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States rake in N707.8bn from IGR

Death in the Holy Land:

Heavy toll on Muslim pilgrims

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Why tribunal sacked Wike as Rivers governor

P. 7&8

...Ruling, deadly blow to impunity – APC •I ’m still governor, Wike declares •Uneasy calm in P/Harcourt Heavy security as Ife awaits announcement of new Ooni

P.9

Confusion over airspace closure threat

P.9

Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai (left) inspecting guard of honour, at the 1 Div. Nigerian Army in Kaduna, yesterday.

Yola bombings: Presidency calls for eternal vigilance

PHOTO: NAN

P.7&58

•Two female suicide bombers kill three Borno villagers Obasanjo escapes death on Lagos - Ibadan expressway News

Police to prosecute Enugu Rep for fraud

P. 9

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What ’s new Politics

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Ministerial screening: Bark without the bite

Seven Days TALKING POINTS OF THE PAST WEEK October 25, 2015

LAGS warns security operatives against violating trafc

Airports across the country are to be shut down on Monday as the two leading unions in the sector yesterday threatened to shut down Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA by midnight on Sunday.

The unions, National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, and Na-

tional Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, NAAPE, in a letter dated 21st October, 2015 to their members and made available to our correspondent accused NCAA of not adhering to the condition of service with respect to promotion of workers and other welfare issues.

PC not involved in Saraki ’s travails –Gbajabiamila

Key facts about Leptospirosis disease

L e p t o spirosis is a life threatening bacterial disease which affects humans and animals. It is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira, while in human it can cause a wide range of symptoms, some of which may be mistaken for oth-

Finally, Reps constitute 96 standing committees House of Representatives yesterday, finally announced the composition of its 96 standing committees. The composition, which is coming about five months into the life of the 8th House, has seven committees higher than the 7th House, which had 89 Standing Committees.

Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, after considering motions and six bills

that pass through first reading and two others that scaled through second reading at the plenary, presented the composition of the Committees From the Speaker ’s presentation, All Progressives Congress, APC, is chairing 48 committees, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, 46, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, one and Social Democratic Party, SDP, one.

CBN rules out extension of BVN registration deadline er diseases.

However, infected persons may have no symptoms at all; those with pneumonia, young children under five, and elderly individuals are more likely to suffer from the disease.

With the October 31 deadline set by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, for all bank customers in the country to be registered under the Bank Verification Number, BVN, the apex bank yesterday called on all bank customers yet to be captured to do so, warning that there would

not be another extension.

It will be recalled that the BVN exercise which had been on for over six months initially ended on July 30th, but was extended by additional three months following calls from many bank customers who could not register within the period.

the election while delivering judgment in a petition filed by the All Progressives Congress and its governorship candidate, Mr. Umana Umana.

In the judgment that lasted over seven hours, the tribunal agreed with the petitioner that there was disenfranchisement as a result of widespeed violence, snatching of election materials and irregularities and harassment of the election umpire.

However, the tribunal was silent on the prayer seeking invalidation of the election of governor Emmanuel Udom.

Hakeem Rahman ACTOR

MON

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Akwa-Ibom State gubernatorial election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja has ordered a re-run of the April 11 poll in 18 out of the 31 local government areas of the state.

Election in the affected local government areas is to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, within 90 days.

The affected local councils include: Uyo, Eket, Ibesikpo, Ona, Ukanafun, Ikono, Oron, Uruan, Ibiano- Ibom and Etinan.

Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Sadiq Umar, nullified

I go to work, I go to shoot films. My Mondays are always tight for me; I ’m always busy in Lagos on this first day of the week. I ’m always on location, you know, shooting, doing a new film or doing what we know how to do best.

TUE

Wellness

Speaking with State House Correspondents after he led some members of the House to meet President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Gbajabiamila denied any crisis in the party, stressing that Saraki ’s case had to do with the issue of law.

Tribunal orders rerun of A ’Ibom guber poll

Tuesday is also same thing, I ’m shooting.

WED

I cherish looking sexy but decent –Rachael Aniah

Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, yesterday said the All Progressives Congress, APC, has nothing to do with the trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki before the Code of Conduct Tribunal for alleged false assets declaration.

a Point of Order on Amaechi ’s screening when the report on the petition against him was yet to be considered.

Citing order 43 of the Senate standing rules, Akpabio insisted when the Committee on Ethic and Privileges submits its report on a petition against a nominee, it must be considered before screening.

To that end, the minority leader said PDP senators would not participate in asking the nominee any questions until the report of the committee was considered in the ‘Committee of the Whole. ’

I do have one event or the other to attend and so I take permission from location to attend my events because being at the location is not a do or die thing. I can easily take permission and later come back to location. You know, we just mix it up, you know it ’s fun too whenever we are on location.

THU

26

Aviation unions to shut airports midnight Sunday

After days of uncertainty and postponements, former governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi appeared before the Senate yesterday for screening.

The former governor ’s eventual screening was carried out by senators of the All Progressives Congress, APC, while minority senators of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, boycotted the exercise.

Disagreement ensued shortly after Amaechi was ushered in to commence the screening, as Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, raised

I try to fall in love with beautiful girls (laughs loudly). Yes, I ’m serious; I fall in love on Thursdays because I ’m less busy on this fourth day of the week.

Any lady that comes across me, that wants me to love her or that shows interest in me, I try to reciprocate.

FRI

Passion

onstrates the disappointment of Nigerians with the standard and quality of the lawmakers than the charade that played out last week during the screening of the former Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi inside the hallow chambers of the senate.

amidst security personnel who engage in transportation business in the metropolis flout the law is alarming.

He said the taskforce will not rest on its oars until it gets reed of miscreants and urchins in the city of Lagos.

Abe lamented that the security personnel using their private cars and buses for commercial activities always contravened the state traffic law by either dropping or picking commuters at undesignated bus stops which creates traffic gridlock for other motorists.

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

SUN SAT

It would appear that the votes invested by many Nigerians on members of the National Assembly, albeit, thesenate is largely misplaced, at least viewed from the conduct of the lawmakers during the yet-to-be concluded ministerial screening exercise.

Perhaps, nothing better dem-

Lagos State Government yesterday warned security officials engaging in transport activities to obey the state traffic laws or risked being arrested and sanctioned.

The warning came from the Chairman of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit, SP Olubukola Abe, during an interaction with journalists prior to embarking on monitoring exercise yesterday.

According Abe, the rate at which some bad eggs

PDP, APC senators divided on Ameachi ’s screening

I ’m always at one event or the other on Saturdays. I celebrate with people because you need people around when you are also celebrating anything.

For instance, I ’m 20 years on the stage. I ’m planning to do something about it. People must come around because I do attend their events.

I go to church on Sundays, I don ’t miss it. And if there is any event later in the day I try to attend just to unwind.

*By Adaeze Amos (08023012293)

3

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

THE

Big Read SUNDAY SPECIAL INVESTIGATION

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2015

Death in the Holy Land: Heavy toll on Muslim pilgrims Every follower of Islam is required to perform the Hajj at least once in his or her lifetime. However, the stoning of the symbolic devil ritual has turned out in recent years to rather dangerous part of the pilgrimage and has often led to stampedes resulting in the deaths of thousands of the faithful. This year alone over 2,000 pilgrims died in a stampede PAUL OMO OBADAN examines the need for the Saudi authorities and the pilgrims alike to seek ways to prevent future occurrences.

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dherents of Islam look forward to going to the Hajj at least once in a life time. The feeling of performing Hajj and coming back home as an alhaji or alhaja by an average Muslim is indeed euphoric. They are viewed as heroes by their contemporaries.

However, such heroic pursuit turned sour on the 24th of September, 2015 when over 2,000 died during a stampede.

‘CROWD CONTROL INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT’

The incident is the deadliest disaster at Mina since 1990, when 1,426 people died.

Hundreds have been killed in past years during the same ceremony and it come only 13 days after a crane collapse killed more than 100 people at another major Islamic holy site, the Grand Mosque in Mecca.

