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Goodluck Jonathan: Hero or not?

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Vol. 5 No. 15

Sunday, April 12, 2015

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Apathy, killings, ballot box snatching mar polls ...Party leaders blame low turnout on fear of violence

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Agbaje loses polling unit in Lagos, Ambode wins P.57

Couple burnt to death as fire guts home P.59

PASSION

Sunday April 12, 2015

e A Lifestyle Magazin

APPLAUSE

Voters waiting to be accredited during the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections at Ashimi Ward B 009 in Suleja, Niger State, yesterday.

PHOTO:NAN

Buhari commends INEC

Our democracy is maturing –Obasanjo P.8

Children with autism can be helped –Akande >>27

I love seeing myself on screen

–Nancy Gabriel >>26

News

Polls: Tension in Katsina, one person killed

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Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday, April 12, 2015

What’s new Politics

Seven Days TALKING POINTS OF THE PAST WEEK

Mixed feelings trail 16 years of democracy in Nigeria Passion

Employing househelp below 12 years now criminal offence –FG Federal Government yesterday said employing house-helps and domestic workers below the age of 12 is now illegal and a criminal offence in the country. Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, Beatrice Jedy-Agba, made the revelation in Abuja, yesterday. The pronouncement by the Federal Govern-

APRIL 12, 2015

ment followed the signing into law of the Trafficking in Persons’ Enforcement and Administration Act by President Goodluck Jonathan on March 26, 2015. According to her, part of the Acts prohibits the employment of a child below the age of 12 years as domestic help, while the exploitation of a child under the age of 18 years, who is employed as a domestic help, is also prohibited.

Polls: Parties trade blames over plot to rig A total of 368 candidates would tomorrow vie for governorship seats in 29 states in the country where the gubernatorial elections would be conducted, statistics at the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, have shown. The governorship polls will not hold in Kogi, Ekiti,

Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ondo and Osun states. The INEC data also revealed that no fewer than 5,218 candidates are contesting in the House of Assembly election in the 36 states on the same day. Details of the statistics showed that 22 candidates out of the gubernatorial candidates are females.

Police arrest man with 813 PVCs in Ebonyi

Special Election Team of the Nigeria Police, Cone six command, has arrested one Mr Sunday Madueke with 813 permanent voter cards, PVCs. The team was inaugurated by Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, in charge of the zone, Tunde Ogunsakin, who has consistently warned against improper conduct before, during and after the general election. Head of the Special Election Team and a Deputy Superinten-

dent of Police, DSP Friday Obere, in a statement said the suspect was nabbed on Monday, April 6, at Izzi community in the state. Obere said the AIG received a call on Easter Sunday, April 5, on one of the zone’s dedicated phone lines about two men possessing multiple PVCs. The team members were immediately alerted and moved into Izzi community where the suspects were said to have been last seen.

No alliance with Ogun PDP, says LP National Working Committee, NWC, of the Labour Party, LP, has dissociated itself from a purported endorsement of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Ogun State, Gboyega Nasir Isiaka. National chairman of the party, Alhaji Abdul- Kadri Abdul-Salam Baradin Pako, made the clarification while

speaking with journalists yesterday in Abeokuta, the state capital. Abdul-Salam, who expressed disgust over a media report credited to state chairman of the party, Olabode Simon, also emphasised that Bolaji Sunmola remains LP’s candidate in the state for the governorship election tomorrow.

CBN raises alarm over N495bn non-performing loan

MON TUE WED

Life is full of hassles, deadlines, frustrations, and demands, the human race experience a lot of disappointments which could affect the wellbeing. For many people, stress is so common that it has become a way of life.

My Tuesdays are somehow similar to my Mondays. I start the day with prayers and exercise. Then I’m off to hold meeting with production crew and then pick some new scripts and go through them. Same with Monday and Tuesday, except that Wednesday is my shooting day, especially short films.

THU

Before that stress kills you…

I’m sure you will expect me to say that I hold board meetings on Mondays with my staff. Far from that, because the life of an entertainer is unpredictable. Our time and energy are channeled to the latest projects we embark on. This therefore makes my weekly schedules different. Being both a musician and an actress, my schedules are somewhat flexible to accommodate which side has more goings on at the moment. Having said this, I start my Mondays with prayers. Then I head to the gym. When I come back, I take my shower, after which I go to see some movie producers I have appointment with. When I’m done with that, I now face my rehearsals which can keep me busy till the evening.

Today is what I call my cinema-watching day. I get my mind set for the weekend by going to the cinemas to watch good movies. After, I hang out with friends, especially at open Mic Night

FRI

Wellness

Evaezi Ogoro MUSICIAN AND AN ACTRESS

As a musician, on Fridays, I do intensive rehearsals with my band. Later, I try to schedule meetings with my production crew for new projects.

SAT

Lagos socialite, Nancy Gabriel, is an actress and fashionista. She opted for the movie world because of the passion she has for the stage. In this interview, she speaks about her lifestyle and what excites her as an actress.

outside the country. Giving the hint at the end of the 321st Bankers Committee’s Meeting in Lagos, CBN’s Director, Banking Supervision, Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, expressed the Committee’s concerns over the rising non-performing loans, which currently is 3.3 percent of total loans.

If I don’t have any event to attend, I try to keep myself busy with movies. I watch a lot of movies, including mine. After, I would appear at women’s empowerment programme; I do this often to empower women.

SUN

I love seeing myself on screen –Nancy Gabriel

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, is set to publish the names of bank debtors in the financial industry as Non Performing Loans, NPLs, grow to about N495bn. This is just as the Bank unveiled plans to reduce the yearly spending limits of naira debit card holders

It is my resting day. I go to church and come back to rest. I’m only out on Sundays if I have an important event to attend or if I’m invited to perform which, of course, is work for me.

Jonathan mourns Oronto Douglas President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday expressed sadness over the death of his Special Adviser on Research, Documentation and Strategy, Mr. Oronto Douglas. A statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said Jonathan extended his heartfelt condolences to the Douglas family.

He also condoled with the government and people of Bayelsa State on the death of one of their most distinguished sons who served his country, state and Niger Delta region passionately and diligently during his very impactful years on earth. Douglas, who passed away after a protracted battle with cancer, was Jonathan’s personal aide for close to a decade.

NDLEA arrests South African lady with $373,725, €2,120 National Drug Law En- and €2,120 hidden inside forcement Agency, NDLEA, says it is investigating alleged money laundering involving a 39-year-old South African lady, Nosisi Pam Ngqula. NDLEA in a statement signed by its spokesman, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, stated that the suspect was intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos, with $373,725

packs of oats. Ofoyeju explained that the money was detected during inward screening of passengers on a South African airline flight from Johannesburg. He added that two Nigerians, Damian Akamelus, and Prophet Cyprian Chigere, were also being investigated by the antinarcotic agency in connection with the crime.

*By Adaeze Amos (08023012293)

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

THE

Big Read SUNDAY SPECIAL INVESTIGATION APRIL 12, 2015

Goodluck Jonathan: Hero or not? President Goodluck Jonathan

While President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s meteoric rise to power still confounds many, his failure to get re-elected in the March 28 poll was not that surprising. Widely criticised for corruption, weak governance, failure to end epileptic power supply, dwindling currency, insecurity among others, Jonathan crumbled in the face of a strong opposition led by Gen Muhammadu Buhari. However, since he conceded defeat to the President-elect, accolades have poured in from different quarters both local and international including members of the opposition party who joined the bandwagon of praise singers. Yemi Olakitan takes a look at Jonathan’s administration from both sides of the divide. ‘PRESIDENT REFORMED AGRIC, POWER SECTORS’

ntil November 2009, Goodluck Jonathan was just vice president to the late former president, Umar Musa Yar’dua. He however overcame political wrangling and was accepted as Acting President in February 2010 when the ailing president was too ill to rule. When President Yar’Adua died in office, Mr. Jonathan was sworn in as the new president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. President Jonathan defied the governing People’s Democratic Party’s, PDP, tradition of alternating presidential power between North and South after two terms of office by winning the party’s primaries. In 2011, claiming he wore no shoes while growing up, he won his first election for the presidency while opposition claims fraud. His election to the seat of power was symbolic, representing a major shift from the norm as he was the first president from the Niger Delta or the south-south. Many of the critics have said President Jonathan achieved little or nothing during his administration and cannot be described as a hero. A classic example is Chief Kola Ogunmola, APC chieftain based in Lekki, Lagos, who spoke with Sunday Mirror. “The president may have done some things but he did not do the ones that are most dear to Nigerians, chief of which is electricity. Despite the huge investments in the sector, Nigerians still rely on their generators for power supply. In the area of insecurity, the Chibok girls are still missing till today. This is one of the major reasons why President Jonathan lost the election. His failure to bring back our girls. Nigerian mothers cannot vote for such a president a second time. You can be sure of that, no matter who he is. Look at all the wailings and the international outcry and yet the girls were not found. No one who CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

‘NIGERIANS NOT BETTER OFF UNDER JONATHAN’

The Big Read

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Opposition cannot see anything good in Jonathan’s govt’

General Buhari

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 has children will want Jonathan as the next president. This is a major setback for the president even if he had achieved in other areas”, he said. Similarly, Babatunde Adisa, CEO of Bamanja Entertainment, Lagos, believes the president failed in the area of employment generation. “There is high level unemployment in this country. He may have achieved in other areas but the level of unemployment in this country is alarming and he did not even scratch the surface with all the programmes established under his administration.” He however said the president is hero and his name will shine in the history of Nigeria because of the fact he did what Ibrahim Babangida could not do for M.K.O. Abiola in June 12, (1993). “He prevented violence and bloodshed for that he may go down in history as hero but I don’t think that Nigerians are satisfied with his achievements”. President Goodluck Jonathan’s achievements According to reports, one of the president’s major achievements was in agriculture, with the intervention in rice production, which resulted in the creation of more than two million new jobs among rural dwellers. Cocoa exports reached the highest level thereby creating a new set of millionaires during his administration. At least, $900m worth of cocoa was reportedly exported for the first time in decades. He put an end to the fertiliser and tractor scam used to be the order of the day. The president also undertook massive rehabilitation of roads throughout the country via Subsidy Reinvestment Programme SURE-P. Roads such as the Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja road, Benin-Ore-Sagamu dual carriageway, Onitsha-Enugu-Port Harcourt dual carriageway, Kaduna-Maiduguri dual carriageway, East-West Road. 500 Primary Health Centers were reportedly built across the 36 states and FCT of the Federation, in the health sector. Before the elections, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati had said, “One can never have an objective comment from the opposition parties because of their political interests. When President Jonathan took over, the electricity supply situation in the country was in a very bad shape. This government introduced the power sector roadmap, reactivated what it met on the ground and as at this moment and improved electricity generation and distribution in the country. “Before the President took over, the rail sector was completely comatose. Under this President, the sector has been re-energised. Nigerians can now travel from Lagos to Kano, from one part of the country to the other. The few complaints we have heard is that people are saying that it can be further modernised. The truth is

Alhaji Lai Mohammed

THERE IS HIGH LEVEL

UNEMPLOYMENT IN THIS COUNTRY.

HE MAY HAVE ACHIEVED IN

OTHER AREAS BUT THE LEVEL OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN THIS COUNTRY IS ALARMING AND HE DID NOT EVEN SCRATCH THE SURFACE WITH ALL THE PROGRAMMES ESTABLISHED UNDER HIS ADMINISTRATION that the railway sector that used to be one of the poster agencies for the abandonment of government responsibilities has come back to life. There was a time when the aviation sector was a major centre of scams. The Jonathan administration has taken the bold step to revitalise that sector both in terms of infrastructure and the basic provision of facilities across the country. It is also this administration that allowed Nigerians to have the Freedom of Information. Nigerians have never been freer to express their views on any issues, without intimidation”, he said. Defending Jonathan’s anti corruption record, Adekola Iyiola, a PDP chieftain in Etiosa Local government of Lagos, said, “Corruption in Nigeria is not new to President Jonathan. It is an inherited problem. It is a problem that has been with us since independence, so for people to be talking as if Jonathan imported Corruption to Nigeria is a partisan opinion. The problem is also not limited to Nigeria. The countries and individuals, who shout most about corruption, are also facing

One of the roads constructed by Jonathan

Rebuen Abati

the challenge”. Speaking in the same vein, veteran journalist, Tajudeen Olumo said, “The subsidy scam is the biggest scam in Nigeria and I praise President Jonathan for having the courage to face it. People will collect allocation to bring in fuel, they will not own any vessel, they will not import any fuel and they will still collect government money. Over the years, previous governments have created system of legalised corruption through subsidy and Jonathan said this is economic sabotage and it must stop. The oil cabal set up propaganda machineries since they are the beneficiaries and insisted it must continue. If Nigeria is serious, we must remove subsidy for the economy to grow. True oil prices will increase but it will go reduce in the end”, he said. Another supporter, Chief Bayode Ogunmupe said, “If I must talk about Jonathan’s achievements, I will say, free and fair elections. The 2011 general elections were acclaimed to be free and fair. Every subsequent elections conducted under this President’s having been free and fair and so adjudged by both local and international observers. In Adamawa, Kogi, Sokoto, Edo and Ondo, there were no problems when elections were conducted in those states. Another major achievement is that he conceded defeat to the president elect. This is good because it shows that he is not desperate for power and he put the interests of this nation above personal and parochial selfish interests.” An educator, Mrs. Gloria Ofunoye who spoke with Sunday Mirror on the achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan, said, “The promotion and practice of true democracy by creating an enabling environment where people from diverse backgrounds and with divergent views and opinions can be accommodated is one of his achievements. She noted that under the watch of the Jonathan administration, the APC was registered by INEC as a mega opposition party big enough to challenge the PDP at both state and national levels. This would have been unthinkable some years back under the administration of former president Olusegun Obasanjo. Unlike in other administrations, the Goodluck Jonathan administration has given a free hand to the country’s electoral umpire, INEC, to perform its statutory duties. He also does not interfere with electoral and judicial matters. This is evident in the number of governorship elections that have been won both at the polls and in the court by opposition parties in Anambra, Imo, Osun states, among others.” On whether, the president was corrupt, Ofunoye said, “the truth of the matter is that Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, made it clear that last year it secured over 200 convictions. Those who say Jonathan CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

The Big Read

Sunday, April 12, 2015

‘President reformed agric, power sectors’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 is not fighting corruption are not speaking on the basis of facts. The only point I want to make is that during Nuhu Ribadu, there used to be a lot of media publicity on EFCC activities even when they make ordinary arrests but under this administration much attention is not given to publicising these things because they used to be headlines in those days but under Jonathan, he did not push these activities on corruption”. Some commentators also point out that President Jonathan has been credited with the liberalisation of the press and guaranteeing the freedom of speech in a country where the stifling of the press and suppression of the citizens’ right to freedom of speech used to be the norm, a legacy of over 30 years of military rule. The existence of vocal anti-government media houses and critics would have culminated in some high-profile assassinations some years back, but today citizens are free to air their views whenever and wherever they like just like any other sane country. The President has also been credited with opening up Nigeria to the global business community and making the nation Africa’s number one destination of foreign investors. Statistics show that in the first six months of 2014, a total of $9.70bn or N1.51 trillion was reported to have flowed into the national economy as foreign direct investments, FDI. Also last year, Nigeria rebased it’s GDP for the first time in over a decade to become the largest economy in Africa, overtaking South Africa and Egypt in the process. Proceeds from Nigeria’s non-oil exports rose to $2.97bn by the end of 2013, up from $2.3bn in 2010. The Jonathan administration has also spearheaded the revival of the dead automotive industry in Nigeria. Global auto giants like Peugeot, Nissan and Hyundai now either assemble or wholly manufacture small cars, sports utility vehicles, trucks and buses at various locations in Nigeria. Under President Jonathan, the Ebola outbreak was arrested. The outbreak of the deadly and highly contagious Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) was nabbed in the bud in record time, though it unfortunately claimed some lives at the onset,” In the area of agriculture, Nigeria has reduced its food imports by over 40 per cent, moving the country closer to self sufficiency in agriculture. Nigeria is the world’s largest producer of cassava with an output of over 45 million metric tones in 2014 according to the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). Under the outgoing government, Internet penetration in Nigeria increased from about 45 million in 2011 to 63 million in 2014, overtaking countries such as the United Kingdom and France in the process. As of the second quarter of 2014, the number of registered active telephone lines in Nigeria stood at 130 million out of a total of over 170 million telephone lines. The president also introduced the Nigerian electronic identity card (e-ID card), one of the most secure in the world and the largest in Africa. The e-ID card serves as both an international identification module and an electronic payment solution. In the banking sector, there is the introduction of the cashless system which aims to encourage the use of e-payment systems in the country and reduce the volume of physical cash in circulation. In the power sector, the president unbundled the dysfunctional Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) into about 18 profit-driven successor companies. In the area of sports, Nigeria won the African Cup of Nations for the first time in 19 years in South Africa in February, 2013. Nigeria ended up with 11 gold , 11 silver and 14 bronze medals at the recently concluded 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, finishing 8th in the overall ranking. Abuja Stadium Rehabilitated, Kano International Airport Remodeled. One of 9 airports remodeled across the nation. Women were given more prominent roles in his administration. A large number of the federal appointees of the Goodluck Jonathan administration are women.

Another road constructed by Jonathan’s administration

Power station

THE PRESIDENT HAS ALSO BEEN CREDITED WITH OPENING UP

NIGERIA TO THE GLOBAL

BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND MAKING THE NATION

AFRICA’S

NUMBER ONE DESTINATION OF FOREIGN INVESTORS They include, , Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Miriam Aloma Mukhtar, Nigeria’s first female Chief Justice; Diezani Alison-Madueke; ex-aviation minister Stella Oduah, Joy Ogwu, Nigeria’s representatives at the United Nations; Sarah Jibril; and Viola Onwuliri. The president also launched the NigComSat-1Rsatellite, which will help expand Internet Bandwidth, moni-

tor the weather and provide early warning to prevent natural disasters like floods, crop monitoring and urban planning. It has the attendant benefit of reducing the over $1 billion spent in purchasing Internet Bandwidth from abroad. Nigeria’s banking industry was rescued and stabilised by the establishment of the Asset Management Company of Nigeria. (AMCON) What the critics say said about President Jonathan For many critics, Jonathan’s government was nothing short of a disaster. One of the most strident, the All Progressives Congress, APC, described President Goodluck Jonathan’s admdidntration as having recorded as a “scorecard of failure”. The APC National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, in the run up to the elections had said the president failed to get the usual bounce from his recent CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

The Big Read

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Farmer enjoying presidential backing

Tractors given to farmers

A crowd at PDP presidential campaign rally

‘Nigerians not better off under Jonathan’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 declaration for a second term because Nigerians were not the least impressed by his achievements, which have not positively impacted on the lives of the citizens. “Mr. President, Nigerians have asked themselves a simple question: Are we better off today than we were before President Jonathan assumed office, and they have unanimously answered in the negative. This is why your declaration failed to resonate, despite the hired crowds you ferried to Abuja,” he said. The party said the areas of insecurity and job creation, which are intertwined, represent the biggest failure of the Jonathan Administration, irrespective of its claims to the contrary. “Today, after the Jonathan Administration has spent $32bn (N6.4trn) on security and defense, Nigeria is not any safer, with thousands of deaths,” APC said while the government claimed to have created 1.9 million jobs in all of five years, the truth is that this is a mere tokenism.

PROCEEDS FROM NIGERIA’S NON-OIL EXPORTS ROSE TO $2.97BN BY THE END OF 2013, UP FROM $2.3BN IN 2010 ”Even if the jobs they said they have created are not phantom, which we know they are, the situation on the ground is grim: 1.8 million Nigerians enter the job market every year, 5.3 million youth are unemployed and overall 20 million Nigerians are in the job market, and these are very conservative figures. Therefore, creating 1.9 million jobs over several years cannot amount to any achievement,” the party said. ”Mr. President, under your watch, Nigeria’s rating by the global anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International has fallen. In 2009, Nigeria was rated 133 out

of 180 countries, while in 2013, the country was rated 144 out of 177 countries. On electricity, the party said the statement by President Jonathan that his administration’s “bold move” in the sector has put the country “on the road to guaranteed regular power supply in the months ahead” is nothing but sheer deceit. “Under the Jonathan Administration, Nigerians should not be in a hurry to throw away their generators. The facts on the ground show this to be true: While the FG has spent N533bn on power, at best Nigerians enjoy less than six hours of electricity per day, where they enjoy it at all, while spending over N800bn annually to fuel their generators. Also, the 4,000MW of electricity being generated by Nigeria cannot guarantee stable power for 170 million people or propel the country towards industrialisation. By comparison, South Africa, with less than a third of Nigeria’s population, generates over 44,000MW of electricity. There is therefore no way that Nigeria can enjoy a stable power supply with a meagre 4,000MW in power generation,” it said. The party said, with 51 per cent of Nigerians, representing 90 million people, being illiterates, the establishment of 150 Almajiri schools has not even scratched the surface of the problem. A member of APC, Abiodun Amisu, who spoke on the president’s achievements however said, ‘‘it is laughable and a misplaced achievement to say building Almajiri schools is an achievement. The president merely built additional public schools. Almajirin are human beings, with right to education, to mix with other children in public schools. There is no need to build different schools for them and give it a new name. Right education policy is the answer. Look at the electricity under President Goodluck Jonathan; everybody knows that it is a failure. Nigerians still groan under the weight of epileptic power supply. On the supremacy of the rule of law and respect for the constitution, Mr. President is still lacking. The Rivers State Government crisis is notable. It’s not acceptable for a commissioner of police to impede, obstruct the way and passage of a sitting sovernor. His duty is to advice and protects the governor and if necessary escort him to wherever the governor may want to go within Rivers State.” However, after the presidential elections which saw the APC presidential candidate General Buhari wining the elections, APC sang a different tune with President Jonathan conceding victory. Lai Mohamed described him Jonathan as a hero and a statesman.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

National News

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Apathy, killings, ballot box snatching mar polls ...Party leaders blame low turnout on fear of violence OUR CORRESPONDENTS

he gubernatorial and state Houses of Assembly elections, which took place across the country yesterday was marked with voters’ apathy, killings, bombings, ballot box snatching and use of fake ballot papers. Our correspondents reported from various states in the country that the elections also witnessed low turnout of voters. Unlike high turnout of voters which was witnessed during the Presidential and National Assemblies elections on March 28, 2015, yesterday’s elections were shunned by many voters. Speaking on what might have accounted for the low turnout of voters, former Lagos State Governor and National leader of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu said it is as a result of fear of violence Tinubu made this known after casting his vote at his Ward 047 polling unit on Sunday Adigun Street, Alausa, Ikeja. Also speaking on the issue, the former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George said the apathy was due to the fact that voters were being scared away from voting centres. It was however gathered across the country that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, performed creditably well and more better than it did in the Presidential elections as its officials arrived early and the election materials were also brought to the polling units on time. It was also gathered that the use of card readers recorded huge success. Another feature of the election was violence which led to killings, bombing and ballot snatching in various parts of the country. PDP chairman shot dead in Ebonyi In Ebonyi State, it was reported that a PDP council chairman and youths were shot dead The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi

State, Mr Emeka Nworie and one other strong supporter of PDP in Ikwo Noyo, one Micheal Ojon, was killed early yesterday morning by unknown gunmen alleged to be sponsored by opposition political party. It was gathered that Nworie was shot dead by an assailant, who also robbed him of an undisclosed amount of money at his residence at Ezzagu in the council area. The late PDP chieftain hails from the same village with the governorship candidate of the all Progressive congress, APC, who was his close political rival even before the election. Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Chris Anyanwu said that the assailants before killing their victim had approached the victim’s wife and demanded for money before shooting the husband. However, his corpse was said to have been deposited at an undisclosed mortuary. Another person was also said to have been killed in Ezza North Local Government Area of the state, although his name could not be ascertained as at press time. Policemen, 7 others killed in Rivers In Rivers State, a policeman and seven other people were said to have been killed as violence rocked the state. In the ensuing violence, INEC office in the state was said to have been bombed while a commissioner’s house was torched. Two journalists were also said to have been beaten in the course of carrying out their official duties. The killing in Rivers State were said to have occurred before the actual start of the voting in the state. The policeman who lost his life was said to have been killed early on Saturday morning at the RexLawson area of the old Port Harcourt. Though the cause of the cop’s death was not known, but the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ahmad Mohammad, who confirmed the killing, said there were traces of violence before the policeman died. Mohammad further

Scene of an accident involving policemen at Wasinmi along the Abeokuta/Sango – Ota road yesterday.

said: “The policeman killed was one of those deployed to monitor the elections today (Saturday). We see that there was evidence of violence before he was killed. It was also gathered that one person was beheaded, while two others were shot dead in AsariToru Local Government Area of the state, even as hoodlums stormed INEC office and reportedly threw substances suspected to by dynamite into INEC office, destroying election materials and vehicles. Although the cause of the killings were not immediately ascertained, but it may not be unconnected with power tussle between the two main political parties in the state. Also, eyewitnesses said there was heavy shooting on Friday night preceding the election up until about 7am yesterday (Saturday) morning in Buguma, capital city of Asari-Toru local government area, even as supporters of parties were spotted burning tyres on the main road. The situation heightened tension in the area, while many residents stayed at home for fear of being hit by stray bullets. It was also gathered that the residence of the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Joyba West, was burnt by unknown hoodlums, while she was also attacked.

The State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari confirmed the attack on Mrs. West, saying her colleague was still hiding.

in the state, Mr. Valentine Ntomchukwu, confirmed the development as he said that some gunmen invaded Ilase, but were repelled by the police.

One killed in Osun In Osun State, one, Orimogunje Dare, was shot dead by gunmen. The incident, it was learnt happened at NUD Primary School, Ilase, when accreditation was about to commence. When Sunday Mirror paid a visit to Ilase-Ijesa around 11:30 am yesterday, mobile policemen were still firing shots into the air to scare some suspected thugs, said to be hiding in the town. Sources told our correspondents that some heavily armed men invaded the town around 9:30 am, but were repelled by the police and people of the town. A chieftain of APC, who hails from the town, Mr. Jumoke Ogunkeyede, was seen being held by the mother of the shot victim and some women, who accused him of bringing the perpetrators of the violence to the town. Efforts to speak with Mr. Ogunkeyede, however proved futile, as women, who held him refused all entreaties to release him for security operatives and newsmen. Commissioner of Police in charge of election

Soldiers kills one in Jos Soldiers also yesterday shot and killed a 21-year old man at the Ali Kazaure polling unit in Jos North local government area of Plateau state . It was gathered that the man, identified as Salim Nasir, a supporter of one of the political parties was shot dead by a soldier when he engaged supporters of another party in a scuffle. It was further learnt that Nasir in the course of the scuffle drew out a knife to kill a supporter of another party, but as a soldier tried to take the weapon from him, he was said to have struggled with him. Sources said it was in the course of the scuffle that the soldier fired at him. In Imo State, there was violence in Ohaji-Egbema and Oguta Local Government Areas where youths allegedly belonging to APC burnt down a police station at Agwa in Oguta Local Government Area’ This is even as the PDP and APC traded accusations of snatching of ballot papers and intimidation of voters in some parts of Aboh Mbaise and Ohaji Egbema LGAs of the state.. It was gathered that the

PHOTO:FEMI OYEWESO

restive youths went berserk when they suspected that the police in the area were aiding and abetting electoral fraud in of the PDP. This reportedly provoked them into violence, which culminated in the burning of the police station. In Ebonyi State patrolling soldiers arrested the Administrative Assistant to Governor Martin Elechi for allegedly mobilising over 20 thugs, armed with then AK47 rifles and stantched ballot boxes in about six polling units in Ikwo local government area of the state. It was gathered that the embattled aide to the governor was arrested at the governor’s polling unit at Ndiagu Echara Ward 1 in Ikwo Local Govt Area while moving in convoy with the armed thugs. There were also reports of snatching of boxes in Okpogo community, Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni local government area, of Kogi state as a group of youths reportedly snatched ballot boxes. It was gathered that some of the ballot papers at some polling units in Ayingba and Egume Area of Kogi state were discovered to be fake while the ballot papers at some polling units were alleged to have been snatched. It was further gathered that one of the agents of the political parties who CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

News

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Buhari commends INEC for guber, state assembly polls JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

he president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for its improved process in conducting yesterday’s poll.

Buhari said INEC had

performed better in the gubernatorial and state houses of assembly polls compared to the presidential and National Assembly polls. He said yesterday’s exercise saw a better and organised use of the card reader machines and early accreditation of voters Buhari was accredited

by 8:27am, and later cast his vote at about 2:57pm at the Sarkin Yara Ward, in Daura council area of Katsina State On his part, Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shema expressed satisfaction on the conduct of Saturday’s gubernatorial and state houses of assembly elections. The governor made the remark after he and his wife,

Mrs. Fatima Shema cast their votes at the Hayin Gada Shema polling unit. He commended the conduct of security agents, describing same as satisfactory. Shema also said voters’ behaviour at the polling booth was orderly. He urged politicians to stop casting aspersions

midway into elections, describing such as inimical to Electoral Act. He however charged youths to remain respon-

Elections may be extended in 4 LGAs in Borno INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

ndependent National Electoral commission, INEC, in Borno may extend elections in four local government areas of the state, as their governorship ballot papers were yet to arrived, as at 4pm on Saturday.

L-R: Members of the National Peace Committee for the 2015 General Elections, John Cardinal Onaiyekan; Sen. Ben Obi and Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, during PHOTO: NAN their visit to Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

2015 Poll: Our democracy is maturing -Obasanjo FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday declared that the success achieved in the conduct of March 28th and April 11th general elections have raised the hope for Nigerians to raise their heads in honour anywhere in the world.

The former president made the declaration while speaking with journalists shortly after he was accredited at Ward 11, Polling Unit 22 at Sokori area of Abeokuta South Local Government area of Ogun State.

Obasanjo stated that the success of the 2015 general elections was evidence that the democracy of the country was maturing. “We have done it for West Africa, we have done it for Africa and we have now done it for ourselves. “Nigerians can now raise their heads in honour anywhere because there are evidences that our democracy is fast maturing”. Obasanjo, who noted a relative slight drop in the turn-out of voters still adjudged the exercise largely successful. “The reports that got to me indicate that there is a general low turnout across

the nation, but that the exercise has been orderly and peaceful”. “Such low turn - out is normal and should be expected because people normally show more interest in national elections than the state elections”. The former president however, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, for improving on its performance during the presidential and National Assembly, (NASS) elections, noting that many people who did not have PVCs in this area have now gotten their cards. “There were apprehen-

sions concerning the polls because of some people who were beating drums of war but we thank God for taking control. I think on the whole, Nigerians should be proud of their performance”. Also speaking with journalists at Ward 8, Unit 7, Adesegun Area in Ago Iwoye of Ogun State, the deputy governor of the state, Prince Segun Adesegun lauded INEC on the conduct of the governorship and State Houses of Assembly election said it has reinforced the electorates’ confidence in INEC that the commission “can do a tidy job”.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

Apathy, killings, ballot box snatching mar polls was aware of the fake ballot papers in Ayingba polling unit demanded to know why fake ones were brought to the units and in the process, election was disrupted. Sources hinted that the original ballot papers were given to one of the political party to be thumb printed at a school compound at Ayingba. It was gathered that election materials were snatched on their way to the polling

units in Ofu and Idah local government aresa of Kogi State There were reports of snatching of ballot boxes and result sheets in some areas in Eleme and Ahoada West Local Government Areas respectively of Rivers State. Also in Ahoada West Local Government Area of the state, precisely in Ubita, ward 10, results sheets and ballot boxes were snatched by hoodlums, while counting of votes

was going on in the ward. This is as two persons, who pose as policemen were arrested by soldiers and taken a nearby police station in Eleme. In Oyo State, a middle aged man was arrested by the police when he was found to be in possession of fake Permanent Voter Card, PVC at a polling unit in Ibadan. The suspect, who was promptly stopped by Independent National Electoral

Commission, INEC officials while attempting to use the Card Reader was handed over to the police on the spot. Also in Ondo State voting materials were carted away by hoodlums in Ugbo Ward 1, 2 and 2 in Ilaje Local Government Area of the state just as election was also disrupted in some parts of Ondo East Local government Area following sporadic shooting since Friday night.

sive at all times. The governor, who was accredited at 12.25pm, cast his vote along his wife at 2:20pm.

It would be recalled that the Resident Electoral Commissioner Mr. Samuel Madaki had on Friday while briefing press at his office said that the logo of the Labour Party candidate was omitted, hence the printing of fresh ballot papers. Also commenting on the late arrival of the governorship ballot paper, the Public Relations officer of the INEC in Borno state said the delay was as a result of the bad weather condition and the fact that the plane have to land in Yola and materials were being transported to Maiduguri by helicopter. However the turnout was impressive in some poling units while other

places witnessed low turnout of voters, but when our correspondent went round the metropolis the elections was going on peacefully. Governor Kashim Shettima shortly after casting his vote at about 4:15 pm commended the INEC saying that despite the reprinting of the governorship ballot papers they were able to deliver them to 23 out 27 local government areas of the state. He said “As I am speaking to you the ballot papers of Bama, Gwoza, Nganzai and Ngala local government areas that is yet to arrive. I commended the INEC for job well done despite the hitches”. “As a true democrat I believe in people’s voice, as such I am willing to accept the verdict of the elections. If I win I am ready to carry everybody along and if any other candidate win I will embrace him, the governor stated.

Plateau PDP tackles APC over rigging claim JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

he PDP in Plateau State has described as unfortunate, the effort by the APC to discredit the governorship election in the state which it said has been described by both local and international observers as free, fair and credible, saying it is an effort of a drowning group to frustrate the decision of electorate in the state.

In a statement signed by the state Organising Secretary of PDP, Mr. Mike Dashum, the party said “It is unfortunate that APC has resorted to cheap accusations and blackmail.” He reinstated that the state has always been a stronghold of PDP and that has been seen in

all previous elections in the state including the recent presidential and National Assembly elections, adding that, no amount of blackmail will turn back the decision of the electorate to vote out APC from the state. Calling on the party supporters, who are already agitated over the APC claim to remain calm, Dashum urged INEC to shun every attempt by APC to cause a set back on the credible process it has worked hard to achieve. The APC gubernatorial and senatorial aspirants, Simon Lalong and Eunice Sambo respectively had accused the PDP of rigging elections in some areas in the state.

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Election Photos

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Guber/State Assembly polls in pictures

All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate for Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode casting his vote at Unit 33 Ward A5 polling unit during the Governorship Election in Epe Lagos State.

Peoples Democratic Party Governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje voting at unit 9 ward 9 at Apapa, during the governorship and house of assembly elections in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

President-Elect, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) casting his vote at Sarkin-yara ward in Daura during the governorship and house of assembly elections in Katsina State yesterday.

Voters on queue at Isale Eko Grammar School Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO:ADEMOLA AKINLABI

Voters queing up for accreditation during the governorship and State house of assembly elections at Limawa polling unit in Dutse Local Government area of Jigawa yesterday.

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, SAN, during the accreditation of voters for the Governorship and House of Assembly elections at the Ward G3, Unit E002.

PDP Governorship Candidate for Enugu State, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi casting his vote at his polling unit, Amube ward 1 in Udenu L.G.A of Enugu State.

Counting of votes in Lagos, yesterday.

