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News

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Tackling perennial gridlock on Lagos roads

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DHQ dismisses report of Boko Haram attack in S ’West www.nationalmirroronline.net

Vol. 5 No. 45

Sunday, November 15, 2015

National Mirror Online

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@NationalMirror

Paris Terror Attacks

France declares war on ISIS

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… death toll climbs to 129

•Buhari condemns shootings •Several suspects arrested in Belgium

Buhari group tasks security agencies on pro-Biafra protests P.7

Mourners embrace at a vigil for victims of the Paris terror attacks as they prayed for the dead and searched for the missing ...yesterday.

PHOTO: DAILYMAILUKONLINE

Prosecute Code of Conduct Tribunal chairman, AGF told

5 million Nigerian adults … as group petitions FG over bribery allegations diabetic, says Bayelsa: Dickson ’s kinsmen throw weight behind Sylva FG P.9

News

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Atiku charges APC on education reform, violent extremism

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Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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What ’s new 11

Kogi guber election:

It ’s APC vs PDP

November 15, 2015

22 governorship candidates, running mates, political parties, foot soldiers, stakeholders and supporters are not leaving any stone unturned by traversing the 21 local government areas of Kogi State to solicit for votes from the electorate even at the 11th hour.

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I can ’t marry an actor –Ebere Agu Wellness

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Controlling spread of Cerebrovascular accident

Brain attack mostly called by a layman as stroke is a serious and life threatening disease that occurs when the blood flow is interrupted to part of the brain.

It disables the blood to supply oxygen, nutrients and to remove waste product from the body therefore making the brain cells to stop its function.

Stroke is a medical condition that

requires immediate treatment as it improves the chances of survival of the patient and increases the degree of recovery that may be expected According to experts, Stroke is a chronic disease and the fourth leading causes of death and disabilities than any other ailments. It is increasing in Countries around the world.

Army reads riot act over internal security

Supreme Court grants Saraki ’s stay of proceeding application

Nigerian Army yesterday warned against any attempt to subvert the nation ’s internal security.

The army also warned its officers and men engaged in internal security coordination with the police to be alive to their responsibilities of adequate protection of lives and property and desist from taking sides.

Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, in a reminder of the Nigerian Army Rule of Engagement, ROE, for Inter-

Supreme Court sitting in Abuja yesterday ordered that the trial of Senate President, Dr.Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, on charges of false assets declaration, be suspended pending the determination of his appeal.

The trial initiated by the Federal Government was put on hold pending the time the court will determine the appeal filed by Saraki.

The senate president is

nal Security Operations, (Operation Mesa), issued yesterday, said officers and soldiers engaged in internal security operations have been placed on surveillance with aim of fishing out those aiding and abetting insurrections in the country.

The army ’s position may not be unconnected with the current state of insecurity in the country, especially the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB.

Reps accuse NNPC, subsidiaries of subverting crude oil swap probe This investigation followed the resolution of the House few weeks ago, arising from a motion to investigate the oil swap agreement by the NNPC and its stapartners, which the House noted were not remitting funds from that deal to the federation account.

Briefing journalists in Abuja over its activities, the committee said the NNPC and its subsidiaries are playing pranks with

House of Representatives ad-hoc committee probing the sharp practices in crude oil swap deal by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, yesterday, accused the national oil corporation and some of its subsidiaries of subverting investigations by the committee.

The lawmakers also raised alarm that huge rots are still deeply rooted in the NNPC, in spite of the muchacclaimed change.

Super Minister Fashola heads Power, Works, Housing Former Lagos State Governor, Baba¬tunde Raji Fashola, yesterday became a super minister as President Muhammadu Buhari formal¬ly constituted the Federal Executive Council, FEC, at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Fashola would be in charge of the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.

The powerful ministry is the creation of the new government, which merged the former minis-

try of pow¬er with that of works and housing.

The move may not be unconnected with the con¬fidence repose in the former governor by the president based on his performance in Lagos.

Buhari, during the swear¬ing in ceremony, publicly confirmed himself as Minis¬ter of Petroleum Resources.

He also announced the Group Managing Director, GMD, of Nigeria National Pe¬troleum Corporation.

APC wants PDP to back apologies with restitution Niger state chapter of the All Progressive Congress, APC said the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP should make public restitution to Nigerians and return all illegal wealth they had stolen from the nations ’ treasury in the last 16 years.

The party in a press statement signed by its publicity secretary, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa stated that if PDP truly want forgiveness, they should act honestly and sincerely by returning the all wealth they had stolen at the

state and Federal levels. It would be recalled that the PDP recently begged Nigerians to forgive it of its 16 years of misrule.

According to the statement, “It is a known fact that Nigerians have been gang raped financially for 16 years, so if the plea of the PDP to Nigerians is anything to go by and it is sincere from the heart, we are calling on the past PDP governments of the last 16 years to make restitution to Nigerians publicly.

challenging the legality of his trial at the CCT. At the hearing of Saraki ’s application for stay of proceedings at the CCT, prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, who had earlier objected to granting the request, signed an undertaken that the prosecution will not go ahead any longer with the trial, once the Supreme Court can grant accelerated hearing in the pending substantive appeal.

Don ’t sabotage ministers, Buhari warns permanent secretaries President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday warned federal permanent secretaries in the country that his administration would not condone any excesses, indifference, incompetence and corrupt practices in any form.

According to him, it is in the public domain that ministers as chief executives of their ministries as well as other government officials involved in policy formulation and implementation, often complain of intoler-

able level of incompetence, indifference or even suspected sabotage by some of the top echelon of the civil service.

Speaking while swearingin 16 out of the 18 permanent new secretaries appointed last Tuesday, Buhari said even where permanent secretaries, in some instances, are exempted from these accusations, they are still responsible and liable for failing to provide the required leadership, control and direction.

Jonathan, IBB, Ekwueme shun PDP conference Founding fathers of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were absent at the party ’s National Conference, which held in Abuja, the nation ’s capital.

Conspicuously absent were former Vice president Alex Ekwueme, former military president Ibrahim Babangida, former Senate Presidents Ken Nnamani, Pius Anyim and David Mark as well as Adamu Corona.

Former President, Goodluck Jonathan also boycotted the parley, which has as its theme: “PDP and the Sustenance of Democratic Ideals in Nigeria. ” Deputy President of the Senate, Ike kweremadu, speaking at the occasion said there was urgent need to set up “Shadow Cabinet ” to benchmark the All Progressives Congress, APCled Federal Government on its campaign promises.

Shafar Cole CEO, SHAFCOLE USHRETTES

MON

Passion

TALKING POINTS OF THE PAST WEEK

First, I would like to say that I work with E star Television for Africa. On Mondays when I get to the office, I arrange the station ’s movie schedules for the week.

TUE

With just one week to go, the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has restated readiness and commitment to conduct free, fair, credible and acceptable governorship elections in Kogi State.

Expectedly, the

Seven Days

I usually do a voice over for soap opera introduction.

SUN SAT FRI THU WED

Politics

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

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

Most Fridays, I go for movie premieres.

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

I go to church. After I go to the office and ensure that the Sunday replay edition of my show is shown. I also try to gather contents for my show.

*By Adaeze Amos (08023012293)

3

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

THE

Big Read SUNDAY SPECIAL INVESTIGATION

NOVEMBER 15, 2015

Tackling perennial gridlock on Lagos roads For Lagos motorists and residents, the perennial gridlock has been hellish. In the past years, the state government had tried endlessly to tackle what seemed a hopeless situation. PAUL OMO OBADAN writes on ways to bring a sustainable solution to the traffic jam.

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raffic congestion has taken a worrisome dimension in the city of Lagos, exacting a heavy toll not only on the health of the public, but on the economy. Usually, the heavy traffic situation in Lagos is felt in all parts of the city virtually throughout the day.

From Shangisha, before the old toll gate down to Ojota through Ikorodu road to Western Avenue (Funso Williams Avenue) stretching to Lagos Island, the traffic is

‘COMMERCIAL DRIVERS, BAD ROADS FUEL GRIDLOCK’

always heavy, especially in the morning when people are going to work and in the evening when returning home.

The same situation is experienced by commuters and motorists on the Ikorodu to Lagos Island route, and also the Gbagada-Oshodi to Apapa route, as well as the Mile 2 to Badagry route and the Lagos/Abeokuta Express Way. No area of Lagos is spared from the

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nerve-wrecking traffic, which has helped facilitate incessant robberies on the highways. Drivers have been known to slump and die in their cars.

The situation, most agree, is caused by dilapidated state of most roads in the city, bad driving habits, recklessness, badly maintained vehicles, failure to respect traffic rules, poor enforcement and sometimes slow response to accidents. This is apart from the sheer volume of vehicles plying the roads which the Federal Road Safety Corps estimates to be 33 per cent of all vehicles in Nigeria.

With Lagos population well over 20 million, of which 80 per cent commute daily, traffic has simply become hellish.

Before now, the government’s position tends to support the fact that traffic congestion is an index of economic prosperity.

The former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, while in office, said that the hectic traffic CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

‘GRIDLOCK HARM ECONOMY, PEOPLE’S HEALTH’

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The Big Read

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Sunday, November 15, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Commercial drivers, bad roads fuel gridlock’

Ambode

Fashola

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 situation is not restricted Lagos; it is the hallmark of modern cities like Tokyo, Paris, New York, Milan, Dhaka to mention a few.

The Lagos State Government, two years ago, claimed it was losing about 23 billion man hours yearly to traffic congestion. This is despite the government’s attempt to revive public transportation with the introduction of Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, in 2008, which its government claims carries about seven million passengers annually, opening more roads to accommodate more vehicles and the tweaking of the designs of some others to reduce traffic and travel time.

Barely two weeks after he was sworn in, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode showed his willingness to tackle the traffic situation, when he visited some of the major flashpoints in the metropolis. He assured that his administration will provide solutions to the traffic snarl in the state.

He noted that the government was concerned about the gridlocks, saying: “You are going to start seeing solutions to the traffic challenges soon.”

However, six months down the line, nothing has changed. The situation in the last few months coupled with the heightened public activities as the year comes to an end has, however, made Lagosians to ask how soon the reprieve promised by the governor would come.

Lagos is the nerve center of Nigeria’s economy, hence rather than its population thinning, more people keep trooping in, thereby compounding the congestion and making the government’s transportation plans more cumbersome to implement.

Successive governments have tried to find a lasting solution to the traffic situation with massive road construction and opening up of inner roads.

There was also the adoption of the even and odd numbers system about 30 years back. Under the scheme, vehicles were given specific days to enter Lagos Island. The scheme was discarded with the coming on stream of the Third Mainland Bridge, which made connection with the Island easier.

But the staggering population growth and improved income of many Lagosians soon put paid to the reliefs.

To resolve the traffic situation, the government began the remodelling of major roads and streets. Though Lagos is the smallest state in terms of land mass in Nigeria, it is home to 117 federal roads, of 509, 97 kilometres, 3,028 state roads totalling 5, 816.71 kilometres, and 6, 451 local government roads totalling 3, 573.7kilometres.

The Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) said the state, which is just 3,577 square km is home to about 25 per cent of the total number of vehicles and drivers in Nigeria. While the national vehicle per kilometre count is about 16, Lagos caters for about 200 vehicles per kilometre.

A resident of Lagos and Public Affairs commenta-

The Lagos State Government, two years ago, claimed it was losing about 23 billion man hours yearly to traffic congestion.

This is despite the government’s attempt to revive public transportation

Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, in 2008

with the introduction of

Containership

tor, Collins Osayi, however pointed accusing fingers straight at the commercial drivers. According to him, the stress is caused by commercial drivers who refuse to obey traffic rules and regulations. “They do not only break the traffic light rule, they also drive against traffic, in what has come to be known in local parlance as “one way driving,” and it is worrisome that the drivers, especially Yellow Bus drivers, have

Ojelede

been joined by private vehicle owners, who equally drive against traffic, a development which has made traffic control more cumbersome.”

In a seminal paper titled: Evaluating traffic congestion in developing nations, a case study of Nigeria, delivered at the African Forum of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transportation (CILT) at Arusha, Tanzania recently, the Assistant Corps Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kayode Olagunju, said the major causes of congestion include lane indiscipline, high traffic density, low road network carrying capacity and poor traffic management.

Other causative factors of congestion, according to him, are poor road support infrastructure, such as lay-byes, low response to removal of broken down and crashed vehicles and poor integration of urban transport planning, among others.

On the congestion in the state in recent times, the National Vice Chairman, Lagos Zone of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG), Mr. Solomon Kilanko, said his men were not to be blamed for the traffic crisis.

Describing the traffic in the past as regrettable, Kilanko said, perhaps, the crisis would have been averted if the state government had taken stakeholders into confidence before announcing its restriction of movement of articulated vehicles.

“The governor’s order presupposes that all our loadings would be done at night and we must also move out of the state same night. If containerised trailers and petroleum tankers load at night, can we all move out before 6am? The government ought to have fine-tuned the gray areas before issuing the directive,” he said.

Listing another challenge before the implementation of the order, Kilanko said the PTD had directed its men to stop moving at night, and monitoring agencies, such as the Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF, the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, and the FRSC all monitor our members to ensure they do not flout the directive. All these are because in the past, FRSC usually recorded 90 per cent of truck hijacks, between 7pm and 6am.

“If we are to go on the roads at night, is the government prepared to give all our members security back up or would they line all the routes with Police or the Army?” he asked.

But the state government has since denied culpability in the traffic stress encountered on the road by Lagosians.

A source at the Ministry of Transportation (MoT) said the traffic snarl was caused by the strengthening of security precaution at the ports, following fears of bombing and terrorist attacks rather than the backlash of its restriction order.

“Our checks revealed that the delay at the ports were as a result of the precautions by security operatives. It would reduce once the overt precaution is reCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

The Big Read

Sunday, November 15, 2015

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‘Revamp the rail system and inland water transport’ Alhaji Musa Mohammed is the Bashorun of Egbeda and Chairman of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria RTEAN He sheds more light on how to ameliorate the perennial gridlock on Lagos roads in this interview with PAUL OMO OBADAN Neither the Federal nor Lagos State Government has been able to proffer answers to the Traffic situation in Lagos especially Apapa traffic gridlock?

Lagos is famous and unique in many ways. It is the sixth largest city in the world and is projected to become the third biggest urban conurbation by 2015. Lagos is the leading non oil sector contributor to the country’s Gross Domestic product (GDP). With three lighter terminals and two ports, Lagos generates 50% of Nigeria’s port revenue and the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, is the major hub for aviation within West Africa, and between the region and Europe.

Lagos State is, indeed special and should be given a special status. Lagos State is a special state and so needs a special attention.

We in the transportation industry saw him as a Messiah, check out the developmental program in Oshodi, how he transformed the roads for the smooth running of traffic, which we benefited being the road users, Lagos State Transport Management Authority (Lastma) were effective. So, we have no choice than to support Governor Ambode because we believe it will be a continual progress.

It is unfortunate that access to Apapa, a port town in Lagos, hosting two of the busiest seaports in Nigeria has become a persistent nightmare for commuters, residents, port users and workers whose offices are located within the area, who now spend at least three hours to access the town either from Mile 2 or Ijora, the two main access routes which ordinarily take less than 10 minutes. I recommend haulage trucks off the road and some of their cargoes put on the rail and others on the water to ease the traffic situation. There is no reason why cargoes going to neighboring countries in the West Coast should be

It is unfortunate that access to Apapa, a port town in Lagos, hosting two of the busiest seaports in Nigeria has become a persistent nightmare for commuters, residents, port users and workers whose offices are located within the area.

The colonial masters used rail to move agricultural products 60 years ago. Again, Nigerian railways have stopped operating from the port and what led to that decision is a mystery to me, because in 1985, the railway evacuated 85 per cent of goods at the port while road accounted for 15 percent.

How do you view the traffic gridlock in Lagos?

Nigerian where willing for a change and we got it, we all saw Buhari as an agent of change, an incorruptible leader. We need to give him more opportunity and he will surely deliver. That was the reason we whole heartedly supported All progressive people’s congress (APC) in Lagos State due to what Governor Bola Tinubu did and passed the baton to Governor Fashola the transformer.

Mohammed

moved on road. Put the cargo on even a 1,000 ton vessel and that takes about 120 trucks out of the road.

By so doing, a significant chunk of the cargoes are removed from Lagos to ease the already chaotic situation.

You will be a year in office November 4, 2015. What has been your challenges?

I promise the union which are my subjects that there will be progress and development during my tenure, and today everyone is proud. Our office edifice opened during my tenure has been the envy of all and the pride of the union. established. The welfare of our members is also my priority.

‘Area boys pose security threat’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

laxed,” the official said.

Though the National President of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Chief Remi Ogungbemi, admitted that the traffic was caused in part by his men who were protesting the unworkable restriction and the slow activity at the ports at Apapa, he couldn’t say whether it was as a result of new security measures introduced at the ports.

Ogungbemi, however, said traffic jam has eased up considerably since Thursday, following the government’s reversal of the order, adding that it would be attenuated by yesterday.

He added that his members were caught in the middle of a law restricting them from moving at the day time and failure of all of them to get loaded before dawn to enable them set out of Apapa before the restriction.

“So, the vehicles you see lined up on the roads are those that were caught either loading at the ports or trying to enter the port having been called to proceed to the loading point. but were caught by the order and had to stay where they are to prevent arrest.”

Ogungbemi listed some immediate panacea to the Apapa/Tin Can Island Port area gridlock, to include a more orderly movement of trucks into Apapa, which must force all the trucks on all access roads to relocate to their parks/garages, while all independent operators without any garages could in the interim move to the Trade Fair Complex where a park is available.

This, according to him, is pending when work would be completed on the 51 acres park facility provided by

the state government at Mile 2.

He added: “This would be in addition to the introduction of the electronic call-up system to permit trucks into the loading points as may be required.”

He tasked the Nigeria Shippers Council, (NDC), the state and the NPA to achieve this in the shortest possible time for the benefit of the motoring public.

A safety expert and founder of Safety Without Borders (SWB), a non-government organisation, Mr Patrick Adenusi, faulted the directive barring tracks’ movement within the metroplis.

According to him, the order has inadvertently tagged truck drivers as the cause of accidents.

For him, as part of investigations meant to curtail accidents, truck drivers, rather than being vilified, ought to be questioned on the challenges they face in the discharge of their duties.

Listing the excesses of Area Boys as “a major unidentified cause” of road accidents, Adenusi, said: “These boys swoop on a truck drivers and demand for payment, as if such fees are sacrosanct. If the driver refused, these boys will go behind the driver and remove the air hose, which controls the braking system and once this happens, the drivers, in trying to avoid being attacked by the boys, will accelerate and if they get to a point where the break must be applied and the brake fails, of course what you have are accidents.

“Most times, we do not talk to the truck drivers. We need to talk to them, we need to know, as only this will ndicate our readiness to stop accidents.”

Adenusi equally advocated for aggressive driving education among Nigerians.

Construct flyovers to decongest highways Some road users in Lagos however in interviews with Sunday Mirror called on the Lagos State Government to construct link roads to decongest traffic on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway as well as construct drains and rehabilitate bad portions of the highway to reduce their hardship.

David Olawale, a tipper driver, told Sunday Mirror that bad portions on the highway, coupled with lack of adequate drainage channels compounded gridlock in the area.

He said that lack of adequate inner roads also led to traffic snarl.

“The traffic around Ilepo, Abule Egba and Iyana Dopemu is killing and constant because there are no alternative routes,’’ he said.

Olawale explained that passengers going to Egbeda and Ikotun axis, as well as those going to Agege, needed alternative routes to make it easier for those travelling to Sango area.

Another truck driver, Suleiman and a commuter, Mrs. Abigail Ayobami, both said there was need to construct another flyover from Cement Bus stop to Iyana Ipaja to decongest the highway.

They also called for repair of bad portions of the road.

Indiscipline bane of traffic gridlock Jide Sonaike a banker says the traffic situation in Lagos is simply caused by acts of indiscipline. “Most of us need moral re-orientation on how to use the road, respect for other road users. You might say bad road is another cause of traffic gridlock on Lagos roads.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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The Big Read

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Gridlock harm economy, people’s health’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 I quite agree on that but even while driving around these roads with an act of civility and respect for the other, the effect can be minimised.

Need for improved public transport system Some insist that the Lagos traffic is as a result of the terrible state of roads and the very large volume of vehicles on the roads. “We will continue to witness gridlocks unless government discourages the use of private vehicles and further improve on public transportation. The introduction of restrictions of vehicles plying notorious gridlock hotspots can also help. You spend close to two hours in a place you can easily get to in less than 20 minutes”, Lekan Akinsanmi, a teacher said.

Most Lagosians need to go for hypertension test The traffic situation in Lagos is pitiable. You go to work through the stress of traffic in the morning and return through the same tiring process. This wears one out and diminishes productivity for employees in the long run. Really most Lagosians need to go for tress check up, Yinka Amuwo, a doctor, said.

A trader, Mrs. Ada Inabong belives there was need to construct inner roads to divert those in communities around the Ikotun axis from the highway.

“Everybody faces this road because there are no inner roads and the bad road makes the condition worse; government should repair the bad portion and create more inner roads,’’ she said.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ganiyu Johnson said recently that the state government was planning to construct a flyover at Abule Egba to tackle the gridlock.

“Currently, the state government is considering proposals for flyover bridge at Abule-Egba/Oke-Odo flyover over Lagos Abeokuta Expressway, to decongest AbuleEgba U-turn and Old Ota Road.

“Infrastructural development is a continuous thing in Lagos especially where the economic growth is high,’’ Johnson said.

He said that the government was going to construct new link roads to boost economic activities in the state.”

Heightened crime rate due to gridlock A latest survey conducted by leading research institute, NOIPolls, revealed that severe traffic gridlock and heightened crime rate have now become the major sources of concern to the residents of Nigeria’s commercial capital, since Governor Akinwunmi Ambode assumed office in May. Predictably, the latter (heightened crime rate) exists because of the precarious situation of the former (severe traffic gridlock), which regrettably have been blamed on the lukewarm attitude to work by the state’s traffic regulatory personnel and hideous potholes littering many of the major artery roads in the state.

“Lagos has elevated the definition of potholes. They are no longer small openings carved out on its roads by rainfall and lack of drainages but are alternatively death traps that an unsuspecting motorist can pay dearly for.

At a time, former governor and now member of President Buhari’s cabinet as a minister, Babatunde Fashola, had repeatedly told the world how the Federal Government has over the years neglected Lagos and why a special status needed to be granted.

“It is no longer fruitless to play politics with Lagos.

Concrete action must now be taken to arrest the rot, which is threatening the economy of Nigeria’s biggest cash cow after oil. If taken as a country on its own, Lagos would be among the largest economies in Africa.

All these have made life miserable for Lagosians. There is an increase in the number of vehicles on the roads. As a result of the traffic, many have missed business engagements, while those gainfully engaged have lost productive man-hours to the traffic.

The worries do not end there, as every person behind the wheels are weary of daredevil robbers clutching dangerous weapons in the bid to disposes motorists of money, phones and valuables. And these men of the underworld have found a new hobby in plying their trade during traffic. They are so brazen they don’t need the cover of dark-

LASTMA officials enganging in fisticuffs with drivers

LASTMA Official arresting a driver

ness anymore.”

Lagos loses N11b to traffic gridlock every month Economic experts say the business community in Lagos loses not less than N11 billion monthly to the daily traffic gridlock in the city.

Commuters and motorists describe the consistent traffic jam on Lagos roads as a setback for business growth.

Speaking with Sunday Mirror, Maxwell Ojelede an Economist and CEO of Oldstone and Green, a sub-Saharan intelligence and consulting firm said the daily gridlock makes businessmen lose not less than N500 million daily. This translates to about N11 billion monthly.

According to him, research has shown that the more time people spend in traffic jams, the more money is lost in business transactions that they would have made while they were in the traffic.

Ojelede said many people do not reach their work places in time every morning because of the dreadful traffic condition, resulting in reduction in productive hours at work places and consequently huge financial losses, thus impacting negatively on the state’s economy in particular

the governor is mindful of the deliberate abuse of his directive that traffic rules be relaxed to wear human face.

and the country’s economy in general. An estimated four hours are wasted in traffic daily by those working in Marina or on the Island. This has made transport fares to go up on many routes by 50 per cent or even 100 per cent in some cases”, Ojelede said.

He further noted the traffic is seriously affecting business as many people are not able to meet up with appointments, losing money in the process.

Asked why the traffic gridlock became chaotic, one of the LASTMA officials who pleaded not to be mentioned as he was not authorised to speak to the press said: “My brother, we are shocked by the current traffic gridlock that has almost grounded activities in the state today (Tuesday). I must confess that we are overwhelmed by the situation on this road (Oshodi-Apapa Expressway) today.

But, as an agency of government responsible for managing traffic in the state, we shall do our best to ensure we bring the situation under control for the ease of Lagosians.”

However, the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has blamed motorists and traffic police for the chaos in the state.

In a statement last Thursday, the party said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is sanitising the traffic control agency to ensure a return to sanity on Lagos roads.

“Our attention has been drawn to series of calculated attempts by some faceless groups enemies of Lagos and saboteurs to paint his Excellency Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in bad light, giving the impression that he is slow in dealing with the problems of Lagos in the Social Media,” read the statement issued by Joe Igbokwe, its Publicity Secretary.

“Contrary to the syndicated attack against the governor, it is apt to state that the governor is working very hard to not only build on the noble legacies he met but also add greater values to leadership in line with the progressive tradition in Lagos for the past 16 years.

“The governor is responding to the upsurge of crimes in recent times by not only increasing the capacity of the security agencies but also extending the mop up of criminals in various parts of the state. It is of note that the governor has ordered the purchase of more helicopters to increase air surveillance that is critical in combating crimes in Lagos.

“On traffic, the governor is mindful of the deliberate abuse of his directive that traffic rules be relaxed to wear human face. He is aware that his directive that motorists be given less punitive punishments are being abused by both motorists and enforcers to create situations of traffic chaos in the state.

“He is aware that road users are abusing his magnanimity and is presently working on strict enforcement of traffic rules while ensuring that the human face he gave to traffic management is still in place.”

Recently, Mr. Ambode sacked Young Arabamen the head of the state’s traffic police, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, for his “docile nature” in handling the traffic situation in the state.

Mr. Arabamen, a former Commissioner of Police of the state, was replaced by Christian Olakpe, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Sunday, November 15, 2015

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Prosecute Code of Conduct Tribunal chairman, new AGF told …as group petitions FG over bribery allegations AYO ESAN

A

group called Save Nigeria Group, SNG, has sent a petition to the new Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, calling on him to clean up the administration of justice process by commencing the prosecution of Mr. Danladi Umar, chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, on charges of bribery, corruption and abuse of office.

In a three-page petition signed by Barrister Benedict Ezeagu, National Coordinator and submitted to the Office of the AG on November 13, 2015, the group said one of the ways Malami could said to have hit the ground running in clearing the mess in the

justice sector is to revisit the recommendation of his immediate predecessor, Mr. Muhammed Adoke (SAN), by commencing the prosecution of Umar after an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, indicted him of complicity and unethical practices leading to the demand and payment of N1.8 million from one Mr. Rasheed Taiwo, a Customs officer standing trial in his tribunal.

The group also urged Malami to ensure President Buhari initiates the process of removing Umar as advised by the National Judicial Council on 26 May, 2014 in a letter to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, signed by then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon.

Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar. It further called for the suspension of the CCT chairman pending the completion of his removal process.

It advised the AG to request the President to “suspend all prosecutions before the CCT as long as Danladi Umar remains the chairman due to the cloud of allegation of corruption hanging over him so as not to taint all decisions of the Tribunal. Justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done. ” While expressing its desire to get a timely response to its letter from the nation ’s chief law officer, SNG stated that its demands were in compliance with the recommendations of relevant authorities, including the former AG, the ex-CJN in her ca-

pacity as chairman of the National Judicial Council and immediate past SGF, on the matter.

While giving the facts of the case on which it hinged its petition, the SNG stated that “we have been keenly monitoring the recent events and activities in relation to the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Mr. Danladi Umar. We have obtained and studied available documents in relation to the allegations against Mr. Danladi Umar. Due to our interest in fighting corruption at all levels, we have obtained legal advice on the matter ”.

The group then made a narrative of how one Mr. Rasheed Taiwo, a retired customs officer charged before Mr. Umar held a private meeting while the

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (4th right), Rt. Rev. Peter Ogunmuyiwa of the African Church, North and Abuja Diocese (middle), with members of the dioceses, during their visit to the Vice-President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday.

Buhari group tasks security agencies on pro-Biafra protests DENNIS NAKU

PORT HARCOURT

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orried by the proBiafra protest which turned violent in Port Harcourt last week, the Buhari Campaign Organization has charged security agencies not to allow a repeat of such to avoid a recurrence of such incidences.

National Coordinator of the organisation, Alhaji Idris Barde, said this while speaking with newsmen yesterday in the Rivers State capital.

Barde expressed the need for the protesters to embrace peace and a united Nigeria.

He decried the loss of

lives during the protest, including some traders from the northern part of the country, even as he condemned the protesters ’ attack on innocent people based on their demand for self-determination.

Barde, who paid a visit to some of the victims of the protest on Gambia Street in Mile One area axis of Port Harcourt, explained that his organisation believed in one Nigeria and urged every Nigerian to maintain peace and harmony.

“The recent spate of violence and disruption of social and economic activities witnessed in Port Harcourt, Rivers State by groups of protesters, es-

pecially youths under the aegis of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) necessitated this briefing.

“We call on security agents to avoid such attacks. We believe in one Nigeria, bound in freedom, thus we appeal to every Nigerian to maintain peace, good neighbourliness and harmony.

“We appeal to various communities in the South-South, South-East, religious leaders, youth leaders to call their followers to order ”, Barde, who had earlier visited the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Musa Kimo, added.

He, however, attributed the violent protest in Port

Harcourt as the outcome of unemployment, even as he expressed the belief that President Muhammadu Buhari would address the issue with a view of providing job opportunities for Nigerians.

Barde disclosed that his organization had concluded plans to visit Owerri and Enugu States, where they would interact with traditional rulers of the areas on the need for Nigerians to embrace peace and harmony.

Earlier, one of the injured victims, Alhaji Musa Lalu, said some of the protesters destroyed their foodstuffs and attempted to set part of the street ablaze.

trial was going on with the CCT chairman in his chambers and Umar demanded a bribe of N10 million to quash the case.

The group further stated in the petition that “Thereafter, Mr. Umar started pestering him (Taiwo) and instead of giving him any amount in cash or dollars as demanded, Mr. Taiwo hid under the cashless policy and requested to transfer (money) to an account.

“Mr. Umar then used his telephone number 08074455022 to text the Zenith Bank account details of his Personal Assistant, Ali Gambo Abdullahi to Mr. Tai who ’s on 08033367814.

On 12/12/12, Mr. Taiwo then paid the sum of N1.8 million, which was withdrawn the same day by the PA, Mr. Abdullahi. When Mr. Umar would not stop pestering him for the balance, Mr. Taiwo then petitioned EFCC on 20th June, 2013. On 29th March, 2014, the EFCC interviewed Mr. Danladi Umar and granted him bail.

“The EFCC investigations revealed the following findings : that Gambo Abdullahi owned the Zenith Bank Account to which the N1.8 million was paid; that the entire N1.8 million was withdrawn from the said account on the same day as deposited; that the telephone number 08074455022 used to sent the

text message containing the Zenith Bank account number belonged to the CCT chairman, Mr. Danladi Umar; that the PA to Danladi Umar confessed to receiving the N1.8 million and that he changed his story and said he did not give the money to Danladi Umar. However, he could not give a satisfactory reason for the change of story.

“That available circumstantial evidence suggests that the Tribunal chairman might have indeed demanded and collected money from the complainant through his Personal Assistant and that the CCT chairman admitted he met privately with the complainant in his chamber at the Tribunal. This is a most unethical and highly suspicious conduct ”, the group stated.

The group further stated that on May 7, 2014, through a letter HAGF/ SH/2014/Vol.41, then AGF, Mr. Adoke wrote that “I am of the humble opinion that the current state of affairs by which the Tribunal is unable to sit (sic) while the institution is increasingly diminished by the pall of suspicion, should not be allowed to fester...In light of the foregoing therefore, Your Excellency may wish to initiate the necessary steps for the removal of the chairman ”.

Boko Haram: Another wanted kingpin arrested UBONG UKPONG ABUJA

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he Department of State Services, DSS, yesterday morning, arrested another suspected high profile Boko Haram terrorist.

An operational update by the Director of Army Public Relations, DAPR, Colonel Sani Usman, the suspected wanted kingpin Danladi Abdullahi was arrested at Moduganari area of Maiduguri metropolis, Borno state.

Usman said although he was still being investigated, it has been positively established that he was suspect number 26 on the list of the declared suspected Boko Haram terrorists issued by the Nigerian Army last month.

Following the release of the poster containing photographs of 100 suspected

Boko Haram terrorists, security forces and the public have intensified search for them.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, in the statement, commend the DSS especially Borno State Command, for this singular act, resilience and continued support and cooperation in the fight against terrorism and insurgency.

“The DSS has over times proven to be dependable and partners in the quest for a secured Nigeria. ”We would also like to reiterate that the fight against this security menace is a collective responsibility, therefore, we shall continue to solicit for public ’s support, cooperation and understanding as we finally quench the remaining dying embers of the Boko Haram terrorists in our country.

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France promises merciless response to Paris terror attacks … death toll climbs to 129 •Buhari condemns shootings •ISIS claims responsibility as arrests made in Belgium

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he near-simultaneous attacks in Paris that killed at least 128 people were an “act of war ” organised by the Islamic State (IS) militant group, French President, Francois Hollande, has said.

He said the attacks, carried out by eight gunmen and suicide bombers were “organised and planned from outside ”.

The targets included bars, restaurants, a concert and a high-profile football match. IS claimed the attacks.

Several arrests have been made in Belgium, the justice minister said.

Belgian Justice Minister, Koen Geens, said “a number of ’ ’ arrests had been made in Brussels re-

lating to the Paris attacks.

Belgian TV says five people were detained in the suburb of Molenbeek.

The arrests come after a car with Belgian registration plates was seen close to one of the attacks - the Bataclan concert hall.

As the investigation continues, French police are trying to establish the attackers ’ identities.

One of those involved in the Bataclan concert hall attack is reported to have been a French citizen with a history of involvement in radical Islam.

A Syrian passport was found next to the body of one of three suicide bombers who struck near the Stade de France stadium during the game.

A Greek minister says the passport belonged to a Syrian refugee who passed through the island of Leros. An Egyptian passport has also been linked to the attacks.

Meanwhile, UK official sources have told the BBC they believe a Syrian cell, recently returned to France, was behind the attacks.

Mr Hollande has imposed a state of emergency, after the worst peacetime attack in France since World War Two. It is also the deadliest in Europe since the 2004 Madrid bombings.

Hospital officials now put the number of injured at more than 300. Eighty are in a critical condition.

The violence began soon after 21:00 (20:00 GMT) as people were enjoying a Friday night out in the French capital.

A gunman opened fire on Le Carillon bar in the rue Alibert, not far from the Place de la Republique, before heading across the road to Le Petit Cambodge (Little Cambodia), killing at least 12 people.

“We heard the sound of guns, 30-second bursts. It was endless. We thought it was fireworks, ” Pierre Montfort, a resident living close to Le Petit Cambodge, said.

A few streets away, diners sitting on the terrace of La Casa Nostra pizzeria in rue de la Fontaine au Roi, were also fired on,

with the loss of at least five lives.

At around the same time, on the northern outskirts of Paris, 80,000 people who had gathered to watch France play Germany at the Stade de France heard three explosions outside the stadium.

President Hollande was among the spectators and was whisked away after the first blast.

The 1,500-seat Bataclan concert hall suffered the worst of Friday night ’s attacks. Gunmen opened fire on a sell-out gig by US rock group Eagles of Death Metal, killing at least 80 people.

“At first we thought it was part of the show but we quickly understood, ” Pierre Janaszak, a radio presenter, told AFP news agency.

“They didn ’t stop firing. There was blood

everywhere, corpses everywhere. We heard screaming. Everyone was trying to flee. ” He said the gunmen took 20 hostages, and he heard one of them tell their captives: “It ’s Hollande ’s fault, (...) he should not have intervened in Syria ”.

Within an hour, security forces had stormed the concert hall and all four attackers there were dead.

Three had blown themselves up and a fourth was shot dead by police.

Islamic State released a statement yesterday saying “eight brothers wearing explosive belts and carrying assault rifles ” had carried out the attacks on “carefully chosen ” targets, and were a response to France ’s involvement in the air strikes on IS militants in Syria and Iraq.

Multiple entries to foreign airlines, threat to local operators –Aviation expert

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Officers and men of Nigeria Customs Service, during the visit of Comptroller General to the Kaduna State Command, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Audu urges FG to revive Ajaokuta Steel Company WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

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ll Progressives Congress, APC, gubernatorial candidate in Kogi State, Prince Abubarka Audu, has appealed to the Federal Government to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Company to diversify the nation ’s oil economy.

Audu who made the call while addressing a large crowd of supporters at the party ’s zonal rally in Okene, headquarters of Kogi Central Senato-

rial district, told the VicePresident, Professor Yemi Osinbajo that the Federal Government should come to the aid of the ailing steel Industry.

He explained that the Ajaokuta Steel Company, the National Iron Ore Mining Company would not only diversify the country ’s monolithic economy, but would also provide employment opportunities for the teaming youth in Kogi State and the country in general.

“Your Excellency Sir, as the Chairman of National

Economic Council, I want to appeal to the Federal government to revive Ajaokuta Steel Company and National Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe. The revival will create employment opportunity for our teaming youths and graduates who turned into commercial motorcycle riders and other menial jobs, ” Audu said.

The APC flag bearer urged the people of Kogi Central district to vote en masse for APC in next week ’s governorship election, noting that Kogi

will soon join the change mantra of President Muhammadu Buhari for overall development of the state.

Audu disclosed that Kogi had been described as most backward state in the country, stressing that he came on a rescue mission.

He assured the people that there was no plan for vengeance and no victimisation, saying that all salary arrears would be paid if voted into power in the November governorship in the state.

n aviation expert, Capt. Dele Ore, yesterday said that allocation of multiple entries to foreign airlines was adversely affecting the growth and survival of local airline operators.

Ore, the former president of Aviation Round Table, ART, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that the multiple entries of foreign airlines were hampering the operation of domestic airlines.

He, however, urged the new minister of state for Aviation, Capt. Hadi Sirika, to urgently review the trend in line with the stoppage of payment of royalties by foreign airlines.

Ore advised local operators to form alliances and cooperation in order to tap into the benefits of economics of scale and scope which would accrue from such collaborations.

“There is need to review the certification and operations of private jets as safety and security of the nation is being threatened, while non-scheduled operators are being short changed.

“There should be increased monitoring of economic regulation on the airlines by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ascertain their financial health.

“This is as provided for in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations 2012, ’ ’ he said.

According to him, another challenge facing the local airlines is the use of foreign registered aircraft with foreign crew to deny Nigerians employment and has diluted the Nigerian content provision.

He said that the high cost of aviation fuel, JET A1, was affecting the profitability of the airlines.

Ore said that bridging of supply of JET A1 by fuel trucks and demurrage were part of the problems and should be addressed by government and marketers.

“High net-worth entrepreneurs should be encouraged to invest in the industry to facilitate the efficient funding and management of local airlines.

“A regulatory fleet consolidation process should be initiated by the NCAA with the backing of the National Assembly as a way of strengthening the local operators, ’ ’ he said.

Ore noted that insurance premium paid by the local operators was very high and worrisome, urging relevant authorities in the sector to address the issue.

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Sunday, November 15, 2015

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Atiku tasks APC on education reform, violent extremism LIVINUS MENEDI

YOLA

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ormer Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed support for education reform that ensures that not a single youth in the country is left uneducated through the provision of access to free universal basic education.

Atiku, who spoke on the occasion of the 10th Annual Founder ’s ceremony of the American University of Nigeria founded by him yesterday in Yola, said the country had done a poor job in handling its natural resource endowment and therefore should not squander its human resource as he called for education reform which will make government at all levels to provide free

and universal basic education.

Making his call, through his keynote address entitled “ Beyond Terrorism: The need for Education reform ”, the Turaki Adamawa, urged his party the All Progressive Party, APC, which has taken control of the national government, to see the change in government, as an opportunity given to it to re-jig the country ’s leadership.