In the ritual, crowds of pilgrims throw stones at three pillars in a re-enactment of when the Prophet

4

Abraham stoned the devil and rejected his temptations, according to Muslim traditions.

Hajj death count rises to 199 Nigerians According to the Commissioner Planning, Research and Library Service of the National Hajj Commission

‘FIRST-TIME PILGRIMS SHOULD GET PRIORITY’

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

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‘Crowd control increasingly difficult’

Akintola

Mukhtar

Korodo

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 of Nigeria, NAHCON, Dr. Saleh Okenwa, The number of Nigerians that died in the stampede at Mina, Saudi Arabia, during the 2015 Hajj pilgrimage now stands at 199 while 121 people were still missing.

Sokoto and Kano states reported the most casualties according to Okenwa, with Sokoto reporting 79 dead and 59 missing, while Kano recorded 20 people dead.

Other states, which recorded either dead or missing pilgrims were: Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara and the FCT. Previous tragic incidents during Hajj Before now, there have been many tragic incidents during the Hajj largely due to the failure to properly control the huge crowds that throng the holy sites.

During the just concluded Hajj, the city of Mecca had to cope with as many as six million pilgrims.

Plane travel makes Mecca and the Hajj more accessible to pilgrims from all over the world. Consequently, the Hajj has become increasingly crowded. City officials are required to control large crowds and provide food, shelter, sanitation, and emergency services for millions. This has been a tall order has the Saudi authorities have not always been possible to prevent incidents. The stoning of the devil ritual is the most dangerous part of the pilgrimage because of the huge crowds, particularly as they cross the massive multi layer Jamarat Bridge that affords access to the pillars.

Some previous incidences include: A stampede in July 2, 1990 inside a pedestrian tunnel

Okenwa

Buhari

PLANE TRAVEL MAKES MECCA AND THE HAJJ MORE ACCESSIBLE TO PILGRIMS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

CONSEQUENTLY, THE

HAJJ HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY CROWDED. (Al-Ma’aisim tunnel) leading out from Mecca towards Mina and the Plains of Arafat led to the deaths of 1,426 pilgrims, many of them of Malaysian, Indonesian and Pakistani origin.

On May 23, 1994: A stampede killed at least 270 pilgrims at the stoning of the Devil ritual. April 9, 1998 saw at least 118 pilgrims trampled to death and 180 injured in an incident on Jamarat Bridge.

On March 5, 2001: 35 pilgrims were trampled to death in a stampede during the stoning of the Devil ritual.

February 11, 2003 witnessed the stoning of the Devil ritual which claimed 14 pilgrims’ lives.

February 1, 2004, 251 pilgrims were killed and another 244 injured in a stampede during the stoning ritual in Mina.

January 12, 2006: A stampede during the stoning of the Devil on the last day of the Hajj in Mina killed at least 346 pilgrims and injured at least 289 more. The

incident occurred shortly after 13:00 local time, when a busload of travelers arrived together at the eastern access ramps to the Jamarat Bridge. This caused pilgrims to trip, rapidly resulting in a lethal stampede.

An estimated two million people were performing the ritual at the time.

After a stampede during Hajj killed 363 people in 2006, the Saudi government erected three massive pillars and completed a $1.2 billion, five-story bridge near the site where pilgrims can toss stones.

Of the millions of pilgrims each year, many are elderly, and some die of their illnesses, exacerbated in some cases by the heat and exertion.

Before the beginning of the first day of the December 2006 Hajj, 243 pilgrims had died, according to a statement by the Saudi government. The majority of deaths were reportedly related to heart problems, exhaustion in the elderly and people with weak health, caused by the heat and tiring physical work involved in the pilgrimage. After the conclusion of the Hajj, the Nigerian government reported that 33 nationals had died mostly “as a result of hypertension, diabetes and heart attack”, not because of any epidemic illnesses.

They denied accusations that some Nigerian pilgrims died in an accident on a road to Mina.

Saudi complicity The Saudi government has created a CCTV network to oversee security during the event.

Critics say that the Saudi government should have done more to prevent such tragedies. The Saudi govCONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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The Big Read

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5

‘Religion is not to give you problems’ Sheikh Alhaji Abdul Hakeem Muh’d Awaal is the National Amir (leader), Ikhwanul-Muslimin Foundation who had also served on the board of Lagos Pilgrims Welfare Board. In this interview with PAUL OMO OBADAN he sheds more light on the Hajj stampede phenomenon.

Deaths caused by stampede during hajj has been one too many. What do you feel about the whole scenario?

I know Saudi Arabia as a country with very good orderliness and organisation, At the end of every Hajj, they start preparing for the next one, making sure the numbers of the Pilgrims are not too much to be handled. It is Saudi Arabia that distributes the allocation for every part of the world. For instance Nigeria was allotted 76,000 to travel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj. Sixty six thousand was distributed amongst the states of the federation including the federal capital territory. The remaining 10,000 was giving to private operators. That is to tell you there was orderliness. But as humans, there could be complacency. Complacency can crop up.

When you feel that you have done your best and the right thing, Let me sit back. I don’t believe that happened though.

Prophet Mohammed did the stoning of the symbolic devil in the afternoon. Considering the number of people at that time, they are not as much as this. And considering the position of that symbolic stoning in the overall position of Hajj, if it is not there, the Hajj will not be spoilt. Saudi Arabia has prepared for so long by giving everybody a specific time, Lagos State State come 8o’clock. Ogun State, 3 o’clock. Arab speaking Africans will use so and so day and time. It is for three days. But human beings for being what they are, some people don’t understand what the religion is all about itself. Religion is not there to give you problem; it is to ease your life. Everybody wanted to go in the afternoon.

And they were not scheduled. That is why some people believe they did not abide and comply by the rules and regulation given by the Saudi Arabian government. If they had complied, what happened would have been avoided.

Another thing there is about the Saudi Arabian police. In every sector, you will in some people that will not comply. Saudi has a very effective police force but inherent also are some bad eggs. For about six million people to come to a place at the same time, there is little the police and security agencies can do but if the pilgrims had abided by the rules and regulations guiding the hajj, this could have been avoided. That is why the government of that country had allocated time for everybody.

Awaal

FOR ABOUT SIX MILLION PEOPLE TO COME TO A PLACE AT THE SAME TIME, THERE IS LITTLE THE POLICE AND SECURITY AGENCIES CAN DO BUT IF THE PILGRIMS HAD ABIDED

BY THE RULES AND REGULATIONS GUIDING THE HAJJ, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.

How can the Saudi authorities avoid future occurrences?

Lagos State used to do a programme called train the trainers. It takes about two months to train Islamic scholars going to Saudi Arabia. This is the position of things when you get to Saudi. There are times allotted to you. Abide by such rules. Don’t go back where you came from.

Take a detour back to your camp. Don’t just assume everybody is an Islamic Scholar and allow him to lead the pilgrims to Hajj. Test is level of knowledge. Some people are very adamant on some certain positions.

Okay, look at Saudi Arabia.

They are facing a very big renovation or facelift. It started about five years ago and it is going to finish in 2020. We have some people within the kingdom opposed to doing all these things.

And all these renovations are being done to enhance the movement of pilgrims and avert all these things we are talking about. So they have actually put in their own quota to ensure that the Hajj is hitch free but the problem is about our people to abide by the rules and regulations.

The Saudi authorities apportioned the cause of the stampede to Africans. How true if this?

I don’t believe in that. Why I don’t believe is that in any race in this world there are elements who try to degrade the black race. A guy in the North, the deputy secretary of Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and a professor of Arabic. Well revered. He just found himself in that mix. He died in the stampede. Another one is the Emir of Taraba and his two wives. It is wrong for Saudi Arabia to assume it is the Africans. Let’s see the number of people. Iran has the highest number of casualties, over 500 Iranians died. so it is not fair to say Africans caused the stampede. Collate the number of pilgrims from the whole of Africa, it is not up to the one given to Indonesia. How could Africa had caused the stampede, From Islamic perspective, are you supposed to apportion blame or go back to your drawing board and pray to your God. Allah has said that ‘I would try you several times,’ when it is time for trial, you accept it.