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Interview ENCOUNTER WITH A NEWS MAKER

Our post-insurgency plan for Borno –Shettima APRIL 12 2015

Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, recently hosted a panel of journalists to an executive media chat at the Government House in Maiduguri. During the talk, he dwelt on different issues from the Boko Haram insurgency to the Chibok abduction and projections to the future of devastated Borno. Excerpts:

Your Excellency, the last four years of your administration had been quite eventful, especially with the security challenge, which no doubt is the worst going by the history of Borno. Basically all the socio-economic strata of the state have been affected, and the attacks by the insurgents are still going, despite all the counter offensive of the Nigerian forces. How have you been coping with this situation? Well thank you so much. Honestly, how I am coping is a secondary issue; what is more important is how the over six million people of Borno are coping. People, who even in the best of time were poor and now further pauperised by the Boko Haram insurgency, parents were killed, their sons and daughters slaughtered by some demented monsters who were trying to impose their alien ideologies on the beleaguered people of Borno, who have turned from givers to beggars; who have been rendered homeless; orphaned, widowed - my heart goes out to them. Honestly I do not care about my feelings, security or my comfort; but I am more concerned about the welfare of those directly affected; those victims who are in pains; how we can get them back on their feet, this is the issue before us. We have one thousand years of recorded history - I believe that there is silver lining in the horizon; I believe that we shall very soon get out of our problems especially with successes in ongoing counter insurgency operations. It is not easy; yes we have won the first phase of the war; but the battle is still on. The insurgents have melted into the hinterland. Two days ago , they went and killed 25 people in Kwajaffa; and they have refocused their energy now towards the periphery of Sambisa, from there they have been launching attacks on Askira Uba local government, they killed quite a number of people in Chul village; they have attacked several other communities along the corridors. But by the grace of God we shall get out of it. As one of the governors of the northeastern states that is in the heart of this insurgency, what other effort is being made to get out of this situation? We have from day one made support for security agencies our number one priority. We have inspired our sons to support the military, we trained, equipped and employed them and they are working. We have created a strong political will, we coordinate community involvement in fighting insurgency and we provide modest leadership and this was why when they were strong fears that Maiduguri was to be attacked in December last year, I flew into Maiduguri from the UK where I was on official basis, so as to be with the

Shettima

people of Borno State who had nowhere to run to and this was against security advice. I was ready to go through whatever it was with them whether to die or survive. I had mentally bid farewell to my children when I decided to come into Maiduguri that day because the fears were so intense that Boko Haram insurgents were coming in through Konduga. I didn’t ‘want to be remembered as a Governor that abandoned his people to their fates, I stay in the UK while Maiduguri is taken and people killed. It is better to die for something than to live for stupidity, die a coward and be remembered as one. Luckily, the military and the youths volunteered worked very hard, we

gave them all the support, citizens prayed ceaselessly and with Allah’s help, the insurgents were repelled from entering Maiduguri which is the most populated and responsible for coordinating counter insurgency operations. But the most important thing now is that hope springs from our hearts. I am by nature, an eternal optimist. My candid believe is that tough times do not last forever but tough people do. I believe that we have a people that have the resilience and the indomitable will to chart a peaceful course for our people. But I want to assure you that the government and the people of Borno will continue to partner with the security agencies in bringing

WE HAVE OVER A MILLION REFUGEES IN THE CITY OF MAIDUGURI ALONE. WE HAVE 276, 000 REGISTERED REFUGEES IN OVER 20 IDP CAMPS WITHIN MAIDUGURI WHILE THOUSANDS MORE ARE TAKING SHELTER WITH FAMILIES AND FRIENDS

everlasting peace in this part of the world. I cannot but commend security agencies, the army in particular for their unflinching commitments towards restoring peace in our fatherland. The Chinese has a word for danger, the word for crisis that means danger and opportunity. This means that despite the challenges we face it also provides us with an opportunity for social reengineering; to reposition our state to meet the challenges of the future but we have challenges. I hardly get four hours of sleep each day, because of the problems that confront us. The Chibok girls are still missing; the challenges are still not over. We have over million refugees in the city of Maiduguri alone. We have 276, 000 registered refugees in over 20 IDP camps within Maiduguri while thousands more are taking shelter with families, and friends. So the challenges are daunting, but I want to assure you that we are equal to the task. We are willing to marshal whatever resources we have. As the management guru, Peter Drucker has said “Intelligence, imagination, and knowledge are essential resources, but only effectiveness converts them into results, by themselves there is always limits to what one can do”. We are determined; we are focused and absolutely committed to the transformation of our state in spite the challenges confronting us. By the end of this week, the abducted Chibok schoolgirls will be one year in captivity. Is there any efforts being put in place more than what we have heard in the past towards rescuing them, especially going by the way and manner territories are being recovered by the Nigerian forces? The Chibok girls issue is really very sad; no responsible parent would be happy with what happened to those poor girls. I am a father of two little daughters. Any time I look into the eyes of any of my daughters, I tend to fight to hold back tears because I remember that girls like them born and so dearly loved by parents like me are missing and worst of all, in the hands of people that love to kill. It is one issue that has caused so much heartache not only for the parents of the girls, or the people of Borno, but the people of Nigeria as a whole. It is so sad. Last year, when I read an account of one of the parents of the missing girls, I couldn’t sleep all night long because he said he would prefer to pick up the corpse of his daughter and bury her have her in the hands of some misguided vandals who do not have limits to what they can do. Imagine a father preferring to see his daughter’s corpse? Look at how leader of the insurgents said he wanted to sell the girls into slavery, that some were married off etc. It is disturbing because their capabilities for committing heinous crimes are beyond human comprehension. But like I said earlier, hope springs eternally from the heart of men. Only an insane parent will give up on a missing child. We believe quite passionately and realistically that these poor girls would CONTINUED ON PAGE 55

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Politics PROVIDING FRESH PERSPECTIVES TO ISSUES APRIL 12, 2015

Attahiru Jega: What next for INEC boss? P 12, 53

THE PRESIDENT’S WIFE BROUGHT MILITANTS BACK TO RIVERS STATE SO THAT THEY CAN BE USED TO RIG ELECTION. WE WILL CHASE THEM AWAY AFTER THE ELECTION

–RIVERS STATE GOVERNOR, MR. ROTIMI AMAECHI

Impeachment threat: Twists in Fayose, APC lawmakers’ standoff

P 52

Briefly

Fashola confident of APC victory FRANCIS SUBERU

agos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, has expressed confident in his party’s ability to win the governorship and house of assembly elections in the state. Fashola who made the hopeful expression shortly after casting his votes alongside his wife Abimbola Fashola and his son at polling unit 002, State Senior Grammar School, Itolo, dispelled the insinuation that there is voter’s apathy, saying conclusions as to voter turnout can only be accurately made after voting and counting of votes. When asked what his expectations was in the election, Fashola said; “I have always been optimistic in any contest, so I am optimistic.” Giving his general assessments of the election and the perceived voter apathy, the governor said: “The answer is to check whether there is a voting point here in addition to a voting unit. If there is, then it means here, you have 500 possibly 1,000 people and then that is the way by which you can measure the numbers. “By scientific measures, what percentage of people actually came out to accredit themselves, how many people came back to vote after accreditation, and that will only be possible to know after the votes are counted.

Obasanjo

Gov. Nggilari reverses curfew imposed by Police Jonathan

LIVINUS MENEDI

Mixed feelings trail 16 years of democracy in Nigeria AYO ESAN

he successful conduct of the March 28 presidential election has opened a new phase in Nigeria’s democratic experience in that for the first time, an incumbent president lost the seat and willingly not only relinquished the post but congratulated the winner. This development is unprecedented and historical and it now gives room for an assessment of the country’s democratic experience in the last 16 years. The country’s nascent democracy started on May 29, 1999, after several

years of military rule, when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was sworn in as the president. Ever since, Nigeria has had continuous civil rule, the longest since the country’s independence. Eight years after the PDP assumed power, the then president, General Olusegun Obasanjo, handed over to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, who died in office after just over two years in office. Then came the PDP’s third president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan. As at the time Jonathan came to power, the ruling party had become so comfortable that it proudly said that it would control the affairs of the coun-

try unbroken for the next 60 years. The democratic space was at that time beginning to look more like the ousted military regime as there were no viable opposition party. This was seen as a weak point of Nigeria’s democracy. In the search for a viable opposition, at one time there were more than 50 opposition parties, most of them only in names and existed on papers. One or two of the opposition parties showed promise and blossomed but quickly faded away, withalmost all their stalwarts joining the PDP. However, two personalities remained constant in keeping the light of opposiCONTINUED ON PAGE 12

YOLA

overnor Bala James Nggilari, of Adamawa State has lifted the controversial curfew earlier imposed on the state by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Gabriel Adaji. The CP has during a press conference indicated that the state will come under curfew with effect from today adding that the curfew will last for three days. Since the announcement, the police commissioner came under heavy attack as the major political parties in the state vow to defy it. The governor, who announced the lifting of the curfew shortly after he was accredited at the Moddibo Adama University of Technology, Yola said he took the decision after reviewing the political situation. He explained that the government was fully aware of the decision reached by the security agents and politicians to impose curfew on the state on Sunday (today) but due to the unpopularity of the decision, he has bowed to the people’s will.

Politics

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Attahiru Jega: What next for INE Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has been in the news, especially for his handling of the electoral process as well as his tenure at the commission. OMEIZA AJAYI writes on what the future holds for the professor of political science after INEC.

orn onJanuary 11, 1957 in Jega, Kebbi State, Prof. Attahiru Jega attended Sabon Gari Town Primary School in the same village between 1963 and 1969. He proceeded to Government Secondary School, Birnin Kebbi before he was admitted into the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria’s Bayero University College, Kano in 1974. He graduated in 1979 with a Second-Class Upper Division BSc degree in Political Science. He worked as a teaching assistant at Bayero University and then rose through the ranks to become the Vice-Chancellor of the institution in 2005. Following the “compulsory retirement” of Prof. Maurice Iwu on April 28, 2010 from INEC, President Goodluck Jonathan had on June 8 of the same year nominated Prof. Jega for the chairmanship of INEC. Jega was thereafter appointed the INEC chairman by the President on June 24, 2010 following his confirmation by the Senate. His five-year tenure will therefore come to

an end in June.

Life as INEC Chairman Being the head of an Electoral Management Body, EMB, such as INEC is by no means an easy job. However, as a former president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, as well as being a political scientist and Director at the Centre for Democratic Studies at the Bayero University, many Nigerians were confident that Jega would execute his mandate creditably. There were however those who received news of his appointment with cautious optimism, especially knowing that many “radicals” who had joined government to “serve” in the past, had immediately become turncoats, forgetting their roots. As guest lecturer for the NLC May Day 2010, which held on April 29, Jega had presented a paper entitled, ‘50 Years of Nationhood: Challenges of Good Democratic Governance, Credible Election and the Working

Jeg ga

Class’. Although, that was before his appointment into INEC, the depth of his presentation showed that he had sufficient understanding of the nation’s political/electoral system.

Thus, having studied the 2011 elections, an exercise, which he did not have much time to prepare for, Jega was desirous of delivering a more credible election in 2015. Rather than resort to the use of the Temporary Voter Cards, TVC, which he introduced for the 2011 elections, Jega sought a safer

Mixed feelings trail 16 years of CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

tion from dying out totally - Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, rtd. Before the 2003 election, one of the country’s then two major parties, Alliance for Democracy, AD, which held political power in the states in the South-West was seen as an opposition party. But with the holding of the 2003 election, the PDP almost wiped out the AD as an effective opposition when it grabbed electoral control of the states in the region, namely Ondo, Ogun, Oyo and Ekiti, leaving it with control in only Lagos, under the rule of Tinubu. Nigeria’s other major opposition party, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, which was led by General Muhammadu Buhari, held political power in about six states. After the ANPP lost the presidential election in 2007 and the party and its presidential candidate were at the electoral tribunal challenging the results of the election, a twist developed as the party suddenly announced that it was withdrawing any further participation in the electoral petition against the ruling PDP, leaving Buhari alone to continue the suit. That marked the end of ANPP as an effective opposition as the party also went into an arrangement with the PDP. Buhari eventually dumped the party. By the time the 2011 election was held, Nigeria was more or less under a one party government, the PDP be-

Marrk

Buh harii

BY THE TIME THE 2011 ELECTION WAS HELD, NIGERIA WAS MORE OR LESS UNDER A ONE PARTY GOVERNMENT, THE PDP BEING THE RULING PARTY, WITH NO MAJOR OPPOSITION ing the ruling party, with no major opposition. At this time, Tinubu and Buhari had now formed the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, and the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, with which they fought the 2011 elections and were easily routed by the

PDP once again. The first major opposition party was formed when a breakaway faction of the PDP known as the New PDP, ANPP; ACN and CPC came together to form the All Progressives Congress, APC, which incidentally has now be-

come the ruling party. The formation of this party kept the PDP on its toes until it lost t in the April 11 presidential epolls. One major ingredient of democracy is political party. It is also of importance to note that the various constitutions that have been enacted in the country have given prominence to the place and role of political parties. Section 221 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) gives credence to this. Nigeria has been practising multiparty system since 1999 although most of the parties are not well structured and lack a clear cut ideology. They also lack well thought-out manifestoes and that is why despite the fact that the PDP has been ruling the country in the last 16 years, nob one can pinpoint what exactly is its manifesto or ideology of the party. Same goes for other parties. It has also led to and encouraged defections from one party to the other, a development that has reached a ridiculous level. This is unlike in the s First Republic when parties were rigidly structured and have clear-cut ideologies. For instance, the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, founded by Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the Second Republic was regarded as welfarist, while the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, was seen as a conservative party. Also the parties of the Third Republic had ideologies accorded to them, little to the right’ ideologies of the National Republican Convention, NRC, and ‘little

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Sunday, April 12, 2015

Man in the News Oba Rilwan Akiolu

Caught between partisanship and traditional stool AYO ESAN

ba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, last Sunday stirred the hornet’s nest when he allegedly read the riot act to Igbo leaders and monarchs in Lagos State, warning that he would make life miserable for them if they sabotaged efforts to ensure that the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, is elected as governor of the state. The monarch, according to reports, was said to have summoned all the Eze-Ndigbos in Lagos State to his palace, and told them that the support of their kinsmen for the opposition party in the state could frustrate current efforts in all quarters at ensuring Lagos is no longer in opposition with the Federal Government. He said: “On Saturday, if any one of you goes against Ambode, who I have picked, that is your end. If it doesn’t happen within seven days, just know that I am a bastard and it’s not my father who gave birth to me. “By the grace of God, I am the owner of Lagos for the time being. This is an undivided chair. The palace belongs to the dead and those coming in the future. On Saturday, if anyone of you, I swear in the name of God, goes against my wish that Ambode become the next governor of Lagos State, the person is going to die inside this water. “For the Igbo and others in Lagos, they should go where the Oba of Lagos heads to. When they were coming to the state, they didn’t come with all their houses. But now they have properties in the state. So, they must do my bidding. And that is the bidding of the ancestors of Lagos and God. “I am not ready to beg you. Nobody knew how I picked Ambode. Jimi is my blood relation and I told him that he can never be governor in Lagos for now. The future belongs to God. I am not begging anybody, but what you people cannot do in Onitsha, Aba or anywhere, you cannot do it here. If you do what I want, Lagos will continue to be prosperous for you.” Following several reactions that trailed the Oba’s comment, as the issue went viral on the internet, the palace of the Oba last Monday made further clarification on the statement credited to him in national dailies. A statement from the palace, which was signed by Opeluwa of Lagos, Chief Lateef Aderibigbe Ajose, stated that Oba Akiolu was a father to all Lagosians irrespective of tribe, religion or political affiliation. According to the statement, Oba Akiolu is not disturbed or angry with the SouthEast and South-South votes for President Jonathan, but called on Igbo chiefs to show appreciation to Lagos State by supporting his candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, for continuity of excellence. The statement reads: “My attention has been drawn to publications in national dai-

lies where HRM Oba Riliwanu Akiolu was alleged to have threatened Igbo in Lagos to make them vote for Ambode. “Last Sunday, all honorary Eze Ndigbo in Lagos paid a courtesy visit to HRM Oba Akiolu. At the meeting, the visitors praised the Oba for his fatherly support for and cooperation with Igbo in Lagos. They assured him of their continued good neighbourliness with other tribes in Lagos and support everything that would further strengthen that harmony. “Oba Akiolu on his part acknowledged the enviable performance of Governor Fashola and his contribution to the growth of investments in Lagos. He gave the assurance that he was not disturbed or angry with SouthEast and South-South votes for President Jonathan as perceived by the Eze Ndigbo. The Oba thereafter called on Igbo chiefs to show appreciation to Lagos State by supporting his candidate, Mr. Ambode, for continuity of excellence as they have earlier promised. “He assured them of his continued support and assistance where needed and the meeting ended with the traditional breaking of kolas, alligator pepper, and bitter kola and pouring of libation on the ground. It was within this context that the tradition of Lagos with regard to the lagoon came up. It was noted that whoever works against the throne and the interest and peaceful coexistence of Lagos would end up in the lagoon as per tradition.”

Oba Akiolu stated further that the Igbo have not betrayed the throne just as Lagos has not betrayed them, saying Lagos has done so much to make the Igbo comfortable and prosper. “Lagos has done so much to make the Igbo comfortable and to prosper. For this, we expect reciprocal respect and understanding. The Oba of Lagos prays that the lagoon and the throne will continue to bless and protect all those who reside and visit Lagos. Oba Akiolu is the father of all irrespective of tribe, religion or political persuasion. In Lagos, we have an old traditional proverb that relates to the lagoon. It is unique to Lagos. “The proverb stresses the need for unity and understanding when you do business in an environment and in this case when you live and do business in Lagos. Oba Akiolu prays for peace for the land of Lagos and prosperity for all its inhabitants.” In a veiled reaction to the Oba’s outpouring, the Department of State Services, DSS, warned influential Nigerians against making unguarded utterances ahead of yesterday’s governorship and state House of Assembly elections. DSS in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday said its attention had been drawn to “certain unguarded, inciting and divisive statements by some persons.” It warned those stoking embers of violence and disunity to desist, saying such ut-

terances will not be tolerated. Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, speaking through its Publicity Secretary, Taofeek Gani, demanded the immediate suspension of the royal father by the state governor, Babatunde Fashola, in order to guarantee free, fair and credible elections in the state. This was just as the party also alerted security agencies to hold the Oba responsible for any attack on non-indigenes or its members. The party said the silence of Governor Fashola 48 hours after such inflammatory statement and threat to life suggested that the Oba must have been deployed by the state government to so act. Also, former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Olabode George, said Akiolu should apologise to Ndigbo and other non-indigenes in Lagos State over what he reportedly said at a meeting with some nonindigenes in his palace last Sunday. George, accompanied by other PDP leaders, including the former Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe and the state chairman of the party, Capt. Tunji Shelle, rtd, said that he was shell-shocked by the pronouncement of the Oba. He said Lagos is a cosmopolitan city where all Nigerians, irrespective of their tribe should be freely allowed to carry on their business and enjoy their fundamental human rights. “There is the need to draw a line. A traditional ruler is the father of all. If an Oba wants to play politics like I am doing, he should leave the throne. As a party leader, I am calling on him to apologise to Igbos in Lagos. “The statement credited to him is uncalled for as we are in the 21st century and the country cannot afford another tribal war,” George said. Warning Oba Akiolu to disentangle himself from whatever political party he has sympathy for because he is supposed to be the father of all the people living in Lagos, George assured Ndigbo to go about their business and disregard the purported curse of the Oba saying: “Let me assure all non-indigenes, especially Igbos, nobody can hoodwink you, nobody can tell you when you will die. Go about your daily business, no curse can harm you.” Also, the newly elected member of the House of Representatives representing Oshodi-Isolo federal constituency 2, Hon. Tony Nwulu, said that Oba Akiolu cannot impose Ambode on non indigenes in the state. Speaking on behalf of PDP House of Representatives-elects in Lagos, Nwulu said that such comment coming from an Oba is a shame to the traditional institution. Nwulu urged the people not to be intimidated by the Oba’s threat but to go out en masse and cast their votes for PDP, adding,“The PDP has given Igbos in Lagos three House of Representatives seats.”

Opinion

Sunday April 12, 2015

Uncensored U nc

Sheriff S Folarin

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

n a land prone to schism and where diverse peoples exhibit fissiparous tendencies and propensity for going after each other’s jugular, words are capable of fanning conflagration. It can particularly be more volatile when there are high political stakes polarized along primordial clannish ties. It is worse when a clan among several others in the multiethnic community fears a loss of grip on its ancestral lands, heritage, commerce, wealth and political hegemony; and that it is conceding too much to another clan considered foreign. At this point, all can be thrown to maintain relevance, and caution can be hurled away, while strategic deterrence or offence becomes the instrument of inter-group relations. This is when altercations, threats, death wishes or the curse of drowning in lagoons can come from any quarters, even from sacred places as the palace of His Royal Majesty. The royal dimension to the ongoing 2015 elections reared its controversial head last week when the highly respected paramount ruler of Lagos, King Riliwan Akiolu took it to the wires while hosting an Igbo interest group, a platform he employed to issue a stern warning (call it threat) to the Igbo community to vote for the choice of the paramount ruler and “owner” of

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Chauvinism, partisan politics and a king’s wishes Lagos State failing, which would naturally result in perilous times in the Lagoon. It is historical as well as institutional that the Oba of Lagos is the head and father of all, and that he is the “landlord extraordinaire” while all the inhabitants- indigenes, nonindigenes, traders, fishermen, farmers, teachers, adults, children, men, women, foreigners from other African nations or outside Africa, et cetera- are his subjects and by extension, “tenants”. Even the Europeans acknowledged this when they dealt with Oba Kosoko and Oba Akintoye in the second half of the nineteenth century, precisely from 1851 up to the colonization of Lagos in 1861. The Oba was a very powerful man and in the context of British colonial rule, the Oba was regarded as an important and indispensable middleman in reaching to the people of Lagos. Lagos has retained its heritage, customs and traditions so much that it is in the consciousness of any newly crowned king that he is the father and lord of all the peoples in the domain. Incidentally, Lagos, like Benin and Abeokuta, despite the early contact with the Europeans, has not let go of its ancestral roots, the Oba is the “alese ekeji orisa” (second in command to god) and his words are taken with utmost seriousness, just as his rites, rituals and festivals, such as the internationally famous ‘Eyo’ are regarded as untouchable and undeletable. The other Obas in Lagos, including the Akran of Badagry, monarchs of Ikeja, Ikorodu and Ajah, among others, regard the Oba of Lagos or Eleko of Eko as the supreme head. But in Yorubaland, the king is not quick to talk and is subdued in temper. This is for two basic reasons: he is the father of all, which makes him the last court of appeal

(call it Supreme Court as in pre-colonial days); and he is the repository of deep, deep wisdom. Elders and cabinet members are not expected to react spontaneously (in fact, elders in Yorubaland are regarded as wise men that provide solution in every delicate situation). The king is therefore the primus inter pares in knowledge, tact and wisdom. The very reason therefore why Obas spend longer years on the throne is not just because it is customary; but the fact that their exhibition of maturity and high level native intelligence and wisdom makes it customary to stay longer or forever in power. It is however also expected of Obas to defend their domain. Any Oba who loses his domain to any internal or external force is not worthy of the throne. Kings in native Africa are war generals who lead platoons or entire battalions to battles to defend the territorial integrity of their domain. When kings or war generals lose battles or make their domain vulnerable, they are condemned to die or go on exile. This was the fate of Are Ona Kakanfo Afonja, whose defeat in a war of Oyo Empire’s territorial expansion led to his self exile and establishment of Ilorin kingdom. Even at that, he lost Ilorin again to the wily Fulani pastoralists under Alimi, which ended the Yoruba control of Ilorin and its provinces. Shaka, king of the Zulu people in Southern Africa would do anything, including use of full military weight or cunning tactics to keep the Europeans at bay in protection of his people and lands. Shaka personally led his wars and won all, warding off immediate neighbours and western imperialists. In pre-colonial Benin, particularly in 1897, Oba Overamwen Nogbaisi and his chiefs in the course of restricting any British visit and subsequent incursion, went

on eliminating all the British party led by their English colonial officer. The backlash was horrendous, but the objective had been achieved. Lagos in the post-colonial times cannot however, be the African society of the precolonial or colonial times. A lot has changed and constitutionally, the “owner” of Lagos now are the people and the custodian of their rights, the elected governor. Kings have now taken the traditional position of reminders of cultural heritages and leaders of thought, with or without whom progress can still be recorded. However, in the consciousness of African monarchs of the present, the “divine right of kings” still persists and they still are, no doubt, powerful influences and voices in the system. They could still be agents of stabilization and their touch and firm control of the grassroots can be a huge advantage for any politician seeking elective posts. Oba Akiolu’s direct threat to the Igbos was perhaps coming against the background that the Igbos were evidently dominant and taking over the economic, social and political spaces of the metropolis. The National Assembly elections, in which the “Ndigbo” massively voted for the party considered opposition in a largely APC-dominated state and the emergence of some Igbo politicians from Lagos as House of Representatives members-elect, were probably the fears that the Oba was losing his domain to external forces. CONTINUED ON PAGE 54 • Dr. Folarin, an Associate Professor, is the immediate past Head of Department of Political Science and International Relations, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State.

Still on road safety: A shared responsibility (1) Safety Tips with

Jonas Agwu

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

ast week, I wrote about the stand of the Federal Road Safety Corps on the issue of the speed limiter enforcement which will commence from the 1 June, 2015.In the words of the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Boboye Oyeyemi, enforcing the speed limiter, would make Nigeria join other countries, including African countries like Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, where it has significantly reduced road traffic crashes. He further stressed that; the speed limiter initiative could translate to a wholesome reduction of road traffic crashes nationwide by at least 35%. When phase two of the initiative is extended to other categories of motorists, especially the private vehicle owners, road traffic crash fatality would be brought under manageable control in Nigeria, thus giving bite to the goals of the Vision 20:2020 of placing Nigerian roads within the league of the twenty safest global roads.

He equally called on the media to continue to assist the Commission in disseminating the information on this device, so that collectively, we can celebrate the restoration of sanity on Nigerian roads. Since

the FRSC also has a statutory role to play in road safety matters, the he used the platform to brief members of the public on the progress made in the improving the restoration of the integrity of the licensing system in the country. One of this is the improved collaboration between the state governments and the FRSC in the areas of standards, uniformity and integrity of the process. And with such collaborations and the operation of “one stop shop,” at the driver’s license centers, the apathy of the applicants as witnessed at the early stage of the implementation has been substantially addressed. On the challenge of overcrowding noticed in some centers and the need to address such time consuming experiences by some applicants, he announced that he has made true his promise on assumption to create additional 200 centers across the country noting that the centers are operational’ Besides the responsibilities of stakeholders such as the various transport Unions and the Commission, there are other responsibilities such as those of drivers, transport operators and even government. Having looked at some of the responsibilities of the first two, I wish to talk briefly on drivers especially because of the notion by some that there is a demon responsible for all the road crashes that would occur. These set of drivers don’t believe that motorists should be blamed .Rather the demon that delight in sucking blood, the same demon that holds sway over the highways will as usual ensure deaths occur. The truth is that road crashes are avoidable even though a

good number of people prefer buck passing. Since the discourse is on shared responsibilities, drivers must appreciate the enormous responsibility the possession of a drivers license places on their shoulders in addition to that of not just being knowledgeable about traffic laws but obeying them also. For want of space, I intend to just select few driving habits that must change although there are numerous others. Speed is a good place to start Speed-speed is at the core of the traffic injury problem. It is the major determinant of the extent of injury .It influences both crash risk and crash consequences. The physical layout of the road and its surrounding can both encourage and discourage speed. However, crash risk increases as speed increases especially at junctions and while overtaking. The effect of impact speed on the risk of death for pedestrians is colossal, but for vehicle occupants also, injury severity increases with impact speed. The higher the speed of a vehicle, the shorter time the driver has to stop and avoid a crash. This is why the possibility of fatal injury increases from close to zero to almost 100% as the change in impact speed increases from 20km/h to 100km/h. A car travelling at 50km/h will typically require 1.3metres to stop while a car travelling at 40km/h will stop in less than 8.5metres.An average increase speed of 1km/h is associated with a 3% higher risk of a crash involving an injury. Travelling at 5km/h above a road speed limit of 65km/h results in an increase in the relative risk of being involved in a casu-

alty crash that is comparable with having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05g/dl. For car occupants in a crash with an impact speed of 80km/h, the likelihood of deaths is 20 times what it would have been at an impact speed of 30km/h. It is because of the grave risk involved that a maximum speed limit of 100km/h for private cars and 90km/h for taxis and buses is set on the expressway while at built up areas such as commercial and residential areas; 50km/h is the speed limit. However, drivers are counseled to adhere to common sense speed limit by adjusting speed to suit environment, his mental state and experience. Tyre blowout is among the major causes of road crashes that has claimed the lives of some prominent Nigerians. Incidentally, motorists exhibit a high level of ignorance which explains why you will see people travelling with their families with fairly used tyres or tyres not properly cared for. The major cause of tyre blowout is incorrect tyre inflation especially under-inflation Tyres are the most vital part of a car. It diminishes stability. That is why tyre manufacturers specify the correct tyre gauge and the expiry date which is usually stamped on the side of the tyre. IT IS VERY EASY TO FIND OUT THE EXPIRY DATE. Just check the side and you will find a 4-digit number stamped on it. Contd next week •Agwu, an Assistant Corps Marshal, is Zonal Commanding Officer, Zone 7HQ of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

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Sunday, April 12, 2015

Congratulations TO PRESIDENT-ELECT

GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI (RTD) GCFR AND COMMENDATIONS FOR

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN

The beauty of democracy lies in change through the instrumentality of Election. As an elder stateman and a major stakeholder in Nigeria project, I write to formally congratulate you most heartily and warmly on your resounding victory at the just concluded presidential election. Your Victory is our Victory. In this current republic, your election has been adjudged as generally peaceful, transparent and globally accepted. I wish you superior Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s guidance and wisdom in effecting the change that Nigerians earnestly ask for.

I also wish to comnend the President and commander-in-chief of armed forces, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, (GCFR) that by the singular and unique act of conceding defeat to the president-elect, you have shown that you are a man of peace and honour who we are proud of and will continue to be proud of. From now on, you have become a hero and reverred statesman. May goodluck continue to trail you in your retirement. Amen.

God bless you.

SIGNED

HIGH CHIEF SAMUEL AGBOOLA AKINTAN THE LISA OF KOSOFE, LAGOS THE OJOMA OF IDANRE KINGDOM, ONDO STATE

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Wellness YOUR HEALTH AND HEALTH RELATED ISSUES April 12, 2015

TITILOPE MORAKINYO

ife is full of hassles, deadlines, frustrations, and demands, the human race experience a lot of disappointments which could affect the wellbeing. For many people, stress is so common that it has become a way of life. However, stress isn’t always bad as it can also help some individuals to perform under pressure and motivates to do the best. But when one constantly operates in an emergency mode, the mind and body pay the price. It can be reduced by recognising the signs and symptoms of stress and taking steps to reduce its harmful effects. Stress is a normal physical response to events that makes one feel threatened or upset the balance of the body system. It response is the body’s way of protecting an individual when working properly, it helps to stay focused, energetic, and alert. In emergency situations, stress can also save the life of a person giving an extra strength to defend such as when driving, it can stimulate to slam on the brakes of a car to avoid an accident. The stress response also helps to meet challenges nevertheless stress can also be dangerous and starts causing major damage to health, mood, productivity, relationships, and quality of life. Stress response when there is a threat perceived in the nervous system reacts by releasing a flood of stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortijisol. These hormones rouse the body for emergency action, the heart pounds faster, muscles tighten, blood pressure rises, breath quickens, and senses become sharper. These physical changes increase the strength and stamina, speed the reaction time, and enhance focus, makes an individual prepared either fight or flee from the danger at hand. The Health and Safety Executive says around 10.4 million working days are lost each year to stress, depression or anxiety, and it is the most common cause of ill health in the society. As 70 percent of all visits the hospitals, it is one problem every doctor shares with their patient. While occupations with the highest rates of workrelated stress are social work, teaching and public administration. It can also play a part in problems such as headaches, high

Before that stress kills you… blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, skin conditions, asthma and arthritis. In an interview with Sunday Mirror, a medical practitioner with Bishop Awe Medical Centre, Ikotun, Lagos, Dr Olaiya Awe, explains more on Stress demerits on an individual. “Dr. Hans Selye, the father of stress theory, defined stress as “the non specific response of the body to any demand made upon it. The demand can be a threat, a challenge or any kind of change which requires the body to adapt. “It’s important to learn how to recognize when the stress level is high before it gets out of control. The most dangerous thing about stress is how easily it can easily affect a person. One gets used to it, starts to feel familiar or even normal and when a person don’t notice how much it’s affecting it takes a heavy charge”, he explained. “The human body is designed to experience stress and react to it. Stress can be positive, keeping alert and ready to avoid danger. It becomes negative when a person faces continuous challenges without relief or relaxation between challenges. As a result, the person becomes overworked, and stress-related tension builds”. the doctor added. Pointed out that “Stress that continues without relief can lead to a condition called distress, a negative stress reaction. Distress can lead to physical symptoms including headaches, upset stomach, elevated blood pressure, chest pain and problems with sleeping. It can also bring on or worsen certain symptoms or diseases. “Stress also becomes harmful when people turn to alcohol, tobacco, or drugs to relieve their stress. Unfortunately, instead of relieving the stress and returning the body to a relaxed state, these substances tend to keep the body in a stressed state and cause more problems”. Symptoms of stress can vary and affect all aspects of life, including emotions, behaviour, thinking ability and physical health. Signs included becoming easily agitated, frustrated and moody, Feeling overwhelmed, losing control or need to take control, having difficulty relaxing and quieting the mind, feeling bad about oneself (low self-

Stress, depression common cause of insomnia –Expert A consultant obstetrician and gynecologist at Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Dr Moses Alao, at the weekend described stress and depression as major causes of insomnia in people. According to him, other causes of insomnia include feeling emotionally flat or hopeless, struggle with chronic feelings of anxiety or worry and certain medica-

tions and health problems. He defined insomnia as inability to get the amount of sleep needed to wake up feeling refreshed and rested. Alao said that although insomnia was the most common sleep complaint, it was not a single sleep disorder. He added that it was more accurate to think of insomnia as a symptom of another problem, noting that the

symptoms differ from person to person. The consultant said the condition could be as a result of taking too much caffeine during the day or due to complex issue like an underlying medical condition. He said the psychological problems that could cause insomnia included depression, anxiety, chronic stress, bipolar disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder.

esteem), lonely, worthless and depressed. The physician explained that, stress can result to cardiovascular disease, including heart disease, high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, heart attacks and stroke, obesity and other eating disorders, menstrual problems, sexual dysfunction, such as erectile dysfunction (impotence) and premature ejaculation in men and loss of sexual desire in both men and women, also skin and hair problems, such as acne, psoriasis, eczema and permanent hair loss. On treatment, he said, “Sufferers should avoid stressful situations especially when you can, excuse yourself from the source of stress, also engaging in physical activity every day is one of the easiest and best ways to cope with stress. When you exercise, your brain releases chemicals that

make you feel good. It can also help you release built-up energy or frustration. “Also, change in outlook an affected person can try to develop a more positive attitude toward challenges. One can do this by replacing negative thoughts with more positive ones. Do something you enjoy. When stress has you down, do something you enjoy to help pick you up. It could be as simple as reading a good book, listening to music, watching a favorite movie, or having dinner with a friend. Get enough sleep as it can help think more clearly and have more energy. This will make it easier to handle any challenges for about 7 to 9 hours each night. Eat a healthy diet as eating healthy foods can help the body and mind. Such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat or nonfat dairy, and lean proteins”, he urged,

HEALTH NEWS

Nigerians urged to embrace herbal medicines Managing Director of Oroki Herbal Mixture, Mr Owolabi Gafar, has urged the federal and state governments to create the enabling environment for the production and marketing of indigenous herbal medicines. Gafar, who said this at the weekend, explained that it would encourage practitioners in the business to further go for more researches to upgrade the quality of the prod-

ucts. He noted that Nigerians should embrace indigenous herbal medicines in order to give room for its development in the country. “We are blessed with different kinds of herbs which could be concocted and taken to cure a lot of ailments. “There is the possibility of some herbal companies in Nigeria having herbs that can be used to cure Ebola. But due to people’s negative re-

action to indigenous herbal medicines, such companies will have no confidence to present it. “It is when these products are used that we can improve on it, and make it internationally recognised and acceptable,’’ Gafar said. He urged governments to work on interest rates for loan procurement in banks for traditional herbal medicines practitioners in the country.

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Sunday, April 12, 2015

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

SUNDAY OLAJIDE MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO SEYI FASUGBA DAILY EDITOR GBEMI OLUJOBI SATURDAY EDITOR AYO OLESIN SUNDAY EDITOR BEN MEMULETIWON GENERAL EDITOR DOZIE OKEBALAMA COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD CALLISTUS OKE EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF AUGUSTUS IMEKAN ACTING HEAD, GRAPHICS

Kenyan horror underlines Africa’s vulnerability

n Thursday April 2, four gunmen from the Somali-based Islamist militant group al-Shabaab, stormed Garissa University College, located about 230 miles from Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, killing 147 people, 142 of who were students, after 15-hour long siege. The attack is the deadliest in the East African country since the 1998 Al Qaeda bombing of the United States Embassy in Nairobi in which 224 people died. According to media reports, the gunmen, who had explosives strapped to them, began killing indiscriminately, but as the siege went on, they separated students by religion, murdering only Christians. The Garissa massacre highlights both the increasing vulnerability of a once stable region to international terrorism and al-Shabaab’s broad operational capabilities in Kenya. It is, therefore, the well considered view of this newspaper that like Nigeria, which got respite from a barrage of Boko Haram terrorist attacks without let since 2009 only when the world showed sufficient concerns to the unsavoury development, Kenya also needs help, and fast too. A global coalition against terrorism in East Africa has become imperative. Several factors breed terrorism in Kenya. They include porous borders; politically unstable neighbouring countries like Somalia and Sudan; a relatively open and multicultural society; relatively large Muslim population, and the political and socioeconomic deprivation of the coastal Muslim population relative to the rest of the country. However, terrorism took a more pronounced form in 1976 after the ‘Operation Entebbe’ hostage crisis in July that year, when Kenya allowed her facilities to be used by Israeli commandos to refuel the C-130 Hercules transport planes involved in the rescue operations on their way back home from Uganda. That incident was perceived by Islamic extremists as Kenya’s overt support for Israelis and the West. This became evident on the eve of 1980 New Year, when the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) bombed the

Jewish-owned Norfolk Hotel, Nairobi, killing 20 people and injuring 80 others in the process. In 1998, the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi was bombed, as was the Israeli-owned Paradise Hotel four years later. However, al-Shabaab became a critical factor in terrorism in Kenya in 2011 after her military joined those of Somali and Ethiopia to execute an African Union-sponsored military mission code-named Operation Linda Nchi in October of that year against the group alleged to have kidnapped several foreign tourists and aid workers inside

JUST LIKE NIGERIA, KENYA NEEDS HELP, FIRST TO SECURE ITS POROUS BORDER WITH SOMALIA; AND SECOND TO DEVELOP THE CAPACITY TO CONTAIN THE HIGH PROFILE TERRORISM THAT AL-

SHABAAB NOW STANDS FOR

Kenya. At the militant group’s urging, a significant and increasing number of terrorist attacks in Kenya have since been carried out by local adherents, many of who are recent converts to Islam. For example, in 2013, the militants attacked Nairobi’s upscale Westgate Mall, leaving 67 people dead. Estimates in 2014 placed the figure of such Kenyan militants rechristened ‘Kenyan Mujahideen’ at around 25 per cent of al-Shabaab’s total forces. These local Islamic insurgents have the advantage of easily blending with the general population because of their peculiar profile, and thus they are also often harder to track. Moreover, the group’s deep network in the country is bolstered by a sizable indigenous Somali minority as well as refugees from fleeing from Somalia’s devastating famine. Just like Nigeria, Kenya needs help, first to secure its porous border with

Somalia; and second to develop the capacity to contain the high profile terrorism that al- Shabaab now stands for. If Garissa that is home to a military barracks and police headquarters could be so seamlessly overran by terrorists, there is real danger across Kenya. In the Garissa saga there is palpable failure of intelligence gathering, and this must be rectified through capacity building. More importantly, there is the compelling need to equip the country’s elite rapid response team to make it more mobile, resilient and proactive. The world, particularly the U.S., might not have ignored the development in Kenya – in September 2014, a drone strike killed Ahmed Godane, alShabaab’s leader and one of the most wanted terrorists in Africa. Another drone strike on March 18, 2015 killed Adnan Garaar, the head of Shabaab’s external operations and the mastermind of the Westgate attack – but it is obvious that all these deadly military strikes targeted at the leadership of the group have not diminished its capacity for sowing deaths, destructions and misery in Kenya in particular and East Africa in general. The reason is that the group’s cause resonates very well with Muslims in the region, who feel marginalised by the predominant Christians in some of the countries. A combination of economic and social safety nets might work wonder. We believe that a recreation of a more humane society in Kenya, which addresses the perceived inequality among the majority Christians and minority Muslims would deny the group the constant flow of recruits necessary for its attacks. Moreover, the African Union and indeed the United Nations should pay attention to the festering political crises in Somalia and Sudan. Particularly for Somalia, a stable government there is needed to contain the persistent threat posed by al-Shabaab, which has kept itself intact by retreating into the southern Somali wilderness from which it plans its deadly attacks across the region. A speedy address of the scourge is necessary to save the Kenya economy.