Stressing that past leadership had done a poor job in handling available resources, he added that the new administration must recognise that education holds the key otherwise we may squander our human resource much as we have squandered our natural resource endowment.

Lauding the government ’s effort at containing the activities of the insurgents which he noted has been targeted at western education by the terrorist, now no longer growing in strength as it were in the recent past, stressed the need for government to focus its attention on providing free universal basic education.

He noted that through education reforms supporting access to qualitative education to all its youths, we can be able to disabuse the minds of our youths who unleash terror, adding that nothing can justify the killing of any individual.

“We can ask them to drop their guns and take up other means of productive activities, because

these mindless killings of others through insurgency cannot be justified, ” he said.

Adding that we must pester government to provide free and basic universal education that we will ensure that not one youth is uneducated, stressing that in the same vein government must ensure universities don ’ t become a bastion of the privilege but a place for hope.

He said as the nation takes the arduous road to reconciliation and reconstruction after the insurgency, these measures must be made to span borders.

AUN president, Ms Margee Ensign, in her address lauded the commitment of the founder, saying the institution

which reflects the ideals of the founder to development will continue to of-

fer world class education to Nigeria and African youths.

5 million Nigerian adults diabetic, says FG ADEOLA TUKURU ABUJA

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s Nigeria celebrates the World Diabetes Day, WDD, today, statistics reveal that an estimated five million Nigerian adults have diabetes and less than 50 per cent of these patients are aware of their condition.

Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, made this known yesterday in Abuja at a ministerial press briefing to celebrate the day in Nigeria.

According to the minister who was represented by Director of Public Health, Dr. Bridget Okoeguale, the 2015 WDD celebration gives Nigeria the opportunity to diabetes advocacy and awareness creation among Nigerians especially among the rural communities where the awareness is very low.

He said that the type 2

diabetes constitutes about 96 per cent of the common cases in Nigeria and in most parts of the world, adding that it can be prevented and controlled by avoiding risky behaviours and unhealthy lifestyles.

Diabetes is a major noncommunicable disease that affects the highly productive population adding that it is expensive to manage, aggravates poverty and social inequalities and thereby contributes to the socio-economic burden of the country, Ehanire said.

According to the minister, “Diabetes if discovered lately or poorly managed can lead to common complications such as diabetic gangrene, which could lead to amputation of part of the lower limb, chronic renal failure, hypertension, visual impairment or blindness and multiple organ damage associated with atherosclerosis.

Rivers: Wike happy with contractors DENNIS NAKU

PORT HARCOURT

R Team leader of MTN delegation, Mrs. Pedeino Mathias (right) presenting mattresses to NEMA officials in Yola for distribution to internally displaced PHOTO: NAN persons, at Damare camp, yesterday.

DHQ dismisses report of Boko Haram attack in South-West

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he Defence Headquarters yesterday dismissed reports that the Boko Haram sect was planning to attack some South-West states.

This is contained in a statement released to newsmen in Abuja by the acting Director of Defence Information, Col. Rabe Abubakar.

Abubakar said the report was baseless, unfounded and urged the public to disregard such reports.

He said the military in recent operations in the North-East had degraded the insurgents, stressing

that it was not possible for the insurgents to coordinate attacks in any part of the country.

He said the Armed Forces are using this medium to appeal to the good citizens of Nigeria particularly in the west not to lose sleep over the unfounded and fictitious reports and to go about their businesses.

“The attention of the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has been drawn to the above caption published by some section of the media claiming impending attacks by Boko Haram terrorists in some

south western states of the country.

“This story is not only baseless but lacks substance in its entirety, hence should be disregarded.

“Of more worrisome is the claim that the terrorists have infiltrated the western states.

“While the military and other security agencies have made tremendous successes in degrading and decimating the terrorists, it would be unthinkable to raise these unfounded rumours of Boko Haram terrorist planning attack not only in the west

but any other part of the country for that matter, ’ ’ Abubakar was quoted as saying.

Abubakar said the coordination and synergy between the military and other security services, which led to the arrest of some ring leaders of the terrorists in some states, was instructive to their incapability to wage any coordinated attack.

He, however, urged the public to always be wary of suspicious individuals or groups in their localities and to report such to security agencies for prompt action.

ivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has expressed satisfaction with the level and quality of work carried out by the various contractors in Port Harcourt and Obio/ Akpor local councils of Rivers State.

The governor, who was loudly cheered and praised by residents of Borikiri, Rumuokuta, Rumukpokwu and Rumuagholu communities during an inspection tour, told newsmen that he was happy with the level of work in those places.

“We are quite impressed with the level of job executions we have witnessed today. We are maximizing every opportunity the dry season gives us to make sure that the road construction is carried to a level that will make the people happy.

“You can see that when we went to the various construction sites, the people naturally on their

own to identify with Government projects and were jubilating ”, the governor explained.

Wike told newsmen that before now New Borikiri road was very bad, but now “it is a different thing. We have totally rehabilitated and reconstructed most of the roads in Borikiri ”.

Wike was also happy that construction work had already started at the Government Secondary School, Rumuokuta, because it is a pilot project designed to bring the boarding house system in among state owned schools in Rivers State.

He explained that the 11 selected state governmentowned schools are spread across the three senatorial districts to make the people of those areas feel the positive impact of government Governor Wike expressed satisfaction with the various construction companies handling the projects.

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Interview ENCOUNTER WITH A NEWS MAKER November 15, 2015

Buhari govt is tackling past failures –Opadokun Chief Ayo Opadokun is the convener of the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms, CODER. In this interview with Ayo Esan, he speaks on issues as they affect the polity. Excerpts: What is your assessment of the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government?

I admit that the Buhari-Osinbajo-led government has adopted a slogan of one of the earliest prose in Nigeria which is ‘hasting-slowly ’, and I think Nigeria will be better for it. My assessment of the few months in office of this new ruler, even without saying anything, the body language has spoken volumes about their commitment to executing three cardinal matters they presented to Nigerian people upon which they are elected into office namely commitment to eradicating corruption before it kills Nigeria. Second, the resolve to execute the cardinal reason why government is installed to humanity, that is, the provision of security for lives and property. Thirdly, this government is doing its utmost best to tackle the endemic negatives, which have enveloped successive governments in Nigeria in the last, say, almost 30 years.

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

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

Opadokun

YOU WILL REMEMBER THE CASE FOR WHICH THE LATE GANI FAWEHINMI HAD TO FACE BECAUSE HE CHALLENGED THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES FOR COLLECTING MERCEDES BENZ CARS FROM BABANGIDA AND HE FILED ACTION AGAINST THEM missed with immediate effect ’, public servants were on their way back home when they heard their names mentioned as having been dismissed with immediate effect, to the extent that many of them could not even go back to their offices. They lost not only the office but their personal effects. So every known safeguard trusted by the public servants was totally undermined since then. I mean to say that the G.O., the general orders, that govern the public service

was totally subverted. So what it meant to most of the public servants since then was that there was no hope for tomorrow so I better make haste while the sun is still shining. Civil servants, they are human beings, they didn ’t come from the moon, they are part of us here on earth, they were contented with what the public service gives to them and they would do their works diligently. But since somebody came using force of arms to take over govern-

ment and then sack them with ignominy, it became very difficult to control the public servants from providing for tomorrow.

The hereafter became a subject matter of greater consequences than the nation.

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

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

So much so that there was no public institution that was not affected thereafter.

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

I can remember the revered Justice Udo Udoma, Dr Akinola Aguda, Dr Olu Onagoruwa and the likes . That judiciary that we were proud of is now a shadow of itself today. So we are in dire straits.

What needs to be done to correct this?

Buhari has a lot to do in reformation before things can fall in place. We can see that he has started. Too many things are wrong; a lot of scarce resources have been wasted by past governments and their allies over the so-called reformation of the public service. So those who are angry that Buhari has been late in forming his cabinet, some of them may be for some genuine reasons but I know that the majorCONTINUED ON PAGE 55

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Politics PROVIDING FRESH PERSPECTIVES TO ISSUES NOVEMBER 15, 2015

Mixed reactions trail Buhari ’s portfolio P 12 & 53 allocations

SINCE WE ASSUMED OFFICE IN MAY, I HAVE BEEN MINDFUL OF THE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE APPOINTMENT OF NEW MINISTERS TRANSLATES INTO PUTTING ROUND PEGS IN ROUND HOLES WHILE SHOWING SENSITIVITY TO OUR DIVERSITY AS A PEOPLE AND OUR VARIOUS POSITIONS AS GROUPS OF STAKEHOLDERS S TAKEHOLDERS IIN NO OUR UR C COUNTRY OUNTRY.

–PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI.

Kogi guber election:

It ’s APC vs PDP

South East politics is badly monetised –Iwuanyanwu P 13

Briefly Taraba APC calls on supporters to be law abiding

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he All Progressives Congress, APC in Taraba State has called on its supporters to remain calm and be law -abiding in the face of any provocation.

Alhaji Hassan Ardo, the State Chairman of the APC, made the call while addressing newsmen on Saturday in Jalingo.

He said that his party was aware of underground plans by some group to cause breach of the and ignite violence in the state. `` We observed that some elements are out to cause trouble and blame it on the APC, with a view to attracting attention, but our members are peaceloving people. ``Our (electoral) verdict was obtained through a peaceful process and we expect anyone that is not satisfied with the outcome, to seek for redress in the courts.

He said the victory of the party at the Election Petitions Tribunal on Nov.7 in Abuja, came as a shock to the opposition in the state.

He described the victory as a triumph for democracy over elements of the dark days of impunity.

He then called on security agencies in the state, to be vigilant to safeguard the lives and property of citizens.

Gombe lawmaker splashes N.6m on students

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Wada

Audu

As clock ticks toward the November 21 governorship election in Kogi State, the stage seemed to have been finally set for the battle of the titans as 22 candidates and their running mates from various political parties have been cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. WALE IBRAHIM reports from Lokoja.

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ith just one week to go, the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has restated readiness and commitment to conduct free, fair, credible and acceptable governorship elections in Kogi State.

Expectedly, the 22 governorship candidates, running mates, political parties, foot soldiers, stakeholders and supporters are not leaving any stone unturned by traversing the 21 local government ar-

eas of Kogi State to solicit for votes from the electorate even at the 11th hour.

The political pundits in Confluence are of the view that this governorship election is different ball game in which many factors have to be taken into consideration by the electorate in the state.

These include personality, political pedigree, experience and as well as ethnic consideration based on the circumstances in which Kogi State was founded.

The sheer number of the gubernato-

rial candidates throws up the Biblical scenario of many being called, but few chosen, as it is clear that at the end of the exercise only one would elected as governor and his deputy.

The watchers of political events in state also described the involvement of 22 candidates as the fulfilment one of tenets of democracy, which stipulates popular participation and hence all the registered political parties must field candidate.

However, out of 22 registered political parties that have fielded candidates for the governorship election in the state, only two parties -the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressive Congress, APC - have their presence felt with required structures in the 21 local CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

member of Gombe House of Assembly, Alhaji Mohammed Bello, on Saturday assisted 60 students in his constituency with N600, 000.

Bello of the APC representing Gombe –South constituency, disbursed the fund through his foundation, known as “Sarkin Arewan Bolari Foundation ”.

Presenting the money, Bello said that gesture was part of fulfilment of his campaign promises, adding that more students would also be assisted.

He called on the beneficiaries, who were mainly from less privileged homes, to make use of the money positively in pursuing their education.

The lawmaker also promised to introduce women empowerment programmes that would touch the lives of rural women positively.

Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Kabiru Kukandaka, said that the gesture would impact positively on the lives of the students.

Kukandaka, former chairman of Gombe Local Government Council, called on the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the money.

In his remarks, Coordinator of the Foundation, Malam Adamu Ahmed, said the lawmaker had rendered other assistance, including the securing of admission for students in his constituency.

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Sunday November 15, 2015

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Mixed reactions trail Buh AYO ESAN

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fter waiting for more than five months, President Muhammadu Buhari eventually announced his cabinet last Wednesday and as expected it has generated reactions from Nigerians with many expressing satisfaction with the composition of the cabinet and believe the long wait was actually justified. Ayo Esan reports.

The announcement of the federal cabinet had bailed out President Muhammadu Buhari from his critics who felt his previous appointments were in favour of the northern part of the country.

Most of the key ministries are now in the hands of the southerners especially the South West, which has Finance, Health, Solid Minerals, Works, Housing and Power and Communications.

The President, during the inauguration of the ministers said all the ministers are a perfect fit for their portfolios.

To this end, he urged the cabinet members to bring the desired change to Nigerians.

He said: “The ministries have been rationalised and reduced to 24. Our new ministers must proceed to work speedily and do their utmost to justify the confidence we have placed in them, not only by their conduct but also by their performance in their various positions. ”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

government areas of the state. Others have their presence only in Lokoja, the state capital.

No doubt, the battle line has been drawn between the two giants as the political rivalry has also been rekindled by PDP and APC in Kogi State, following the political tsunami which swept away three senatorial seats from PDP to APC, while APC also won 6 out of the 9 House of Representatives seats and 11 out 25 House of Assembly members putting in a seemingly prime position APC to completely wrestle power from PDP. Prominent among the gubernatorial candidates cleared by Independent INEC are the incumbent governor, Captain Idris Wada under the platform of the PDP and the APC flag bearer and ex -governor of the state, Prince Abubarka Audu Also contained in the list is the immediate past deputy governor of Kogi State, Dr. Philip Salawu of Labour Party, Isah Yakubu Kamadeen –AA; Dickson FredAccord; Ukwenya Musa, ACD; Micheal Abdullahi-AD; Usman Zainab-ADC; Odufu Cosmos Friday-APA; Akwu Umar Goodman –APGA; Yinka Cherry Oloruntoba –CPP; Philip Ezekiel Koleola -DPC; Abubarka Ibrahim- DPP; Ibrahim Adejoh- ID and Raji Ogrima -KOWA. Other governorship flag bearers are Mohammed Ibrahim Dangana –NCP; Mallam Abdul Hussien –NNPP; Emmanuel Daikwo –PDC; Emmanuel Enesi Ozigi – PPA; Dr. Oju Godwin Hussein –PPN; Enema Paul-SPD and Saadu Mukailu UDP. CAPTAIN IDRIS WADA (PDP) Captain Idris Wada is the strong con-

WE ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT BRINGING THIS SET OF MINISTERS INTO THE SERVICE OF OUR COUNTRY TODAY IS A STEP IN THE

RIGHT DIRECTION, A TIMELY MOVE TOWARDS REALISING OUR POSITIVE GOALS FOR OUR COUNTRY Stressing that he was running an “inclusive ” government, Buhari said the government ’s business is now conducted transparently.

The President said: “Since our inauguration on May 29, 2015, the Vice President and I have been mindful of the need to constitute a cabinet that will best deliver our expectations of a better country than we inherited.

“We want to work towards a prosperous nation respected for the right reasons, and whose citizens can hold up their heads anywhere in the world.

And we are optimistic that bringing this set of ministers into the service of our country today is a step in the right direction, a timely move towards realising our positive goals for our country.

“Since we assumed office in May, I have been mindful of the need to ensure that the appointment of new ministers translates into putting round pegs in

round holes while showing sensitivity to our diversity as a people and our various positions as groups of stakeholders in our country. ” He went on: “I have also been conscious of the need not to repeat such mistakes of the past where the right people were allocated the wrong portfolios, which translated into their performing poorly to our collective detriment despite their obvious capabilities.

“Also, I have responded to the counsel to consult as widely as possible, given the need to build a stable and all-inclusive government by reaching across our various ethnic and political divides.

Many Nigerians also agreed with the president that he has put round pegs in round holes but some differ with the president believing that some ministers are saddled with great tasks that will be difficult for them to achieve.

Former Minister of Power, Profes-

Fashola

sor Barth Nnaji, urged the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, to concentrate on transmission process of the power sector because of its constraints.

Nnaji said: “I know that Fashola is an excellent administrator and manager. I can imagine what Lagos State used to be like before he became governor and what it is now. It comes with

Kogi guber electio tender and incumbent governor of Kogi State. He was elected as executive governor of the state on third December 3rd 2011. Wada who is seeking re-election for second term in office will be in forefront along with members of national and state working committees, stakeholders all Kogi based retired army generals who are members of the PDP to lead the battle against onslaught and rising tide of All progressive Congress and its candidate Prince Abubarka Audu and others on 21st November governorship election.

His strengths Watchers of political events in Kogi State believe Wada would rely on goodwill from state civil servants because he has been described as worker-friendly governor. Despite the meagre resources accrued to state, he has consistently paying state workers salary, but this is not applicable at the local government level.

Secondly, pundits are of the opinion that Governor Wada is more of statesman than politician, unlike others who would have abandoned several uncompleted projects, he chosen to take the bull by the horns to complete them to add value to the people of the state. Thirdly, Wada was said to have nipped political thuggery in the bud in Kogi State. Perhaps this accounted for the reason why the former President Olusegun Obasanjo commended governor for restoring peace to Kogi State. Also, Captain Wada has also

been described as an embodiment of humility. This, it was learnt worked for him when some cabals were working for his substitution before the PDP governorship primaries election in the state. Also Wada also attempted to diversify the state economy through the introduction of accelerated rice and cassava production.

There many projects completed and on going across the state.

Weaknesses The political analysts in Confluence state argue that the issue of partial payment of salary of local government staff, which has rendered local government council in effective, could hurt his chances. The crisis of salary disparity between primary school teachers and basic education teachers and unending screening exercise by SUBEB is another sore point.

Analsysts are of the opinion that inability of Governor Wada to detach himself from Godfatherism has not helped the matter. Also is his inability to patronise some critical stakeholders of PDP when it mattered most, was said to have responsible for the mass defection of the supporters of PDP to APC in the state.

PRINCE ABUBARKA AUDU (APC) The former Governor of Kogi State between 1992-1993 and 1999-2003, Prince Abubarka Audu, the Prince of Niger as he is fondly called has always remained a candidate to beat given his consistency

Sala awu

in since 2007 when he returned to state to contest elections. Prince Audu was said to have laid a solid foundation for the nascent state within the period under review. Perhaps this might accounted for the reason why so passionate in wanting to return to do more for the state.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Sunday November 15, 2015

13

South East politics is badly monetised –Iwuanyanwu Chief Chyna Iwuanyanwu is a Peoples ’ Democratic Party chieftain based in Abuja and is also the current Secretary-General of Orlu Political Leaders ’ Forum. In this interview with GEORGE OPARA, he speaks about politics in Imo State and his perceptions on Governor Rochas Okorocha ’s performance so far.

You are one of the frontline officers of the Orlu Political Forum, a socio-political organisation in Imo State. How far, how well, so far?

I ’m the national secretary. His Excellency, Chief Achike Udenwa, former governor of Imo state is the leader and chairman. The essence of the organization was we noticed that the political fortunes of Orlu people have been dwindling not just in Imo State, in Imo politics but also at the national. Orlu has 12 local governments and there are very few senatorial zones with that kind of number and population. Orlu is twice the number of local governments in Okigwe. Orlu can constitute a state by size, location and everything. Orlu has enormous human and material resources but in the last few years, we noticed that the quality of political leadership has dwindled very badly. With due respect, whether in senate or house of representatives and even in the state assembly. So, some of us came together and see how we can move Orlu forward, restore Orlu to its rightful place in Imo State and also in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So far, so good, we came in and played our role. Like I said, the organization is not one party affair. All other parties are welcome. There is nobody that would be excluded on the basis of party membership. Orlu ’s interest is what we are pursuing, whether from any political party, we don ’t care but that it the situation.

What accounts for the perceived poor quality representation at the National Assembly and State Assembly respectively?

Well, wrong choice of leaders. I mean the politics of Imo State is terribly, satanically monetised. So those who have value to add don ’t have the money and we are now saying that money should not be a template for choosing our leaders. If you choose leaders based on money, then, of course, we get it wrong. It has happened to Imo State.

Is also, happening in the South East entirely. Those who have pedigree, who have something to offer, usually don ’t have money. As for the monetisation, you can see in the last elections, the cost of running election was prohibitive.

We tried to develop a synergy so that we can decide, let this person come and go for us but it did not work, totally. But we have started the process and there is no

Iwuanyanwu

THOSE WHO HAVE PEDIGREE, WHO HAVE SOMETHING TO OFFER, USUALLY DON ’T HAVE MONEY

going back. That ’s exactly where we are heading to – quality leadership.

With the principle and vision for quality leadership that informed the formation of the organization, one would have expected that PDP would have won the recent last gubernatorial election in your state. What happened?

(Laughter) PDP won the elections. We won the presidency. The three senatorial seats were taken by the PDP. Out of 10 House of Representatives seats, PDP won 8. You don ’t use the governorship election as an index because as far as Orlu is concerned, our position is what we would tell the people of Orlu to justify removing our son. There must be something you offer the people of Orlu to justify the removal of Governor Rochas Okorocha. It is a tall order, is very difficult – that would put us against the people. The mood of the moment was Owelle, Owelle. And we didn ’t think it was right for us to trade it off without having something substantial. So, the interest of Orlu is what actually played out and defined what happened in Imo State. And another issue that played out was the bandwagon effect of Presi-

dent Buhari ’s victory. We also thought that Imo has no business in opposition to the Federal Government as it was in the last dispensation. We thought that Imo should be connected with the Federal Government. We don ’t have a seaport. We don ’t have international airport and, our economy is not sound.

So, we can ’t afford a government that is hostile and antagonistic to the Federal Government. So, it was a product of circumstances but Imo remains predominantly a PDP state irrespective of the re-election of Rochas.

Now that elections have come and gone, what does the future holds for Imo people with Okorocha as governor?

Well, most times it ’s not about political party, it is about the person. The fate of Imo State lies in the hands of Governor Rochas. Most people don ’t know that I am one of the closest persons on the surface of earth to Rochas but we disagree on principles on certain things. There is an overdose of propaganda, motion without movement. There is planlessness. There is impunity in governance. I mean what is the basic justification for building 27

hospitals? Do you have the resources?

They are all abandoned property now.

What is the justification for building a primary school in every autonomous community? Do you have the resources? Do you have the teachers? Are those buildings the problems of quality education? So, what is the justification for instance, for all the roundabouts that you see that littered everywhere?

What is the economic justification? I think that leadership and governance is about the people, not about roads and water. The people first. The people of Imo State have not been empowered.

And I can tell you that poverty has been ravaging this land. If I were Rochas, he calls our people, my people, my people.

This time around, he should stop those photo-tricks. For instance, I was passing through the new Owerri capital and I found out that he has gone back to the conference centre built by former Governor Ikedi Ohakim. Yet, he built another one again. Does Imo State have the resources and the capacity to justify two international conference centres, when we don ’t even have an international airport? You know things should synchronize and harmonize. This is planlessness as there was recklessness.

There was just what I call drama but leadership is a very serious matter. To apply the resources God has given to the people for the benefit of the people is not drama. So that ’s why I have a problem with him. And he is more of an emperor who wouldn ’t want to bring in people who can properly advise him.

And he would feel threatened. I know him. So, you can see he has kept off the CONT ’D ON PAGE 54

14

Opinion

Sunday November 15, 2015

Uncensored

Sheriff Folarin

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

T

he Eaglets won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup for the fifth time! No single nation has been able to achieve that feat in FIFA competitions at the age level. This exploit makes Nigeria the most successful country in this category. President Muhammadu Buhari finally swore in his ministers after the five months of waiting and the weeks of “endurance test” for the minister-designate. Government, like many Nigerians have often wanted, can now “hit the ground running”. Churches are repairing collapsed and dysfunctional roads in the country. Nigeria is infamous for having so much money but having no idea of how to use it for national development. The oil money does not reflect on the networks of old and new roads all over the country as they are impassable and yet hundreds of thousands of vehicles negotiate these “traps” every other day. The Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel International) headquarters in Canaanland and Redeemed Christian Church of God are fixing the high and “low-ways” that seem to have been out of government’s plan for years.

What more, the election tribunals in the states are nullifying manipulated elections, thus rendering invalid the outcomes of the processes in three states; Taraba being the biggest as the first and only woman to have ever slogged it out in a male-dominated sphere in

Safety Tips with

Jonas Agwu

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

I

t is about forty-six days before the curtain closes on 2015. Unlike previous years, there is something different about 2015.Something unusual about 2015.It is the Treasury Single Account (TSA) which has taken the shine off the end of year frenzy. Without being a soothsayer, I foresee 2015 falling short of the usual craze of the previous years and the usual mannerisms such as our penchant for travelling with all sorts of vehicles in the name of enjoying the end of year with our families with less attention given to safety. The other mannerisms include the last minutes rush to buy all sorts, including dead vehicles to show off our new found wealth in our community back home, house warming and even taking new wives.

I am hoping that the rush this season will be a bit sober as fewer people will travel and even if they do, the absence of enough cash will sober driving attitude. Despite my prayer that travelling will experience some measure of sanity; I have chosen to guide travelers and every motorist so they will become more knowledgeable about traffic rules and infractions including their penalty. This piece will hopefully run for the next two weeks as my focus will be on the penalty point system. I must therefore state here that this piece is a must read for every licensed driver to avoid falling prey to driver’s license suspension,

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

When a country ‘hits the sky flying’ Northern Nigeria, Hajia Alhassan being declared the duly elected governor of that state.

Rivers and Akwa Ibom are also in this fry-pan, with Nyesom Wike, who had been on Rotimi Ameachi’s case since May 29, being the sweeter of the ‘French fries’ as his case looks like that of the nemesis catching up with an enemy who had vowed to pull down another finding himself going down instead. The EFCC is also in the news, with the sacking of Larmode for Magu to take over an office made so famous (and infamous) by the policeman-turned politician, Nuhu Ribadu.

At a time like this, when many big things are happening at the same time, you really do not know what to discuss in your column. The Eaglets have done us so proud and deserve the column for this week.

They not only won that trophy for Nigeria; they won it for Africa and yet won it especially for President Buhari, who was the very first head of state to exhibited “the head for World Cup” (a la African cosmology), when Nigeria won the very first edition of the tournament in 1985. Yet the tribunals too deserve the spot with their verdicts on some of the biggest elections at the state level. And the show of readiness to “hit the ground running” by the swearing in of the ministers also provides the spot. When government fails and it is churches or religious organizations that do their jobs for them, this calls for critical attention and that was what I actually wanted to discuss. But with all of these “big, big” events contending, column-writing becomes very difficult. This is the crossroads where writers might end up sending a text message to their editor: “Oga editor, sorry, my column will not come in this week; my hands are full”.

But, it is true! The “hands” here should however rather have been “head”. The writer

should have in actual fact written, ‘Sorry, Oga editor, my head is full today and I do not know how to download the content or which of the contents to download”. The text is a way of escape as your editor, those smart guys in the press, will surely read the truth in your excuse when he listens to your incoherent and incomprehensible explanation as you struggle to convince him not to expect your piece that week. This is, if you end up making the mistake of coming. A simple text is more honourable and it hides all the emotions away from Oga editor’s detection.

Technically, the events complement one another in the sense that they all portray Nigeria as a country set for a high altitude flight into meaningful exploits.

The Eaglets have made a bold statement, that Nigeria is naturally, manifestly, consistently and ‘whatever-ly’ destined to be great.

In 1985, they did. Eight years after, 1993, they did it again. Fourteen years later, 2007, they conquered the world yet again; and then five years after that, 2013, they regained their champion’s mentality and made the circuit their natural habitat and demonstrated the gusto of the owner. And just two years after winning the trophy for the fourth time, they defended their title and became five-time winners! The judicial system shows that there are no more political sacred cows as they looked into the eyeballs of the big boys crowned by their big-time politician godfathers and told them to get out of that undeserved seat and go straight to hell. They could be right; they could be wrong; but they proved that politics in Nigeria can stop being a “chop I chop” thing.

The churches have demonstrated how responsible any organization should be and have lived according to the parable of the

Good Samaritan. When you see a government in distress, self-inflicted or otherwise, help it. When you see the people in agony as a result of government abandonment or executive recklessness, pull them out. Yet, it is fascinating to see all those who love to read about and hear the grandiloquence and lyrics of ministers being finally given their heart’s desires as the ministers were sworn in and allocated their port folios. At last, to them, Buhari has commenced governance.

The high point of it all was to see celebrated former governors such as Fashola, Ameachi, Ngige and Fayemi- men regarded as progressives or development activists- being given the chance to be part of running the country and given very important port folios. Power, Works and Housing is three in one for Fashola. He has no excuse but to deliver. Ngige has the herculean task to keep the youths, over 40 million of them, out of the streets as jobless people and is expected to ensure there is satisfaction, peace and sanity in the labour circuit.

Ameachi must bring life and organization to the transport systems and ensure that no planes fall off the sky. And Fayemi has the most unenviable task of all- in this age of economy diversification and with much said about Nigeria’s huge solid minerals potentials, the country’s turn in economic fortunes in an age of oil freeze lies in the hands of the political scientist. Obviously, the events of the past two weeks have shown that Buhari is not just hitting the ground running. He is probably on a jetliner, piloting the country on a promising flight to destiny land.

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

Penalty point system-a must read for drivers

withdrawal or you getting a warning based on the accumulation of certain points as provided for in the traffic regulations.

Let me start with the definition of what the terms are. The penalty point which refers to points allotted to traffic offences accumulated in the driver’s record? If a driver receives a statutorily maximum number of points, the driver would be warned and or have his license suspended or withdrawn.

Fine on the other hand is payment of a sum of money made to satisfy a claim of an offence committed as penalty while Warning is notification issued to a traffic offender who has accumulated 10 – 14 penalty points. Suspension is the temporal removal or interruption of authority or right to drive a vehicle or ride a motorcycle/tricycle, as a punishment for a period of time, having accumulated 15 to 20 penalty points. Withdrawal is the act or condition of taking away the authority or the denial of the right to drive a motor vehicle or ride a motorcycle/tricycle on Nigerian roads, having accumulated 21 and above penalty points.

The second definition is on the use of notice of offence sheet- the notice of offence sheet is issued by a road Marshal to a traffic offender who has violated any of the road traffic laws and regulations. It is a legal document and as such should be properly understood and filled, as it may be tendered in the law court for prosecution purposes.

Having defined these terms as a guide let me now focus on the notice of offence which contains the specific traffic offences. These numbers are not restrictive as they can either increase or decrease depending on what the traffic regulations provide at a time. It is your responsibility to know and understand

these offences and to daily strive not to run afoul of any. However, if you think my warning means nothing, please do remember that we are in a season of change and that even before this season took root, the Federal Road Safety Corps had begun updating its traffic offenders data record to aid and ease enforcement especially as it affects recalcitrant offenders who think they are immune from prosecution.

In treating the offences, you will get to know the offences, their categories, definitions, penalties and penalty points. Since specific infractions have become the norm, I think it will be appropriate to first look at offences such as speeding, use of phone while driving, seat belt, drivers’ license and vehicle paper offences, in addition to assaulting marshals on duty among others.

The first is Road marking violation which attracts 5 points and a fine of N5, 000.It refers to the failure to observe road markings, regulatory, prohibitory or mandatory road traffic signs. Details of these signs are contained in the Revised Highway Code. The second is Route violation which attracts 5 points and a penalty fine of N5000.It refers to the contravention of the provision of any traffic law or regulation relating to directions and routes to be followed by vehicles e.g. facing on-coming vehicles or plying route prohibited for certain categories of vehicles.

I know that the National Road Traffic Regulations make it compulsory for all occupants of a vehicle to strap themselves.

Even though a lot of progress has been made in this direction, some people are yet to come to terms with this. Seatbelt use violation attracts 2 points and a penalty of

N2, 000. It refers to driving a vehicle without using seat belt and/or without ensuring that other passengers in the vehicle use seatbelts. Excessive speeding remains our number one major infraction responsible for over 56percent of recorded road traffic crashes and deaths. Speed limit violation attracts 3points and a penalty fine of N3000- it refers to driving a vehicle or riding a motorcycle/ tricycle on the highway in excess of the prescribed speed limits for a category of vehicle or road. Maximum speed limits for different categories of motor vehicles are as follows: 100km/ph for cars on the expressway, 90km/ ph for taxis and buses while in build up areas, the limit is with 20-50km/ph .

The Use of phone while driving attracts 4points and a fine of N4000.It refers to driving or riding a vehicle while making use of phone even at traffic hold up. This also applies to use of hands free devices. The last for this week is dangerous driving which is one of the two traffic offences that carry the highest fines. The other is hospital rejection of accident victims. While we will focus on the first for today, the latter will be treated next week. Dangerous driving attracts 10 points and a fine of N50, 000- it refers to driving in a manner that is reckless and poses threats to the lives of the driver and other road users e.g. forcing other vehicles or other road users off the road or engaging in acts that could easily result in crashes or driving at high speed in places of high pedestrian traffic.

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

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

15

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Man in the News Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN)

From super governor to super minister AYO ESAN

L

ast week Wednesday was another remarkable day in the life of the former Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) because not only was he along with 35 others swornin as ministers by President Muhammadu Buhari but he was given a greater responsibility than other ministers as he was saddle with the task of oversee three important sectors of the country ’s economy namely; power, housing and works.

Definitely from that moment, the ‘golden boy ’ of Lagos dominate the news as the three sectors which were combined for him to manage has each been seen by political analysts and economic watchers as super ministries.

The powerful ministry is the creation of the new government, which merged the former ministry of pow¬er with that of works and housing.

The move may not be unconnected with the con¬fidence repose in the former governor by the president based on his performance in Lagos.

President Muhammadu Buhari while speaking at the swearing in ceremony had said that since he assumed office in May, he had been mindful of the need to ensure that the ap¬pointment of new minis¬ters translated into putting round pegs in round holes.

Buhari explained that he had been conscious of the need not to repeat the mis¬takes of the past, when the right people were allocated the wrong portfolios, which translated into poor performance, despite their obvi¬ous capabilities.

According to him, the ministries had been ration¬alised and reduced to 24, say¬ing the economy is poised for sustained job creation, poverty reduction and inclu¬sive growth.

The President also said that he responded to the counsel to consult as widely as possible, given the need to build a stable and all-inclu¬sive government by reach¬ing across various ethnic and political divides.

He stated that his admin¬istration would work to¬wards a prosperous nation respected for the right rea¬sons where citizens can hold up their heads anywhere in the world.

With the above statements Buhari might have done his home work and researched well into the ability of Fashola before he saddled him with the task that many considered as ‘heavy ’ but those who know how Fashola transformed Lagos would not doubt his ability to turn around the three sectors of the economy .

Fashola is therefore a super minister in the Buhari ’s cabinet and he had dem-

onstrated his willingness and ability to confront the task ahead as he has hit the ground running immediately after the swearing by meeting with the staff of the new ministry.

Babatunde Raji Fashola was born in Lagos on June 28, 1963. He attended Birch Freeman High school Lagos and Igbobi College Lagos. He studied Law at the University of Benin and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws, LL.B. (Hon), degree in 1987.

He was called to the Nigerian Bar as a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in November 1988 after completing the professional training programme at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos which he undertook between 1987 and 1988.

His legal career started in the Law firm of Sofunde, Osakwe, Ogundipe and Belgore, where he cut his legal teeth as a litigator over such wide-ranging areas of specialisation as, intellectual property (registration of trade marks), commercial law, covering general contracts, company activities, mergers, acquisitions, right issues, ownership of shares and equity of corporations, as well as land disputes, criminal law and chieftaincy matters, in all of which he has come to acquire appreciable expertise and vast experience.

Fashola, a Notary Public of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, has been variously honoured with awards and certificates of merit including the Distinguished Alumnus Award conferred on

him by the University of Benin Alumni Association in recognition of contributions to the Alumnus association and humanity. He is also a recipient of Lagos State public service club Platinum Award for outstanding contribution towards development.

He is also a Patron of the Law Students Association of the University of Benin and he is the second law graduate from the University of Benin and the first member of the Nigerian Law School graduating class of 1988 to be conferred with the professional rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN).

He was Chief of Staff to his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Babatunde Fashola also served in Lagos state in various capacities, including: Secretary of the Lands Sub-Committee of the Transitional Work Groups.

1999; Member of the panel of Enquiry into allocation of houses on the Mobolaji Johnson Housing Scheme at Lekki, 2000 and member of the State Tenders Board2002 –2006.

He commenced a four-year tenure as the Executive Governor of Lagos State on May 29, 2007. In June 2007, Babatunde Fashola appointed former Inspector General of Police Musiliu Smith, head of the Lagos State Security council, a body charged with taking a holistic look at the anatomy of crime in the state[ The greatest task Babatunde Raji Fashola faces in office is his visionary project to transform Lagos into a mega city, the first of its kind in Lagos history.

Although initialised under Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in June 2002, the mega project task accelerated under Fashola ’s governorship. Both private and public sectors are involved in fulfilling the project.

The crucial part of the mega city project is the rehabilitation of Lagos ’ infrastructures and districts. Formerly taken care of by the Federal Government, they were immediately neglected, as Abuja was declared Nigeria ’s new capital since 1991 According to Lagos Rail Mass Transit, proposed light railways will be consisted of the outskirt blue-line and inner red-line destinations. As part of the project, the Badagry Expressway, which links Lagos directly to the south-eastern border of Benin Republic is currently being rehabilitated by various contractors, with BRT and railway networks being established. Another ambition is to recover lands at Victoria Island, being lost to erosion for decades. This artificial terrain is the location of the proposed Eko Atlantic City. This is also to support housing project that would accommodate up to 25 million Lagosians by 2015, a population growth from 15 million that could turn Lagos into the world ’s third largest city.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

16

Wellness YOUR HEALTH AND HEALTH RELATED ISSUES November 15, 2015

Controlling spread of Cerebrovascular accidents TITILOPE MORAKINYO

B

rain attack mostly called by a layman as stroke is a serious and life threatening disease that occurs when the blood flow is interrupted to part of the brain.

It disables the blood to supply oxygen, nutrients and to remove waste product from the body therefore making the brain cells to stop its function.

Stroke is a medical condition that requires immediate treatment as it improves the chances of survival of the patient and increases the degree of recovery that may be expected According to experts, Stroke is a chronic disease and the fourth leading causes of death and disabilities than any other ailments. It is increasing in Countries around the world, while 13 million people are affected with the disease often over the age of 65, there are risk of having a stroke between the ages of 55 and 85.however, stroke occurs in all age groups in both sexes and in all races in every country.

In an interview with Sunday mirror a medical practitioner with Bishop Awe medical centre, Ikotun, Lagos, Dr Olaiya Awe, defined Stroke also called brain attack or cerebrovascular accident as a medical condition that occurs when the blood flow to the brain is blocked by a clot. The brain cells of a stroke patients stops functioning because they are damaged by the sudden bleeding into or around the brain, therefore the brain cells that don ’t die immediately remain at risk, however the cells can linger in a

Victim of Cerebrovascular Accident

compromised or weakened state for several hours but with timely treatment the cells can be saved.

He said; “there are two types of stroke, while the common type is Ischemic stroke and it affect approximately 80 percent of the patient. Ischemic stroke is caused by blood clot that blocks or plugs a blood vessel supplying the blood to the brain. The other type of stroke is the hemorrhagic stroke caused by a blood vessel that

breaks and blends into the brain.

A common cause of a hemorrhagic stroke is the aneurysm bleeding, it is a weak spot or thin spot on an artery wall which overtime weak the spots and stretch due to high blood pressure in the body.

He, stressed that the major factors that triggers the disease includes age and sex, the risk of stroke increases with age 55 while men are more likely to have the disease than women. Hereditary also plays

a major factor when people with a family history of stroke are at a greater chance of having the disease.

He further noted that medical conditions such as obesity, high blood cholesterol level or high red blood cell count increases the risk of stroke.

The medic maintained that “The symptoms of stroke often comes gradually or suddenly as they include blurring or decreased vision in one or both eyes, severe headache, weakness, numbness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg usually confined to one side of the body, dizziness and loss of balance ”.

On the treatment, he stated that the type of stroke being suffered by an individual determines the medication to be used by the patient, most often strokes are treated to prevent and remove the blood clots and reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

“In order to reduce the bleeding caused by hemorrhagic stroke, Doctors or a health worker give the patients medications to lower the blood pressure, the patients may need an emergency surgery depending on the severity of the bleeding and by so doing it repairs the broken blood vessel and remove excess blood that may create pressure on the brain. The treatment for Ischemic stroke involves dissolving the blood clot while thrombolytic drugs are often used for this purpose. ” He further noted that before the treatment can be administered health workers or doctors must confirm that the stroke is not hemorrhagic as blood thinners can make a hemorrhagic stroke worse or even kill the patient.

