You will notice that only NNPC for now imports kerosene. And that is because the sale prices are such that nobody can bring in kerosene and make money. As a matter of fact, 50 percent of NNPC ’s subsidy charges come from importation of kerosene.

“So, the first thing is how do you get kerosene easily available? The refineries work.

If the refineries, we produce more kerosene. If you begin a good deforestation and afforestation programme, you can begin to slide our people away from kerosene. And so, it is absolutely essential that gas goes all over the country.

Regarding the provision of free cylinder to every homes, the candidate said, “Next year, we are having a programme we are going to launch that will give free cylinders to every Nigerian citizen. Once we do that, we begin to say how do we get gas to nearby depots closer to the people because once we do that, we begin to move out from kerosene.

“But until we do that, kerosene is still the bread and butter of the average Nigerian family in terms of cooking.

On Petroleum Industry Bill, the nominee said, “First of all, let me say that one of the things I have said to myself since resuming as GMD of NNPC is that I will not be constrained by the lack of PIB in making sure that holistic solutions to the industry continue to be propelled.

“So, using existing laws, we have continued to make changes. Because at the end of the day, whether or not PIB is available and passed, it really doesn ’t lie within the umbrella of the executive, it lies with this revered Assembly. But I also do not think that the problem with PIB has been the facts of the versions.

“By the time the last Senate was rounding off, it had gotten a version that was clearly the version that both houses were looking at. Am I going to create a new version? Not really. What I will need to do is take the version that you have, look at it again and make changes.

“The key issues is that as long as we continue to want to pass a holistic PIB, it is going to be a very major challenge. But once you begin to break it up into critical aspects, you begin to make a faster run to passing PIB. Fiscal regime, for example, you ask yourself, why would you want to have fiscal regime inside the PIB?

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WITH OBASOLUYI TELEWA 07033840936 EMAIL: BAZO_TELEWA@YAHOO.COM

STORIES THAT TOUCH YOU SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2015

One year after: Lagos seeks justice for victims of collapsed Synagogue Church building OBASOLUYI TELEWA

O

ne year after the six- floor guest house of the Synagogue Church of All Nations collapses in Ikotun area of Lagos state, killing over 100 worshippers in the process, the Federal High Court in Lagos presided over by Honourable Justice Buba will tomorrow Monday October 19 hear the suit challenging the State Government ’s steps to enforce the recent Coroner ’s indictment of the Synagogue Church of All Nations. The tragedy shook the entire country and the international community to its foundation as innocent souls seeking succour for whatever their infirmities could be perished abruptly in the incident.

South Africa was worst hit losing a lot of its nationals to the disaster. The situation drew the attention of South African leader, Jacob Zuma who expressed grief when the news broke.

Since the incident happened over a year ago there had been calls from different quarters for the case not to be swept under the carpet like others in similar circumstance.

It will be recalled that 131 lives of Nigerians and foreigners were lost in a building collapse disaster at the Synagogue Church on September 12, 2014.

There were local and international calls for a thorough investigation and possible prosecution to give justice to the victims.

Director of Search and Rescue Operation when the incident happened, Commodore Charles Otegbeye , had during a visit to the scene of the disaster put the total number of the dead at 161, with 131 survivors rescued alive.

The Southwest spokesman for the National Emergency Agency, NEMA, Mr. Ibrahim Fariloye had also confirmed the figures.

There were palpable apprehensions as to the remote cause of the disaster as opinions were divergent.

Speculations were rife when the then Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola visited the scene and ordered the staff of the Synagogue Church to leave the area. For some people, the action of the Governor had deeper interpretations regarding the intension of the state government on the matter. To clarify the position of the government on the issue, the then Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr.Olutoyin Ayinde in a release made available to Sunday Mirror, reiterated the position of the state government on the multi-storied guest house that collapsed in the Lagos suburb did not have building approval.

“To this end, he said, a team of Engineers from the Ministry and other state government agencies would take

Above: The collapsed building

samples from the foundation and materials from the rubbles of the building for analysis by experts ”.

The founder of the church, Prophet TB Joshua had claimed to that he was the target of attack when the building went down that fateful day. “I was the target ”.

According to him, “why would anybody want to harm my members, surely I was the target. The best way to stop the church is to get Joshua out and that was exactly what they wanted to do.

Narrating his experience on the day of the incidence, he said, “on that fateful day when the incident happened, I was in my prayer room when I received a call that a chopper was hovering around the church premises. When I entered the rest room I asked where it was and the people around said it was around the Guest House. Having circumvented the whole area the chopper disappeared. A footage of the CCTV camera stationed in the vicinity showed a chopper that moved round the high-rise building several times before the building went down.

According to the footage, the first movement was at 11:30am. The second movement of the chopper was11:40am and the third time 11:45am. At 11:54am after the fourth attempt by the chopper, the building went down ”, stated Jioshua.

“The people in the neighbourhood were screaming, the police were alerted, the whole scenario was not different from when I raised the alarm the other day over Boko Haram attacks.

After many criticisms I was vindicated. This time around I will be vindicated when the truth comes out ”, he had said.

Many of the worshippers who were injured were rushed to Isolo and Alimosho General Hospitals while corpses were deposited at the morgue before the foreigners were flown to their respective countries for burial.

On the veracity of the ‘Strange Plane Theory ’, alleged by the Church to have dangerously flown over the building five minutes before the collapse, Ayinde stated that the Ministry had submitted the video clips as provided by the church to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority NCAA, for investigation. For some people who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, the strange plane theory was an attempt by the church to evade or slow down justice.

According to the Commissioner, the Lagos State Government being responsive to the residents of the state had put the necessary mechanisms

in place to curb excesses and abuses by builders , while violators will be made to face the music ”, he maintained.