Can you proffer solutions so that subsequent Hajj will be hitch-free?

Number one solution should be right from the home countries sending their citizens to Hajj should be given enough time and people handling Hajj should give enough time to educate prospective Hajj Pilgrims how to comport themselves in the Hajj. The rules and regulations should be inculcated into them so that when they get there, they would not look like novices. I cannot keep talking about Lagos. Lagos gives educational forum for Hajj every Saturday till the time the flight will start.

That will enable all the people going there to have had the adequate knowledge of what they would encounter there. Another solution to corroborate the Emir of Kano is that Nigeria should be given a tent very close to Jamarralt. Other countries are allotted camps close to the site of stoning. We should be giving a proper recognition there. If you are there every year, you will discover that we are always at the back. And if you have to trek from the camp allotted us at the back to where the symbolic stoning is being done, it will take an hour.

Three, Saudi Arabia should go back to the drawing board. The pilgrims should abide by the rules and regulations given by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. If you are asked to come and do your symbolic stoning at a particular time, abide by the time. If you go by your time, there would not be any problem. The point is the whole six million cannot be at the spot or site of stoning the symbolic devil at the same time. And lastly, the system of hajj in Nigeria should properly reviewed. People giving the assignment of coordinating Hajj pilgrims should be properly scrutinized.

‘Saudi authorities expanding infrastructure’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

ernment insists that any such mass gatherings are inherently dangerous and difficult to handle, and that they have taken a number of steps to prevent the problems. The fatalities in the largest tragedy in September are alleged to have been downplayed by the Saudis by at least 700.

One of the biggest steps, which is also controversial, is a new system of registrations, passports, and travel visas to control the flow of pilgrims. This system is designed to encourage and accommodate first-time visitors to Mecca, while restricting repeat visits. Pilgrims who have the means and desire to perform the Hajj several times have protested what they see as discrimination, but the Hajj Commission has stated that they see no alternative if further tragedies are to be prevented.

Following the 2004 stampede, Saudi authorities embarked on major construction work in and around the Jamarat Bridge area.

Additional access ways, footbridges, and emergency

exits were built, and the three cylindrical pillars were replaced with concrete walls to enable more pilgrims get simultaneous access to them without the jostling and fighting for position of recent years.

Following the 2006 incident, the Jamaraat Bridge and the pillars representing Satan were demolished and reconstructed. A wider, multi-level bridge was built, and massive columns replaced the pillars themselves. Now, each level of the bridge allows easier and safer access to the columns representing Satan. In addition, the stoning ceremony must be carried out according to pre-determined schedules to prevent overcrowding and the attendant risks. The Jamarat basin has been expanded from its current circular shape into an oval to allow better access to the pillars. The new arrangements provide for separate access and departure routes. However, a security breakdown is blamed for the 2015 stampede.

A group of pilgrims who had cast their own stones

and were returning to their camp, instead of taking the route designated for returning pilgrims, they stubbornly took the route meant for those who were coming and ran into the other group of pilgrims heading straight to the jamaraat.

But after the latest mass tragedy, many are wondering what more can be done to prevent another disaster.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has ordered a review of the country’s plans during Hajj.

“Regardless of the investigation results, the improvement of the methods and mechanisms of the Hajj season will not stop. We have instructed the concerned entities to re-evaluate the current policy and the distribution of responsibilities,” he said.

In the stampede, pilgrims were walking toward the largest of the pillars when there was a sudden surge in CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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Sunday, October 25, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘First-time pilgrims should get priority’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 the crowd, causing a large number of people to fall, the Saudi Press Agency said, citing civil defense officials.

This unfortunate, intermittent occurrence has left a deep scar in the lofty ideals of the Islamic Faith.

According to one of the Nigerian survivors who wanted anonymity, the stampede apart from people not taking their proper route back to camp, was partly caused by exhaustion and dehydration suffered by some of the victims as a result of long distance trekking in the hot weather with little or no water to refresh them. Also the pilgrims returning from the Jamarat Complex were facing the incoming pilgrims instead of being diverted to another route once the stone throwing rites have been performed. It was also revealed that the water-bearing poles that were erected along the route were not opened on time to refresh the pilgrims and reduce the effect of hot weather on their bodies. And obviously the security personnel who were supposed to direct the mammoth human traffic were overwhelmed.

‘Negligence, indiscipline caused stampede’ Another first hand witness is Is-Haq Akintola, a Professor of Islamic Studies in the Department of Religions, Lagos State University, (LASU), who corroborated the above statement. According to him, the cause of the recent stampede was because of indiscipline on the part of some pilgrims and Saudi Authorities.

“Pilgrims over the years have encountered stampedes because the routes were not much. Because of this, the Saudi Authorities built more routes and opened up routes. Once you have thrown your stone, you don’t come back through the same route. You go through another route and take a detour out. You don’t meet those who are still going to throw their stones till you return to the camp. Two reasons caused the stampede. One, negligence on the part of the Saudi Security Agencies and two, indiscipline and stubbornness on the part of some pilgrims; specifically, pilgrims from Egypt.

What happened was that pilgrims were coming from their camps. The camp of the Egyptians was close to the spot where they would throw the stones. So because their camps was very close to the stoning spot, they decided to turn back and take the same route back to their camp instead of going straight after throwing their stone. Unfortunately, it was early in the morning, and the police and soldiers who were supposed to cordon off the area and stop those who want to return through same route and compel them to go back, were not there.”

In the light of the above, NAHCON in a Communiqué said that preference should be given to first- timers in future Hajj operations. Those who have performed Hajj more than once should give opportunity to the first timers so as to reduce the crowd. Instead they can seek further spiritual fulfillment obligations in Lesser Hajj, which they can do when the crowd of worshippers is much less. This measure should be taken in addition to ensuring the medical fitness, state of health of the intending pilgrims.

Apart from the nature’s effects on the pilgrims which could be mitigated, some of the matters arising dwell on logistics and security. The cooperation of NAHCON and other related bodies from other countries will help their host - the kingdom of Saudi Arabia to make room for better arrangement and execution to safeguard lives. These untimely deaths of pilgrims are unwarranted and should be avoided in future through better logistics and a much better coordinated arrangements in future, the statement read.

‘Hajj stampede is disappointing tragedy’ Lagos Chairman of NUPENG, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo has performed the Hajj 20 times. He said it is a disappointing tragedy when he heard that stampede had occurred again and many innocent lives were lost.

Sanus

Salman

THE STONING OF THE DEVIL (RAM AJ-JAMART) CEREMONY IS PARTICULARLY CROWDED AND DANGEROUS. PILGRIMS FLING PEBBLES AT THREE WALLS (FORMERLY PILLARS) IN THE CITY OF MINA JUST EAST OF MECCA.

Pilgrims on a bridge in Mecca

“The stoning of the devil (ram aj-jamart) ceremony is particularly crowded and dangerous. Pilgrims fling pebbles at three walls (formerly pillars) in the city of Mina just east of Mecca. It is one of a series of ritual acts that must be performed in the Hajj. The journey is physically grueling enough on its own.

But with temperatures soaring over 43 degrees Celsius anyone who succumbs to the elements might collapse and never recover,” Korodo said.

“Sometimes the dense, surging crowds, trekking from one station of the pilgrimage to the next, cause a stampede, or more precisely, a progressive crowd collapse. At densities above 6 or 7 persons per square meter, individuals cannot move, groups are swept along in waves, individuals jostle to find breath and avoid falling and being trampled, and hundreds of deaths can occur as a result.

Prominent Nigerians among victims Some prominent Nigerian citizens were among the dead as ritual of stoning the devil at Jamrat ended in stampede.

It is confirmed that among the victims were Tijani El-Miskin, a professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Maiduguri and a former head of special training course for the students of Arabic studies at the

University of Maiduguri in Gamboru. He also was the Chairman of the Borno State Pilgrims Board.

Another victim is Hajiya Bilkisu Yusuf, who was the first female editor from the northern part of Nigeria.

She studied political science in Nigeria and the USA and journalism in Russia.