Reminiscences APRIL 12 IN HISTORY

1961: Soviet’s Gagarin is First Man in Space The Soviet Union successfully launched the first man into space taking the prize for “The First Man In Space”. Yuri Gagarin, a 27-year-old air force major orbited the Earth in 1hr 40 minutes. 1981: U.S. makes first Space shuttle The First of the U.S. Space Shuttles Columbia was launched making way for man’s continuing exploration of space. 1921: UK - Coal miners reject PM’s offer Coal miners refuse to consider British Prime Minister’s wage programme. Miners are part of the Transport and General Workers and Railwayman’s Union, and many are predicting bloodshed if the talks fail completely 1942: WWII - U.S. attacks Japanese bases Americans attack four Japanese invasion bases in retaliation for bombing of Pearl Harbor and British bombers distribute death and destruction on Rhineland in Germany. 1945: Franklin Roosevelt dies After serving as U.S. president for 12 years, Franklin D. Roosevelt the 32nd president of the United States died from a massive cerebral hemorrhage at his retreat in Warm Springs, Georgia. Vice President Harry S. Truman became the President of the United States 1957: Egypt threatens Israeli ship in Suez Canal Following the opening up of the Suez Canal to international traffic, President Nasser of Egypt has warned that any Israel ship entering the Canal will be sunk. 1973: Lebanon tensions worsen The United States and the Arab world headed for further confrontation over Palestinian charges that there was U.S. involvement in the Israel raid on Beirut 1975: U.S. withdraws from Cambodia The U.S. admits defeat in Cambodia and removed its remaining embassy personnel from the capital, Phnom Penh. 1982: Joe Louis dies of heart attack Joe Louis (The Brown Bomber) died of a heart attack, just hours before he had watched Larry Holmes defend his World Heavyweight title in Las Vegas 1999: Clinton charged with contempt President Bill Clinton is found in contempt of court by U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright for giving “intentionally false” testimony in a lawsuit filed by Paula Jones about his relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

Sunday, April 12, 2015

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Praise Worship E-mail:yemiolakitan@gmail.com

E-mail:cossyodi@yahoo.com

EDIFYING GOD Sunday April 12, 2015

Works determine rewards, says Pastor Muokaa 24

Stepping into a new Nigeria

QUOTE

There is a place God has promised to take you; you have seen it in dreams, you have heard it and read it from His word, the Pastor has spoken to you about it. “God is ready to do something new in your life” you have shouted amen with expectation. – Pastor Femi Lanre-Oke

Ret Retra Retrac eetra trac ste ste t ccorre correc oorre rre rr wrong og

Church for the living and the dead

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Vineyard

Briefly Benson Ekeleme Foundation holds Inaugural lecture

Celebration

amily and friends of late Benson Ekeleme FCA through the Benson Ekeleme Foundation is organising a seminar on economic and spiritual empowerment for the benefit of the less privileged in the society. Speakers at the inaugural event include Jolly Ndidi, a Human Resource expert and Patrick Ajah, a pharmacist and youth pastor. The event which come up on April 18, 2015 at the Assemblies of God, Ikeja, Lagos has Tony Ewelike, CEO, AG Homes, Loans and Savings Plc as chair person and Lagos District Superintendent, Assemblies of God, Rev. J. N. G Okafor as father of the day. According the organizers, the late Benson Ekeleme dedicated his life to of mankind, helping the less privileged and also committed to growth of the church. The deceased who passed on two years back, was said to be President of a local chapter of the Full Gospel Business Men Fellowship.

Sunday April 12, 2015

Muoka harps on significance of Easter …as TLCCRM holds Easter retreat

Super Fest 2015 holds at Ogbomoso

ola Onaolapo World Outreach Ministry of Abundant Life Gospel Church will present a one-day ministers’ conference tagged “Super Fest 2015 International” in the ancient city of Ogbomoso in Osun State. The international conference is to come up on Monday 13th of April, 2015 at Sabo Baptist Church, Ogbomoso, by 10am prompt, with the theme “Ogbomoso Super Fest Ministers Conference” In a release signed by Pastor Mark Debo Taiwo on behalf of the conveners, it stated that Rev (Mrs) Jane Onaolapo is going to be the main speaker and will be supported by other anointed men of God. According to the conveners, the conference basically is going to parade ministers of God and church workers within and outside Nigeria in attendance and is designed to focus on salvation, deliverance, empowerment, prayer for peace to reign in the nation and revelational teachings of the word of God that will enhance the ministerial assignments of participants. The event is also aimed at adding value to the spiritual and material lives of ministers of God in Ogbomosoland and would be a good spot for international collections.

Crown of Christ Victory Church set for special programme

ll is set for this year’s three-day special covenant and all night session of the Crown of Christ Victory Church.

The programme which has as its theme “Deliverance form power of witchcraft derived from book of Isaiah 22:5 is scheduled to hold from 22-24 April, 2015 starting from 10pm and is slated for 57, Ajewole Street, off El-Bethel Bus Stop, Ikotun, Lagos. According to the chief host, Prophet David Yemi Ayilara, the programme is originally fashioned for covenanted women who are desirous for the fruit of the womb. He added that God will visit all pregnant women and those who have been waiting on the Lord for very long for marital breakthrough. He assured that all attendees and worshippers will have cause to testify to the goodness of God. Other anointed servants of God expected to minister at the event include the guest minister, Bishop Bayo Adejola and Prophet Dayo James. Also on hand to provide soul inspiring gospel melodies and the guest artiste at the programme, is the revered gospel band, Praise Machine.

Choristers performing at the crusade

ODINAKA URUAKPA

he Ijesha, Lagos headquarters of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries, TLCCRM was a beehive of activities last weekend, when the church held its Easter crusade/retreat in exuberant and prayerful mood.

The crusade which had as its theme “God’s covenant of peace and blessing” had in attendance men and women of the chosen fold as well as guest who has come seeking for divine deliverance peace and blessings of the period. In his sermon, the General Overseer of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries, Pastor Lazaru Muoka said this period which ushers Christ’s resurrection and heralds for mankind, new hope for peace and blessing is so special because Easter signifies and symbolizes the victory of Jesus Christ over death, which by extension is the victory over hopelessness and anarchy. “The resurrection of Jesus Christ which is what Easter stands for is the bedrock of the covenant of peace God established with mankind. Without our Lord Jesus Christ resurrecting from death, there would not have been any hope of restoration of the peaceful relationship we have with God before our fore-parents severed it through sin. This is a time at which we are reminded of how God sent His son to die as a sacrifice for our sins in order to rescue us from the impending destruction that had been earmarked for us as a result of

the sin of Adam and Eve. Thus, by His death and resurrection, the covenant of peace and blessing which mankind originally had with God at creation is restored”, he said. He maintained that the concept of Easter is inextricably tied to peace, hope and blessing, and these are the intangible chords that help people to get beyond the sad and sordid situations that have been holding them down and therefore dragged them into developing a sense of hopelessness. “Easter raises in us optimism that no matter how difficult or challenging our situation or condition may be, the knowledge of the Saviour’s resurrection reminds us that Jesus defeated death, therefore, all things are possible in Him. So I assure that even if the situation appears worrisome, there is the expectation that things will get better if we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour because in the gospel of Matthew chapter 11: 28- 30 to be precise states that all that labour and are heavy laden once they seek Christ, He would give them rest. Muoka admonished leaders and citizens alike in the country to use the opportunity to promote and foster peace and love in Nigeria, as this is the only way we can acknowledge and appreciate the grace of God in the nation. “As Christians and followers of Christ, we must understand that the

covenant of peace is renewed every time we celebrate Easter and this year’s Easter is so significant in the history of our father land because if there is any time we need peace more than before it is now. God has offered us everlasting peace at no cost; however the cost will be high if we reject this free offer. If the world particularly Nigerians will acknowledge and appreciate this wonderful work of grace and by this invitation return to their God, then the political and economic nightmare that have characterized our society will become a thing of the past. I am sure none us will go home empty handed because God Almighty has heard the cry of the citizens of this great country and has seen the hopelessness we are subjected to and therefore by the mandate of this crusade, brings peace and blessings of unspeakable joy to us. Without doubt, the era of political, economic and social anxiety will end after this power packed programme and our nation will become great again’, he assured. This year’s event as is common with the church’s crusades attracted an unprecedented crowd who as usual thronged the venue as early as they could from their various locations in the country so as to get seating space. Members resident in Lagos had it good as free transport arrangements were made by the ministry to convey people from designated locations in the state to the venue. Of noteworthy was the provision of digitalized security measure aimed at addressing any breach of order if the case arises.

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From the Pulpit 21

Sunday April 12, 2015

‘Peace be with you’ (2) Miracle Arena with Bishop

Theo Ugochukwu

So there are five relationships where the crucified and risen Christ brings peace into your life: 1. Peace between us and him. That’s the first and most obvious meaning: he is standing there among them offering them himself as a friend and helper, not a judge. 2. Peace between us and God. That’s why God sent him — so that God’s justice and wrath could be satisfied another way besides eternal punishment. God makes peace with us by substituting his Son’s suffering for our penalty. Now he comes to us as a loving Father. 3. Peace between us and others who are in Christ. To be reconciled to God is to be reconciled to all who are reconciled to God. No hostility vertically or horizontally. No racism. No ethnocentrism or classism or sexism. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). 4. Peace between us and our own souls. The New Testament letter to the Hebrews says, “The blood of Christ . . . will purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:14). O the precious peace of a clear conscience. How many people labor under the misery of a defiled, guilty conscience? I read on Thursday the testimony of a woman who had an abortion 8 years ago and who said, “I cannot forgive myself.” I wrote, “That’s what Good Friday is for!” Peace with yourself doesn’t mean that you start seeing past sins as desirable. Peace doesn’t mean that past sins cease to be painful. It means they cease to be paralyzing. The pain may not be taken away immediately, but the penalty is taken away immediately through Christ. And that makes it possible to heal. And to move on with hope-filled life while you do. 5. Peace with the world. Yes, when Jesus died he did what needed to be done (Colossians 1:19–20) so that someday, in God’s time, all evil will be cast into outer darkness and the entire new creation will be full of peace and righteousness. “Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end . . . with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore” (Isaiah 9:7). Peace with Jesus. Peace with God the Father. Peace with others in Christ. Peace with ourselves. And peace with the world. It was an amazing achievement.

So what did he say? Two times he said, “Peace be with you.” On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.” Before Jesus says anything about power or purpose he wants to establish peace. The order here is really important. The peace that Jesus gives is before and underneath any of our empowered actions or any of our purposeful deeds. We don’t initiate peace with Jesus by our actions. He initiates peace with us. The apostle Paul — who wrote 13 of those 21 New Testament letters — explains it like this: “He [Jesus] himself is our peace, who has made us both one [Jew and Gentile] and reconciled us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility (Ephesians 2:14–18). A Peace Accomplished The peace that Jesus offers the disciples is peace that he accomplished when he died for them on the cross. That’s why in verse 20 he says, “When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.” I am the one who died. I am the one you abandoned. And I am the one who was “pierced for your transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5). And the reason I can offer you peace is because by my blood I have covered all your sins. If you trust me they won’t be held against you. The wrath of God is turned away. That’s what Paul meant when he said, “Christ reconciled us both to God through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.” All the hostility between God and us was absorbed on the cross. Here, look at my side and my hands. I made peace with these. Justice was satisfied with these. Peace between you and God (and me) was estabHow Do You Receive This Peace? lished with these. And how do you receive this? Everybody Where Peace Comes in Your Life doesn’t have it. It’s a gift of God. We receive it. Or we

walk away from it. Or better to say: we receive him. Or walk away from him. He is our peace. If you have the risen, living Christ as your Savior, and Lord, and Treasure, and Friend, you have the peace that he gives — the peace that he is. “To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). “Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Jesus offers you that. I offer that on his behalf. It is free. I hope you receive it. I’ve spent most of our time on the gift of peace because it is foundational. If we don’t have peace with God we will take all his other gifts and use them to try to make peace. And it never works. Peace is first. And it is free. Everything else is the effect of peace, not the cause. It is fruit. Peace is the root. So let me just point in closing to the power and the purpose Jesus gives. Both are mentioned in verses 21–22, Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” [the purpose] 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” [the power] Power by the Spirit Jesus was going to pour out the Holy Spirit when he ascended into heaven (Acts 2:33). That happens about seven weeks after his resurrection. We read about it in the first chapter of Acts. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8). The work of the Holy Spirit that Jesus gives is that he makes us able to do what we are simply not able to do on our own. He gives us power. So here in John 20: 22 Jesus performs a kind of acted out parable. “He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” He didn’t say, Receive him at this very moment. He said in effect: realize that my breath, my life, my word will be in the Holy Spirit. We’ve seen this before in John 14. Jesus said, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18). The risen, living Jesus has come to us. He has sent us the Holy Spirit. His Spirit. He has breathed on us. This person — this power — is our only hope for accomplishing the purpose he has for us. And he gives that purpose in verse 21b: “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” I want you to live in the world as my representa-

tives. My ambassadors. I want you to take my peace and take my power, and glorify my Father the way I have. (John 12 :27-28) Our Central Purpose for Existence Jesus comes to us and gives us his peace with God. Then he gives us power to do the kinds of things that mere humans can’t do — like defeating our own selfishness, and loving other people, and treasuring Christ above all. And then with that peace and that power he gives us our central purpose for existence: “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” I’m sending you to extend my peace and my light and my truth and my life in the world. I am going to my Father. But I give you my Spirit. I am the power in you. So go and glorify me in this world. That’s our great purpose — in the peace of God, by the power of God, to do the will of God for the glory of God, and for the good of others. And if you are puzzled by verse 23, here’s what I think it means. It’s a good way to end. Jesus says to the disciples: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” What he means is this: When you tell people about what I have done, speaking my word, about my work, in the power of my Spirit, I am the one speaking through you, so that if anyone believes your word, I forgive their sins. And if any does not believe your words, I don’t’ forgive them. And since you are my voice and my truth, I speak of you forgiving them, and you withholding forgiveness. May the joy of the risen Christ be with you this season, and trough the power of His resurrection, may every dead project in your life be brought back to life in the name of Jesus Christ. Let there be a reason for this season in your life. Alleluia! •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

News

Oritsejafor, Onaiyekan congratulate Buhari T

he National President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, and Arch Bishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan has congratulated the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, on his election as the next president of Nigeria.

CAN president in a statement in Abuja stressed the need for harmony between Christians and Muslims in the quest for a prosperous Nigeria as he saluted Nigerians for a peaceful election and prayed for a prosperous future for the country. Oritsejafor also praised President Goodluck Jonathan for exhibiting good sportsmanship in conceding to the president-elect. Also, the Arch Bishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, said losers

should learn to accept defeat and the winners should not use this opportunity to oppress the losers. Speaking in an interview with journalists in Abuja, Onaiyekan also advised politicians to learn a lesson that a political content must have winners and losers. The cleric added that winners should not use the opportunity to oppress the losers, adding that Nigeria would remain one, whether Nigerians liked it or not. ”Nigerians should take a queue and learn a lesson that a political contest must have winners and losers”, he said. Onaiyekan, a member of the National Peace Committee, said the committee visited the State House to congratulate President Goodluck Jonathan for his “statesmanship” at the just-concluded election.

Vice-President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, left, in a handshake with the General Overseer of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministry (TLCCRM), Pastor Lazarus Muoka, during a courtesy call to the church in Lagos.

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Sunday April 12, 2015

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Church for the O

rthodox churches, particularly the Catholic, Anglican and the Methodist churches allow the bodies of their dead members to be brought into the church so that a befitting burial or funeral mass is held in their honour. But many born- again or Pentecostal churches would not allow such dead bodies in their midst on the argument that the church or temple so to say, is a sacred place meant for the living and not the dead.

However, the churches who allow the coffins conveying the corpse of their deceased member into the house of worship see it as the last honour given to a colleague, indicating that the person had done well while on earth with them. Therefore, the last honour is given to the dead whom both the clerics and lay members of a particular fold see as a contributor to the life of their church, so they therefore, pay their last respects by organising a funeral service. While the orthodox churches believe in the communion of the living and the dead, many of the Pentecostals argue that it is wrong for ordained men of God to have anything to do with the dead not to talk of coming in close contact with corpses. Some also claim that the reason the dead are not allowed to be brought into the place of worship is that Jesus made it clear in the answer he gave the man who asked Him to allow him bury his dead relative before he could follow Him (Christ) as Christ mandated that the dead should be left for the dead to bury. According to the Director of Catholic Apostolate, Abbi, Delta State, Father Paschal Obioma, the Mass is a sacrament meant for both the living and the dead and it continues in heaven. “In the Catholic Church, we talk of the communion of saints because there are people who have been made perfect; they are in heaven and they continue to commune with us. This group i.e. the dead are now in the Mass where they don’t need the temple built with blocks, but in the presence of God and their own Mass is forever. Those of us who are still struggling here are in the militant church, there are also those who are in purgatory with the hope of going to heaven and are in what we call the suffering church. So both the dead and the living in the eyes of God are alive, for Him (God), nobody is dead. For the dead body that is brought to the church, it shows that the person is still in communion with us, we don’t cut them off because they have died physically; when a person dies, he may be one of the saints who are in the greater church i.e. the higher church in heaven; so when we bring the corpse into the church, it is also to share with the person, the last time before he goes to where ever he is going because he was with us”, he explained.

Congregation during funeral service

In the past, the temple or church as it is called now was said to be for the living and thus considered a sacred place where nothing unclean was allowed to come into or be brought inside, but these days, some Christians see it as a place meant for both the living and the dead, especially as funerals even while others insist it remains sacred and only for the living. Odinaka Uruakpa looks at the different sides and stance of clerics on this issue. When asked what he thinks of people who do not allow coffins to be bought to their church, the reverend gentleman explained that there was no church before Christ adding that what was obtainable then was the synagogue or temple which belong to Judaism and not Christianity and therefore, should not be compared with the present church. “We are not practitioners of Judaism, we are Christians and this is our practice as Christians. Even in the Old Testament, when God introduced himself to Moses, he said that he is the God of the living and not of the dead because many people he referred to were already dead many years before that time, but He (God) still saw them as his own children who are in his presence. He is the God of the living and not the dead, we don’t die in the presence of God so to say; we are all alive in his presence, but we may not be with him and for those who are dead, they are still alive in Him’, he maintained. For those who do not allow coffins to be brought into their church, he said in that aspect, they are practicing Judaism and not Christianity and advised that they should not confuse Judaism with Christianity. “Right from time, people who did

IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, WE TALK OF THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN MADE PERFECT;

THEY ARE IN HEAVEN AND THEY CONTINUE TO COMMUNE WITH US.

well were called saints, when they died, the people preserved their bodies and this was done right from the time of the apostles where they respected the dead because they believed they went to heaven. Anybody who wants to get the teaching of Christianity should begin with the Acts of the Apostles because that was when the early church started and also the gospels when Jesus himself was acting. Remember when they were carrying the body of the widow’s son at the gate of Nahim, Jesus told the carriers to stop and he woke the young man and gave him back to the mother; He did not segregate between the dead and the living, he reiterated. For the General Overseer of Calvary Kingdom Church and former Secretary of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Bishop Ojo Joseph, when a person dies, the real person is no longer there, but people are free to do things their own

way. “There should be allowance given to the different Christian denominations to practice their dogma. Since each denomination has their practices, there is no need to condemn those who decide to carry their dead into the church, though the real person is no longer there; he has gone to either heaven or hell. For me, those who take their dead to church have not done anything bad and those who don’t also have done nothing wrong, there should be liberty concerning things like this. For my church, it is not our tradition to carry the coffin containing the dead into the church or any coffin for that matter and I can speak authoritatively for the Pentecostal church that none allows this in their church, but if there is any that practices such now, then, they do that out of ignorance. Some of these people were not privileged to serve under, know or learn from the right people. They just

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Sunday April 12, 2015

living and the dead came out from university and because they couldn’t find jobs, they go into the ministry without knowing the rules and regulations of the Pentecostal fellowship, but like I said earlier, we won’t condemn them because the real person is already transited”, he submitted. Ojo revealed that the Pentecostals consider the place of fellowship and the house of God as sacred and in the Bible militantly, Christians are instructed in the Old Testament not to go near a corpse. “When a person dies, the minister is not supposed to take care of the body not to talk of bringing it into the sanctuary of God so as not to defile the temple of God. But anyhow, God no longer dwell in temples made with hands, God lives inside of us now and this is why we have the liberty to allow people to do what they want to do, Jesus Christ is no longer living in the four walls of the structure of the church; the Christian is the house of God. In first Corinthians chapter 3, the Bible states that we are the temple of God; so as we are the temple of the living God, we should be sanctified and that is the truth”, he said. When given the instances of Christ’s contact with the dead such as in the case of Lazarus and the widow’s son, the cleric explained that when one lives in the New Testament, they live by the spontaneity of the Holy Spirit, which could call them to prophesy and they must act as occasion demands. “Though there are exceptions when the Holy Spirit ministers to people, but it cannot be to start pursuing the dead and lay on them just like Elijah did; otherwise, everybody would be looking for corpses to lie on and bring back to life. Like I said before, those who allow dead bodies into the church should not be condemned; those of us who do not believe in it should also not look down on those who do it because we are at liberty to do as we like though the real person is no longer there and like I said also, God no longer lives in temples made with hands, but it doesn’t mean that we don’t have to keep sacred the house of worship and this is the injunction passed to us by the apostles of faith. From his point of view, Pastor Stanley Ihoba, the General Overseer and Pastor in charge of the Evangelic World Mission Church, Surulere, Lagos, noted that when Jesus asked the dead to bury the dead, He made the utterance because He was trying to convince more people to understand His mission on evangelisation. “When people were giving excuses and saying why they would only follow Him later, one person said he should let him go and bury his dead, but Jesus told him to leave the dead for the dead to bury. This statement doesn’t mean that we should abandon the dead, but it

Casket at church funeral service

means if you follow Christ, you will not die when you die physically. Your spirit will leave on in the presence and company of God. When He said the dead to bury their own dead, He was trying to put a message across to let them know that those who were not in Christ were doomed for eternal life. Some churches have abandoned their dead for such reasons justifying their reasons based on what Jesus said. Why allow the person while alive to develop your church, obey your rules and participate fully as a Christian but when the person died, the body is not allowed to be brought into the church where the deceased belonged? This is not right at all because the dead need to be given its last respect because when the person was alive, he or she participated fully as a member of the fold and thus in death should still be regarded as a member and given the last rites including prayers which should be said in the church. Death is the conclusion of life on earth. Jesus’ death gave more assurance. His birth brought problem to some people who hated him but His death brought joy, showing that there is life after death. Jesus loved Peter who betrayed Him and He raised His Friend Lazarus who had died. He did not reject him as he wouldn’t reject anyone who died in Him”, he maintained. Also contributing on the issue, Pas-

tor Afolarin Adebola of the Freedom Christian Miracle Assembly located in Mushin, Lagos, insisted that the church is meant for the living to dwell in and not the dead. “Though some people believe that when a person dies, they are with God in Heaven, and I am not disputing that, so they decide to bring the body of a dead member into the church, which is a sacred place and sanctuary of the living God; they believe that the good deeds of the dead will follow them, so they conclude the best way to end things is to bring them to the church. The people who practice this must realise that the church is the dwelling place of God and should not be desecrated. Corpses no matter how good the deceased lived their lives while on earth shouldn’t be taken to any church but to cemetery. Even if prayers should be said for the dead, it should be done at the home of the deceased after which the body is taken to the cemetery for burial”, he insisted.

Church cemetery

WHEN PEOPLE WERE GIVING EXCUSES AND SAYING WHY THEY WOULD ONLY FOLLOW HIM LATER, ONE PERSON SAID HE SHOULD LET HIM GO AND BURY HIS DEAD, BUT JESUS TOLD HIM TO LEAVE THE DEAD FOR THE DEAD TO BURY.

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From the

Pulpit Sunday April 12, 2015

Works determine rewards, says Pastor Muoka General Overseer of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministry, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, in this piece, explains the basis of our rewards at the end of life. Excerpts:

oman 2:3-4, 6, 11 says, “And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Who will render to every man according to his deeds: For there is no respect of persons with God.” In the divine circle, the works of an individual is the only factor that determines where he goes at the end of life. Our Creator who by His will all came into the world has warned all that at the end of this life, all will render account of his/her stewardship. And the unjust and the holy shall each be rewarded according to his/her works, according as his life and conversation has been. He will give every man either life or death; heaven or hell, the crown or the curse according to his works, that is as he/ she deserves. This is a fact everybody must embrace regardless of your position in life, colour, race, language, status and size. Whether you are a pastor or a pope, priest or minister, or whatever designation you are known for, you must give account of your action and inaction in this world. God will on the Day of Judgment, reward or punish every man according as his life and conversation have been. In the world today, many do not take heed to the counsel of the Lord. Yet God has made it clear that His counsel shall stand and everyone would be rewarded or judged according to his/her works. Isaiah 46:10 says, “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” Without doubt the counsel of the Lord shall prevail. The counsel of the Lord stands for ever. God does not change His purpose; neither could it be frustrated by actions of men. His counsels produce ordained results with unerring certainty. His determination to bring His counsel to fulfillment can never be scuttled by the changes of whether, time and political situation for all the elements of the world are created to support His will and counsel. The stroke in a clock may move contrary one to another, some one way, some another, yet all serve the intent of the workman, to show the time. So in the world, the providence of God may seem to run across to His promises, sometimes, good men may go one way, and wicked men another, yet all in c o n cl u s i o n accomplish the will of the Almighty God. What

he has determined shall be done. He determined to make a world, and He made it; to create man, and He created him. He determined that at a certain period God would be manifested in the flesh, and it was so; that He should taste death for every man, and He did so; He determined that The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement shall be established, it was done; that the church will take the world by signs and wonders and today behold the world is witnessing unprecedented display of the power of God in such a dimension that has never been experienced before. And other of His counsels which refer to the future shall be accomplished in their times. So wisdom demands that we understand His ways and principles; for once He has said it, nothing can change it. His standing counsel is that whatever a man sows, that he shall reap. You cannot change the course of His counsel by deceit. Whatsoever kind of grain a man sows, that shall he reap. Rice will not produce wheat, nor wheat rice. It is what a man sows that he reaps, the reward or punishment shall be according to your works. Galatians 6:7-9 says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: forr whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary y in well doing: for in due du ue season we shall reap, if if we faint not.” The reward you re-ceive will be according to your deeds. If you deploy your purposes toward His service you will reap accord-ingly. You cannott deceive God to think k that you are for Him m when you are sowing to your flesh, and spending your money in purchasing pleasure, and

in luxury and vanity. No zeal or prayer no matter how long and fervent it may be would be used to deceive God. To make such prayers and manifest such zeal while the heart is with the world, is to mock God but God cannot be mocked. Every kind of grain will produce grain like itself. So it is in regard to our works. He who is righteous, shall be rewarded; he who is a sinner, shall reap according to his deeds. Justice and examples of those he judged in Bible days Knowing that justice demands that everyone would be rewarded according to his or her deeds and that our God is the God of justice, we must endeavour to understand this aspect of God in other to follow after or adhere to it for our own good in this present life so that we can be in heaven at last. Luke 19:13-24 says “And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, y g, we will not have this man to reign g over And us. A An d it came to pass, pa p ass, that when w en wh

he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds”. Our blessed Saviour made us to understand from the context above the great advantage we shall reap by a charitable good works w wo rks and what will be the great detriment and a an d disadvantage that we shall have if we d otherwise. If we are not faithful in a do little litt t le thing committed into our hands, it it means that we cannot be faithful if bigger bigger things are committed into our hands, hands, and thus must not expect reward but but rather retribution. God is just, and will will be eternally justified in denying His special special grace to those, who do not make use use of His common gifts. One’s works determines the position he holds both in life and in heaven. Whatever God has put into your hands should be judiciously judiciously utilized so that at His coming He will reward you abundantly d antly in Jesus name 2 Kings 20:1-6 says, “In those days was was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. Then he turned his face face fa ce to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, L RD, saying, I beseech LO thee, t ee, O LORD, reth member

CONTINUED ON PAGE 41 Pastor Muoka

PASSION A Lifestyle Magazine

Sunday April 12, 2015

APPLAUSE

Children with autism can be helped –Akande >>27

I love seeing myself on screen –Nancy Gabriel >>26

Passion

Sunday, April 12, 2015

I love seeing myself on screen –Nancy Gabriel Lagos socialite, Nancy Gabriel, is an actress and fashionista. She opted for the movie world because of the passion she has for the stage. In this interview with Adaeze Amos, she speaks about her lifestyle and what excites her as an actress. What did you study? I studied Banking and Finance at the Lagos State University, LASU. Having studied banking, why did you opt for acting? It’s because of the joy and fulfillment I derive from acting. Acting to me is a job that looks like a hobby even when I’m at work. You are paid for enjoying yourself; that’s how I see it. After my graduation, I had to join the movie industry and till date I’m enjoying my job. Honestly, I’m doing so well in the acting world that I have starred in many movies. I have even lost count of the movies I have featured in.

Who are those in Nollywood that lured you into the movie world? They are Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola, Olu Jacob, Pete Edochie and Joke Silva. These are Nollywood stars I admire. Are you saying you want to be like them? No. In as much as I admire them because they are good in the job but I still wouldn’t want to be like any of them. I want to be myself; I’m aspiring to be the better version of me. Maybe, because I have my own unique style of doing things.

Of the movies you have starred, which is the most challenging? The most challenging is ‘Tears of the Ghetto’. The role I interpreted in that movie was really challenging because I fought and acted like a wayward person who had no control.

What did you do to wriggle out of the pains of heartbreak? I have never been heartbroken in my life. I pray never to experience it because I wouldn’t even know how to come out of it.

Which role brought you into the limelight? It’s still the same ‘Tears of the Ghetto’. Then another one people gave me kudos for is ‘Revolution’. It got so popular that they knew me with that movie. For instance, I was walking to somewhere one day, some people were just reciting my lines off hand exactly the way I said it in that movie. I saw someone shouting the name I was called in the movie which was Omotola’s sister.

What are the qualities of your ideal man? I love clean, hard-working, caring and romantic men. I wouldn’t mind a man that can stop the time for me if that is possible. I love men that have a lot of collections in their wardrobes.

Who would you love to be paired to interpret a romance role better? I don’t really have a particular actor in mind; I just act my thing and leave the set. As long as the person is a good actor, I’m at home to interpret any role you can think of including romance. Is there a role you won’t accept to interpret no matter the amount you’re offered? Yes! That would be porn movies of course. Movies that would have to do with nudity. To me, that would be the worst role any African woman will ever go for. Such movies do not befit Africa and her cultures. We should know we are Africans and not western people. We are under men’s domination, so we should respect that. What excites you most about your acting career? I love seeing myself on screen. That thrills me so much that I enjoy sitting back in my house and watch movies that I featured in. Another thing I enjoy about my acting job is the fact that I help people to see the realities of life through acting. Do you regret being a woman? Not at all! I would love to come as a woman over and over again. Nobody would want to miss the good opportunities that are attached to womanhood. So, I would rather come as a woman in my next life if there is anything like that. What was your first experience on a movie set like? My first experience was awesome. I starred in a movie with Paul Obazele, Eucharia Anunobi and the late Muna Obiekwe. To be candid, it was really cool working with them. I had a lot of fun with them on set. Tell us some movies you have starred in so far. ‘Angels’, ‘Tears of Getho’, ‘Revelation’, ‘Life is beautiful’ and a whole lot that are about to be released.

What lesson has life taught you? Life has taught me never to judge a book by its cover and never to look down on people. What puts you off people? Disappointment and lies Besides acting, what else do you do for a living? I’m into business as well. How do you think life would look like without fashion? Life would have been damn boring without fashion. Fashion is about colours, glamour and beauty. So, when you remove all these from life, it would be bleak. What part of your body do you love flaunting? I love my hips and legs a lot. Can you define your style? My style is sexy. Do you follow vogue? Yes I do. I wouldn’t want to appear old-fashioned. I wear things that are hot in the fashion world, styles that are fad of the moment. What fashion item forms a larger part of your wardrobe? I have a lot of good gowns, short things, leggings, sexy tops and jeans. I love and wear all styles as far as my colours are blended.

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Sunday, April 12, 2015

Applause

Children with autism can be helped –Akande ADAEZE AMOS

“I

s your child down with autism? Don’t ignore him or her, there is a way out. No matter how old such a child is, bring him to my centre. All that he needs is help and he can be okay. “Don’t think he will outgrow autism on his own without help. I heard such advice when my own child was diagnosed with autism, I refused to ignore him until he was okay,” Dotun Akande, said recently in an interview. Akande is the proprietress of Patrick Speech and Languages Centre and Pure Souls Learning Foundation in the serene area of Ikeja GRA in Lagos. In her office is a plasma television adorning the wall beside her table where she views the whole premises of the centre, starting from the gate to the reception, classrooms, the staircase, kitchen, etc. She sits and oversees what goes on in all the classrooms. Akande spoke about the centre with gusto. “We have been around for the past nine years and we work with children with autism and related developmental disabilities. Pure Soul Learning Foundation is developed out of the fact that there are so many families that cannot pay for the services of the centre. So, through Pure Souls Learning Foundation, we have been able to give free services to families of autistic children in Nigeria,” she stressed. Does her centre give scholarship to autistic children who can’t afford it? “Yes, we treat them free of charge. We look for opportunities where we can find funding to help families. If we cannot raise funds, we ask those that have helped us in the past to kind of give us materials that can help in bringing up these children. So, it may not be necessarily monetary funds. It may be material funds and sometimes human funds. Pure Souls Foundation has also been at the forefront of autism awareness. We have released three movies to educate people on what autism is all about. The three movies are entitled ‘Emere’, ‘The Maid’ and ‘Silver lining’. “What we do is that we use volunteer actors. We use one known actor for it. For Silver Lining, we used Monalisa Chinda, for The ‘Maid’ and for ‘Emere’ we used Femi Bernard. Those are some of the things we have done recently. Through those movies, people are educated about the signs of autism. For instance, ‘Silver Lining’ is a long movie that let parents know the signs of autism. ‘Emere’ is a spiritual aspect of it that talks about the fact that when you find a child with autism, the first place to go is either to the church for deliverance. That was shown in ‘Emere’, where a lady took her autistic child from one church to the other and from one oracle to the other for cure. But eventually she was helped by a special centre where the child’s talent was brought up,” she said. But can’t an autistic child outgrow it on his own? “There is nothing like that. You have to work at it. Whatever challenge that the child is facing at every point in time, you must try as much as possible to work on it. I remember when we first started in 2006. We were the first centre to open specifically for autism. There were other centres all over the place but we chose to concentrate on children with autism. I was passionate about it. My son was diagnosed with it and we worked with him. I heard from people who said just leave him, don’t worry, pray about it and he would be okay. I heard all that but I didn’t listen to them. I ran around, got help from everywhere I could. I did music therapy for him, self-help skill by myself, after-school programme in a school and a whole lot for him until he was okay. When I realised that it was possible to help other children with a similar challenge, I decided to open this centre,” she explained. Akande first went for training. “Yes, you cannot do this without being trained first. When I realised I wanted to go into it fully, I had to be trained at The National Autistic Society in the UK and they

took me through a programme that would help me start. They put me through picture exchanging programme, that is coaching me on how to teach them by using pictures. They taught me how to use sign language to communicate with them because there are many ways I can talk to them without using words. I can communicate with my eyes, depending on what I’m trying to say,” she said. To mothers with autistic children or who have babies with certain disabilities, she has some words. “Mothers that have children with certain disabilities they don’t understand, should first visit their pediatricians. If you are told to carry your child and go home, you should insist if you notice there is something wrong with him. Don’t go home and forget about it. You should keep going back because there is what we call motherly instinct that tells you something is wrong with your child. Even when you are told that all is well, do not give up on that child. There was an autistic person they brought here, for instance. When my staff saw him, they thought we won’t be able to accept him because he is 35 years old. When he came, I ran after his mother and asked her for an idea of what the chap had been through. She told me and I accepted him, promising to do my best. And the he has started improving. Before, he couldn’t even put two pieces of puzzles together but now he can do it. When he is through, he gets up and help other children. He didn’t go to school because he doesn’t have speech but he is catching up. We are teaching him now how to play the piano, carpentry and hand skills because we know he might never be able to read and write, but he may be able to function on his own. We are teaching him how to go to the supermarket and buy things, money and how to use it and other skills and his mother is very grateful that we decided to enrol him,” she said. Akande enjoys her job with a passion. “I love what I’m doing, I love this job. The reason is that in every autistic child, there is strength within. Yes, everyday in their activities, you see the effort they put in trying to get better. In as much as we are trying to bring them up, we notice that sometimes when you give them some form of responsibility, you see them rise with confidence. So, I stay here every time and take care of them, and I see God’s awesome miracle in them every day. It is beautiful to work with these children,” she emphasised. What thrills her most about what she does? “The children’s progress thrills me most. A child comes to me and he is not talking, not writing, and over time he begins to do all those things he couldn’t do. What thrills me most is seeing the children begin to progress,” she said.