After over a year of legal twists and turns initiated by the Synagogue Church, the Coroner ’s inquest into the building collapse disaster delivered a ruling which amongst other things indicted the Synagogue Church of all Nations for criminal negligence and recommended that it be prosecuted.

Immediately after the Coroner ’s verdict, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode in a determined move, pledged to enforce the verdict to the letter vowing to seek justice for the victims of the disaster no matter the circumstances. He ordered the Law enforcement agencies to immediately arrest the indicted persons and enforce the verdict.

But in a move to forestall the enforcement, the indicted engineers of the Synagogue Church approached the Federal High Court seeking the enforcement of their fundamental human rights to fair hearing, human dignity and personal liberty as provided under Sections 34, 35 and 36 of the Constitution They claim that the Nigerian Police, Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN) and the Lagos State Government (Respondents) will act upon the Coroner ’s findings by proceeding to arrest, investigate and/ or prosecute them for criminal negligence. They also contend that if these aforementioned acts are carried out by the respondents, their actions would amount to a likely breach of their fundamental human rights to fair hearing, human dignity and personal liberty.

The indicted Engineers are therefore seeking for a nullification of the Coroner ’s verdict, perpetual injunction restraining the Nigerian Police from arresting or interrogating them, perpetual injunction restraining COREN from causing them to appear before any investigatory or disciplinary panel.

The Lagos State Government has filed a counter affidavit and preliminary objections to the suit contending amongst other things that Synagogue Church were granted audience at the Coroner ’s Court and availed the opportunity of tendering their depositions and making oral evidence and that the Coroner did not issue a “judicial indictment ” on the Applicants but made recommendations that the Applicants be investigated and if found culpable, prosecuted for criminal negligence.

Lagos State also filed a Notice of Preliminary Objection on grounds that the Synagogue ’s Engineers ’ complaints are a challenge to the Coroner ’s verdict and not for the enforcement of their fundamental human rights and the Court lacks the jurisdiction to adjudicate over this suit since the Respondents are not agencies of the Federal Government.

However, sources at the Lagos State Ministry of Justice disclosed to Sunday Mirror that in line with Governor Ambode ’s pledge to the citizens, the government will pursue the enforcement of the Coroners verdict until its logical conclusion to ensure the victims of the disaster get justice.

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North NEWS

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Borno residents protest water shortage, disrupt governor’s convoy INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

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housands of people mostly youths of Jakana village of Konduga Local Government Area yesterday protested over lack of drinking water and interrupted the convoy of Governor Kashim Shettima, who was on his way to Beneshiek to inspect ongoing rehabilitation/ reconstruction of houses destroyed by insurgents.

Jakana is about 35 kilometres drive from Maiduguri that had witnessed a series of Boko Haram attacks including the razing of police station, school structures and other public infrastructure in recent past, although, most of these structures are currently undergoing renovation by the state government.

The youth said they were compelled to forcefully intercept the governor’s convoy despite security cover to voice out their anger over the hardship being faced by residents who trek far distances to buy a 25-litre jerry can of water at the cost of N100 compared to residents in Maiduguri who buy the same litre of jerry can at only N5.

Mallam Abubakar Yakubu, who actively participated in the protest told our correspondent that due to the lingering crisis of Boko Haram, many residents of Jakana in most cases cannot afford to buy even a one litre of jerry can on a daily basis, but were compelled and resorted to drinking contaminated water from streams and dams also used by animals.

“We have been suffer-

ing from lack of water, and everybody knows that water is life, during the Boko Haram attacks on this community, all our functional boreholes were vandalised by the insurgents, and as I am talking to you, government has failed to come

to our aid and repair the destroyed boreholes in this area. We are pleading to Shettima to drill more boreholes and repair the broken down ones,” Yakubu stated.

Shettima before reaching Beneshiekh town stopped his convoy where

he addressed the aggrieved residents and promised that government through the Ministry of Water Resources would soon embark on drilling of more boreholes in the village and repair the existing ones so as to cushion their

hardship.

He said already his government had started rebuilding all the destroyed communities to enable the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) go back home and continue their normal lives.

The governor however

El-Rufai unveils Kaduna State logo, coat of arms AZA MSUE, Kaduna Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, yesterday unveiled the new state logo and coat of arms, saying his administration would position the state on the path of greatness to meet present challenges.

Addressing participants at his 4th Town Hall Meeting for Kaduna Central zone held at Trade Fair complex along Zaria Road, El-rufai said the state will no longer use Federal government logo and coat of arms.

El-Rufai explained further that the logo reflects the broader aspirations to define an identity for

Kaduna: “One that is forward-looking but also embraces the rich textures of the culture and history of our people. This logo constitutes a marker of uniqueness. It differentiates our state, and the distinctiveness it expresses will hopefully be matched by the concrete strides that our people achieve in education, healthcare, jobs, security and other spheres that contribute to a rounded and better life.”

According to the governor, “the respect for the right of the states and regions to define their identities was not vitiated by the threat to the national fabric that the civil war

represented.

Emerging from that tragedy as a united entity, Nigerians continued to tolerate and celebrate difference until 1976 when the military government abolished the expression of sub-national identities through coats of arms and logos”.

El-rufai added: “Many states have since rediscovered their right to this sort of collective expression. In Kaduna State, we have chosen to root our insignia in the proud traditions of our people. We have remade the coat of arms of the North-Central State, introducing new elements but retaining the motto of the old

Northern Region which was well governed from here.

“We intend to work hard to make Kaduna State great again, to restore the values and the attainments that made our state such magnet for people and business.

On behalf of the Kaduna State government, it is my pleasure to present the new Kaduna State logo,” he announced.