After that Bilkisu Yusuf pursued successful career in journalism in Nigeria, working for Daily Trust and Leadership newspapers and several local editions in Kano and Kaduna states.

Another well known citizen among the victims was Hafsat Shittu, a member of Nigeria’s medical team.

Many of the victims were from the Northern part of Nigeria. “Many Nigerians are involved, I mean those killed and injured,” informed the press one of the stampede witnesses, adding that people were already dehydrated and fainting “before they started tripping all over each other“.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s head of the central Hajj commitee, Prince Khaled al-Faisal, blamed the crush outside the holy city on African pilgrims.

Corroborating the Prince Khaled’s claims, the country’s health minister, Khaled al-Falih, told the press: “Many pilgrims move without respecting the timetables set by authorities, which was the principal reason for this type of accident. If the pilgrims had followed instructions, this type of accident could have been avoided.”

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NEWS

Sunday, October 25, 2015

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Why tribunal sacked Wike as Rivers governor •I’m still governor, Wike declares • Uneasy calm in P/Harcourt

OBIORA IFOH, DOOSUUR IWAMBE, AND DENNIS NAKU PORT HARCOURT

T

here was anxiety and palpable calmness in Rivers State yesterday, following the nullification of the April 11, governorship election by the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja.

Apart from nullifying the election, the tribunal also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, to conduct a fresh election within 90 days but the PDP has vowed to challenge the judgement at the Court of Appeal.

Wike has insisted that he remains the state governor and vowed to appeal the judgement.

Though there were pockets of jubilation by some members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, whose governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has peti-

tioned the tribunal praying it to nullify the election on grounds of irregularities, violence and non-compliance with the extant provisions of the electoral act.

When news of the nullification filtered into Port Harcourt, the state capital, members and supporters of the APC went into jubilation The jubilation was seen at the APC secretariat located in William Jumbo, Old GRA, Port Harcourt, Mgbuoshimiri area, in Obio/Akpor and some other places by members of the APC. Some APC members said they foresaw the ruling of the tribunal, because it was clear that election did not take place in the state.

But there was calm around the township area of Port Harcourt metropolis, probably due to the heavy presence of heavily armed security operatives who were strategically positioned to quell any attempt to disrupt public peace.

A truck load of policemen was stationed in front of the

NYSC secretariat along Ikwerre Road; opposite Government House and at Station Bus Stop, in the Port Harcourt metropolis.

Heavily armed policemen in operational vehicles were stationed at the front of most public buildings.

Some persons who spoke on the outcome of the tribunal’s verdict said they are looking forward to having a smooth re-run election in the next 90 days.

They acknowledged that within the short time Wike stayed in office, he was able to execute some projects that had impact on members of the public.

The All Progressive Congress and its governorship candidate, Dr Peterside Dakuku, had approached the Tribunal challenging the election on ground that it was marred by several irregularities. Joined as respondents in the petition were Wike, PDP and INEC. In its judgement that lasted for about three hours, the three-man panel headed by

Justice Suleiman Ambursa, held that the said election made mockery of democracy.

The tribunal further held that Wike was wrongly declared winner because of non compliance with Electoral process and added that thugs overran the state during the election.

The tribunal also held that the allegation of intimidation, harassment, snatching of ballot boxes, ballot papers, lack of result sheet, late arrival of election materials, diversion of election materials, ballot stuffing, allocation of figures, non collation of result, failure to use card readers were all established by the petitioner stressing that the petitioner produced credible evidence and documents to prove his allegation.

“The witnesses called by the respondent became unreliable during cross examination. They betrayed their character. Even INEC officials who came as witnesses at a point claimed ignorance of their own document.

“The second respondent was not duly elected”, the tribunal held.

Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the PDP, Mr. Chris Uche SAN said that the party will test the judgment at the Court of Appeal and possibly, the Supreme Court.

“It was wrong of the tribunal to lay heavy weather on the use of card reader when INEC itself admitted that both card reader and manual can be used where there are challenges”, he stated.

Uche further faulted the judgment on the ground that the parties adopted their brief in less than 48 hours and judgment delivered.

In his own reaction, Dakuku said the Rivers people are happy with judgment and that it has given them an opportunity to vote for who they want.

During the adoption, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) however defended the governorship election it conducted, urging the tribunal to uphold the election of Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The commission’s counsel, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition.

He said that the petitioners, the All Progressives Congress and its governorship candidate, Dr Dakuku Peterside had failed to discharge that the burden of proof

placed on them to substantiate their claim that election did not take place in the state on April 11.

According to him, the petitioners failed to prove their allegations polling unit by polling unit.

He said that the few witnesses called by the petitioners were not participants in the election and that their testimonies counted for nothing as already established by the Supreme Court in plethora of cases.

He said the soldiers, mobile policemen and operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, invited by the APC gave generic and contradictory evidence which had no relevance in relation to voting at the polling units.

He urged the tribunal to hold that their testimonies were unreliable.

The INEC counsel declared that on the premise of the Supreme Court judgment in the case between Buhari and Obasanjo, INEC guidelines could not supersede the Electoral Act. He further argued that the Electoral Act did not limit accreditation to card readers alone.

He added that the reports tendered by the Rivers State APC were rejected by INEC before Wike was returned as winner of the election. He said such reports were no longer tenable.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

Yola bombings: Presidency calls for eternal vigilance LIVINUS MENEDI YOLA

P A cross section of Nigeria Network of Women Exporters of Services at a workshop in Abuja at the weekend.

PHOTO: NAN

Wike’s pyrrhic victory was coup d’état on Rivers people RICHARD NDOMA CALABAR

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ational Vice Chairman (South South) of All Progressives Congress APC, Prince Hilliard Eta, has reacted to the tribunal’s verdict on the governorship elections in Rivers State, saying ‘’the APC South-South is happy that the coup d’état, which produced Nyesom Wike as “military administrator of Rivers State in a democratic dispensation has been set aside by a court of law’’.

According to a statement in Calabar endorsed by his media adviser, Bassey Ita, he maintained that by that

singular judgement, the APC has been vindicated of its accusation of conspiracy between PDP and INEC to rig the poll just as it has further enlightened the public on the difference between the essence of the rule of law and due process on one hand and the negative implications of applying brute force and brigandage to assume public thrust.

According to him, ‘’What played out at the April 11 polls which Wike purportedly won was the use of brute force; a civil war fought against the wishes of the majority Rivers people.’’

He also recalled that during the electioneering, hun-

dreds of APC supporters were killed, adding that the blood of those slain party members and the persistent cries and prayers of their loved ones were enough to get justice for the APC in the state.

Eta described the APC candidate, Dakuku Peterside, as a man God has ordained to lead Rivers State out of the wood and cleanse the land of the many bloodshed of the past and said but for God he would have been eliminated during the Okrika shootings as he was the major target. The party leader urged the people of the state to get ready for a peaceful, transparent and

free polls, saying that this time their votes would count.

On the Akwa Ibom tribunal verdict, the South-South party chieftain said the judgement suffered from “‘paralysis” that left the two contenders, APC and PDP, angling for the living side, adding that the appellate court would have to define in clear terms what the judgement of the lower court left out. Eta expressed optimism that the party would reclaim its entire stolen mandate within the zone.

He charged the Nigerian judiciary to up the ante of its integrity to engender more of public confidence in its dealings.

resident Muhammadu Buhari has tasked traditional institutions to assist with the mass education of their subjects noting that vigilance from the people in their respective communities will lead to detection of criminals before they carry out their wicked actions.

The request, which was made yesterday, by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. David Babachir Lawal following the visit of the delegation from the Presidency to condole with the government and people of Adamawa State, urged eternal vigilance from the citizenry.

Babachir, who made the visit on behalf of President Buhari, together with his entourage while conveying the President’s concerns to the Adamawa state government and the Lamido of Adamawa HRH Dr. Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa, yesterday

in Yola said the administration felt saddened by the explosion which targeted worshippers during Friday Jumaat prayers in the state.