His words; Stroke can be reduced among the populace when individual reduced their smoking habit or quit smoking, people control their high blood pressure by shedding off burdens and in-depth thinking also regular check up at health centers or hospitals, engaging in regular body fit exercises, encourage keeping their body weight down and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption.

HEALTH NEWS Expert tasks FG on health facilities in rural areas

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specialist in communicable disease control in South Africa, Dr Ayo Olowolagba, at the weekend urged the Federal Government to develop public health facilities in rural areas.

Olowolagba, who is the deputy head, Ethekwini Municipality Health Services, Kwazulu Natal Province of South Africa, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria

(NAN) in Johannesburg, South Africa.

He said there was need to make public health facilities accessible to those at the grassroots in order to tackle emergencies, especially communicable diseases.

Olowolagba, who had been involved in local government health service delivery for 20 years, said the development of public health facilities would pro-

mote longetivity in rural areas.

“Public health development is the beginning of good health to the people.

We need to develop the public health system, especially in the rural areas to check emergencies like communicable diseases, ” he said.

According to Olowolagba, any nation without strong health system is at the risk of being affected by communicable diseases.

WHO chooses Ondo, Akure as research centres

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orld Health Organisation, WHO, has chosen Mother and Child Hospitals in Akure and Ondo as research centres for child and maternal healthcare delivery.

The Head of the Reproductive Health and Research of WHO, Dr Femi Oladapo, made the disclosure during a courtesy visit to the state governor, Dr Olusegun

Mimiko, in his office in Akure.

Oladapo said the research was aimed at improving on the quality of care for women in labour.

The WHO representative, who noted that the international health organisation was looking forward to creating better tools for labour monitoring, added that results from the mother

and child hospitals had been ` ’so far impressive ’.

Mimiko thanked the body for the recognition and promised to partner with WHO to enhance health delivery in Ondo.

The governor, who attributed the achievements to the commitment and dedication of the state ’s health workers, commended them and encouraged them to sustain the tempo.

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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

Enforcing the order on indiscriminate use of sirens

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or the umpteenth time, the Nigeria Police Force has reiterated its resolve to enforce the restriction on the use of siren fitted vehicles (SFV) in the country. The Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole (acting Assistant Commissioner of Police), restated this recently in Abuja when she said: “We will still go by the Federal Government circular in implementing the directive ”. Good observation and retrospection, we dare say. It is good that the police hierarchs are revisiting a directive earlier given in 2012 by the former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, on the same matter.

Since the announcement was made last September, nothing has changed, meaning that the culture of impunity has remained. The enforcement of the restriction ought not to be problematic because the nation has a list of the category of public officers permitted to enjoy the privilege of using siren fitted vehicles. They include the President, Vice-President, state governors and deputy governors. Others are the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker of House of Representatives and his/her deputy, service chiefs, the IGP and Deputy Inspectors General of Police, Assistant Inspectors General of Police, Commissioners of Police, the General Officers Commanding (GOCs) of the Army, and first-class traditional rulers. Also in the list are cash-carrying bullion vans on active duty, ambulances on emergency health services and fire service operators.

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

For example, executives of corporate organisations are known to use SFVs with the sirens blaring, especially in the night after close of work even in the full knowledge that such vehicles are only meant to enhance their business operations. For residents of Lagos metropolis that use the Third Mainland Bridge in the night after close of work, this is one of the impunities they contend with on daily basis. Even the military and para-military workforces

UNRESTRICTED BLARING OF SIRENS CONSTITUTES MAJOR SOURCE OF NOISE POLLUTION THAT LEADS TO HEALTH HAZARDS AND DISORDERLINESS ON THE HIGHWAYS

are not left out of this uncouth conduct. It is not unusual seeing military personnel going to work blaring sirens to intimidate other road users, or the vehicles of security officers recklessly taking one way, using siren and revolving light for effect.

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

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

ers. This motorists Thi will ill make k Nigerian Ni i t i learn to take their turn in traffic and obey all traffic regulations. A practice that encourages some highly placed persons to disobey traffic regulations will not help the quest for smooth flow of traffic and respect for law and order in the society.

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

Even for the privileged public officers allowed under the regulations to use sirens, we urge they exercise their rights with circumspection. Such circumspection will enhance social order and promote harmonious coexistence.

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

Reminiscences NOVEMBER 15 IN HISTORY 1934: Mosley, others charged with ‘riotous assembly ’ Sir Oswald Mosley and Black-Shirt fascist followers were put on trial in England.

They were arrested and charged of “riotous assembly ” after a fascist meeting on October 9.

1922: American Lutheran missionary kidnapped in China Reverend Bord Breen, an American Lutheran Missionary was reportedly kidnapped by bandits while working in China. The reverend was living in the province of Honan at the time. Another American was also declared to being held hostage.

1922: German cabinet resigns German Chancellor Wirth ’s cabinet had fallen apart. Resignations were signed the night before, and announced on this day.

Wirth ’s failure to reach an agreement with allied forces of World War I regarding war reparation payments was one of the main reasons for the failure of his administration.

1926: U.S. - NBC launched Radio network National Broadcasting Co (NBC) launches with a radio network of 24 stations and one of the earliest remote musical broadcasts.

1940: WW II - Germany bombs Coventry The German Luftwaffe bombs Coventry in a massive raid raising many parts of the city to the ground.

1942: WW II – America sinks Japanese fleet The American fleet during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal had a decisive victory over the Japanese fleet sinking 23 Japanese ships and killing an estimated 30,000 Japanese troops.

1944: Stalin invites De Gaulle, other world leaders to Moscow General Charles De Gaulle was invited to Moscow by Premier Joseph Stalin. U.S. President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill were also invited, and President Chiang Kaishek of China was considering attending. This would make the first assembly of the United Nations, which was formed less than a year later.

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

EDIFYING GOD SUNDAY NOVEMBER 15, 2015

That enemy shall not escape (1) 24

QUOTE

Furthermore, since we have been detached from our old family tree and grafted into the divine family tree, we are no longer subjected to the woes and misfortunes of the old family. Thus, whatever obtains in our natural family no longer control our lives.

Bishop David Oyedepo

God is the only one we have

Controversy rages over Christian women and trousers

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The universal message of the church 42

22 & 23

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Vineyard

Briefly

GGC set for ‘prayer without ceasing’

Celebration

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ll is set for Global Grace Church’s dual programme tagged “Prayer without ceasing” adopted from Thessalonians 5:17.

The prayer which held from November 11-13, 2015 with morning and night sessions will continue on Friday, November 27 with vigil tagged “Eleventh Hour Miracle” from 10pm till dawn at 1, Olorunishola Street, Behind Alade Market, Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos.

Pastor Joseph Isitor speaking on behalf of the host, Prophet Samuel Daniel revealed that the programme is aimed at breaking the yoke of enemies upon the lives of attendees at the end of year, to enable them travel peacefully during and after the yuletide season.

He urged all to come with seven specific prayer requests.

Sunday November 15, 2015

Imbibe culture of cleanliness, cleric urges Nigerians

Prayer for Nigeria at JNFGBC

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esus Never Fails Global Bible Church also known as source of Blessing will on November16, 2015 commence seven days power packed vigil for Nigeria from 11pm to 3am daily that will end on November 22.

The programme, which has “Immeasurable Mercy (Aanuti Koni Ondiwon)” as theme will hold at 84, Adesan Road, Mowe-Town in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, of Ogun state.

According to the host, Prophet Damilare Olatunji a.k.a Baba Ibukun explained that the programme is a revival set apart for the Nigerian nation and those desirous of fulfillment in their endeavours. He assured that during the seven-day session, God would restore all stolen blessings for Nigeria and attendees through his mercy. He added that the event would also bring about new glories.

“The present administration under Buhari will receive the touch of God as Nigeria will experience upliftment and regain its stance among the comity of nations.

There would be improvement in the petroleum sector, adequate food supply, general administration among others.

RCCG holds Bow season 4

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he Redeemed Christian Church of God, Fountain of Life has concluded plans for its praise worship programme tagged “Best of worship (BOW) season 4” on November 20, 2015 starting from 9pm at 34/36 Oluwalogbon street, Ketu, Lagos.

Speaking on the programme, the BOW coordinator, Bro Paul Mashote assured that there would be manifestation of God’s glory which would transform people’s hearts, the church community and the nation at large through undiluted worship experience, as he urged all to be prepared to worship God like never before.

The host minister, Pastor Idoeu Ibijoju, P.L.C of Pronvince LP28, Pastor Ayoola Adeyanju among other will minister on the occasion.

L-R: Lady Evang. Funmilayo Akomolafe, Pastor Akosile Joho, Pastor Olusegun Akomolafe, Prophet Solomon Abioye, Lady Evang. Ttilayo Abioye, Evang. Gabriel S. Ajayi, Lady Evang. Mercy Ajayi at the event

Odinaka Uruakpa

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he General Overseer of Powerline Centre Worldwide (C.A.C), Prophet Solomon A. O. Abioye has appealed to Nigerians, Lagosians in particular to imbibe the culture of cleanliness by dropping used items in litter-bins rather than scattering them about and end up making the environment dirty as well as deface the state.

Abioye gave this charge at the annual thanksgiving celebration of the church also urged the Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode to see to it that environmental task force workers are stationed at various points in the state to apprehend those who pollute the environment with dirt.

By way of history, the former accountant revealed that he started the ministry in 1985, as he was compelled to leave his lucrative banking job to become a full-time preacher to the dread of friends and family.

“Though my friends and family were against my decision because they believed it was foolishness on my part to leave resign from my workplace; I dint have cause to regret my decision except on occasions when I was having it rough in the ministry. During those days, seeing how tough things were for me, one of my friends would tell me that God did not call me and was encouraging me to go back to my former job, I didn’t answer because I knew he was making jest of me and I continued to do the work God had called me into”, he revealed.

On clerics who still combine the work of God with other occupations, Abioye said: “There are many who engage in this act. If we should compare, those who do full-time ministry work are just one third of the number of the clerics we have today. I believe the reason for this is the fear of the unknown on the part of this part-time clerics i.e. those who combine the work of God with their conventional jobs.

When I was about leaving my bank work to answer the call of God, I also entertained such fears; I asked myself how my family would feed if I should leave such lucrative a job; so many fearful thoughts came to me then that I was able to surmount and decided to do the work of God full-time. ” On his support and positive disposition regarding President Buhari before and after he was elected, Abioye said: “One thing about me as a prophet, once God shows me something and directs the way, I don’t go back from it. I still maintain my support for the president, but I would advice that he speeds up work because as it is now, people are feeling the pain of the economic hardship; moreover, he is already six months on the seat and citizens are expecting so much from him. I would urge him to do something fast to alleviate the suffering of the masses. Let the ministers be sworn into office; let them take up their duties and start work because i believe by so doing, the vehicle of progress would move.”

The prophet urged citizens to be patient with Buhari, adding that patience is never too much for people who are expecting to get the very best out of someone or thing they have invested in.

“The president has four years to deliver on the good he has for the country; though the past six months looks like he has done nothing, but we must exercise patience because I trust the Lord on His choice as He (God) would make every plan of the president work out for the good of the country and the citizens.”

He advised young and coming clerics to shun the love of money and avoid those who could mislead them into dubious means of making it in the ministry, just because they want to have a rosy future.

He advised them to wait for God’s appointed time to have their breakthrough.

“Most ministers of the gospel are in

a mad rush to make money, which is why we can find them in the cults today; they also involve themselves in all sort of evil gimmicks to attract members. There is no gain in all these things; even if they work for you today, how are they sure it would not fail and bring shame to you at a future date”, he asked.

Speaking on corruption and influence of politics on ministers of the gospel, Abioye noted that a good number of ministers of God owe their allegiance to one political party or the other to the extent that they show their support to these parties publicly.

“This horrible act did not start today because I remember that during MKO Abiola’s presidential campaign, some men of God were visiting his house claiming to have seen visions of Abiola’s victory and swearing in as president of the country and what became of their prophecy? These prophets did not see the negative things that would happen to Abiola. It is so worrisome that this trend has continued on the altar. If any man of God has flair for any particular party or politician; they don’t have to show it publicly, all they need do is pray for that person because as men and women of God, we are for everybody. When it comes to political matters, we should pray that God chooses for us someone who is altruistic and willing to help the suffering masses”, he admonished.

On the increasing cases of divorce among Christians, the cleric said: “The major problem is that people lack the fear of God. Secondly, the word of God is no longer important to people because they read it and do not bother to digest it and what they read does not make impact in their life. These things are important in the lives of Christians and when they are missing, the problem of divorce would persist. So the only way to curb this is for Christian men and women to imbibe the fear of God and take their time to read the scripture, meditate on it day and night and practice it as instructed.”

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday November 15, 2015

Don’t stop here (6)

Miracle Arena with Bishop

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Theo Ugochukwu

or I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us”. You may be wondering why God is not speaking right now.

Jesus, the glory of the end time manifestation, already knew what His assignment was before coming into this world, but guess what? He needed to go through the process of training. I have a word for you. It may seem nobody understands how you feel right now. Just don’t stop there yet, because your change is about to come. ] God can never abandon you now. He is always there for you. But you must trust Him, you must trust in His ability to deliver you from any kind of unpleasant situation you find yourself. 2Corinthians 4:17 says “For our light affliction which is but for a moment is working for us a

From the Pulpit 21

(Text: Romans 8:18-19} far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory”.

What you are going through now is a process to your next level. Please don’t give up yet, for your trying period is just a time when your patience is being tested and you will have to prove to God that you are capable of standing the trials until your change comes.

Psalm 30:58 “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning”.

Weeping time is when it seems God is silent over that challenge you are going through right now.

Because you are still alive, I want to assure you that there is hope for you. I see you come over to your next level. You are not meant to stop here for there is also hope for tomorrow.

A lady I met the first week of last December 2014, the first word she spoke to me was, ‘Bishop I have heard a lot about you, so I came to tell you that I have concluded the plans to commit suicide’.

And I asked her why; she told me that at her age, no man is looking at her, not to talk of marriage but after the prayers. God showed up and by April 2015, she wedded.

I asked her on her wedding day about the suicide decision; she laughed and told me that my God has changed the story.

I prophesy to you, the Lord God Almighty will change your story in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. The best of you will come out after this season.

You do not know how much you love God until something comes to try your faith, I and my wife waited upon God for eight years before God gave us our first child, but I was greatly encouraged to sing to God when in a programme a man and his wife approached me to pray for them concerning the fruit of the womb, And I asked them how many years of waiting, they said 18 years, please minus eight years from 18 years, you have clear 10 years. As I went home, I sang melody to the living God. But do you know that after the dedication of our child which the couple was in attendance, three months later the wife took in, to the glory of God. For any trial, test or temptation you overcome, there is promotion for you.

It qualifies you to get to the next level.

Job was a typical example of this, all he had finished, his health, children and wealth, but he never stopped there. {Job 42:1-16} There was a comeback for Job. I Prophesy by the mandate of this calling, the Lord will give you a comeback in the name of Jesus.

Your new dawn has come and you cannot remain the same again. God has stepped into the situation. A new glory is about to be added into your life.

It does not matter the name you are being called now. God is set to do something new in your life, marriage, business, and ministry. Proverbs 24:16 says “For a righteous man may fall seven times, and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.

Amen.

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

Email: bishopgracemiracle@ ymail.com

‘Learning to say sorry’ (2) (The Coach) Pastor Moses A Omogbehin

Text: As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country Provs 25:25

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ne of the evil, anyone can “do” in life is to refuse to say “sorry” especially when such a person is clearly at fault. The failure to say “sorry” has caused many avoidable troubles. Many homes have been broken for this singular reason.

Many intimate friends have parted ways; countless marriage-bound relationship have crashed, numerous organizations, companies and even ministries and churches have collapsed, many who still need to learn a thing or two have quitted or sent away from their places of work, many spiritual sons and daughter have missed the blessings of their spiritual fathers and incurred curses, a lot of people have separated themselves in complicated situation and many others die prematurely- all for this same reasons, failure or refusal to say “I am sorry” There is no limitation to things or miracle that can be wrought or gotten as a result of saying “I am sorry” It should be noted, again that refusal or failure to say “sorry” implies: 1.

That a person is not mature. Then, the question is - what is maturity?

Maturity is the way an individual sees, handle, and how he /she interpret things or situation.

Characteristic of mature people include; I. Apologizing or saying “sorry” when at fault or wrong II. Being positive minded.

III. Seeing things (situations) from God’s point of view.

IV. Being patient with people and in unpleasant conditions

V. Being tolerant with others.

VI. Enduring trials and challenges of life for longer periods.

VII. Accepting correction VIII. Being responsible IX. Giving insight ton situations.

2.

That a person is not broken. So, what is brokenness? It is accepting your error, mistake, wrongdoing and wickedness.

Signs of an unbroken heart include; i.

Refusing to say “sorry” ii.

Giving unnecessary feeble excuses. iii.

Unwillingness to accept correction iv. Insincerity v.

Not living in peace with others 3.

It means a person is proud.

4.

It shows the person’s level of frustration.

5.

It is also a sign of discouragement.

Saying “I am sorry” is synonymous with the terms “soft” as used in the following bible verse: i.

“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” this simply means, saying “sorry” melts the annoyance of the offended. (prov.15:11) ii. “by long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone” (prov.25-15) iii. “I will he make many supplications unto thee? Will he speak soft words unto thee? ( ) David said: “for I will declare my iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin (psalm 38-18). He made this statement in acknowledgement of his sin.

In other words, he was asking God for mercy and pardon. Another version of that passage (psalm 38-18) put it this way, “surely, I will confess my iniquity; I am anxious because of ma sin”

The living Bible says, “I confess my sins; I am sorry what for I have done.”

The revise standard version: “I will confess my iniquity: I am sorry for my sin” And the new international version says, “I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin”.

The word sorry could be liken to “repentance”

Repentance or Sorry In Action “And the Lord sent Nathan unto David.

And he came unto him, and “Said unto him, there were two men in one city; the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: But the poor man had nothing, save one little Ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; It did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. And there came a traveler unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock of his own herd to dress for the way faring man that was come unto him.

And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man hath done this thing shall surely die. And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he had no pity .And Nathan said to David, Thus are the man. Thus saith the Lord God Of Israel I anointed thee King Over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of isreal and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. Wherefore hast thou deposited the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? Thou hast killed Uriah the hittittle with The sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hat slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. Thus saith the LORD, behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. For thou did it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

And David said unto Nathan I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, the LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou

shalt not die ‘’.2 Sam 12:1-13 God used this particular chapter to address David when he fell into sin. He killed Uriah and took his wife, Bethshebba. All that God was trying to do from the beginning of this chapter of the bible was to know the action and re-action of David.

That is to say maybe he will say I am sorry LORD (repented) or give reasons and feeble excuses to justify his wickedness act.

Life is a choice and you are a product of your choice. You can choose to say sorry LORD (repented) though God pronounced divine judgment upon David in verses 10-12 of the same chapter. Yet in the same chapter of the bible when David response was positive, (when he repented, he said sorry LORD) Hear David ‘’and David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD’’.

When God sees that David action was right (he say sorry LORD, he repeated) God also changes His mind, in other word, he also repented of the divine pronouncement through his choice prophet he sent, hear God, “the LORD also hath put away thy sin, thou shalt not die” 2 Sam 12:13 This simply implies having done wrong to anyone and say sorry the person in question must accept your apology except if the man, boss, G.O, leader, wife, husband, child, is a devil in disguise, why? Anyone that refuse to say sorry or that will not accept an apology is a devil in the making or in disguise.

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

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

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Controversy rages over T

rousers, also called pants is a usually loose-fitting outer garment for the lower part of the body, having individual leg portions that reach typically to the ankle, but sometimes to any of various other points from the upper leg down.

Since the adoption of trousers in Western Europe in late antiquity, trousers have been largely worn by men, until the early 20th century when the womenfolk joined in wearing the garment.

According to Wikipedia account, in 1919, Luisa Capetillo, a Puerto Rican woman challenged the mainstream society by becoming the first woman in Puerto Rico to wear trousers in public.

Capetillo was sent to jail for what was then considered to be a crime, but the judge later dropped the charges against her. Consequently, women increasingly wore trousers as leisurewear in the 1920s and 30s. In the early 20th century trousers became a common apparel for female pilots and other working-class women, including actresses who were often photographed in trousers and women working in industrial work in war service, who wore their husbands’ suitably altered trousers. Also, in the post-war era, trousers were still common casual wear for gardening, socialising, and other leisure pursuits.

From the 1970s till date, trousers, which are believed to be exclusive clothing for men have become quite fashionable for women. This many people claim is due to the passage of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 in the United States, which ruled that dresses could not be required of girls.

Scripturally speaking, Deuteronomy 22:5, a portion of the Bible that a good number of clerics use to impress the expected dressing expectations from the female gender in particular states that; “the woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment; for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.” Though in some cultures, in conjunction to biblical injunction, women are forbidden to wear trousers because trousers are regarded as men’s clothing, but in some Jewish communities, such as the Jews from Arab countries and modern orthodox communities, it is belived that trousers provide an extra form of modesty for women.

The wearing of trousers by women has been perceived in different ways by clerics of various eras, even of same Christian inclination. On 13 November, 866, one of the early Popes in the catholic faith, Nicholas I wrote to King Boris I of Bulgaria; “Whether you or your women wear or do not wear trousers neither impedes your salvation nor leads to any increase of your virtue.”

In their own view, some members of the Society of Saint Pius X have

Worshippers

Trousers, a garment generally perceived as men’s clothing, has also been worn by women since the 20th century. With the coming of new generation and liberal clerics, women now wear trousers to church in contradiction to dresses-only churches that were initially in existence. ODINAKA URUAKPA speaks to clerics to get their view on women wearing trousers in and outside the church. spoken of the preference of women wearing skirts and dresses rather than trousers both in and outside the church. Another catholic example is the letter written to the church by a cleric simply referred to as Cardinal Siri prohibiting women from wearing trousers. This letter has also been cited as justification for women to wear skirts and dresses. In addition, Saint Thomas Aquinas, the Church’s principal theologian, also taught that outward apparel should be consistent with the estate of the person, according to the general custom. Hence it is in itself sinful for a woman to wear men’s clothes, or vice versa; as it is expressly forbidden in the Law as stated in Deuteronomy 22.

According Archbishop Joseph I. Ojo, General Overseer of Calvary Kingdom Church, Lagos, many preachers and religious leaders use the issue of women being prohibited from wearing trousers to confuse people.

“This issue of women and trousers

According Archbishop Joseph I. Ojo, General Overseer of Calvary Kingdom Church, Lagos, many preachers and religious leaders use the issue of women being prohibited from wearing trousers to confuse people.

has been used by many preachers and religious leaders to confuse the innocent, ignorant and uneducated minds around them. If according to their claim, salvation is guaranteed when men exclusively wear trousers and women don’t, then the death of Christ for mankind is in vain. Galatians 2:21 states; ‘I do not frustrate the grace of God; for if righteousness comes by the Law, then Christ death is in vain.’ Moreover, there is nowhere in the Bible that it was stated that trousers exclusively belong to men. The part of scripture i.e. Deuteronomy 22:5, which they usually refer to in backing

their claim that women shouldn’t wear trousers is not in any way referring to trousers in any form. That portion of the Bible talks about men not putting on women’s garments like wearing ladies’ underwear, blouse, etc”, he claimed.

Ojo pointed out that the type of clothing people put on depends largely on the period of time they lived and their culture, adding that someone like David wore skirts when he was dancing as Jesus as well wore gowns, which ironically is one of the attire women of the present generation wear.

“In the Bible days, men wore skirts.

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Christian women and trousers

There were times in our clime when men were wearing wrappers on their naked body with their chest exposed. In fact, up till now, some men still dress this

way because their culture demands they dress that way.

David was wearing a skirt when he danced and the wife Micah saw his under pants. The robe Jesus wore was a gown or like the present day gown. It was what was in use in His time. Adam wore leaves and animal skin in his time. People should not be deceived by this unscriptural teaching.

Trousers came from culture where the weather is cold. Let the people who preach it not wear trousers because it alien to Africa.

There were times in our clime when men were wearing wrappers on their naked body with their chest exposed.

In fact, up till now, some men still dress this way because their culture demands they dress that way. I would advise that our preachers teach Christ and the word of God the way it should be preached”, he admonished.

Basing his argument on first Timothy 2:9 Pastor David Ighabor of God of Israel Church, Lagos claimed that women have been instructed in scripture, to adorn themselves in modest apparel, clothing included.

“First Timothy 2:9 states; ‘In like

manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel in shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair or gold or pearls, or costly array.’

Women are to dress in modest apparel and that is what the Bible commands.

It is not a matter of opinion. God has revealed His will concerning the manner in which women ought to dress. Women are not expected to wear trousers because when they do this or put on any other form of immodest apparel as mentioned in first Timothy, then they are showing signs of immodesty and rebellion. It is unfortunate that some women don’t care about this warning; they have decided to go lewd, rude and crude anyway. A woman that fears God cares and she is careful about the way she clothes herself.

The Greek word for modest in is Kosmios means; ‘of good behavior.’ Hence, the attire which a woman wears sends a message as to the type of moral character which she possesses. Women who wear trousers or pants, as the case may be, either do not recognise, or do not care, about the spiritual dangers of lasciviousness.

The clothes that women wear send a mes-

sage. Proof of this is found in Proverb 7:10 which states. ‘And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of a harlot, and subtle of heart.’ The Bible speaks about the attire of a harlot. One cannot deny that sexually suggestive clothing is the attire of a harlot. Every where one goes in the world today, you see women wearing tight things they call trousers that hugs every part of their body and leaves little to the imagination. This is immodest and sinful and they should not even be wearing the attire whether loose or tight in the first place”, he stated.

When asked if he believes women of this modern era who already are used to wearing trousers even to church would think of his preaching on biblical morality, Ighabor said: “It doesn’t surprise me that a world that has murdered over 50,000,000 of its children, in a rock and roll culture of celebrity idol worship, would also scoff and laugh at my preaching concerning biblical morality. It is a sin for women to wear trousers; loose or tight like I mentioned earlier. It is a sin for women to pose in women’s catalogs wearing tight things they call trousers, leggings

and the like because they know that millions of men will also look through those catalogs and commit adultery. Any person knows that men are sexually aroused by sight. This is the great danger of women wearing these things. Lest you think this a trifle matter, Jesus condemned the lust of the heart as being equivalent to adultery in Matthew 5:28, when He said ‘But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.’

Maybe you don’t care, but God does. Immodestly dressed women cause men to lust. Sadly, many women enjoy such sensual attraction, making them feel good about themselves; but that is a very shallow and selfish attitude to have, and sinful I might add. John 12:43 tells us to seek the praise of God, not men.

There are godly men who are trying to maintain clean minds, and as a woman, you are helping to hurt them spiritually when you wear trousers outside not to talk inside the church. God will hold every woman accountable for every lust she intentionally caused in men by her immodest apparel”, he claimed.

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From the

Pulpit Sunday November 15, 2015

That enemy shall not escape (1) General Overseer of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministry, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, in this piece, explains how to make heaven. Excerpts:

E

xodus 14:9-14, “But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon. And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, standstill, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”

Many people are been tormented by devil and his agents. These agents of wickedness follow them wherever they go to terrorize and ruin everything that is associated with their progress. These enemies are the cause of sicknesses, diseases, poverty, madness, barrenness, paralyses, stillbirth, etc which people suffer in different stages of their lives. But assuredly whoever that is behind the reason for your problem shall not escape the wrath of the Lord today.

Since you became born again, or since you were born, your situation may have been worrisome, and if you can reminisce you will discover tons of thorns tormenting your life and posing as threats to your future. But today that battle is being taken away from you for it is not yours but of God. If you can allow God takes control of your life today, your life will never be the same again. I am assuring you that all the problem your enemies brought against you shall be swallowed up today in Jesus name.

You remembered how Pharaoh’s magical snake was swallowed up by t h e rod of M o ses, I am assuring

you that every pharaohic snake after your life and everything projected against you shall be returned to the sender and today shall be the end of their work against you..

I do not know the serpent terrorizing you which has brought no peace, joy, stagnancy of life and pain, today there is a rod that will swallow them. So get ready for your freedom.

Isaiah 45:23 says, “I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.”

God possesses absolute authority over all things and He will exercise it throughout eternity. He has the right to order reward for the wicked, thus your enemies that have decided to give you no rest shall not escape His wrath today in Jesus name.

The enemies and the fact that they shall not escape Beloved, our chief enemy is the devil.

Your father, mother or siblings are not your enemy although sometimes they are influenced by your arch enemy the devil to h a r m you.

Reve l at i o n 12:7- 10 s ay s, “A n d there was war in heave n :

Pastor Muoka

Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”

I want to let you know the dragon (devil) had his angels fourth but they were defeated and cast to the earth. Now one may ask what are his angels doing on earth, the truth is that they go about afflicting injuries pain, sicknesses, problems on the people of God and on humanity, these are their primary assignment on earth, but God has come to deliver you and they will not escape the sledge hammer of God today.

I want you to understand that devil operates in many ways and uses so many weapons and strategies to make human’s life unbearable, and the Bible says in John 10:10 (a) “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:” All his works are to steal, to kill and to destroy.

So, he uses poverty, sicknesses, and afflictions, barrenness, lack of favour, del a y

in marriages, and miscarriages to afflict the children of God. That is why failure has characterized the life of many but today my father will fight for you.

I do not know how many years these enemies have been fighting you, and want you to be discouraged and think there is no God to deliver you. But God has decided to step into your situation at His time and will arrest your enemies and they shall not escape in Jesus name.

I don’t know what they are using to afflict you, may be poverty, frustration, broken marriage, lack of favour, unemployment, evil dreams, hatred from people, backwardness, etc. I do not know what they have release to afflict you and everything is working against you, even when you do good to people they pay you with evil, I really may not know the strong opposition against you, but honestly today the Lord will deal with your enemies. Indeed there may be enemies, but one thing that is certain today is that they shall not escape.

1Thess 2:18 says, “Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.”

I don’t know where they have hindered you, from making progress, getting your spouse, having children, enjoying your marriage but whatsoever they have done against you today must be reversed.

Whenever it seems something good is coming your way the demons and satanic human agents will arise and begin to fight in order to close the door against you so that your condition will continue to deteriorate. .

1Corinthians 16:9 says, “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.”

When it appears that it is going to be well for you, the next thing is for it to become worst. When it appears you have gone the right way, suddenly you will find yourself in the wrong way. When it appears you want to surrender your life to Christ and become born again, there will be so many enemies after you to frustrate all attempts to join the Lord’s army.

But don’t bother yourselves again by this message no matter how many of them after your life, progress or family, one thing that is certain today is that they shall not escape. God will destroy all. God who preserves you till date in spite of the opposition against you will do it again. Same God who has not let them to kill you will deal with your enemies not minding their arsenal.

Malachi 3:6 says, “For I am the LORD, I change n o t ; therefore y e sons o f J a cob CONTINUED ON PAGE 41

PASSION

A Lifestyle Magazine

APPLAUSE

Being woman has not limited my success -Ijeoma Ezunu >>27

I can’t marry an actor – Ebere Agu >>26

Sunday November 15, 2015

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Passion

Sunday, November 15, 2015

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I can’t marry an actor –Ebere Agu

Nollywood actress, Ebere Agu, studied International Relations at Novena University, Delta State. She has featured in many great movies which include ‘Mother and Son’, ‘The Vengeance’ and ‘Heart of a Sister’. In this interview with ADAEZE AMOS, she reveals that she cannot marry an actor because she is the jealous type, among others. Excerpts: You studied International Relations and you opted for a career in acting. Who encouraged you to go into Nollywood?

I came into Nollywoood in 2013 through Patience Ozorkwo, fondly known as Mama Gee. She is my godmother in the movie industry. I have always had passion for acting from my childhood.

Though it hasn’t been easy for me in the movie world, patience and endurance matter a lot if you want to attain greater heights in life. Most importantly, I decided a long time to put God first in all that I do.

Who is your mentor?

Patience Ozokwo aka Mama Gee. I love her. Aside from the fact that she is my godmother in the movie industry, she is also my mentor. I wouldn’t forget to mention that I admire Ejiro Okurame, Genevieve Nnaji, Mercy Johnson Okojie and Browny Igbokwe. Then for the guys, I admire Zack Orji and many others.

Nollywood movies are now into real wacko romance, how daring are you in romance roles?

I can be damn daring. It’s all about being able to play into the character and giving them what they asked of me. To interpret well, that’s what my job requires Who can you be paired with to interpret romance roles better?

For now, it’s Brownie Igbokwu because he’s my friend. I love the way he interprets his roles.

Can you act nude if it makes meaning to a movie and if the pay is

good?

I won’t act nude but that depends on the kind of nudeness. Also, remember too that my body is the temple of God. I won’t defile it.

What words of advice do you have for scriptwriters, movie directors and producers?

They are doing well but they can do better to help promote Africa.

What’s your opinion about the fact that some movie producers would still do auditions after getting actors?

They often do that but in the long run when actors they had already selected disappoint them, they have no option than to call on the ones they had auditioned to come

What movies have you starred in?

They are ‘Mother and Son’, ‘The Vengeance’, ‘Heart of a Sister’, to mention but a few.

Which is the most challenging?

‘Mother and Son’ is very challenging because I carried AK47 rifle and was asked to smoke and drink some kind of mixture because it’s a ghetto kind of movie. And we had a little cult in the movie.

What thrills you most in what you are doing?

What thrills me most is just being me.

Can you relive your first time on a movie set?

It wasn’t easy the first time. When I started, I had to get used to it, the director would yell at me if I failed to do what he wanted. Today, I’m better.

What do you think can make you reject a movie script?

Nothing for now can make me reject a movie script What kind of roles can you interpret with ease?

All! As an actress, I’m versatile and fully ready to interpret any role given to me because it’s my job and my best is required.

What lesson has life taught you?

Life has taught me to be humble and nice to people because my helper could be the person I least expected.

What’s your philosophy?

Nothing good comes easy.

You must have had a heart-break; what did you do to get out of the pain?

It wasn’t an easy experience for me but I had my family and friends around who cheered me up and encouraged me to have a change of environment. That was what motivated me to relocate to Enugu. I’m more focused on my career without any distraction.

for the job.

But even at that it’s not good and encouraging.

How do you remember legendary actors Liz Benson, Regina Askia and Barbara Soki?

They all have their different ways of interpretation. For instance, Liz Benson has been an ever young and glowing woman of God. She is one woman we have missed in Nollywood. I hope she would come back. She is ever calm in nature and welcoming. Regina Askia knows how to put action into her roles. I call her action lady.

Her confidence while interpreting movie roles inspires me.

Those days whenever I see her name in movies, I was always thrilled to watch because of her shape, beauty and elegance.

Then, Barbara Soki has a good command of English. She speaks flawlessly. She is amazing.

Can you marry an

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Sunday, November 15, 2015

actor?

I don’t have plans to marry an actor. But I admire couples in Nollywood. The like of Olu Jacob and Joke Silva, Zack Orji and Ngozi Orji. But for me, I won’t marry an actor because I’m a jealous lover. I can’t stand my hubby being regularly busy on movie sets. That won’t give us enough time to be with each other What can you spend a fortune on?

Good phones and real human hair extensions. I also don’t mind spending good money to take care of my skin. I use good cream and soap that can make me glow. I come out looking sweet in whatever simple dress I wear.

What fashion item forms a larger part of your wardrobe?

Dresses! I’m a lover of gowns both short and long because they help to flaunt my shape. I also love to be on shorts because I have hot legs. In fact, I love the way gowns look on me, that’s my best outfit.

What part of your body can you flaunt proudly?

I love my butts. It’s not too big or small. My bum is just moderate and fits my body frame. I also love my legs. That is why I wear more of short gowns than long ones.

God created me just the way he knows it’s best for me. For that, I’m ever grateful to Him. What crazy thing had a male fan ever done to you?

The day a guy called me Pascaline, I was shy but he kept on insisting believing that I was Pascaline, one of the fast-rising actresses in Nollywood. It may be because we look alike. One day, the guy saw me and said he wanted to marry me. He was shouting it out, attracting people’s attention to me.

That to me was crazy.

Applause

27

Being woman has not limited my success –Ijeoma Ezunu Adaeze Amos Affable Ijeoma Ezunu, the CEO of Divine Children Gallery, has never regretted being a woman. This Lagos-based political science graduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, is happily married with three children.

She is one woman who decided to take a plunge into business and she is at home with it. Reason is that she has on her fingertips ways of overcoming challenges in the business, those challenges that have ‘consumed’ so many businesswomen.

What has she been doing right?

“What I have been doing right is that I make sure I try my best to overcome my financial challenges. I do this by first taking my time to invest well. Before I invest my money in whatever business I want to, I take my time to ponder over it. It helps me not to fall into a ditch and see myself regretting at the end of the day.

When I invest and the business starts booming, I don’t spend my profits on things that are not necessary,” she explained.

Mrs Ezunu said another thing she puts into consideration is the people that patronise her. “My clients are important to me. I don’t take them for granted.

When there is need to explain or educate them on something, I don’t hesitate. I give them my undivided attention bearing in mind that customers are always right.

This key points have been paving the way for me,” she said.

Women are known for doing a whole lot of daunting tasks at the same time and this Divine Children Gallery boss is one of such women. She combines her duties as a wife and mother with her business.

“For everything you do in life, good planning is paramount. I have learnt how to plan well right from my day in the university even before I got married. In marriage, I started paying detailed attention to things some women may consider mundane. I give my time to my family at the appropriate time and the same attention to my business such that none has ever suffered. I try to be organised. I advise my fellow women to take this into consideration. I say this because when you saunter into the home of an unorganised woman, you would know without being told. So, let’s try to be organised, for it pays,” she counselled.

Does this mean she is comfortable as a woman?

No regrets whatsoever, no regrets at all! Why should I regret being a woman? I believe that my sex can never limit my success in life. It’s all about what you believe in. I believe that I’m a daughter of Zion, and that I have my own quota to contribute to my life, family and society. Being a woman has never in any way limited or posed a hindrance to me,” she emphasised.

Care to know the very Nigerian woman she admires?

“My mum, of course. My mother is one Nigerian woman that I admire a lot. It’s not only because she is my mother but because she is a strong woman. Despite all the discouragement she had in life, she persisted and today she is successful. My mother taught me how to be strong in life. Another woman I admire is Dr Okonjo Iweala. This is one great woman who has always stood her ground despite all accusations. With these two women I mentioned, I have always felt great and privileged to be a mother/woman. Surely, women are special creatures,” she said.

Where does she derive her strength of character and inspiration from?

“I derive my strength from God, then encouragement from my mum and the published stories of other women,” she emphasised.

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Sunday, November 15, 2015

GROWING UP with

Aunty Titi

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

The Camel

JOKE

Republicans in Hell

W

hile walking down the street one day, a Republican head of state is tragically hit by a truck and dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

“Welcome to Heaven, ” says St. Peter.

“Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we ’re not sure what to do with you. ” “No problem, just let me in. ” says the Republican.

“Well, I ’d like to but I have orders from higher up. What we ’ll do is have you spend one day in Hell and one in Heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity. ” “Really, I ’ve made up my mind. I want to be in Heaven, ” says the Republican

head of state.

“I ’m sorry but we have our rules. ” And with that, St. Peter escorts the Republican to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to Hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a club and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him, everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, hug him, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster and caviar.

Also present is the Devil (a Republican, too), who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes.

WORDS ON MARBLES

Nothing you do for a child is ever wasted Garrison Keillor

TONGUE TWISTER

T

he term “camel ” is derived from the Latin word (camelus from Hebrew gml.

The Hebrew meaning of the word gml is derived from the meaning stopping, weaning, going without; or repaying in kind. This refers to its ability to go without food or water, as well as the increased ability of service the animal provides when being properly cared for.

“Camel ” is also used more to describe any of the six camel-like mammals in the family Camelidae: the two true camels and the four New World camelids: the llama, alpaca, guanaco, and vicuña of South America The average life expectancy of a camel is 40 to 50 years, A full-grown adult camel stands 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) at the shoulder and 2.15 m (7 ft 1 in) at the hump. Camels can run at up to 65 km/h (40 mph) in short bursts and sustain speeds of up to 40 km/h (25 mph).Bactrian camels weigh 300 to 1,000 kg (660 to 2,200 lb) and dromedaries 300 to 600 kg (660 to 1,320 lb).