The governor told the gathering that the free education recently declared in the state would be compulsory, adding that parents have no excuse not to send their children to school, especially prima-

LOKOJA

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ogi State Police Command has disclosed that it has rescued three abducted students of Kogi State Polytechnic and arrested a suspected kidnapper.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu who disclosed this while parading 23 suspects, including the suspected abductor of students, stated

Election verdicts: Rep applauds judiciary TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

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member of the House of Representatives, Mark Gbillah, has commended the judiciary for its recent rulings on election matters across the country, and specifically for the recent ruling by an election tribunal sitting in Makurdi, Benue State.

Gbillah who represents Gwer/Gwer West Federal Constituency of Benue State is one of the three lawmakers whose elections were recently affirmed by the tribunal.

Reacting to the ruling, Gbillah (APC, Benue) said there was need to commend the judiciary for discharging its functions without fear or favour, saying it was a testimony of good things to come for the country.

The lawmaker said the victory would give him an opportunity to give adequate attention to his constituents who mandated him to represent their interest at the lower chamber.

PDP endorses ongoing probes in Benue HENRY IYORKASE MAKURDI

F Commander, Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Adamawa, Mr. Yakubu Kibo (left) parading suspected dealer of narcotic drugs, in Yola, recently.

Police rescue 3 Kogi poly students from kidnappers WALE IBRAHIM

appealed to them to be patient as his administration and the security agencies are doing everything possible to ensure adequate protection of lives and property as well as to restore peace across the state.

that the state command was determined to weed out the criminal elements from the state.

Ojukwu explained that the three students of Kogi State Polytechnic, Osara campus namely Musa Avosuahi Sefiat, Isaac Oaikhena and Ojo Ayodele were kidnapped on October 12 at about 1900 hours near their campus while praying.

He stated that through intelligence report the men of the state command have rescued three abducted

students from the kidnappers’ hideout along Gadabiu -Kabba Junction, Obajana Road without paying ransom, adding that the criminal elements were identified to be Fulanis.

The commissioners stated that one suspect, Ibrahim Jibo, who was arrested within the area where they came to collect ransom would assist the police to apprehend others now at large, noting that investigation was still ongoing.

While speaking with journalists, one of victims, Ojo Ayodele, stated that they were at a designated prayer ground around the school premises when the Fulanis came and dispossessed them of all their belongings, includingpPhones.

“They started beating us and asked us to follow them. The three of us in fear had no choice and trekked in the bush for several hours before we got to the unknown destination”.

They also demanded for money but we told them we had no money on us,” he stressed.

Also paraded were 13 armed robbery suspects arrested at different locations in the state.

Ojukwu pointed out that all the suspected criminals would be arraigned to face the wrath of the law.

The police boss warned that the command would not rest on it oars until criminal elements were flushed out of the state.

ormer commissioner for Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Benue State, Chief Abu-King Shuluwa, has thrown his weight behind the ongoing probes of the immediate past administration in the state.

Shuluwa spoke at the weekend in Makurdi during a stakeholders’ forum involving the political class, religious leaders as well as captains of industry.

The ex-commissioner, making his remark on the occasion, applauded the policies of the Ortom-led administration, especially the judicial commission of enquiry probing the activities of the past administration in the state and gave him kudos for efforts taken towards rebuilding the state.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South NEWS

Sunday, October 18, 2015

59

IG urged to caution outlawed vigilance group in Osun BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

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armonised Vigilante Group in Osun State yesterday called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, to caution an “outlawed vigilance group” existing in the state at the moment.

The leader of the group, Alhaji Rilwan Hussein, in a chat with newsmen in Ede, alleged the resuscitation of parallel security outfit called Vigilante Group of Nigeria, VGN, describing it as illegal and outlawed.

Citing a letter dated January 7, 2010, which was signed by Mr Akinola Clement, the then commissioner of police in the state, where the group was first proscribed, Hus-

sein said vigilance groups were appendage of the police and not otherwise.

According to him, “any vigilance group that is claiming independence of police control and regulation poses a great danger to the peace and tranquility of its community.”

He explained that the degree of threat such an organisation posed to the peaceful atmosphere in the state made the then commissioner of police to ban it.

Hussein however demanded for periodic training and guidance for the vigilance groups by the police, to improve their knowledge of intelligence gathering and skill for combating crime.

He made a case for Harmonised Vigilance Group in the zone, comprising Osun, Ondo, and Oyo, under the control of the Nigeria Police to increase the tempo of security surveillance.

Hussein explained that although the police are statutory bound to protect the lives and property of citizenry, vigilance groups understand the structure of their communities better.

He said the satisfactory knowledge of the communities by vigilance groups makes them a “veritable supporting mechanism” for police in the area of crime control at the grassroots.

“Reliable intelligence gathering mechanism re-

mains the crux of security; that is the area where vigilance groups play a vital role because of our knowledge of the communities.

“Constant and efficient training and guidance of police will make our job more proactive and help the police in no small way to stamp out criminality in our various communities and Nigeria as a whole.

“It is on this basis that we are calling on the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 11, Mrs. Kalafite Adeyemi, to harmonise the vigilance groups in the three states under the zone.

“This move will go a long way in making the

L-R: Former Ogun State Governor, Chief Segun Osoba; Founding Partner, Red Media, Adebola Williams; former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili and ministerial nominee, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, during The Red Summit Gala night, in Lagos, yesterday.

FRSC disowns traffic offender arrested by Fayose

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ederal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Sector Commander, Ekiti State Command, Mr Stanley Chinedum, has disowned the traffic offender arrested by Governor Ayo Fayose on October 15, along Ikere Road Ado Ekiti, saying he is not on the staff of FRSC. The commission insisted that, “from all available records he is not a staff of FRSC, as a regular marshal or a volunteer special marshal”.