Babachir who had earlier gone to sympathize with the victims of the bomb explosion receiving medical attention at the Federal Medical Center Yola and the state Specialist Hospitals, noted while conveying the President’s condolence that even though the security agencies were doing their best, he however stressed that the greater responsibility of security of the citizenry lies with the people.

He therefore tasked urged the traditional institutions on the need for mass enlightenment of their roles in curbing the nefarious activities of the insurgents whom he said now lived within the populace.

He stressed that vigilance from the people in their respective communities will lead to early detection of the criminal elements before they carry out their wicked activities.

8

NEWS

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Rivers, Akwa Ibom tribunal judgements can’t stand –PDP OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

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he Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday claimed that the verdict of the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja, showed clear bias against Governor Nyesom Wike and the PDP, describing it as completely bizarre, unacceptable and part of the script by the APC to manipulate the will of the people.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement issued yesterday said “indications to this spurious judgement had months ago been hinted to the PDP, which in turn alerted the nation and the international community of the heinous plot by the APC government to use the judiciary and various security agencies to reverse the victory of the PDP in Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Taraba and Abia states.

“We invite Nigerians and the international community to recall various reprehensible steps taken by the APC government that culminated in this ruling as well as the ridiculous Wednesday’s verdict of the Akwa Ibom State governorship election tribunal, also sitting in Abuja.”

According to the party, these include the “curious and controversial relocation of the election tribunals from their states to Abuja without any justification; the constant juggling of judicial officers and members of gov-

ernorship elections tribunal in PDP states, especially, Rivers and Akwa Ibom; as well as constant harassment of judicial and electoral officers involved in the governorship election cases in these state, using agencies of government, particularly, the Directorate of State Services, DSS, under the direct command of a known APC member, Alhaji Lawal Daura.”

PDP also bemoaned the constant threats, intimidation and coercing of witnesses against the PDP in the tribunals; the recent mass transfer of security operatives, especially the DSS and police personnel that actually participated in the conduct of the elections in Rivers and Akwa Ibom, ostensibly to frustrate the course of genuine evidences in the process.

According to the statement, “The bias in the judgement against the PDP in Rivers as well as Akwa Ibom is evidenced in the contradictions inherent in the trial process of the two cases and the verdicts therein, whereby the tribunals clearly disregarded standing legal norm that a petitioner must establish prove of claims.

“Also curious is the fact that after both the petitioner and respondent agreed before the tribunal that both card reader and manual accreditations were used for the election, the tribunal still went ahead to base its decision on issues of card reader”.

It said that “while it is convenient to them to use legal technicalities to deny PDP victory in Imo, Lagos, Ogun and Yobe states, the

same rules are misapplied to wickedly favour APC petitioners in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states.

“It is therefore evinced that these contradictions are direct fallout of compromises as well as boasts by the APC of being in direct and remote control of the tribunals. If not, how can one explain the fact that while governorship elections are being upturned in PDP states, in APC states, where similar claims and facts are in contention, elections are being upheld.

“Further proof of bias by the Rivers tribunal is the fact that less than 24 hours after various counsel submitted nine written addresses and documents, the tribunal rushed its notice of judgement, an action ostensibly aimed at ambush-

ing the pending Supreme Court action on the issue of jurisdiction regarding the relocation of the tribunal outside Rivers State, which was due to be delivered on Tuesday.

“This is not withstanding the fact that the tribunal has up to seven days, after receipt of addresses, to deliver its judgment, but chose instead, to rush to deliver this spurious verdict even on a Saturday, a development eliciting suspicion that the judgement may have since been predetermined and written even before the commencement of the case.

The PDP thus called on all Nigerians and the international community to note the growing manipulation of the judiciary by the APC government, a factor, which, it claims, portends great danger

Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai (right) and Chief of Staff, GOC 1 Div. Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Musiliu Bashirudeen, during the visit of Lt.-Gen. Buratai to Kaduna, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Why tribunal sacked Wike as Rivers governor

to our democracy and the stability of our country.

No need to appeal, Princewill tells PDP DENNIS NAKU PORT HARCOURT

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ivers State Labour Party governorship candidate in the last general election, Prince Tonye Princewill, has declared that it was needless to appeal the judgement of the election tribunal which nullified the April 11 poll in the state.

While saying the tribunal ruling was not surprising to him, he hailed the judges for upholding the law and urged the Peoples Democratic Party to go back to the people, rather than going to appeal the ruling.

Princewill in an electronic mail he personally issued in Port Harcourt on yesterday said even supporters of the PDP knew this day would come.

The statement reads, “I have just received the news of the cancellation of the Rivers State governorship election. Even as it may have come as a surprise to many neutral observers, it was no surprise to me, my supporters and many Rivers people who came out on that fateful day to try and cast their vote.

“Even PDP supporters I’m sure in their heart of hearts knew that this day would come. As I said to my supporters on that election day, justice will prevail and the truth of this day will come out.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

But the petitioners led by their counsel, Chief Akinlolu Olujimi, SAN urged the tribunal to grant the reliefs sought in their petition.

However, the PDP had urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition for lacking in merit and substance.

In his submission, Counsel to the PDP, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) argued that the petition was incompetent; pointing out that the tribunal had no jurisdiction to amend the petition of the APC, especially the reliefs already abandoned by the party.

He stated that whilst the petitioner alleged several cases of violence and abduction of voters, the petitioners failed to lead any evidence in that direction or call any witness to prove their claim.

Similarly, Wike called on the tribunal to dismiss the petition on the grounds that the petitioners failed to prove the several allegations against his election on April 11, 2015.

His counsel, Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, declared that the Rivers State APC Governorship Candidate, Dakuku Peterside was not qualified to contest the April 11 election because his nomination contravened Section 85 (1), of the Electoral Act. He cited the case of Wike V Labour Party wherein the Appeal Court held that Section 85 (1) of the Electoral Act is critical to the nomination of a candidate.

He said the petition is not properly before the tribunal because the Rivers State APC Gubernatorial candidate was not duly nominated.

Despite his sack by the Rivers Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja yesterday, Chief Nyesom Wike has declared that he remains the governor of the state. This is as he alleged that there was a gang up in Abuja against the state, but expressed the optimism that nobody can claim his mandate.

Wike spoke to newsmen at the Port Harcourt Interna-

tional Airport, shortly after returning from Abuja, along with Prince Uche Secondus, Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP along with other top party members.

He said his lawyers were already preparing their papers to go on appeal, pointing out that he has a good case.

The governor said, “Let me on behalf of the deputy governor and the party chairman thank all of you for the support you have given to us.

“We have come back from Abuja with the national chairman and other leaders of the party, who were at Abuja with us for this period,” he said.

He appealed to his supporters to remain calm and peaceful, even as he said he will not criticise the tribunal judgement despite the obvious lapses.

“By my training, I am not supposed to criticize any judge for whatever opinion the judge has. So, what I can say is that

the tribunal has given its own verdict, but we know that by the special grace of God, that is not the verdict of God. Nobody can take your mandate.

“All the gang ups in Abuja is against Rivers State, but we must protect the interest of this state. If they like, let them use all the powers they have, but their power cannot be superior to God’s power.

“So, I want to urge you to be calm and be peaceful; I am still the governor of Rivers State.

Our lawyers are going on appeal; we are all going on appeal.

“There is also the Supreme Court. We believe that we have a good case. I have never seen where a lower court will overrule a superior court like the Court of Appeal.

“In Lagos State, PDP went to court with our governorship candidate, and one of the grounds they went to court is the issue of card reader,” Wike said.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has de-

scribed Saturday’s judgement of the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal that overturned the election of Gov. Nyesom Wike of the PDP as a deadly body blow to impunity and hooliganism.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the judgement has shown clearly that the era of impunity and hooliganism is over, and that the only way for elections to have legitimacy is for them to be free, fair and credible. ‘’What has come across from this judgement is that there is no shortcut to free, fair and credible elections. This is part of the wind of change that is blowing across the land and touching all arms of government under the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. ‘’Elections are about the expression of the will of the people, and they must always be free to express themselves,

irrespective of what some desperate politicians may feel,’’ it said.