Sunday, April 12, 2015

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GROWING UP with

Aunty Titi

Hello children, I hope you enjoyed your Easter. I believe that your parents, aunties and uncles bought you gifts and took you out to visit interesting and fun-filled places. This week, we have motivating articles to help you improve on your learning. I wish you a splendid week.

Zebra

ONCE UPON A TIME Parable of the Pencil

ebra are species of African equids (horse family) united by their distinctive black and white striped coats. Their stripes come in different patterns, unique to each individual. They are generally social animals that live in small harems to large herds. Unlike their closest relatives, horses and donkeys, zebras have never been truly domesticated. There are three species of zebras: the plains zebra, the Grévy’s zebra and the mountain zebra. The plains zebra and the mountain zebra belong to the subgenus Hippotigris, but Grévy’s zebra is the sole species of subgenus Dolichohippus. The latter resembles an ass, to which it is closely related, while the former two are more horse-like. All three belong to the genus Equus, along with other living equids. The unique stripes of zebras make them one of the animals most familiar to people. They occur in a variety of habitats, such as grasslands, savannas, woodlands, thorny scrublands, mountains, and coastal hills. However, various anthropogenic factors have had a severe impact on zebra populations, in particular hunting for skins and habitat destruction. Grévy’s zebra and the mountain zebra are endangered. While plains zebras are much more abundant. Zebras have four gaits: walk, trot, canter and gallop. They are generally slower than horses, but their great stamina helps them outrun predators. When chased, a zebra will zigzag from side to side, making it more difficult for the predator to attack. When cornered, the zebra will rear up and kick or bite its attacker. They have excellent eyesight. It is believed that they can see in colour, like most ungulates, the zebra’s eyes are on the sides of its head, giving it a wide field of view. Zebras also have night vision, al-

though not as advanced as that of most of their predators. Zebras have excellent hearing and have larger, rounder ears than horses; like other ungulates, zebras can turn their ears in almost any direction. In addition to superb eyesight and hearing, zebras also have acute senses of smell and taste. Like most members of the horse family, zebras are highly social. Their social structure, however, depends on the species. Mountain zebras and plains zebras live in groups, known as ‘harems’, consisting of one stallion with up to six mares and their foals. Bachelor males either live alone or with groups of other bachelors until they are old enough to challenge a breeding stallion. When attacked by packs of hyenas or wild dogs a zebra group will huddle together with the foals in the middle while the stallion tries to ward them off. Unlike the other zebra species, Grévy’s zebras do not have permanent social bonds. A group of these zebras rarely stays together for more than a few months. The foals stay with their mothers, while adult males live alone. Like the other two zebra species, bachelor male zebras will organize in groups. Like horses, zebras sleep standing up, and only sleep when neighbors are around to warn them of predators. Zebras communicate with each other with high-pitched barks and whinnying. Grévy’s zebras make mule like brays. A zebra’s ears signify its mood but when it is in a calm, tense or friendly mood, its ears stand erect. When it is frightened, its ears are pushed forward. When angry, the ears are pulled backward. When surveying an area for predators, zebras will stand in an alert posture with ears erect, head held high, and staring. When tense, they will also snort. When a predator is spotted or sensed, a zebra will bark or bray loudly.

he pencil maker took the pencil aside, just before putting it into the box. “There are five things you need to know,” he told the pencil, “Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.” One: “You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone’s hand.” Two: “You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you’ll need it to become a better Pencil.” Three: “You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.” Four: “The most important part of you will always be what’s inside.” And five: “On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write.” The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart. Now replacing the place of the pencil with you. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the

best person you can be. One: “You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God’s hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.” Two: “You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems in life, but you’ll need it to become a stronger person.” Three: “You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.” Four: “The most important part of you will always be what’s on the inside.” And Five: “On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties.” Allow this parable on the pencil to encourage you to know that you are a special person and only you can fulfill the purpose to which you were born to accomplish. Moral of the story Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot make a change.

RIDDLES AND JOKES

Question: What’s black and white and red all over? Answer- A newspaper Question: What happens when you throw a white hat into the Black Sea? Answer- It gets wet Question-What’s black and white, black and white, and black and white? Answer- A penguin rolling down a hill Question-What’s black and white, black and white, and black and white? Answer- A zebra caught in a revolving door Question-What is black and white and red all over? Answer-A panda bear with sunburn Question- Why did the tomato turn red? Answer- Because it saw the salad dressing.

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

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Sunday, April 12, 2015

Dude Style ‘I can never dot tattoos’ Morris Imadu aka McMorris Berry is a standup comedian. The spontaneous and award-winning comic, in this interview with Victor Udoh, bares it all on his fashion sense and journey into comedy, among others. Excerpts:

victorudoh804@yahoo.com 07067124302

Given the quality of talents on the local scene, how do you intend to stand out from the rest? I believe so much in myself, that is why I create unique styles while delivering my jokes. That has really helped me stand out in the industry. My jokes are spontaneous and original. I crack them based on occurrences that surround me. What was growing up like? My growing up was tough because I did almost everything myself. It wasn’t easy, but now, I thank God I have been able to overcome the hardship. While growing up, did any particular celebrity have impact on you? In my house, we had no television set when I was growing up. So, I didn’t know any celebrity. What current projects have you on hand? For now, I am working on my show, which is going to be a very big one. I am bringing in different concepts that I hope would be different from the usual things people have been seeing. I am putting in a unique touch in my show; it would be a very big one. Already so many corporate bodies are buying into the project. The show is going to feature some of the top comedians and musicians in the country, both foreign and local artistes. How did you manage to convince your friends and fans about your talent? It was very hard to convince them, but when money started coming, they began to believe I have a talent to make people laugh. When you are down, what do you do to derive inspiration? Whenever I am down, I try as much as possible to go out for a walk, or I hang out with friends. Who is your mentor? I don’t really have a mentor; I believe so much in myself and I do everything to make my fans happy. Really, my brother, God is my mentor not man. What kind of books do you read? For now, I read inspirational, motivational books and novels. How do you see the entertainment industry in the next five years? I see it as one that will be on top of others. It will do better than many other industries. What is your philosophy of life? Be good to everybody even your enemy; love them. Don’t think bad about anyone, and represent yourself always. What are your parting words for your fans? Do what you can and leave the rest for God. Don’t look at other people’s lives; rather, look at God to guide and put you through. Above all, always know what you want.

How did you get into comedy? I started years ago as a musical artiste. Whenever I sang, I noticed people would laugh. Thereafter, a friend walked up to me and said I make people laugh the way I sang. Of course, I didn’t take it seriously until one fateful day I went to perform at an event as a musical artiste. Fortunately, for me that day, the master of ceremony didn’t come. I was forced to anchor the event. What really amazed me was that throughout the occasion, everyone was laughing. I then told myself that for all these years of singing no one acknowledged me, yet in just one day of anchoring an event, a lot of people had demanded for my card. That was how I switched to comedy, and I thank God the business is seriously paying my bills. Dressing is an important part of one’s get-up at public events. What is that fashion item that is a common feature of your wardrobe? I don’t select what to wear; most times, I dress how I feel, not the way people want. Mostly, if I have an event I would be performing, I visit the market to pick up what I want to wear. It could be jeans and a t-shirt, or corporate suit depending on my mood. So, I don’t really have a particular outfit in my wardrobe. What is that fashion item you can never be caught wearing? I can never have a tattoo done on my body or wear female attire. Can you define your kind of comedy? I am a spontaneous and corporate comedian. I make my jokes from happenings around me.

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Weddings Engagements You have a story to tell us about your wedding/engagement, or your new born baby. You can call this line 08050324794

CELEBRATING THE JOY IN MARITAL BLISS APRIL 12, 2015

I knew instantly she’s my wife –Gideon TITILOPE MORAKINYO

endu Awulika and Nkwo Gideon met in the church where they both work in the same prayer session department at the Manna Prayer Mountain. They started talking and they became friends. That was the beginning of their marital journey. How did he propose to her? According to Awulika, the proposal was quite dramatic and romantic. They went for dinner in the cool evening. They chatted and laughed. All this was clueless to the beautiful bride. But when she saw Gideon on one knee, it then dawned on her that her lover was about to propose. She heard him say how he would love to spend the rest of his life with her. She didn’t hear the other things he mumbled because she was in tears of excitement. However, she heard the part where he popped the question, “will you marry me? She responded in the affirmative “yes”. The solemnisation took place at Manna Prayer Mountain, Ogudu, Ojota, Lagos in the presence of members of their families, friends and well wishers. Awulika looked splendid in her wedding

dress which had silk tulle illusion neckline, embroidered bridal lace. Gideon looked superb in his well-tailored white suit paired with a red shirt and a matching pocket square. According to Awulika, she was attracted to him because he is God-fearing, obedient, caring, humble and truthful. What does Gideon cherish about his bride? “On the first day I met her, I knew she was the rib of my rib and the flesh of my flesh and my spirit confirmed

it that we are going to do great things together in future. She is humble, hardworking, virtuous, loving and beautiful.” At the reception which took place later, from their first dance to the cutting of the cake was all fun. As the reception went further into party mode, the couple couldn’t take their eyes off each other, even as they were surrounded by their family members and loved ones.

Ogechukwu Oluwateniola

His selflessness, humility attracted me –Ifeoluwa OGUNTADE FOLASHADE

rincess Ogechukwu Oluwateniola was born at Primex Hospital, Ikotun, Lagos to Ifeoluwa and Nnamdi. He was delivered at 4.52 p.m. and weighed 3.2kg. On what Ifeoluwa craved for during the pregnancy, she said, “I loved taking fruits, especially watermelon and orange”. She said she was not irritated by anything during the pregnancy. About her obvious physical body changes, Ifeoluwa noted that, “Aside from my bulging stomach, every part of my body was normal and I thank God for that.”

What do they love about Ogechukwu? “We love everything about our little angel. She sleeps well, especially immediately after eating and she hardly cries as well,” the father revealed. What do they want Ogechukwu to become in future? “We want her to become successful in whatever human endeavour she finds herself,” Ifeoluwa said. On the meaning of the name, they explained that Ogechukwu means God’s time and Oluwateniola means God spreads the wealth of life.

Nafiudeen Samiat

he families of Aremu and Okeke recently celebrated the coming together of their children, Ifeoluwa Aremu and Nnamdi Okeke as husband and wife. It was an inter-tribal wedding between the bride from Oyo State and her groom who hails from Anambra State. The nuptials took place at the Ikoyi Registry, Lagos while the reception followed immediately at Triumphant Chapel of Faith, Igando Egan, Lagos. The couple met at their place of work, became platonic friends and usually talked for hours on the phone. However, the relationship blossomed when they started dating in June 2005. According to the bride, she became endeared to Nnamdi because of his selflessness, humility, discipline and fear of God. The groom said he was attracted to the bride because she is godly, beauti-

BABIES OF THE WEEK

N ful, loving, hardworking, caring and accommodating. How and where did he propose to Ifeoluwa? “It happened on a blissful night; he took me to watch a movie and then for dinner. We talked, argued, laughed and when it was almost time to go home, he said I need to ask you an interesting question. Will you answer me? I said yes. He then popped the question: will you

marry me? I was short of words, actually. I thought he was joking but when I realised he was serious, I said yes. It was so romantic and the best time of my life began, I must confess,” Ifeoluwa said. The couple advised that singles should pray for their right choice and they should understand each other first and be steadfast in the Lord.

afiudeen Samiat Oluwatomisin was delivered at St Peter and Paul Hospital Abekoko, Ogun State to Mr. and Mrs. Tawa Nafiudeen. She weighed 3.1kg. According to Tawa, “I craved mostly for vegetables during my pregnancy.” Was she irritated by anything during the period? “I was not irritated by anything but I nagged a lot,”

she said. Speaking about her obvious physical body changes, Tawa noted that apart from her big stomach, she sweated a lot and had swollen feet. What do they love about Samiat? “We love everything about her.” What do they want her to become in future? “We want her to become a nurse, Tawa revealed.

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What to wear â&#x20AC;Śto a floral bash APRIL 12, 2015

ADAEZE AMOS

f youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re getting prepared to attend a floral bash soon and you are confused about what to wear, check this floral dress Chris Brown is sporting on this page. She looks chic in this long, black, sheer dress with some floral details on it. Let your accessories be all black so that the multicoloured floral designs of the dress would be obvious.

Perfect Cut

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Care to jazz up black and white dresses with red? ADAEZE AMOS

ave you ever blended black and white dresses with red? If you have not, try it today and see how stunning you would look. This combination is not choosy when it comes to complexion because it is okay for both light-skinned and dark-complexioned ladies. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bother to have a touch of red on your dress. Your red shoes and clutch can pep up those your dull black and white dresses if you must know.

A Ethnic accessories in breathtaking colours ADAEZE AMOS

thnic print accessories such as shoes, handbags, necklace, earrings and bangles are still seen in breathtaking colours. For a black dress, you definitely need colourful ethnic print accessories such as the ones on this page. Just take a closer look at them!

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African Look

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Perfect Cut

OVE

TALK

Sunday, April 12, 2015

with Yemisi

Adeniran

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Heart-throb ...Find your soul mate here

Send text only to 08023012293

In need of a serious relationship/marriage My name is Henry, 33. I need a lady for relationship -08060018369. Uche is my name. I deal in telephone parts and recharge cards. I’m 27 years old. I need a good wife -08028922937. My name is Emmanuel, from Cross River State. I’m a vendor and I live in Enugu. I need a good wife who can bear twins -08073507667. Prince is my name from Enugu. I need a sexy, slim lady for a relationship -08074600653. Big Ocean is my name, 25, and a footballer. I need a good wife -08053405437. Ade is my name, a university graduate. I also need a graduate and working-class lady to settle down with. She has to be a Yoruba lady between 30 and 37 years old -08074600653. I’m Alhaji Taju, 57, CEO, Multi Media Co based in Lagos. I need a rich, sexy, busty and moderate-sized sugar mummy between 50 and 56 years old living in Lagos or Ota -07058574844. Ola Daniel is my name. I’m 35 years old and I live in Lagos. I need a sexy, pretty lady between 25 and 40 that I will satisfy sexually -08174455621. My name is Udo, 50, a graduate of University of Uyo. I have twin sons but I’m single for now. I need a wife from any tribe and she should be between 25 and 53 -08180743815. Models

Playing love the unusual way A s far as evidences have made clear, most marriages, these days, don’t last long before they lose grabs on the old zing and zest. The thing is as soon as the children start coming in, all cares about love and romance disappears almost with a fervent speed. Generally, it appears once marriages are consummated, the players gradually relapse into their different shells with some feeling of self accomplishment and end up in different covens even though they still live under the same roof. They consequently become co-tenants who merely engage in some sex contracts that come at random. But this is not supposed to be the situation. Love is not supposed to be lost at any point in time in homes and couples are expected to enjoy each other for as long as they live and as long as the marriages last. Did I hear you say it is not an easy task? But yes, it is. Couples are supposed to wax stronger and stronger in love no matter the age and the number of years they have been together. All they need do over and over is to ignite the dying love flame before it finally goes into extinction. It is not a matter of shifting roles this time, it is the roles of the two players involved. But without being immodest, this is basically the duty of the woman. Yes, women are to take this lead because they are the ones who easily lose their guards as soon as they are married. This is not exonerating the men but it’s just to engage the women in a challenge, after all, they are the ones who lay claim on the home and this is firmly grounded by the holy books. As far as the Bible is concerned, a wise woman is the one who builds her home with her hands while the foolish one pulls it down with her own hands. So, this challenge is simply for any wise woman who will be set to redeem her home from losing its love fervour. We’ll take off first with these questions; how much of yourself do you flaunt at home? What do you wear when you are at home and how do you cloth yourself when you are about to sleep, I mean when you are in bed with him? Let us be frank with ourselves, it is absolutely wrong for you to be covering yourself up with whatever cloth or dress at home either in the name of religion or whatever. Come to think of it, if you don’t flaunt yourself at him who else would you give the privilege and by the way, what the hell are you covering when so many girls are out there in all their nakedness to catch his attention. This

is not an issue subjected to some fire branded prayer, it is what you can do, so do not engage God in such trivial things, He definitely has better things to attend to. Don’t forget that it is this same man who came hovering all over you some years back, falling head over heels in love with you. He could not resist you then and so were you, so why the change in all of this, maybe you should sleep over this and take these words of advice: Bare it all: Sex is a vital issue in marriage and it must bring pleasure all the time to couples. They are to look forward to it every day and its thought should send hot sensations down their spines. Although psychologists believe seeing is believing, it is also retentive. Whatever one sees stays longer in one’s memory than anything. This means one paramount thing you must do as a woman is to imbibe the habit of leaving nothing to imagine when it comes to clothing. Do not wear any serious outfit whenever he is around. Honestly, it is an abomination for you to have your pants on when you are at home. Whether it is time to sleep or not, try and bare it all for him to get his mind fixed on you. If you must wear anything, make it a see-through outfit and once the kids are far away from sight, let him feed his eyes on you long enough to make him lose control. Some advantages in this are as follow; *It draws his attention to you and that particular area. *It is the best way deep intimacy and sex suggestions can be made. *It offers a strip tease feeling which of course aids good sexual intercourse. This is not just for the man but also for the woman. The more your laps touch, the more excited you get and the more fun you are bound to have in that session. *It adds the element of challenge to your sex life. Imagine if you have never been caught in this habit before, your spouse is instantly challenged and a memorable night or session is bound to take place. *One other accessory you need add to yourself is the waist bead; it is an ingredient that will spice up your sexual life. *In addition, if you are sleeping without your panties on, you are both freer with each other. Not only is the possibility of the voyage very easily, it can be embarked upon as many times as possible.

My name is Dennis, 25 years old. I live in Abuja and I’m working. I need a lady of 20 -23 for a serious relationship that will lead to marriage -09030465717. My name is Ken and I’m mature, gentle, romantic and understanding. I’m a graduate. I want a sexy, loving, caring sugar mummy for a serious relationship -09037415634. I’m Desmond from South-East. I need a good-looking, educated HIV-positive woman for marriage -08094329913. I’m Alex, 29 years old and I’m living in Abuja. I’m fair in complexion. I need a sugar mummy between 38 years and above for a relationship -08061500561. My name is Dada, 49 years old, 6.2ft tall, light in complexion. I’m a single father, ad businessman. I need a mature, God-fearing, passionate lady for marriage, preferably a medical doctor or lawyer, between 25 and 40 years old -08039533557. My name is Henry, 33. I need a lady for a relationship -08060018369. Uche is my name. I deal in telephone parts and recharge cards. I’m 27 years old. I need a good wife -08028922937. Sony is my name. I’m financially comfortable. I need a sex mate. I live in Enugu -08030887308. Prince is my name from Enugu. I need a sexy, slim lady for a relationship -08074600653. Big Ocean is my name. I am 25 and a footballer. I need a good wife -08053405437. Ade is my name, a university graduate. I also need a graduate and working-class lady to settle down with. She should be tall or of average height and between 30 and 37 years old -08074600653. I’m Alhaji Taju, 57 and CEO, Multi Media Co based in Lagos. I need a rich, sexy, busty and moderate-sized sugar mummy, between 50 and 56, living in Lagos or Ota -07058574844. Ola Daniel is my name. I’m 35 years old and I live in Lagos. I need a sexy, sweet, calm, busty and pretty lady between 25 and 40 that I will satisfy sexually -08174455621. My name is Udo, 50, a graduate of University of Uyo. I have twin sons but I’m single for now. I need a wife from any tribe and she should be between 25 and 53 years old -08180743815. My name is Dennis, 25 years old. I live in Abuja and I’m working. I need a lady of 20-23 for a serious relationship that will lead to marriage -09030465717. My name is Ken and I’m mature, gentle, romantic and understanding. I’m a graduate. I want a sexy, loving and caring sugar mummy for a serious relationship -09037415634. I’m Desmond from South-East. I need a good-looking and educated HIV-positive woman for marriage -08094329913.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Pregnancy Talk

Naughtiest Thing

with

The naughtiest thing I’ve ever done

Adaeze Amos 08023012293 (SMS ONLY)

Funmilola Folorunsho

Nutritional values of banana

‘I lied to my ex-fiance I was pregnant’

anana is a fruit loved by all including pregnant women. Just like water, this tropical fruit has some nutritional values. One of the great things about banana is that it is not only delicious but it is also affordable and available throughout the year unlike the other fruits. It is a fruit which is still very casually consumed for its taste, texture and a feeling of fullness unlike other fruits that are acidic. Whichever way you look at it, banana is nutritious and a wholesome fruit. Pregnant mums with high blood pressure Food experts have attested that bananas are good source of potassium and magnesium which aid in maintaining normal blood pressure and are heart protective. The high potassium content promotes bone health too. Banana helps counteract the urinary calcium loss caused due to increase on potassium levels in the urine. It has an antacid effect is said to protect against stomach ulcers. Bananas are also known to stimulate cell proliferation which thickens the stomach mucosa and is a barrier against stomach acids. Conditions like diarrhoea can easily dehydrate the body and deplete the electrolytes. Consumption of banana helps to restore the lost potassium and maintain heart function. Contains short chain fatty acids They are rich in the soluble fibre pectin, thus it assists healthy digestion and eases out constipation. They are rich source of fructooligosaccharides which act as a prebiotic and stimulate the growth of friendly bacteria in the intestine. They protect us from harmful bacteria that cause gastric disturbances. Fructooligosaccharides also produce digestive enzymes which improve the ability to absorb nutrients. Bananas contain short chain fatty acids, which are essentially needed by the cells lining the intesti-

nal tract to stay healthy. This further improves the nutrient absorption. According to experts, they are good source of carotenoids which are antioxidants and have a protective effect against chronic disease condition. They also have a high content of antioxidant phenolic compounds. Banana is known to render a soothing effect. It has a compound called tryptophan which on getting converted to serotonin improves mood. Searching for a male child It is one of the ideal foods to be eaten immediately after a strenuous workout too. The simple sugars present in them quickly provide energy and normalises the blood sugar levels. It can be eaten whole, as a part of a salad, healthy beverage or as an ingredient of a vegetable. It is a fruit made by God for everyone irrespective of age. Thailand pregnant mothers cherish this fruit. They eat it to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature. Some say that eating of banana while pregnant can influence the sex of your baby. They say if you want a male child, eat more of banana before conception.

he naughtiest thing I have ever done was ditching my ex-fiance. What actually happened was that I was tired of the guy because he was highly temperamental. He was the kind of guy that could flare up and use his fist on me at the slightest provocation. Therefore, I made up my mind to leave him because that kind of man would be a brute in future. The problem I had was how I would summon courage to ditch him. I knew he loved me so much that at times he would cry like a baby each time he started noticing signs of leaving him. As a way out, I told him lies that I had been secretly dating someone else, that I was already pregnant for him and would want to keep the pregnancy. I informed him that I would want to quit my relationship with him. He was shocked when he heard this. He thought I was pulling his legs. The next thing I did was to package my tummy as if I was actually pregnant and had to slip into one trendy maternity gown. When he saw me, he believed I was pregnant. He was visibly hurt. He lamented and wished that the baby was his. He actually wanted me for wife but that was the only way to rescue myself from his grips. He pitied, pampered and wished he could have me but in my mind, I was laughing. That was how we parted ways in peace. He thought I had the baby at last. Till today he still calls me on the phone to wish me well. That was how I got myself liberated from him and we became just good friends. –Adaeze Amos

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Edikang Ikong soup TITILOPE MORAKINYO

dikang Ikong or simply vegetable soup is native to the Efiks, people from Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. It is a general notion that the Edikang Ikong is very nutritious, especially when it is prepared with generous quantity of pumpkin leaves and water leaves. This recipe is nutritious and mouth-watering. How to cook Edikang Ikong It is common to request this soup recipe after a bout of illness as we trust it to replenish whatever was lost during the sickness. But you don’t not need to be in a state of convalescence to enjoy this wholesome Nigerian food recipe. Ingredients for the soup 1kg pumpkin leaves 500g Water leaves Bitter leaf (optional) 600g beef, kanda or ponmo, shaki and dry fish pepper, salt and ground crayfish: to taste 200ml palm oil Periwinkle - 1 cup 2 medium bulbs onions 2-3 Knorr cubes Before you cook Edika ikong soup Wash and cut the pumpkin and water leaves into tiny pieces. Put them in separate sieves to drain out all the water as much as possible. Cut the kanda into small pieces. Cook the beef, kanda and the dry fish with the

2 bulbs of diced onions and the 3 Maggi/ Knorr cubes with as little quantity of water as possible. Alternative vegetables for those who cannot get water leaves and pumpkin leaves: 1kg normal frozen spinach 200g ground frozen spinach 250g lamb’s lettuce Defrost the frozen spinach, cut the normal frozen one into tiny pieces and mix with the ground frozen spinach. Wring out the water from these and add them when the written recipe requires you to add the pumpkin leaves. Wash pick and cut the Lamb’s Lettuce into tiny pieces. Add them when the written recipe requires you to add water leaves. Cooking directions When the meat is done, add a generous amount of palm oil, crayfish and pepper and leave to boil for about 10 minutes. The palm oil serves as water in the Edikaikong soup. You should try as much as possible to make it the only liquid in the soup. Add the periwinkle and water leaves and leave to cook for another five minutes. You may have to cook for less time at this stage so that the water leaves are not over-cooked. Add the pumpkin leaves (or spinech) and salt to taste. Stir the contents of the pot very well and turn off the heat. Cover the pot and leave to stand for about five minutes. Edikang Ikong soup is ready to be served with garri (eba), semolina, amala or pounded yam.

Castello di Ama 2010 W

inemaker Marco Pallanti has farmed this estate in Chianti Classico since 1982, and he knows its vineyards well, producing acclaimed single-vineyard wines with the help of wife and co-owner Lorenza. San Lorenzo is a small valley, with 50 acres of vines planted in a mix of limestone and clay at an elevation of 1,650 feet. The 2010 is 80 per cent Sangiovese, with Malvasia Nera and Merlot. A racy, vibrant red that shows the elegance of the site, it is the top-scoring Chianti Classico tasted this year. Tasting Note Offers a combination of power and elegance, with a racy feel. Notes of wild cherry, strawberry and rose, with leafy, woodsy flavours, permeate this driving red. The finish is long, but this needs time to shed the tannins. Welldefined from start to finish.

Castello di Ama Montebuoni vineyards

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Growing Up

Sunday, April 12, 2015

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

POP

WHO INVENTED WHAT? Lyda Newman devised improved hair brush x

Jumping

DO YOU KNOW THAT?

umping rope is a very intense aerobic workout and a great way to burn calories. However, you will need a four by six foot area and about 10 inches of space above your head. Do not attempt to jump on carpet, grass or concrete, while carpet reduces impact; it also grabs your shoes and can twist your ankle or knee. You can jump rope on ground with smooth sand, children you can do it for fun but at the same time burn those excess calories.

he earliest U.S. patent for a modern hairbrush was by Hugh Rock in 1854. A brush with elastic wire teeth along with natural bristles was patented by Samuel Firey in 1870 as U.S. patent. In 1898, Lyda A. Newman invented an Improved Hairbrush which allowed for easily cleaning and had bristles separated wide enough to allow for easy combing.

POEMS

Blessed by two WORDS ON MARBLE

Let our children grow tall, and some taller than others if they have it in them to do so. –Margaret Thatcher

TONGUE TWISTER The bootblack bought the black boot back Pretty kitty Creighton had a cotton batten cat The cotton batten cat was bitten by a rat The kitten that was bitten had off the button made the cotton batten fly.

The two of you will never know How much my love has grown To be blessed by two When others have so few From the moment you were conceived You were all that I would ever need To hold you, comfort you and love you both Is all that I could ever hope You are my life You are my hope To see you both happy Is my only hope My happiness has been through you I loved you both before you were you There were aches and pains but it was worth it all I could not foresee what was to be From the first moment I held you

both My love has only continued to grow There have never been two children as beautiful as you I am so proud of the both of you The good Lord was good to me and making you both my destiny Though now you want to be free from me Just remember there wouldn’t be any you without me Grow up and be strong but don’t forget about me Your futures are bright as anyone can see When I am gone and in a better place Remember me more than just a face I will continue to thank God everyday For my role that I have played.

Movies & Music

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

& usic M Movies With Victor Udoh 07067124302 e-mail: victorudoh804@yahoo.com

Grammy-winning DJs, Chiney, Snoop shut down Club Quilox

our-time Grammy award-winning DJs, Black Chiney teamed up with superstar DJ Snoop Da Damaja to deliver an amazing club experience at the Heineken Green Light party held at Club Quilox last Sunday. The party had in attendance some of Nigeria’s biggest celebrities including Sound Sultan, Uti Nwachukwu, Banky W, DJ Jimmy JATT, IK Ogbonna and TV host, Ill Rymz, JJC Skillz all of who joined other night clubbers for an unforgettable night of music, fun and party. The DJs kept everyone on their feet all through the night with what could only be described as perfect blend of international and local music. While DJs Black Chiney raised the tempo with hit tracks from Rihanna, Kanye West, Beyonce, Sean Paul and other international acts, DJ Snoop da Damaja doled out the best of Nigerian music from Wizkid, 2Face, MI and others. Senior Brand Manager, Heineken Nigeria, Ngozi Nwozi, while commenting, said “Tonight has been nothing short of the unforgettable experience we promised and the performance of both Black Chiney and Snoop Da Damaja was out of this world’ Other Notable guests present include Nigeria’s rep at the 2014 Big Brother Africa, Melvin Oduah, Phyno , Sexy Steel and many others. This is the first Heineken Green Light party this year. The 2014 edition of the party was a major success. It had three international DJs; Benny D, Babey Drew and Tim Westwood, bring their mastery of the art of DJing to the excitement of Nigerian clubbers.

Chiney and Snoop

OzzyBosco set to drop new single, Smile Again

Jonathan and OzzyBosco

arely two weeks after he had a discussion with President Goodluck Jonathan, OzzyBosco Wonderkid is set to release two new singles ‘Smile Again’ with international appeal and ‘Nigeria is the best’ featuring ace comedian Koffi ‘Thaguru’ in support of peace and oneness in Nigeria. The two songs will be a mega boost for this unstoppable child artiste who was the only kid present at the star-studded occasion and also first child artiste to have a one-on-one with a serving President. With this singular act, OzzyBosco has scored another feat in his fast-rising career and by extension created a breakthrough for other kid artistes who are clamouring for recognition and support. In a lyrics video teaser ‘Let peace reign’, the fabulous right crusader has lent his voice to crave for TOTAL PEACE in our country, Nigeria, especially during and after the 2015 general elections. The awesome video which is trending everywhere is thought-provoking and a must watch. The child ambassador, on behalf of Nigerian kids and teenagers, advocates in the song that the government should ensure that peace reigns to allow a safe future for their generation. The single which features the ‘African Lion,’ Terry G is one of the songs that will be in his eagerly awaited debut album, due for release later in the year. It should be recalled that the President had a chat with OzzyBosco at the interactive session with entertainers which held on March 15. During their brief discussion, the kid dynamite asked the President a question which is very dear to his heart: “Big Daddy!! Do kid artistes have a future in Nigeria entertainment industry?” While the President chatted with the African kid star, Nigerian international music legend, Dr Tee Mac Iseli Omatshola, Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, CEO of Capital Oil & Gas Limited and others watched in admiration. In a brief interview with the kid’s mum, Chief Nonye Mojekwu, CEO of Ozzy Records, she emphasised that the government should give more attention to kids in Nigeria, as they are the legacies they will leave behind. She also noted that little or nothing is done to further promote young talents in Nigeria, hence a dying need to create a platform for their talent to strive.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Movies & Music

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Ruth Kadiri appreciates media, fans on birthday

Kadiri

oung and beautiful actress, Ruth Kadiri, is marking her birthday with heart of gratitude. The Edo State-born actress and producer in a statement to the media is thanking everyone that has played a part in her journey so far. “The story of my life couldn’t have been told without certain people,” she said. “My life has followed a path; I’ve lived, loved, hurt and had modest achievements. Truth is a Ruth Kadiri’s story couldn’t have been told without certain people. I am grateful to God, truth is, He’s been faithful; despite my imperfection He loves me. I am immensely grateful to my mum; words cannot express all you have been through for me, thank you. I appreciate my dad as well. Notice, I separated it? It’s been here and there, but he’s still been there for me as a father and I am celebrating this birthday with him’ Speaking further, the fair-skin actress also appreciated those who are not immediate family members.’ I appre-

ciate my boyfriend; he supports my career, overlooks all the gossips and has shown me definition of love. There is also Mama Amenawon, my prayer partner. Without you, I wonder where I would have been spiritually’. “I owe the media immense gratitude; they have amplified my brand beyond the reach of my movies “Uche Jombo, because of you, I can proudly say I’m a filmmaker and every time I have troubles and call, you’ve never let me down. Thanks Uche. Sarah Kadiri, you were there when I was nothing and you are still here. How amazing can that be? Chika, you are amazing, you show me a friend who can put up with my issues and keep secrets. To my fans and well wishers, you have supported me, am eternally grateful. And finally to my haters and betrayers (those friends I showed love who turn out to betray me), I have no regret ever meeting you. And I bless God that I am still here today. Happy Birthday Day to me thanks you all,” she emphasised.

Uti Nwachukwu, Toolz to host MayDay Live

rganisers of upcoming music concert, ‘MayDay Live’ have disclosed that popular actor, model and presenter, Uti Nwachukwu will be anchoring the event alongside beautiful and curvy On-Air-Personality, Tolu Oniru popularly known as Toolz. The duo will be hosting the show which will feature American Grammy Award winner, Ms Lauryn Hill together with top Nigerian acts on Friday, May 1 at the luxurious Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos. The one-time Big ‘Brother Africa’ winner, Uti said the event is laudable. “I love music. I’m a hard worker and so I believe that it’s a good idea to celebrate all the workers out there. Music is food to my heart”. On her part, sexy Toolz said the event is a perfect treat for workers. “I love Lauryn Hill and I believe it will be a once in a lifetime concert. I also believe it’s going to be a perfect treat for those of us wanting to celebrate workers’ day in style”.

Speaking on the rationale behind the show, the organisers disclosed that the event is all about celebrating workers. “MayDay Live is a corporate event specially packaged for workers, not just a day off but a day to be celebrated. It is a chance for management of companies to treat staff to an evening of elegance and glamour, so we at MayDay Live decided to package a night with Ms Lauryn Hill ‘Live in Concert’” Ms Lauryn Hill will be performing solo hits from her debut album ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’. The event will be her first time ever in Nigeria performing to a 20-man Live band, with hit solo songs like her duet with Bob Marley ‘Turn your lights down low’, Sweetest thing & many more as well as hits from her exgroup ‘The Fugees’ – ‘Killing me softly’, ‘Ready or not’ amongst others. The event promises to be fun and entertaining as there will be performances from many other acts and corporate gift bags. Nwachukwu

Toyin Aimakhu, Empress Njamah, others win Maltina’s surprise gifts

oyin Aimakhu-Johnson, Empress Njamah and eight other guests must have got the shock of their lives when midway into the AY Live show held recently at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, they were announced as lucky winners of Maltina’s surprise gifts; iPhone 6 phones. The Nollywood actresses alongside eight other guests were presented with brand new Iphone 6 phones courtesy the event sponsor, when the quote on their Happiness card which was distributed to all guests at the event, was announced as the winning quote. Receiving the gift, a very thrilled Toyin Aimakhu-Johnson couldn’t mask her excitement as she smiled very joyfully. “This is very awesome, I am still very amazed. I had no idea that this was going to happen. When it was announced that Maltina will be surprising 10 guests with Iphone 6, you could practically hear the mumbling in the crowd; and all of a sudden I heard the quote on my card announced as the winning quote. Aimakhu-Johnson

I’ve had so many wonderful surprises this year and this is certainly one of them. Well done Maltina, this is really remarkable”, she said. Speaking on the reason behind the surprise gifts, Senior Brand Manager Maltina, Adewole Adedeji, confirmed that the move to surprise guests in a way that will trigger real excitement, is part of the brand’s way of sharing happiness. “We love to see our consumers happy, that’s the core message of the Maltina brand, “Sharing Happiness” and this is one of the reasons we decided to renew our partnership with AY Live. Happiness and pure excitement is the real proceed for all the hard work we put into the brand and we are glad the winners were indeed overjoyed”, he said. The AY Live series will continue with the Port Harcourt and Abuja legs billed to hold later in the year and Maltina promises consumers nothing short of an experience as memorable as that of the Lagos edition.

Lessons of Life

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ADAEZE AMOS Adanneamos@gmail.com 08023012293 (sms only)

TRUE LIFE STORY ON MATTERS OF THE HEART APRIL 12, 2015

‘My barrenness is tearing my marriage apart’ When Lovett and Harrison got married, all seemed well in the beginning. But when they lived together for about a decade and Lovett could not conceive, the once happy union became turbulent.