The male dromedary camel has in its throat an organ called a dulla, a large, inflatable sac he extrudes from his mouth when in rut to assert dominance and attract females.

It resembles a long, swollen, pink tongue hanging out of the side of its mouth. Camels mate by having both male and female sitting on the ground, with the male mounting from behind. The male usually ejaculates three or four times within a single mating session. Camelids are the only ungulates to mate in a sitting position Camels do not directly store water in their humps as was once commonly believed. The humps are actually reservoirs of fatty tissue: concentrating body in their humps minimizes the insulating effect fat would have if distributed over the rest of their bodies, helping camels survive in hot climates. When

this tissue is metabolized, it yields more than one gram of water for every gram of fat processed. This fat metabolism, while releasing energy, causes water to evaporate from the lungs during respiration (as oxygen is required for the metabolic process): overall, there is a net decrease in water.

Camels have a series of physiological adaptations that allow them to withstand long periods of time without any external source of water. Unlike other mammals, their red blood cells are oval rather than circular in shape. This facilitates the flow of red blood cells during dehydration and makes them better at withstanding high osmotic variation without rupturing when drinking large amounts of water: a 600 kg (1,300 lb) camel can drink 200 L (53 US gal) of water in three minutes.

Camels are able to withstand changes in body temperature and water consumption that would kill most other animals. Their temperature ranges from 34 °C (93 °F) at dawn and steadily increases to 40 °C (104 °F) by sunset, before they cool off at night again.

Maintaining the brain temperature within certain limits is critical for animals; to assist this, camels have a complex of arteries and veins lying very close to each other which utilizes countercurrent blood flow to cool blood flowing to the brain. Camels rarely sweat, even when ambient temperatures reach 49 °C (120 °F). Any sweat that does occur evaporates at the skin level rather than at the surface of their coat; the heat of vapouration therefore comes from body heat rather than ambient heat. Camels can withstand losing 25% of their body weight to sweating, whereas most other mammals can withstand only about 12 –14% dehydration before cardiac failure results from circulatory disturbance.

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

I need not your needles They’re needless to me; For kneading of noodles, t’were needless, you see; But did my neat knickers But need to be kneed, I then should have need Of your needles indeed.

DO YOU KNOW? AN AVERAGE PERSON BLINKS 15-20 TIMES PER MINUTE

W

e all blink a lot, the average person blinks for 15-20 times per minute so frequently that our eyes are closed for roughly 10 percent of our walking hours, although some of this blinking has a clear purpose mostly to lubricate the eyeballs and occasionally protect them from dust or other debris. While experts says that we blink

our eyes far more often than necessary, closing our eyes actually helps us to gather our thoughts and focus attention, where people tend to blink at predictable moments for instance someone reading, blinking often occurs after each sentence is finished while the person listening to the speech often blink when the speaker pauses between statements.

As a result, researchers believed that we might subconsciously blink as a mental resting point to briefly shut of visuals stimuli and allow us to focus attention.

POP

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Sunday, Nevember 15, 2015

Dude Style

victorudoh804@yahoo.com 07067124302

I like to dress corporate –Enygrace

Naiyeju Ayodeji aka Enygrace is a lawyer by training, but he now sings gospel songs. He tells VICTOR UDOH how his passion has brought a gospel album. Excerpts:

way. Sometimes you laugh, sometimes you cannot but cry and must try to live peacefully with one another.

You are a legal practitioner, what are you doing singing?

I am a legal practitioner and I have been in this practice for over a decade and it is very enjoyable. About two years ago, I started having this sensation for gospel music and paid attention to it. It developed in me until what it is today. By the grace of God, I have been able to make an album out of the inspiration.

What really inspires your songs?

What actually drives me is the state of church at the moment. Many have deviated from the foundation set by Jesus for us. It’s like the world has overtaken a vital part of the church. What inspires me is the need to announce to the world that Jesus is coming back, that we should go back to the basics.

What really inspired your combining two different careers?

I agree with you, they are miles apart.

But the Bible in Ecclesiastes 11:5 explains the concept and formation of life. Also, John 3:8, I think, expatiates on this mystery. It says when the wind blows, you cannot tell where it is coming from or going to; (so it is of a man born of the Spirit). My relationship with God is why I am into gospel music. God began ministering to me about two years ago. I discovered that after or during my prayers in the night, I suddenly started receiving (song) inspirations in my spirit. The songs would just come. It occurred many times, and I decided to get a recording device. Each time a song came to me, I would record it; the songs increased over time. Hence last year, I decided to go to the studio and do something about it.

How do you explain marrying both careers?

By my own human understanding, I am a lawyer and a practising one at that; this puts food on my table. At the same time, by my relationship with God, He is saying, ‘My son, you can reach out to souls through songs. I need you for this’. So when songs started coming, God helped me to develop them and today I found myself an artiste.

Can you tell your fans how you managed to put an album together?

You know I am not a professional musician, but when the songs came I developed them by aligning them with the

word of God. I brought some verses into them and they came in whole. Thereafter, I went to the studio and my producer examined them and advisedthat I edit some part. Graciously, my wife, a chorister, introduced me to someone in the church choir. We listened to the songs and they advised that we remove some sections. From there, it became whole.

Would you consider doing secular music or featuring a secular artiste in your song in future?

Going into secular music is not an option.

Or would you define secular being when one sings a happy birthday song, or sings to a loved one? Some day, I may decide to sing for my father or my mother. I mean, I could decide some day to sing a grateful song to God for giving me a wonderful wife. Would that be secular? If you say that is secular, then I wouldn’t say no.

Are you featuring any secular artiste on your songs?

As at today, it’s not likely because as a gospel singer, we sing not by what we see but by godly inspiration. Of course, you can only flow because the Bible says that two can walk together except they agree. By my kind of music, it is possible some would say they don’t do gospel. Though I can’t force people, whoever God gives me direction to work with, of course, I would.

through. I never really had occasion to say I want to work for myself to make money.

When I started my law practice, at times I went broke. But my parents would comfort me by showing me love. It’s not as if they had enough. They would assist me, but I thank God things are different today.

Who is your mentor?

Physically, I would not really say I looked at this person and followed that person’s pattern; no, I wouldn’t say I have a mentor in that regard. These are songs I got directly through the Spirit of God. It comes to me in the dream and I wake up quickly to sing and record them on my device; I don’t look at anybody. But when you talk of spiritual mentor, yes I have. My father in the Lord, is Pastor E. A. Adeboye and of course, there are other men of God I value the grace of God on their lives.

What are gospel artistes doing that you are not comfortable about and would end if you had the power to do so?

I am not coming into gospel music world to stop something per se. I am not a judge to condemn what an individual or group is doing. But I am coming by virtue of the Spirit of God, the divine inspiration of God, to encourage as many that may be laid back or that feel gospel music is not paying off. The truth is that the foundation of singing gospel music is not about making money; it is How was your to preach the gospel. So if there is anything growing up?

I’m bringing into it, it would be preaching My grow- the gospel, make it gospel proper, tell the ing up was virtues of God like one of my tracks, ‘Gudunormal and gudu meje’ extols the virtue of Jesus Christ like that of who laid down His life for us. any average other person.

What is your phiMy backlosophy of life? ground was It is that evaverage. My erybody should parents were understand civil servants that there is and by the a superior grace of God, being in they trained the person me from of God that cradle to uniwatches over versity level all we do. Thus and to my law we cannot afford school. They to always have have been my things in our sponsors o w n all

Do you plan to completely quit the legal profession now or in the nearest future?

I don’t see it happening that way. The legal practice will always remain. That’s what I was trained for. My gospel ministry is a gift from God, to make sure I touch lives.

The “Gudugudu meje” was motivated by what and why did you decide to settle for that?

It was inspired by God. When I woke up a certain day I started meditating on the chorus. Gudugudu meje is simply saying Jesus thank you that you did so much for us - dying for us and not leaving us comfortless but sending your Holy Spirit and then going to prepare a place for us in heaven. Not only that, you have also made sure that when we call on you, you will answer us. You have done so much for us even when we are nothing.

What is your style slogan?

I like to dress corporate.

Where do you see your kind of music in the next five years?

The Bible says we should preach the gospel round the world. Since that is something to go by, I see my music round the world because it’s a form of evangelism. I see my music round the world in five years.

How was your first experience on stage?

The bible says that the righteous are as bold as a lion.

It wasn’t jittery; it’s just that you discover that like early this morning I was just trying to sing one of the tracks and I discovered that I forgot some lines and I was asking myself what the problem was. So I was now scrambling to bring out the lyrics again to look. So that could just be the challenge.

There are many players in the music industry who are complaining so much about piracy. How do you think you can curb the menace using your music or if you are in the position of authority to do that?

Curbing piracy I think is the duty of Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC ), probably the enforcement unit. During the course of my practice we have had occasion in one of the law firms I worked to see them challenge some of the suspects.

What we can do to reduce this to the barest minimum is more publicity to patronise authorised marketers and encourage NCC to do their work.

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Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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, November 15, 2015

Innocent carries me like an egg and respects me –Chisom BABIES OF THE WEEK

STORIES BY TITILOPE MORAKINYO

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W

hen Chisom Erbota, met Innocent Erbota for the first time, it was clear that the duo were destined to be together, forever! Guess why?

“He is indeed my dream man. He has all the qualities I desire in a man.

Apart from the fact that he is God-fearing, gentle, kind and caring, he carries me like an egg and respects me a lot.

Another major attribute he posses which gladdens my heart is that he prays a great lot. He believes every good gift/ blessing comes from above, hence he doesn ’t joke with prayers. My meeting him and becoming his wife is a dream come true, ” she said.

When the groom was asked on what really drew him to Chisom, his better-half, he didn ’t hesitate to unveil his reasons. “Her honesty,

humility and calm nature lured me to her, ” he said, as a matter of fact.

The church wedding, which took place at the Holy Spirit Mission, Shasha Road, Lagos, started by 10 am prompt and the reception followed immediately after at Santos Hotel, Akowonjo, Egbeda, Lagos.

It was indeed a society wedding as many celebrities and big personalities were present. Ladies who attended were glamorously dressed in purple attire which was the colour of the day. The bride ’s mum and the groom ’s mum wore same kind of attire and both looked dashing.

Helen is committed and humble –James

H

elen Akpan and James Olajide recently tied the knot in holy matrimony recently at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG (Dominion Assembly).

The wedding, which took place at Alapere Ketu, Lagos saw members of the family, friends and colleagues of the couple throng the venue to witness the union.

The bride, who works with United African Company Foods Plc, said that she met her groom in the church where she was a chorister and her husband a deacon.

“I saw him as a God-fearing man; that is why I have chosen to spend the rest of my life with him ”, she said.

James, who is a teacher in a private school in Lagos, said Helen is a God-fearing woman, full of commitment, diligent, and humble.

“Seeing all these qualities in her, I have chosen her to be my life-partner with whom I plan to raise Godly

children who will possess the qualities of their parents, especially the fear of God ”, he said.

The venue was decorated in orange and gold which ac-

cording to the bride, she chose because of the uniqueness of both colours.

“Orange and gold stand for truth and honesty ”, she said.

chenna was born to the family of Engr. and Mrs. Kalu at Dolphin Estate, Lagos.

Baby Uche as his mother fondly calls him is the first child of his parents, hence their readiness to cater for him as much as they can.

Speaking on what she loves most about her son, she explained that she loves everything about him.

She told Sunday Mirror that, “when he is sleeping, I always want to make sure he is all right ’ ’.

Recounting the period of her pregnancy, Mrs. Kalu said it was not very easy, as she constantly fell ill, and at a point feared she would lose her pregnancy.

She said as a first time mother, it was not easy balancing work with pregnancy.

On the sixth month of her pregnancy she was already contemplating taking a leave.

She explained that while

she was pregnant she always took every type of food. It took a caution from her doctor before she stopped eating just anything.

Both parents wish their son to follow the path of the father by becoming an Engineer.

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“

aby Ayomikun Adeleke was born to Mr. and Mrs. Adeleke at Lagos General Hospital, Lagos Island. She weighed 3.4kg at birth.

Mrs. Adeleke described her pregnancy as easy going and smooth.

According to her, my period of pregnancy ran smooth without the complications women usually experience.

“As a matter of fact, the only thing I had was occasional heart burn. However with talks during antenatal at the hospital I registered at, I got to know that it was normal and what I needed was to avoid certain foods; aside that, nothing bothered me during pregnancy ’ ’, she said.

Speaking on how she coped with motherhood and work, she explained that it is quite easy for her since she was selfemployed.

“I can decide on when I want to leave my house and when I want to close for the day since I am the boss here ”.

Shade described her baby as

fun loving.

She said: “She is always happy when she sees people around despite the fact that she can ’t speak yet, you can just see the whole excitement on her face She is the best baby girl any mother can ever have ’ ’.

Speaking on the reason behind the choice of the name, she said “It is actually a name I and my husband feel expresses the level of joy we have; Ayomikun means ‘My joy is full ’.

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Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

What to wear …to a musical concert Sunday, November 15, 2015

ADAEZE AMOS

F

or every occasion, there is a dress.

Put differently, there is a dress code for every event. If you are preparing for a musical or melodious concert, especially now that yuletide is around the corner, that is a welcome idea.

If you want to be smartly dressed, you may consider what beauty queen, Siaka Nimat, wore to a musical concert recently.

Don ’t forget your guitar if you should need to perform on the stage.

Perfect Cut

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Sunday, November 15, 2015

African Look

Must-have jewellery for Xmas Adaeze Amos

T

here are beads, necklaces and earrings you can’t ignore because they attract positive attention and admiration. These are the types you need this Xmas!

Since the yuletide is a few weeks away from now, you should get ready to deck your neck with beautiful and latest jewellery. Check out Nkechi-Harry-Ngonadi’s neck on this page and take a cue from her. She looks amazing!

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Let your s

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday, November 15, 2015

style speak for you Adaeze Amos

S

tyle icons define fashion as a popular style of clothes, hair, etc at a particular time or place; the state of being popular. Some styles never go out of fashion.

A lady’s dress sense speaks for her. A flamboyant lady is known by the showy way she dresses while a calm, reserved one shows it by her style.

So, ladies if you want to be addressed respectfully, let your dressing command the respect first.

Perfect Cut

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Sunday, November 15, 2015

L

OVE

TALK

with Yemisi

Adeniran

What does sex mean to a woman?

W

hether we like it or not, the meaning of sex varies from person to person.

Everyone has his own experience and value of sex, and what it represents to him or her in a relationship. It is an emotional connection, trust and friendship that is absolutely essential for any meaningful and lasting relationship.

It is also one thing that can make a loyal bond to any one person more than friendship?

Sex is an extremely important physical and emotional element of any romantic relationship.

In other words, sex has the ability to greatly impact a couple ’s r e l a t i o n s h i p based on the meanings that are placed on sex. While these meanings definitely vary from person to person, and couple to couple, there are a few common things that sex represents for a woman in a relationship.

1.

It shows a woman that you love her When you take your time working your way around every nook that makes your woman shiver, kiss all her favorite spots, and make sure she ’s fully satisfied, there is no better way of making a woman know that she ’s absolutely loved and cared for.

2.

It shows a woman you are attracted to her

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When you ’re having regular sex in a relationship, it shows a woman you are attracted to her, and that you think she is sexy, and desirable.

If you aren ’t having sex with your lady, she is most likely feeling like the most unattractive woman alive.

Nothing makes a woman doubt herself (body wise) more than being sexually rejected by her partner!

In need of a serious relationship/marriage Uche, 20, from Anambra needs a God-fearing, handsome, caring and rich guy of 25 years and above that will take care of her -08144815735.

Edwin is my name. I ’m looking for a sexy and romantic lady of 17 years for friendship -08094186336.

My name is Uche, 42, an engineer from Anambra State. I ’m 5.8 ft tall and a Christian. I need a 28-35 working-class graduate from Anambra for marriage - 08062227333.

Taiwo Olumide is my name. I ’m a student, light -kinned and tall. I need a serious relationship that will lead to marriage. I ’m live in Ibadan -08072225028.

Paul is my name. I ’m 50 years old. A graduate of University of Uyo, I ’m from Akwa Ibom State. I need a lady for wife -07030809667.

I ’m Jude, 28 years old. I ’m shy, friendly and live in Lagos. I need a caring, understanding female friend from any state. She has to be between 19 and 35 years old -07032292819, 08097013057.

My name is A1, 23, from a Yoruba-speaking state. I ’m young and beautiful, a mother of two beautiful girls. I need a 28-40-year-old rich man who is ready to take good care of me. Trust me, I ’m ready to put smiles on his face anytime. I wouldn ’t mind Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba or even a white man -08107346507.

Mohd, 40, wants a mature lady, tall, sexy, with bleached skin and big boobs. She has to be a working-class living in Kaduna, between 25 and 35 years old, for friendship -080 37348310.

3.

It is passion Sex is passion. It makes a woman feel

My name is Ade, I live in Lagos. I am a worker and student. I ’m 27 years old.

I need a caring, sexy lady between 20 and 25years old -0708857453.

My name is Afam, 25, a graduate. I need a sugar mummy for a serious relationship -07060932985.

I ’m Moses, 27, from Lagos. I need a God-fearing, loving, caring and honest lady, between 19 and 25 years old, for a committed relationship -08024204122, 08038566795.

I am CJ, 32 years old. I need a mature and God-fearing lady for marriage -08137729887.

I ’m Kemi, fair in complexion and pretty. I ’m 20 years old and live in Lagos. I need a guy of any age that can take good care of me and ready to marry me -08067706966.

Moses, 27, needs a serious relationship that can lead to marriage.

She should be between 21 and 28 years old. She should be a workingclass, dark-skinned and beautiful. She should be living in Lagos 07087764057.

Models

loved and beautiful if you want her as much as she wants you in your relationship.

4.

It is a trusted connection between two people The difference between a one-night-stand and sex in a relationship is that you share a deep connection with your partner, something you don ’t usually find after a heavy night of drinking.

And because of such a connection, sex is something that must be shared between both partners, not taken from either one.

5.

It is fun Of course, sex means fun for women in a relationship. Sex is not

a chore to women. The age-old myth that women don ’t like sex as much as men is complete rubbish.

Many women are extremely sexual beings that love to have fun and feel the immense gratification that comes along with amazing sex.

6.

It is pleasure Pleasure is self-explanatory really. Sex for women in a relationship means pleasure.

That can range from full out multiple O ’s or just an awesome romp that leaves a lady feeling good and giddy.

You should find out what exactly creates the most enjoyable and pleasing sex for your lady, and make it happen, over and over!

Overall, sex is many

things So, sex does not mean just one thing to a woman in a relationship. It can mean many things, maybe even more than have been mentioned here.

But broadly, sex comes down to represent three main things – love, a connection, and pleasure!

Sex does mean different things to different people, but these values are the most basic. They are what most women find sex to mean in a relationship.

But if As a couple you are not experiencing real intimacy and fun that should accompany sex in your relationship, something must be wrong somewhere. You then need to sit down and re-examine what you are having with your partner.

I ’m Dennis by name and I ’m 25 years old. I live in Abuja and I ’m working. I need a lady between 20 and 23 for a serious relationship that could lead to marriage -09030465717.

I ’m Sunday, dark, 35 years old and 6ft tall. I ’m a civil servant from Ondo State. I need a God-fearing lady between 25 and 32years old. She has to be a working-class from any part of the world -07031151927.

My name is Agbamue Samson, 2 7years old and a working-class. I need a sugar mummy between 30 and 40 years of age -08061540752.

Gabby is my name, 45, a media officer in Makurdi. I need a mature lady of 55 years old and above for companionship -08178717095.

I ’m Alex, 29 years old living in Abuja. I ’m fair in complexion. I need a sugar mummy who is 38 years old for a relationship -08061500561. e cards. I ’m 27 years old. I need a good wife -08028922937.

My name is Joy, 30 years old and I need a God-fearing man for a serious relationship that could lead to marriage. I ’m in my final year in the university and I ’m a businesswoman from Benue State -08123493530.

Bimpe is my name, 42-year-old mother of one who seeks a husband.

He has to be a bachelor and a serious man who is ready to settle down -08099384270.

Taiwo is my name. I ’m a 29-year-old graduate. I live in lbadan and I need a responsible and God-fearing man of 31 years old or above for a serious relationship -08090810838.

Ade is my name, a university graduate. I also need a graduate and workingclass lady to settle down with. She has to be a Yoruba lady between 30 and 37 years old -08074600653.

My name is Sammy, 25 years old. I live in Lagos. I want a sugar mummy for fun and connection, not for money –07065075990.

I am Jide, from Lagos. I am 36 years old and single. I need a sugar mummy that is ready to love me –08024921464.

My name is Clem, based in Lagos. I need a sugar mummy –07086426368.

My name is Sam, 23 years old, I need a caring sugar mummy who is rich and beautiful. – 08034529842

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!

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Sunday, November 15, 2015

Pregnancy Talk

Naughtiest Thing

with

The naughtiest thing I ’ve ever done

Adaeze Amos

Winnie Amangele

߾ࠆ߾ࠀࠁ߾߿ࠀࠀࠇࠁ ߶ࠡࠛࠡ ࠝࠜࠚࠧ߷

Six bodily changes to expect when pregnant

I

nant woman feel lightheaded and dizzy.

f you have just missed your flow and you are wondering some bodily changes you would battle with in the next nine months, below are some that medical experts have listed.

Fatigue, sleep problems During your pregnancy, you might feel tired even after you ’ve had a lot of sleep. Many women find they ’re exhausted in the first trimester. Don ’t worry, this is normal! This is your body ’s way of telling you that you need more rest. In the second trimester, tiredness is usually replaced with a feeling of well being and energy. But in the third trimester, exhaustion often sets in again. As you get larger, sleeping may become more difficult.

The baby ’s movements, bathroom runs, and an increase in the body ’s metabolism might interrupt or disturb your sleep. Leg cramping can also interfere with a good night ’s sleep.

Body aches As your uterus expands, you may feel aches and pains in the back, abdomen, groin area, and thighs. Many women also have backaches and aching near the pelvic bone due to the pressure of the baby ’s head, increased weight, and loosening joints. Some pregnant women complain of pain that runs from the lower back, down the back of one leg, to the knee or foot. This is called sciatica (SYE-AT-ick-uh). It is thought to occur when the uterus puts pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Breast changes A woman ’s breasts increase in size and fullness during pregnancy.

As the due date approaches, hormone changes will cause your breasts to get even bigger to prepare for breastfeeding. They may feel full, heavy or tender.

In the third trimester, some pregnant women begin to leak colostrums from their breasts. Colostrums are the first milk that your breasts produce for the baby. It is a thick, yellowish fluid containing antibodies that protect newborns mones due to pregnancy from infection. slow down digestion and relax muscles in the bowConstipation els leaving many women Many pregnant women constipated.

Plus, the complain of constipa- pressure of the expanding tion. Signs of constipa- uterus on the bowels can tion include having hard, contribute to constipation. dry stools; fewer than three bowel movements Dizziness per week, and painful Many pregnant women bowel movements. complain of dizziness and Higher levels of hor- light-headedness through-

out their pregnancies.

Fainting is rare but does happen even in some healthy pregnant women. There are many reasons for these symptoms.

The growth of more blood vessels in early pregnancy, the pressure of the expanding uterus on blood vessels, and the body ’s increased need for food all can make a preg-

Heartburn and indigestion Hormones and the pressure of the growing uterus cause indigestion and heartburn.

Pregnancy hormones slow down the muscles of the digestive tract.

So food tends to move more slowly and digestion is sluggish. This causes many pregnant women to feel bloated.

Hormones also relax the valve that separates the oesophagus from the stomach.

This allows food and acids to come back up from the stomach to the oesophagus. The food and acid causes the burning feeling of heartburn. As your baby gets bigger, the uterus pushes on the stomach making heartburn more common in later pregnancy.

‘We dressed like militants to terrify other students ’

I

was about to go on stage for a play when I was in school and I was dressed like a militant from Bayelsa. Being from Bayelsa, I know how the militants used to dress. In fact, I was looking really terrifying. I suggested to the rest of the crew that we should do something to startle students reading in the building block close to the theatre.

We first had a great laugh among ourselves because we knew how scared they would be.

At the time, the fear of militants was the beginning of wisdom.

After laughing to our satisfaction, we managed to wear mean looks, not smiling nor laughing.

We then scurried in like thieves, screaming, hitting the doors and walls. The students heard our voices and were scared. They thought militants had descended on them. Terrified by

our looks and the way we sounded, they lay on the floor immediately we commanded them.

Some started climbing the school windows to escape, but they couldn ’t because of the burglary protector which obviously made it impossible for them. They couldn ’t shout because we commanded them to keep quiet, but they were seriously shaking in fear. I nearly laughed but I held it.

A few of the students that were sleeping stayed in that position because they did not want to stand up to that scene. It was so funny that I had to burst into laughter and we ran back to the theatre to run our play. It was funny.

That scene has been in my head for years now. I ’m not proud of it but it was fun.

•Amangele is Nollywood actress –Adaeze Amos

a

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Sunday, November 15, 2015

F

Jollof Spaghetti J

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

The recipe below shows how to prepare with common vegetables.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Geyser Peak

ounded in 1880, Geyser Peak Winery is one of California’s oldest and most award-winning wineries. Founded by Augustus Quitzow, the winery was built in 1882 in Geyserville, making it one of the pioneering California wineries of the time. Geyser Peak Winery consists of 5 vineyards, one of which is located in the Russian River Valley AVA, while the others are in Alexander Valley.

Since most of the grapes come from Alexander Valley, the growing regions have long ripening seasons. Alexan-

der Valley is a great region for growing Cabernet Sauvignon vines, but Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc are also successfully grown. Ondine Chattan and Jaeson Mackura, winemakers for Geyser Peak Winery, are also behind the screw cap movement that is very controversial among wineries and consumers alike. All of their white wines are bottled using screw caps, or “Stelvin closures” as they are often called (Stelvin is actually a brand of screw caps, like Ziplock is a brand).

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Sunday, November 15, 2015

YOUNG FASHION

Choosing proper school shoes

U

nlike many adults, kids don ’t really enjoy shopping for shoes, because at the rate they outgrow them, trying shoes on your kids is absolutely essential for growing feet, until your child complains that they are uncomfortable, you may not know when it ’s time for a new pair of shoes however, It ’s a good idea to periodically check your children ’s shoes to make sure what they ’re wearing are still working for them.

School shoes for boys and girls in both whole and half sizes and a range of width fittings, from boys ’ black trainers and smart shoes to girls ’ school shoes in a range of styles and finishes. Shoe

shopping should always be done later in the afternoon or evening, since feet swell over the course of the day.

While there are so many cute and trendy shoes available for kids, it ’s best to avoid overspending as children outgrow shoes so quickly and new shoe occasions are seemingly always right around the corner Have your children ’s feet measured when buying shoes, since what might seem comfortable to them for a minute or two in the store is very different from what will be comfortable after a day of playing. Feet should be measured while standing, and always have both feet measured. Since one foot is usually larger than the other, buy shoes to accommodate the two feet.

When your child is wearing the shoes, and their feet are fully extended, there should be a bit of room between the edge

of the shoe toe and the edge the toes for about a half inch.

However note that the rate children outgrow shoes, it ’s probably tempting to buy shoes that are too big, but you should never buy shoes that are more

than one size too large for your child because shoes that are too big can cause a child to trip and develop foot problems while trying to walk in shoes that are too large.

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

WHO INVENTED WHAT? Williams Edward Addis devised the Toothbrush

Once upon a time

The Wolf and the Little Lamb

W

A

wolf was drinking water at the head of the stream. All of a sudden, he saw a little lamb drinking water at a distance downstream.

On seeing the lamb, the wolf licked his chops and decided to eat it up. So, he walked towards the lamb. While going, he kept thinking of some excuse for his action. Getting near the lamb, he looked at it with blood-shot eyes and thundered, “How dare you spoil the water for me? ” Trembling in fear, the lamb replied, “How can I do that, sir? The water is flowing from you to me. ”

The wolf had no words to say. Then he again thought of something and suddenly burst out, “Why did you abuse me last year? ” Meekly, the lamb retorted, “How is it possible, sir? I was not even born at that time. ” “Well if it wasn ’t you, it must have been your mother. ” Saying this, he attacked the lamb and tore it into pieces.

The wolf already decided to eat the lamb and he was just giving excuses to kill it.

Moral of the story - Don ’t be wicked, be a kind and nice person.

illiam Addis of England is believed to have produced the first mass-produced toothbrush in 1780. However,In 1770, he had been jailed for causing a riot; while in prison he decided that the method used to clean teeth – at the time rubbing a rag with soot and salt on the teeth was ineffective and could be improved.

To that end, he saved a small animal bone left over from the meal he had eaten the previous night, into which he drilled small holes. He then obtained some bristles from one of his guards, which he tied in tufts that he then passed through the holes in the bone, and which he finally sealed with glue. After his release, he started a business that would manufacture the toothbrushes he had built, and he soon became very rich. He died in 1808, and left the business to his eldest son, also called William, and it stayed in family ownership until 1996.

RIDDLES

Under the name Wisdom Toothbrushes the company now manufactures 70 million toothbrushes per year in the UK,By 1840 toothbrushes were being massproduced in England, France, Germany, and Japan where Pig bristle was used for cheaper toothbrushes, and badger hair for the more expensive ones.

However Johnson & Johnson, a medicalsupplies firm, introduced the “Reach ” toothbrush in the middle 1980s, It differed from previous toothbrushes in three ways: First, it had an angled head, similar to dental instruments, to reach back teeth; second, the bristles were concentrated more closely than usual to clean each tooth of potentially carigenic (cavity-causing) materials; and third, the outer bristles were longer and softer than the inner bristles, to clean between teeth the toothbrush was the first to have a specialized design intended to increase its effectiveness.

What did the traffic light say to the car?

Answer- Don ’t look I am changing Why do bees hum?

Answer-because they don ’t know the words Why did the boy bury his flashlight?

Answer- Because the batteries are down

38

Movies & Music

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

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Mavins Records plans Christmas concert for fans

hree years after its inception, foremost music label, Mavin Records, is set to hold a special concert to thank its fans in December. The Access Mavin Concert, to be organised in partnership with Access Bank, would parade the entire Mavin Records lineup on one stage for several hours of performances from Dr. Sid, Tiwa Savage, Korede Bello, Di’ja, Reekado Banks, D’Prince and frontman Don Jazzy.

Giving his thoughts, Mavin’s boss, Don Jazzy, said the concert would be a special ‘Thank You’ event in recognition of the support from fans who would only pay a fraction of the gate fees to get in.

His words: “We are very excited to be able to put this together this year after three years of steady progress as individuals and as a label.

Despite many odds, we have been able to get to this point and do so many unprecedented things in the Nigerian music industry. I am particularly pleased that Access Bank wants to share in this success story and contribute to it and I am sure that the fans will love what we have in store for them on the night.”

Also, Mavin Records artiste, Dr. Sid, said recently, “Our fans have always been here for us through thick and thin. Without them, there will be no Mavin Record label or Don Jazzy or Dr. Sid. What could be a better way to appreciate their loyalty over the years than this?”

Speaking about the concert, an upbeat Tiwa remarked, “I can’t wait to thrill my fans at the concert and appreciate them for all their goodwill messages during my sojourn to motherhood. It’s going to be exciting performing on stage with my label colleagues and I just can’t wait.”

The Acces, December 23, at Eko Atlantic and tickets would be available on PayWithCapture for N499.

Don Jazzy

Waje prefers plastic surgery on her breast

Waje

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oul Diva, Waje, is open to the idea of having plastic surgery on her breasts, but not the one you have in mind. The singer recently revealed that rather than breast enhancement surgery, she would like to have breast reduction surgery.

She made the revelation on this week’s episode of MTV Base Word On The Street with VJ Stephanie while responding to a question from Twitter user @kazzang, “Would you ever consider plastic surgery?” Clarifying why she would like to have breast reduction as against enlargement, she jokingly remarked to an amused Stephanie, “As me and you are sitting down here, don’t you like that they are seeing your face? Do you want me to cover the screen?”

In the course of the show, Waje also answered questions about her relationship status and whether she was actually naked in the video of her song ‘I Wish’.

BET announces cast of ‘TOP ACTOR AFRICA’

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BET top actor

ET has revealed the top 12 actors and actresses who are making up the cast of Top Actor Africa, the first ever panAfrican series of the channel’s dramatic reality show.

After months of auditions across the continent, BET has identified the 12 potential heart-throb heroes and leading ladies from South, East and West Africa who’ll be gracing our TV screens in Top Actor Africa from February 2016.

Hoping to see their names in lights are South Africans Shamilla Miller from Cape Town, Farrell Drew from Durban and Marilyn Sekgapane, Jesse Suntele, Hendrik Lombard, Simhle Belinda Plaatjies and Sabelo Sibeko from Johannesburg.

Representing Nigeria are Tobechi Nneji, Uriel Oputa and Ifeanyi Dike, while flying the flag for Kenya are Lorreine Wangui Gakuo and Alexander Eliab Khainga.

The contestants will be eager to follow in the footsteps of last season’s winner, Alto-

vise Lawrence, who is currently in the USshooting her first Hollywood feature, “The Other Side” opposite Brad James and Erica Hubbard. The film is due for theatrical release in 2016.

Top Actor Africa will be testing the actors to the limits over in nine gruelling acting challenges, taking them through every genre from Improv to Comedy, Theatre, Soapie, Commercial, Romance, Horror, Drama and Action. Along the way they will work with Hollywood and local industry experts including celebrity actors, casting agents, directors, producers, managers and writers as they fight to stay in the competition and keep their acting dreams alive.

The contestants will be competing for the chance to win the title of “Top Actor Africa”. At stake -a career-launching prize package that includes US$10,000 in cash, a one-year contract with international representation and access to Hollywood auditions

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Movies & Music

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Oko Ashewo hits cinemas

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Miss Curvy Culture visits Enugu Commissioner for Housing

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urrent Miss Curvy Culture, 2015, Queen Shelly Ogbise paid a courtesy visit to Enugu State Commissioner for Housing, Charles Ogbo Asogwa.

The Bayelsa State-born queen had said she wasn’t going to answer a queen without making her impact felt in the society.

Her impact was felt as the commissioner received her warmly.

Shelly and Asogwa

What makes Lepacious Bose and Queen Shelly similar

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oruba movie actress, Lepacious Bose, who now features in English movies and Queen Shelly Ogbise, the current Miss Curvy Culture, 2015 have a lot in common.

The first similarity is that the two divas are celebrities who are doing what they have passion for. The second is that they are black beauties who believe in the slogan ‘black is beautiful’.

Hence, they never used bleaching cream before.

Third similarity is that they are both plump and are not timid in any way because of their size. They are proud of who they are and are comfortable in their own skin. The fourth similarity is that their arms are still firm. The fifth is that they are well read.

It could be these similarities that made Queen Shelly look up to her as a role model. “Lepacious Bose is one of the ladies I admire a lot. In fact, she is my mentor,” she said.

Bose

he premiere of the much-talked about movie, Taxi Driver (Oko Ashewo), held at the weekend at Film House Cinema Apapa.

The movie which stars Femi Jacobs, Saka, Odunlade Adekola, Ijeoma Grace Agu and others has been generating a lot of excitement because it’s the first time the three will be acting together in a predominantly English language movie. Besides, Odunlade who has become the king of mass market will be making a debut in cinemas for the first time. It remains to be seen whether he can translate the mass market appeal to the cinema.

Taxi Driver (Oko Ashewo) tells the story of how Adigun copes with dealing with the multitude of odd characters he comes across working at night from Delia the queen prostitute, to Kakanfo the unseen vigilante, the notorious assassins ‘three wise men’, to the godfather, Baba Mistura and many more interesting characters that ply their trade in Lagos at night.

This dark comedy story brings a rich mixed bag of emotions from love to greed to betrayal, shenanigans, contradictions and self-discovery.

Speaking about the movie, Dom Omope, the in-house producer at FilmOne said, Taxi Driver (Oko Ashewo) is the last of three films I have produced this year as head of production at filmOne and it’s by far my most ambitious of all.

The film presented us with a great and refreshing opportunity to create something visually stunning and standout in Nollywood.

I am really excited about this moment in Nollywood’s history where FilmOne is at the forefront of the creation of films to add more richness and diversity to the industry. This is a film I am proud of and every Nigerian should be proud of as well.

The movie which has been described as a good mix of talent and ambition by movie critics is expected to be a big box office hit.

Shelly

Africa Music Awards holds today

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he 2015 All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, would be anchored by the continent’s most outstanding hosts and hostesses. While DNG and Aurelle Eliam will host the main show which takes place today, Denrele Edun, Maria Okanrende and Estelle Ahonda would hold forth on the red carpet at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

DNG, real names Davidson Ngibuini, is an East Aa personality. He is the host of ‘Sakata Mashariki’, Kenya’s biggest dance TV show.Eliam, actress, model and on air personality, is a household name in Côte D’Ivoire, her home country and Africa, particularly for her role in the highly successful television series, ‘DR. BORIS’.

Edun, multi-award winning presenter is a marvel to behold on the red carpet, a maverick Nigerian presenter whose dre Popularly referred to as “’Punk and Fun’, Denrele has the enviable profile of interviewing such personalities like Beyoncé, Akon, Tyler Perry, Lil Kim, Snoop Dog now

Snoop Lion, etc.

Okanrende aka, Maria Beat FM, is a well groomed UK-trained presenter with a vast experience working with BBC, MTV and Dropou- who in ‘A’list entertainment.

Alexander Burke Mary J Blige Wizkid, D’Banj, 2Face, Davido are a few of those she had walked the red carpet with.

Ahonda is a Cameroonian bilingual (English/French) communications and brand management expert. She comes with over 10 years international experience in media and interpersonal communications.

AFRIMA is expected to be broadcast live to over 80 countries across the world with African superstars billed to light up the stage but not limited to Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Davido, Diamond Platnumz, Olamide, Yemi Alade, Busiswa, AKA, Sakordie and Charlotte Dipanda. Others are Ahmed Soultan, Flavour, Dr. Jose Chameleon, Alikiba, Vanessa Mdee, Wiyaala, Cassper Nyovest, Dark Suburb, Bebe Cool, Darey, among others.

Aurelie

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Ijeoma Grace Agu

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Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Lessons of Life TRUE LIFE STORY ON MATTERS OF THE HEART

ADAEZE AMOS Adanneamos@gmail.com 08023012293 (sms only)

‘How would I forgive a hubby that wished me dead! ’ This is the story of a woman who is bitter because of what her husband did to her when she needed him most.

This was a man she married when he had nothing. He grew up in the remote village of Uturu in Abia State and couldn ’t go to school because he was not interested in education.

H

e dropped out in primary four and manned his late father ’s petrol station. And because he was very young then, he was given the kerosene section of the business which was still in the same petrol station to man. He managed it so well that he left school and concentrated in that business. He is today accomplished in his trade.

“But when we got married, Adolphus who I love to call Adol, my husband was still feeding from the little money his father apportioned for him from kerosene sales. His father married two wives and Adolphus ’ mother was the second. The sons of the first wife were busy going to school when my husband dropped out in primary school. When he married me, we came to Lagos together and the business he started for himself was the one he knew too well - kerosene business.

“Before his father died, he willed his petrol station to his first son and the rest of his property to the sons of his first wife, Laurencia, but my husband was left with nothing. His father said he disobeyed him by not going to school and that he would not be able to manage any business well because he was illiterate. Those were his reasons.

“Life became tough for us; the money from kerosene sales wasn ’t enough for a decent living in Lagos. I had to look for a job. I studied Business Administration in one of the universities in the country. I got a job as a marketer in a company to sell living products, get people to register under me and with that I was able to scale through because I had enough down-liners which enabled me get a car and travelled to America where I stayed for some months before I came back. All the money I was making, I gave to my husband because I needed him to be a man and provide for his family.

“If I had left him the way he was, we would not have had peace in our marriage because he was always grumbling and complaining about what his late father did to him. I gave him my car. Life started changing for him and for both of us. When he felt happy, I

A model

was also glad because I shared in his joy. He had to go into another line of trade, steel business. He started buying from his friend who was importing them and gradually he too started importing his. He made his first million from the business. He no longer grumbled. We built our first house in Lagos, had three children and all was going well until I became ill, ” she said.