APC said politicians, especially those seeking or occupying elective office, must realize that they can only derive their legitimacy from the people, and that unless they respect the wishes of the people, they will not go far.

The party hailed its governorship candidate in Rivers, Mr. Dakuku Peterside, for his doggedness and strong conviction in the pursuit of his petition against the election of Wike that was not only marred by widespread violence and electoral malfeasance, but also acknowledged to be so by local and international observers and now by the judiciary.

It urged all APC members and supporters in the state to remain peaceful, even in the face of provocation by those who are now realizing, to their chagrin, that there is always a limit to everything, including impunity and hooliganism.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Sunday October 25, 2015

9

Confusion over airspace closure threat •NCAA insists nation ’s skies will remain open

OLUSEGUN KOIKI

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he Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has insisted that the nation ’s airspace would not be shut down on Monday as claimed by the two leading industry unions.

NCAA assured that flight operations would still go on as scheduled and urged travellers and airlines to adhere to their travel plans and schedules.

Spokesman of NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, told our correspondent that the issue it had with its workers ’ unions was being resolved with a peace meeting already slated for tomorrow, maintaining that there was no basis for airspace closure.

He also denied the rumour that some countries

had concluded plans to restrict movement of their citizens into Nigeria from Monday over the closure threat, saying that such information should be disregarded by the public.

He further stated that the aviation regulatory body was investigating the source of email people are using to circulate that Nigeria ’s airspace would be shut yesterday ’s midnight.

He said: “We learnt that the unions have circulated an email, alleging a travel ban to Nigeria with effect from tomorrow ’s midnight. This is to declare to the whole world that it is not true. Nigeria ’s airspace is open to flight operations. NCAA cannot be closing airspace it meant to guard. ” Sunday Mirror ’s sister publication, National

Mirror had exclusively reported on Friday the plans of the unions; the National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, NAAPE, to shut the airspace over welfare and promotion of their members by the regulatory authority.

The letter dated October 21, and made available to our correspondent had accused NCAA of not adhering to the condition of service with respect to promotion of workers and other welfare issues.

The letter jointly signed by the Secretary General, NUATE and Secretary General NAAPE, Comrades Olayinka Abioye and Aba Ocheme threatened to shut down the agency from midnight of coming Sun-

day until further notice.

The unions insisted that the withdrawal of service by the workers became paramount in order to safeguard the integrity of NCAA condition of service.

The unions claimed that the action of the DirectorGeneral, NCAA, Capt.

Muhtar Usman, was in violation of section 3.4 of their conditions of service, adding that all efforts to discuss with the management had been futile.

The letter added, “By the copy of this notice, the general public is hereby informed of this development and the implications that all safety regulations activities of the NCAA will be unavailable from that time and date.

“The above notice will remain in force until other-

wise directed by the secretariat of our unions. ” Abioye had confirmed the planned closure of the country ’s airspace to

our correspondent and described the attitude of the management as “nonchalant ” towards the welfares of the workers.

Boko Haram: Lagos urges citizens to remain calm, vigilant

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he Lagos State Government has urged citizens in the state to remain calm but very vigilant as the Police and other security agencies intensify their efforts to rid the state of hoodlums, armed robbers and suspected terrorists.

Speaking against the backdrop of the arrest by the Department of State Services of 45 suspected Boko Haram members who allegedly planned to attack Dolphin Estate in Ikoyi, the Lagos State government expressed confidence in the combined efforts of DSS, Police and other security agencies to keep the state free of terror attacks and stamp out robberies and violent crimes.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the state government vowed not to relent in its constitutional duty to ensure safety of lives and property throughout the length and

breadth of the state.

The statement said the current reality is that times have changed and the need to urge every citizen to be more security conscious is now paramount.

“Due to the economic hardship being experienced all over the country with many states and private business owners battling with payments of salaries and wages, Lagos State has become the prime destination for several thousands of people who now throng daily with no plan to return, because they believe this is the state where economic succour is available ”, Ayorinde said.

The statement said not only is this internal exodus into Lagos putting an unprecedented pressure on road infrastructure and traffic management as well as a burden on housing and hospitals all across the state, it has also constituted security threat which now requires every citizen to be extra vigilant.

Heavy security as Ife awaits announcement of new Ooni BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

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L-R: Manager, Consumer Banking Products, First Bank, Mr. Maxwell Ezenwa; photographer, Kelechi Amadi-Obi; photographer artist from UK, Nina Manandhar and designer and Creative Director, Cassette_Player UK, Carri Munden, during the British Council Seminar in Lagos, yesterday.

Obasanjo escapes death on Lagos - Ibadan expressway …as families hold 10th memorial service for the late wife FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

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ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday narrowly escaped death by a whisker along the Lagos Ibadan expressway while on his way to Lagos from Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital for a social function.

Sunday Mirror gathered that one of the rear

tyres of the SUV conveying the former president to the 80th birthday celebration of mogul and pool magnate, Sir Kessington Adebutu, in Lagos suddenly burst when it entered one of the bad portions of the expressway.

Eyewitness further told our correspondent that the incident occurred on the Lagos - Ibadan portion of the expressway a few metres away from the

Sagamu-interchange axis of the road.

The development, it was further gathered, forced Obasanjo to alight from his vehicle and join another one in his convoy before heading to Lagos to attend the church service where Adebutu ’s programme was holding.

Obasanjo had earlier in the day attended the 10thyear memorial church service of his late wife,

Stella, where the former president declared that both his family and that of his in-law, Abebe, would continue to miss the former First Lady.

Obasanjo, who spoke at the service held at Chapel of Christ the Glorious King of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, reiterated that much of the good memoirs of Stella had been in his book, ‘My Watch ’.

here was more noticeable presence of security men across IleIfe yesterday, as the town awaits announcement of a new Ooni.

As early as 8 a.m. yesterday, news had gone round that a new Ooni may be announced, throwing the town into a mood of expectant frenzy.

Though the late Obalufe, Chief Solomon Omisakin, while addressing the media on the decision of the kingmakers to stick to the 1980 Ife Chieftaincy Declaration and narrow search for new monarch to only the Giesi Ruling House, inside Ooni ’ s palace a little over one month ago, said a new monarch would emerge 40 days from then.

But the death of Obalufe, who was the most senior kingmaker and many court

cases instituted by the aggrieved parties in the matter had made the projection very unlikely.

However, the insinuation that a new Ooni had been chosen by the kingmakers, only for the state governor to approve yesterday, sparked tension in the town.

Lending credence to the insinuations was the increased presence of security operatives in strategic places across the town.

At areas like Moore, Enuwa, Mayfair and Agbedegbede, heavy police presence was noticed while fully armed men of Department of State Security were also seen in streets across Ile Ife. The Prof. Adekanye Aderibigbe-led screening panel set up by the Giesi Ruling House, it was learnt, had submitted four names to the kingmakers as candidates to fill the Ooni stool.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

10

Interview ENCOUNTER WITH A NEWS MAKER OCTOBER 25, 2015

Mass defection to APC is immoral –Dickson The forthcoming December 5 gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State has been tagged ‘mother of all elections ’, as the state has not witnessed such mass defection from a ruling party to the opposition since its creation. In this interview with journalists in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, speaks on the recent defection, the election and role of youths in the democratic process. OSAHON JULIUS was there. Excerpts: Another election is around the corner and in the past we saw youths fall prey to the antics of politicians and the political class. They were used as thugs and played negative roles. What has the government done for a mindset change to enable the youth to be wise and stay alive?

In the course of inaugurating the volunteers recently, I made some comments I would like to repeat because it is important that the youth of this state get it right. Any politician/leader that is inciting you to violence does not love you and does not love the state because a leader should support peace and stability, unity and development. If you are a Bayelsan holding any office, elective or appointed, you should support the government.

Your duty is to attract development to the state. But what they do is to stay far away and incite youths but I want to thank the youth of Bayelsa because that is changing. A number of us do not know that the state has moved forward.