“

hen Harrison proposed marriage to me, we had dated for two years and I could proudly tell you that those two years were the best in my life. I remember how madly in love we were that we looked forward to settling down one day. Our friends were telling us to get married because they knew how close we were. They saw the glint of joy in our eyes whenever we were together. I was a youth corps member, serving in Calabar, Cross River State, where Harrison worked as a medical doctor. I was one of his patients who was constantly down with malaria. He was worried as to why I was always coming back to his hospital to treat malaria after the drugs he had given me. Hence, he became interested in my case and ran all the tests on me without my permission. He said he was worried the way I was repeatedly having malaria and decided to carry out a series of other medical tests on me. When he called me in and showed me the results of the tests he had on me was negative except malaria test which was positive, I was amazed. It was then I told him the truth about not completing the dosage of the drugs he had placed me on and he was mad at me. When I took my drugs to the last tablet, I was okay and by then we had started being friendly and later the relationship became intimate. Before the end of that year, we were in love and I knew we would end up getting married. It was just a matter of time. When he proposed marriage, I accepted,” she said. Lovett and Harrison became one. “I was happy in my marriage but the problem was that I couldn’t conceive and I wondered why. When I started being worried a few months after my wedding, my husband calmed me down and told me never to be worried or anxious that anxiety has the tendency of preventing conception. I hearkened to his advice and then concentrated on making him happier, my home tidier and then of course I gave more attention to my job. But when it dawned on me that my time was ticking away and nothing had clicked, I started getting worried. My husband then placed me on drugs that would make me ovulate because I wasn’t ovulating. I took my medications religiously because I knew his people had started asking him questions about my inability to conceive. Though he never told me his mum had started asking him about my childless situation but I could perceive that. His facial expressions and mannerism each time he came

A model back from his parents’ house gave him in. He later stopped taking me to his parents because he observed how his mum was looking at my stomach and was asking what had prevented me from making myself a balanced woman in my matrimonial home. I understood her proverb but I was short of words. I only managed to give a wry smile. But when I got home that night, I wept uncontrollably. Harrison really pitied me and pleaded with me to dry my tears. Since then, he hadn’t taken me to visit his parents,” she recalled. On their fifth year wedding anniversary and she could not still hear the cry of her baby, “Harrison who used to see his parents often to check his mother’s blood pressure and his father’s sugar level, was now sending a medical doctor he employed in his clinic to be doing that. My husband started avoiding his parents be-

cause they were getting worried about his wife’s childless situation. But his mum’s telephone call one Saturday morning woke us up. I heard the voice on the other line very clearly. ‘Harry my son, why is it that you no longer come to visit me and your father? The only good reason I would consider for not coming to see me is because your wife is not pregnant. And you are busy taking care of her health wise.’ “My husband was short of words when his mother said that and he knew that I heard it. He didn’t know what to say and he didn’t want to offend me. But the owner of the voice didn’t care whether he responded or not and she continued. ‘Are you dumb Harry? Give the phone to your wife.’ “Harrison looked at me and our eyes met. I took the phone from him and

I OVERHEARD HIM TELL HIS PARENTS HE LOVED ME SO MUCH AND THAT HE WAS GOING TO WAIT ON THE UNTIL

LORD WITH ME

I CONCEIVED

brought it to my ears with my hands shaking. My entire body was trembling. I knew she would tell me something that would ruin the whole of the day for me. When my voice came up, it was also shaky. ‘Hello Mama, good morning ma. I guess you slept well Ma.’ ‘That is not necessary Lovett. You and your husband have been very elusive, was that deliberate? Or are you pregnant now?’ “I shook my head before answering as if she was seeing me.” ‘No, Mama, not yet. We are still believing God for that as He doesn’t fail.’ ‘I have heard this several times Lovett. That was what you told me last year, remember? This is the sixth year you moved into my son’s life as his wife. Your barrenness has kept me on my toes because the man you are living with is my only child, Lovett, the only one I have got. I need you to give me a grandchild.’ The line went off. “I returned Harrison’s phone to him, turned back on the bed facing the wall and suddenly my pillow was wet with my tears. Harrison, who was lying beside me knew I was crying. He didn’t stop me. He detested seeing me cry but one thing about my husband is that he would never hush you from crying. He would allow me cry to my satisfaction before he came to calm me down. He said crying was a natural way of getting rid of pain and anguish. And that it was better to shed tears than harbour the pains inside. When I stopped crying after a long time, he came to pacify me,” she said. It was when the marriage clocked eight years that something shocking happened. “I was surprised that my husband couldn’t do anything to stop the shocking thing and his inability to stop or even prevent it was more shocking. I knew he loved me, he told me that repeatedly and I knew I meant the whole world to him. I overheard him tell his parents he loved me so much and that he was going to wait on the Lord with me until I conceived. But when my monthly flow stopped when I was 37 even when I wasn’t pregnant, my husband was worried the more. I guess he told his people I had stopped menstruating and one Saturday morning when my parents-in-law visited with their cousins and some other relatives from the village, I was shocked my husband was just looking at them and giving me the harshest side of his tongue,” she said.

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From the Pulpit

Sunday April 12, 2015

Retrace your steps and correct your wrong doings

General Overseer of Omnipotence Mission of God, Prophet Joshua Daramola Oloruntimilehin, in this admonition, teaches on the benefits of sacrifice. Excerpts:

he words of God are the truth, but it is human beings that are not truthful. Many people see and know the truth but refused to say the truth and when it is mentioned who will accept. Some people believe what they say is the truth but it is actually untrue verse versa. A lot of people are not honest and courageous to say the truth.

The Bible says everybody has failed and this is pointed out in Plasm 130 verse 3 “If you Lord should mark iniquities O Lord who could stand?“ This implies that everybody is guilty and sinful. There is a thing in everybody’s life that is sinful. Imagine a person will abuse another person using that shortcoming to do so forgetting that he or she has his or her own shortcomings. Therefore many people are not honest and truthful. People betray God in oneway or the other even themselves. Some men are pursing wives of other men. Similarly some women do it. A lot of rich people donate huge sum of money to churches and mosques and if the sources of the money are not clean, then the money is not accepted by God. It is only the Pastor and the congregation that would appreciate and thank the donor. The donor can only receive goodness from the congregation because they do not know the source of the money. There is no record of such money and appreciation of the congregation in heaven. People that receive bribes to prevent normal course or procedure to prevail inflict injuries death on others have committed sin. For instance those that are responsible to control and prevent the influx of fake drugs into the country should receive bribe and allow the drugs to enter the markets realizing

that taking the drugs would cause death of people. Then the giver and receiver of the bribe are guilty and sinned before God because the bribe money is already stained and unacceptable by y God. These kinds of people would not be honoured in heaven. In recent time me many government pensioners lost st their in course of collecting their pension ension funds. They were invited to come me and collect their pension fund but they hey were shocked when they informed them hem no fund was forthcoming. In fact, t, this incidence led to the collapse and nd death of some pensioners. It was revealed aled later that some government officials ials had embezzled the fund meant for the pensioners inflicting agony and pain on elderly people. If the people that caused the problems for the pensioners nsioners now donate such money to the churches or mosques then they are in danger, they will not be honoured ed in heaven and God will always be on the side of the oppressed. The Bible states in Proverbs 22 verse 22 – 23 “Do o not rob the poor because he is poor. Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate. For or the Lord will plead their cause.” Some people eople make others to commit sin and d they are always serving God diligently ntly and work in the church. Some ome ladies seduce Pastors ors and men of God and nd make them to fall all before. They hey have com-mitted a great s i n . A l s o , s o m e

members of the same church would lure other members to patronize herbalists and eventually destroy their lives. Some years back, a man came to me; he was a captain of a fishing trawler. He was jobless, and I prayed for him and did some spiritual work for him a n d

things changed for the better for him. Unfortunately, a member of the church took him and the wife to a herbalist where all he had was destroyed and his life. He actually stopped coming to church and was practically avoiding me. When I sent some people to him to pass the revelation I got concerning him and how he was toying the path of mesdestruction, he did not heed the mes sage of God. Eventually he and the acciwife died in a ghastly motor acci dent on his way back to Lagos. Brethren what would happen to the person that misled him to embrace Satan? Imagine, the person that misled him to leave did not leave the church. I implore people who have realized that they have perpeperpe trated one evil or other to retrace their steps and do correction. Let people heed this message because the Bible states in James verse 22 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

Prophet Oloruntimilehin

‘Works determine rewards’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24 now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD. And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.” Whatever you find yourself doing today, please do them well to the Lord and to the end because it would be a disaster to abandon such work halfway and go into unrighteousness while almost there, for all the righteousness you have done shall not count in your favour as they would be forgotten on the day of reckoning. Prophet Isaiah told Hezekiah that his disease was mortal, and, if he was not recovered by a miracle of mercy, he will certainly die. Therefore he must, with all speed, set

his house in order and get ready for death. This we ought always to do when we are in health, but are most loudly called to do it when we come to be sick. We must always set the heart in order by good works of charity and renewed acts of repentance, faith, and resignation to God for no one knows the hour he will be called by his Creator to give account of his works. Hezekiah had a good work, thus he reminded God his good stewardship, how he walked before Him in truth and with a perfect heart, and did that which is good in His sight. He did not tell God to spare his life but rather he reminded Him of his good works. And God spared him. Beloved, God deals with us according to our works. Genesis 6:5-8 says “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the

LORD”. The Lord found out that the heart of man was so wicked in the first world and He decided to destroy the entire world which He did with flood. However Noah found favour in the sight of God and escape destruction along with his family because he was a righteous man living in the midst of unrighteous people. When the rest of the world was wicked, Noah kept the good work of integrity. Noah did not find favour in the eyes of men; they hated and persecuted him, because both by his life and preaching he condemned the world: but he found grace in the eyes of the Lord, and this made him more truly honourable than the men of renown. Let this be our chief desire, let us labour in good work that we may be accepted of Him. The Lord made use of Noah to recover the entire human populace that was till then threatened with annihilation. Beloved, similarly, the Lord shall single you out for blessing and protection as long as you are living right even if trouble seems to have surrounded you because He is the God of justice. Genesis 24:1 says “And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.” The Lord blessed Abraham in all things

as a result of his good work and faith in God Almighty. We must go on to do our best by His grace and endeavour to do that which is right unto the Lord and be faithful to Him. If you do righteously the Lord will surely bless you and if you do wickedly the Lord also will surely judge you because He is the righteous judge. Revelation 22:11-12 says, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Brethren, I want you to be strong and working the work of righteousness in the Lord for time shall come when no man can work again. Therefore, as you have this opportunity ensure that you do the work of righteousness in the Lord for every man shall be rewarded according to his works. All those who are faithful will surely be rewarded gloriously, whilst the wicked shall never go unpunished as they shall be rewarded with the works of their hands and cast into hellfire. So, it is according to your works that it shall also be done unto you.

From the Pulpit Learn with Kunle

Macaulay

Email: profkunlemacaulay@ yahoo.com (08023032698, sms pls)

od deserves the praise and honour for the peace we are enjoying in Nigeria today. The elections that brought fear not only to Nigerians but also to many concerned people of the world had come and gone and God has proved that he is God of the world. The threats of some groups and individuals are spiritually controlled by God to avoid igniting unending trouble. He has put to shame many prophets who prophesied that Nigeria will experience calamity and that the present government will retain its position. The results of the Presidential elections have proved all these prophets wrong. God is in charge. Nigerians prayed for the choice of God, relied on him and accepted his decision which is a gift of a new government. Nigerians, come now and let us reason together. We have learned a lot from human events in this nation. I am not saying that the President-elect and his party are very good but I believe that if we can change our attitude to governance, stop turning our representatives into our gods and stop worshipping people with ill-gotten wealth, then we are sure of having the Nigeria that has been the dream of many of us. I am convinced that people will accept the outcome of yesterday’s election results as the wish of God and we can all say boldly that we are Nigerians and not Yorubas, Igbos or

Desti Destiny Hour with Pastor Femi

Lanre-Oke

lory be to God, great things He has done. He has kept you alive to see the end of the first quarter of 2015. So many have lost their lives but God has sustained you, amidst the chaotic happenings all around the world and all through the election period, He has kept His covenant of protection, provision and safety over you, your family and nation. To God alone be all he glory.

Let me start by referring to the issue we have been praying about for months now; God has made the General Elections peaceful and we should thank Him.We must therefore return to our closets and our meetings and Churches to return all the glory to this God who has stepped into our nation. Once we begin to thank Him then He’s committed to perfecting all that has to do with our growth and development. Thanksgiving for more altitude in the 2nd quarter We are in the 2nd quarter of the year that has been prophesied as our year of multiple and bountiful harvest and how do you get your harvest? You thank God for His promises. I have come to remind some persons of how to give quality thanks to God.

Sunday April 12, 2015

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Stepping into a new Nigeria Hausas. My strong belief is that God is proving to us that what makes a nation great is not the ability to use guns or bombs but availability of the blessings of Almighty God. I am not a prophet and I am not prophesying but all I know is that the hand of God’s blessings is upon Nigeria. Just before the Presidential elections, Nigerians went on their knees and God in his mercy answered our prayers. There is never a better time for Nigerians to fall on their knees, confess their sins, ask for mercy and forgiveness and accept a new Nigeria from God than now. If we refuse to accept the new government and work together with it, then God will allow Satan to turn this nation into hell. Many people are happy that we have a change of government and many are talking about the need to have a change also in our spiritual life. People will agree with me that “honesty is the best policy” but we all know that the present government lacks honesty and morals. Corruption and indiscipline are at their highest level in this country and the new government cannot bring about any change if politicians, Christian and traditional leaders refuse to change. Lying, pretense, selfishness, stealing, corruption and deceit must not be part of this new government. People in government have tremendous responsibility resting upon them. They are responsible for the welfare and security of Nigerians – the poor and the rich, the learned and the unlearned, the wise and the foolish, the young and the old, male and female.

It will be unfair to list out the needs of Nigerians at this early stage of the new government. We believe that with their experience and their ability to feel the pulse of Nigerians, they should know what to do. Let me quickly warn here that job insecurity also means social insecurity. If Nigerians are assured that government is ready to protect their interest in all situations, then the interest of the nation will be in their heart. All Nigerians are to support this government with their prayers. We must all have a definite purpose for the betterment of our nation. There are many enemies in our nation today who are trying to enslave us and steal all the treasures of our nation. We have suffered enough in the hands of people like that and now we need men and women who have the fear of God and who are transparent. There is a declining emphasis on spiritual values and a rising emphasis on materialism in our nation. Church leaders who preach prosperity sermon, who dine and wine with politicians and who share or encourage politicians to loot our treasury must be identified, avoided and if possible handed over to law enforcement agents. With the end of election in this country, newspapers are full of promises and the plans of the President – elect and his government. When we evaluate the reliability of those promises based upon our knowledge of previous governments, we become skeptical. But if it comes to the promises of God, we are assured of their reliability. God is able to accomplish all his promises. He is very reliable, he never breaks his promises. We live in a

world full of promises but we serve a God who transcends all of them. God’s truth remains strong against the evil, the problems and the confusion in Nigeria today. As we are stepping into a new Nigeria, Nigerian Christians must maintain and preserve the liberty and purity of the Word of God. With a change of the government, all Nigerians must stand in the truth and demand officially for national prayer days. The imperative need of this particular time for Christians in Nigeria is a revival of Bible preaching and practicing. The fact we all know is that as Christians, we have missed the proper structure of the true church. Churches in Nigeria today are lifeless, useless, powerless and fruitless. Church in Nigeria should take up the challenge to rebuild the biblical foundation of Nigeria. If we expect a new Nigeria that will fulfill the plans of God, then Christians must also create a new church. The present church has compromised. Christian leaders have turned the work of God into business and both Christians and non-Christians patronize churches to “purchase” their needs. True Christians must understand the Bible, identify those who are truly called by God to do his work, discourage “buying and selling” in the church and concentrate on the mission of the church as stated by God himself. •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

Gratitude, the attitude for altitude in 2015 Psalm 100:4, Enter His gates with thanksgiving…… the reason why we seem not to be doing fine in life despite the numerous promises and prophecies for the year is that we have not completely learnt how to enter His gates. We have not learnt how to thank God honestly and with our spirit, soul and body for what He has done and what He will do. There is a place God has promised to take you; you have seen it in dreams, you have heard it and read it from His word, the Pastor has spoken to you about it. “God is ready to do something new in your life” you have shouted amen with expectation. Now we are coming to the end of the first quarter and you are neck deep in debt, school fees do not seem to be coming, job is not coming, bills are there to pay and so many more things and you keep wondering; “God, will 2015 also go like this?” I have come with a single message today, return all the glory to God. Thanksgiving sustains, meaning if God has done anything good for you then as you thank Him, He ensures it stays good. Thanksgiving multiplies, Jesus thanked God for the little in John 6:11 and it fed at least 5,000 people. Thanksgiving perfects, the leper healed came back to thank Jesus and he was made whole Luke 17:15. I also want to talk about a characteristic of thanksgiving that is most essential to our generation. Thanksgiving reverses negative situations. Jesus got to Lazarus’ grave and the man had been dead for four

days. This represents a stinking and hopelessly negative situation. Everyone knows that the situation is bad, you are no longer able to hide it from people, people pity you, some are insulting you, and in fact you do not know what to think or do yourself. The answer to reversing such situations is quality thanksgiving that expresses unshakeable trust in God. Jesus in John 11 did not make Lazarus the centre of his focus, He looked up to the most high and gave thanks expressing quality thanksgiving for the assurance that God hears and answers Him always. And it wasn’t surprising when Lazarus’ negative situation was turned around for good. We serve a God who can do the impossible. However we wallow in misery because we have made the situation god of our lives. We have made issues the focus of destiny and not the God of heaven who can turn everything around for our good in the twinkle of an eye. I want you to have a praise hour in your home this new week as we enter into the second quarter of the year 2015. List the good things God has done already, list the prophecies you are holding on to, list the passages that expresses the good plans of God for your life and also list those hopeless situations, the negative situations and the bad situations. Now let your spirit, soul and body begin to thank God profusely for all these things. Determine never to allow any situation draw tears, worry or anxiety from you. Turn these emotions to thanks-

giving ones. Then you will see the sustaining, the multiplying, the perfecting and the negative reversing to positive hand of the Most High from this month of April. Finally the Bible says to Him that is joined to the living there is hope Ecclesiastes 9:4, you are alive, God has kept you alive in order to show you His faithfulness, there is hope for you and gratitude is that attitude that will get you to God’s altitude for your life. Be blessed in Jesus name. Amen Don’t forget that you are blessed and not cursed and cannot be cursed because you have given your life to Christ and if you have not, 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

Bello

he exceptional duty bestowed on the Ministry Gifts is the governing obligation of the Church which is accountable to God. Ministry Gifts are charged with the honor of governing the Church of Christ and the pattern of such governance was set for them in God’s book. This grace is with the sense of trustworthiness but also, with implication of judgment should this trust is rupture with inaccurate administration. It is therefore with caution and severe warning when Paul was addressing the Church leaderships the extremity of the assignment given to them. “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and unto the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Acts 20:27-28. Three critical statements are declared for us to note in the building of the flocks. The first critical essence is the overall counsel of God for the Church. The second critical quintessence of Ministry appointment is to first and foremost to take heed to self in walking in the same counsel of God as an example of someone who hath found grace. The third which is the bait to them all is to constantly remind oneself of the fact that the Church is purchase with the blood-price of the Son of God and Church should be governed in the nous in which the Church is purchased. The word overseer is a designation for a variety of offices such as teacher, evangelist, pastor, apostle and prophet. It is a ministry gifts concept only applicable when it has the import of diligent guardian, watchman and protector of the flock. It relates to oversight respon-

Sunday April 12, 2015

Church as God designed it – The Ministry Gifts and the Omega Generation (8) sibility of coaching the flocks, protecting them in godlily and leading them in walking godly counsel. It has the image of a shepherd but with grave implication of functional similarity with Christ, the author of the Church. 1 Peter 2:25. It carries the model of suffering through night watch and daily watch to protect the flocks from wolf. In other words, overseers help in fighting intruders against the flocks until the flocks become mature not only to protect self but even others. The Ministry Gifts are the Presbyters of the local Church called, ordained and graced to tend the Church, guide and lead the Church to the things of God other than any other things. The word overseer must not be assumed as monarchical where the lordship position is engaged. It is not monarchical in nature but must rather be seen as fellow heirs of salvation who has obtained grace from God to lead his people. What is required of an overseer is the earliest or foremost responsibility of properly taking care of self spiritually before taking care of flocks. Paul says in Acts 20:28 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock” Ministries are beset with unique danger and the most vicious of it all are the accolade of “my church” “my ministry” “my people”. When such statements are frequently applauded to the Ministry Gifts, the inherent danger is the sense of ownership rather than flock being owned by God. The ambitions of many overseers, the flattery and the worldly mindedness have rubbed the Church of great honor and beauty bestowed upon the Church some years back. If the motives of raising or gathering the people in local Church is against the purpose at which the Church is purchased, such work is a work of iniquity. The office of a Pastor or other Ministry Gifts, are only meaningful to God when the flocks are raised with the knowledge

of the fear of God and the mentality of godlily and godliness. You might have raised the dead and open up the blind eyes, such amounts to nothing before God except people are raised and mentored with the knowledge of the fear of God. No one amongst the Ministry Gifts is called to raise millionaire but to raise people with the nature of God.1Timothy 3:6; forbids the appointment or ordination of a novice to oversee the Church. This denotes of one by inexperience or in adequate knowledge of God is unequipped to act as Ministry Gifts. Such are yet to have the scent of the water of the word of God to bring forth the fruits of righteousness. They may be called pastors yet they are children who have not attained son ship position. They are like olive shoots that still required to be mentored, nurtured and watered to grow as plant of righteousness. They are yet to be fostered in the word of truth. Paul called such as unskillful in the word of righteousness. It is sad to note that people being appointed to Ministry Offices in the Church today are considered base career, financial capacity and loyalty to General overseer. Ministry Gifts are not appointment positions! They are called by God. This is the reason for the dearth of godliness, knowledge of God and maturity in Church. Therefore, what is the counsel of God for the Church in which the ministry gifts must administered to the Church? Simply put the will of God for man in respect of the salvation of all men through Christ Jesus the son of God, where all men become the legacy of God. Ephesians 1:1112 says “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, ………..that we should be to the praise of His glory, ….” The word inheritance is the apportionment of God’s nature to the saints in primordial world so as to showcase the true nature and the lifestyles of God to the entire cre-

ation. The inheritance is not in the substance of what the world could possess or own by natural ability but what could be dispense to the world through the grace of Christ. It is the counsel of God that all men must come to the true nature, which was the original stature of man before man sinned. It is therefore, noted that, the inheritance is not material essence but the resemblance and sameness nature of God in the saints. Colossians 1:12 says “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear son.” Sharing in the lot or portion of the saints in heavenly place is the greatest gift to humanity. The saints are supernatural heavenly inhabitants. They reflect the nature of God and ambassadorial in functions. Man has being called into such office to reflect the immortal and act instead of Him unto creation. This is the counsel of God for the Church. The kingdom that is entirely different from others but have capacity to colonize other kingdoms and lord over them. This is the main ethos of the responsibility of the Ministry Gifts to the Church. To mentor men,(the Church) to attain this great status. Sad to say, many overseers does not know this, even some that did, are being drawn by the euphoria of worldly pleasure, fame and honor to the abandonment of the eternal truth. They lift the banner for the ephemeral rather than that of the eternal. A beckoning is being made through this medium, for us to return to our original assignment, leaving the elementary things of the world and becoming the light of the world. This is the design of the Church. •Pastor Bola Bello – The Priesthood House, bolabelo@gmail.com 08033704564

The

Chorister’s World

Music is a way of life –Adelaja FOLASHADE OGUNTADE

aul Adebayo Adelaja is a chorister at the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), Testimony Parish Egan, Igando, La-

gos.

The chorister who was born in the late 80s is a native of Awajigor Local Government of Badagry area of the state spent his growing up days in Orile Iganmu also located in Lagos state. According to the chorister, he attended Pri David Savage Memorial Primary School Orile Iganmu and Queen Marie

secondary school respectively and is currently a diploma student at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) Badagry annex. Adelaja revealed that he joined the choir of Celestial Church of Christ as a teenager, precisely at the age of 19. On the challenges he faces as a chorister, Bayo revealed that some of the choir members can be frustrating at times as they tend to pulling him down with nonchalant attitudes when it comes to playing their given roles at some points and this he said pulls down efforts he and other serious minded ones may have put in geared at successful outcome of the

ministry’s performance at the church service which he noted could be problematic at some point. Speaking on the role of the choir in the church, he said though the choir is the most difficult resource to maintain, but the choristers’ main focus is to put life into activities during service as they charge the atmosphere of the church with God’s presence, thereby enhancing the flow of the pastor’s ministration. Speaking on what inspires him, he said: “Most importantly, I get my inspiration from God who is the author and finisher of my faith, He is the one who distributes talents of all kinds to the dif-

Adelaja

ferent people he created. I also cherish quiet places; when I am in a quiet place I become so focused and everything starts flowing into me as I get the ability to write, compose and sing. On what motivates him, he said “I get motivated by different types of musical instruments.

From the Pulpit

T The voice of wisdom o

with Dr. David

Oyedepo

ast week, I told you that there is wonder-working power in praise. When you praise God, you are expressing your approval and commendation to God for His faithfulness in your life, and in the lives of others. So, praise is part of our worship to God. I am talking about the type of praise that follows you to your closet. Also, I tried to explain what a wonder is. I said a wonder is something that makes you to wonder. Apart from that, I listed what happens when we praise God. This week, I will be teaching on how Praise facilitates fulfilment of prophecies. Recognize that praise is not a spiritual entertainment; it is a weapon of warfare. To be ‘praiseless’ is to be helpless. Praise is God’s spiritual habitat. To be ‘praiseless’ is to be powerless (Romans 8:31). It takes praise to have God with you. No matter how hard we pray, if we don’t praise God, there won’t answers to our prayers. Praise is not a stop-gap item of any church; it is a vital spiritual force that provokes divine intervention. Recognize that only the hand of God can fulfill the plans and purpose of God (1 Kings 8:15, 23-24). Psalm 15:11

Let’s go

BIBLE with Favour

Tioluwani

Email: letsgobible@gmail.com

n answering your question, l will bring out some points from my book, “Barrenness the way out”.

There are so many causes of Barrenness, so many things can lead one into such a condition. Barrenness can arise as a result of physical or social problem as well as spiritual problem; we will however consider one now. SIN. When your actions, deeds and words are contrary and also against the will and the law of God, you are committing sin. Doing it your own way, satisfying self, not minding what your creator wants from you. (A) ADULTERY: - When a man commits adultery he is acting against the laws of God, no matter with whom it has been committed, in as much as he, being married, is sleeping with another woman, he is acting to the will of God. Lev. 20:20-21. Abimelech by merely taking Sarah into his house, even though didnt know she was Abraham wife, thinking she was his sister, the Lord locked up the womb of everyone in his household. Gen.20:18. Your going around sleeping with different men/women, thinking that you can get what you want from them, you just adding more

Sunday April 12, 2015

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Experiencing the wonders of praise! (2) says: Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? God’s plan is according to His size. No human has capacity to have God’s plan fulfilled. For us to experience sudden changes in our lives, it will take God! Every prophetic declaration is beyond you to make happen. 1 Samuel 2:9 says: He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. It is impossible to see prophecies fulfilled in the energy of the flesh. There is no omnipotent man on the earth! 2 Kings 7:2 says: Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof. Don’t mock prophecies or else you end up a mockery! All we need is to set ourselves for God to fulfil prophecies. Malachi 3:6 says: For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Ours is to believe the prophetic Word and God is to perform! Praise is the practical proof of our faith. So, believe in God and believe also in His prophets (2 Chronicles 20:20; Luke 1:45). Think of it! God told me in September 1999 that the Tabernacle would be dedicated. Humanly, this was not possible. However, because it was be-

lieved, God’s integrity was provoked to deliver. We knew the cost of the Tabernacle when it was completed! Don’t let the devil negotiate your prophetic blessings for you. Whatever God speaks, it is His hands that perform. The Bible says: My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him (Psalm 62:5). When Judah was besieged by three nation, King Jehoshaphat did not know what to do. However, God instructed him: Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you (2 Chron. 20:17). How did they set themselves? The Bible says: And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped (2 Chron. 20:22-24). God destroyed their enemies! The prophetic Word spoken into your life will only be fulfilled by your setting yourself in praise, to provoke God’s intervention. God is fearful in praises doing wonders (Exodus 15:11).

Whatever God has said concerning your life shall surely come to pass (Joshua 21:45). All you need is to set yourself in your praising God, for God to swing into intervention on your behalf ! Glory to God! Friend, for praise to facilitate fulfillment of prophecies in your life, you must be saved. This entails confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. If you are set for it, please 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!” I will continue this teaching next week. Glory to God! Every exploit in life is a product of knowledge. For further reading, you can get my books: Understanding the Power Of Praise and Riding on Prophetic Wings. I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m. and 11:30 a.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

Why am l still barren? Please help me to your problem. And l believe l can bring the issue of fornication under this too for it goes hand in hand. If before you got married, you have been messing around with the opposite sex, meaning you have been busy committing fornication, the sin the Bible refers to as a sin against the body which the Lord frowns at and always attract great punishment, such as Fibroid. For the Lord made me to know that apart from 10 per cent of ladies/ women who are been attacked spiritually, the remaining 90 per cent are been punished for the sin committed. (B). DISOBEDIENCE: - This is also a very great sin before the Lord, 1 Sam. 15:22 says, “Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” In as much as we claim that God is our master we are supposed to obey Him, for obedience goes a long way to show trustworthiness and faithfulness n our part to the one we believe in and serve. Blessing and multiplicity usually follow after obedience, failure brings dryness. Deut. 7:12-14. (C). PRIDE: - This also leads into barrenness. This even affects every sphere of our life. Michael the daughter of Saul, wife of David, over estimated herself and saw nothing good in how David, with all humility, danced before the Lord. She looked down on those who were with David. This shows that she has no regard for her husband and also for God. She didn’t follow the dictates of Colos-

sians 3:18, which says, “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.” For that which she did, we know the result. 2Sam. 6:24, “Therefore Michal daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.” If you want the mercy and Favour of God to manifest in your life, you must do away with pride, for by humility and the fear of The Lord are riches and honour and life (Prov.22:4). Humility brings life, while pride brings death. Nothing good can come out of a proud person for God detest him/her, since it is a sin. D). ENVY AND HATRED: - Envy leads to hatred. When you are envious of someone, that means you find it difficult to appreciate all that the Lord is doing in the life of that person, for you see the person as a threat, and not been able to do anything about it, you tend to just hate the person. To hate is to be bitter against someone. Rachael been envious of her sister, Leah, hated her. Gen.30:1 says, “And when Rachael saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachael envied her sister.” But God seeing this open Leah’s womb but Rachael’s

WIVES, SUBMIT YOURSELVES UNTO YOUR OWN HUS-

BANDS, AS IT IS FIT IN THE

LORD.

own was locked, she was barren. Gen. 29:31. Desist from bitterness and hatred. What God has done for others, He can also do for you, and it’s just a question of time, wait for it. Live a contented life; be satisfied with that which God has given you. If you want more, go on and ask him, He is will definitely give. According to Prov.14:30, envy is the rottenness of the bones, that is, with envy and hatred in you, you get your bones rotten and you lose strength and stability, how can it then be possible for such a person to get pregnant, far from it. Though there are more, but l will want that you reflect on these, go before the Lord, asking Him to wash you thoroughly with His blood from all your iniquity and to cleanse you of all your sins. For, “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear, But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1). Immediately you make things right with God, there will be instant response from above. Not the general prayer of forgiveness but a broken and sorrowful heart coming before the Lord with the determination and repentant heart to change. •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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From the Pulpit

Sunday April 12, 2015

Restoring your lost inheritance

here are many people living in this world with a mere shadow of their originals because they have lost out their real beings to the devil. Their inheritance has been stolen by the archfoe, the devil. The devil has three cardinal agendas against the body of Christ, which are to steal, kill and destroy. The devil is a thief. He is not just an ordinary thief but an experienced one. However, when the devil comes to steal, he does not steal the most invaluable and perhaps the precious material in the house, what he steals is your inheritance. The devil is not after perishable things but he is only after your inheritance. Your inheritance connotes your health, your wealth, your prosperity, your finances, your children, your peace, your promotion and everything other good things in this life. These things are the targets of the devil. His stealing search light is always on them.

Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwelling places; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof. Jeremiah 30:18 Therefore, restoration in this context means the return of all the blessings that have been marked for you by the Lord Jesus but which have been stolen by the enemy. Restoration is the return of the original. It is bringing back what has been stolen. In this season, God has promised to reinstate you in your lost glory. He is set to re-establish you on the path of destiny. God wants to refurbish you so that you can shine again even as never before. God is out to repair you back to your genuine status if (perhaps) the devil has damaged your life. There is

Bishop Opayinka

no better yesterday in the season of restoration as each passing day provides opportunity for laughter. Restoration births celebration. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. Luke 19:10 Restoration, as seen in one of the passages above (Jeremiah 30:18a), is a function of grace. The word ‘mercy’ used in the above Bible passage means grace. It implies therefore that, grace is the only God’s ordained vehicle that delivers restoration to your hand. The first step into enjoying restoration is to get closer to the giver of grace, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:8). Jesus came to restore that which was lost and it is only those who come to Him that enjoy restoration (Mathew 11:28-30). The experience of The Sons of the Prophets in 2 Kings 6: 1-7 further explains

what restoration means. In an attempt to improve on their living conditions and expand their dwelling place, the sons of the prophets under Elisha’s prophetic tutelage went with a borrowed axe head to cut wood. However, it was unfortunate for them that they met their waterloo as the axe head (the iron part) they borrowed fell into water, signifying a seemingly hopeless situation. But with the power of God, they were able to recover it through the prayer of the man of God. The devil was responsible for the loss of this axe head. He wanted them to use wood to cut wood. He wanted to increase their suffering and make them to sweat unnecessarily. But, Elisha’s prayer was not for replacement of another axe head, rather it restored back the actual axe head that fell into the water. That is what restoration does. There are many people that

have lost the iron part of their lives. They seem to have lost the actual contents that make them human. They fight the battle of life with the arm of flesh which in turn complicates their problems. They have lost the iron part of their spiritual life, the iron part of their trades, the iron part of their marriage, the iron part of their vocations and even their careers, so that they have been reduced to empty shafts. But, I declared today as the Oracle of the Most High, that your original will be restored back to you, in the name of Jesus (Amen). There are other instances in the bible where the people of God enjoyed restorations: Naaman enjoyed the restoration of his health through the intervention of the servant of God (2Kings 5:1-14). The Shunammite Woman also enjoyed the restoration of the life of her child through the power of God (2king 4:34-36). The same way that God did it for those people, He will also do it for you if you rely on Him. It should be noted that, there is no partial restoration. Restoration is always in full. God only sponsors total restoration and that is what you should trust God for. The Lord has promised us that we shall recover all as soon as we engage the enemy to get back what belongs to us (1 Samuel 30: 7-8). Pursue them. Go after them. Satanic thief must restore back all they have stolen from you. Be active in prayer. Be alert in the spirit. Be ready to obey God. •Bishop Opayinka Joshua Glorious Tabernacle Int’l Behind Ondo State Cul. Centre, Akure, Ondo State. joshuakolawoleo@yahoo.com 08060297831

News

Methodist clerics hail Nigerians on success of 2015 polls

igerians have been commended on their conduct and success of the just concluded 2015 Presidential election, where they exhibited utmost maturity to maintain peace, as the election was ad-

judged free, fair and credible compared to others held so far in the country.

These observation was jointly made by the Secretary of Conference, Methodist Church Nigeria, Bishop Dr. Raphael

Chibuzor Opoko, the Lay President Archdiocese of Lagos, Sir Bonajo Badejo, SAN, KJW, the host Bishop Diocese of Lagos Mainland, Rt. Revd Isaac Ayobami Olawuyi and the Prelate, His Emi-

L-R: Sir Reuben Adebola Abodunrin (KJW), Barrister Gbadebo Adesina (KJW) and the immediate past Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde at the investiture of new Knights of John Wesley, held at the Methodist Church Cathedral, Elekuro, Ibadan ... recently.

nence, Dr. Samuel Chukwuemeka Kanu Uche JP, at the second edition of the Solemn (Prayer) Assembly organized by the Archdiocese of Lagos Methodist Church Nigeria, held at the Hoares Memorial Methodist Church Cathedral, Sabo Yaba, Lagos. Explaining the reason behind the project, the Solemn (Prayer) Assembly which was centered on the fervent prayers for peaceful execution and outcome of the 2015 Polls, the clerics enumerated the potency of prayer which they posited as the only spiritual antidote to arrest the hitherto fears and tension, which had characterized the result of previous elections that sometimes stem from ballot box snatching and other related election violence and experiences of the past. In his sermon, Dr. Kanu Uche, reiterated the need for Christians to engage themselves in fervent prayers with dogged faith, so as to turn their fortunes as well as that of the Society and the Nation around.