Laurencia became so ill that hospital was her next abode.

“I was always going to the hospital for treatment. I had all the medical tests my doctor requested and eventually he told me I had cervical cancer, a terminal ailment. When my husband heard that, he gave up hope on me. He wasn ’t coming regularly to see me at the hospital. It was his younger sister, Rosa, who took it upon herself to bring food and ensure that I didn ’t starve. I

was having an issue of blood from my cervix, so I needed a thorough cleaning. Rosa was an angel God used to help

me. When I was eventually discharged to my fate, Rosa was there. Adolphus my husband was busy gallivanting with his new-found love, Naomi, who incidentally was his confidential secretary. Naomi would cook for him and at times he would sleep over with some reasons that he had too much work to do in his office that he couldn ’t come home. I never nagged him. I needed to be well. Rosa and I were praying, relying on God for healing. But the one that broke me down was the text message Rosa sent to him. She was asking my husband who thinks I would eventually die. The rest of the message showed that my husband told her what my doctor said about my not being able to survive. I cried myself to sleep.

When he came home after some days, I confronted him with the message from his phone he forgot at home. He had numerous phones because he was a lover of phones. He wasn ’t apologetic, he shouted at me and walked away.

The next thing he said to me before he left the house was ‘how do you think I would come close to you? You bleed from there ’, he said, pointing at my legs. I knew where he was referring to.

I didn ’t want him to sleep with me, I just needed him close, his comforting words, prayers so to say, ” she said.

When her illness was getting worse, her mother came.

“Three of us were having vigils every night. My three children were in school. Two in the university and the last who is in secondary school was in boarding house. They called regularly.

But Adolphus was busy with his business and Naomi. Naomi ’s house became his safe haven. He said his house was crowded with my people just because of the presence of my mother and sister. We continued praying until God revealed to me in the dream that what I was suffering from wasn ’t cervical cancer. I intensified prayers and something strange happened. ” • To be continued.

RESPONSES

Re: My husband now interested in his son ’s mother Dear Philomena, You have been married for 10 years without pregnancy and your husband, Theo, has now accepted Stella and her son, the pregnancy he denied some 10 years ago.

Your mother-in-law ridicules you for not having a child and Theo abandons you for Stella.

I would advise you to cheer up, seek medical advice and medication if you have not yet done so. If you are medically certified fertile to have children, then the problem could be Theo ’s. If he refuses to go for med-

ical check-up and treatment, you may relocate, because if you continue to stay with them in the same house, the frustration and humiliation may cause you high blood pressure and health challenges. Ultimately, divorce him and get another husband, now that you are still young. Stella is literally the first wife and you have been reduced to second wife, which is against Christian ethics.

Patrick Adiasor, Surulere Lagos, 08033452087.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

From the Pulpit

Sunday November 15, 2015

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God is the only one we have

General Overseer of Omnipotence Mission of God, Prophet Joshua Daramola Oloruntimilehin, in this admonition, explains how to lead a meaningful life. Excerpts:

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t is worthy to praise, adore, appreciate, thank, honour, exalt and glorify the omnipotent God because His mercy remains forever. God is the one and the only one we have. God is the king that has been doing things for us. He made and knows everybody very well. The Bible says in Psalm 100:3…know that the Lord is God, it is He who made us, and we are his, we are his people, the sheep of his pasture” God knows the way we are. The powerful people of the world are looking at the faces the way Samuel was looking at faces during the process of appointing king for Israel among the children of Jesse Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said to Samuel. Do not consider his appearance or his height for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart”. God Almighty is the being to worship, serve and bow down our heads for. Some people would say they are bowing down their heads to idols.

Who is the idol? It is the Almighty God. It is the person’s thought that makes God to be angry when bowing down head for idol. God lives in the idol.

What is evil? It is God because He does whatever He likes. An unquestionable God who asked Jeremiah is anything too hard for me (Jeremiah 32:27). He made a man to be blind from birth so that His work might be displayed in the man’s life (John 9:1-5). He restored the sight of the blind man and made the lame to work. All these were done by Him, the Almighty God. He is so magnanimous and great that the Bible say in Ecclesiastes 6:13-14 “Consider what God has done, who can straighten what he has made crooked? When times are bad, consider God has made the one as well as the other…” God lives in both the light and

darkness. He owns the good and the bad.

Whatever position or situation a person finds himself or herself is with the consent of God. The Bible says in Exodus 4:11-12 “The Lord said to him (Moses), who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute?

Who gives him sight or make him blind?

Is it not I, the Lord. Also Amos 3:6 says “…when disaster comes to a city, has not the Lord caused it” Furthermore, the book of Isaiah 45:7 says “I form the light and create darkness. I make peace and create evil, I the Lord, do all these things” Brethren it becomes pertinent for people to comprehend that it is God and there is no other. He said in Isaiah 45:5 that I am the Lord, and there is no other apart from me there is no God”. God says He is beginning and the end (Alpha and Omega). Therefore it is required for people to praise and exalt God because He does what he likes. Imagine the story of King Ahab of Israel who wanted to go into war with Aram and takeover the city. In fact, God wanted to deal with king Ahab for his deeds. He made all the prophets of God king Ahab consulted before embarking on warfare with king of Aram.

All the prophets prophesied that Ahab would come back from the war victorious. But his friend king Judah, Jehoshaphat enquired if there was any other prophet of God that would be consulted before going into the war. King

Ahab told Jehoshaphat that there is one prophet of God remaining but Ahab never liked the prophet called Micaiah because all his prophesies for king Ahab were not good. However king of Judah insisted he should be invited to consult and prophesy.

Prophet Micaiah was the only one that God had put into his mouth the true prophesy that king Ahab would be killed in the war.

The servant that went for Michaiah told him that his prophesy should be same as the other prophets.

But Micaiah told him he would only tell t h e king

ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever.”

Whatsoever they are using to pursue you, my advice is that you should stand still and fear not, for that problem, poverty, spiritual prison shall end today. That pain, sickness, delay in marriage, delay in conception, rising and falling, poverty, which you have been having, shall be seen no more forever, that is why I am telling you that the Lord is the same today, tomorrow and forever.

Exodus 14:14 “The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”

My friend the Lord is still fighting for His people and if He still fights for His people today He shall give you victory.

in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.

You can see that they saw that the Lord is fighting for the children of Israel and they taught to flee, but they were too late. Many of your enemies are thinking on how to jump out from here but they are too late, already I have commanded them to be bound and arrested and am assuring you they shall not escape here today.

what God tells him. Initially Micaiah told the king he would be victorious, but he made Micaiah to swear and tell him the truth. Then prophet Micaiah told him he would not be victorious. The king of Israel was furious and told king of Judah that prophet never prophesy anything good for me. Then Micaiah continued according to the Bible I King 22:1-23 “…So the Lord has put a lying spirit to the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The Lord had decreed disaster for you”. Prophet Micaiah was slapped by one of the other prophets and queried where Micaiah got his own spirit. Eventually Micaiah was imprisoned for his prophecies. But he declared king Ahab would not return safely (verse 24-37). Brethren, Ahab’s story shows that God is responsible for good and evil.

Therefore no one does evil or good that does on his or her own. A person cannot be killed without the consent of God. Similarly a dead person cannot be revive without the God’s hand in it. In same vein a true prophet of God would always be bold and courageous to deliver God’s message. He or she would be prepared to face any consequence of his or her prophesy. Therefore let everybody thank and appreciate God because He owns everybody, knows everybody. May His name be exalted in Jesus name.

For more enquiries call: 08023020108, 08058110288. facebook.com/pastoroloruntimilehin

Prophet Oloruntimilehin

‘That enemy shall not escape’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24

are not consumed.”

Beloved, that God that kept you alive, has not changed, that God of yesterday that gave you husband or wife is still the same God today, that God that saw you through in all the battles when you were a toddler has not changed, that God that is giving you all that you demanded never changes, that God who delivered you in time past, that performed miracle even in the Bible days has not changed, that fought for the Israelites as of old, that divided the RedSea, and brought the children of Israelites out of Egypt, caused their enemies to drown, divided the Red Sea, that God has not changed. Today that God will never change because of you, and therefore no matter what they have cast down to follow after you shall be swallowed up today in Jesus name. The same way Pharaoh and all his armies did not escape the Red Sea on their pursuit of the children of Israel, the same way your enemies shall end up in Jesus name.

Exodus 14:13 says, “And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, standstill, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom

Exodus 14:19-20, 23-25 say, “And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

And the Egyptians pursued, and went

Some evil kingdom have been watching you in their mirror and they are casting a spell or making incantations against you that kingdom shall catch fire, that personality, that evil man or woman shall catch fire they shall not escape that judgment in Jesus name.

Matthew 15:13 “But he answered and

said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.”

Every seed that is not of God here today, they shall not escape judgment is upon them.

Isaiah 45:23 “I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” I don’t know dose pursuing you they shall bow in Jesus name.

Exodus 15:9-10 “The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.” Only wind fought them that time but today the spirit of God and the invincible wind shall fight your enemy today, all of them shall sink and the grave shall cover them, they shall never follow you out today say amen. One thing that is very certain is that your enemies and their activities shall never escape in Jesus name amen.

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From the Pulpit Learn with Kunle

Macaulay

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Email: profkunlemacaulay@ yahoo.com (08023032698, sms pls)

esus was sent to the world by God to serve all men, all nations and all peoples.

After the sin of the first man and woman that separated man from God, God then decided to reconcile man to himself but to do this, there must be redemption which was perfectly carried out by Jesus Christ the Lord and Saviour of mankind. The ultimate goal of God was to save the whole world. The Bible confirms this, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16.

When Jesus started his preaching and teaching ministry in Galilee, history and the Bible confirmed that he had contact with non-Jews or unbelievers referred to in the Bible as pagans. He walked in their cities and even performed miracles on their behalf. He made his mission universal and his message was for all peoples. Jesus healed the servant of a Roman centurion who was stationed at the Roman garrison at Capharnaum. Definitely this man was a heathen who was involved in the worship of Jahve. This man believed in Jesus Christ even though he was not one of his followers but he believed enough to know that Jesus would heal his servant and Jesus knew that this – pagan believed him, so, he said, “Believe Me, I have not found faith like this, even in Israel” Lk. 7:10. I believe that there are still “many children of God” scattered abroad in the world who are yet to be brought into Christianity.

The Bible establishes it clearly that the message of the kingdom sent by Jesus

Destiny Hour with Pastor Femi

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Lanre-Oke

xamine your Christian journey in the year 2015 and appraise yourself. How well have you walked with God? Today, by the grace of God, in order to truly be like Jesus in our walk with God, we shall consider the struggles children of God go through while learning to walk with God and the causes of these struggles.

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby: 1 Peter 2:2 The bible says that as babes (whose spirits have just been re-born) we must desire the sincere milk that we might grow. How to walk with God was clearly defined by Christ while on earth and the emulation of this walk brought about Christianity (Acts 11:26). Christianity is not a religion. A religion is the sum total of attributes learnt, crammed (if necessary) and memorized to be exhibited when necessary. Religion is like putting on a cloth which it does not affect who you really are.

The life of Jesus was totally dependent on His walk with God, His spirit, soul and body all functioned with the unified purpose of doing the will of God. He stated this as: “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” John 4:34 Jesus showed us that Christianity takes all

Sunday November 15, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

The universal message of the church Christ and preached by the first century Christians is for a worldwide evangelization. The stories of the Bible confirmed that pagans were closely associated with Jesus right from his birth. The wise men that saw the stars at his birth were not Jews. King Herod questioned the shepherds who were non- Jews concerning the prophecy about the star from Bethlehem. The message of Jesus is international – a worldwide message.

When we study the Bible in-depth, we find out that Jesus had relationship with both Jews and pagans. Jesus spoke to a Samaritan woman people despised because of her lifestyle. Jesus broke the barrier between the Samaritans and Jews. This woman we learned became an evangelist preaching Christ. Jesus was tried in a Roman court and it was the wife of a Roman governor that first interceded because she was troubled in her dream that Jesus was not guilty.

It may not impress many people that when Jesus was dying on the Cross, he was surrounded more by pagans while many of his believers ran away. Jesus at that time began to draw “all men” to himself. At last he said, “I have other sheep too which do not belong to this fold. I must bring them in too; “They will listen to my voice” Jn. 10:16.

The death of Jesus Christ was the realization of God for the entire world. The principle of universality became effective because it was the death of Jesus that broke down the wall of partition between Jew and Gentile to reveal the universal mission of Jesus.

It is the Cross that universalizes the purpose of the mission of Jesus. The message after his death on the Cross is now, “You therefore must go out, making disciples of all nations”. Matt. 28:19. It is clear that “all peoples of the world” will benefit from the death of Jesus. We should realize that the birth

of Jesus started in a manger and ended on the Cross, all for people of the world. If Jesus had preached or taught alone, he would have become another great figure in the history of the world but he trained and sent his disciples out with the same message he preached which is for all souls on earth.

The Bible said, ”When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him. he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him’’. Matt. 25:31-32. It was on the Cross that Jesus made his mission world – wide. Peter said, “Before the beginning of the world, God has foreknown him, but it was only in these last days that he was revealed for your sakes” I Pt. 1:20 and John confirms “The blood of his Son Jesus Christ which washes us clean from all sin”. Jn, 1:7.

Christians should know that Jesus is not just the leader of Christians as popularly claimed by many people but he is the revealer of the truth and Saviour of mankind.

Paul once said, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female for you are all one in Christ Jesus” Gal3:28. The message of Jesus is just “You come to me, I will take you to the kingdom of heaven” while Christianity is about fulfilling the desires of God on earth, the church is a place where Christians meet and they are strengthened and encouraged to go out and preach Christ. Christians no doubt are the instruments God uses to touch every individual and nation of the world with the message of salvation.

Christians should realize that Christianity which is the religion of Christians is one with power and mysteries. God gave power to Jesus who passed it on to his disciples and their successors, therefore Jesus was not wrong when he said, “I tell you the truth,

anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” Jn. 14:12. The human nature of all believers of Jesus Christ has become the instrument of the divinity of God. As it is always that Christianity is a religion of redemption and the church is in the world to redeem the world therefore, Christianity is world –wide and universal.

I am through this medium warring those who are having contact with some knowledge that God can be found in other faiths or religions and that salvation of soul can be attained through works and not only Jesus. Note that many Bible texts confirm the uniqueness of Jesus Christ as the only Son of God that saves lives and that without him there is no salvation. I pray that people should avoid those who preach the gospel of inclusion in the name of Jesus Amen.

Moreover, the gospel is the universal message of the love and grace of God for people who accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

The Bible said, “…. We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. Even if there are so called gods whether in heaven or on earth (as in deed there are many “gods” and many lords”), yet for us there is but one God, the father from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live” I Cor. 8: 4-6 All those who believe in Jesus Christ must realize that there is only one ‘’message’’ and this message is universal.

•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 path to maturity (1)

of you or nothing at all. A lot of Christians at this junction begin to ask these questions; “I am born again, saved by the blood of Jesus, cleansed and sanctified but why do I struggle to pray, to serve God and to exhibit the fruits of the Spirit just as Jesus showed us?” “I realize that the Christian walk is a struggle, as I make progress today, I fall tomorrow. I gain power in the spirit realm only to lose it”. They keep wondering; why can’t i walk with god as jesus did? Why can’t I commune with Him? What is wrong with me?

Every time the preacher talks about sanctification, holy living and righteousness, you feel heavy and pricked in my heart. You make New Year, new month, new week, new day and even every moment resolutions only to break them and get frustrated. Every time you cry out to serve God and you make up your mind to do things right; your soul is expressing the desires of your spirit man to grow through your body. To make matters worse, you are a leader in the church, you are actually gifted, you can sing, teach, pray, counsel and admonish but you struggle with besetting sins. As you admonish people on living the Godly life, you are pricked in areas defaulting in your life. You wonder who you can talk to, what the world will say if they know I am a chronic liar, if they discover that I cheat, if they know I masturbate, that I look at people lustfully.

What will the pastor say?

It is a pity that in this kingdom we have learnt all the right passages and catch- phrases. We know how to “put on Christianity” when we need the world to see it in us but deep down we struggle to be who God says we

should be.

While we were sinners we did not care but now we are children of God, redeemed by the blood of the lamb but “the ah hum……. God HELP ME” (That is how we feel).

Apostle Paul screamed and asked for help in Romans 7:15 – 24, he admitted to the struggle to do the will of God. “Sir, it is not that I don’t know what to do, I have being in church for ten years, I know the Pastor’s next sentence but I am somehow powerless to say to no to that sin, powerless to resist that anger and the urge to insult back, powerless to carry out the will of God”.

You go to church and make up your mind based on the revelation that comes to do things the following week. While in church, you are spiritually lifted, happy and joyous, fueled to go and bash devil’s head. However, soon after you leave, things, issues begin to confront you and you fall, get discouraged and feel helpless over and over again.

The Psalmist felt this also in Psalm 42:4, he experienced a certain joy in the house of God that seemed to lift whenever he left. This is the struggle of every one that seeks to know God. At new birth the spirit is re- born and needs to grow to the point of maturity when it will begin to function as God does this is evident in the scripture 1 Peter 2:2. Without the growth of the spirit, the bible says the Lord in us will not manifest and we will be given to tutors to take care of us (Galatians 4:1-2).

The body and the soul are tutors to assist your spirit man mature enough to take over.

They teach through your physical senses (body) and your emotion, will and intellect

(soul) and before maturity, a child listens to the instruction of tutors. As a baby spirit, you are entrusted into the care of these two.

When you are pushed about and commanded by these two things, you realize you react to everything that comes you way based on how you feel and not based on the word of God. You struggle with sin and everything the enemy throws at you because the real you (spirit man) is not matured enough to take charge.

We shall continue next week by the grace of God Remember at this junction, that if you are not born again, you are not alive yet. The body and soul are having a filled day and there is nothing to be done about it until you invite Jesus to be the Lord and master of your soul.

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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Priesthood House with Pastor Bola

T

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Sunday November 15, 2015

Bello

here is similarity between the call of Abram and the call of the Church.

Abram was called out of his kindred and was bounded in covenant with God like a wife married to her husband. The peculiarity of any covenant is the union which the covenant offers between they that are in covenant. When God cut a covenant with Abram, the union was activated for an exchange. It was an exchange of Abram liability for God’s credibility, and an exchange of God’s command for Abram obedience unto the instruction of the Father God.

This is the same thing with the covenant between the Church and Christ.

To cut covenant with someone is to confederate with one another. CHURCH, as Abram was called out by God, so Church is called out for a covenant with Christ in marriage (2 Cor. 11:2). When Abram was called in Gen 12:1-2 to separate from his father’s house, it was with the promise and God assurance of blessing.

Without hesitation, Abram departed to an unknown land.

There were three major components of the agreement between Abram and God before Abram departed. Abram must vacate from the affinity of polytheism and idolatry of the land. He must also set off from his kinsmen and move on to a separate place where he will start a new race. He must advance to a strange land which God will later show to him. In the consequent of his obedience, God would in turn make him great, make him a patriarch of the newly establish nation and Abram would become a blessing to the whole earth.

These three blessings could be grouped into two; the temporal blessing and the spiritual blessing. The temporal represent the greatness of Abram, his influence and possession of the things temporal while the spiritual blessing

Church as God designed it - The blessedness of the church (1) consist of him becoming the dispenser or distributor of the blessing of God to the entirety of the earth from generation to generation infinitum.

Therefore, Abram departed and was re-christened as Abraham (Gen. 17:5).

This new name was not just a reflection of God promises to Abraham but also indicate the obedience of faith which Abraham had hitherto shown to the call. It was needful to reinforce the call with covenant hence God entered into an everlasting covenant with Abraham - the promise of eternal and continual existence of the seed of Abraham called Church (Gen. 17:7).

Church is rendered by the word Ecclesia the called out one. The meaning of the word would thus seem to be, in the New Testament, the whole company of God’s elects, those whom he has called to be his people under the new dispensation, as he did to Abraham of old.

Such is the signification in one of the two instances in which Christ uses the word Church in the Gospels.

In Mathew 16:18, the word Church was used by Christ and it implies in various context an assembly, or congregation of people specifically called out for the purpose of legislation and execution, but most importantly to fight in a battle (Gen 49:6) They are basically known in the New Testament order as “chosen people” or elect of God. Mathew 12:18 says of ecclesia in this way; “Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well-pleased; I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles”. This is primarily as it would have become Israel in her ideal state but with generic interpretation on the Church of Christ the elect of God who should show the judgment of God to the entire earth in all spectrum of operations. The difference between the Ecclesia and the world

is the divine capacity, ability and divine representation that enables him to judge, rule and execute judgment against the earth. The implication is absolute control, absolute dominion and absolute leadership but not with the mindset of the earthly systems but with the things of God which are not known to the earth but made manifest to the Church (Eph. 3:10).

For Church to remain in track, and for her to be able to execute her mandate here on earth, Church was charged thus; (Isa. 51:2); “Look unto Abraham your father and unto Sarah that bare you; for I called him alone; and blessed him and increased him”.

The watch of the Church is basically two important personnel. The first one is Abraham, an example of God’s calling and the second one is Jesus Christ the seed of Abraham in natural descent (Heb. 12:2). Abraham was called when he was not an epic person, not known or heard amongst nations but became an ode or epic person from generation to generation. He was a barren, unproductive and at his best, a husband without a child. This was the picture of Abraham when he was separated, consecrated and chosen of God. However, Abraham, in his walk of faith, became a Patriarch, lord and father of many nations through obedience to God’s calling. Abraham inherited the promise land the fulfillment of the temporal blessing of God but most importantly became an inheritance of God the eternal fulfillment of God’s promise. God is not only the God of Abraham of Hebrew, but also the God of Abraham who lives forever more. If God could multiply the barren Abraham, much more would God multiply and enlarge the Church, when Church walk in obedience as Abraham was obedient to God. The blessing of the Church hinged

on obedience to God’s instruction and his will here on earth. The blessing of Church transcends the temporal, though the manifestation of such is essential but not in any form equal with the spiritual. What God bestows upon the Church as blessing is more than what the earth could handle.

Church is God’s oracle. What Church has is lively oracle and the world will still seek out for the Church to solve difficult problem for the earth. Acts 7:38; says; “This is he, that was in the Church in the wilderness with the angel which spoke to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers; who received the lively oracles to give unto us. The respectability of the assembly called the Church is to modestly declare the counsel of God, the things of God, the project of God to the earth so that earth should be governed as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:10). Undoubtedly, if the Church, who has the Spirit of God, declares only what the Spirit declares, the earth will be rid of decadent, corruption, criminality and indecent lifestyles of men.

Oracle is the voice of God to the earth. It occurs only in the innermost place where the secret of the earth are being un-earthed to mortal men for adjudication. It is the voice of supplication of saints unto God where God in responses proffer answers to the anguish of the earth. Church is God’s oracle and the earlier we assume such roles the better for the earth. An experience of face to face discourse with God is now vital like Moses of old.

The Church shall anchor the voice of God on the earth and the earth shall be renewed. This is the blessing and the design of the Church.

•Pastor Bola Bello – The Priesthood House, bolabelo@gmail.com 08033704564

News

Cleric prophesies a better Nigeria

…as Word of Life Bible Church holds praise night

T

he General Overseer of Mega First Ministry, Prophet Emmanuel Valentine has prophesied that the regime of President Buhari will be good and fruitful, as he prayed for the continued existence of Nigeria as a single unified entity.

Valentine gave this prophecy at the programme organized by Word of Life Bible Church (the Lord’s Chapel), Obalende, Lagos tagged “Yoke-breaking praise and prophetic celebration night held recently in Lagos.

The cleric claimed that the regime has shown tendencies that it will do well for the country. He added that the administration will not be like past regimes which were characterized by high level corruption.

“I am not saying that President Buhari is a Saint or a perfect man, but all I am saying is that President Buhari will perform credibly”, he said.

Valentine further said that what has kept Nigerian in a pathetic position is high level of corruption and embezzlement, adding that the the country has never had sincere leaders, who had the interest of the nation at heart.

“All we have had in time past are those who only care for their selfish interest. I urge Nigerians at this time, to give our young democracy a chance to grow. Nigerians need to surrender their lives to Christ and become true Christians.

That is the only way we can have a

good country because a good Christian won’t steal, cheat, lie, kill or engage in any nefarious activity. The fact that one holds a position in church doesn’t make the person a Christian; only those who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and saviour are Christians”, he noted.

The pastor in charge of the branch, Pastor Segun Buramoh revealed that the theme of the programme was Godinspired, claiming that he did not come up with the theme as other men of God do, but the revelation came to him after the anniversary celebration of the church few months ago.

He claimed that after the wonders that took place at the anniversary cel-

ebration, he wanted a programme that the church would be holding often to liberate and free the people from the shackles of the devil and it was during this, that he got the revelation of the theme.

“We plan to make this a monthly programme, because such occasions are needed to bless the people and make the promises of God a reality in His people’s life”, he revealed.

The event featured different gospel acts and ministers including the guest gospel artist, Praise Machine who alongside others, spiced the occasion with melodious praise and worship songs to the delight of congregation as they danced their hearts out.

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From the Pulpit

The voice of wisdom

with Dr. David

Oyedepo

W

e understand from scripture that the vision of God for everyone in the Kingdom is packaged in the Bible. For instance, Jesus opened the Book and found this written about Him: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord (Luke 4:18-19; see also Hebrews 10:5-7; Isaiah 29:11-12).

John the Baptist also discovered God’s plan for his life from the Book (Matthew 3:3).

It is important to recognize that the Bible is God’s mirror that shows us who we are and what redemption has made of us (James 1:2225).

Let’s examine our worth in redemption from the mirror of the Bible By redemption, our lineage has changed: Before we became born again, we were sons of men but after our encounter with Christ at new birth, we became sons of God. That means our lineage changed.

As it is written: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:12; see also 1 John 3:2).

Everyone who is born again is a son of God and according to scripture, the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God (Romans 8:19).

Let’s go

BIBLE with Favour

Tioluwani Email: letsgobible@gmail.com

IS IT A SIN? I met a guy and we’ve been dating for over a year now. He is 48 years of age while I am 22 years old. He goes to Church, even a serious worker in his church. He has a good job and he is comfortable. He told me he is ready to marry me since he has never gotten engaged with any one before. People around me believe that am dating the man because of his money, also my parents are strongly against the relationship but this is not true because l love this man and am always happy and fulfilled whenever we are together. I can see my future with this man, but they kept on pestering me to leave the man. What can l do?

ANSWER To be able to answer this question, l will want us break it down so as to consider some issues.

Firstly, the word says; “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matt.7:22-23). Many go about in sheep clothing but they are actually wolves (Matt.7:15). A person can claim to

Sunday November 15, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Catching a vision of our worth in redemption!

By redemption, every child of God has been disconnected from his/her old family tree (natural/biological) and grafted into a new family (spiritual). This makes every child of God a member of God’s household.

The Bible says: Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19).

The Bible also records: And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree (Romans 11:17). For instance, in agricultural sciences, when the branch of a tree is grafted into another, it begins to bear fruits according to the new root. As we all know, everything bears fruit according to its root.

Therefore, the fruits of whatever obtained in our old roots are not permitted to show forth in our lives. That means since our roots have changed, our fruits must also change.

Furthermore, since we have been detached from our old family tree and grafted into the divine family tree, we are no longer subjected to the woes and misfortunes of the old family.

Thus, whatever obtains in our natural family no longer control our lives.

As it is written: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17; see also Numbers 23:23; Galatians 3:13-14).

However, until we have an understanding of our new position and the worth of our salvation, we will continue to partake of the woes and calamities of our biological families. That is why salvation is not an ideology but an experience.

Interestingly, by God’s design, we and our households are ordained to be saved. For instance, after Paul and Silas engaged in high praises while in prison, and were freed by the

power of God, the Jailer said: Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house (Acts 16:30-31; see also Acts 10:24).

That is why our salvation must not stop with us but extend to our households. Remember, Joseph found himself in the palace to preserve lives. Esther was also in the palace for the rescue of the Jews. Therefore, we have a covenant responsibility to stand in the gap for the salvation, divine interventions and breakthroughs of our lineage (Genesis 45:5-7; Esther 4:14-16; Ezekiel 22:30; Obadiah 1:21; 1 Timothy 5:8).

By redemption, we are seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus, far above the realms of torture and torments of life: Redemption has repositioned us for sweatless triumph over all circumstances of life.

As it is written: Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you (Luke 10:19).

It is also written: Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved). And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6; see also Ephesians 1:20-21).

We need a consciousness of our new position in Christ to command dominion, because our liberty is the product of our insight.

We are redeemed to live in health and vitality: One of the principal offers of redemption is health and vitality. This is because health is one area the devil torments humanity most. We understand from scripture that healing was a vital aspect of Jesus’ messianic ministry. Wherever He went, He healed the sick and delivered the oppressed, and His disciples did same. The Bible says: How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went

about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him (Acts 10:38). Moreover, Jesus Christ paid the price for our total health on the cross and any resistance against it, is an assault on our Redeemer.

As it is written: For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s (1 Corinthians 6:20).

It is also written: Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:4-5; see also Matthew 8:16-17; 1 Peter 2:24).

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: All You Need To Have All Your Needs Met, Exploring The Riches Of Redemption, Understanding Your Covenant Rights and Possessing Your Possession. I will conclude this teaching next week.

I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have five services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:35 a.m., 9:10 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 12:20 p.m. respectively.

I know this teaching has blessed you.

Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 7747546-8; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww. org

Pray for God’s direction be a Pastor, an evangelist, a worker very zealous with the church and the things of God but what about the fruits he is producing. Not what we see outside dictates but that which is inside, the heart of man is so deep that it takes the Spirit of God to know who the person really is.

We are living in a world of deceits ruled by the devil the greatest deceiver, if you do not allow the Spirit of the Lord to lead and direct you, you will become one of his victims. That is why the Lord says in 1John 4:1 that Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God. Fine, your guy is a worker in the church, are you sure he has ever given his life to Christ, many guys are out there who get actives in church because they want to catch the attention of a sister in the church, some goes to the extent of holding on for years just to convince the sister (so many of these l have seen) but it’s all deceit, immediately they get what they want, it’s all over. Be sure he is really who he claims he is.

Secondly, why and what would have happened to a 48year old man that would have stopped him from getting married up till then. In Africa setting, it is not normal, am not sure about the western world, but here in Africa it is a very big issue. Something definitely must have gone wrong for a man to have remained single up till 48years. The reason(s) he might find difficult sharing with you, but of which you must know.

Fortunately once you have given your life to Christ the Holy Spirit deposit in you gifts (1cor.12:8-11), which many because of

their sin or out of carelessness has lost.

However if you can go back to God with a repentant heart, the Holy Spirit will quicken the dead gifts inside of you and they will come alive again, with these you can be able to get all the hidden information’s that the man is not ready to release.

Also, if you are a praying person you have access and you can easily get what you want. The Bible in Jer.33:3 (God’s Direct number) says that when you call to God in prayers He will answer you and also show to you mysteries that you do not know. Our God is the revealer of secrets (Dan. 2:47), He knows the secrets of the heart (Ps.44:21). Get more into prayers so that you will not make mistake.

Definitely there is more than what your 48year old man is telling you, join hands with other brethren if you cannot do it alone and seek answers from the Lord.

Thirdly, have a listening hears, what others are saying about you might be true. Stay and ask yourself these two questions; [1] If this so called guy happened to be an Okada (motorbike) rider living in a one room rented apartment with his mom and looking up to you to support with their feeding, will you still love him; [2] Because your mother had a very bad experience in marriage, you’ve vowed never to walk that path.

Are sure this is not lust that you believe to be love. Many have fallen into the trap of the devil believing they have love but all they have is just lust. The devil is set to deceive, but unfortunately we do

act as if he is not there but he is, both physically and spiritually, his major duty is to deceive people, getting them off the track, if only you can be focus, you will get that which is right for you.

The devil has it takes to deceive, he entices to draw you closer and before you know it you are in his net. (With the mundane of this world). He appreciates you more than others so as to depreciate you. Be careful.

Lastly, if your parents (supposed born again) are against the relationship, they know what they are doing because they are representatives of God to your life.

On the other hand, our God works in mysterious ways, His plan for our life is of good and not of evil and what he wants about you can never be the same as the next person. We can’t rule out the fact that God can be behind the delay of the guy for not getting married till 48years. But the main point is this, put everything before the Lord. Be fully sure God is leading you into such a relationship.

Don’t wait until you are ripe for relationship before you start getting close to God. Draw nearer to Him now so that you would have been familiar with your gifts before the questions on relationship start coming up. Pray the more. And he will direct your path.

•You can send in your QUESTIONS and the Holy Spirit will be set to give you the ANSWERS. Barr. (Mrs.) Favour Tioluwani Tel: 08050272259 or 07062738213. Email: letsgobible@gmail.com

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1

Then He called His 12 disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.

2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. (Luke 9:1-2) Authority can mean power or right to control, judge, or prohibit the actions of others. By applying this we can categorically say that Jesus has given us the power to prohibit the actions of demons and diseases. It means that you can control their activities and determine if they will operate or not. This is a position of commands that has been given to us (disciples of Jesus) to effectively represent our Lord in this dark world. This power or right has been delegated to us and its imperative that we fully understands this and faithfully work in this in order not to fail the person (Jesus) who has delegated this power or right unto us.

I want you to know that without authority you are going nowhere. The enemy (devil) through his machineries will do everything to discourage you but you can overcome his wiles when you work in the power that has been given you. Mt 8:9 - For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When authority is in a place every other thing submits to it. Without authority you will remain stagnant. Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases (Luke9:1). Jesus Christ gave authority to his disciples over the opposition because they will be able to do nothing without authority. He can only send them after they had been equipped by him. You cannot go or achieve any meaningful thing for the Lord; until you are equipped by him. You need authority to command your blessings to come to you and to retain the blessings.

If a child of God lacks this authority, he/she will be disgraced by the enemy. The enemy will afflict and torment your life. In fact they devil through his agents will take your miracle away from you. They will deny you what are rightfully yours and

From the Pulpit

Sunday November 15, 2015

Divine authority

Bishop Opayinka

there is nothing you can do about it.

1 Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years, 2 and the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made for themselves the dens, the caves, and the strongholds which are in the mountains. 3 So it was, whenever Israel had sown, Midianites would come up; also Amalekites and the people of the East would come up against them. 4 Then they would encamp against them and destroy the produce of the earth as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep nor ox nor donkey. 5 For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, coming in as numerous as locusts; both they and their camels were without number; and they would enter the land to destroy it. 6 So Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD. (Judges 6:1-6) There is nothing that you established that cannot be challenged by the enemy or the opposition. If a king is not given

the staff of office, his authority is not yet substantiated. The staff of office for a king is his mark of authority. He cannot be respected and he will be seen as any other person in the community. Authority will make you different and will place you on a high class.

28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes (Matthew 7:28-29).

If you want to talk, talk like a man of authority, if you want to establish a business, establish the business like a man of authority. Authority is position where no one (the power of darkness) question what you do or say. 24 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things (Mathew 21:23). A man of authority can never be explained because he is moved by authority.

John2:7-10.

When a man of authority speaks to your life, believe him. Authority will bring sudden change or transformation to your life.

Matthew21:18-20. The more you beg the

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Oloruntimilehin claimed that it is imperative to forestall the breakup of the Nigerian nation, adding that some people in the country believe and want the 1914 amalgamation process of Nigeria to be revisited and reviewed.

He advised the president to exhibit fairness, equality; transparency and justice in governing the people as well as make his administration an open one where he need not keep things from citizens.

“As a Prophet of God, I cried and begged God for Nigeria to remain one indivisible country because my desire is to see the country develop rapidly, grow and wit-

devil the more he is empowered and the intense of his attack in your life. A man of authority does not beg, meaning he is a commander; he/she is in charge and control Benefits of authority • Authority makes you a commander over problems; you will become a person who controls.

• When you a man of authority; you are on the platform of dominion. Everything submits to you. Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” (Mark 1:27) • It makes you to rule over sickness, diseases and demons. And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. (Matthew 10:1) • Authority makes you bold to do what you are expected to do.

• It makes you a voice. Everyone will respect what you say.

• You possess your inheritance by authority.

To manifest authority, you must a person that works in obedience. John5:19-22.

You walk in authority when you are doing what father (God) is doing.

1.

Authority comes by speaking the word of God 2.

Keeping a good relationship with God 3.

Speaking the mind of God. Every child of God that will be relevant in the programme of God in these last days must be ready to walk in authority. You cannot live successfully without the authority that comes from the Lord.

This will be continued next week. I will be showing you how you get this authority and permanently work in it.

Bishop Joshua K. Opayinka Glorious Tabernacle International, Behind Adegbemile Cultural Centre, Akure, Ondo State.

08060297831 glorioustabernacle@gmail.com

News

Avoid uprising in Nigeria, cleric warns citizens he founder, the Omnipotence Mission of God Worldwide, Pastor Joshua D. Oloruntimilehin a.k.a. Bosoro has warned leaders and citizens of Nigeria to do all they can to prevent uprising in the country which could emanate from ethnic groups agitating for self-determination in the country.

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ness an improved standard of living for all.

Therefore, I urge the people saddled with the running of the country’s affairs to be honest and sincere in fulfilling their promises to the people. The leadership should not embark on things that would bring disharmony and disunity among the people. President Buhari and his ruling party should shun partisanship and any form of favourtism”, he advised.

The cleric who claims to be a non-partisan and non-partial prophet of God, said he concerned about truthfulness and honesty so as to be part of heavenly kingdom.

He said though the present administration is a good and God-fearing government, but the leaders need to deliver on pre-election promises and adhere to the advise of men of God. Oloruntimilehin revealed that God gave him a message in 2014 that Jonathan must ensure adequate provision of electricity for the nation for his second term presidential

bid to come to reality.

“When God revealed what Jonathan needed to do, I passed the message which was carried in national newspapers, but

he failed to heed the message of God and eventually lost the bid. Therefore, I implore Buhari to ensure he delivers and governs the country aright”, he stated.

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From the Pulpit

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he first battle that humanity faced has to do with worship. Adam and Eve were created to worship only the Creator-God who gave and sustained the breath of life in their nostrils. They were created to worship God (Rev 4:11). “All things were created through Him and for Him” (Col 1:16).

When both Adam and Eve first opened their eyes after creation, the first sight by each of them was of their awesome Creator-God: and so they worshipped! The very first day of their existence was the seventh-day Sabbath (Gen 2:1-3). The Sabbath was the only one of the seven days of creation that God testified: “Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made” (Gen 2:3).

Adam and Eve had not done any serious work on their first (less than full) day of existence to warrant such full 24-hour day rest on the very next day! Actually, God’s command is for human beings to work for six days and rest on the seventh-day (Exod 20:8-11). God was establishing the fact that our days, our efforts, our existence must be about worship.

The Psalmist caught this: “All the earth shall worship You and sing praises to You. They shall sing praises to Your name” (Psa 66:4). “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” (Psa 150:6).

Lucifer instigated and instituted the worship battle in heaven where he had been the anointed covering cherub before the throne of Yahweh. Lucifer’s heart was lifted up because of his beauty and thought

to share in the glory and praises that all creatures offered to Yahweh right before him (Ezek 28:12-17). Lucifer said in his heart: “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. I will also sit on the mount of the congregation. . I will be like the Most High” (Isa 14:13-14). Thus Lucifer waged worship war in heaven but did not prevail because Jesus withstood him and cast him out of heaven as Satan (opposer/rebel), along with his evil angels (Rev 12:7-12).

Not long after Satan lost the worship battle in heaven that he engaged the human pair (Adam and Eve) in worship battle on earth. He began by twisting the word of God and suggesting that upon eating the forbidden fruit, human eyes will open and they will “be like God immediately; knowing good and evil” (Gen 3:1-5).

What a woeful repeat of his claim in Isaiah 14:14! The human pair concurred and so the whole earth has been engulfed in worship war since then.

This is the crux of the Great Controversy between God and Satan, truth and error, light and darkness, good and evil: Whom shall we worship?

How shall we worship? When shall we worship? Where shall we worship? What constitutes the focus and content of our worship?

All humanity is engulfed in this controversy. “We have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels, and to men” (1 Cor 4:9).