According to him, “the said offender could be an impersonator or rather a dismissed special marshal who is still using old sticker of special marshals. FRSC is noted for discipline and exemplary behaviour with adequate machinery to check excesses and abuses.

We, therefore, always inculcate in staff at all times the necessity to obey all traffic rules while on official duties and even on private

engagements.

“Conclusively, we want to place on record, that the offender arrested by the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, His Excellency, Ayodele Fayose, the said Mr Adeola Alabi is not a staff of Federal Road Safety Commission.”

Also reacting, the Head of

Media Relations and Strategy, FRSC, Bisi Kazeem, said on hearing the report, the Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, a disciplinarian, who has zero tolerance for indiscipline, ordered investigation. To our surprise, it was found out that the said traffic offender was not on

the service of the corps either as a regular marshal or special. Nevertheless, he was full of praises for the Governor for arresting a traffic offender and appealed to other senior government officials to emulate this rare deed as road safety was everybody’s business.

Journalist group decries media attacks on Abia ex-gov GEORGE OJI

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group that goes by the name, Igbo Journalist Association (National Assembly chapter) has condemned the recent media attacks directed at the immediate past governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji, by a section of the media.

While describing the negative media targeted at the former governor as “notorious, unethical, unprofessional, mischievous, dubious and spurious”, the group regretted that the authors of the scripts are “unscrupulous media tigers and forces of darkness in the

state”.

It noted that, “the media imbroglio is a war between the forces of darknessrepresented by the media tigers and his allies, and forces of lightrepresented by T.A. Orji.”

The group made their position public during a world press conference in Abuja at the weekend.

Chairman of the association, Mr. Okechukwu Jumbo, in his text at the news conference stated that, “As the conscience of the people, we can no longer remain helpless, fold our hands and allow the perpetration of this evil agendum of pull-him-down syndrome and orchestrated campaign of

mudslinging being unleashed at the ‘political liberator’ of Abia State.

He explained that the former governor is at the centre of media castigations most probably because of his principled and godly stand as a governor, which motivated him to flush out the culture and legacy of impunity, sacrilege, obscenity, immorality in the political service of Abia State, stressing that, “It is well known in public domain that prior to T.A Orji’s emergence as Governor of Abia State, vices overtook virtues in the political domain of the state until he halted the terrible culture of impunity.

security architecture in the states more effective, and drastically reduce inter-state crime,” he said.

Hussein then com-

mended the police in Osun for their excellent performance and display of professionalism and civility at all times.

Onosode was a treasure, says Senate committee ELO OGWARA WARRI

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he Nigerian has.

Senate

A Senate committee led by the Chief Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye, yesterday described the late technocrat, Chief Gamaliel Onosode, as a treasure who made indelible marks across the shores of the country.

The group made this remark during a condolence visit to Pa Onosode’s family in Ekuigbo, Ughelli North council area of Delta State.

In his tributes to the renowned technocrat who served in the public service for decades, Senator Adeyeye said, “Onosode was a treasure cherished across the shores of the country, who brought his intellectual depth into the study of the Bible. During the Shagari admin-

istration, he was called a Pharisee, owing to the meticulous way and manner he discharged his duties while in office. I have always prayed to be like him because he was an inspiration to my generation.”

Adeyeye was accompanied by senators Ighoyota Amori, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Danjuma La’ah and John Onwa Eno. Overwhelmed by the visit, Dr. Andrew Onosode, who received the senators on behalf of the family said, “the Onosode family appreciates your visit and the gesture extended to the family. With your likes at the Senate, we are of the hope that Nigeria has a bright future.”

The committee had earlier made a courtesy visit to the palace of the Ovie of Ughelli, HRM Oharisi III.

Uzodinma floors Izunaso at tribunal GEORGE OJI

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he Imo State National/ State Assembly election tribunal has affirmed the election of Senator Hope Uzodinma as the validly elected senator to represent the Imo West Senatorial district at the National Assembly.

The three-man panel in a unanimous decision on Tuesday rejected the petition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Osita Izunaso, challenging the election of Uzodinma for lack of merit.

The tribunal presided over by Justice Ali Garba from Yobe State held that the petitioner failed to prove that there were no elections in three local government areas of the senatorial zone, namely Oru East, Oguta, and Ohaji Egbema.

The tribunal “further

held that the petitioner failed to prove that the first respondent, Senator Uzodinma, did not score the majority of the lawful votes cast in the election and that the petitioner also failed to prove that he, Izunaso scored the majority of the lawful votes cast in the said election.”

It would be recalled that the petition by the APC candidate was earlier dismissed by a similar tribunal headed by justice A .Y Sanya, which ruled that the petitioner, Izunaso abandoned his petition by failing to pay the appropriate filing fees for the prehearing of the matter.

The tribunal ruled then that for failing to pay the required filling fees, the petitioner (Izunaso) had dumped his petition.

But senator Izunaso in his wisdom appealed the ruling and the Appeal court ruled that the case should be heard on merit.

Sport

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Football has enabled me to see the world – Rummenigge P. 62

Sport KEEPING YOU ABREAST OF SPORTING NEWS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2015

Europa backpass miss still hunts Ambrose I

t is difficult to reconcile the engaging personality that is Efe Ambrose with the apoplectic abuse the Celtic and Nigeria defender can attract from crowds most notably from fans of his own teams.

In social situations Ambrose who will celebrate his 27th birthday on Sunday, is disarmingly laconic.

That characteristic, when displayed on the field of play, can be spectacularly self destructive and mention of his name frequently prompts the use of that traditional sobriquet, ‘Bomb Scare’, or the personalised alternative, “Effing Ambrose”.

For a particularly vivid example, one need only cite his horrific attempt to head a pass back to Craig Gordon near the end of the first half of Celtic’s Europa League meeting with Fenerbahce on October 1.