From the Pulpit

Sunday April 12, 2015

Forget it!

fter his years of suffering, imprisonment, and trepidations in Egypt, God changed the situation and destiny of Joseph permanently. Two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. His firstborn was Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship.” The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” (Gen 41:50–52). Manasseh means “one who causes to forget; forgetting; forgetfulness; causing forgetfulness; to be forgotten; he who causes to forget.” The birth of that little boy helped Joseph to forget the appalling hardship of his initial thirteen years in Egypt. It eased his intense longing for his father and siblings. Baby Manasseh brightened his life. God shall make you to forget the pains and problems of your past. The blessings of your tomorrows will make your past sufferings fade in comparison and rescind into oblivion. God will make you fruitful in the land of your affliction as you forget your past difficulties. You have to train your mind to forget some things. Let us spell: F.O.R.G.E.T. Forget your Fears. People have developed all manner of phobias. Forget your fears; all kinds of psychological imprisonments. Is yours Ablutophobia: “fear of bathing, washing, or cleaning;” Achluophobia: “fear

The Bride’s voice with Pastor Moses

Alu

raise the Lord. I just want to let you know that from that lady’s testimony, I knew that for every good action you take, God will notice it and intervene in your matter. This lady told me that she was moving from church to church. She said she needed a church that will speak something she was yearning to hear; something that will lift her. But each one she went to had nothing for her. I don’t know how she said she got to know about the Bride Assembly. She came and heard something and she said to herself, ‘this is what I have always wanted to hear’. She took a decision but there was still a problem. Where would she move to? This was between the sister and God. She didn’t know anybody and nobody knew the type of job she was doing. Well, she went back to the hotel and as usual, the other prostitutes laughed at her. But that evening, a customer came to her and while they were negotiating, the customer suddenly stopped and asked her why she was a prostituting. And she told him her story. The customer turned and looked at her and said, ‘will you marry me? ‘That night, she moved to the man’s house. By the time she was making this confession, they were married and they had a child. He cares! She did not allow her condition to stop her from going to church because deep inside her, she was hoping and praying for deliverance. God saw her heart desire; saw her sincerity and decided to end the mater. Somebody, your matter will end today! Matt. Chapter 8 where we were reading. Let us continue from verse 7. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. I don’t know what prayer point you are going to pray to the lord but remember Christ

of darkness;” or Acrophobia: “fear of heights?” Some suffer from Gyrophobia: “fear of women,” others Androphobia: “fear of men.” Are you plagued with Obesophobia: “fear of obesity;” Philophobia: “fear of love;” Pyrophobia: “fear of fire;” or Somniphobia: “fear of sleep?” No matter your phobias, the WORD says: “FEAR NOT” (Gen 15:1; 21:17; 26:24; Deut 1:21; 20:3, 6; Josh 8:1; 10:25; 2 Kings 6:16; Isa 35:4; 41:10-14; 43:1; 54:4; Jer 46:27-28; Joel 2:21; Zech 8:13; Luke 12:7, 32; Rev 1:17). Forget Opposition. If God gives you a great work to do, be sure, oh very sure that Satan will do everything to keep you from doing it. Keep at your work. Let publishers publish; gossips gossip; liars lie; and dogs bark. See to it that you pursue your goal to its logical end. Nehemiah had the broken walls of Jerusalem to rebuild. Oppositions came from all likely and unlikely places. He was threatened, maligned, wrongly reported, opposed, libeled, denigrated, bad-mouthed, disparaged, and slandered (Neh 4-6). He kept at his work until he finished it in 52 days (Neh 6:15). You too must forget your oppositions. Make them stepping-stones to greater heights rather than stumbling blocks. Be like Christ. Forget your Regrets. David was a man after God’s own heart. I submit that one of the many reasons is because David never wallowed ceaselessly in regrets nor repeat his sins. He never threw-in the towel and gave up in his struggles for God. Consider the Bathsheba saga and David’s deep lament over it in Psalm 51. When Satan reminds you of your past mistakes, remind him of his future destiny in hell fire! “Do not rejoice

over me, my enemy. When I fall, I will arise. When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me” (Micah 7:8). When you think of your yesterdays without regrets and your tomorrows without fear or phobias, you are a candidate for real contentment and good success. Regrets nurtured about the past will pollute rosy thoughts of the future. Forget your regrets. Allow God to power you for today’s opportunities. Why worry about a past God has redeemed? Forget your Grief. Devil’s serpent at one time or the other has beaten all human beings in this world of sin and grief. We are all wounded healers. You cannot allow your grief to hold you bound to your past. Job drank the deepest and sourest of human grief and woe when he lost his posterity and possessions. He held on tenaciously to his faith in God (Job 27:5-6). God helped him to forget his grief by replenishing him with a later end that far surpassed his beginning! Job was later blessed with seven more renowned sons and three beautiful daughters and abundant posterity and prosperity, being full of days (Job 42:12-17). Forget your Ego. “The emptiest man in the entire world is the man who is full of himself.” Egotism is the obesity of the head: the bigger the head, the smaller the heart. The more praise a man is willing to take, the less he deserves it. The cemeteries are full of people who thought the world couldn’t get along without them. Whenever you are praised to the sky, it is best to keep your feet on the ground. Do not allow people to place you on a false pedestal or make you ride a cockroach as if you were riding a horse. Stay humble. Do

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not think of yourself more highly than you should; “think soberly” (Rom 12:3). “Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion” (Rom 12:16). Be like Jesus who “made Himself of no reputation” (Phil 2:7). Forget your Excuses. An excuse is a statement given to cover up for a duty not well done, not done at all, or a duty dodged. Most failures are experts at making excuses. If Moses did not forget those excuses he advanced before God (Exod 3-4), Moses would not have seen the ten miracles in Egypt, parted the Red Sea, partaken of Manna: angels’ food, and seen God face-to-face! Those who make excuses expend the energy they should have used in succeeding in life. For every sin, Satan is ready to provide an excuse. Watch out! Forget your Triumphs. Paul, the heroic apostle with an epic life without parallel, had a lot of triumphs he could glory in but chose not: “I count all but loss” (Phil 3:8). Paul was the apt Theologian of the Church, Missionary to the Gentiles, Missionary-General of the early Church with a trailing ring of established Churches, shining as lights across the darkness of Asia and Europe. He learnt to forget his triumphs and focus on the Truth, the True Vine and Teacher from God. All the glory must be to the Lord. Only Him is worthy of all praise! The best memory system necessitates that you: “forget the kindness that you do as soon as you have done it. Forget the praise that falls on you the moment you have won it. Forget the slander that you hear before you can repeat it. Forget each slight, each spite, and each sneer; wherever you may meet it.

He cares (6) said, I will come and heal him. Once you acknowledge him, he will respond. We see another one in verse 14 And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever. First, he was allowed into the house. If you allow Jesus into your house, every problem in that house will be solved. That is the truth. This is what I learnt from that verse 14. And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever. Peter did not say, ‘heal my mother –in-law.’ He didn’t even pray. The fact that he was invited, allowed and received into the house was enough. And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them. You may be saying, ‘O my condition is useless, my husband is useless, my children and wayward’, the solution is simple, invite Jesus to your home. So how am I to invite him? All you need to do to make me come to your house is to tell me, ‘pastor, please, come to my house’. That is all. There is a church that invited me to minister to them and they kept pestering me. I told Pastor Thomas that I know the reason the brother wanted me to come and minister and the reason is that unlike other pastors that go to minister and tax the church, I don’t do that. Instead, what I do is to look at any need of the church and see how we can be of help. It could be in the area of buying musical instrument for them or the church building itself. I went to a church in Kwara State with Prophet Sunday. They just built the church and it was not yet floored. It has a seating capacity of about 500 people. And when we got there, we realized they were struggling people in that place. I told the pastor that he should get the tillers and know how much it will cost to tile the church. They sent me the cost in Lagos and I sent the money. When the finished the work, they sent me the picture.

I believe that is what every pastor should do especially the ‘big’ ones. The ones that have big churches should not trouble the small ones. There is Pastor Uche from Germany. When he invited me I didn’t tell them to buy me the ticket. I sponsored myself by buying the two way ticket. But this is unlike some ‘big men of God’. I heard a statement by a ‘highly revered man of God’ and it is a teaching amongst Pentecostals that and this is wrong. And they quote some scriptures. It was Abraham that gave tithe to Melchizedek. Now, they say the lesser one is the one that ministers to the greater one. I am sure you understand? So all the small churches will be labouring and gathering offerings, tithes and gifts and sending to the bigger churches as a result of this teaching. This is wrong! The Bible in Proverbs Chapter 22 verse 16 says, He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty. Somebody is already rich and you keep loading him. You will come to want because there is no blessing in this type of giving. Blessing comes from giving to the needy. Let us study two people in the Bible; Lazarus and Abraham. Why was it that God was always visiting Abraham? Yet, no testimony anywhere of God visiting Lazarus! Both of the> made it to heaven when they died but when they will be testifying, Abraham will be telling Lazarus how he used to be barbecue with God and how God was always visiting him. Lazarus will say God did not even visit him once. Yet they were both adjudged righteous! The reason is simple. The first time God visited Abraham, he made sure he did something to entertain him. And because he did this, God was always a welcome guest. No wonder, on one of these occasions after he had eaten and was satisfied, he called Abraham and told him, by this time next year, your wife will have a child. Abra-

ham even doubted this because he laughed, ‘I beg chop your pepper soup de go. You no know my wife age? Woman wey be 90 years old, na im you dey say go born pikin? O that Ishmael may live’. And God responded that e was not talking about Ishmael but he that will come from the womb of your wife. Praise the Lord. Even things Abraham did not ask for he got because he welcomed Jesus to his house; he welcomed the great Jehovah. Praise the Lord. It happened again but this time between men. One of them was a prophet of God. And as Jesus said, in as much as you have done it to the least of my brethren, you have done it to me. He said anyone that will give you a cup of water just in the name of my disciple, it shall not go unrewarded. And this woman saw Elisha and his servants always passing their way. She didn’t know them but she said, I perceive these people are servants of God. She was able to convince the husband and they prepared a little place for them. This family did not ask for anything. But while they were relaxing in that one room apartment, Elisha instructed Gehazi to find out the need of the family. It may be that the woman had prepared a delicious meal for them. They called the woman and asked what she would want them to do for her. The woman told Elisha that they were a contented family and needed nothing; they had all the connections and are wealthy, that all they did was to help them. Elisha and Gehazi went back to their room and God did not give them any revelation. They were worried as to what they can do for the couple. There are things you will do that blessing will begin to pursue you. •Pastor Moses Alu; The Bride Assembly, Odofin Park Estate, OshodiApapa Expressway, Ijesha Bus stop 08033524903 : Email: pastormosesalu@yahoo.com

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Your destiny is unstoppable

f God has a destination for you, your present situation cannot thwart Him. The circumstances of life surrounding the young Hebrew girl, Esther as a slave did not prevent her from becoming queen of a very powerful kingdom. In the name of Jesus Christ every stumbling blocks preventing you from becoming what God wants you to become shall consume by fire in Jesus name. Esther kept God commandments and enjoys divine unmerited turn around, you need to pattern your life after Jesus Christ and follow His precept if you want to enjoy your colourful destiny. Satan always assigned his agent to truncate every divine agenda in person’s life, Portiphar’s wife intends to stop Joseph no to fulfill destiny, as Delilah stoped Samson but Joseph

Endtime Revelation with Bishop Bernard

Ojemeni (JP)

From the Pulpit

Sunday April 12, 2015

hat is the church? The rapture is the event that will bring the Church age to an end; the event that will lift the Church of Jesus Christ from the temple on earth to the temple in Heaven. It is therefore necessary to say what the Church is and what the Church is not. The Church is a body of the Believers in Christ, those who follow and obey His teachings. It is an institution initiated and ordained by Christ Himself. It replaces the former Assembly of the Jews in the synagogue. It is the new order that has found solution to the former weak relationship between God and His worshippers. (Hebrew 7:18-19; 8:5-7). No wonder Christ had to institute the Church to replace the former Jewish assembly. Before the church was instituted, God has dealing with His people through the laws of Moses. God is holy and perfect and so the law had to be perfectly observed. In practice the people could not observe the in its Godly perfection. Hence the law could not make the worshippers perfect (Hebrew 7:19). This weakness of the law led to the change of the first covenant (of the law) to the second covenant (of grace through Jesus Christ). The grace is in fact the salvation which Jesus brought to us. By the payment of the price of death, the death which we all deserved, through sanctification with the blood without blemish we have obtained mercy of God and the forgiveness of our sins (Hebrew 9:14). Thus, through Christ we have won God’s favour. This unmerited favour is the grace. The gate is open to all peoples – the Jews and Gentiles alike. For the reason, the Bible says: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son (JESUS) that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

Prophet Lai Bamidele, General Overseer of Christ Glorious End Time Evangelical Church, AbuleEgba, Lagos, in this exhortation, harps on the power of friendship. Excerpts: radically refused her invitation to sin , some of an invitation to sin appears like an opportunity, beware ! they are destiny detroyer . Similarly, concerning where God is taking you, your past does not matter. 2 corinthians 5:17 says “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” God assures you in Isaiah 43:18 “Remember ye not the former things neither consider the things of old” if you are very sure of your salvation in Christ ,your tomorrow shall be certainly glorious, whatever enemies may be using to scuttle your destiny shall fail woefully in Jesus name.

Enemies were not there when God was planning your life, God said Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you an expected end”. No devil can stop your progress as long as you know whom you believed. The guards assign to stop Jesus Christ resurection were helpless, and became like dead men. Whoever tries to stop you again shall be wasted for your sake in Jesus Name. Get set for your unstoppable movement to the top. Remain blessed. •For counselling, contact: Pst_lai@yahoo. com.

Pastor Bamidele

The Church of Jesus Christ 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 Origin of the Church: The foregoing indicates that Jesus Christ is the origin of the Church. Matthew 16:18-19. The Church of Jesus Christ started on the Pentecost day in Jerusalem according to the Lord’s programming. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth”. Acts 1:8. The power of the Church is hidden in the person of the Holy Spirit. The in-filling of the Holy Spirit, received during the baptism of the Holy Spirit through Christ, gives the Christian the impetus to exercise the authority in Christ. On the first inaugural meeting, the Church won a total of three thousand souls (Acts 2:41) in addition to the one hundred and twenty foundation members. (Acts 1:15). With aggressive preaching and evangelism, despite humiliations and persecutions, the Church quickly spread to the whole of the Jewish land. Accelerated by the wind of persecution, the gospel soon reached other nations – Judea, Samaria (in the Middle East) and to the uttermost parts of the earth (Europe, U.S.A., Asia, Africa, Australia, etc.) Today the gospel of Jesus Christ is preached all over the earth. Membership of the Church: Apostle Paul described the membership of the Church with the human body. (I Corinthians 12:12-13). Every part of the body is very important in the general functioning of the body. No part of the body is too small to be considered insignificant. Neither could a part be too important to claim independence of other parts. The Church is composed of individual believers working for God in different capacities. There are cleaners, ushers, choristers, pastors, teachers, etc. all have a common goal to build up the body of Christ, (the church). Each member of the church is valuable and we need one another to compliment our

areas of calling. The Church of Jesus Christ should recognize the existence of different ministries under different overseers and there should be a share of love and cordiality amongst them. Again, ministers with pronounced or large congregation must not trivialised the role of younger ones as the part of the body can never be equal. On the other hand, members of the young ministries must not sit back to build a wall of criticism against bigger ones in an attempt to win cheap popularity. Instead, whatever a servant of God does, let him do it as unto the Lord and not unto man. In the event of the rapture, Christ is not coming to ask us our membership of a particular Christian denomination rather our membership of His body. How we live our lives in obedience to the word of God. Talking about the type of life we are expected to live in Christ, Apostle Paul used the analogy of builders to explain this. Christ is the foundation and every Christian is building on the foundation. What matters most is the material you are using to build, such as gold, silver, bronze, wood, hay and straw. (I Corinthians 3:10-15). This talk about the type of life you live in your private and public activities as well as the quality of investment you have made in God’s kingdom business. You should see the work of God as your number one priority and must be given first-class treatment. Note: It is the only investment that has eternal value. A day of reckoning is coming when our works shall be set on fire, and materials like gold, silver and bronze will stand the test of time. May the Lord cause all your labour in the Lord to be gold, silver and bronze in Jesus name. Amen. The Rights and Privileges of the Church: The body of Christ is precious in the eyes of God. It is necessary for us to know that we stand to enjoy as members of the family of God. (I Pet. 2:9). The Church is a privileged group,

being redeemed from the world of darkness, from eternal condemnation, and being brought into a marvelous light, illuminated by the love and cares of the Almighty. The fact that we are not just ordinary people but a peculiar group before God has been expressed by God Himself. (I John 3:1-2). Indeed, God has a big and glorious plan for His children (I Corinthians 2:9; Isaiah 64:4). Above all, all believers have been made to be heirs of the kingdom (Romans 8:16-17). What a glorious thing that we who were nobody, who were outside the nationhood of God, are now heirs of God just because we believe in Christ. It is the greatest and choicest privilege humanity can ever enjoy. Talking about our rewards here on earth, the Lord Jesus said: “No one who has left home or brother or sister or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred fold returns in this world and in the world to come everlasting life.” (Mark 10:29-30). And so it is the lie of the devil to believe that Christianity is synonymous with poverty and pitiable appearance. Christ was made poor that we might be rich. In confirmation to this assertion, the Bible promised that God will provide all our needs according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus. Not just material riches. Riches in good health, peace of mind, joy of the Lord, power over troubles and temptations are the inheritances of the believers. They are our rights. These rights and privileges of the believers in Christ could also be seen in 3 John 1:2. “Dear friends, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” •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

From the Pulpit

Hour of Change with Primate

Oyelowo

“

lessed is the man who perseveres under trial because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised those who love him’’. (james 1:12)

In life man is confronted with all sorts of challenges. He cannot escape it until he enters Into the grave. What can he do when the world seems to be against him or when things refuse to go the way he expects. The way out is to preserve. What is resilience? It is defined as the ability of people or things to feel better quickly after something unpleasant, such as shock, injury etc has happened. It is also the ability of a substance to return to its original shape after being bent, stretched or pressed

Chapel of Holiness and Testimony with Pastor K. I.

Bona

had already mentioned that records have shown, that 97 per cent of all these childish traits, characters and immaturity basically in the things of God, which in our present church age has clouded the moral reasoning and retarded drastically the spiritual growth of countless number of Christians are traceable to their foundations and or their hereditariness. In our past message, we have been trying to exploit some foundational factors that define a man. These factors, consciously or unconsciously shapes a young growing child to the manner of a man or a woman he/she becomes when he/she is fully grown. A child that grows in an environment where Bible was not read, prayers were never said, such a child would turn up to be a man that hates reading Bible, who sees prayer as a burden. I may not know the manner of a person you already is, especially in the things of God. Whatever manner of a person you have

turned out to be, was shaped by your child hold experiences, encounters and or memories. When a child grow out of a broken home In any marriage, when the father leaves, or the mother leaves, the departure of either of them forms a sustained haunting thoughts in the mind of the child in that family such thoughts could be, why did my father send my mother away? Why could not my father have forgiven my mother because of me? Why did my father decide to leave the house in such an unceremonial manner? My father did not care about my welfare, before leaving the house. You see, we observe that such a child, would be subjected to early suppression of emotional pains, and questions which were never answered which gave him inner bruises in his mind. Sometimes having been fed with the mother’s side of the story he would grow up to hate the father. In the other hand, it could be the father’s side

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Power and virtue of resilience Anybody going through tribulation should learn from the palm tree so as to strengthen him and his faith. The palm tree, unlike other trees, has its life from its heart, so it thrives even under attack It bends, but it won’t break. Most trees can succumb to tropical storm, but not the palm tree. It can bend all the way to the ground, the storm is over, it stands firmly again and it waxes stronger in the place where it bent. Job 23:10says: ‘’But he knows the way I take, when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold’’. Palm tree depth always exceeds its height, unlike other trees; the roots of it go deep in search of water. It is advisable for you to search the scriptures when you are passing through life’s challenges because it has power to strengthen and give hope to you As a Christian, when you are beset with a pitfall, do not dwell on it for long. Rather, go back to the drawing board; find out the case(s) of the down fall and re strategies so as to achieve your origi-

nal goal. Philippians 3:13-14: ‘’but one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ’’. In time of tribulation, do not allow yourself to be weighted down, but rather, rejoice so that you regain your lose glory. Hear what the bible says in Proverbs 24:10: ’’If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength. Also read Roman 5:3-5 which can serve as a source of faith and hope for you. Do not give up. Put it at the back of your mind that as long as you struggle to attain your goal, you are a potential winner. It is the very day you give up you become a failure. Proverbs 24:16 says: ‘’for though a righteousness man falls seven times, he rises again’’ .also give thought to the fact that the down fall of a man is not the end of his life. Let us learn from the just concluded presidential & National Houses of Assembly Elections. One of the presiden-

tial candidates has success smile on him after his fourth attempt. It shows his power of resilience. I knew somebody in the seventies. He sat for W.A.E.C school certificate examinations in 1972 and has ‘’A’’ in five subjects, B in three subjects, but f9 in English Language. He was therefore awarded grade three which did not qualify him for admission into the University of life. Immediately he finished, he was employed by the custom and Excise Board as a Senior Staff with accommodation and official car. Try to cultivate life of prayer as this will help in no small measure to sustain you in time of troubles. Luke 18:1 says: ’’pray always and not give up’’. The new dispensation Nigeria has just witnessed will bring joy, peace and progress to all Nigeria citizens. Till then shalom! •You can contact us at: The Word of Life, Agbo Igbala Ti Kiish Aladura Church 70 Patey street Lagos State. Tel: 07040517413

Breaking out of the child in you (5) of the story he heared that would make him to hate the mother. A child with such wounded mind at such tender age could grow up to found out that, the wound in his heart has developed to a big scar in his life. It has formed such an indelible mark in him which unconsciously controls every part of his life. Have you not seen a young man who sees the wickedness and bad manners of his mother in every other woman? Reasons being that, he thought that every other woman has such wicked character his mother had, that made the father to leave the house for his mother. As a result, he became afraid to marry. Have you not seen a lady who was afraid to extend hand of marriage to any suitor that came her way because she saw all men as being callous, wicked, uncared for, harsh and highly temperamental, as her father was. A happy home, is a healthy life for every child. There is nothing that makes children happy as seeing their parents live in peace. Do you know what went through the minds of those little children as Jesus extended hand of embrace to them? More so, when they heard him say “suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not for such is the kingdom of God “Mark 10: 14. Do you realize the degree of peace, joy and happiness that flew in the hearts of those little children that moment? This is because those little children, felt, appreciated, beloved, recognized and valued by Jesus. This is how it is supposed to be in every Christian home. Parents, showing love to their children, and inculcating in them great sense of values, through their relationship with them. Mark Chapter 10:13:14A & 16; “And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them……” And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them and blessed them.” Notice what the Bible said, that Jesus was greatly displeased, seeing the disciples withholding those children from coming to him. That is how it is supposed to be in all Christian

homes. Parents should frown at anything that would endanger the parental rapport existing between them and their children. The Bible told us that Jesus carried those children on his laps, put his hands on them and blessed them. Only heaven can tell, among those children how many destines were lifted, future sustained, and joy that flew. There are some factors that kill the joy and destinies of children in our homes, which parent must avoid. Such things as: a) Husband and wife fighting before their children b) Husband and wife quarreling, cursing and nagging each other before their children c) The father calling the children and telling them dirty stories about their mother. d) The mother gathering the children and telling them negative things about their father e) The father going after other women to the noticing of the children f) The mother inviting a man friend to the house, in the absence of the husband, in the presence of the children. g) Parents watching corrupt movies with their children h) Husband and wife inviting outsiders to settle their matters in the presence of their children i) Parents being partial in their love over their children - ‘loving one child more than the other’ All these and a lot more are major source of psychological effect that trails the life of every young child into adolescence. Jesus did not send those little children away; he received them warmly and gave them a place in the heavenly family. Beloveth, try as much as possible, through your fatherly or motherly care and embrace give your children a place, a hope and a future in your family. Those children, who grew out of broken

homes, have bitter stories to tell. Most of them were subjected to danger, death and even rape for those of them who were females. Some grew up serving in other families as house-helps, under serious torture and punishment. Many of them lost their destines, because they were denied basic education. Today, they are everywhere in our societies seeking for casual job, factory work or any other minor jobs. These are men and women, who were stars; had it been they were given the privilege of going to school when they were children. If the father, or the mother had not left the marriage, may be the destinies of these great men and women, who have lost their world today because of the misunderstanding non-tolerance, and impatient of their parents, would have been recovered when they were still children. What a tragedy, dear child of God, please do all you can to hold your marriage. Endure, tolerate, forgive, sometimes, accept you are wrong and plead, for peace to reign, for the sake of those your children. May God bless you continue next week. Testimony: Lost money recovered I was in the church last Sunday. The man of God asked us to pray that God should return back to us every lost money, opportunity or favour. There was this money somebody supposed to give me, but did not for years. I have forgotten about the money. I have counted it as lost money. Since the man of God said we should pray, I told God about the money I made a vow. The following day being Monday, the man, who owed me that money called up to come and collect it, I went he paid me I quickly brought my vow to God, praise God! Bro. Douglas •Pastor Kingson I. Bona, General Overseer Chapel of Holiness and Testimonies Ministries. No. 6, David Egbetuyi street, Fagbile Estate, Ijegun-Ikotun, Lagos 08023404926, 08038206508 www.chapelofholiness.org

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Election Photos

Guber/State Assembly polls in pictures

A soldier carrying out checks on vehicles at Masha roundabout in Surulere, during the gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections in Lagos. PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

Voters checking their names before accreditation at Lawanson bus stop in Surulere, during the gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections in Lagos. PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

Ibrahim Halilu a 90-year-old man being assisted during the governorship and house of assembly elections in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

APC governorship candidate, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi being accredited for the election at Ward 11 Oluyole, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun casting his vote at Ajura ward 4 during the governorship and assembly elections.

Former President Olsegun Obasanjo voting at his ward, in Abeokuta, yesterday.

Voters queue to cast their votes during the governorship and state house of assembly elections in Jos yesterday.

President Goodluck Jonathan casting his vote for the State Assembly Election at Ward 13 Unit 39 Otuabla Otuoke in Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa State, yesterday.

Business

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FRESH BUSINESS NEWS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Sunday April 12, 2015

NATCOM acquires NITEL, pays $176.58m final price TOLA AKINMUTIMI

ATCOM Consortium, the preferred bidder of Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) and its mobile arm (Mtel), has paid $176,575,700 (about N29.7bn), being the outstanding 70 per cent of the $252,521,000 bid price for the acquisition of the assets and business units of the enterprises. A statement by the Head, Public Communications of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, Chigbo Anichebe at the weekeend confirmed that the consortium paid the 70 per cent balance on Thursday, April 2nd, 2015, four days ahead of the April 7, 2015 deadline for payment. The Bureau stated that

NATCOM had on January 6, 2015 paid $75,756,300 (N12, 727,058,400) being 30 percent of the bid price in line with the offer letter by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) which mandated NATCOM to make an initial deposit of 30 percent of the bid price not later than 14 days from the date of the offer letter. According to the privatisation agency, with the earlier 30 percent payment, NATCOM was expected to pay the remaining balance of 70 percent of the bid price within 90 days which was to expire on April 6, 2015 but due to the public holiday arising from the Easter celebration, the deadline was extended to Tuesday, April 7, 2015. It would be recalled that the National Council on Pri-

vatisation (NCP), at its meeting of February 27, 2012, approved the privatisation of Nigerian Telecommunications Plc (NITEL) and Nigerian Mobile Telecommunication (MTEL) through “guided liquidation”. The strategy was adopted by the Council after due consideration of other options and in light of the previous failed attempts to privatise NITEL and MTEL through Strategic Core Investor Sale and Negotiated Sale strategies and the huge liabilities to creditors to the tune of over N300 billion. Under the guided liquidation strategy, all the core assets and business undertakings of NITEL and MTEL were to be sold a qualified bidder by the Liquidator under the general guidance of the National

Council on Privatisation. Thus, the bidder that acquires the assets of NITEL and MTEL will pledge to continue to operate the assets to provide telecoms services. This is as against the traditional liquidation of an enterprise by assets stripping. In furtherance of the process, advertisements for submission of Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from prospective bidders for the acquisition of the assets and business undertakings of NITEL and MTEL were placed print media by the Liquidator. At the closing date on June 30, 2014, seventeen (17) organisations/consortia submitted EOIs of which only two satisfactorily met the stipulated criteria for pre-qualification. The Bureau clarified

further; “On September 18, 2014, the two successful applicants, NATCOM Consortium and NETTAG Consortium, that met the minimum pass mark of 75% were pre-qualified and issued the Request for Proposals (RFP) and allowed to proceed to data room and physical due diligence stage prior to preparation and submission of their technical and financial proposals. “The deadline for submission of technical and financial bids was Friday, November 7, 2014. The two pre-qualified bidders, NATCOM Consortium and NETTAG Consortium, submitted their technical and financial bids before the expiration of the deadline. The technical bids received from the two bidders were evaluated”, it added.

The agency recalled that unfortunately, one of the two pre-qualified bidders, NETTAG Consortium, was disqualified for failure to enclose a bid bond as clearly stipulated in the RFP and that following the disqualification of the consortium, only the financial bid of NATCOM Consortium qualified for opening on December 3, 2014; having scored an average of 92 per cent in its technical proposal which was above the minimum pass mark of 75 per cent, and had also satisfied the requirement of a valid bid bond. Having fulfilled all the bid requirements, the financial proposal of NATCOM Consortium was publicly opened on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 which it won with a bid price of $252.25m.

Ibadan agog as Ace Roots makes debut

frica’s brewing colossus, Nigerian Breweries Plc stormed the ancient city of Ibadan lastweek with the trade launch/unveiling of its new product, Ace Roots to traders, distributors, retailers, entertainment spot operators and teeming consumers in the Ibadan, Oyo, Ogbomosho, Oshogbo, Ilesha/Esa-Oke trade zone. According to the company’s Zonal Business Manager – West, Opeyemi Oluwalusi, Ace Roots is a product of painstaking research and response to consumers’ retailers and distributors’ demands and the result of Nigerian Breweries Plc’s in-depth consultations with

JAMES AGADA In our March 29 edition, the photograph of, Chief Technology Officer, CWG Plc, Mr. James Agada, was wrongly captioned as Erhiawarien. The error is regretted.

critical stakeholders before its intervention in the herbal mix section of the beverage drink market. “At Nigerian Breweries Plc., we love to respond to consumers’ demands. You will bear me witness that your feedback from consumers and critical stakeholders have continued to play critical roles in our decision making process”, he said. According to him, “ When our competitor came up with her brand sometimes last year and stakeholders like you and our teeming consumers started asking when is Nigerian Breweries going to come out with her own brand of herbal mixture drink? We responded by appealing to you to exercise patience as we need time to carry our proper research and consultation with you, (retailers, distributors), including teeming consumers and other critical stakeholders before we can make a decision. The result of that painstaking research and consultation is what we are launching and unveiling to you here today – Ace Roots”

Empty Marina Business District due to yesterday’s election.

PHOTO:ADEMOLA AKINLABI

Expert urges Buhari to restructure NNPC, remove super minister JOHNSON OKANLAWON

ue to the dwindling revenue being generated by the Federal Government, the incoming administration has been advised to restructure the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and remove overbearing influence of a super minister. Also, the government should block all leakages by sending a signal of zerotolerance, and appoint a strong and incorruptible anti-corruption head of Eco-

nomic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and Independent and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences, ICPC. The Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismarck J. Rewane, in his presentation at the Lagos Business School breakfast meeting last week, said the government should ensure immediate passage of a realistic version of Petroleum Industry Bill to stimulate investment dollars. Rewane predicted that

All Progressive Congress, APC will face resistance from outgoing administration as patronage networks is dismantled, pointed out that economic policy pronouncements are likely to be ambitious and politicisation of economic policy will slow the reform agenda. He also stressed that currency weakness may persist and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN will abandon its policy of a stable naira. According to Rewane, fiscal expenditure will remain dominated by recurrent

spending and the subdued outlook for oil will continue to drive fiscal deficit. “The current account will slip into deficit in 2015 to 16, while business environment may remain unchanged in 2015 due to infrastructure problems. Growth will remain below potential Gross Domestic Product GDP growth estimated at 4.75 per cent in 2015. “Also, subject to external and domestic risks, growth will moderate as economy adjusts to lower oil prices”, he added.

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Politics

Sunday, April 12, 2015

New-look Reps face teething challenges WOLE OLADIMEJI ABUJA

he 8th Assembly when inaugurated by the President-elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, rtd, on June 6, 2015 could witness teething problems due to the high influx of first timers into the House of Representatives. The outcome of the March 28 general election showed that over 80 per cent, about 301 members, did not win their party primaries or the general elections to retain their seats in the House. This trend portends seeming setback for the nation’s democracy as the new members would have to start learning the legislative process and also struggle before they can get things done. The wind of change consumed some of the good and experienced lawmakers that would have helped to straighten out things and to make the House settle down quickly for the business of the day. It would be recalled that the victory of the All Progress Congress at the polls against the Peoples Democratic Party that had ruled the nation for 16 years took its toll on the National Assembly as some of the PDP lawmakers in both the Senate and the House of Representatives failed to secure their seats. While the citizenry are basking in the euphoria of Buhari’s victory, they failed to realise that the issue of ranking members in the National Assembly is equally very important because the executive would need good and quality legislation for good governance. But the scenario that would play itself out in the 8th Assembly may affect the day-to-day running of the government. Before now, the past speakers of the House always found it difficult to control members, the banana peels are always there and the House often got involved in crises. Political pundits applaud the smart way the outgoing Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, handled members by ensuring that the institution enjoyed a level of stability. The stabilising factor enjoyed from some members due to their legislative experiences and maturity may elude the incoming assembly because the majority of them are new and desperate to recoup the funds they spent on their election. Given the manner and ways some of the new members found themselves in the House, they would likely scramble for positions in “juicy committees”, which if care is not taken may rock the boat in due course. Members with outstanding qualities that would be missed in the House include Hon Farouk Lawan, who has been elected into the House four times. Lawal has outstanding qualities of dousing tension and also the ability of carrying along members, especially when there is need for such. But for the scandal that marred his 16 years of sound legislative experience, he would have been a source of inspiration for the new members. No matter the committee given to Hon Lawan, he would turn it to good that other members would be desirous to be in the

Gba ajab biamila a

Dog gara a

group. Like Lawan, Hon Ezuiche Ubani is equally a good lawmaker. Ubani is the House committee chairman on Climate Change and he has a lot of experience that he would have impacted on the new members but for the wind of change in the system. Hon Abike Dabir-Erewa too is like Lawan, who knows how to turn a Siberia to a gold mine. Give Dabiri-Erewa any committee, she will make it function effectively. When she headed the Committee on the Diaspora, members wondered how within a short time, the committee became one of the grade A organs of the House. She had many Bills to her credit, especially the Freedom of Information Bill and the Bill on the Persons with Disabilities. Hon Ndudi Elumelu, chairman of the House Committee on Health too is a worthy lawmaker, who demonstrated uncommon commitment and seriousness in the institution even in time of tribulations because of his desire to unravel the mystery behind the electricity contract scam. Elumelu’s power probe would continue to linger even though he paid dearly for it. Hon Abiodun Akinlade too lost the election to APC candidate. He had been chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology for eight years. During this period, he forced the Federal Government to fund the science and tech-

nology sector because of its importance to the nation’s development. Hon Samson Osagie is the deputy minority leader, who has acquired legislative experience over time both at the Edo State assembly and the House. He would be missed for his vocal prowess and his good diction. Hon Kamil Akinlami has a unique way of dressing and is blessed with maturity which distinguishes him among other members. Akinlami would be missed by the new leadership, especially during the time of crisis as he is always there to douse tension. Hon Muraina Ajibola would not allow sentiment to becloud his sense of judgement, especially when he is convinced. He would not mind to be a minority on issues. He always put the House on its toes on critical matters. Both speaker and the deputy speaker, Hon Tambuwal and Hon Emeka Ihedioha would be missed for their leadership style and the maturity, which they displayed by ensuring the stability of the House during their tenure. Hons Mulikat Adeola-Akande, Warman Ogoriba, Peterside Dakuku, Solomon Adeola, John Eno, Jerry Manwe, Samiala Kawu, ifeanyi Oguwanyi would not be in the House to ensure peace and serenity. The few lawmakers that would return would have serious work to do in order to

THE OUTCOME OF THE MARCH 28 GENERAL ELECTION SHOWED THAT OVER 80 PER CENT, ABOUT 301 MEMBERS, DID NOT WIN THEIR PARTY PRIMARIES OR ELECTIONS TO RETAIN THEIR SEATS IN THE HOUSE

ensure that the level of stability enjoyed in the House is maintained. Those members that made it are the minority leader, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, APC, member from Lagos. He is moving round to cling to the speakership position to help stabilise the House. Hon Yakubu Dogara from Bauchi State is a lawyer, APC, member is the chairman of the House services, he is loved by his colleagues no; wonder they are rallying round him to ensure that he comes the speaker come June 6. Hon Isreal Famurewa is APC member from Osun State. He is also a returnee who believes that if the speakership position is zoned to the South-West he would be willing to run for the race. A member of the following committees: Works, Housing and Habitat, Diaspora, Air Force, Internal Security and House Services, he has sponsored several bills and motions in the 7th Assembly. Hon Mohammed Monguno from Borno State in North-East is also a ranking member who has acquired experience in the House. He is equally making moves to vie for the coveted seat if elected by his colleagues. Hon Pally Iriase, APC member, who represents Owan East/West Constituency of Edo State is from the South-South zone. A second term representative, he is a member of the National Strategy Committee of All APC under the chairmanship of Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State. The cerebral team includes John Oyegun, Garuba Gadi, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, senators Osita Izunaso and Adetunmbi, Hadiza Bala Usman and Jimi Lawal. Hon T J Yusuf is also a ranking member from Kogi State. He won under PDP. He is a force to be reckoned with in the House. Although he would be in opposition, his experience would be useful to the new leadership when constituted. Hon Oluwole Oke too is coming back under PDP from Osun State. He was in the House in 2003 to 2011 and won his election this time. Oke is a respected lawmaker, who has influence across the divide due to the fact that he speaks Hausa fluently. Hon Abdulmumuni Jubril is the chairman House Committee on Finance from Kano State. He has even declared his intention to be the speaker if given a chance in the 8th Assembly. During his declaration ceremony, he expressed concern over the rate of turnover, saying that it would have serious implication on the activities of lawmakers when they are inaugurated. If the returnees are more in number it would have helped in shaping the quality of legislation. Mr. Olemija Stephen Friday is a new member under APC, former Akoko North East local government chairman (two term) a sportsman and teacher. Hons Nnena Ukeje, Jones Onyere, Linus Okorie, Nkiru Onyegocha, Sylvester Ogbaga, Princess Nnaji, Ben Nwankwo, Ukaria Azodo, among others are all PDP members from South-East and Hons Lasun Yusuf, Ayo Omidiran, Adeyinka Ajai, Olufemi Fakeye, Gafaru Akintayo Amere, n Adeogun, all are returnees from Osun State.