The truth of the Bible is the control and litmus test of worship. Christ is the focus of the Scriptures. God invites us to comprehend and experience the truth as it is in Jesus (Eph 4:21), for He Himself is Truth (John 14:5). Jesus is the Center of the Bible; He is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6).

In this last cosmic battle, Satan would have us substitute Jesus for other centers

Sunday November 15, 2015

The final battle of doctrine and worship. This is the spirit of the antichrist, seeking to substitute Christ and direct attention away from Christ.

All forms of false religious teachings, practices, and worship not centered on Christ constitute “Babylon!” “Babylon” invokes the idea of “Babel:” that means “confusion”- Gen 11:1-9.

John the revelator warns of the endtime fascination with “Babylon the great” that gets the world intoxicated with spiritual drunkenness with false forms of worship and teachings (Rev 14:8). Paul warned of the mystery of iniquity and lawlessness that is already at work (2 Thess 2:7-8); elsewhere described as the “Mother of Harlots” (Rev 17:5). The deceptive spiritual power has a conspiracy so thick, it is described as the final battle of Armageddon (Rev 16:16). This involves all forms of counterfeit worship systems in the world.

These contain salvation by works (Eph 2:8-9), blasphemy against the Most High (Dan 7:25; Rev 13:6); persecution of God’s people (Rev 12; 13:7, 16-18), attempts to change God’s laws and the seventh-day Sabbath commanded in the fourth commandment (Dan 7:25; Ps 94:20) among other atrocities.

God is set to punish all forms of deceptive worship that focus on self-glorification (Matt 6:1-4, 16-18;16:6, 12). Jesus insists: “In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men” (Matt 15:9). God calls all His faithful seeking children: “Babylon is fallen, is fallen!

Come out of Babylon, My people” (Jer 51:7; Rev 14:8; 18:2, 4). “Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted” (Matt 15:13). God wants us to abandon all doctrines that fail the litmus test of “thus says the Lord.”

You cannot use popularity of belief to

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judge its biblical soundness. We must not worship people (Acts 10:25-26; Rom 1:25), heavenly hosts (Deut 17:3), other gods (Exod 34:14), demons (Deut 32:17), or images (Dan 3:5-18). God is a jealous God (Exod 20:5) and would never share His glory with anyone or anything (Exod 20:3).

To worship a being lower than the Almighty God Himself is to debase human worth and value (Matt 4:8). We draw strength from true worship of the only Wise One. To delay is dangerous! Anyone who refuses “shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation” (Rev 14:10), shall “receive of her plagues” (Rev 18:4), and be burned with fire (Rev 17:16; 18:6).

The only safeguard is truth as it is in Jesus! Separate yourself completely from all erroneous and unbiblical worship systems. Some suggest that it really does not matter. My friend, it does! It would be too late on the other side of life! Some may think that Babylon would be healed. The Bible laments: “We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed. Forsake her and let us go” (Jer 51:9). The divine mandate: “Come and let us declare in Zion the work of the Lord our God” (Jer 51:10).

The final battle on earth is about worship.

The way it started is the way it will end.

On whose side are you? Worship God “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:2-24). It’s a life and death matter!

Tunde Ojewole, PhD, is the Babcock University Pastor in charge: Division of Spiritual Life. Get your copy of the newly released book: GOD’S FOOTPRINTS. For enquiries, contact: ojewolea@babcock.edu.ng or call/ SMS 08058299434/08060376577.

Understanding your God’s placement in life

Prophet Lai Bamidele, General Overseer of Christ Glorious End-time Evangelical Ministry, AbuleEgba, Lagos, in this exhortation, teaches on praise to God. Excerpts:

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hat do we mean by the word understand?

Understanding here means knowing what to do per time. When you understand who you are, you will know what you need to do to become what he has purpose you to be.

In the book of Hosea 4 vr 6 the bible says that “ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge because thou hast rejected knowledge, l will also reject thee.” It is lack of understanding that make xtians to reject God’s Instruction. Just like the bible emphasized that the wages of sin is death.

The issue of death in this verse may not necessarily be a physical death. There are

so many living corpse on the street. When you don’t know what to do per time in life, then you lack understanding you lack direction and when you lack direction, you then loose your position your position here means your placement. In the book of Proverb 4 verse 18 the bible says “The path of a just man is as a shinning light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. If look into verse 13 and 14 the bible say “The fast hold of Instruction, let her not go, keep her, for she is thy life. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of Evil men. In the book of 1 King’s 3 the bible says Solomon asked God for understanding heart to judge thy people, that l may discern between good and bad, for who is able to judge this thy so great a people in verse 11 and the Lord answered Solomon “Behold thou has asked this thing and thou hast not asked

for thyself long life, neither asked riches for thyself, nor asked for life of thine enemies, but has asked for thyself understanding to discern judgement. The Lord granted the petition of Solomon, in verse 12 the bible says “I’ve done according to thy words, l have given thee a wise and understanding heart, so that there is none like thee before thee, neither after the shall any arise like unto thee. If you understand who God has purpose you to be in life, you will not be disobeying his lnstructions.

Solomon’s understanding made him to rise above his peers. If you look at it very well, God did not single out David’s bonafide childrens to be King to reign after David, but Solomon the son of a concubine that reign after him.

Why? Because God discovered that Solomon is an understanding child. He knows what he want and what he need to do in God’s presence per time.

Absalom the first born of David was only desperate for what his father has not what God can give him. He pursued after his father’s position and he died a shameful death out of his desperation. Instead of Absalom to seek after God he was running after the throne of his father and he colluded [Ganged] up with his father’s enemies and they all die together.

Solomon the son of a strange woman by my biblical analysis understand his father and understand what made his father to be a unique King

in the land of Israel and he follow the path of God and he took after his father and God made him to be Great. Solomon studied his father to be a great man via obedience to God, he sound out a man in his father that loved God, and he took after the God step of his father. In the book of 1 Kings 3 verse 3 the Bible says “And Solomon loved the Lord walking in the statuas of David his father, only he sacrifice a burnt incense in high places”. In verse 4 “And the King went to Gibem to sacrifice there, for that was great high places, a thousand burnt offering did Solomon offer upon that altar. In Gibem the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night and God said. Ask what l shall give thee.

Solomon understands that his father David walk with God in truth, in righteousness, in obedience. God showed kindness and mercy to him in all his ways, that was what necesiated his son Solomon to reign after him as a King.

Because Solomon walk God in obedience and truth God made a rich prosperious and Great King in lsrael, out of him. The first key step Solomon took after being enthroned was that he offered a fat offering [sacrifice] into the Lord. And God was happy over his sacrifice, his sacrifice was acceptable unto God. The second thing God tested him with was that God gave him an open cheque of whatever he want before God, he was a wise King, Solomon never requested for money, riches, he never request-

Pastor Bamidele

ed for the head of his enemies, he only ask God for understanding to be able to judge between good and bad as a King. Today so many Christians wants God’s blessing but they have forgotten that there are certain thing’s you need to do in life for God to place you where he has rightly planned for you to be in life. Solomon used what he has to get what he never or his father’s generation never bargained for in life. Many Christians that God has purpose and planned to become great, they are sitting idle doing nothing in the house of God, some of them are even talented, some were given gifts, instead of them to use what they have to get what they don’t have they decide to be a bench warmer in the church. Instead of many to contribute their positive quota unto the work of God, •Pastor Moses Alu; The Bride Assembly, Odofin Park Estate, OshodiApapa Expressway, Ijesha Bus stop 08033524903 : Email: pastormosesalu@yahoo.com

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The Bride’s voice with Pastor Moses

Alu

I wish Conclude the message titled He Cares today.

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raise the Lord. It was Pastor Thomas that came to blame because the officer was not allowed by law to do so. So this testimony is not just made up. I have entered serious situations that I thought I will not survive even as an unbeliever, but these all happened in order for God to fulfill His ordained purpose for my life. He was the one guiding me.

The day my job ended in the Air Force, I was arrested over whatever they said happened and I was imagining myself; a popu-

Endtime Revelation with Bishop Bernard

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From the Pulpit

Sunday November 15, 2015

Ojemeni (JP)

rethren, in today’s write up we are going to look into what the Holy Bible teaches concerning Heaven and Hell Fire. In the account Jesus gave us in Luke 16:19 – 31, it was not a parable as many people would want us to believe, it is a true story of what happened to two sets of people who lived on earth.

One was a child of God, though he was poor and a beggar. But he had the fear of God and was known by God. No wonder Jesus gave us his name - Lazarus. In John 9:3 Jesus said the good shepherd calls his sheep by name, God will call you by your name if you are a child of God. The rich man in the story did not know God. He is not a child of God and that is why Jesus referred to him as a certain rich man. This man lived in pleasure of sin. God was not in his program whatever he likes, he does because he has no regard for God. It is true that God created everybody but everybody is not a child of God. Lucifer who became Satan was created by God. Since Jesus Christ came into the world and died on the cross of Calvary for nearly 2000 years, the criterion for anyone to be a child of God is by believing that Jesus Christ is the son of God who died on the cross to save you and then you receive Him into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour. This is for people of all races including the original people of God – the nation of Israel.

Without Jesus Christ in your life today, you are on the side with the certain rich man who died and found himself in hell fire.

When he was on earth, he had every opportunity to do good and help others Lazarus a child of God who was poor and his body full of saves came to seek help from the rich man just food to eat but he failed to help him instead his dog would be licking Lazarus sores and one day death came knocking at the door of Lazarus and as he died he was carried by an angel to Abraham’s bosom – a place of rest for the righteous ones.

It is also referred to as Paradise, (Luke 23:42-43) the abode of the saints for now until the fullness of time when those in Paradise will be ushered into New Heaven and New Earth. Revelation chapters 21 and 22.

And those in hell fire will be ushered into

lar man like me; a famous officer like me, so this is how my life will be rubbished. I was the one that drove my car to the office and my service pistol was in the car.

So I told the Air Force Police Officers that came to arrest me that I wanted to pick something from the car. What I was trying to do was to go and get my pistol and blow off my head. I felt I should die than face the humiliation. How can the whole world hear that this is what happened to Alu? And each time I told them I wanted to get something from the car, that they should follow me to pick it, they will tell me to let them know where it is and they will bring it. I used every trick but none worked.

I didn’t know they were protecting me from dying.

By now, my wife would have been a widow or would have remarried. It was later when some people came to visit me that I

He cares (11)

told them about the service pistol; that they should go into my car and pick it and sign it in with the Air Force because if somebody else picks it, it will become another serious case. In any case, I would have shot myself but the Lord prevented it.

And I didn’t know that God was moving me from the Nigerian Air Force to the Air Force of the heavenly forces. Blessed be the name of the Lord. I am a General of the Army of the Lord. God repackaged my life; he will repackage your life too. Somebody here.

He will repackage your marriage; your business will be repacked; your ministry will be repackaged in the name of Jesus Christ.

Let us stand up. He cares! Never give up hope. Life is a mixture of ups and downs.

Yu may be down now but you not remain

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there forever. God will lift you up tomorrow and each time God lifts you up, you become better than you were.

The later end of Job was better than his beginning and so shall it be for every one of us because He cares.

Yes, He cares. And I am speaking to people who care for him. That is why we are here to take our problems to Him and with this understanding, any problem we take to Him; He will certainly sort us out.

Be ready for a great testimony. Lift up your right hand to heaven and sing with me; Because He lives, I can face tomorrow Because He lives All fear is gone Because I know He holds my future My life is worthy a living Because He lives.

The reality of heaven and hell fire

Bishop Bernard Chukwuma Mbamalu Ojemeni, General Superintendent of Endtime Believers’ Ministry Inc, in this piece, gives an insight into the New World Order. Excerpts: the lake of fire and both is for ever. Revelation 20:10 – 15.

When Lazarus died, there was no mention of burial. His body could have been abandoned to rotten on earth but the angel of God carried his spirit man to Paradise.

When the rich man died, the body was buried in what is commonly known as befitting burial among the rich while his spirit man was cast into hell – fire where he was in torment in flames of fire when he looked up he saw Lazarus resting in the bosom of Abraham and cried out to Abraham.

He said father Abraham send Lazarus to come and dip the tip of his finger in water and cool his tongue for he is tormented in the flames of fire of hell. Abraham answered him that he enjoyed sin and now he is tormented there is a gulf between them and so the request was not possible and besides Lazarus is resting and does not have to do any job as such. That is a big lesson for the Roman Catholics who are asking Virgin Mary to pray for them.

There is no such assignment for Mary in Paradise Jesus is our mediator who is interceding for us before His father in the 3rd Heaven. The Virgin Mary and other saints are in a different location and have no such access to the father.

It is only Jesus. That is why even moulding the statute or image of Virgin Mary or any of the saints dead or alive and bowing down to them is a negation of the teachings of the Bible. Exodus 20:4-5. And when the rich man saw that his case is over, he started to plead for his five brothers who are still on earth, that somebody or people should be sent to earth from Paradise to warn his brothers concerning the life of sin they are living, the need for them to repent so that they will not end up in hell-fire.

The reply father Abraham gave to him is that they have Moses and the prophets let them listen to them. In other words, they have preachers and teachers of the word of God, they should listen to and repent, otherwise they will meet him in hell-fire when they die.

Abraham also said that even if people are sent from the dead, the brothers will still not believe. From this discussion we learn that there is consciousness in people’s lives after death.

The rich man still remembers his five brothers he left behind and knows the type of life they were living together before he

left them and knows that if they continue with the same life style they will also come to hell-fire when they die and he does not want it.

The same thing is applicable to many people still living on earth. Some of our loved ones who have died and are in hellfire are feeling the same way the rich man felt.

They do not want us to come and suffer what they are suffering in hell-fire. And then what are we doing to avoid going to hell-fire and adding more sorrow to them.

Please my brethren, let every one of us from today repent totally and surrender our live to Christ and fight against sin with every part of blood. SIN is defined as Simple Instruction Neglected.

The simple instruction God gave to human beings in this dispensation is to give your life to Christ and many people are still holding unto their religion which does not save. Only Jesus can save. If today you are still living in any kind of sin, repent and give your life to Christ.

Taking a look at the fact about hell fire, the Russian scientists when digging a 9-mile hole to the earth’s crust heard human scream, and they said “could this be the Bible’s hell” Dr. Azzakov, was the director of the project. John Bunyan was conducted to hell by an angel of God. He was told not to be afraid because God will secure him.

The residents of hell fire are undergoing terrible pains. And what pains them most is the word “forever”. And every one was blaming himself in their hopeless and helpless state. They were regretting choosing short and momentary pleasure of sin at the expense of total damnation of their souls in hell. Their eternal state is fixed forever.

Too late to make a change. Hebrews 11:2426; 1Timothy 5:6; 1Corinthians 6:9; Romans 6:16; Revelation 22:14-15; Revelation 21:8; Isaiah 5:14; Psalm 9:17;Mark 9:43-48; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 14:9-12; Isaiah 66:22; Isaiah 28:15. Somebody said why was I made with an immortal soul and yet should take so little care of it: Proverbs 1:24-28 – comes to mind.

The residents of hell lost 2 vital things; 1. The presence of God, the ever blessed God. The company of saints and angels. 2.

Heaven, the seat of blessedness. And a gulf separating them from those in paradise.

Luke 16:19-31. They undergo a lot of tor-

ments, in different ways. All the afflictions of humanity on earth are like a mosquito bite compared to the torture. The fire is so violent that all the waters on earth cannot quench it. The torment, the misery is ceaseless.

The tormenting devils (worms) are merciless. Isaiah 14:17; John 10:10; Mark 9:43.

An inhabitant of hell said if all the diseases, pains, sickness, problems troubles of the entire world are laid upon him, he will prefer to carry all than to stay a second in hell.

As one resident was complaining, a tormenting demon asked him to stop complaining that salvation was offered unto him and he rejected and so why complaining that he has more reason to complain because they were not given a 2nd chance….

A mermaid spirit from River Niger once told a brother like that. If the brother was not strong she would have drawn him to the water. Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape….

The resident of hell told the devil that though he had no Saviour offered to him but there was no tempter. He the devil caused his problem because he was the tempter and the devil asked him why did he not resist him. You know the Bible says resist the devil and he will flee... And besides he was carrying out his assignment or his ministry. John 10:10. Why did you not follow the Saviour? It is because you loved us and followed our instruction or commandment.

Roman 6:16. If you walked or worked with us why not also be with us in our eternal home of everlasting punishment.

And so the cry in hell is had-I-known.

The demon said you were told that the devil is a roaring lion seeking whom to devour yet you allowed it. 1 Peter 5:8. He said several times when the preachers were preaching to him that they were afraid that he will repent and follow them as many people escaped them. And later they discover he still worked with them. And so it is reasonable that they pay him wages. For more information concerning I invite to come and worship with us in our Holy Ghost Service every Sunday at 9am in our ENDTIME Cathedral in the address below: •For further information, contact us at: Endtime Believers’ Ministry Inc.16/18, Johnson Street, off Kajola Street, Yakoyo, Lagos. Tel: 08023261219, 09095268897, 08036116881; Email: bishop.bernard@yahoo.com

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From the Pulpit

Hour of Change with Primate

Oyelowo

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or the son of man came not to be ministered unto but to and to give his life a ransom for many’’ mark 10:45 The almighty God, in his wisdom established Leadership position in the Bile to avoid chaos in human relationship with other lesser creatures including nature and among was further confirmed when Adam was given right of leadership over his wife Eve. Gen 3:16 further, Paul asserts that ‘’to aspire to leadership is a honourable ambition’’ (1 Timothy 3:1) What then is leadership? It is defined as the capacity of someone to lead a group of leaders.

Therefore leadership pre supposes that there must be followership. Anyone who is placed

Chapel of Holiness and Testimony with Pastor K. I.

Bona

Continued from topic one of last week

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eaning that any life lived after the flesh is a life lived to satisfy flesh and blood. Such life must attract the condemnation of the devil, at the place of blessing. Any one condemned by the devil has been defeated already. The person cannot prevail over the devil any longer. No matter how spiritually bravery the person might be or how cleverly and smartly he applied the weapons of our warfare. This explains how very important it is, for anyone who truly want to keep living a life of dominion over the enemy must run away from sin.

Have you not seen, a Christian who prayed over his/he challenges using the weapons of our warfare without result? Could it be that such a Christian is having a besetting sin? A besetting sin is a reaper, a cankerworm, a destroyer, devil’s great instrument of set back on his victim. In Hebrew 12:1-2 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Child of God, is there any besetting sin in you? Besetting sins are those sins that have become addicted to you. You see yourself, committing them without remorse, or regard. Sometimes, we cannot help ourselves out of them. It so readily defiles, and cleverly clings to us and entangles us. By the help of the Holy Spirit I advise you to lay them aside. This is because the powers of familiar spirits are the most stubborn set of satanic department. Familiar spirits are not chased away or casted out easily by prayer using the weapons of our warfare. For anyone to battle against familiar spirits and overcome them, he/she must stand on a holy ground in Christ Jesus. Reason being that familiar spirits are the worst accusing agent of darkness. When the Bible said that the devil is the accuser of brethren, it is the familiar spirits.

The source and foundation of familiar spirit In Deuteronomy 18:9-14 “When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not

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A servant/Leader: Jesus way of life (1)

in a position of leadership should regard it as a privilege and not right. this will inform him to utilize that honour bestowed on him to the maximum level for the benefits of the privilege people, not for his own selfish end.

A servant is one who serves other or providing help in some manner or one who is hired to perform regular duties and receives compensation as opposed to a slave.

In a law of contract, there are two categories of servants; a contractor who is given some degree of freedom in the course of performing his contractual duty. His employer is vicariously responsible for his misdemeanors.

On the other hand, an employer is directly responsible for the offences committed by his employee, though he can be dismissed or have his appointment terminated or suspended depending on the degree of his offence(s).

In this write up, our focus is on the life style or way of life of our Lord Jesus while he was performing his earthly ministry. Jesus Christ combined three important position together

when he was on earth. He was a son of God, as a result he was a prince (Isaiah 9:6) and at the same time a king, as he was a high priest (Hebrews 2:17,4:14) and a Mighty prophet (Luke 24:19).

How did he perform these three important position unscathed or without blemish? Efforts should be made here to highlight some of the characteristics Jesus Christ displayed which should be copied by anyone who wants to aspire to position of leadership.

In response to the request of john and James, the sons of zabedee to grant them the right for them to be on his right and left side in Jesus kingdom, he did not only rebuked them for their in-ordinate ambition, but also put them through that leadership is both self sacrifice and humility. In essence whoever sincerely wants t serve either his household, church, community or the nation and take glory at the end of his service must cultivate these positive attributes. (Mark 10:37-45).

Therefore, let your ambition in serving be

for the glorification of God and not self glorification. Jesus says: ‘I have glorified thee on earth, in have finished the work which thou givest me to do. Do and now, O father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was’’ (john 17:4-5).

It is also of utmost importance for a servant/leader to give his life to Christ totally. This will enable Jesus to partner with him to give direction. It will also afford a servant/leader opportunity to learn from his senior partner, Jesus. The word of God represents Jesus here.

If it is diligently read, God will shed his light on his heart so that there will not be difficulty in applying what is read, proverbs 23:26 says: ‘’my son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways’’ (Matthew 11:28-30).

•You can contact us at: The Word of Life, Agbo Igbala Ti Kiish Aladura Church 70 Patey street Lagos State. Tel: 07040517413

Familiar spirits (2)

be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.”

The Lord God warned the children of Israel against following the ways of the nations whose lands he had given them to possess. The Lord God, made it clear to them, that it was because of those abominations, the nations committed that was why the land vomited them out.

He sounded the warning to their understanding, that the ways of those nations he drove out for them to occupy their lands were detestful to him. He hated their ways of life. Which ways of their life were: 1) They made their sons and daughter to pass through fire. Which is before God an act of sorcery.

2) The practiced divination. The Hebrews name for divination is (Qesem). Which is an act of using sorcery to tell the future 3) They observed times. This is an act of using magical powers to reading times, and events. The Hebrews word for observers of times is (Meonen) 4) They practiced enchantment. This is the act of using witchcraft power, to invoke, evil, disasters, omens, or even death agent their victims. The Hebrew word for enchanters is (Menachech) 5) They also practiced witchcraft. This is an act of magical powers, derived from marine spirits to do wickedness. The Hebrew name for witchcraft is (Mekashep) 6) Many became witches and wizards.

The Hebrew word for wizard is (Yideoni) 7) Many were consulters with familiar spirits Familiar spirits goes with foundational idolatry. They are found in a family, kindred, village or town, where idols are worshipped.

Any family whose foundation is idolatry has familiar spirits powers in operation. They are record keepers. They keep record of all the family members, beginning from the root of their blood line. Not even a good one, but the record of all the evils, abominations, incest, adulteries, killings, and every other history of wickedness traceable to the family lineage.

They work together with the prince of dark-

ness called “Shagma”. These demon are responsible for enforcing causes. The familiar spirits working together with the prince of curses, ensures that the sins of the fathers are visited upon the children to the second, third and fourth generations. They do this boldly, defiling the weapons of our warfare because they have the word of God as their backup. Remember, I had already told you at the beginning of this teaching that familiar spirits as demons are more difficult to cast out among other demonic entities because they carry out their wickedness having the word of God as their legal ground. Which was why in Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Familiar spirits are all out to condemn Christians using their past lives and the sins of their fathers. But when you are in Christ Jesus on a new foundation and in the righteousness of God, every tongue raised up in judgment against you becomes condemned. The familiar spirits uses Exodus 20:4-6 “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.”

We give God the glory because in Ezekiel chapter 18:1-4 through the abundance of the compassion of God, God used his word to nullify this judgment of visiting the sins of the fathers upon the children. “The word of the Lord came unto me again saying, what mean ye that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying. The fathers haven eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge? As, I live saith the LORD God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel. Behold all souls are mine, as the soul of the father is mine so also the soul of the son is mine. The soul that sinneth, it shall die”. This scripture has broken the yoke on the sons. The sons would no more suffer for their sins of the fathers.

The fathers shall bear their own quilt as well as sons. God gave this promise based on the accomplishment of the work of salvation which he had purposed in his son before the beginning of age. When Jesus was manifested he finally fulfilled the promise of his

father that the iniquity of the fathers should no more be visited on the children. Galatian 3:13 “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” Jesus became a curse for us, by being hanged on a tree. He took away the curse of the law, that says the iniquity of the father’s shall be visited upon the children. That we, who are the children, in him shall be free of all condemnation.

Confirming the word of God in Romans 8:1.

Which means any child of God in Christ can never be accused by the familiar spirits any more. Even if they do, their accusations shall be silenced by the Blood of Jesus Christ. In Romans 8:1, there are two conditions a child of God must meet to be free from the judgments and condemnations of the powers of familiar spirits. These two conditions are:1) The child of God must be in Christ.

2) The child of God must not walk after flesh Prayer point Oh Lord, let the habitation of familiar spirit in my foundation be desolate in the name of Jesus.

Testimonies Automatic employment For a considerable period of time, I lost my job everything about me fell apart. House rent expired, landlord was threatening to throw me out. My wife was pregnant to deliver, no money, my children were out of school, and everyday they cried for food. I was almost running mad.

All appointments I had to get job failed. I got up last week Monday, I did not know how I came to this church. I met the man of God and told him everything I was going through. I was crying bitterly. The man of God told me to go to the altar and cried to God, the much I could. I did so, when I felt exhausted from crying, he called me and told me that as I was living the church two things will happen. First, I would receive financial favour to take care of my family. Secondly, somebody will call me the same day for a good job. Brethren, as I left the church, it happened just as the man of God said. A friend saw me and gave me money that surprised me. As I was still going home, my phone rang for a job.

Today, God has turned my life around for good.

He has wiped away my tears. Praise the Lord!

Bro. Ogbonna 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 wwwchapelofholiness.org

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Business FRESH BUSINESS NEWS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Sunday November 15, 2015

BOI to partner LCCI on SMEs development Abolaji Adebayo

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he Bank of Industry, BOI, has promised to partner with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, to fast track its effort geared towards development of small and medi-

um enterprises, SMEs, to bridge the unemployment gap in the country.

Speaking during a SMEs forum at the ongoing Lagos International Trade Fair, the Executive Director, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, SME, of the Bank, Mr. Waheed Olagunju, reaf-

firmed the bank’s commitment to assisting SMEs to grow.

According to him, most policies of the bank were aimed at economic empowerment of entrepreneurs.

He explained that the SMEs are critical to the development of the nation’s

PHCN opens at Red Door Nov 20

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solo art exhibition reflecting the state of the nation Please Help Clean (PHCN) by Ija Lobomo will open at the Red Door Gallery, Victoria Island, Lagos on November 20.

According to the organisers, it will feature paintings such as Painfully Employed I; Painfully Employed Ii, What Legacies! 1960s BC And 2010 Ad are pictures

reflecting the state of the nation.

Ija Lobomo’s paintings remain stark reminders to the gifted community of aficionados and collectors.

These are the real culprits that the paintings address.

It is from this category of citizenry that the oppressor class emerges.

The artist addresses the same oppressor class for

the looting of the treasury symbolised by the stark images such as To Hand Unto Our Children …A Banner With All Pains And Llpc, Loot Loot Petroleum Corporation and Images reflecting the invasion of the, otherwise, rich country where culture and the beautiful life persisted. The paintings include Girl by the Parrot Cage, Eyo Dancers, The Flute Player, The Beaded

economy as they possess great potential for employment generation, improved technology, and output diversification while improving indigenous entrepreneurship as well as integration with large scale enterprises.

He also noted with displeasure the under performance of the SMEs sub-sector,

Dancer among others. Some thought-provoking paintings for display are O SAMBISA and THE SILHOUTTE WITH AK 47.

In spite of these vexatious images, the exhibition still offers a glimmer of hope in Bunch of Flowers, The Festering Cockeral and the reality of a change represented

by The Mythical Eleshin, The Horse Man, symbol of Apocalypse and change.

which undermines its contribution to the nation’s growth.

Olagunju said that in the past one year, the bank, mindful of its vision, had repositioned to fulfill its set goals in the six geo-political zones in Nigeria, saying that in order to serve its customers better, the bank was leveraging on Information Communications Technology, ICT. “We cannot be everywhere and that is why we leverage on ICT to get to our customers. Now you don’t need to get to our offices as our customers can access our service offerings online and we also have SME customer hub on our website,” he said.

He said that the bank had also appointed more business development officers

NASCO re-launches new cornflakes brands James Abraham JOS

N L-R: President, Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Prof. Ngozi Nnam; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Nasco Group, Dr. Attia Nasreddin and representative of Plateau Governor, Mr. Thomas Chollom, during formal re-launch and unveiling of the new Nasco Cornflakes in Jos, yesterday.

Agric ministry lauds PRIMLAKS’ value creation efforts Abolaji Adebayo

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he Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Arc. Sonny Echono, has lauded the efforts of Primlaks Group, producers of the Sympli brand of convenience foods, for raising the bar of innovation and value addition to Nigeria’s indigenous foods.

Echono gave the commendation during his visit to the Sympli exhibition stand at the just concluded 2015 FOODBEXT WEST

AFRICA Exhibition in Lagos where he tasted Sympli yam fries and plantain chips to the delight of visitors and other stakeholders.

“Sympli has shown that it is not enough to just grow crops, we must add some value, do some processing, improve packaging and then the products will be exportable and can earn more revenue for Nigeria,” he said, adding, “Value addition is the way to go, the opportunities are bountiful, it is profitable, it also ensures that we create additional jobs for our people and we can get additional value.”

He urged the company to

intensify efforts at creating awareness and getting markets for its products, leveraging on the quick preparation and affordability of local agricultural produce.

“We have the right economic conditions, good soil and labour. So once you can improve on these, you can compete with anybody anywhere and that is what you should be doing,” he said.

Earlier at the opening ceremony of the AgrikExpo, the founder of the Centre for Value and Leadership, Prof Pat Utomi, said: “It is my view that if we focus on the strategy of processing what we produce and there is a clear

national strategy, corporate strategy will key into it and use it as a great advantage to help drive the economy of this nation.”

Chairman of VPPL, Otunba Christopher Tugbobo said, “I am very happy to be a part of this venture because Sympli proves that Nigeria is capable of doing new things in agriculture that can help reduce our dependence on oil and gas.” The Chairman of VPPL, Otunba Christopher Tugbobo said that the product was a proves that Nigeria is capable of doing new things in agriculture that can help reduce its dependence on oil and gas.

to meet various needs of its customers and stressed that the bank is in close collaboration with key stakeholders to ensure that entrepreneurs are supported and recognised globally for their hard work and resilience.

He, therefore, implored entrepreneurs to constantly be updated with current trends in the global market space, urging them to understudy the dynamics of the economy and the world at large.

“Ideas that are generated today will not remain forever. Please be watchful and monitor the environment for the ever-changing needs and wants of consumers to whom you will be offering your services. As the world continues to change you must follow the trend to become successful entrepreneurs,” he added.

ASCO Group of companies, makers of various consumer goods and owner of first indigenous cornflakes breakfast cereal brand in Nigeria, has stepped up the tempo with the launch and unveiling of a new cornflakes product for consumers.

The rebranded range of cornflakes comprising of all the variants including Original, Banana, Vanilla, Strawberry and Frostyz was unveiled to members of the public at a colourful ceremony in Jos, the Plateau State capital at the weekend.

The latest effort was the fourth time the new NASCO cornflakes products was being rebranded and improved upon since it was first introduced into the Nigerian market in 1985.

Speaking at the occasion, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, NASCO Group Nigeria, Dr Attia Nasreddin said through the phases, the company has continued to use top quality grains to produce a quality cereal brand from generation to generation.

“We are humbled by the fact that the NASCO cornflakes brand is a

household name in many homes across Nigeria. The new cornflakes, which is glossier, trendier and more appealing was designed to meet the demands of our esteemed customers and consumers alike. The essence is to add value to our customers business by assuring consumers of a top quality brand that guarantees nourishing goodness anytime” He said the “new look” NASCO cornflakes range was a dream come true as it reflected the vision of the founding fathers of the company established in Jos in 1963 which was to grow a company that will provide quality life Nigeria’s growing population The Chief Marketing Officer of NASCO, Mr Nasir Khan added that the new cornflakes brand is unique against the backdrop of huge endorsement by the Nutrition Society of Nigeria,(NSN) in addition to having earned the International Standard Organisation (ISO) certification mark by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria(SON) as a readyto-eat cereal meal enriched with vitamins and remains the only indigenous brand to be so endorsed.

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Sunday, November 15, 2015

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Ambode sends Employment Trust Fund bill to Assembly

…proposes ve-year single tenure for LASU VC FRANCIS SUBERU

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he Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has sent the Employment Trust Fund Bill 2015 to the state ’s House of Assembly for

consideration and ratification. The bill aims to radically transform employment creation in the state with N25bn proposed to be spent over four years as a support scheme for young entrepreneurs and small businesses.

The governor has also sent the Lagos State University (Amendment) Bill 2015 for ratification by the House of Assembly. The draft of the bills had earlier been approved by the Lagos State Cabinet at its Executive Council meeting

on Wednesday, according to a press release signed by the state ’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde.

The two bills were sent to the House as Executive Bills.

The Employment Trust

Permanent Secretary, Osun State Ministry of Education, Mr. Lawrence Oyeniran (middle); Principal of Adventist High School, Ede, Mr. Anthony Ojo and other teachers with some students, during the second phase inauguration and distribution of ‘Tablets of Knowledge ’ to senior secondary school students across the public high schools in the state, at the Adventist High School ’s premises, at the weekend.

PRP seeks further reduction of ministries … review of allocation of portfolios to new ministers AMOUR UDEMUDE ASABA

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he Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency review some of the portfolios allocated the newly sworn in Ministers on Wednesday.

In a statement signed by the Delta State chairman of PRP, Comrade Emmanuel Igbini and made available to our correspondent in Asaba, yesterday, also called for more reduction of ministries to not more than 17.

PRP noted that the merger of the ministry of energy, works and housing was wrong while the

appointment of Alhaji Lai Mohammed as Minister of Information should be revisited and recommended that a Nigerian from other region other than the northern region be appointed as minister for FCT. “The merger of Energy, Works and Housing under a Minister is not right at all. We hasten to remind President Buhari that Energy and Works are very critical and highly challenging national task that must not be left to only one minister and ministry.

We therefore recommend Fashola to head Ministry of Energy while Amaechi heads Ministry of Works and Housing or vice versa.

“The appointment of

Alhaji Lai Mohammed as Minister of Information should be revisited. The reason being that Nigerians particularly those of the other political parties will perceive him still as the spokesperson of the APC rather than the Minister of Information for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He will also be tempted to think and act in that way which will be detrimental to national peace.

“We recommend Chief Chris Ogbonnaya Onu to head Ministry of Information due to his high level of maturity and calmness with which he handles partisan politics without bitterness. We recommend that a Nigerian

from other region other than the northern region be appointed as minister for FCT. This is to break the jinx of having northerners head this Ministries and also to reassure Nigerians that indeed the FCT belong equally to all Nigerians.

The party commending the wisdom of President Buhari for heading the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and not to appoint Governor Amaechi as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs as was highly speculated due to the large sentiment and anger against him by some people of the Niger Delta Region as a result of his support for President Buhari in the 2015 Election.

Fund Bill, according to the release, is in fulfillment of one of the campaign promises of Governor Ambode, which aims to inject N25bn into job creation and employment opportunities over a period of four years. The fund will be administered as soft loans to bona fide residents of the state that desire facilities ranging from N100, 000 to N1,000, 000, or more, as the case may be.

Ayorinde said the bill seeks the establishment of the ETF to be modeled after the state ’s Security Trust Fund, which means it will be funded through joint contributions from the Lagos State government and the private sector and will be administered through an independent Trust backed by an efficient structure that will disburse the funds.

The ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, which was created in June

by Governor Ambode, will oversee the affairs of the scheme, while the funds

will be channeled through the state ’s microfinance institution. Beneficiaries, he added, would be selected across the five divisions in the state: Lagos Island, Ikeja, Badagry, Epe and Ikorodu in order to allow citizens in every part of the state enjoy the novel scheme.

“Just about one per cent interest rate will be charged on the loan to take care of administrative expenses. The state government ’s desire is to allow enterprising Lagos residents who do not have access to loans or other forms of finance with stringent conditions enjoy repayable soft loans to establish a business venture or rescue a struggling small concern, ” it stated.

Ayorinde said the Lagos State government was keen about start-up businesses because every beneficiary will be able to employ a few other persons, thereby taking several thousands of people off the streets.

Amosun calls for change of orientation, work ethics

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gun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has urged members of the state executive council to be “ready to use the least available resources to achieve not just the best possible scenarios, but outstanding results in the face of the current economic challenges facing the nation. ” Amosun gave the charge, on Friday, at a retreat organised for Political appointees, Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Parastatals, Directors and other top government functionaries in Ogun State.

Speaking at the retreat organised with the theme “Optimising Resources, Outstanding Results, ” the governor noted that “where we are in Nigeria, things are not so rosy, yet for us as a state people ’s expectations are high and

we must work hard at it. ” The Ogun State Governor said the retreat became imperative particularly at a time like this when the nation is going through economic challenges.

Amosun said the time has come for all team leaders and managers in the state government to change their orientation and work ethics towards achieving more productivity and ultimately improve the fortunes of the state.

“We are now at a critical time that everyone must change his orientation and work ethics though we are not here to over-labour you but we must work hard, sharpen our skills, listen to our renowned resource persons to tell us the way to go while we acquaint ourselves with world best practices, ” Amosun said.

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Opinion

Sunday November 15, 2015

ABUAD: A dream comes true Tunde Olofintila

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hen after his seven-year stint as ProChancellor and Chairman of Council of the University of Lagos, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) conceptualized his dream of entrenching functional and reformatory education by providing and leading others in quality education, service, industry and character as well as discipline, some skeptics would probably have looked at the now flourishing and admirable dream with some subdued optimism or outright pessimism: some ‘let’s wait and see’ attitude.

Babalola’s decision to establish the University arose from the rot and decay he saw first-hand and bare-facedly during his twoterm tenure as UNILAG’s Pro-Chancellor & Chairman. But good enough, together with his colleagues in the Council and the University Administration, they were able, through hard work and uncommon commitment, to turn the fortunes of UNILAG around such that that university became the best around that time while Babalola was voted Best ProChancellor twice (2005 and 2006).

But for this octogenarian who has built and donated towering edifices to many tertiary institutions in Nigeria and selflessly waived of a N5 million legal fee in 1982 just for a federal institution to be established in his home state of the bigger Ondo State then, re-organizing and rejuvenating UNILAG to rid it of corruption, cultism, decay of infrastructures, lethargy and indolence as well as strike actions was simply not enough.

It was this dissatisfaction with the status quo that propelled him to establish his own

university, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, a 21st Century University primed to be a leader in quality, functional and reformatory education.

In specific terms, Afe Babalola University is a result-oriented institution for producing highly skilled and socially relevant graduates capable of applying scientific knowledge for the resolution of social and technological problems. The university is equally committed to transforming students into expert thinkers, innovative managers and resourceful technocrats in all fields of learning.

The context of the university is morally and spiritually holding, with a stable academic calendar, fully-stocked libraries, state-of-the-art laboratories and an excellent road network.

The university’s mandate is to pioneer total excellence in teaching, research, superlative performance, sports, community impact and scholarship as well as exemplary character.

The vision of the university is to be a world class educational Centre of Excellence in academics, character, sports and vocational development. This vision is guided by the need to produce sound and agile professionals who would ultimately be employers of labour instead of pounding the streets looking for white collar jobs that are in short supply any way!

Babalola dreams of leaders and achievers who would be self-reliant, kind and generous, considerate and sportsman-like. His guiding principle that it pays most who works hardest is daily taught, applied and practised religiously. Students are made to believe in the golden rule that no matter one’s background, nothing is impossible; and with hard work, one can make it to the top.

In form and structure, Afe Babalola Univer-

sity is conceived as a citadel for the promotion of an authentic learning environment that puts intellectualism at the centre of its tradition. The temperament of universality and excellence are not only imbibed, they are evident at every level of academic decisions-making in all Colleges and Departments of the university.

Coincidentally, this vision is in line with the policy of the Federal Government which encourages public-private partnership. Babalola has deployed his hard-earned resources, his vast contacts and goodwill in business and professional circles to muster support for the fulfillment of the vision.