In the event, Ambrose made such a dismal contact with the ball that he merely cushioned it perfectly for the Fenerbahce forward, Fernandao, to shoot past the exposed goalkeeper and put the Turkish side back into the contest at 2-1. “If I had passed the

ball to Craig and he had come out and caught it, nobody would speak about this,” said Ambrose, rather missing the point.

“There was a lack of communication between me and Craig and nobody came out and told me that the striker was on me.” Possibly true, but only if you discount 50,000 spectators howling, panto-style, ‘Look behind you!’

Nor will that explanation do for Fenerbahce’s equaliser, scored just after the interval by Fernandao, who got across Ambrose for the decisive header.

“It is not easy, but the most important thing is how you come back,” he said, in recognition of the condemnation that came his way, not only from maddened Hoops fans but also from TV pundits like former Scotland defender, Willie Miller, and ex-Celt, Frank McAvennie.

“In football it is bound to happen,” said Ambrose.

“You will face criticism like this but it is not just in football but also in life. You are always going to have

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Igiebor’s knee injury persists P. 61

difficult times and it is how you come out of it that is important, how you stand up and face it.

“For me it is not just about me as a player, it is about the team. That is the most important thing. It can happen to me, it can happen to anybody and we have to stay together as a team.

“I am very happy about the way the gaffer and other players stood up for me and did not criticise. I have learned from this and I have put it behind me. The manager has said to me to keep learning and to keep working to improve myself.

“Last season the gaffer told me that I was trying to take too many risks in my games so they have tried to make me a different player. I don’t do that any more, I try to play simple and to just defend. I think I am getting better and I work hard every day to make sure.

“You don’t run away from it – you face it and I have a manager who really believes in my ability. In spite of everything that has happened, he has stood by me. It was good, after the Fenerbahce game, to hear the manager say that he trusted me.”

Ambrose had a happier experience on Sunday playing for Nigeria against Cameroon, when the Super Eagles prevailed 3-0 in the latest instalment of an intense African rivalry. After today’s (Sat) return to the domestic schedule in the televised lunchtime fixture away to Motherwell, Ambrose will face a tougher test of his capabilities in Celtic’s Europa League tie in Molde, the Norwegians the surprise leaders of Group A, which also includes Ajax.

Ambrose has delighted the fans with his trademark sequence of backflips whenever he scores and, characteristically undaunted, he promises more of the same – and soon.

“I owe this team and I know that, a couple of games ahead, there is a way I can pay them back for all of this,” he said. “That is a positive thing I am looking forward to. You can never know when Efe Ambrose is going to do his somersault!”

Well, it would certainly be preferable to another costly pratfall…

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Igiebor’s knee injury persists

Knockout

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fficials of Israeli Ligat Limut side, Maccabi Tel Aviv, fear that their Nigerian midfielder Nosa Igiebor may have to undergo operation for a troublesome knee injury.

Igiebor was injured in the Uefa Champions League match with Swiss side, FC Basel, a few weeks ago and even though he is recuperating on schedule, there are still pains in the region, which is, not suppose to be the case.

“The pain in Nosa’s knee is refusing to ease. He is working hard to get fit and except it goes he cannot get back to action,” an official of the club told Israeli sports website, one.co.il.

“Knees are a very complex thing. We can’t see what the issue is for now and that area is a bit complicated.

“It might be a ligament thing or even a meniscus and maybe they have a hand in hiding what is causing the pain.”

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with

IFEANYI Eduzor

08055829770 ifeduz24@yahoo.com

Obisia rues Nigeria’s absence at World championship

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ormer national boxing coach, Obisia Nwankpa has expressed disappointment over Nigeria’s absence at the AIBA World championship in Qatar which he said would have enabled some of the country’s pugilists qualify for Rio 2016 Olympics.

He told knockout that the championship apart from

serving as Olympic qualifier will also give the country’s pugilist enough exposure ahead of other international championships. “It is unfortunate that Nigeria missed the opportunity of going to Qatar for the World championship. Being part of that championship few weeks after the All Africa Games would have kept our pugilists busy as well as give them adequate exposure”, Obisia concluded.

Igiebor

Maccabi Tel Aviv are afraid that if the pain does not stop and Igiebor fails to recover on time then he may

probably have to undergo a medical procedure, but they are hoping to avoid an operation.

Ameobi promises to do more for Cardiff City

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ammy Ameobi has said he can do more for Cardiff City while on loan from Newcastle United.

“I’m really enjoying it,” said the 23-year-old. “We’ve had a great start to the season and we’ve got a very good team too.

“It’s a really great city to live in, while it’s also good to see the national team doing so well. You can feel the buzz as you walk around the city, as it’s obviously a big thing here, so it’s nice to embrace it.

“But the Cardiff fans have not seen the best of me because I am only coming off bench. I wanted to

come and excite fans. I am a very direct player. I can feel the buzz when I am playing. It’s pressure but I am really confident.”

“Everyone is really together and pushing in the same direction here at Cardiff too. There’s no-one thinking ‘it’s all about me’ - everything is done for the benefit of the team. It’s a good spirit to have and hopefully we can take it forward into the next spell of games.

“I’ve had to bide my time as I was a few weeks behind the others fitness-wise when I arrived. Obviously the guys are doing so well at the moment, but I’m glad I’m getting to play my part in it as well.”

kell Brook (L) exchanging blows with Shawn Porter when he defended his title against him.

Gotv Boxing: Boxers target N1m jackpot

NFF: Ofoegbu’s injury not from national camp

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he Nigeria Football Federation has expressed disappointment with Super Falcons’ player, Gloria Ofoegbu’s smear campaign against the Federation over an injury that she sustained from her club, Rivers Angels, and not in the camp of any of the National Teams.

NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, who disclosed that the

Injured Ofoegbu being consoled by a teammate

Federation had been much concerned for the player and was making moves to ensure she got required treatment to return to action, but is miffed at suggestions of abandonment.

“The fact that we must make clear is that Gloria did not sustain the injury in the camp of any of the National Teams.

It is sheer blackmail for her to go on air and start castigating the NFF. “As a federation that cares much about the welfare of players of the National Teams, we have been making arrangements to ensure she gets the best treatment and is able to return to action. But she has been telling half -truths everywhere, suggesting the NFF as a body and some individuals have neglected her. It is very unfair.”

Ofoegbu’s allegations have now compelled the NFF to release her medical report, as written by Super Falcons’ doctor, Omoye Akhigbe and team physiotherapist, Adaku Nwachukwu.

In the report by by Mrs Nwachukwu, the 29 –year old player was examined on 4th April 2014 while in the Super Falcons’ camp for an African Women Championship qualifier against Rwanda, and it was discovered that she had been nursing chronic right knee injury for five years.

B

oxers billed to feature in the fourth edition of the GOtv boxing night have all expressed optimism that they are capable of emerging the best boxer of the night to earn them the 1 million naira jackpot at stake in the tournament.

Winner of last year’s jackpot, Olaide “Fijaborn” Fijabi told knockout that his plan is to win the prize money for the second time, describing the first experience as a gift from God. Speaking in the same vein, welterweight boxer, Jamiu “Naval Man” Olabode

expressed confidence that he has what it takes to enter into the millionaires club warning other pugilists to stay clear of the jackpot just as West African featherweight champion, Waidi “Skoro” Usman reminded other pugilists that the jackpot belongs to a champion and he will put in his best to ensure he wins the life changing prize money.

“Fijabi won the jackpot because I did not fight at the third edition of the tournament but now that I am part of the boxing night, I will definitely emerge as the best pugilist and win the money.

Brook, Chaves fight postponed

K

ell Brook has cancelled his clash with Diego Chaves slated for Saturday, 24 October after sustaining a rib injury in sparring.

Brook, 29, who was set to make the third defense of his title, was taken to hospital after suffering the injury on Thursday.

“Kell was desperate to fight but it was impossible,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “We’ll look to reschedule the bout for the end of

the year.”

Brook’s fight was set to top the bill at the Sheffield Arena, but that honour will now go to the WBA interim world middleweight contest between Chris Eubank Jr. and American Tony Jeter, with the Briton seeking to retain his title.

Another bout will see Doncaster’s Gavin McDonnell aim to defend his European bantamweight belt against French former world title challenger Jeremy Parodi.

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Sport

Sunday, October 18, 2015

After so many years in the shadow of Franz Beckenbauer and Uli Hoeness, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is now the figurehead of Bayern Munich. Roland Zorn interviewed the retired world-class striker, on his 60th birthday, to discuss why he was never jealous of Messrs Beckenbauer and Hoeness during his playing career, his marriage to Bayern Munich and the demands on the modern-day footballer.

Xavi

: e g g i n e m Rum s a h l l a b t o Fo o t e m d e l b ena d l r o w e h see t Karl-Heinz, you turn 60 on 25 September, having now spent more than 34 years with Germany’s most successful club as a world-class player, vicepresident and, since 2002, as chairman of Bayern. Do you ever marvel at this seemingly inseparable partnership?

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge: Good fortune is part and parcel of life. When Bayern Munich called us at home and asked me if I could imagine playing for a club that was already internationally renowned at that point, it gave my mother a wonderful shock. When, as a 19-year-old in 1974, I moved from Westphalian amateur side Borussia Lippstadt to Munich for a transfer fee of 17,500 Deutschmark, I sensed that this was my big opportunity. As for my second career as one of Bayern’s foremost representatives, I can only say that I had the good fortune to be in the right place at the right time. I’ve tried to use the chances I’ve been given after hanging up my boots to serve the club as decisively as a striker in front of the

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opposition’s goal.

You were known for being quite shy during your first year as a Bayern player. That’s not all that surprising when you start your career at 19 in a team of global stars and luminaries such as Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller, Sepp Maier or Uli Hoeness, who had just been crowned world champions in Munich. What then gave you that all-important boost on your journey to becoming a world-class striker?

The good Lord gave me talent and, after a brief phase of settling in, I felt a duty to make something decent of it. My professional career progressed smoothly after that.

Looking at the titles you have won, it seems impossible to argue with that assessment...

My time as a player was wonderful, primarily because being a professional always gives you the chance to make an impact. My experiences overseas

at the end of my career were also very helpful, particularly at Inter Milan but also at Servette. The years I spent away from Munich inspired me for life. I’m still benefiting from that experience in my second career, as my colleagues and I need to ensure that financial conditions are right and that the club is being led in a sound and responsible way.

You have been regarded as Bayern’s ‘foreign minister’ for some time now, due to your strong international connections and your role as chairman of the European Club Association in particular. How did this come about?

Football has enabled me to see the whole world, and in this sport, as in many other lines of work, it’s extremely important to have a network. To do that, you have to get out and about a lot and enjoy travelling. You’re constantly seeing and learning something new and establishing connections with people who may be able to help you one day.

I did a huge amount of travelling while

serving as Bayern Munich vice-president between 1991 and 2002, partly to better understand other clubs such as Ajax, Manchester United or Real Madrid. In doing so, I was able to constantly develop in the slipstream of our then-president Franz Beckenbauer and general manager Uli Hoeness, and I made the most of this opportunity. Back then you could still jump in at the deep end with a lifebelt, whereas in today’s world, where everything you do or fail to do is followed pretty closely by the public, you have to take that leap without any such protection.