Politics

Sunday, April 12, 2015

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Impeachment threat: Twists in Fayose, APC lawmakers’ standoff ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

he political crisis and violence that broke out in Ekiti State last week over the plot by the 19 All Progressives Congress , APC, lawmakers in the 26-member Ekiti State House of Assembly did not come to many as a surprise. Although it is expected of the APC lawmakers, who had not returned to the Assembly since November 17 last year, to fight back for relevance, especially as some of them would seek reelection in the House of Assembly poll that held yesterday, their manner of approach to the issue by plotting the removal of the Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, would naturally be greeted by resistance, hence the pockets of protests. The APC lawmakers, who had on several occasions been accused by the Fayose administration since the government was inaugurated on October 16 last year of surreptitious moves to frustrate the government and as well making moves to impeach the governor, abandoned the House of Assembly when the PDP lawmakers sat to approve the governor’s commissionernominees on November 17. The crisis took another dimension last weekend when a statement from the spokesman for Ekiti State APC Action Group, Mr Segun Dipe, stated that the APC lawmakers in the state Assembly had begun impeachment process against the governor by forwarding to him a notice of gross misconduct. Dipe had stated that the allegations levelled against the governor by the lawmakers included alleged invasion of the Assembly with thugs and miscreants, instigating an unconstitutional takeover of the House, preventing the 19 APC lawmakers from performing legislative duties and sponsoring an unlawful impeachment process in the House. Others, according to him, included spending Ekiti State funds without the requisite constitutional approval, running the government without legally constituted Executive Council and alleged sponsoring and instigating illegal sitting of the House. The governor, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr Lere Olayinka, which described the APC lawmakers as jesters having claimed they forwarded the purported notice dated March 9 online, queried whether the lawmakers now sit online. Fayose, who advised the APC lawmakers to “stop advertising their ignorance and crudity in the market place”, advised Omirin and the APC lawmakers to wait for the verdict of the courts which they had approached over the former Speaker’s impeachment rather than “testing the will of Ekiti people”. The PDP lawmakers also on November 20 impeached Dr Adewale Omirin of the APC as Speaker of the House and elected Dele Olugbemi in his stead, a step denounced by the APC lawmakers who described the move as a nullity, as Omirin, who said he remained the Speaker of the Assembly, noted that it was impossible for the seven minority PDP lawmakers who did not form a quorum to impeach the ma-

Fayose

Omirin

THE FAYOSE-OPPOSITION LEGISLATORS’ STANDOFF GOT TO A HEAD ON THURSDAY WHEN THE APC LAWMAKERS SAID THEY HAD WRITTEN TO THE CHIEF JUDGE OF THE STATE, JUSTICE AYODEJI DARAMOLA, ASKING HIM TO SET UP A SEVEN-MAN PANEL TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS RAISED IN THEIR IMPEACHMENT NOTICE TO THE GOVERNOR jority. However, the sudden reappearance of 16 APC lawmakers at the House of Assembly on Wednesday, the day General Muhammadu Buhari of the APC was declared the winner of the presidential election, had caused so much tension compelling the Commissioner of Police, Mr Taiwo Lakanu, to, since then, seal the Assembly complex. The police boss had said the step taken by him was to prevent breakdown of law and order, especially as the PDP lawmakers were around and against the backdrop of the sharp division between the APC lawmakers and their colleagues loyal to the governor. Omirin had that Wednesday frowned at the action of the police, saying: “This is my office and I should not be asked why I am here. Though we have instituted against the seven lawmakers for the fake impeachment against me, that would not prevent us from doing what we are supposed to do”. The Fayose-opposition legislators’ standoff got to a head on Thursday when the APC lawmakers said they had written to the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, asking him to set up a seven-man panel to investigate allegations raised in their impeachment notice to the governor. A statement by Wole Olujobi, the media aide to the embattled Speaker Omirin, said

the lawmakers arrived at the decision at a special sitting presided over by Omirin at Mary Hills Boys’ High School, Ado Ekiti. According to the statement, the lawmakers relied on Section 101 of the 1999 Constitution as amended which empowered the Assembly to regulate its sittings, including sitting in a public building within the state capital if conditions exist in the hallowed chamber that endanger members’ lives. Olujobi had stated: “The seven-man panel to be constituted by the chief judge within seven days of receipt of the letter is to investigate Governor Ayodele Fayose and Deputy Governor, Dr Olusola Kolapo over allegations of gross misconduct raised in their impeachment notice”. But the Chief Registrar of Ekiti State High Court, Mr Obafemi Fasanmi, said nothing of such had been brought to the Court, saying: “I was in the office today and no such letter was brought”. However, when journalists visited Mary Hills Boys’ High School where the APC lawmakers sitting allegedly held, the students writing WASC Examination, teachers and non teaching staff said no guests were sighted nor any meeting held in the school on Thursday. The factional speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Olugbemi, who described himself as the bona fide Speaker of the

Assembly with the necessary instrument, said that no meeting of the Assembly could hold without the Clerk of the House, the Sergeant-at-Arms and the Mace, all present at the conference addressed by the PDP lawmakers on Friday. In his reaction to the purported sitting of the APC lawmakers and communication of a letter to the Chief Judge on Friday, the PDP Speaker said: “The said letter directing the Chief Judge to constitute an investigative panel did not emanate from the Ekiti State House of Assembly. “We never wrote any letter to the Chief Judge directing him to constitute an Investigative Panel, neither was the House involved in any impeachment proceedings against Governor Fayose,” he said. Olugbemi, who said Omirin’s removal as speaker paved way for his due emergence, explained that he had in his letter on April 4, advised the Chief Judge “to discountenance all letters, resolutions, proceedings or processes emanating from Dr Adewale Omirin or any other person impersonating my person or office”. However, while the impeachment crisis lasts, Governor Fayose; the PDP, APC circles, other stakeholders in the state and beyond see it differently. Fayose, taking a cue from how he was eased out of office in 2006, minces no words in saying he would not allow himself to be removed from office cheaply, hence the need to give all it takes to protect the office, telling Ekiti people at any given opportunity that the APC lawmakers were out to truncate the people’s wish hence the need for them to protect their mandate. As some people hold their breathes over the impeachment imbroglio, saying caution must be taken since impeachment moves are no jokes, others dismiss the APC lawmakers as merely playing politics to repeat a replay of PDP victory in all the 16 council areas of the state in the House of Assembly elections that held yesterday. Those in that school of thought believe that the APC lawmakers, especially those seeking reelection among them, believing that PDP victory in the 16 council areas would deny them of returning to the House hence their decision to distract the attention of the governor and probably root for postponement of the election till post May 29 when Buhari would have assumed office and weakened the dominance of Fayose. However, stakeholders including traditional rulers in the state are suing for peace in the disagreement between the governor and 19 APC lawmakers. The monarchs, under the aegis of Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers disclosed that as a follow up in finding permanent solution to the executive-legislative standoff, they were concluding an arrangement for an expanded meeting of stakeholders and opinion leaders in the state in no distant future. A communiqué read by the Council’s Chairman and the Onitaji of Itaji Ekiti, Oba Adamo Babalola, on Thursday said efforts made by the Council to broker truce between the feuding political gladiators had consistently been stalled by claim of the two sides that the case challenging the removal of Omirin from office was pending in court and that it would be subjudice to discuss it.

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Politics

Sunday, April 12, 2015

EC boss?

Balllot bo ox

way of eliminating electoral malfeasance. He then introduced the Permanent Voter Cards PVC. Then came the Smart Card Readers, SCR. The readers are designed to eliminate the possibility of desperate politicians cloning the PVCs or using stolen PVCs to vote.

Before all these, Jega had also sought the creation of an additional 30, 000 polling units. His aim, according to him, was to decongest the existing polling units. Some of the existing ones are said to have over 2, 000 registered voters whereas, a unit is

supposed to have between 500 and 700. Although, on the surface level, this would have been a very good development, the policy would have seen the North having over 70 per cent of the new units. This was fiercely resisted by southern groups. In a bid to guarantee a credible process, Jega had again weeded out many bad eggs in the commission. Aside from the usual disciplinary actions against recalcitrant officials, the INEC boss ordered a probe of the 2011 general elections with specific emphasis on the nullification of 19 elections by the courts. Those who were found to have done their jobs in a shoddy manner were either shown the way out or disallowed from participating in the 2015 polls. Jega’s activities at INEC led to the conduct of this year’s general election in a manner that many observers had adjudged as free, fair and credible. Unfortunately, there were some low points, chief among which borders on the welfare of the commission’s staff. Many staff alleged that because of the e-payment policy, they hardly got paid on time when they performed any task using their money. At times, weeks pass before they get paid. Such situation dampened the morale of many of the staff when it came to spending their money on some short trips or minor but critical tasks. INEC however

says the e-payment policy was introduced to stop fraud. The other downside has been the inability of Jega’s INEC to keep to its schedule. Many meetings, especially those with the media never really started on time. What next? Jega had often hinted of his readiness to quit his job anytime he feels he has had “enough”. In the heat of the crisis generated by his resolve to create additional polling units, the INEC chairman had stated that if his services were no longer need in Nigeria, he would quit as there were many international offers waiting for his choosing. Although he has hinted of his desire to reject any attempt by the incoming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to renew his tenure, there are some stakeholders who are said to be advocating that Jega be appointed to head the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. With the many international agencies that have recognised the work of Jega, it is most likely that one of these bodies would give him a new job. Whether he intends to go back to the classroom is a chance not foreclosed, but from his body language his interest lies in working at an international level.

democracy in Nigeria

Late e Ya ar’A Adu ua

to the left’ of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, provided the electorate with clearcut choices. Speaking on the lack of ideology and internal democracy by the political parties, a frontline politician, Dr Ade Dosunmu, who recently contested but lost the Lagos Central Senatorial election said, “The structure of political parties has allowed for little democratic space. This low or lack of democratic space has not provided for full blown internal democratic practice within parties. If there is any issue that needs to be addressed within political parties, it has to be the lack of internal democracy within the parties. Structurally, political parties in the country are weak and this has always led to lack of internal

Tam mbu uwa al

cohesion. Most political parties operate outside the purview of their constitutional guides. “For hardliners and extremists, due to the apparent lack of ideology in the parties, there has been the conclusion that there are no political parties in Nigeria but organisations of opportunistic and accumulative elite who seek to outdo one another in the race to partake of the national cake or to put it mildly “a motley of office seekers”, he said. “Of the over 60 political parties that straddle the political space of Nigeria in the present dispensation, none can be differentiated on the basis of any clearly spelt out ideological leaning. It is apparent ideology and underpinning philoso-

phy have no place in political parties of the present era. The parties are either personality-tied or interest-based, no more no less. Nigerian political parties in the last 16 years have been mobilising and associate on ethno-religious basis, and this has had serious debilitating effects on the polity. Ethnicity and religion have acquired divisive character in Nigeria and have been largely unhelpful in the quest for democratic consolidation,” he stressed. According to Dosunmu, lack of political ideology by parties plying the Nigerian political routes have denied the country serious gratifications which can help in the development of her democratic infrastructure and consolidation. “The journey to civic culture which is the fastest route to democratic consolidation has been lengthened rather unnecessarily by non-ideological political space. Ideology enriches the content of politics and as such helps in the development of discursive democracy. A discursive democracy is issue-based in which the electoral process is filled with the culture of debates on how best to move the polity forward, he added. Perhaps, the PDP and until recent, the APC have been seen as truly national political parties. Most of the parties such as the APGA, defunct CPC and AD are more or less regional parties. In the last 16 years, electoral campaigns were not based on ideology and issues of importance in the polity but rather on personality attack, a major

feature in the run up to the 2015 general elections. Another feature of the political development in the last 16 years is the issue of godfatherism and the negative influence of money in politics. Despite the current euphoria that enveloped the country over a successful presidential election, many political observers and analysts believe we have little to celebrate concerning our democracy. President of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, Comrade Debo Adeniran, said ‘If we look at it that this experiment has lasted longer than the First and Second Republic, we would say that Nigeria’s democracy has shown some improvement’. He said the experience has been worthwhile since 1999. As to whether Nigeria has fared better under this current democracy, he said it is neither here nor there because, according to him, “we have not fared better. Under this democracy, Nigeria’s economy has been pummeled, corruption has risen to the highest level as government celebrated corrupt people; there has been sabotaging of the rule of law, there have been insecurity at the level of militants, insurgents and irredentist as we have in the South-West. So we have not fared better but the experience is worthwhile. “Though under the military there were infrastructural development CONTINUED ON PAGE 54

Politics

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Mixed feelings trail 16 years of democracy in Nigeria CONTINUED FROM PAGE 53 like building of bridges in Lagos by the Gowon administration, building of the Lagos –Ibadan Expressway, farm settlements, refineries but we would not wish we returned to the military rule because it is believed to be dictatorial. “Though Nigeria has shown improvement in its elections as was witnessed last month. The civilian era has been a period of self-centredness as only a few people and their cronies cornered the nation’s resources. But the experience has made Nigerians to hold their leaders responsible, especially with the loss of the ruling party in the March 28 presidential election. This is a party that has prided itself that it will rule for 60 years uninterrupted. Any party coming in now would have learnt from that. “We should however celebrate the fact that we have succeeded in sustaining our democratic governance in the country till this moment, and had kept the restive, power-loving and adventurous military officers within the confines of their barracks,” says Taiwo Odewoye, Ode dewo woye ye, a public publ pu blic ic affair aff ffai airr analyst. anal an alys ystt.

Chauvinism, partisan politics and a king’s wishes CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

onstitutionally, Lagos, like any other states, belongs to all and there should therefore be no fuss or fear about which clan is dominant. But there is also the angst that Lagos, in a Yoruba enclave, has been conceding so much to their brothers from Eastern Nigeria all in the belief that it is a “No Man’s Land”. But the Oba would not agree with this because even at coronation and with all he is told by oral historians and custodians of palace customs, he is the “lord” and “owner” of Lagos and as such, a fighter for the protection of all that his forebears had left behind to protect. The threat to the Igbo, to do his will of voting his homeboy, Ambode of the APC or face the dire consequences of drowning in the Lagos Lagoon, was thus coming from the attachment to the past, that the king’s will must be done and that any king who loses political and economic control to strangers has lost the moral authority over the domain. But why is Lagos a No Man’s Land? Since colonial times, when it became the political headquarters after Calabar, Kaduna and Lokoja, Lagos has transformed into a cosmopolitan city and its being the Federal Capital at independence for decades made it an all-comers’ stronghold. But geographically, it is still situated in Yorubaland, a domain of the Eleko, with traditions, customs and history embraced and celebrated by all. The cosmopolitan nature of mega cities around the world has not necessarily made them to lose their socio-cultural identity. But in retaining such identity, there are modest and appealing ways of communicating to other clans, without drawing ethnic blood. The great Eleko should have addressed the issue more appealingly and yet authoritatively.

Tinu ubu u

“Nigeria has had successful transitions from one democratic government to the other, as Obasanjo handed over power to the now deceased Alhao ji j Yar’Adua following his election as president in 2007, while Jonathan was p sworn into office after winning the s 2011 presidential poll. 2 “Nigeria has also remained one country, and there are noticeable good c governance and improvement of livg ing standard in some states, like Lai gos. There is, in addition, an improveg ment in the quality of our elections, m and it appears that there is a greater a

Sam mbo o

commitment to adhering to the rule of law and the rulings of the courts by the Jonathan administration than we had in the preceding years,”, he added. Another public affair analyst, Comrade Bayo Okunlola, said: “We have not fared better under democratic rule. He said the expectations of the citizens that there would be improvements in the lives of the ordinary Nigerians have become a pipe-dream. We thought we are on our way to building a stronger, safer, more prosperous and united country, but we are now living in fear of danger from armed robbers,

Lad doja a

kidnappers and the Boko Haram insurgents which had claimed several lives. We had expected remarkable infrastructural development and a greater commitment to the welfare of ordinary Nigerians, especially the youth but what we received has been mass unemployment of the youth. “Nigerians have met monumental disappointment as the country is neither safe, strong, rich nor united than it was in 1999. We have little infrastructural development and there are no remarkable achievements noticeable in the country in the last 16 years.

Geidam assures of 98% victory over PDP INUSA NDAHI DAMATURU

overnor Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe state has said that he is confident of winning 98 per cent of the votes cast in yesterday’s governorship and state House of Assembly elections just as predicted that of the presidential elections in the state. The governor was speaking in Bukarti of Yunusari local government of Yobe State yesterday shortly after he cast his

vote at 3:00 pm. Describing the election, Governor Geidam commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for ensuring early preparation and accreditation in most of the polling units across the state. He said, unlike during the Presidential and National Assembly elections where there is a lot of problems with the card reader, the governorship and house of assembly election shows an improvement in the card reader. “It took some time for me to be ac-

credited during the last election but I could see that within few seconds, I am done with my accreditation and return home to wait for voting time, which is excellent. I assure you that this election will return me to Yobe Government House with 98 per cent”, he added. Our correspondent observed that in most polling units in Damaturu, the state capital, the exercise was ongoing successfully with no hitches as voters came out enmasse as early in the morning to be accredited to guarantee them exercise their franchise.

Why I dumped PDP –Mafindi JUSTIN TYOPUUSU JALINGO J

he immediate past Assistant Director, Media and Publicity, Goodluck Campaign Organisation, Alhaji Yerima Isa I Tafida Mafindi yesterday in Jalingo opened up on why he dumped the Peoples o Democratic Party, PDP, saying the party D structure was built on a shaky foundation. s Mafindi told journalists in Jalingo shortly after he cast his vote that he left s PDP because Nigerians passed judgement P

on the party by voting the party out of power. “For the past 16 years, PDP caged their leaders without telling them the truth. Jonathan was caged and was not allow to have access to Nigerians. “He was not in touch with the people and the people passed judgement on him on March 28, so who am I to say otherwise”, he said. Mafindi noted that he was among the six people with Jonathan when elections results were being announced. And not-

ing that the results were not in favour of Jonathan, they advised him to concede defeat and congratulate his opponent, which he did. He said Jonathan remained the winner of the 2015 general elections for accepting defeat and setting example for African and World leaders. He vowed to fight the imposition of governorship candidate by the PDP in the state, alleging that PDP has no governorship candidate in the state as primaries were not held in the state.

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Interview

Sunday, April 12, 2015

‘We’ll revive the state’s economy’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 be found. We have been working hard with some international agencies towards their rehabilitation, trauma management and how they can be made to pick up the pieces of their lives once we get them. We believe that at the risk of compromising their safety, the hopeful assessment of most security agencies, is that probably they may be in the Sambissa forest, which is very large. Hitherto we heard they were being held around the Gwoza and Damboa axis. But for now Damboa, especially the township has been recovered and is relatively safe, Gwoza has been recaptured, so our hopeful assessment is that probably the girls are in the Sambisa forest and it is our hopeful believe and prayers that they would be found in good shape - the most important thing is to get them alive; and alive we shall get them insha Allah. It was on record that when the news broke out that the girls were abducted, there was this skepticism from the centre that the abduction may not have been true. Does that mean that the attitude being development concerning the girls may have resulted in their continued stay in captivity? You are quite right. Vital hours were lost soon after the attack. Hours that may have paid off if the search for the girls was vigorously done within that time frame. For about two or three days they were at the bank of a river and some of the commanders were said to have gone into the hinterlands of Sambisa to get directives from masters. That could have been a golden opportunity for us to recover the girls. But skepticism and sheer indifference really compounded our problems. Some were even compounding theories that it was the Borno State Government that abducted the girls and kept them in the Government House. I found it quite amusing; why should we abduct our daughters for whatever political gains and keep them in the Government House! After all, I am surrounded by policemen, who are not answerable to me. They are the employees of the federal government. I have security aides who are the DSS that are from the federal government; so how is it conceivable to connive with Kashim Shettima to score some cheap political goals, by abducting those girls and keeping. But there is no need to cry over spilt milk. It took some time for the federal government to invite us over the issue. Even when I was invited, I was really delighted that at last some solutions would be proffered as to how to rescue these girls. But it was amazing that the whole crux of the meeting was geared towards scapegoatism. The Commissioner of Education, the Principal of the School and others were being railroaded to make phantom confessions which were alien to our knowledge. Well as I said it is not all about engaging in unnecessary accusation but the rescue of the girls is much more important that the blame game that was played out in the villa. What is important is what we can do to bring back these girls. We have succeeded in rehabilitating the 56 that escaped; the state government has committed N100 million for their education in some of the best schools in the country so that they can get their full potential. These girls, like many of us here, are from the humblest of backgrounds; some are the first generation girls to be educated in their families. So we will do whatever it takes to see that they are rescued; and once they are recovered we will spend whatever resources to ensure that they are rehabilitated. The economy of Borno State has been the worst hit since the insurgency; one aspect

Shettima

ONCE PEACE IS ESTABLISHED, WE ARE GOING TO PICK UP FROM THE PIECES OF OUR LIVES AND RESTORE EDUCATION TO ITS ENVIABLE STATUS

that affects the people most is the closure of borders and the close of industries in the state. Is there any deliberate economic plan to revive this very sector? Well, we have some very grand strategy on the drawing board. In fact, in the past we had a couple of summits where we invited some best brains like Obadiah Mailafia, Audu Ogbeh, Ibrahim Ali, to make inputs towards coming up with a strategy of reviving the economy of the state. Before the emergence of the Boko Haram insurgency, as a former branch manager of a foremost bank in Maiduguri; at a point in time we were the highest cash processing unit of a bank nationwide - we were processing nearly a billion Naira daily. In a month we were processing a minimum of about N20bn, which gives an indication to the level of economic activities in the terrain. Borno is the gateway to the Central African Republic; Borno is just a day’s journey to some of the troubled spots in Africa; if you leave Maiduguri in the morning with a good car, in spite of the terrible roads, you will be in Juba in the evening; you can reach Bangui the capital of Central Africa by 5pm or 6pm. N’djamena, the Chadian capital is few hours from Maiduguri. So Borno is the economic nerve centre, not only of the northeast Nigeria, but of the Northern Nigeria as a whole and that extends up to Central Africa as well. With a good framework, with a marshal action that we will draw in partnership with the federal government, believe me within a year or two, we hope to bounce back. We plan to organise what we plan to call Borno Reality and Prospects Summit mainly as a post insurgency strategy for reconstruction, rehabilitation and re-integration of victims. That summit will bring all sons and daughters of Borno under one roof to take critical look at Borno given the insurgency we have suffered and develop a marshal plan that will require us presenting to the incoming APC Federal Government and also seek all the support we can get from international donor

agencies like the Qatar and Kuwait foundation and others in Europe and America. We have our own focus as a Government but we want to get varied and maybe superior opinion because Borno has sons with serious goodwill and contacts, we need to for once, keep APC and PDP and wear the Borno on ourselves. How do you intend to do this? Commerce and agriculture is the mainstay of the Borno economy. Once peace is fully restored, we have to revive some of our companies that are in comatose. We have invested over N30bn in modern agriculture; that is why agriculture is the centre piece of our government. Of course entrepreneurial capitalism is embedded in the psyche of our people. About 80 percent of our people are farmers, but they do more or less subsistence farming using hoes and cutlasses. This is sad because more than hundred years ago, the average of Borno man from the mountains of Biu to the shores of the Lake Chad practice agriculture using hoes and cutlasses. Up till now 80 percent of our people are still using the rudimentary tools like hoes and cutlasses to eke a very meagre existence. We want to be on the forefront of change; we want to be agent of change so that our people will get out of lowest rung of the ladder of development and get them out of poverty. We are fully prepared, and luckily for us we now have a central government controlled by APC and led by a person of Borno extraction. General Buhari has traced his ancestry to Kukawa town of Borno state. He was opportuned to serve as the governor of old northeast. And later when northeast was balkanised into Gongolola, Bauchi and Borno, he served as the governor of Borno state. He knows the terrain, he appreciates our problems and definitely, we are going to partner with the APC led federal government to address some of the issues.

Your government has in its first and second year been very busy renovating schools and building even new classrooms. So much has been spent in the quest to improve scholarship. But sadly, with the increased insurgency of the Boko Haram things seemed to have been brought to near zero. Now that peace is being sighted around the corners, how do intend to get this sector back on its feet? This is rather a tough question for me. But I disagree with the point that the education sector is near zero level; I think you have grossly over rated the bad situation here. Yes, it is absolutely true we have challenges; but we have a robust framework. Once peace is established, we are going to pick up from the pieces of our lives and restore education to its enviable status. It pains me so much because most of us are from the humblest of backgrounds; and it is because most of us have access to public schools that is why we are who we are. Posterity will judge us harshly if we allow the public schools to collapse. With all sense of modesty , what we spent on education in the last three and half years were not spent in the last three governments that came before ours. We have renovated public schools than the ones renovated by the governments of Mala Kachalla and Ali Sheriff fused together. We have sent our teachers to India to learn the modern Kyan technology and using projectors to teach in secondary schools. We have increased funds in feeding of our students from N20 million to N100 million every month, today students get very nutritious meals and all of you can bear witness, I mostly pay visits to school kitchens unannounced and I go with journalists. We have set up a quality assurance team to monitor standards in our public schools. We have invested about $3 million on the Kayan technology alone - all geared towards addressing the issue of education. But I want to assure you that with the re-emerging peace we are going to address our problems soon. How far has the Federal Government’s SafeSchool-Initiative gone in Borno state giving the fact that very soon schools may open and children have to return to classes? Well, I am sorry to say, that project like most projects of the Federal Government here in Borno is more of hype than action. We have been attending several meetings to that effect but till now there is nothing on ground to show for it. We believe on our part that things are in the pipe line and will start yielding dividends very soon. We understand that your administration has trained youths on various skills and some of them have already been engaged on interlocking business. But there are some that have also acquired such skills that have not been assisted to start up their trade. What plans do you have for these trained youths? On the issue of youth; when I move around the city of Maiduguri and see the mass of humanity jostling for attention and material benefit - it is frightening. Nigeria is expected to double her population every 22 years; by 2035 we are expected to hit the 400 million mark Nigeria is expected to be more populous than the United States. By 2050, it is projected that Nigeria will be the 3rd or 4th most populous nation on earth. I think it is in our enlightened self interest for us the elites to help the masses. There is more to life than primitive capital accumulation; there is more to leadership than stealing public funds and stocking them in Swiss bank accounts. Believe me, as I have repeatedly said in several public fora, if we truly desire to live in this part of the world, we have no option than to work for the people. To us in Borno, we have no business being poor.

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STORIES THAT TOUCH YOU Sunday April 12, 2015

Drug dealer jailed for life for stabbing woman to death …in front of her 6-yr-old daughter •Stabbed her 14 times before her six-year-old daughter, who tried to stop it •Court told how Byfield was ordered to be deported back to Jamaica in 2007 •Jailed in 2005 for attacking another woman with a chisel and for burglary

violent Jamaican drug dealer who evaded deportation for years before he launched a frenzied hammer and knife attack on a young woman in front of her six-year-old daughter could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Lloyd Byfield, 48, pursued a relationship with 26-year-old Leighann Duffy before he armed himself with a claw hammer and a large red handled kitchen knife and smashed his way into her flat in Walthamstow, east London, on September 1 last year. After pleading guilty to murder, he was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 26-and-a-half years by Judge Nicholas Cooke who told him he may never be released. Judge Cooke told Byfield he must have had a ‘heart of stone’ to have killed Ms Duffy despite the presence of the young girl who was herself attacked when she tried to intervene. During the Old Bailey hearing, Judge Cooke also expressed his ‘unhappiness’ at the failure of authorities to deport Byfield back to Jamaica when he attacked another woman with a chisel and was jailed for burglary in 2005. He said the murder could have been prevented if he had been sent back to Jamaica then. Byfield came to the UK in 2000 and was granted indefinite leave to remain on June 29, 2004 after getting married to a British woman despite being in another relationship with the mother of his child, Patricia White. Nine days before leave was granted, he stabbed Ms White with a chisel. Two months later, he broke into her husband’s home and ransacked it. In March 2005 he was jailed for 30 months after pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and burglary. He was ordered to be deported on May 29, 2007. At the hearing, Judge Cooke said: ‘I do not know whether when you were in custody any steps were taken to minimise the risk which was represented to women, particularly those with whom you had a relationship. ‘It is on any view essential that when men are sentenced for crimes of domestic violence the underlying risk to women is addressed. If it was, it was not success-

Walthamstow High Street

Byfield fully addressed. ‘You were to be deported but for reasons which cannot be explained to me that was never actioned with the result you were here and able to kill a woman.’ Byfield claimed he was in love with Ms Duffy and that she was sleeping with other men. But Judge Cooke said: ‘That is not love. Love is caring and cherishing. This was obsessive, possessive, brutality mirroring a wholly wrong attitude to women. ‘This was the pinnacle of domestic violence, a scourge which affects the lives of women and children.’ Byfield had previous convictions for dealing cannabis in Jamaica and continued to do so in the UK, the Old Bailey heard. He had been staying with a friend in Hackney in the days leading up to the killing but was thrown out on August 31 last year. Byfield repeatedly tried to contact Leighann Duffy but she did not answer his calls until the next day. Prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC said: ‘It seems that Miss Duffy had some sort of relationship with this defendant. ‘The defendant appears to have become fixated with Leighann Duffy in the weeks leading up to the murder.’ Byfield was captured on CCTV travelling from Hackney to Walthamstow in the early morning of September 1. He appears to have spoken to Miss Duffy several times up until 2.33pm and launched his attack some time before 3pm. He banged 18 times on the front door of

Duffy

the flat and then burst into the victim’s living room and stabbed her in the arm and neck. When she begged him to stop, he replied: ‘Shut up, I don’t love you anymore. I hear you are sleeping with other men.’ Her six-year-old daughter tried to intervene but was hit on the arm and forced away. Witnesses saw Ms Duffy stagger out of her home bleeding heavily shouting ‘help me, help me’ as the killer fled the scene. She was taken by London Air Ambulance to University College Hospital but died of her injuries two days later. A post-mortem at Walthamstow Mortuary gave the cause of death as a stab wound to the neck. The six-year-old girl received treatment at the scene for an injury but did not need to go to hospital. The murder weapons were recovered from the scene and Byfield was quickly identified as a suspect, police said. He was arrested days later when he stopped a PCSO in Walthamstow High Street saying he was wanted by the police. He told the officer: ‘I’ve done it, I’m not going to fight it. When you love someone, you are not supposed to hurt them but love can make you do stupid things. I think the devil came into my head.’ Despite confessing to the officer, he later refused to answer questions. However, forensic evidence at the scene, phone records and witness accounts provided ‘overwhelming evi-

Old Bailey

dence’ of his guilt, police said. Byfield, of no fixed address, showed no reaction as he was led to the cells today. Members of the victim’s family shouted ‘scumbag’ and ‘I hope you rot in hell’ from the public gallery. Leighann’s mother Ann Kerr said in a victim impact statement read out to the court by the prosecutor: ‘The day Lloyd Byfield broke into Leighann’s house and attacked and murdered her completely ripped an entire family apart and our family will never be the same again. ‘Leighann was a joyous woman who loved to laugh. Since Leighann was murdered the whole family has suffered immense depression with terrible recurring nightmares.’ Detective Chief Inspector Glen Lloyd, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: ‘This was a despicable attack on a woman at home with her young child - a place where she was entitled to feel safe. ‘Byfield has shown callous and murderous intent by forcing his way in and then proceeding to inflict fatal injuries on Leighann Duffy in a pre-planned attack. ‘Byfield was motivated by jealously as he had previously wished to pursue a relationship with Duffy.’ Culled from Mailonline

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News 57

Sunday April 12, 2015

Man arrested with fake PVC in Ibadan ...as 2 fake policemen nabbed in Eleme KEMI OLAITAN, AND DENNIS NAKU

middle-aged man found in possession of fake permanent voter cards, PVC, was yesterday arrested by the police at a polling unit in Ibadan.

The suspect, who was promptly stopped by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, officials while attempting to use the card reader was handed over to the police. The incident which occurred at Ojurin area of

Bodija, in Ward 12 IbadanNorth Local Government of the state did not disrupt the peaceful conduct of the accreditation exercise which began at 8am in many voting centres in the city of Ibadan. Hundreds of voters were seen in long queues waiting to be accredited by INEC officials yesterday. But unlike the last Presidential and National Assembly poll, there was low turnout of voters in the city. In the 11 local govern-

ment areas in Ibadanland and other parts of the state, voting materials arrived early ahead of time. Governorship candidates in the state who spoke on the conduct of the election lauded the electoral body for improving on the last Presidential and National Assembly election. The governorship candidate of Accord Party (AP) , Senator Rasheed Ladoja , Social Democratic Party (SDP) governor-

ship candidate, Mr. Seyi Makinde, and the running mate to the Labour Party governorship candidate, Barrister Sarafadeen Alli, described the exercise as generally peaceful. However, Ladoja noted that in some areas in the state there were complaints of inadequate ballot papers. Meanwhile, ballot boxes and result sheets were reportedly snatched in some areas at Eleme and Ahoada West Local Government

areas respectively at the end of voting, this is as two persons who pose as policemen were arrested by soldiers and taken a nearby police station in Eleme. In Alesa (Eleme LGA). Ward one, election was concluded and results were being collated, when some unidentified persons hi-

Ekweremadu, Ugwuanyi hail Enugu poll DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

oth the Enugu state Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu State, Hon, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday, expressed hope that the PDP candidates would emerge victorious in governorship and house of assembly elections.

Motorists buying fuel from hawkers as fuel scarcity persisted in Abuja at the weekend

Jimi Agbaje loses polling unit again FRANCIS SUBERU

imi Agbaje of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, again lost his polling units to APC in yesterday’s gubernatorial election.

The result of the election as read out in his unit at Ward C, Apapa had it that APC polled 124 while PDP polled 88. For House of Assembly, APC polled 124 while PDP polled 90. Governorship result as read out by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, at Tinubu’s Polling Unit 047, Sunday Adigun Street, Alausa, Ikeja, shows APC polled 230 while PDP got 62. Results for the House of Assembly showed APC polled 233, PDP 60. The total number of registered voters is 1,388 and the total accredited voters is 295 while the to-

tal number of vote cast is 293. At Fashola’s ward G3, Unit 002, State Senior Grammar School,

Itolo, Surulere, the result showed APC governorship, 270, while PDP scored 132, and void vote is 11.

APC governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode in his ward 3 Epe, polled 133, PDP 57.

El-Rufai in early lead in Kaduna as voter apathy hits PDP bases A ZA MSUE KADUNA

he All Progressives Congress, APC, Kaduna State governorship candidate, and Former minister Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir

El-Rufai was yesterday in early lead in some polling units results announced by officials of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Early results in some polling units showed that, El-Rufai of APC was win-

ning governorship in Zakariya clinic polling unit 007 APC scored 104,PDP 13.Also at Magajin Gari polling unit 002 ,APC scored 150 votes, PDP got 11 votes. While at Daura Road polling unit APC 159,PDP 37 votes.

PDP leader slumps, dies while waiting to vote in Osun BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

ragedy struck yesterday in Ilesa, when a leadersof Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, identified as Abiodun Ajirotutu, slumped and died while waiting to vote.

Ajirotutu was said to be

PDP chairman in ward 2, Ireti Ayo unit,in Ilesa west local government area The development which immediately threw PDP members into confusion led to many of the supporters of the party leaving the polling booth without casting their votes. Efforts to get reactions to

the sudden death of Ajirotutu proved abortive, as the handful of members seeing around were too devastated to comment on the matter. Meanwhile, Osun state governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, his wife Sherifat and his mother voted at his Ifofin Ward 8,Unit 4,Ilesa West local council.

jacked ballot boxes and result sheets hijacked in the ward. Also in Ahoada West Local Government Area of the state, precisely in Ubita, ward 10, results sheets and ballot boxes were snatched by hoodlums, while counting of votes was going on in the ward.

Ugwuanyi spoke shortly after he was accredited at his Amube Village Hall, Orba in Udenu Local Government area, while Ekweremadu spoke after voting at Amachara Mpu in Aninri LGA both in Enugu state. But the Governorship candidate of the PDP in Ebonyi state, Engr. Dave Umahi attributed the violence in his state to desperation of Governor Martin Elechi, alleging that the pre-election broadcast by the Governor on Wednesday contributed to the mayhem experienced in the state during the election yesterday. Umahi, who is also the Deputy Governor of the state, however expressed optimism that he would emerge victorious despite the violence that erupted in Ebonyi Central senatorial zone. In Enugu state, the card reader performed well as the PDP governorship candidate’s thumb print was authenticated in less than two minutes. Hon. Ugwuanyi expressed happiness that the election was peaceful in his state and hoped that he would get the mandate of the people to take the state to the next level. He urged the electorate to remain peaceful

throughout the election. Although reports from various local government areas in Enugu state indicated that the elections progressed peacefully, it was gathered that there were pockets of violence at Ichi and Unadu in Igboeze South Local Government Area. Unadu is the hometown of the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Chief Okey Ezea. Reports alleged that young men believed to be militants from Niger Delta were sighted in the local government area but the police said security was beefed up to forstall any breakdown of law and order. However, voters turnout was very unimpressive as the majority of voters who trooped out en masse during the Presidential and National Assembly polls did not show up for the governorship and national assembly polls. In the streets of Enugu, many young men were seen playing football while many residents of Enugu remained in their homes. Senator-Elect for Enugu East, Gilbert Nnaji, who expressed concern over the low voter turnout said he had to invite town criers to go round Nike community in Enugu East local government area to mobilize voters to participate in the election Saturday morning. Some voters who spoke on the development attributed the apathy to what they described as the large scale rigging witnessed during the National Assembly elections in some senatorial zones in the state.