Young people should guard against incitement from politicians because if you know what some of them have been doing as your representatives, you would be shocked, so do not follow them. You have your right to vote any candidate of your choice when elections come but they should be talking to you about your future, the development of our state. I want to thank the youth of Bayelsa for working with the security agents we have put in place to ensure that our state continues to be peaceful.

We do not owe salaries or pensions, we only owe gratuity, which accumulated for almost 10 years and we are battling to settle that one. A number of these characters know nothing when it comes to discipline and managing public resources. They will take even the money for your salaries and send their thugs and hired assassins after you and you will not be able to talk. That is the sort of future you have to decide against for our state and I know you know what is wrong and right.

YOU WILL SEE PDP WILL RISE AGAIN VERY SOON.

APC IN BAYELSA IS A POLITICAL PARTY THAT HAS NO MEMBERSHIP FOLLOWING BUT HAS ONLY GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATES

Dickson

December 5 is around the corner and the PDP is not having the best of times as many loyalists are defecting to APC and the argument is that they are clamouring for change. Is this healthy for Bayelsa politics?

Yes, some leaders of our party are decamping but you have to understand the background. Almost all of them who are decamping want to be governors and these persons know that within PDP they have no way of becoming governorship flag bearers of the party. For them

it means going to another platform to fight for governorship ticket to contest the election. But APC in Bayelsa is not a party on ground and do not be deceived, even at national level they are crumbling. You will see PDP will rise again very soon. APC in Bayelsa is a political party that has no membership following but has only governorship candidates; the members are only governorship aspirants. Where was APC when we conducted the House of Assembly election?

How many APC legislators do we have

in Bayelsa? This is a PDP state, this is a PDP stronghold. Two factors come into play. Ambition, which is legitimate as long as they do not resort to violence for we are brothers and sisters and friends and I remain their governor.

We are waiting to see who their candidate will be that can match ’ the talk na do Governor ’ project for project, vision for vision, ideas for ideas. We are waiting for a very robust campaign. Apart from those who are going in because of their ambition, we will see what happens after their primaries because I have not done anything bad to any of them, it is all politics and some are just calling a dog a bad name.

You are also aware that our party for the first time lost power at the centre and I think it is immoral for the people who have been nurtured by the PDP over the years to defect. Many decamp because of personal ambition and to be available for federal appointment. Well, we can only wish them well. By the constitution you cannot stop anybody from changing his CONTINUED ON PAGE 55

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Crunch time for new INEC boss

P 12 & 53

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Politics PROVIDING FRESH PERSPECTIVES TO ISSUES OCTOBER 25, 2015

THERE IS NO STATE THAT BELONGS TO THIS CATEGORY OF DEPENDING SOLELY ON THE FEDERATION ACCOUNT THAT WILL BOAST OF LEAVING MONEY BEHIND

–FORMER GOVERNOR OF BENUE STATE, DR GABRIEL SUSWAM, SPEAKING ON ALLEGATION THAT HE LEFT NO KOBO IN THE TREASURY WHILE LEAVING OFFICE.

Ministerial screening

Bark without the bite

Rotimi

Ocholi

After the lack of punch by the Senate in the screening of the first batch of the Buhari ministerial nominees, the expectation of many Nigerians was that something positive and more serious was going to change moving forward. But GEORGE OJI writes that last week ’s exercise instead, further underscored that feeling that ministerial screening is a mere formality.

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t would appear that the votes invested by many Nigerians on members of the National Assembly, albeit, thesenate is largely misplaced, at least viewed from the conduct of the lawmakers during the yet-to-be concluded ministerial screening exercise.

Perhaps, nothing better demonstrates the disappointment of Nigerians with

the standard and quality of the lawmakers than the charade that played out last week during the screening of the former Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi inside the hallow chambers of the senate.

Amaechi no doubt is the most controversial of all the 36 ministerial nominees sent to the senate for screening and

Reps ’ House of probes turns heat on MDAs, oil sector

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Briefly

Group appeals to Ambode on appointments

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outh wing of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Oshodi Local Government Area of Lagos state has appealed to the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode to consider people from their area for appointment.

The leader of the group, Comrade Abdul Rahman Ayuba in his remark noted that the governor in constituting his cabinet has not been fair to the people of the area, following his failure to pick an appointee from the area.

“Considering the state of current political potentials and economic value of Oshodi in Lagos State, we passionately appeal to the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, to build a relation with us in appointments which presently excludes Oshodi Constituency 1.

“We are using this medium to humbly appeal that you use your good office to consider Oshodi in your appointment. As promised in your inaugural speech, ‘that your tenure will run an all inclusive government in order to move the state forward. ” Ayuba however pledged their unalloyed loyalty to the party, stressing that he and his group would not leave the party for any reason.

“We are not going to dump our party. It is our party, and I believed the governor will listen to us. He knows we played a big role during the election that brought him to power. We have 264 units in Oshodi which is very big, ” he said.

The group leader further commended the governor for his initiatives in the LGA. “We also appreciate His Excellency ’s last visit to Oshodi Local Government Area, and his gestures in initiating the Local Government Reform Programme, which we believe will assist local governments in reconstruction of roads within the local government and promote educational standard, health care and other welfare services. ”

confirmation by President Muhammadu Buhari on September 30, in accordance with section 147(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

Expectedly, the candidacy of the former governor attracted the most critical CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Ambode

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Politics

Sunday October 25, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Crunch time for The recent appointment of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu took many by surprise as he was not among those reported to have been lobbying for the plum but tasking job. OMEIZA AJAYI writes on the task before Nigeria ’s new Chief Electoral Officer.

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ast Wednesday, the National Council of State approved the nomination of a new Chairman for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.

The council also approved the appointment of five National Commissioners for INEC including Amina Zakari, NorthWest, Anthonia Okosi-Simbine, North Central, Alhaji Shettima, North- East, Dr. Mohammed Mustapha, South-South, and Mr. Soyebi Solomon, South West. Mr. Lawrence Nwuruku is retained for the SouthEast zone.

Not many had thought that he would become the nation ’s Chief Electoral Officer, but the story of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the new helmsman at the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC might just have assumed a new dimension.

It is not as though he has not been in the glare of the public, for, even after his long sojourn in the academia, he became the first academic to head the nation ’s Tertiary Education Trustfund, TETFUND, a lead intervention agency in Nigeria ’s tertiary education sub-sector. He was thereafter named as Assistant Secretary of Finance and Administration at Nigeria ’s National

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

opposition from Nigerians.

The stage for Amaechi ’s screening was well orchestrated before his appearance last week Thursday. Thrice, the former governor was listed in the senate order paper for screening and thrice, his name vanished with the same suspicion and intensity it appeared.

Shortly as the ministerial list was made public, the first petition received by the senate was the one from a Port Harcourt-based anti corruption Organisation - The Integrity Group. The group in a four-page document listed several financial infractions against the former governor, amounting to N70 billion.

Besides the petition against Amaechi, the senate also received a number of other petitions against some of the ministerial nominees.

The senate directed its committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions to look into all the petitions. Senate President, Bukola Saraki himself set the ground rules on that. While giving a marching orders to the committee on the need to expedite actions on the petitions, Saraki made it pointblank that no nominee would be screened until all the petitions against the person was disposed of.

The senate complied with Saraki ’s directives to the later until last week Thursday when it was the turn of the former Rivers State governor.

In the senate ’s order paper of last Thursday, Amaechi ’s name was the first in the list of the six nominees slated for screening that day. One of the business of the day was also to receive the report of the committee that investigated the

Conference Secretariat in 2014.

If he has faced any serious challenge before, then the next five years might even be more nightmarish for the expert in guerrilla warfare and counter-terrorism.

The end of one electoral cycle heralds the beginning of another. In other words, one starts preparing for the next elections just as the one at hand is ending.

Fortunately, his job has however been made easier on these planks. One, both Amina Bala Zakari and Lawrence Nwuruku have been on ground as national commissioners for some years now. Yakubu can draw a lot from their experience. Also, Prince Solomon Soyebi, one of the newlyappointed national commissioners is not new to the workings of INEC as he has been appointed in that capacity even before the 2011 general elections.