As the heart and soul of Bayern for so many years, local hero Beckenbauer and Swabian Hoeness were always more popular than you and constantly seemed to be the main attraction.

Did that ever bother you?

I’m not someone who gets jealous. In any case, Franz’s charm and his Bavarian manner are unparalleled, and my friend Uli was always our club’s guiding light. Everyone gets the attention they deserve. As a somewhat less emotional Westphalian, it was always a joy and an extremely pleasant experience to work alongside both of them.

You captained West Germany on 51 occasions, pulling on the armband at a young age just as you did for your club. Is this experience still useful now that you are leading a club with 258,000 members – more than any other team in the world – and annual revenues of 540 million euro?

Undoubtedly. Anyone given such responsibility must also act responsibly and do all they can for the good of this great club.

Here at Bayern we also have good people and extremely solid hierarchies.

Our club has been set up extremely well, and everyone knows what is required of them. There has also been consistent and rapid growth at this world-class club. We have seen some breathtaking increases in both members and revenues in the past. Whenever that happens, we have to take care to ensure that everything stays healthy and that we can handle those heady heights without gasping for breath. Failing that, someone has to be there to bring you back down to earth, because when you’re flying high you always need someone who lets you have the odd rough landing.

Having married your childhood sweetheart Martina and as the father of five grown-up children, have you changed with age?

I’ve got a more relaxed attitude towards my grandchildren than I had towards my own children. I generally try to be as laid-back as possible about everything that comes my way.

Would you have preferred to be a professional footballer in the current era?

I’ve never asked myself that question. I only know that the sport moves faster now than it did during the best years of my career. I once told our captain Philipp Lahm: “You’re better professionals now than we used to be – far more serious and intense.” These days there are far greater demands on players in every respect. Although they earn much more than we did in those days, they’ve got to do far more to earn it.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

N

ovak Djokovic produced an imperious performance as he cruised to a 6-1 6-3 victory over Andy Murray to reach the final of the Shanghai Masters.

British number one Murray was brushed aside in the first set by the Serb, 28, as he won just one service game.

The 28-year-old Scot showed some fight in the second set but never really threatened as Djokovic served out.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat Rafael

Ronaldo

Shanghai Masters: Djokovic crushes Murray

Nadal 6-4 0-6 7-5 in the other semifinal to book his place in Sunday’s final.

Murray had looked confident in his quarter-final victory over Tomas Berdych, however he found Djokovic in irresistible form. Djokovic, who reached his 13th consecutive ATP Tour final, broke Murray five times in the match and committed just seven unforced errors to 30 for the Scot.

He has now won nine of his last 10 matches against Murray over the past two years.

Sullivan roars five shots clear in Portugal A ndy Sullivan tightened his grip on the Portugal Masters as he extended his lead to a commanding five shots after the third round in Vilamoura.

On a bizarre day for the European Tour, in which a shotgun start was implemented due to the threat of bad weather, Sullivan defied the cool and blustery conditions at the Oceanico Victoria Clube de Golfe to fire a four-under 67 - a score bettered by only Chris Wood and Lucas Bjerregaard.

Sullivan, bidding to become the first three-time winner on Tour this season, had the advantage of starting at the first and he birdied three of the first five holes before dropping only his second shot of the tournament at the tough 510yard par-four seventh.

Sport

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Mourinho

Djokovic

Mourinho: I will keep my job

J

ose Mourinho expects to still be the Chelsea manager even if the defending Premier League champions finish in mid-table.

Chelsea have dispensed with numerous managers, often when Champions League qualification is in doubt.

But Mourinho says he will not be sacked even if Chelsea are adrift in the race for the top four.

Asked if he would still be in charge if Chelsea finish in mid-table, Mourinho said “Yes”, before added: “No. I was not told that because we don’t expect to finish mid-table.”

Following the Saints loss, Mourinho, who has won three Premier League titles over two spells, suggested the Blues would be sacking the best manager they ever had if he was fired.

Now Abramovich’s approach to his managers is different, according to the Portuguese, who was reappointed in June 2013.

“It’s different for many reasons, since the moment I came back in 2013, when I had my first conversation with the owner and the board in 2013,” he said.

The competition in the Premier League means Chelsea could miss out on the top four this term, as Manchester United and Liverpool have done in recent seasons.

The Blues are seven points adrift and 10 behind leaders Manchester City.

Sullivan

CR7 breaks Raul’s Madrid scoring record C

ristiano Ronaldo has become the leading scorer in Real Madrid history after netting against Levante on Saturday.

Ronaldo, 30, has scored 12 goals in his last nine games for Real Madrid and overtook club legend Raul who had netted 323 in 741 games at the Bernabeu.

“What Ronaldo does you cannot name, it is on another historic level,” Raul told Marca last week.

63

Klopp: Tottenham draw a positive start N

ew Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp feels his side’s 0-0 draw against Tottenham at White Hart Lane represents a positive start to his time in charge of the club.

Divock Origi hit the crossbar in the early stages, before Simon Mignolet made decent saves from Clinton N’Jie and Harry Kane in a relatively quiet Premier League encoun-

ter. Liverpool have now won just one of their last 10 away league games, but Klopp was encouraged by what he saw in his opening test after replacing Brendan Rodgers at Anfield.

“I am happy with this result because I saw many good things,” the former Borussia Dortmund boss told BT Sport.

N I G E R I A

N5bn

I N

-The sum Yobe state Assembly approves for gratuity backlog.