North

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Polls: Tension in Katsina, one person killed JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

ne person was killed yesterday in Danmusa council area of Katsina State while five others sustained injuries following clash between thugs loyal to

two political parties. It was learnt that the clash took place when a group of thugs a day before, wanted to take control of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s office in the area. But another group of thugs, on learning intention

of the first group, rushed to the scene and fighting ensued, and several people sustained injuries in the process. Several motorcycles were said to have been set ablaze while residents fled for their lives when the tension was escalating.

Sources however said a military vehicle came minutes into the fighting and one of the thugs was shot and killed in the process. Due to the tensed situation, elections materials were yet to be dispatched at press time, while security presence has been beefed up.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Borno LG boss commends voters for massive turnout NDAHI MARAMA MAIDUGURI

he Chairman of Hawul Local Government Area of Borno state, Dr. Andrew Usman Malgwi, has expressed satisfaction with the large turn-out of voters in the rural areas of Marama and other communities. The Chairman also commended the people of the council for their peaceful conduct, and urged them to continue to relate with one another and concede defeat as according to him, in any election, there must be a winner and a loser. Malgwi who had his accreditation at about 10am and cast his vote by 2pm at his polling unit (Katsina viewing centre) expressed optimism that APC will

sweep all the elective positions in Haul council area. “The turn-out is impressive, it appear more impressive than what we witnessed two weeks ago.” He said that voters had been “very patient, calm and friendly’’. The chairman said he was particularly happy that the card readers worked perfectly, pointing out that the reverse was the case in the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly polls. He commended INEC officials for arriving on time for the exercise, stressing that it eased the accreditation processes and reduced the waiting period. He therefore called for fairness by INEC and vigilance by political party agents, to ensure transparency and openness in the exercise.

Voter apathy recorded in Gombe DANJUMA WILLIAMS GOMBE A cross section of officers of Community Support Brigade at the capacity building on mitigation of post-election violence held in Lafia, Nasarawa State at the weekend.

APC candidate in Taraba alleges hijack of electoral materials JUSTIN TYOPUUSU JALINGO

overnorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Taraba, Sen. Aisha Jummai Alhassan, has alleged that electoral materials in southern parts of the state were hijacked by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Alhassan stated this yesterday while speaking

to journalists shortly after she did accreditation in her Lamorde PU 007, Dawaki ward in Jalingo local government at about 12:11pm. Alhassan who said, electoral materials in many parts of southern Taraba were yet to reach their various polling units, alleges that, “report reaching me from southern part of the state indicates that electoral materials are yet to arrive most polling units in the area. In some instance,

PDP is said to have hijacked some electoral materials,” she said. The only female governorship candidate in the country expressed optimism that if elections are conducted free and fair, she will carry the day. But when contacted spokesman of Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, in the state, Mr. Fabian Yame, debunked the allegations, saying the APC candidate was entitled

to her opinion, maintaining that no such thing happened. “As I talk to you, I am in Wukari, in southern part of the state. There is nothing like that, accreditation is going on smoothly in this zone. “If she is sure of what she is saying, she should tell you the particular area affected by the development. To the best of my knowledge nothing like that happened here,” he said.

here was dearth of voters in yesterday’s Governorship and State Assembly election in Gombe as few people were seen on polling queues. Our correspondent who monitored the exercise early yesterday morning reported that unlike last two weeks during the Presidential election where multitudes came out as early as 5:30am and waited for election officials, very few people were seen on the cues as at 9:45 when accreditation of voters was supposed to be going on. It was gathered that the heightened tension occasioned by the violent rivalry between the two main po-

litical parties, APC and PDP must have caused the voter apathy. Few violent clashes between the opposing parties were recorded within the week in some parts of the State with some casualties recorded. However, unlike last two weeks, security arrangement was improved upon as more police personnel and other approved security outfits were seen ensuring orderliness. It was also gathered that there was heavy presence of fully armed military personnel in Nafada and Dukku, boarder local governments with Yobe State where insurgents disrupted election processes killing scores including election personnel.

Low turnout mars guber, assembly elections in Kogi WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

s general elections continued yesterday in Kogi State, low turnout of voters marred the House of Assembly election in Kogi State. Though voters were seen at various polling units as earlier as 8.00 am for accreditation, which went peacefully throughout the state.

In most of polling units in Lokoja, the state Capital there general apathy as voters are very scant when compared with what the large turnout during the Presidential and National Assembly elections forth night ago. Even some of people had earlier attempted to open their shops, saying that the yesterday’s election was not all important like the Presidential election. National Mirror gath-

ered that there was low turnout because there was no governorship election in the state. Report from Okunland said that the turnout was not like previous elections on 28th March,2015 Presidential and National Assembly elections. The story is not different from Kogi Central Senatorial District, as voters were not seen as many as they were last two weeks, but the accreditation was

peaceful. In the Easter Senatorial District the report has it that the voters came out, but as not as large turnout and the voters from Anyigba, Iyale and Egume have vowed that they will not vote because they alleged the ballot papers brought were fake. Meanwhile, Kogi State Deputy Governor, Yomi Awoniyi has expressed satisfaction with the improvement in INEC’s prepara-

tion for today’s State House of Assembly election in the state. Awoniyi who was accredited at 9.45am, at unit 4, Ileteju ward of Mopamuro LGA, said there is a remarkable improvement in logistic arrangements. Awoniyi scored the Independent Electoral Commission a pass mark, praising it for early arrival of its men and materials to the polling units in the area. The Deputy Governor

commended the people for their peaceful conduct and turnout, appreciated Nigerians especially the people of the area for their optimism to exercise their franchise. The Deputy Governor maintained that with the impressive performance of the 2015 general election despite the few noticed challenges, the country Awoniyi explained has gotten its electoral process right.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Jonathan confident of improved PDP performance ... as voter apathy mars guber, assembly polls

OSAHON JULIUS YENAGOA

oters refused to turn out in most parts of Bayelsa State as President Goodluck Jonathan said he was convinced of an improved performance by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the governorship and State

House of Assembly elections held across the country. According to Jonathan, though the low turnout was expected in states not conducting governorship elections due to inadequate mobilisation by candidates, he said the PDP would gain grounds in more states in the governorship election despite his loss during the

Presidential poll. Jonathan, who arrived at his polling Unit 039, at exactly 10:55 a.m, and was accredited within a minute without any technical hitch with the card reader like it was during the Presidential poll, said the noticeable smoothness of his accreditation by the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,

showed that the commission had rectified some of the noticeable errors during the Presidential poll. On the low turnout, he said, “Naturally, different levels of election elicit different interest,presidential elections are more interesting, governorship elections are quite interesting. If we have a governorship election in Bayelsa State, the

mobilisation would have been better, because you need to mobilise the electorate to come out. For the state house of assembly election, the interest is not as high as that of the governorship. We expect low turnout in states that have no governorship election. Yes, of course, Bayelsa State has no governorship election and that is why the turnout was low.” Jonathan, who had his accreditation and later voted at around 1:36 p.m. without the presence of his wife, Patience, could not give a convincing answer when asked by a female journalist about the whereabouts of his wife. He said, “We use a different aircraft, we are actually supposed to be here, you see, we are actually expecting her, I think she will still come, the only problem is whether she will meet the

accreditation period; she is supposed to be on her way.” The President’s mother had earlier done her accreditation before his arrival and later voted immediately after her son at around 1: 47 p.m. Meanwhile, the accreditation processes in Oruma community in Ogbia and Brass Local Government area of the state were disrupted by crowd of voters due to alleged missing result sheets from voting materials supplied by the INEC. While the protest in Oruma community was allegedly led by the State Assembly candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, the protest in Brass local council was provoked by the alleged hijack of voting materials by some suspected PDP thugs.

Navy beefs up security in Cross River RICHARD NDOMA CALABAR L-R: Olokuku of Okuku, Oba Abioye Oyebode; Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, and Oloyan of Oyan, Oba Kilani Adekeye, during the congratulatory visit to the governor on the victory of General Muhamadu Buhari and other APC candidates, at Government House, Osogbo, recently.

Soldiers storm Wike’s community in Rivers DENNIS NAKU

PORT HARCOURT

eavily-armed soldiers reportedly stormed Rumuiprikom, hometown of the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Nyesom Wike, early yesterday morning. The mission of the soldiers was not clear at the time of filing this report, but it was gathered that the soldiers moved into the area and barricaded it. The security operatives reportedly stationed their vehicles on the road leading to Wike’s residence, even as they stopped and searched vehicles coming from both directions. It would be recalled that some hoodlums had exchanged gunfire with soldiers in Wimpey area of Mile 3, though the soldiers overpowered the criminals, arrested scores of them and recovered a cache of arms. Reacting to the development, Wike accused

Amaechi of bringing soldiers to his father’s house, saying he does not know why the governor was after him, even as the situation caused a gridlock in the area. Meanwhile, the campaign director of the APC governorship candidate, Barrister Tamuno Williams, yesterday alleged that 80 per cent of card readers in the area malfunctioned. It was also gathered that result sheets were hijacked by some unknown persons in some towns in Obio/Akpor, Omagwa, Ikwerre local government. Addressing journalists after voting at Unit 7 Ward 9 in Obio/Akpor during the governorship and state assembly elections, Wike alleged that Amaechi’s desperation was such that he led securitymen to his (Wike’s) family home by 2.30 a.m. on election day. According to him, “the level of Amaechi’s desperation for victory is alarming. At about 2.30 a.m. this morning, he led security agents to storm my family

home. He was at the gate for several minutes shouting repeatedly. Today, the governor went around with thugs snatching ballot papers in different polling units in Obio/Akpor LGA. “Amaechi is trying to disrupt the election, but he has failed. In Omagwa, I learnt that Amaechi’s attempt to snatch ballot papers was rebuffed by the people who chased him away and he had to be rescued by soldiers. “

Commenting on the elections, Wike urged the people to remain calm and vote peacefully despite the provocation by the governor and his associates. He commended INEC officials for conducting the elections in line with laid down election guidelines. Wike said that reports reaching him from party agents across the state indicate that voting had commenced in most polling units.

he Nigerian Navy yesterday tightened up security along the Calabar waterways to ensure that there was no influx of illegal immigrants, arms and ammunition to disrupt the governorship/state Houses of Assembly elections in Cross River State. Briefing journalists in Calabar, Flag Officer, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Henry Babalola, said the Navy was doing everything humanly possible to ensure that the conduct of the elections was peaceful. The Navy stated that his men were already carrying out a rigorous sea patrol along the waterways to pre-

vent sea robbers, election material hijackers and several other miscreants from disrupting the process. “We have asked Akwa Ibom to brand 13 speed boats to cover Ibaka, NNS Victory have been asked to block the water ways so that election process would not be thwarted,” he said. The FOC maintained that though the Navy had nothing to do with the conduct of the poll ‘except when we are called upon to assist them in the provision of security in some flash points’. “We just only escorted the materials to and fro the election venues along the waterways. We have our men on a standby in Onne Industrial Area and we also have a control point where we send our situation report to the Navy headquarters.

Ogun: DPO, four other policemen injured in accident FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

divisional police officer and four other policemen on election duty were critically injured in an auto crash which occurred yesterday along the Abeokuta-Sango-Lagos expressway. The accident, which occurred at Wasinmi village in the Ewekoro local government area of Ogun

State at about 9: 35 a.m. involved a police Toyota Hilux vehicle marked NPF 8182 C belonging to the Ewekoro Divisional Police station. Sunday Mirror gathered that the DPO, identified as B.O. Bakare was posted from Ado-Odo division to Ewekoro division and was leading the four other policemen to monitor the election in the area. Our correspondent who witnessed the accident ob-

served that one of the tyres of the Hilux vehicle which was on top speed burst aaandcaused the vehicle to somersault and cross the road divider to the other side of the expressway. Other policemen involved in the crash were identified as Ologbese Vincent, Nuhu, Corporal Oyewole Afolabi and one other whose identity could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report. One of the injured po-

licemen, Corporal Afolabi, was fuming and shouting, alleging that the driver of their Hilux truck was on high speed and had dozed off. It, however, took the collaborative efforts of operatives of the Directorate of State Service, DSS, men of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, and other security agencies who joined hands in the rescue operation to rush the injured policemen to the hospital.

Sport

Sunday April 12, 2015

Winning is the Manchester United way –Young P. 62

Sport

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Van Gaal hails player influence

KEEPING YOU ABREAST OF SPORTING NEWS April 12, 2015

P. 63

Afcon 2017:

r o f e d i r y s a e o N

? s e l g S/Ea

PIUS ANAKALI

ill Super Eagles qualify for the next Africa Cup of Nations? This is the question many are asking after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) pitched the senior national team against seven-time winner; the Pharaoh of Egypt, Taifa Stars of Tanzania and Les Sao of Chad Republic in the qualifying round ahead of 2017 Afcon billed for Gabon. Until recently, the thought of Nigeria not qualifying for the Nation’s cup would have been unheard of, but recent developments tend to point to a different direction as the once dreaded Super Eagles seem to have lost their claws. With the victory recorded in far away South Africa in 2013, the thinking was that the team will build on the success in 2015, instead however, the defending champion failed to qualify even though it was pitched against familiar foes which naturally tremble at the sight of star-studded Super Eagles. So was the case in the race to the just concluded Afcon, when Super Eagles lost its first match at home by 2-3 to the visiting Congo, played a goalless draw with Bafana Bafana

in South Africa in an away game and lost to Sudan by a lone goal in Khartoum in an encounter many had expected the Super Eagles to come out victorious. The second leg however saw the Eagle defeating their opponent Sudan by 3-1 in Calabar, overpowered Congo by 2-0 and needed a home win against South Africa to berth in the final, but the Eagles disappointed managing to pick just a point out of the three at stake. It is on these accounts that many have asking if the senior national team will qualify for Gabon 2017 Nations Cup. On paper, the Super Eagles have what it takes. With players scattered all over Europe and other notables doing their business back home, no one should take the Eagles for granted or so it seem. Except the Pharaohs of Egypt, whose intimidating record can scare any team, the other two contenders are obvious minnows. In group G, Pharaoh of Egypt are the most successful team at Afcon winning it seven times. The other team, Tanzania can be said to be pushover but lately, Tanzania has been investing in her national team and has employed a Dutch coach, Mart Nooij to straighten it. So also is Chad Republic. Though they

have never qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations but there are indications that, just like Tanzania, Chad is rebuilding for the future and may not pose a threat. Though the group looks more like a twohorse race, yet, football pundits are worried mainly because of Nigeria Football Federation’s refusal to appoint a coach for the team, almost a year after the expiration of Stephen Keshi’s contract and NFF lackadaisical approach to early preparation for tournament like this. Speaking in a chat with National Mirror last week, former Super Eagles coach, Adegboye Onigbinde said that preparation will make or mar the side qualification for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, especially now that the NFF is yet to appoint a coach almost a year after the expiration of Keshi’s contract. He said the quality of opposition count less, compared with the quality of preparation. “I don’t count or recognize any team either as strong or weak rather I pay 100% attention and concentration on adequate preparations to confront any eventuality or team. “The biggest challenge we have as a nation is the fact that we hardly learn any lesson from our past mistakes.

“I’m not sure whether anybody has bordered to find out why we didn’t qualify for the 2006 World Cup, 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon/Equatorial Guinea as well as the immediate past 2015 Afcon in Equatorial Guinea. “I think the determining and overriding factor to our qualification to the 2017 Afcon in Gabon is how we go about the preparations to confront our opponents”, said worried Onigbinde Sharing that same sentiment was former Super Eagles midfielder; Garba Lawal who said Nigeria may not qualify for the competition. “We have a tough group,” he said. “It will be tough because we have Egypt in there and we cannot underestimate Chad and Tanzania. As we have seen in the last three qualifiers where we had supposedly weak opponents, we still failed to qualify on two of those occasions. Egypt obviously will be the toughest opponents and having failed to qualify for recent editions, they will be hoping to return to the competition”, Lawal said Though, Super Eagles assistant coach, Dan Amokachie sees no reason why Nigeria cannot qualify but analysts are of the opinion that, good planning and not the quality of opposition will determine Nigeria’s qualification.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Sunday April 12, 2015

Zambia will stop Dream Team V1, says Zambia coach

Knockout IFEANYI Eduzor with

PIUS ANAKALI

08055829770 ifeduz24@yahoo.com

ambia U-23 coach Fighton Simukonda has said that his side will do all they can to defeat Nigeria’s Dream Team V1 and book a place for the All Africa Games scheduled to hold in Congo. Speaking ahead of today’s second leg encounter scheduled for National Heroes Stadium, in Lusaka, the coach said Samson Siasia’s wards lack the character to snatch victory Zambia after playing the first leg goalless in Abuja. He stated that his players are in high spirits to secure the all-important victory, insisting that Siasia’s men will face an uphill task and doubts the Dream Team VI’s qualification chances. ”If they prepare well, good luck to them; but we’ll be playing in front of our supporters, so, I don’t see Nigeria defeating us with those support”, he

NBB of C makes Helen Joseph’s appeal

Dream Team VI

said. After playing out a scoreless draw in Abuja on March 22, the Zambian U-23 national side will hope to consolidate on their first leg result with home

victory against Nigeria in Lusaka. The winner of the encounter on aggregate will qualify for the men’s football category at the 2015 All Africa Games in Brazaville, Congo in September.

Owumi assures on Confederation Cup IFEANYI EDUZOR

anaging Director of Warri Wolves, Davidson Owumi says that the club is positioned to do well at this year’s Confederation Cup. Speaking on the backdrop of the team’s performance in Ethiopia which ensured their qualification for the next round of the competition at the expense of Dedebat FC, he stated that the club has what it takes to do the country proud at the continental level. According to him, the fact that Warri Wolves is the only remaining Nigerian club sides campaigning for a continental silverware this year will enable the management and players put in their best to ensure they put up a good performance in the second tier African

championship “I sincerely believe that the team will go far in the competition judging from what I saw in their last match in Ethiopia. But there is also need to work hard because in a competition like this, the higher you go, the tougher it becomes. We are the only hope of the nation now with all other clubs eliminated and we cannot afford to let the country down. We need a lot of things to succeed and we are really “The management is quite aware that for the team to put up a good performance in the continent it needs motivation and the management is trying all within its powers to ensure that the players are well motivated ahead of their next match against MK Entancheite of DR Congo at the Warri City Stadium on April 18. Owumi while announcing that

the club will go into close camping to prepare adequately for their next match appealed for fans’ support as that will go a long way in gallivanting the team to achieve success. “As part of our preparations to ensure we put up a good performance against our opponents from DR Congo, we are planning to immediately embark on close camping to prepare the players adequately for the game especially when one considers that we are playing the first leg at home and need a comprehensive win to ensure we get through in the second leg. “The importance of the match requires that fans should come out in their thousands to cheer the team to victory. They should be our 12th player on the pitch and with them backing us, we can achieve what we set to do by going far in the competition”, he concluded.

igerian Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C) has appealed to Government and corporate Nigeria to give financial help to Nigerian female boxer, Helen Joseph who is preparing for a world title fight. Helen Joseph known as the “Princess of African Boxing” will on April 18 face Jennifer Han for the World featherweight title at the El Paso Country Coliseum in El Paso, Texas, United States. According to a statement by the body signed by its Secretary General, Remy Aboderin, it noted that it is important that she gets the

desired support to enable her win the belt not only for the country but the entire continent. “It has been a long time Helen Joseph has been trying to have a crack at the World title but now that her dream is coming through later this month, it is important for Nigerians to give her all the necessary financial and moral support to enable her bring the belt back to the country. The board reminded Nigerians that this is a life time opportunities that will help in announcing Nigeria as a force to be reckoned with in female

Mega Fight: Pacquiao gets Senator Reid’s support

arry Reid, a long time senator from Nevada, has voiced his support for Manny Pacquiao in his upcoming bout against Floyd Mayweather Jr even as he stated that being a Nevada politician; he appreciates what Mayweather has done for the state. Speaking ahead of the fight, Reid noted that he cannot forget easily how the eight division champion broke training on two occasions to campaign for him, promising to give the Filipino all support needed to defeat Mayweather. “I always try to help people who help me and no one has been more helpful to me, campaign wise than Manny Pacquiao. He broke training on two separate occasions to come and campaign for me and I can’t forget that,” stated Reid.

The American Senator noted that he is happy that despite the fact the Pacquiao is a member of the Philippine congress, he still has time for boxing, urging him not to be distracted by politics as he prepares for the May 2, mega fight. “My advice to him to forget about Congress and what’s going on in the government in the Philippines; what is going on around the world and focus on the fight. It’s extremely important that he has his full attention and focus on the fight,” Reid said. “I like Floyd Mayweather very much. He’s been great for the sport. He’s undefeated. He spent most of his adult life in Nevada and I wish him the best. But the question is, Manny has been in my corner whenever I needed him and I will be in his corner when he needs me,” Reid concluded.

3, 000 runners for Okpekpe race AFOLABI GAMBARI

bout 3, 000 runners are expected to participate in next month’s 3rd Okpekpe 10km Road Race scheduled to hold in Okpekpe, Auchi in Edo State, organizers confirmed yesterday. “The interest in the race from various managers across the world has been both encouraging and overwhelming,” Coordinator and former Nigeria track and field international, Yusuf Ali, said. “The runners are expected to submit their registration forms with medical certificate of fitness and they are expected to sign a waiver form to acknowledge among other things the risks inherent in running a 10km race unfit,” the former World Universities Games, African Championship and Commonwealth Games long jump

champion added. Ali further revealed that the race would be conducted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN). “IAAF Road Race Label Regulations will also apply to the Okpekpe Road Race 2015 which has been certified by the IAAF as a Bronze Label road race,” the coordinator further said. The Okpekpe 10km road race is organized by Pamodzi Sports Marketing in conjunction with the AFN and Edo State government.

Previous editions of the race were dominated by East Africans with Kenya’s Moses Masai winning the maiden edition while Ethiopia’s Teshome Asafan won the men’s title at the second edition and his country woman, Wuday Ayalew, won the women’s title.

Manny Pacquiao (R) lands a punch at Timothy Bradley during their WBO world welterweight championship fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Supporters Club commends President Jonathan IFEANYI EDUZOR

embers of Nigeria Football Supporters Club has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his contributions towards sports development even as it expressed hope that President – elect General Muhamadu Buhari‘s administration will uplift sports further in the country. President General of the Club, Rafiu Ladipo told

our correspondent that the club had a cordial relationship with the outgoing President which they hope to extend to General Buhari’s administration to enable him move the country forward. “We must have to commend President Jonathan for supporting the club and keeping to his words that his personal ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. His decision to be a good sportsman is worthy of emulation because he used his maturity to unify the country and that is why we are describing him as the hero of our time.

Sport

Sunday April 12, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Winning is the Manchester United way –Young

OF COURSE! IT’S AN HONOUR TO REPRESENT

YOUR COUNTRY.

I’VE GOT 30

CAPS AT PRES-

I WANT TO GET MORE.

ENT AND

If wining is indeed that case, Ashley Young’s spell at Manchester United will have gone in the blink of an eye with the former Aston Villa man describing the spirit at the club as ‘getting better and better’ since his arrival in June 2011. Young responds to questions on a lots of subjects including life under Louis van Gaal, the secret behind the Red Devils annual strong finish, and his hopes for an international recall.

FIFA.com: In June you will have been with the club for four years. When you walked in here for the first time, what was it like? Ashley Young: Obviously when you join the biggest club in the world it can be daunting. When I walked in here for the first time, I just wanted to get on the training pitch. Most of the players had come back and I just wanted to get out there and train. For me, when I actually signed on the dotted line, it was fantastic. When you think about your career, playing for clubs such as Watford and Aston Villa, did you notice another step up here in terms of the scale? I first noticed it was when we went on my first tour to America. We pulled up to the first hotel; you could see the amount of fans that stood outside the hotel just waiting for us to turn up. I think at the first training session there were 40-or60,000 fans there, which is incredible. Then, you start to realise the size of the club. It’s like a big family. Everyone here welcomes you with open arms and the hard work starts as soon as you walk through the front door. How long do you think it takes someone to settle in at Manchester United on average? For me, I settled in straight away and I think it helps with a pre-season tour. You go away and you start to get to know the staff and players even more than you already did when you’ve been training for a few weeks before you go away. So, you start to get to know people and build that team spirit. The team bonding we’ve got here has been fantastic. All through the years I’ve been here I think it’s getting better and better, the team spirit. The amount of trophies and titles the club has won, the honours that the club has won. It’s that winning way. It’s the Manchester United way.

That mentality of winning has been constant, but there have been changes. The dressing room has changed. Obviously big characters such as Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs aren’t there anymore. How has it evolved since you’ve been here? Players come and go. That’s just the way the world of football is. It takes our players to step up and become seniors and take over that mantle and now you feedback to the younger players. I think this season, I’m the fifth-oldest now, so I’m trying to keep to being young but by now it’s only by name. But then, when you go out on the pitch there are 11 leaders. Everyone has a voice and gives their input into the team. I think that’s what helps, that everyone’s pulling in the right direction and buying into the manager’s philosophy. As a kid, you would have watched United sides of seasons’ past come into their peak around now. Now that you’re here, what do you think the secret is? I don’t know. I think you could talk to players and staff over the past years and years, it’s always the time of the year where the United teams come into their own and they just kick on. I don’t know if there’s an answer to as to why. We’re on a fantastic run right now. And touch wood hopefully it can continue from now until the end of the season. We said we wanted into the top four, but we want to finish as high as possible. Louis van Gaal has used you in a variety of positions this season so far. That obviously must be quite challenging, but has it also been stimulating for you? I think it has. Nowadays you have to be a versatile player. There have been different formations we’ve played this season and the manager has picked me to play in a few. I think if you’re clever

me, I go out and give 110 per cent and go and show exactly what I can do. We’ll keep on listening to the manager and keep on performing. You’re playing well for United, and that’s all you can do, but would you like to play for England again? Of course! It’s an honour to represent your country. I’ve got 30 caps at present and I want to get more. It’s one of those things where I have to keep playing as well as I can for United, and if called upon again by the England manager, then I’d be delighted.

Young

enough to play in those different positions, you go out and give as much as you’ve got. I’ve played in numerous positions, and especially playing as a left wing-back has been a new position for me. Come pre-season, the manager said he saw me as a wingback and it was the formation we were playing with at the time. I just went and did the job. It’s a lot more defending then I would normally do but I’m clever enough to be able to go out there and know what positions to be in and when to attack. Do you think you would have been able to do that with as much success when you were younger? I think maybe I would have got

up and down the pitch a bit quicker as I’m getting older now! At this time, you start to think about the game more. You’re more experienced. I think a lot of football is about the footballing brain. If you have a good football brain I think you get very far in your career. Especially being here, the manager puts a lot of demands on you. I’m enjoying football again. I’ve got a smile on my face. I just want to do as well as I can for the team. You said before you were enjoying your football. How would you assess your own season? I’m really enjoying my football, starting games, which as a player you always want to play in games. Whenever the manager calls upon

What’s been the best moment for you in an England shirt? Getting my first cap was a feeling I don’t think you can really describe. It’s one of those things where, until you experience it, you can’t really describe it. I remember getting that first phone call and actually thinking it was a wind up from someone! I was on the way to training and I thought it was a wind up, so I hung up the phone! I got the phone call back again, and I was like, ‘Ok, maybe it is actually serious’. Why is playing for your country so special for you? There’s no better feeling when you pull on that England shirt. When you have that England badge on and play at Wembley as well, it’s a fantastic place to play. Everyone wants to play at Wembley, and luckily for me, I’ve managed to do that. But I want more caps.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Sunday April 12, 2015

Van Gaal hails player influence L Mourinho

Mourinho: Hazard is the best

ouis van Gaal has praised Manchester United’s players for revitalising their season and bringing them back into contention for a top-four place. United – who face fierce rivals Manchester City on Sunday – stuttered in the early months under the Dutchman with just three wins in their opening 10 matches. However, with only two Premier League defeats since No-

vember they have charged up the table and find themselves locked in a battle for second with Arsenal and City. “The key is the players, who are developing themselves in the process of what we have done with each other,” Van Gaal told MUTV. “I believe because it is not only the last five matches. I think in more than 20 games we’ve only lost two times, so it’s a long row of matches that we

win

or at least don’t don t lose. “You have very good performances and you also have bad performances, but at the end nd the result is good and the key is always the players. layers. “ T h e players layers have to o do it at the right ght moment, at the he right time against resistance. stance.

Ibe back in Liverpool squad

helsea boss Jose Mourinho says Eden Hazard has been the best player in the Premier League by some distance this season and believes he should be a certainty for the player of the year award. The Belgium playmaker has enjoyed a fine campaign, scoring 12 goals in 30 matches to help Chelsea amass a sevenpoint lead at the top of the table. “I think what he’s doing, speaking in a very hon honest ones estt es way, way, it shouldn’tt even be a debate,”

ordon Ibe will return to Liverpool’s squad for Monday’s Premier League match against Newcastle United. Manager Brendan Rodgers says the winger has been “absolutely sensational” since returning to training following the knee injury he sustained in February’s trip to Besiktas in the UEFA Europa League. The 19-year-old, who spent time on loan at Championship Derby County, will hope to make just his eighth league appearance for the club. Rodgers told the club’s official website: “Jordon Ibe will come back in. I have got to say, he has looked absolutely sensational in training. “He has been out for a while, but he has been out on the field for a couple of weeks now, doing his preparation work and he has joined in training. “He has looked absolutely outstanding - he has got real natural fitness. He’ll come into the squad for Monday night. Some of the others that have been out are still out.”

Ibe

Mourinho said. said.

Uche talks up derby clash with Valencia

alu Uche is expecting “a tough but special” derby contest when his club, Levante UD, face Valencia in a Monday night Spanish La Liga match at the Mestalla. The Levante attacking midfielder said the Valencia derby game apart from being tough will be “physically and mentally” demanding. But the former Almeria and Espanyol man believes Les Granotes have put up a good performance in their last two matches despite losing to Sevilla, and now wants his teammates to replicate same spirited display in the derby on Monday. “It’s a special game for the fans, and for ourselves too. But above all, it’s important for us to keep working towards our objectives. We appreciate that it’s a derby and we have to be physically and mentally prepared to confront it.

Gaal

Uche

Ronaldo

Ronaldo’s opener sets up Real victory

ristiano Ronaldo took his tally for the season to 49 as Real Madrid cut the gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona to just a point with a comfortable 3-0 win over Eibar. Ronaldo opened the scoring with his first free-kick goal for nearly a year before Javier Hernandez crowned a rare start with the second before halftime. Madrid eased up after the break ahead of their Champions League quarterfinal against Atletico Madrid in midweek, but there was still time for Jese Rodriguez to fire home a third eight minutes from time. Barcelona face a stiff test if they are to regain their four-point

lead at the top as they travel to Sevilla later on Saturday. Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti had handed outings to Hernandez, Jese, Asier Illarramendi and Keylor Navas, making six changes from Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Rayo Vallecano. James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos were out suspended, while Gareth Bale missed the game through injury. The hosts took their time to get going, but were only denied the opener in incredible fashion on 19 minutes as Sergio Ramos’ initial shot came off the bar, Isco’s follow-up effort then came off both posts and Hernandez was flagged offside as he fired in the rebound.

Spieth

US Masters: Spieth breaks record, takes control

ordan Spieth carded the lowest halfway total in Masters history to take a massive step closer to a first major title on Friday. On the day that his mentor Ben Crenshaw played his final ever round after 44 consecutive appearances at Augusta National, Spieth added a sec-

ond round of 66 to his opening 64 to post a total of 130, one shot better than the previous best set by Ray Floyd in 1976. That also equalled the 36hole record in any major; shared by Nick Faldo, Brandt Snedeker and Martin Kaymer and at 14 under is the lowest 36-hole score in relation to par.

N I G E R I A

N10

Vol. 5 No. 15

Sunday April 12, 2015

Back Page

Comment E-mail:

nwaunah@yahoo.com Deputy Vice-Chancellor & Dean, School of Languages and General Studies, The Premier University of Sao Tome and Principe

with Jim Unah

opmost in the list of concerns that bugged Nigerians and the international community prior to the commencement of the ongoing general elections was, and still is, how to abort or stem the tide of violence that happens before, during, and after elections. The concerns gave birth to a couple of peace accords in which the principal actors, the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan and the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, were prevailed upon by stakeholders to append their signatures. Looking back, one could say that the concerns have largely been addressed, especially the concerns about violence before and during elections. However, the concern to be fully and convincingly addressed is that of post-election violence. No one could say with certitude that the fear of post-election violence has been fully laid to rest. From the cacophony of voices regarding some irregularities that trailed the elections and the issue of voter intimidation and outright harassment making the

www.nationalmirroronline.net

F I G U R E S

N870

Not relenting on non-violence

rounds, which are yet to be addressed, it is still too early to conclude that the Nigerian state has successfully escaped the incubus of post-election violence this time around. But we can celebrate and build on the peace that had been recorded so far and hope that all will finally be well. This suggests that some proactive steps are necessary to consolidate on the gains of electoral peace achieved in these elections. The first of these steps is continuous voter education and enlightenment to be carried out by the relevant agencies of state such as the National Peace Commission, the National Orientation Agency, the civil society organisations, the political parties, educators and the mass media. The National Peace Commission should track down authors of incendiary and provocative utterances capable of breaching the peace and process them for sanctions by the appropriate authorities. The National Orientation Agency should identify and list utterances and pronouncements that could breach the peace, disseminate such utterances and pronouncements in the public domain and prevail on the print and electronic media not to broadcast or publish them. This may require that it liaises with the Nigerian Censors Board to work out those provocative, peacebreaching, utterances and outlaw them; the musings of human rights organisations notwithstanding. Likewise, human rights associations and civil society groups should organise peaceful protests to agencies and organisations that harbour the authors of peace-breaching utterances to ask for their sack or dethrone-

Moses injured again igeria international winger, Victor Moses pulled up injured in Stoke City’s 1-1 draw with West Ham United in the Barclays English Premier League on Saturday. The winger signaled to the club’s physio in the 41st minute after firing a shot wide and pulling up badly. He was substituted just before half time with Senegalese striker, Mame Biram Diouf taking his place. The extent of the injury is not yet clear but the latest incident will leave the 24-year-old seriously contemplating what might have been. This week, he spoke about the frustrations he had to deal with as a result of injury concerns.

I N

m - Money bn - Amount Senator that Fidson Rasheed Ladoja slammed as libel against Oyo State Governor, Healthcare earned as profit in 2014 N150 Abiola Ajimobi.

“I won’t say it hasn’t been frustrating at times, with the injuries I have picked up, because it has, but thankfully I am feeling really good and strong at the moment,” he told Stoke City’s official website. Saturday’s injury looked extremely bad as he could not put any weight at all on his left foot

ment. That way, the Nigerian State would have begun to institute a culture of responsible and peace-friendly utterances in the public domain. The political parties should also wake up to their responsibility in this arena. They should mobilise their enlightenment units to embark on periodic voter education on how to seek peace and pursue peace. School teachers and educators including language experts should begin to expand the vocabulary of peace, persuasion and cooperation and evolve linguistic mechanisms of euphemising the vocabularies of violence, coercion and confrontation. The Scripture urges a temperament conducive to peaceful relations in society thus: “An answer when mild, turns away rage but the word causing pain makes anger to come up.” Everyone has a stake in a peaceful social order. Industry, commerce and agriculture can thrive only in an atmosphere of peace. The people should be taught that those who incite the citizens to violence on account of their ambition to occupy public office are mere political jobbers, largely unconcerned with the wellbeing of the people in mind. No ambition of any public office seeker is worth the life of any Nigerian or any person for that matter. Consequently, no one should allow himself to be goaded into violence by the usual chicanery of politicians. Your support of public officeseekers should begin and end with your vote. Do not lay your life down for the furtherance of the ambition of any politician. The mass media, especially the print, should seriously discourage the use of the language of acrimony and discord in their reportage, news analyses, features and pre-

THE MASS MEDIA, ESPECIALLY THE

PRINT, SHOULD SERIOUSLY DISCOURAGE THE USE OF THE LANGUAGE OF ACRIMONY AND DISCORD IN THEIR

REPORTAGE, NEWS ANALYSES, FEA-

TURES AND PRESENTATIONS.

sentations. While the electronic media makes noticeable effort to curtail the use of invectives and provocative utterances in their presentations, such an effort is not so visible in the print media, which often confuse the language of hate with the profession’s sensationalising of news. While it must be conceded that the media are not responsible for the issuance of provocative, inflammatory utterances that are published in the newspapers, the contention here is that it is within their editorial capacity to discourage and advise against the use of such utterances. All said and done, everyone owes it as a duty to society to cultivate the language of peace.

No easy ride for P. 60 S/Eagles?

as he was carried off the pitch. Moses is just returning from an injury (hip/thigh) layoff that saw him sidelined from March 15 to April 1. The winger, who is on a season-long loan from Chelsea, has scored three times in 19 league appearances for the Potters.

PREMIERSHIP RESULTS

Moses

Swansea City 1 - 1 Everton Southampton 2 - 0 Hull City Sunderland 1 - 4 Palace Tottenham Hotspur 0 - 1 Villa West Bromwich 2 - 3 Leicester West Ham United 1 - 1 Stoke Burnley 0 - 1 Arsenal PREMIERSHIP FIXTURES

QPR v Chelsea Man Utd v Man City MONDAY FIXTURES

Liverpool v Newcastle

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