And so today, through diligence, determination and unbending focus and his wellknown “I can do it spirit”, the university is achieving its goal and vision as confirmed and exemplified by the retinue of Awards, Acknowledgments and Recognitions nationally and internationally, including the ones from UNESCO which described it as a world class institution.

As a matter of fact, Babalola had wanted to name the university Model University ab initio, but he was persuaded against it in favour of allowing the colour, character and achievements of the university to speak for it. Just within one year of its existence, the NUC, the Regulatory Body for University education in Nigeria, returned a verdict that what the university was doing was a rare combination of magic and miracle, a model, benchmark and a reference point in quality and functional education.

And so today, a first time visitor to the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), which regally sits in the serene atmosphere and lush ambience of Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti

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state capital, would look up in awe and marvel at the majestic architectural masterpieces that adorn the landscape of the five-year old world class institution that has been commended, eulogized and celebrated by national and international educational stakeholders.

As anyone begins to navigate his way through the striking gatehouse to the university which someone has lucidly and appropriately described as “Europe in Africa” on account of its sheer architectural splendour; it would be lucid that this is a university different in colour, character and charisma from what people have been used to. Indeed, it is a clear departure from the status quo!

The University has been rated as 2nd Best Private University in the latest Webometrics ranking. That is not all, it is on record that within a spate of five years, ABUAD has received 100% accreditation in all its 36 academic programmes including Law, which the Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie, described as the “Best in West Africa”, Engineering, which the President, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr. Isaac Olorunfemi, described as the “Template for Engineering Education in Nigeria” and Medicine, which the former Minister of State for Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, said will be difficult for any other university in Nigeria to equal.

It is therefore not a mean achievement that the university remains the only university around that has produced three sets of graduates in five years when some students who gained admission into some public universities when ABUAD took off in January 2010 are still struggling to graduate.

•Tunde Olofintila wrote from Lagos.

Whither the Nigerian economic direction

Abdul Razak Odunlade

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t is not in doubt that Nigeria is in crucial economic times. Any keen observer must therefore be concerned about the prospects of Lagos State which controls the largest share of the Nigerian economy. Lagos is, in many ways, the nation’s gateway to global business.

On a general note, the economic situation in the country has clearly worsened over the last few years for a variety of reasons. First is the decline in crude oil prices from $120 per barrel in June 2014 to the current $48 per barrel, which invariably has exposed the weakened structure of the Nigerian economy. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, GDP growth slowed to 2.35% as at this year’s second quarter, compared to the 6.54% in the corresponding period in 2014.

The violence and acts of terror in the NorthEast part of Nigeria has also created an unprecedented instability, without forgetting the concerns relating to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which also added to the uncertainty in the country.

These issues have resulted in, amongst many things, the funding crisis among the State governments, from which, remarkably, Lagos has been spared. Consumer demand is weakening according to our retailers and this suggests that we may not return to high single digit growth quickly, let alone the double figures that we desire.

This current downturn just adds to the existing problems of inadequate power supply, poor infrastructure, more than half of the population living in poverty and significant levels of unemployment. The effects of the crisis are being felt at all levels of society but as is often the case, it is the poorest that are particularly vulnerable.

However, Lagos appears to be enjoying the

presence of a strong private sector which is poised to consolidate the state’s clear edge over others especially in the key areas of job creation and thereby allow hundreds of thousands of young graduates and youths to enjoy brighter future prospects.

It is pertinent to stress that while it is not the role of government to create employment directly - especially in a country like Nigeria with a small tax base and reduced oil receipts, there is still much that the government can do.

The first important consideration, therefore, is the need to make Nigeria more competitive. The cost of doing business in Nigeria is high. We often think we are a low cost economy because wages are low but the truth is that businesses here face very high costs. The most obvious high input cost is power where manufacturers and other businesses have to pay twice the rate per kilowatt hour than the grid in order to provide the continuous power they need. There are other high costs too relating to infrastructure which means logistics are incredibly difficult for business. Even our wage costs are deceptive because we have low productivity. Foreign investors have a choice and if we don’t measure up, the investment and jobs will simply go elsewhere. Similarly our companies struggle to export with a high cost base - and if the Naira is strong this makes exports still less competitive.

Another issue is that of our currency. The Naira has been under pressure since the oil price collapsed and has already suffered a 25% devaluation. The Black Market rates are suggesting a further devaluation could take place and that business is difficult to do at the official rate. This is causing problems for any company that deals with the world beyond Nigeria - not just foreign companies. And new investors will not buy into the country if they fear a sudden devaluation. It makes sense for them to wait. Business leaders are saying that we can-

not delay the inevitable and unnecessary pain is being caused in the meantime.

Equally important is the need to do something about the ease of doing business in Nigeria. The World Bank ranks Nigeria at 170th in its index. This is not good enough for a country with our level of ambition and expectation. This is another factor weakening our competitiveness. In some crucial areas we are even worse –for example, on registration of property, we rank 185th. This is one of a number of areas where Lagos must revolutionize the current position through an ambitious investment in a new digital land administration system. We need bold moves like this to make a difference. It will pay for itself in extra land taxes and very quickly too.

And then there is the issue of security. The perception of our country is tarnished by terrorist attacks and violent crimes. The public sector has a non-negotiable duty to protect its people and government must not tolerate unacceptable behaviour.

Yet, we can glean from some foreign investors that Nigeria appears to be adopting an attitude which is too insular and protectionist.

But opinions from other local producers favour protectionist policies such as tariffs and banning the importation of some products.

However, in some cases rather than protecting local industry it can protect inefficiency, poor quality and high prices which create a significant cost for us all as consumers. Trade barriers are usually met with more trade barriers from neighboring countries, thereby increasing everyone’s costs.

What then should government do differently? We need the investors to come into our country. This will create jobs and wealth at all levels of the economy and all over the country.

In the longer term we have a range of areas in which to invest to help drive the economy. The obvious ones, of course, are: more

reliable power supply and the need to reduce the chronic traffic problems by investing in the transport system. Then concerted efforts must be made to lower the current interest rates. The average lender borrows at interest rates of upwards of 20% per annum, which really is not sustainable.

The recent introduction of the Treasury Single Account by the Federal Government and some states like Lagos is a step in the right direction.

We need to institute economic policies that engender an all-inclusive growth. An estimated 70% of Nigerians, 125million people, live below the poverty line. This is an important consideration for any economic activities to be instituted by the managers of the Nigerian economy.

We must applaud and support the President’s drive to end corruption which has a corrosive effect on business at all levels. It is a critical weakness that makes it hard for everyone to do business in Nigeria.

Equally we must not forget the long term drivers. Our youth is our future. Our demographics are seen as favourable as we have an increasing proportion of the population at working age and a smaller dependent population. We must invest in our youth - their education, their health and improve the security of the society in which they live so they are ready for the opportunities on offer.

However, we cannot only invest in the long term. While we must be far sighted, we must also brave and take action now where we can.

We must think globally and start now to build our capability to compete globally. We must listen to what business leaders are saying about our economic policies including our attempts to protect our indigenous producers and our currency.

•Dr Odunlade, a public affairs analyst, lives in Lagos

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Oyo guber: Ajimobi, Ladoja in war of words over tribunal judgement The decision of the Accord Party to challenge the victory of Governor Abiola Ajimobi at the Election Petitions Tribunal has resulted in a heating up of the political space in Oyo State as Kemi Olaitan reports.

T

hat Senator Abiola Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was declared the winner of the April 11 gubernatorial elections in Oyo State becoming the first person to be elected twice as the occupier of the Agodi Government House is no longer news. What was also significant is that Ajimobi trounced other notable candidates that include two former governors, Senator Rasheed Ladoja of Accord Party, AP, and Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala of Labour Party, LP; Senator Teslim Folarin of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Mr. Seyi Makinde of the Social Democratic Party, SDP. However the disputation of the victory at the election petitions tribunal

by Ladoja and the Accord Party as well as subsequent judgement by the tribunal, have led to war of words between two brothers.

The state Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal led by Justice Muhammed Maiyaki, amidst heavy security coer led by the state Police, Commissioner, Mr. Leye Oyebade, on the day of judgement after about four months of legal fireworks, had dismissed the petition filed by Ladoja.

The three-man tribunal in its four and half hour judgment held that “the petitioner has woefully failed to establish his case. ” Justice Mayaki who read the tribunal ’s unanimous verdict, knocked off the evidence of Ladoja ’s principal witness, Mr. Bimbo Adepoju, whose report of inspection of election materials used in the election would have provided strong foundation for the petition.

According to the judge, Adepoju ’s self confession that he is a farmer of arable crops, makes whatever evidence he might have given before the tribunal on the election documents, to be mere personal opinion since he (Adepoju) is not an expert. According to the judge, “Issues relating to card readers, election documents ,etc need to be handled by knowledgeable experts as they are technical . Mr. Adepoju has said he is a farmer of arable products and that he is a member of Accord party. So, Mr. Adepoju and his inspection team are not neutral party.

Their report cannot be relied upon by this tribunal. ” While also faulting the allegations of non-accreditation of voters, nonvoting and other malpractices alleged by the 28 other witnesses who testified

Ajimobi

Ladoja

I MAKE BOLD TO SAY THAT THE PETITIONER (ACCORD) HAD NO CASE IN BOTH CONTENT AND TECHNICALITY AB INITIO. UNTIL YOU MEET A BAD MAN, YOU WILL NOT APPRECIATE A GOOD MAN WHEN YOU SEE ONE

for Ladoja and Accord Party, the tribunal held that the allegations were not proved beyond reasonable doubt.

“The reliefs being sought cannot be granted. The election and returns of Governor Ajimobi as the Oyo State governor is hereby upheld , having scored the majority of votes cast in the April 11 election. Accordingly, the petition is dismissed ”, the tribunal held.

Reacting to the judgement, Governor Ajimobi, hailed his victory attributing it to God and the people of the state who made it possible for him to break the second term jinx. He said the verdict had laid to rest all the innuendoes, evil machinations and falsehood being spread across the state and beyond by his opponents after his victory.

His words: “I am of immense gratitude to God for this victory and for making it possible for me to break the second term jinx. I thank the good people of Oyo State for the confidence reposed in me by voting for me en masse for the second term in spite of innuendoes, evil machinations and falsehood by our opponents. Today ’s judgment has strengthened my belief in the judiciary as the bastion of our fragile democracy and the bulwark of good governance.

The judgment is not only a victory for my party, the All Progressives Congress, but also a victory for democracy and the rule of law. The road has not been smooth and it has been long but

events have been encouraging and it goes to show that our faith has not been misplaced. ” While pledging not to betray the confidence reposed in him by the people of the state, Ajimobi said he remained the “coordinating servant ’ ’ of those seeking the progress and prosperity of the state. He also thanked the tribunal for doing a thorough job, stating that the thoroughness and industry put into the writing and delivery of the judgment was highly noteworthy after painstakingly poring through stacks of documents. He added that from the outset, he was confident that he would emerge victorious, saying that the governorship election in the state was one of the most credible elections conducted on April 11.

He nevertheless thanked the opposition for bringing out the best in him, saying if they had not taken him to court, all doubts might not have been erased about the credibility, freeness and fairness of the election that earned him a second term.

“I make bold to say that the petitioner (Accord) had no case in both content and technicality ab initio. Until you meet a bad man, you will not appreciate a good man when you see one. Now that the people have spoken; now that the court has affirmed it and now that God has destined it, our opponents should not oppose God. They should rather join hands with us to move Oyo State forward. I am taking this opportunity to call on all my

brothers; Senator Ladoja is my egbon (elder brother), that contested the election with me that we should move away from innuendoes. We must stop seeing Oyo State as a big village. We must move away from pedestrian politics and treat the state as a force to reckon with in the comity of civilized states ”, the governor had said.

But while reacting to the judgement, Ladoja through his lead counsel, Chief Richard Ogunwole, SAN, said he go on appeal. While crying blue murder, Ladoja ’s aides that include the Director General of his campaign organisation, Hon. Adeolu Adeleke and Dr. Nureni Adeniran, described the judgment as a miscarriage of justice.

This position of Ladoja was however not to go down well with Ajimobi as he maintained that no amount of intrigues, blackmail and manipulations by the opposition party could unseat him as governor. While playing host to hundreds of artisans, traders, market men and women, as well as religious bodies that comprised over 25 professional associations including the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Employees, National Council of Muslim Youth Organization (NACOMYO), National Automobile Technicians Association (NATA), Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Fuji Musicians Association of Nigeria, Igede Development Association and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), among others, who thronged the Governor ’s Office to congratulate him on his victory, he said the former governor would fail again if here dared taking him to the appellate court.

According to Ajimobi, his mandate was of God no amount of blackmail could change the will of God and the mandate freely given by the people of the state.

His words, “When I heard that my egbon, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, said that he was not satisfied with the tribunal judgment and that he vowed to head for the Court of Appeal, I said he (Ladoja) should go to wherever he wants to go. But I want to assure you all and the good people of Oyo State that thousands of Accord Party and its candidate, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, cannot unseat me. This mandate is of God and popularly given to me by the good people of this state. We must all work together to develop Oyo State. We must never allow enemies of this state to thrive again. We give glory to God that he has taken care of all the troublers of our state. So what should be our concern now is how to ensure that this state is taken to greater height. ’ ’ Ladoja was to fire back, saying the call by Ajimobi for him not to go the Court of Appeal and that he will lose is an empty threat which will come to naught, more so that power is transient.

Speaking through the DG of his campaign organisation, Hon. Adeleke, during a press conference, he said the CONT ’D ON PAGE 54

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Politics

Sunday November 15, 2015

53

ari ’s portfolio allocations TO START WITH, I THINK IT IS WRONG TO LUMP POWER, WORKS AND HOUSING TOGETHER INTO ONE MINISTRY; IT IS TOO MUCH FOR ONE PERSON TO HANDLE

Ama aech hi

dedication and that is what we need in this country. ” A human right activist and former commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Abubakar Tsav, said : “I ’m sure former governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State would do well. I ’m also sure his former Rivers State counterpart, Rotimi Amaechi, will also do well, because the

current Ministry of Transport also has water transport as part of it and this is the mode of transportation he is familiar with in Rivers State. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Muhammed Bello, is also a fine gentleman, who is also likely to perform well in the position. I know him very well; he was formerly the Chief Executive of the National Hajj Commission. ” Tsav said since the country has problems with the power sector, Fashola has a challenge on his hands to fix the ailing sector.

“It is a big challenge, but I ’m sure he will give a good account of himself, as he did in Lagos State, ” he said.

He however said Amaechi needs to convince Nigerians that he is a man of integrity, but was wrongly accused of corruption when he was governor.

“The appointment is an opportunity for him to prove that he is a man of hon-

our and integrity, ” he added.

For a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Lekan Balogun, the composition of the Federal Executive Council, FEC is strong, which will deliver democracy dividends to Nigerians.

The Ibadan high chief said he knows quite few of them at personal level, stating that despite reservations about one or two of the ministers, Nigerians should give kudos to President Muhammadu Buhari, for assembling best hands as members of his cabinet.

He said, “I am quite familiar with some of the ministers and it is my belief that they will not disappoint Nigerians. For example, I know that ministers like Chief Audu Ogbeh, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and my brother and friend, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, will do.

“With the portfolio given to the ministers, Nigerians should laud Mr. President for the wisdom to assemble such

on: It ’s APC vs PDP WATCHERS OF POLITICAL EVENTS IN KOGI STATE BELIEVE WADA WOULD RELY ON GOODWILL FROM STATE CIVIL SERVANTS BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS WORKER-FRIENDLY GOVERNOR

Audu is charismatic and has connection that made Kogi cynosure of all eyes a few years back. They argued that Audu also initiated the location of Dangote Cement ’s Obajana factory in the states there by charting course for industrialisation of the state. He was said to have won 7 laurels for Kogi State during the Media tour organised opposition party then.

They posited that APC ’s change mantra is attracting more defectors to the party.

They applauded Audu for having enduring political structures that work for him at every election he has contested.

Ozig gi

His strengths Political observers in the state admit that Prince Audu laid a very solid foundation for Kogi state, having established a university, Kogi State Polytechnic and other infrastructural development projects in the state which are still visible to date. They also opined that

His weaknesses The observers say that he is alleged to be an arrogant and proud person. More over they alleged that he has issues with workers when he was sitting governor, stressing there was policy inconsistency.

Political observer maintained done his best for the state even though he has been tainted by corruption charges, which are still being handled by the Economic and

Financial Crime Commission, EFCC. DR. PHILIP OMEIZA SALAWU (LP) Dr. Philip Omeiza Salawu was the immediate past Deputy Governor under the former Governor of the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris. He was also a member of the PDP Board of Trustees until he dumped the party and defected to Labour Party in early August this year. Salawu was also an aspirant in September 2011 PDP primaries that produced Wada as flag bearer and subsequently the governor.

His Strengths The former Deputy Governor was once described by the most loyal Deputy Governor for nine years. The pundits stated that he has garnered enormous experience .They further argued that the power shift agitators may throw their weight behind Salawu during the forthcoming election.

Weaknesses They stated that the Labour Party, the

Nigerians that the generality of Nigerians hope will help him to deliver the dividends of democracy to them. ” The South East Secretary-General of the Campaign for Democracy, CD, Dr. Jerry Chukwuokolo, said: “The President has the discretion to choose those he deems suitable for the cabinet, particularly those who would help him bring about the ‘change ’ he promised Nigerians. No matter how we feel about it, I don ’t think we have the right to choose people for him.

“To start with, I think it is wrong to lump power, works and housing together into one ministry; it is too much for one person to handle. It might be difficult for Mr. Babatunde Fashola to coordinate the ministry, given the challenges in the inherent parts. Any President who knows his onions should know that power constitutes the greatest challenge in the country.

“After power, the other challenge is roads. As for housing, Nigerians are used to building their own houses without assistance from government. So, there should be no problem in that sector. I think the challenge would be too much. ” Chukwuokolo said the appointment of the Delta State-born Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu is good for the country.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 56

platform in which to contest election is not rooted at local government level in terms of structures as it has its presence only in Lokoja. They pointed out that while as Deputy governor, he was not loved at home because he many issues with different people as result of creation of Ohi stools in Ebiraland.

ENESI EMMANUEL OZIGI (PPA) Ozigi, there is no doubt a new name in the murky water of Kogi Politics. The American-based business man turned politician will be contesting on the platform of PPA. Many believe he is a future material for governorship aspiration.

Strength The watchers of political events in the state argued that like Salawu, Ozigi might just get the sympathy of power shift agitators , stressing the party has not made any appreciable success since 2007 when the former House of Representatives member, Hon. Duro Meseko came third in governorship election, which was later annulled by Kogi State Election Tribunal in November 2007.

Weakness They added that PPA is only known in Lokoja and that the young man is not known politically, but has potential for the future.

The political analysts in Confluence State, however agreed that the 21st November governorship election would be a test of might between PDP and APC, just as electorate is being relied upon to choose the best candidate that can drive progress and economic development in the state going forward.

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Oyo guber: Ajimobi, Ladoja in war of words over tribunal judgement CONTINUED FROM PAGE 52

dismissal of his petition by the Justice Mayaki-led election petitions tribunal, did not come as a surprise, but rather a confirmation of the boasts by Ajimobi at different forums, that he had already secured victory.

While stating that the judgement by the tribunal is a great burden and challenge to the judiciary, he maintained that the judgement is a travesty of justice, full of contradictions and legal somersaults. Ladoja, who reiterated his commitment to the realisation and actualisation of what he termed mandate freely given to him by the people of the state, insisted that he and his party, will challenge the judgement of the tribunal at the Court of Appeal.

He said, “In view of our belief in the judiciary and avalanche of evidence against the declaration of Senator Abiola Ajimobi as the duly elected governor in the April 11, 2015 governorship election in the state, Senator Rasheed Ladoja, the gubernatorial candidate of Accord after wide consultations, has resolved to appeal the judgement of Justice Muhammed Mayaki-led tribunal at the Court of Appeal. We wish to state unequivocally that no amount of attacks will stop Senator Rasheed Ladoja from retrieving his mandate through the instrumentality of law. More importantly, the denial of justice at the lower court cannot also make Senator Rasheed Ladoja to lose hope in the judiciary. ” Berating Ajimobi for his series of

attacks on him because of his resort to challenge his victory, he insisted that with his position as a governor, Ajimobi is expected to be a shining example, which he has turned out not to be.

“It is widely known that Senator Rasheed Ladoja is not only a cousin to Senator Abiola Ajimobi but also a benefactor, who deserves a total respect. To the glory of God, all what Senator Abiola Ajimobi could claim to be his achievements, politically and economically, Senator Rasheed Ladoja had achieved the feats before him. Senator Abiola Ajimobi by virtue of his position as the governor of the state is supposed to be an epitome of humility, a custodian of culture and a fighter against moral decadence. Does the state governor display all these

features or characteristics? The answer is an emphatic No! “The continued desecration of the office of the governor by the occupier with his garrulous statements and pettiness in attitude is worrisome not only to the people of Oyo State but also to the whole world that are making mockery of our dear state. We strongly advice the state governor to be civil and guarded in his utterances and also, have it at the back of his mind that power is for a short while ”, Ladoja said.

As the legal fireworks are expected to start as soon as the appeal is filed at the Court of Appeal, only time will tell who will blink first among the two Ibadan-born brothers but now political enemies.

‘Imo state is in a serious situation ’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

elite, technocrats and resource persons who could be commissioners and help him and he could go to bed. But he took some boy scouts and area boys. Government is such a serious matter that it is only the best that should run it. I don ’t think the best is running Imo State now.

That ’s a very serious implication and you can see the way the state wobbles.

And that was the man who said, ‘look, I have driven away all the thieves ’.

That ’s a man who said he has surrendered his security votes to us. That is the man who promised industries and jobs yet he cannot pay salaries as and when due. The hospitals he built have not been equipped and furnished. The school buildings are all scattered there.

It is s all about poor planning. And I can ’t see any person in his administration with the capacity and exposure to be able help us. It is about the management of scanty resources and creating wealth. Imo is in a very serious situation now. And the small, little people he puts in government. Government is a big thing if Imo succeeds, the legacy goes to him but if Imo fails, he fails also. So, it is in his interest to get it right. Right now, we are not getting it right. I went through Amaraku road, it took me about four hours and even, Amaigbo road are all in terrible condition. I think there was planlessness, there was wastage of funds. There was impunity, there was no due process in this era. It amounts to corruption. It is not just corruption it is not just stealing money, when you subvert a process, it is corruption. Corruption of the system is the worst corruption. That is what we are witnessing in Imo state now.

And a situation where you are running the state with the tenth 11. And the first eleven are spectators in Abuja and Lagos, you drove them away. You cannot move forward. These are the things that if I were close now to the governor, I will let him know.

Talking about corruption, how would you assess the management of some public institutions under Rochas admin-

Iwuanyanwu

THERE WAS PLANLESSNESS. THERE WAS NO DUE PROCESS. THERE WAS IMPUNITY. THE INEVITABLE CONSEQUENCES ARE LEAKAGES AND DIVERSION OF FUNDS

istration?

I have told you that there was recklessness. There was planlessness.

There was no due process. There was impunity. The inevitable consequences are leakages and diversion of funds, those are the implications. There was no budgeting process. Any expenditure that is not captured in the budget is illegal, it is fraudulent. So, I know him as a man who does not have the capacity for planning. And such a person should not be inflicted on Imo State. And he is very

flamboyant. A lot of oratory power and propaganda but if you check in all of it, you see, emptiness. So, is not just about Rochas. It is also about the people who are gullible. All of this combined, we need responsible leadership. We need a leadership that has a plan, a master plan. You need a leadership that obeys laws. There are many judgments that he has not obeyed. You know. So, all of these amounts to corruption, absolutely. And Imo is already paying for it.

What is your take on the appointments he makes?

He has not appointed commissioners.

He has chief of staff. He has secretary to the state government. They were all members of his former inner cabinet.

The chief of staff is his in-law – Ejiogu.

He was swapped. He was chief of staff before he became SSG. So, they are still the same persons. It is what is called merry go round. That is what he is doing. He has not done any appointments.

He has not reached out to the enormous human capital that Imo has. In terms of education, we are one of the best in this country. But go and talk to the graduates of Imo State University, they can hardly spell their names. It is not about free education. We are talking about quality education that can make people take their destinies into their hands and compete with other Nigerians. I can tell you as an employer that I weep for Imo state. And the problem is that my governor, my boss, did not go through formal education. So, he can ’t give what he doesn ’t have. He does not know what is called quality education. If he had gone to Federal Government College, Warri, he would know what quality education is. If he had studied at the University of Lagos as I did, he would know what quality education is. So, these are the problems. You can ’t give what you don ’t have. And he goes away with the mantra of free education. Now, free education is not what is important to our people.

What is important to our people is quality education. There are so many ways of compensating indigent students. It ’s through scholarships, loans and bursaries. But by this situation of giving free education, it means that me that I know can afford it; he will also give me free education while I don ’t need it. There are contradictions. It is unfair to be giving the sons and daughters of millionaires and billionaires free education.

They should rather pay for the children of the poor. So, these are the things we are talking about. There is no planning, no focus. There is no direction in the policies. They are all ad hoc. That is the situation.

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‘Buhari govt is tackling past failures ’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

ity have some selfish reasons. They wanted to force him into cul de sac; they wanted to undermine his resolve to turn Nigeria around for good. I therefore say that, thus far the steps they are taking are commendable to rightly headed people who do not want us to continue in the same very dark path Nigeria state has followed till today.

For me it appears an ungodly path of the Nigerian state to be busy clamouring every day that he must appoint ministers. He must appoint this one, and that one. What are you appointing ministers to go and do in the first place? In which part of the Nigerian constitution have they found out that Buhari must appoint ministers within a stipulated time frame? The man in power who is now in seek of relevant information to which most us are not aware is taking his time to do the right thing. For example, I have always canvassed several times that Nigeria does not need the number of people they called ministers either for or of. Chief Obafemi Awolowo governed the entire western region which is now about eight or nine states with about 15 or 16 ministers. Look at those states now and look at the number you have in the executives. As soon as you appoint them you are going to give them new cars. You go and hire house for them or you monetized all these.

Now they have authority, to appoint their own special assistants, in addition to personal assistants. You must pay their drivers. Some of the chief executives must have two or three cars. One must be available for madam to go to market; one must be available to carry their children to schools and back, before the Oga can perform his duties. I saw the face of shameless characters when Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola did not appoint commissioners for long and they kept on abusing him. But the man know what he was doing, he look at the entire income, the entire money that comes into the coffers of Osun State. And he must have said to himself that if I had removed these ones to pay the commissioners, their special assistants, the personal assistants, and buy vehicles for them how much would remain. And in any case may be for reasons of ignorance or for mischief they failed to understand that in the last 16 years Nigeria has been spending between 78 and 82 per cent of her total earnings to run her bureaucracy, which you called recurrent expenditure. Where is the money for any capital project for any development? And so the clamour is that it does not make sense to just what the military fashioned in the 1999 constitution and said one minister per state. While must you continue in that kind of shoddy state. This government is working on the basis of reducing from 36 or 38 to 19 or 20. The Chief Executive who was elected by the people to provide services must be see of relevant facts to be able to say these following departments, agencies and the likes can go together under one ministry. That is what is being done. So for me I would rather have their snail- speed than to have the jet speed of the marauders who had governed us. That is my preliminary observation as to my understanding of what had happened since they came to office.

Don ’t you think the crisis in the national assembly will be a burden on the government of President Buhari to really

Opadokun

I HAVE ALWAYS CANVASSED SEVERAL TIMES THAT NIGERIA DOES NOT NEED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THEY CALLED MINISTERS EITHER FOR OR OF. CHIEF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO GOVERNED THE ENTIRE WESTERN REGION WHICH IS NOW ABOUT EIGHT OR NINE STATES WITH ABOUT 15 OR 16 MINISTERS move ahead with his programme for the country?

Whether we like it or not one fact is starring us at the face and that has to do with the readiness and the willingness of the party in office to enforce discipline internally. Before anyone calls himself a member of a political party he must have read the party ’s constitution as it relates to its aims and objectives. He must be abreast of the manifesto of the party. For you to be registered as a member, you must have subscribed willingly, voluntarily to the constitution and the manifesto. So whenever, a party man having run on a party platform decides to frustrate or to deny or to work totally against the party ’s cardinal position on any subject matter, the party must be alive enough to enforce stiffest sanction that is available particularly when the purpose of which the party man decided to do is a total rebellion to bring the party low and subject it to ridicule. Under I think section 9 and several sub-sections in the APC constitution which they presented to the nation and which is in the public domain. Any conduct that brings the party into public ridicule and contempt must be visited with stiffest punishment that is available. So what happened at the Na-

tional Assembly has to be understood in that respect. Some of us are not partisan politicians but we have suffered as activists. Some of us, we paid our sweat some of us lost our blood, some of us lost our liberty and freedom while some lost their lives to restore Nigeria to the current state where we are. We thought that Nigeria are making a choice among the political parties that were around .Two of them seems to me the largest. Many Nigerians made a choice of All Progressive Congress, APC as opposed to the PDP. But it is sad that some members from APC can collaborate with the opposition, PDP for their own selfish gain, giving the impression that they can undermine the party in order for them to emerge as leaders of the National Assembly, those members do not wish the party well, and they do not want the party to remain in office. They have given earliest indication that they can undermine and they will continue to undermine the party about its programmes execution. Therefore such leaders don ’t deserve to remain in office. So as they keep on now to trying to massage the ego of President Buhari and his running mate, if the party fails to impose the stiffest sanction on them , the party will pay dearly for it. There is no other offence

that can be much more grievous than what they have done. Their party , the APC , in attempting to mend fences wrote the so called senate president and the speaker of the House of Reps , this is the party ’s wish for principal offices in your own area of the national assembly one of them eventually , Dogara eventually accepted Femi Gbajabiamila, other things remain the same . The distinguished medical doctor/ political juggernaut had refused to obey the party ’s wish, yet we are reading from various newspapers account his people they are going round to appeal to people so that the party leaders and the president can accommodate their wickedness. So I do not believe that the party will help itself if they submit themselves to such ridicule.

They have been ridiculed publicly, and come to think of it, it was a deliberate act, in every matter if a group of people decided to go and forge party rules in order for them to emerge as leaders and they are now going round to beg people and they think that should be enough, I know such talks are idle talks . What are you talking about, the party says this is what we want, you are not being forced to come to APC, you came voluntarily, you knew the rule, and you undermine the rule. And to give it further dents, you went ahead to forge the House rule. I felt again embarrassed when I read in the papers that a supposedly Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Richard Akinjide said the affairs of the National Assembly is their private matter. I don ’t know where he read his law, that forgery is a matter for the National Assembly to deal with. Forgery is a criminal offence and we have a criminal code that tells us as to what must be done.

So the Nigeria police had concluded its investigation and they have established that the House rule that was used by the 7th Assembly had been tampered with, had been forged. It is on the basis of this forgery that the so called new leaders have emerged. Since, that is the nature there is no ‘I beg you sir ’ in this matter they just must go. And they must face the consequence of forgery as enunciate in our law.

So I have no doubts in my minds, there is no way by which the Nigeria nation, can go on keeping these shameless forgers to continue in office. They must pay for the consequences of their action so that it will serve as deterrents for others to come.

You know about a month or two months ago I said Buhari cannot fight corruption with Saraki as the leader of the national assembly. I remained very faithful to my recommendation.

But some people believe that meting out punishment to Saraki and others may break the party and they feel that it will be too early for the ruling party to face such a crisis now. What is your position on this?

I don ’t know what you mean by breaking the party. A group of people who called themselves members of the party have openly rebelled and they want to sustain the rebellion, then you say the party should not break. It is your refusal to impose sanctions on the erring members that disobeyed the party that will break the party. If there is no deterrent, there is nothing that would restrain other people from doing worst things to the party. That is where I stand.

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Mixed reactions trail Buhari ’s portfolio allocations CONTINUED FROM PAGE 53

“I think Kachikwu is good in that area and it is one of the appointments that would satisfy the expectation of Nigerians, ” he said The human rights activist however registered his dissatisfaction with the appointment of Abubakar Malami from Kebbi State as the Minister of Justice.

He said: “I watched him during the screening. In my view, somebody who could not explain the difference between our legal system and that of the United Kingdom is not suitable to occupy that position. ” Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, who is currently representing Obokun State Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly expressed great optimism that the ministers, by virtue of their backgrounds and experience, would bring a lot of innovation to governance.

He said: “The ministers will no doubt take their briefs from Mr. President, adopt a blueprint and follow action plans. However, we need to subject our march forward to critical examination, scientific evaluation. The National Assembly, of course, will play its oversight role, we must be willing as a government to periodically review, update and address critical barriers, based on circumstances and changing needs. ” Former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, faulted the lumping of Works, Housing and Power ministries. He queried: “How can such work?

Maybe, that is another experiment from Buhari. But, it is somehow disturbing.

Let us wait and see. ” Prominent elders in Ogun state, which included the former judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Prince Bola Ajibola, Olorogun Sunny Kuku, as well as an Ogun monarch, Oba Olufemi Ogunleye all hailed the appointment of Mrs. Kemi Adeosun as the Minister of Finance by President Mohammed Buhari.

With particular reference to the strategic portfolio assigned to Adeosun as the nation ’s Minister of Finance, Ogun elders emphasised that the president ’s action attested to her excellent performance as the Finance Commissioner in the state between 2011 and 2015.

President Buhari is already on the right course towards repositioning Nigeria ’s economy amidst that of her global counterpart, they said.

In the words of the former judge of International Court of Justice, Hague, Prince Bola Ajibola, the appointment of Adeosun, as the Finance Minister portends “good omen to a better Ogun State and Nigeria. ” The octogenarian explained that the development has brought “respect and dignity to the entire Ogun State ”, adding that Adeosun would not disappoint Nigerians.

“She will reposition that important key office for better performance and also make the country proud amidst comity of nations ”.

In his own comment, Olorogun Kuku, who described the Ijebu-born Kemi Adeosun as a seasoned technocrat, also expressed the confidence that the former Commissioner for Finance in Ogun would reorganise the nation ’s finances

Kachikwu

Ade eosu un

KEMI IS YOUNG AND NEW BUT SHE HAS IDEAS, I HAVE NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT SHE HAS GREAT POTENTIAL, SHE HAS DONE WELL IN OGUN, WHICH IS WHY SHE WAS RECOMMENDED TO THE FEDERAL

and also make the country proud again.

Kuku, a co - founder of the Eko Hospital, Lagos, noted that with Adeosun and others on Buhari ’s team, it shows that the President is indeed thinking and also harbours good intention to transform Nigeria positively.

“Kemi is young and new but she has ideas, I have no doubt in my mind that she has great potential, she has done well in Ogun, which is why she was recommended to the federal level. I think the country is going do well; she is going to do well.

“The ministers are not supposed to be the only technocrats; technocrats should also be in the ministry and remain permanently there. I think what we really like to see as a country is change, change in our thinking and change in the way we approach things. ” Ogun monarch, Oba Olufemi Ogunleye, the Towulade of Akinale, Abeokuta said the appointment of Adeosun was based on her ingenuity and integrity which she displayed during the course of the Ibikunle Amosun ’s financial reengineering in Ogun state within the period she served her state.

“It is an attestation to her ability to manage the resources of the country based on her performance as the Finance Commissioner in Ogun state where she did well. So, her records still speaks for her. I am of the belief that she will not disappoint Nigerians ”.

Oba Ogunleye further lauded the en-

tire ministerial list churned out by President Buhari ’s administration which he said was based on their background and credibility, stressing that the president is on the right course towards rebuilding the once bastardised economy of the nation.

Also a renowned senior lawyer, Idowu Sofola said Adeosun ’s appointment is a great sign that Ogun state is producing the number one Finance Officer in the cabinet of President Buhari “I am confident that she will prove the experience and expertise she is made of and use same to re - position and strengthens our economy ”.

Another legal luminary, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) believes that Fashola can cope with the task ahead and urged him to fix the federal roads that are in a state of disrepair.

He said the minister will be judged by the rehabilitation of the Lagos-Ibadan, Onitsha-Enugu, Enugu-Port-Harcourt, Owerri-Port-Harcourt, Benin-AuchiOkene-Lokoja expressways.

Akintola said the Abuja roads are not exempted.

“The state of roads in Apo, Nyenyen and Gwagwalada are terrible. Motorists spend hours on journey that should not take more than 30 minutes. The minister has a lot to do. He has his job cut out for him. Nigerians deserve good road network ”, he emphasised.

He also advised the Minister of Justice to do something urgently about judicial

administration particularly the issue of corruption threatening the system.

“The Minister of Justice should tackle the issue of corruption in the judiciary in line with the President ’s anti-graft war. He also called on the minister to initiate constitutional amendments that will enhance the implementation of government policies, ” he said.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Osun state chapter, has also expressed satisfaction with President Muhammadu Buhari ’s chioce cabinet members.

The party in a statement in Osogbo by its Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, said the outcome of the exercise demonstrated the depth of thinking that went into it, stressing that the allocation of portfolios to individuals in the cabinet was unique.

According to the party, President Buhari has redeemed himself from the rash critics of those who had wanted him to move with the speed of lightening in a situation that requires deliberate thinking and sorting before embarking on the race to reposition Nigeria and get appropriate people to steer its course into a prosperous future.

The party said: “Even the worst of critics in the PDP will not attempt to do it because what Buhari has done with this cabinet is to put people with track records of performance and excellence in positions where they have innate capacity to excel.

“Nobody should underrate the depth of thinking and the level of painstaking rationalisation in distributing those positions to the specific individuals who got them. The near perfection and suitability of the ministers to the allotted ministries is an exercise that must have taken mental, intellectual and even spiritual attention. ” The Senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for Osun East in the last general election, Prince Francis Fadahunshi, lauded Prof. Isaac Adewole ’s appointment as Minister of Health, saying the move portends an imminent end for incessant labour unrest in health sector.

Fadahunshi, who hails from the same senatorial district as Adewole, said notwithstanding difference in party affiliation, the appointment of former Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan, was “deserved and timely ”.

In a statement the PDP candidate signed and made available to newsmen in Osogbo, he said with adequate support and understanding by the presidency, Adewole has capacity to lay solid foundation for the nation ’s health and make the sector cynosure of all eyes.

“Adewole is among the best in his profession and has also distinguished self as an accomplished administrator and leader. I believe he has capacity to end incessant industrial unrest in the health sector.

“His desire to revamp the nation ’s health sector and make it be at par with what is obtainable in many advanced countries of the world is never in doubt and I hope the environment he is going to work in will be conducive enough to perform ”, Fadahunshi said.

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WITH

STORIES THAT TOUCH YOU Sunday, November 15, 2015

J

ihadi John was shot down at the heart of the Islamic State ’s stronghold by a drone controlled by pilots sitting at a desk thousands of miles away.

The world ’s most wanted man was said to have ‘evaporated ’ after being struck by a laser-guided missile in the Syrian city of Raqqa on Friday.

Pentagon officials are ‘99 per cent ’ sure they have got their man after conducting months of surveillance with locals on the ground and British spies.

But the operation is far from over as investigators will now be scrambling to verify reports of his death beyond any doubt.

To the chagrin of some of his victim ’s relatives, his death was very likely painless – in stark contrast to the beheadings he meted out on his captives.

Sources say the former London schoolboy, whose real name is Mohammed Emwazi, was likely targeted by a precision-guided Hellfire missile fired from a £10million Reaper drone.

The unmanned drone, which is thought to have been piloted from 7,000 miles away from the Creech Air Force base, Nevada, has the advantage of being able to locate and monitor targets while airstrikes are planned.

The Reaper drone is thought to have taken off from the Incirilik airbase in southern Turkey. The Turkish authorities have given Washington the green light to launch warplanes from the base.

The base, which is just outside the town of Adana, is around 30 miles from the border with Syria and 200 miles from the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa.

The unmanned aircraft are controlled via satellites, which stream real time pictures back to the pilot in the United States.

According to the US Department of Defence, the MQ-9 Reaper drone ‘is designed to execute time-sensitive targets with persistence and precision ’.

It has a range of about 1,150 miles and can fly at 230mph up to a height of approximately 50,000 feet. The aircraft has the ability to linger over its target for up to 24 hours.

Former drone pilot John Reed spent six years spying and attacking Islamist extremists in Afghanistan, Somalia, as well as ISIS fighters in Syria, from the Creech Air Force base.