Vol. 5 No.41

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2015 www.nationalmirroronline.net

Re-thinking plea bargaining

Back Page

Comment E-mail:

nwaunah@yahoo.com Jim Unah is Professor of Philosophy, University of Lagos.

with Jim Unah

W

N150

e recall that the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Dahiru Musdapher, once came down hard on the practice of plea bargaining in the nation’s judiciary; describing it as a practice without locus in the nation’s jurisprudence, which has inadvertently turned the judiciary into a laughing stock and sanctuary for highly placed criminals. He was particularly irked that a practice without basis in the criminal justice system of the country should be so conveniently and pervasively used in handling high profile financial crimes in such a manner that it emboldens, rather than deter would-be offenders of the anti-graft law. Justice Musdapher is of the view that the practice of plea bargaining is not only alien to Nigerian jurisprudence, it is inclement to the battle against graft, as it gives emotional aid and comfort to the perpetration of financial crimes. It should, therefore, be completely discontinued and discarded with.

Curiously, the then serving Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Justice Mohammed Adoke, at the time of Musdapher’s attack on the practice had applied plea bargaining in prosecuting a number of graft cases involving former top government

functionaries such as ex-governors and multinational companies, and had stoutly defended the practice as a convenient legal strategy for recouping a substantial part of stolen public fund in return for a mitigated sentence or soft penalty for offenders; insisting that it was in accord with international best practice in advanced jurisprudence; and that, at any rate, the judiciary didn’t have much option in the matter when it found itself on the horns of dilemma, between the devil and the deep blue sea, between the severe limitations of archaic jurisprudence and the unparalleled volume and quantum of graft being perpetrated by highly placed persons; requiring, as it were, some pragmatic judicial intervention that would save both time and cost.

In truth, plea bargaining, as a form of judicial practice, is not new, though it may not have a place in the nation’s criminal justice system. It is a judicial practice in which accused persons standing trial for an alleged breach of the law enters a prosecutorial plea of guilt and agrees to return a part of the loot in exchange for a speedy trial and a mild sentence or a soft landing, as they say. In virtually all the cases where plea bargaining is adopted, what is refunded to the state by the offender is usually far larger than the penalty stipulated by law for such offenses, upon conviction, if the entire process is followed to conclusion. For instance, at the material time plea bargaining was applied in the trial of the former police boss, Mr. Tafa Balogun, which resulted in the return of some billions of Naira to the state, the maximum penalty for such offences, according to the AGF, was N250,

F I G U R E S

N14bn

-The amount Enugu Assembly approves as loan to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi

000.00, if the trial had taken its normal judicial process. Thus, it was not entirely out of judicial imbecility or roguery that the operators of plea bargaining adopted the practice in Nigeria’s legal system. It was warranted by circumstances. It was expedient and convenient.

But has it deterred public functionaries from looting public treasury? Has the plea bargaining practice in Nigeria reduced the occurrence of high profile financial crimes? The answer is in the negative. The practice of plea bargaining in Nigeria has effectively circumscribed the capacity of the law to deter would be criminals. On the contrary, plea bargaining practice has enfeebled the law and has gained in intensity; as more of such crimes are committed with impunity on a daily basis. This is where CJN, Dahiru Musdapher, enters the hurly-burly. If a practice has complicated the situation it was adopted to remedy, it should be discarded altogether, regardless of whether or not it subsists in America or whether or not it is consistent with international best practices.

In the Nigerian experience, the practice of plea bargaining juxtaposes two things to laugh at each other. It creates a curious situation whereby the criminal and the law interpreter are made to laugh at each other; with both smiling, but with the law thoroughly ridiculed, scandalized and mortally wounded. It makes the deterrence capacity of the law to be ineffectual. Plea bargaining may work well in societies where people have integrity and genuinely feel ashamed of criminal social conduct. But in societies where the culture of impunity has taken

Oliseh happy with Eagles’ CHAN win

S

uper Eagles manager, Sunday Oliseh has awarded a pass mark on the side’s victory against the Les Etalons of Burkina Faso.

Eagles defeated their West African opponents 2-0 in Saturday’s first leg final fixture clash of the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.

A goal in each half coming from Nasarawa United marksman, Bature Yaro and Warri Wolves’ hitman, Gbolahan Salami gave the Nigerians the three points heading into the decisive leg in Ouagadougou in a week’s time.

Oliseh said his side will approach the decisive leg in Oua-

gadougou as if nothing has been won in the first fixture in Port Harcourt.

“The home Eagles fared very well against their opponents, Les Etalons of Burkina

Faso. This is our first match with the home-based Super Eagles and I think it came off quite well.

“However, I think we have not won anything yet going

into the second leg fixture in Ouagadougou, if we could score two goals here nothing stops the Burkinabes scoring same number of goals in the reverse fixture.

IN THE NIGERIAN EXPERIENCE, THE PRACTICE OF PLEA BARGAINING JUXTAPOSES TWO THINGS TO LAUGH AT EACH OTHER.

IT CREATES A CURIOUS SITUATION WHEREBY

THE CRIMINAL AND THE LAW INTERPRETER ARE MADE TO LAUGH AT EACH OTHER; WITH BOTH SMILING, BUT WITH THE LAW

THOROUGHLY RIDICULED, SCANDALIZED AND MORTALLY WOUNDED.

the centre stage, plea bargaining is an open invitation to a frolic in corruption.

Be that as it may, I should find it disingenuous to conclude this comment without proposing a solution to the Adoke dilemma which constrained him to adopt the plea bargaining option. Surely, recovering N17billion from a thief of public money with little distress and expenditure of effort makes better economic sense than wasting precious time and resources to extract N250,000.00 that the old law allows for the same offender who chooses to follow the law to a logical conclusion. (to be continued)

Premier League Results

Tottenham 0 - 0 Liverpool Chelsea 2 - 0 Aston Villa Crystal Palace 1 - 3 W/Ham Everton 0 - 3 Man United Man City 5 - 1 Bournemouth Southampton 2 - 2 Leicester W/ Brom 1 - 0 Sunderland Watford 0 - 3 Arsenal

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