He told the Telegraph how several people would crowd around his screen when the operation was targeting a well known terrorist. Sitting thousands of miles away from their target, he used a joystick to control the Predator drone and fire laser guided Hellfire missiles at his enemies.

He and his fellow drone pilots would not only linger to view the destruction on their monitors, but also the funeral to spot any future targets among the mourners.

Raffaello Pantucci, the director of International Security Studies at the Royal United Services Institute – a defence and security forum – said the strike could only have happened using ‘local ’ intelligence to track his movements.

Death by remote control •How U.S. and British spies targeted Jihadi John •Terrorist vapourised with a laser-guided missile red from a drone ministers want Cameron toain had ‘hand in the U.S.

Mohammed Emwazi was blitzed by a missile fired from a drone controlled by U.S. air force pilots sitting in a control centre thousands of miles away. A U.S. official said the ISIS executioner was pinpointed in the centre of the terror group ’s capital Raqqa after ‘persistent surveillance ’

He said: ‘The agencies that have been watching have been watching for some time and trying to corroborate from above with people on the ground.

‘But they would wait until people are in a clear space to minimise civilian casualties before ordering the strike. The US has showed that it can target people like this, they have done this in Pakistan and Somalia for a long time, and relies on these kind of surgical strikes.

‘I think there will be some questions asked about the intelligence and whether there was any British involvement, but I doubt we will ever know. ’ The attack mirrored one carried out by the RAF in September, when it killed two British jihadis using a drone piloted 3,000 miles away in Lincolnshire.

Reyaad Khan, 21, and Rahul Amin, 26, were killed when one of them made a phone call allowing security staff at GCHQ in Cheltenham to intercept the conversation and pinpoint their location in the Syrian desert.

The experienced airmen were operating the £10million Reaper drone from a hitech control hub at RAF Waddington.

As the unsuspecting jihadists travelled in a vehicle in the capital of the so-called Islamic State, they were wiped out by a laser-guided Hellfire missile.

The use of unmanned planes is similar

to the plot of popular US drama Homeland, shown on Channel 4, in which one of the leading characters orders a CIA drone strike against extremists in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

In similar fashion, Emwazi, who appeared in sickening beheading videos of Western hostages including two British aid workers, was ‘evaporated ’ by a missile as he climbed into a car.

He is believed to have been hit near a symbolic clock tower where the group carries out barbaric killings, including crucifixions, after capturing the city two years ago, activists said.

A senior US defence official had earlier told Fox News: ‘We are 99 per cent sure we got him. We were on him for some time. ’ The Kuwaiti-born militant, who moved to the UK when he was six years old, was blown up in a ‘flawless ’ and ‘clean hit ’, another defence source told ABC News.

However, ISIS are claiming he survived the attack, with eyewitnesses telling Sky News he was taken badly injured to hospital which has been placed in lockdown by the Sunni fanatics.

Emwazi had been the subject of an international manhunt for more than a year after he first appeared in a chilling execution video in August last year.

He was top of the UK Government ’s ‘kill list ’ of up to a dozen radicals who

dead and David day said Britbeen working glove ’ with to track him down.

The British Prime Minister welcomed reports of the killing which he called an ‘act of self defence ’.

He stopped short of confirming that Emwazi - who he branded a ‘ b a r b a r i c m u r derer ’ - was dead but said the targeted attack was ‘the right thing to do ’.

There is a high possibility British spies were operating on the ground in Raqqa to help identify Emwazi before the strike and may now be trying to collect DNA evidence to prove his death.

A senior U.S. official, quoted by CNN, said the drone strike came after ‘persistent surveillance ’ and claimed the authorities were certain it was Emwazi when they fired the missile.

The drone is believed to have been tracking Emwazi for most of the day yesterday and he was ‘ID ’d and engaged ’ when he came out of a building and got into a vehicle in Raqqa.

Another senior military source told the BBC there is a ‘high degree of certainty ’ he had been killed.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, said a car carrying four foreign Islamic State leaders, including one British Jihadi, was hit near the municipality building in the city.

Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said: ‘All the sources there are saying that the body of an important British Jihadi is lying in the hospital of Raqqa.

‘All the sources are saying it is of Jihadi John but I cannot confirm it personally. ’ RIBSS said Emwazi was thought to have been hit near a symbolic clock tower in the city centre where ISIS has carried a number of public executions.

The strike is also understood to have hit another member of ‘The Beatles ’ – a nickname given to three or four Britishsounding ISIS captors who guarded Western hostages, with Jihadi John being a reference to John Lennon.

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Sunday, November 15, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Kogi bailout fund: APC, PDP in war of words WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

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eactions have continued to trail the delay in release of bailout fund meant for the state as opposing political parties seeking to win next Saturday ’s governorship elections have blamed each other for the situation.

The Head, Media and Publicity, Prince Abuba-

kar Audu campaign organisation, Dr Tom Ohikere has challenged Kogi State Government and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to publish their facts on the bailout rather than resulting to attacks and shadow chasing.

Ohikere was reacting to a statement credited to the Chief Communication Manager of Wada Campaign organization, Mr. Phrank Shaibu on the

N50bn bailout, allegedly applied for, by the State.

He said that rather than respond to issues raised by the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressive Congress, APC, and current Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the campaign spokesman of Captain Wada, resorted to rabble-rousing.

The APC campaign spokesperson, insisted

that the state governor never really applied for the bailout, wondering why it has become difficult for the governor to show any proof to that effect.

He recalled that at some point, the State Deputy governor, Yomi Awoniyi, told the people of the state that what the governor applied for was N 10billion.

This, he said, clearly in-

dicated that even within the government, there is no sincerity or transparency, adding that the matter has reached a safe conclusion that at no time was the issue brought before the State House of Assembly, and therefore, the governor cannot claim to have met all requirements for the bailout.

He also drew attention to the reason given by the governor in Yagba-East

LGA while on campaign tour to the area that delay in the release of the inability of some teachers and Local government workers to submit their BVN and other bank details.

According to Ohikere, the PDP-led government is being economical with the truth, noting that instead of facing reality, it has resorted to a blame game.

...Frustration as banks unable to pay Benue civil servants s government commences the payment of the cumulative arrears of salary to civil servants in Benue state following intervention through the Federal Government ’s bailout, banks across the state have been besieged by thousands of customers were allegedly unable to access their accounts on Automated Teller Machines across the state.

SUNDAY MIRROR witnessed thousands of customers queuing up at some in Markurdi only to discover that money was not loaded into the system.

The development which has left customers frustrated after several hours of queuing up to enable them withdraw some cash for domestic use to no avail as nothing was forthcoming.

Expressing anger on the disappointment at KatsinaAla local government area of Benue North East, Mr. Agber Tondo disclosed that his wife was at the bank as early as 10 am and her desire was to withdraw N10,000 for an emergency engagement at home front but after several hours of queuing up only N1,000 was dispensed.

Also in the state capital similar problems are being experienced at some centers while customers were disappointed protesting the delay and their inability to withdraw their money and called on bank authorities to improve upon their services.

Similarly at the Benue South west senatorial district the same problems seem to have been replicated as civil servants who are also customers of various banks complained of inability to get payment while attributing it to poor network services.

It will be recalled that the commencement of payment of the bailout funds to augment conditions of civil servants started barely a week ago with protests trailing the exercise whereby others have complained of only receiving two months instead of three months.

While in other instances others complained of not receiving any alerts on their accounts since the exercise began.

Attempts to confirm the development from the chairman of the disbursement committee who is also the Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. Benson Abuonu, were not successful as he could not be reached for comments.

Bello Foundation and Niger State Government is to call fistula surgeons, who are experts in treating the diseases surgically. ” Bello also debunked claims that VVF is associated with teenage pregnancy and early motherhood saying that all those that registered for the camp were above 30 years.

She then appealed to the state government to improve the healthcare

system in the state so that pregnant women can get access to ante-natal care and skilled birth attendants.

Also, one of the surgeons, Dr. Kabiru Abubakar urged the government to engage the services of more skilled doctors that can perform Cesarean operations as well as improved infrastructures that the problem will be greatly reduced.

HENRY IYORKASE MAKURDI

A

Member of Gombe State House of Assembly, representing Gombe –South, Alhaji Muhammad Bello with some students after disbursement of scholarship to them in Gombe, yesterday. P HOTO: NAN

I ’m not bothered by tribunal judgement –Ishaku …swears-in 20 commissioners

JUSTIN TYOPUUSU JALINGO

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overnor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State yesterday said he was not bothered by the judgment of the state governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja which nullified his election.

Ishaku stated this while addressing a mammoth crowd that came out to welcome him at the Airport in

Jalingo.

The governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja last Saturday nullified the election of the governor on the ground that he was not validly nominated by his party the PDP and ordered that the candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC in the election, Aisha Alhassan be sworn in as governor.

Ishaku, who described the judgment of the tribu-

nal as a ‘kangaroo judgment ’ told his supporters that he was not bothered by the ruling of the tribunal, assuring them that the mandate they gave him was still intact.

“We are not moved and we refused to be moved. We will never never be shaken.

God is with us and the mandate you gave to us at the polls would not be stolen by anybody.

“I have confidence in the

judiciary and surely the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court will give us justice at the end of the day, ” he said.

Meanwhile, Governor Ishaku yesterday swore-in 20 commissioners; just one week after the State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja nullified the election of the governor and ordered the swearing of Aisha Alhassan as governor.

20 women get free VVF surgeries in Niger PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

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ver 20 women have benefitted from the free surgery camp for women with Vesicovaginal Fistula, VVF, organised by the wife of the Niger State Governor, Dr Amina Sani Bello, to give the patients a better life in the state.

She also said soon, camps will be set up in three senatorial districts due to the

large number of women living with the disease.

Flanked by other surgeons drawn from Katsina and Kano states at the General Hospital, Kontagora area of the state, Dr. Bello said the state has pool of women with the disease that have not been treated.

Aside that, she stated that soon camps would be set up in the three senatorial zones of the state, where free surgeries would

carried out on them, and afterward, set up a centre in Minna that will attend to such cases.

“Niger state has a pool of patients with VVF that have not been treated. So we are hoping of having a VVF Center in the state but before the center is up and running, we intend to conduct free surgical camps in the three senatorial zones in the state. ” She explained that the

aim of the programme was to offer treatment to women with the condition and had no money to treat it surgically; saying curing them will help them to be freely integrated back into the society.

“VVF is a terrible condition which usually affects women in the poor areas and because they are poor, it is difficult to get treatment. What we have done in collaboration with Sani

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SouthNews 59

Sunday November 15, 2015

Bayelsa poll: Dickson’s kinsmen vow to back Sylva Osahon Julius YENAGOA

A

head of the December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa State and with campaigns intensifying, the people of Toruebeni and kinsmen of the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, have vowed to throw their weight behind the aspiration of the All Progressives Congress candidate, Timipre Sylva.

The people of the town

including the elderly, young boys and girls, trooped out to give a rousing welcome to former Governor Sylva, joining others from the different communities that make up Sagbama, Dickson’s local council area.

They said they had found in Sylva, a good friend, but in Dickson, a bad brother, insisting that “a good friend is better than a bad brother”.

The kinsmen lamented

that their son and brother (Dickson) had abandoned them and failed to site developmental projects in their communities for over three years.

In Toru-Ebeni community and other wards in Sagbama, they said they would gladly vote for the APC and Sylva to change Dickson, who they accused of “insensitivity and woeful performance”.

They were particularly

angry that Dickson refused to rehabilitate a school he attended in Toru-Ebeni and failed to complete a road leading to the community, which Sylva almost finished before he was removed from office.

They spoke when Sylva led a team of APC leaders to Toru-Ebeni community to identify with them on their yearly festival entitled, ‘Ebenimo-oge’.

The surprise visit of

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike swearing in two caretaker committee chairmen of Khana And Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, in Port Harcourt at the weekend.

Ajimobi rallies Oyo people for HID Awolowo’s burial rites Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

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overnor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo yesterday called on citizens of the state to be part of history by turning out en masse to witness activities scheduled for the final burial rites of Chief HID Awolowo, in Ibadan, the state capital tomorrow.

A statement by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government quoted the governor as saying the matriarch of the dynasty of the late Premier of Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, deserves a burial befitting of heroines.

The governor, as a mark of respect, has thus ordered a temporary closure of the popular Agbeni Market tomorrow, due to its contiguous location to the Methodist Church, Agbeni, where a commendation service would be held for the deceased by 9 a.m.

The statement said the closure became necessary to prevent avoidable gridlock and the attendant pains it could cause traders and commuters plying the area.

Ajimobi appealed to the public to join hands with

the state government to fully partake in the burial rites from 7 a.m. when the corpse would arrive in Ibadan, from where the procession would move to the Oke Ado residence of the Awolowos for lying in state at 8 a.m.

The statement said af-

ter the commendation service, another lying in state would be held at the Tribune House, Imalefalafia, Ibadan, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Said Ajimobi: “Let us turn out en masse on Monday to give our dear Mama

a burial rite befitting of a heroine, which she was.

Since her passage, several accolades and encomiums have been showered on her, I want the people of Oyo State to go a step further by partaking in all activities scheduled for her burial.

Journalists bemoan neglect of Ajayi Crowther’s hometown Abolaji Adebayo

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ournalists under the aegis of Development Communication Reporters who recently visited Osoogun, the homeland of the late Rev. Ajayi Crowther have called for the development of the community. They said it was far from expectation in terms of basic necessities of life.

The journalists, who were on tour of some historical communities, disclosed that their mission was to see these places with a view to inviting development partners to the communities.

The leader of the team and ace sports journalist, Mr. Jolaoluwa Afolabi, expressed shock at the sight of the community such as Osoogun, which has produced illustri-

ous personalities to be in lack of basic amenities He believed that such communities should enjoy government presence so that their younger ones would be inspired to contribute their quota to national development, especially by embarking on lucrative businesses.

“We identified Osoogun and a few other historical communities in the Southwest because of the glowing tributes that the world gives to the personalities that were bred by these communities.

“We expected this community in particular to enjoy patronage of Yoruba Christians who today enjoy the benefit of reading the glorious Bible in their mother-tongue as a result of the sweat and dedication of Reverend Samuel Ajayi Crowther. But as we got

here and met a near-desolate town, we were disappointed.

“This however would not deter us from our planned ideas for the upliftment of the people through the provision of basic amenities,” Afolabi lamented.

One of the opinion leaders, Mr. Samson Ogunniyi, who doubled as the tourguide to the journalists said: “Our youths don’t like to stay because there are no jobs for them. Our kind of farming is no longer attractive to young people.

We have land that could permit us do modern farming but government officials are not giving us the opportunity. Agriculture Extension officers who visited us in the past from the ministry did not come back. We don’t know the reason.”

Sylva and his team attracted a crowd of people from neighbouring communities in Sagbama who came to catch a glimpse of the APC candidate.

In the entourage of the former governor were the Director-General of the Sylva/Igiri Campaign Organisation and Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and former acting governor of the state, Chief Nestor Binabo.

Others were former two-time member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Warman Ogoriba and other prominent members of APC. The APC candidate was given a royal blessing by the traditional ruler of the community, His Royal Highness, S.T.A. Binagha, who tied a white wrapper round Sylva’s waist and gave him a lantern signifying light.

Binagha who described himself as an apostle, said Sylva would emerge victorious like previous candidates who stood for elections in the past after receiving his blessings.

The monarch said, “The voice of the people is the voice of God. All the people l ordained in the past went and won their elections. Lokpobiri came here, l blessed him, he went and won. Barnabas Edure came, l blessed him and he went and won.

“I am an apostle of God. We want rapid development and network of roads. We want roads to get to our community.

Most of these roads have been in the drawing board for many years. Our community is the main Wilberforce Island but we have been in darkness.” ln his response, Sylva described the community as great and ancient, vowing to develop the area if given the mandate.

He expressed dismay that the people could not drive into their community because the road and a bridge he almost completed were abandoned by the current administration.

Sylva said, “l am readier than ever before to govern and develop you. When l wanted to come, l thought we would drive down but we used boats. The bridge and the road were started by former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

“I took it up and it was remaining only two pillars to complete the bridge. I concluded arrangement to pay N2 billion to the contractor to finish everything. But l was removed.

“Your son is in government. If he really loves you, why can’t he do it?

When you vote us in, within one year, you will drive to this community.”

Sylva recalled that his administration was known as the champion of internal roads and promised to construct internal roads in the community.

Describing himself as light, he said, “Whenever you vote for us, you will see the difference between night of today and the light that will come tomorrow.”

OPU seeks youth empowerment

T

he Osogbo Progressive Union, United States of America chapter, OPUSA, has called for increased effort at youth empowerment with requisite vocational skills.

Keynote speaker at the bi-annual national convention of the union held recently at West Palm Beach, Florida, Mr Bade Adeshina, stressed the need for Nigerian youths to be mentored properly to restore the value of dignity, acquisition of vocational and technical skills as an added advantage to educational qualifications.

According to the Public Relations Officer, Mr La-

teef Sanusi, Adesina, this would empower the youth to be 21st century compliant and act as a panacea to the shrinking white collar jobs.

At the convention, the outgoing president, Mr Yekini Opawoye, who recounted his achievements, challenged the incoming president, Barrister Suleiman Fatai Aderemi, that in addition to the service to humanity, the task ahead was to keep the union’s flag flying along with the newlyelected officials.

The two-day event rounded off with a dinner, prize presentation and networking.

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Sport

Sunday, November 15, 2015

I scored a goal with my eyes closed – Altintop

Sport

KEEPING YOU ABREAST OF SPORTING NEWS SUNDAY NOVEMBER 15, 2015

Is Osimhen the new wonder kid?

I

t was already clear following his hattrick against Australia that there was going to be one outstanding candidate for the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot at the U-17 World Cup in Chile.

Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen has all the makings of a true star, unrefined in many ways, but already his gleam is undeniable. Might he be that precious kind of once-in-a-generation player?

It could all have been so different. Nigeria’s outing at the Caf U-17 Championships in Niger in February ended in the disappointment of a fourth-place finish, just enough to qualify for the global tournament. In spite of this, Osimhen topped the scoring chart, hitting four, and identified himself as an untouchable talent as the team underwent an exhaustive overhaul.

Only five regulars from that qualifying tournament started in the opening U-17 World Cup game against the USA in Vina del Mar, but impressively, the 16-year-old has maintained his level of performance and arguably bettered it. His selfless work ethic, persistence and physicality are entirely in keeping with the style of

Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, whom he idolises.

More importantly, they put him at the service of a team that, at times, look utterly dependent on his qualities.

The gangly striker, built like a middledistance runner, is deceptively quick and possesses a tremendous leap. The quality of his off-the-ball runs, as well as the sheer variety of his finishes, make him a handful to contain.

Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Chelsea, Juventus, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich have all sent scouts to Chile to watch the U-17 World Cup. They are likely to be returning to their respective clubs with only one name on their lips.

From penalties to headers, scuffed efforts to elegant curlers, Osimhen’s potential is infinite. The Ultimate Strikers Academy prodigy scored in every game Chile, and another strike against Mali in the final gave him the record outright as the highest-ever goalscorer in an U-17 World Cup tournament.

It is amazing just how far the beautiful game has brought Osimhen.

The last in a family of six, the striker

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Swaziland to arrive today for Super Eagles Clash

revealed in a chat with the Caf website that he sold wares at the roadside to contribute to the family income before finding football. This reality of standing in the middle of traffic to sell products is a lot more perilous and tasking than many imagine; aside from the danger of oncoming traffic, the hawkers often have to sprint in bursts to catch up with speeding cars in order to receive payment for their items.

His elder brother Andrew who is the eldest of the children had to drop out of school to go into newspaper vending business to help support his siblings.

He also hawked on the street selling all kinds of stuffs in traffic. It was gathered that it was from Andrew he learnt most of the tricks he now uses as a professional footballer.

Victor’s rise to stardom wasn’t a smooth ride as he was rejected by the coaches of the Lagos State football team when he tried out for the National Sports Festival with the discouragement that ‘he was not good enough.’

Victor however managed to defeat all odds when he won the heart of Golden

Eaglets coach, Emmanuel Amuneke when he went for the open screening that held in Lagos. Undeterred by the mammoth crowd which he encountered the first day of try out, he went back the second day and was able to wow the coach who had been rejecting strikers after scoring in about ten minutes of stepping on the pitch.

However, brilliance at the junior level in most cases, don’t translate to success at the senior level. The cases of Lukman Haruna and Macaulay Chrisantus are very fresh in the minds of many. Will Osimhen therefore be different? Well, time will tell.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Swaziland to arrive today for Super Eagles clash

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he delegation of Swaziland’s Sihlangu Somnikati to Tuesday’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying encounter with the Super Eagles will stay at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Port Harcourt.

Chief Executive Officer of the National Football Association of Swaziland, Frederick Mngomezulu, disclosed to the Nigeria Football Federation that the Sihlangu delegation would depart from Swaziland on Saturday, and travel via Arik Air from Johannesburg on Saturday night, to arrive in Lagos on Sunday morning.

The delegation will then fly to Port Harcourt Sunday morning aboard another Arik Air flight from Lagos.

NFF officials and the Rivers State Government have reserved rooms for the delegation at the Golden Tulip, while the Super Eagles are staying at the Hotel Presidential.

The Sihlangu delegation is made up of 18 players and 10 officials.

Football’s world governing body, FIFA, has appointed Namibian officials to take charge of Tuesday’s encounter.

Jackson Pavaza will be the referee, with Isaskar Boois, Christof Alfred Vries and Leston Nangombe as assistant 1, assistant 2 and fourth official respectively.

Bester Kalombo from Malawi will be the referee assessor with Ethiopian Luleseged Begashaw as match commissioner.

Afolabi Gambari

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s the countdown for the 2015 edition of the Nigerian sports award begins, the organizers have announced that the voting phase will close as scheduled by

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Wikki are still very much in the running for the CAF Confederation Cup ticket.

Taking into cognizance the other teams jostling for the Confederation Cup ticket, Wikki must not just win but win well. And when your opponents on such a day are the boys from the Pyramid City, you are in for some Herculean task.

Pillars are as formidable as they come.

They might not have been in their allconquering best all season but the bad news for Wikki is that captain Rabiu

U17 quartet earn Siasia’s call

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igeria’s Under-23 head coach, Samson Siasia, has included four of the country’s under-17s for his pre-Africa Under-23 Cup of Nations.

The under-17 players called up by Siasia are Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Nwakali, John Lazarus and Udochukwu Anumudu.

Siasia explained that he has been tracking the quartet before they travelled to Chile where they helped Nigeria retain the Fifa Under-17

World Cup this month.

But the coach of the Nigerian under-23s made it clear that the youngsters “must justify their invitation.”

“I have been monitoring the progress of these boys while the team was being built by my brother, Emmanuel Amuneke. Don’t forget we were in the same hotel and used the same pitch to train and I have been impressed with what I saw them do in Chile, so I think what I just did

with

IFEANYI Eduzor

Ward vacates WBA title

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n preparation of his intended move to the light heavyweight division, WBA Super Middleweight Champion Andre Ward (28-0, 15 KO’s) is vacating his title. Ward originally claimed the belt in November 2009 with a victory over long-time champion Mikkel Kessler in his opening fight of the Super Six tournament.

“I won the WBA belt for my first world title in 2009 and have defended it six times and it’s been a wonderful ride with the WBA,” Ward said. “Gilberto Mendoza and his team

have shown me nothing but respect and I’m looking forward to moving up and hopefully winning the WBA light heavyweight belt.”

“Andre Ward has been one of the finest champions in the WBA super middleweight division’s history,” said WBA President Gilberto Mendoza Jr. “We have always been honored to be represented by such a great athlete, gentleman and incredible role model. We wish him the best success in the future and hope we can facilitate the path to him becoming a two-division world champion at light heavyweight.”

Victor Oritz (R) exchanging punches with Josesito Lopez

2015 award.

Idowu urged sports loving Nigerians who still wish to vote for their sportsman and sportswoman of the year to take the opportunity of the remaining few hours to do so before the deadline.

Wikki, Kano Pillars in battle for supremacy hen Wikki Tourists engage Kano Pillars in Bauchi this Sunday, it will be more than three points at stake. On the surface, it will not be wrong to believe the stakes are higher on the Wikki side.

Why not? They are in sixth position and with 60 points, are only three points behind second-placed Warri Wolves.

While it may be a taller order aspiring to pick the second Champions League ticket given Wolves’ superior goal difference,

Knockout 08055829770 ifeduz24@yahoo.com

Nigerian Sports Award 2015: Voting closes today midnight today.

According to the spokesman for the award and the Executive Director, Unmissable Incentives Limited, Kayode Idowu, the voting phase, which started on Wednesday, October 7, 2015, is expected to close as stipulated in the timelines of the

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Ali is playing well again. He dominated the midfield against Akwa United last Sunday and when he is in such a form, only a few can contend with him in the domestic scene.

Ali’s combination with the left foot dazzler Shagari Mohammed has been the hallmark of Pillars engine room this term.

And with the combative Eneji Otekpa behind the duo, Pillars always seem solid in the middle of the pack.

Ortiz ready for ring return

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e hasn’t been seen in a ring since December o last year, when he stopped Manuel Perez in round three and badly injured his hand, yet Victor Ortiz is finally ready to return to action, claiming he is fully healed and only needs one fight before going after ‘the big boys.’

“I’m finally healed. I shattered my wrist in my last fight in four places. I had two screws in there. I finally got my cast off three months ago, did therapies and what not and I’m going at 100% now,” Ortiz told fighthub.tv.

Ortiz, who has been enjoying a fledgling career as an actor, appearing in movies ‘The Expendables

3’ and ‘Southpaw’ claims he was offered 3 movies and is contractually bound to two of them, but is keen to get back in the ring before he makes any more filming commitments and allows any more time to pass.

“I said I’m 28, I will get back in the ring and luckily they understood and have got my back. They said ‘Vic, if that’s what you want to do, we’re behind you 100%.

Rumours abounded last month that Ortiz was set to fight on the undercard of any Shawn Porter/Keith Thurman fight, although with that clash still officially unconfirmed, he says he will still likely be out on December 12th, which means he will ostensibly appear on the Omar Figueroa/ Antonio DeMarco bill from Texas.

Atiba U-13 tourney ends November 22

was reward them for a job well done.

“Their invitation is only to tell other players that they too can progress to the senior cadre if they are level-headed and keep working on their game. For me age is not a factor; if they can give me what I want, then they will be part of my team to Senegal. But they must justify their invitation for no player in my team has automatic shirt,” Siasia told thenff. com.

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he maiden edition of Atiba U-13 Cup will be rounded up on Sunday November, 22 at the Jalisco Sports Centre Field, Oshodi, Lagos.

Organizer of the championship, Prince Adewale Atiba of Atiba Global Concept Limited told Sunday Mirror that the competition which started on the 5th of September will come to a close with the final match

between FC Success and P.M Sports FA while the third place match will be between NET Breakers FC and Nice Babes Oluwole FC respectively.

According to him, his determination to discover hidden talents that will be nurtured to become future champions motivated him to organize the tournament and expressed happiness that the competition lived up to expectation.

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Sport

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Altintop:

I scored a goal with my eyes closed The shortlist for the FIFA Puskás Award has just been revealed. Who’s your favourite to win it?

I’ve seen the goals and they’re all fantastic. The chip by the English player David Ball is wonderful and Philippe Mexes’ goal is a lot like mine in 2010. Marcel Ndjeng’s goal for Paderborn is pretty exceptional too.

I have to say, though, that my favourite goal is the chip. It was so effortless.

You won this award back in 2010 with a spectacular strike from the edge of the box in an international match with Turkey.

Can you still remember it?

Yes. It was a qualifier and Guus Hiddink was our coach. We had a new-look team and he’d only just taken over. The Kazakhstan match was a very important for us and we got off to a good start and ended up winning 3-0. I remember that I hit the ball with my eyes closed, just as I struck it. When I opened them again the ball was in the back of the net, though I didn’t know how it went in. It was only when I watched it on it TV that I saw it went in at the top right-hand corner.

So you scored without even looking?

(Laughs) Yes. I had to jump up a little to hit it. After all, you close your eyes when you jump up for a header, though in this particular case I closed them so I could focus all my power on the shot and hit it as hard as I could.

When did you sit down and watch it for the first time? Was that when you realized just how good it was?

That dawned on me afterwards. People were telling me it was a great goal there and then, but at that particular time all I cared about was the win. I was just happy that I played a part in it with my goal. Then, when I found out it had been nominated for the best goal of the year, I sat and watched it again. I thought to myself: “It’s not bad, you know.” And when it actually won the award, it took on this whole new dimension for me, especially when I collected the trophy and when people stop and talk to me about it. It was a great goal but the other contenders were fantastic too. I wouldn’t have minded if a different goal had won, but it goes without saying that I was pretty delighted.

Was it a training-ground move or did it just happen?

I think the best things are always down to the spur of the moment, when you improvise and take the initiative, which is what happened in this case. I like shooting from distance and I always hang around on the edge of the area, looking to get on the end of something. Sometimes I end up scoring a special goal, like the one against Schalke in the Champions League. It’s something I really enjoy.

How important is the award to you? After all, you’re on a list of former winners that includes Neymar, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and

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Currently sidelined with a knee injury, Turkey and Galatasaray midfielder Hamit Altintop hopes to be back in action soon, as he told FIFA.com in an exclusive interview, giving hope to his fans of seeing him score the kind of goal that brought him the FIFA Puskás Award back in 2010. That strike, which came against Kazakhstan in a UEFA EURO 2012 qualifier, was a truly memorable one, a searing volley into the top corner, straight from a corner kick.

Capped 84 times by his country, the 32-year-old Altintop is as well qualified as anyone to run the rule over the contenders for the 2015 award, who have just been announced. As well as discussing his favourites for this year’s prize, he looked back on his 2010 wonder strike and spoke of what the Puskás Award means to him. over to Istanbul soon though, because this is where I live now, where I met my wife, where I got married and where I feel very much at home.

What went through your mind when Andrei Sidelnikov, the goalkeeper you beat in scoring that goal, presented the trophy to you?

First of all, I was delighted to have won it. And I thought it was wonderful that he was there to present the award to me. Moments like that are special, and he didn’t have a problem at all in giving it to me. It’s great to have the drive and desire to win, but off the pitch we need to be good people first and foremost and to value the importance of sharing. It was a moment I’ll remember all my life, though unfortunately we hardly had any time for a chat.

Was it the best goal you’ve ever scored, the most important one?

It was a nice goal, but it wasn’t the most important one of my career. The goal I scored for Galatasaray in the last 16 of the Champions League against Schalke meant a lot to me, as did the one I got for Schalke James Rodriguez.

It’s a great honour for me. Most people against AC Milan, also in the Champions don’t realize how much work footballers League, when I made it 2-2 from 30 metres put in day in day out. They think we train out. Those two were much more important. a couple of hours a day and then play for 90 minutes and that’s it. There are lots of dif- What do you think is the greatest goal of ferent things that come into play in our pro- all time?

(Laughs) The first one that comes to mind fession, though, like food, discipline, resting the body and all the work that goes into re- is the one Diego Maradona scored with his covering from an injury and the rehabilita- hand. He was only 5’5 and he jumped up tion period. That’s what makes awards like to head it and scored. No, I’m only jokthis so important. They really give you a lift ing! Roberto Carlos’ banana kick against France was fantastic. Its things like that and they’re very meaningful. that makes football such a fascinating Does the fact that the fans play an active game. You can try that kind of shot a thousand times and it only comes off once. And part in deciding who wins the Puskás then there’s Zinedine Zidane’s goal in the Award make it even more special?

Collective success is what counts in foot- Champions League final, when the ball ball. The fans have a big part to play in mak- dropped out of the sky and he volleyed ing our sport so interesting and popular, it. That was amazing too. They were two and it’s very important to make them happy. great players and two important goals.

Over the last few years that link between the That’s what makes the difference. game and the fans has been weakened a little because results come first these days. It’s 2010 was the year when Lionel Messi not so much about character now and more was recognized as the greatest player on about success, but what really counts is be- the planet for the second time. Do you ing able to interact with the fans, which is think he’ll be picking up the Ballon d’Or why it’s so great that they have a say in who again this year? wins this award.

I don’t think he’s got so much of a chance now because of his injury, but when he plays he’s just amazing. This Do you keep the trophy in a special season he’s scored goals and, if you ask me, place?

I have to say that it’s still at my mother’s he’s improved his all-round play. That said, house in Gelsenkirchen. When I left Mu- I think Cristiano Ronaldo is just a little bit nich, I moved back to Gelsenkirchen, and above Messi because he hasn’t had any init’s still there, in my room. I want to bring it juries.

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Sport

Sunday, November 15, 2015

63

Origi: Klopp can help Liverpool make progress

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iverpool striker Divock Origi has said the “positive energy” of manager Jurgen Klopp can help him and his teammates to shine.

Origi, 20, was picked by Klopp for his first game in charge and hit the bar during a 0-0 draw with Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

The Belgian forward, signed by Brendan Rodgers from Lille in 2014, is back at Anfield after returning to the Ligue 1 club on loan last season.

And he said he believed Klopp’s positive approach would help him flourish on Merseyside.

Zaha: No tricks allowed under Moyes at United F United targets La Liga winger Feghouli

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anchester united have made contact with Valencia regarding winger Sofiane Feghouli, according to reports.

The 25-year-old is in the final year of his contract at the La Liga club and has yet agree a new deal. Corriere dello Sport claims Louis van Gaal has made an approach for the Algerian international, looking to take advantage of his contractual situation.

Feghouli is also a target for Tottenham and Inter and he could sign a pre-contract agreement with another club in January.

Van Gaal has made it clear he is targeting a winger in the January transfer window.

“I have said already in my first year many times we need speed and creativity on the wings,” he told The Telegraph.

ormer Manchester United winger Wilfried Zaha has revealed that he was forced to keep his trickery to a minimum during his time at Old Trafford as then-manager David Moyes wanted him to keep things simple.

Zaha joined United from Crystal Palace in 2013, but failed to secure regular first-team football and was shipped out on loan to Cardiff City halfway through his first season.

He eventually left the club on a permanent basis for Palace again and has now taken aim at Moyes following his unsuccessful spell with United.

“Under Moyes I had to adjust my game,” Zaha told Soccer AM. “Certain managers want a trustworthy player, someone that will always keep the ball.

“But he was the only one who told me to stop some of the tricks and keep the ball in certain areas.

“So I tried to adjust my game then.

Matic may quit Obiang targets internationals West Ham return at Tottenham

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edro Obiang is targeting a West Ham return in next weekend’s Premier League trip to London rivals Tottenham.

The midfielder suffered a quadriceps injury in training ahead of West Ham’s 2-0 defeat at Watford last month and also missed the following 1-1 draw against Everton.

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helsea midfielder Nemanja Matic says he is thinking of quitting international football after Serbia were thrashed 4-1 by the Czech Republic in a friendly in Ostrava on Friday night.

Serbia have not qualified for Euro 2016, after finishing fourth of the five teams in Group I, and have also missed out on the last two major tournaments, the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2012.

Matic told Serbian media on Saturday that the limp display in Ostrava may prove the final straw in terms of his international career for the time being.

“I always try to lead by example but some people don’t want to see that,” said the 27-year-old midfielder.

N I G E R I A I N -The amount Customs generated from Apapa Port in October.

N23.3bn Vol. 5 No. 45

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Comment

E-mail: jimunahlive@gmail.com Jim Unah is Professor of Philosophy, University of Lagos

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with Jim Unah

ith the sack, last week, of Federal Permanent Secretaries, appointment of new ones, redeployment of some others, pruning down of Ministries to 25; the earlier selection, screening, appointment and swearing-in of Ministers; the discovery of monumental fraud perpetrated by some permanent secretaries in the last five months probably through the operations of the Treasury Single Account, TSA, and the Bank Verification Number, BVN, tracker; no one is in doubt that the executive arm of government led by President Muhammadu Buhari is set to swing into action.

Apart from a few controversial cases, the persons selected by Mr. President to work in his team to drive the change process, are individuals on familiar turf; tested and trusted to deliver service, to the Nigerian nation. The appointment of former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola as Power, Works and Housing Minister, for instance, gladdened the hearts of many Nigerians who feel strongly that working under a corruption-intolerant Federal Govern-

N150

F I G U R E S

- The sum NAFDAC

N1bnfined Guinness

Nigeria Limited over expired raw materials

Now that Buhari Team is bracing to get cracking ment unencumbered by the booby-traps of god-fatherism will bring out the best of the man as technocrat, statesman and performer. Both the Fashola appointment and the triple portfolios assigned to him are well thought out.

However, opinions are divided as to whether the assignment of portfolios reflect the training and professional competences of the appointees. It is contended in certain quarters that as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Mr. Fashola should have been appointed to head the Ministry of Justice to bring sanity to the criminal justice system by ensuring iron-cast arraignment and prosecution of offenders of the law, especially the anti-graft law. Unfortunately, while it is undeniable that he has knowledge capacity and professional competence in the justice delivery arena, it is not in that realm of transaction that he has come to be known by the majority of the Nigerian people. Fashola became popular with Nigerians nationwide because of his magnificent exploits as Lagos State Governor in the arena of public infrastructure and social service delivery. It would have been a colossal waste of human capacity endowment to deploy him to the Justice Ministry as Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation.

It is rather in the realm of electricity service, road and rail infrastructure and urban housing that Fashola can eter-

nally benefit Nigerians if he deploys his passion and commitment to work. His triple-barrel portfolio is a square peg in a square hole. Any SAN with good record can be effective as Justice Minister. But not every SAN can be effective in public infrastructure delivery.

A similar argument can hold for the appointment of Dr. Kayode Fayemi as Solid Mineral Minister. As an academic with a background in History, Public and International Affairs; without training in geo-physics, environmental science and geology, it would seem that he might not fit squarely in the solid mineral Ministry.

Again, as with the case of Fashola, while the Buhari cabinet parades technocrats and professionals, it does not appear that the consideration of specialty was overarching in the assignment of portfolios.

Dr. Fayemi’s track record in Ekiti State in the realm of the creation of enduring structures, institutions and infrastructure rather than quotidian mundane concerns with “stomach infrastructure” elects him as a number one candidate in the team for the diversification of the economy. Solid minerals and agriculture have been consistently identified as the areas of concentration of attention for the redemption of the nation’s economy from the trammels of crude oil culture.

What Fayemi has, which many a geologist or a geo-physicist or an environmentalist does not have; though it may be ar-

gued that we have not searched enough, is passion, conviction, and commitment to enduring legacies. Besides, nothing says that a Minister of State in the Solid Mineral Ministry and an army of directors in the same ministry should not have geology, geo-physics and environmental science backgrounds.

What is required in public service delivery is an overseer with general knowledge coupled with passion, commitment and integrity to get things done, and to be able to coordinate the activities of specialists in his jurisdiction. Dr. Fayemi fits in properly here. His concerns for enduring structures and legacies as Ekiti State Governor is public knowledge as it got him into trouble with his hungry voters who wanted transient dividends rather than enduring development infrastructure. In the Solid Mineral Ministry, he would have all the privacy in the world from watchful and hungry voters, to deliver alternative income earner for all Nigerians.

True. Without going into lengthy details, Buhari and his team appear set to go. Now, what about the National Assembly? Is the legislature ready to join in connecting all the dots to drive change as the executive just did? What is this nauseating struggle for juicy committee membership that has taken the centerstage? Is this how the lawmakers intend to drive and deliver change?

‘Zidane hit hard by Paris terror attacks’

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avid Beckham says Zinedine Zidane pulled out of Saturday’s UNICEF Match for Children because the France great was his devastated by the attacks in Paris.

Zidane, a former team-mate of Beckham’s at Real Madrid, was supposed to line up for the Rest of the World coached by Carlo Ancelotti against a Great Britain and Ireland team managed by Alex Ferguson.

However, Zidane and fellow former France international Patrick Viera pulled out of the event before kick-off at Old Trafford.

Their withdrawal came following the atrocities in the French capital, with officials reporting that 129 people were killed and a further 99 critically injured following what appeared to be co-ordinated terror acts.

Beckham offered his sympathy to the victims, while stating his understanding for Zidane’s

decision.

“There was slight concern once the news hit last night. It’s terribly devastating to see,” Beckham - who finished his playing career with Paris SaintGermain - told reporters after the match, which finished 3-1 in Great Britain and Ireland’s favour.

“I understood why Zizou took the decision not to play.

He was very respectful to me but I totally understood. He’s a friend and also a very passionate man.

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