The second plank on which this premise is based is that immediately after the 2011 general elections, the commission had developed a Strategic Plan and Action Implementation Plan which began in 2012 and ends in 2016. Most of the activities of the commission are centered round this plan.

All he needs do is to see to their continued implementation.

There are several tasks before him, but the immediate one has to do with studying and understanding the commission itself.

This is why he would have to study the report on the last general elections.

The 2015 General Elections Report The 232-page report which was unveiled just days ago is an expert analysis of anything and everything that has to do with the last general elections. It has also provided suggestions as to how best to improve on Nigeria ’s electoral process.

It evaluates pre-election activities undertaken by the commission, including the inauguration of an internal committee to collaborate with an external consultant to evolve a Strategic Action Plan for the commission.

It outlined several challenges which might be of interest to Prof. Yakubu. One of such challenges is in the area of operations and logistics. In Nigeria ’s electoral history, polling units have always been designed to open before or at 8am. However, this has never been the case in most parts of the country during general elections.

Like the report rightly stated, the Memorandum of Understanding entered into with the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers was observed more in the breach.

The Kogi, Bayelsa guber elections and Akwa Ibom partial re-run Having read the above report, the urgency of retooling the commission ’s staff ahead of the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states slated for November 21 and December 5, 2015, respectively cannot be over-emphasized.

Yaku ubu

If he fails in this first task, then it will be pretty difficult for him to redeem his battered image. He is however very fortunate, in that the immediate-past acting chairman of the commission, Amina Bala Zakari had gone far with preparations for the polls.

Even more cheering for Yakubu is the fact that Zakari is still a National Commissioner in INEC and she would always be available to put him through on some of the arrangements already made.

Ministerial screening: AS WAS THE RULE AND PRACTICE OF THE SENATE, ALL EXPECTATIONS WERE THAT THE SENATE WOULD PROCEED WITH THE DEBATE AND ADOPTION OF THE INVESTIGATION REPORT BEFORE COMMENCING THE SCREENING former governor.

True to assurances, Chairman of the Ethics, Privileges And Public Petition, Senator Samuel Anyanwu was ready for the report.

Apparently aware of the planned insistence of the PDP senators that the report should be debated, the Senate President only asked Anyanwu to lay the report without allowing him to read it or direct the opening of debate of the report.

As was the rule and practice of the senate, all expectations were that the senate would proceed with the debate and adoption of the investigation report before commencing the screening.

Unfortunately, all that was not to be.

Once the report was laid, Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, as usual came up with two successive motions. First, that the senate resolve into a committee of the whole to screen the candidates, and secondly that the senate suspends its relevant rules to

admit the ministerial nominee as well as other coterie of Nigerians, including the Presidential liaison to the senate, national chairman of the APC, former members of the House of Representatives and the senate, amongst others.

It was shortly as Amaechi was ushered in to commence the screening, that the Minority Leader, rising under a point of order, and citing order 43 of the senate standing rules, on matter of personal explanations observed that, “The PDP caucus will not as the nominee any questions. The report of the fraud against him, we have not debated that report. We will have nothing to do with this screening. ” After his short submission, Akpabio turned back and sought confirmation from his colleague senators that his views represented the collective position of the PDP senators, saying, “Is that the wish of this caucus? ” to which all the

Ndume

senators concurred.

The Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, jumping on his feet under order 53(9) of the same senate rules, submitted that as the Leader of the senate, he had the responsibility of guiding the senate properly.

He said the report of the investigation com-

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Politics

Sunday October 25, 2015

13

Reps ’ House of probes turns heat on MDAs, oil sector It appears that the 8th House of Representatives is gradually turning into House of probes. Our correspondent, UBONG UKPONG, in Abuja, takes a look at the line up of probes and the lawmakers ’ determination to achieve good governance.

W

ith the composition of 96 Standing Committees of the House last Thursday, as well as the various Ad-Hoc Committees bordering on investigations that were earlier composed, the present House of Representatives is finally settling down for business.

However, it appears that the very business that may overshadow this Assembly would be that of probe, considering the numerous probe motions that awaited the constitution of the Standing Committees and those which are to come.

As it were, Ad-hoc committee headed

by Hon Babajimi Benson, is in place to investigate the activities of Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs, pertaining to infrastructure and billing Another, headed by Rep Evelyn Oboro, would investigate the withdrawal of N17 billion by the Federal Ministry of Finance from the account Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority, while that headed by Hon Nasiru Sule Garo, would investigate the activities of Joint Task Force in Niger Delta Area and that if Nigerian Agip Oil Company as it relates to the burning and destruction of equipment seized from illegal refineries operators.

The Ad-hoc committee headed by Hon Enyong Michael Okon, would investigate the accounting procedures of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, and that headed

by Rep Monthh ’d Idris Wase, would investigate non-transparent and fraudulent sale of power assets.

The huge debts and alleged fraudulent sale of Banks by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, would be investigated by the Ad-hoc committee headed by Hon Albert Adeogun and the alleged fraudulent practice in the collection and management of Non-oil revenue remittance by Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, would be investigated by the Ad-hoc committee headed

by Hon Chike Okafor.

That headed by Hon Zakare Mohammed, would forensically investigate the contract known as “Refined product exchange agreement or swap contract ” between the Pipelines and Products Marketing. Company, PPMC, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and oil trading companies, as the Ad-committee headed by Rep Ahmed Yerima, would investigate the award of contract for the installations of Closed Circuit Television, CCTV in Abuja and Lagos, and. Failure opf ZTE Corporation to complete the contract.

While the Ad-hoc committee headed by Hon Edionwele Agbonayinma,

Dog gara a

Ben nso on

ALTHOUGH PROBES ARE USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, IT APPEARED THAT THE SPEED OF PROBE IN THIS 8TH HOUSE IS AN ACCELERATED ONE AND WERE COMING IN LARGE VOLUMES

would investigate the Federal Ministry of Transport and the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, on the award of contracts, that headed by Rep Moh ’d Wudil, would investigate allegation of contract inflation in relation to the Mambila Multi-purpose Dam and Hydro-Electric Power Project.

Apart from these, there were others which had since commenced work like that of the non-implementation of the capital projects in 2015 budget, Immigration recruitment stampede amongst others.

For most of the probe motions, they were referred to standing committees when constituted, with specific time frames to report back to the House.

Although probes are usually associated with the National Assembly, it appeared that the speed of probe in this 8th House is an accelerated one and were coming in large volumes.

In a few of the cases, Hon Herman Hembe, had brought a motion on abuse of the grant of pioneer status by companies, which the House had resolved to investigate.

Hembe said that Section 1 of the Investments Development (Income Tax Re-

lief) Act Cap 17 LFN 2014, and the Companies Income Tax Act, CITA, vested power on the President to grant pioneer status or tax relief as incentives to companies designated as pioneer industries to encourage investments and stimulate growth in under-explored sectors that are considered important to the growth of the economy.

He noted that section 10 of the Investments Development Act. Provided that tax relief period shall be three years from the first day of production by the company with option for extension for another year or two years.

In another motion calling for probe, the House of asked its Committee on Petroleum upstream and Downstream, to probe the non-remittance of all funds into the federation account from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and its Joint Venture Partners, JVP. The Committee has been asked to investigate the operations of the Joint Venture Agreements with particular reference to leakages and also carry out a forensic assurance review of the Joint Venture books to establish the amount remitted to the federation account, and

report back to the House in seven weeks.

This was the outcome of a motion standing in the name of Hon Ossai Nicholas Ossai, on the recovery of revenues payable to the federation account from the NNPC and its Joint Venture Partners.

Ossai noted that the NNPC on behalf of the government of the federation, entered into joint venture agreements with oil companies operating in Nigeria.

Also the House queried the country ’s conspicuous absence at the zero routine gas flaring initiative in Washington D C, United States of America, even as it is likely to ask the federal government, FG, to go ahead and sign the treaty to end gas flaring by 2030 and is set to probe the authorities.

In a motion brought by Hon Uchechuku Nnam-Obi and 13 others, titled, “Deploring Nigeria ’s absence at the zero routine gas flaring initiative in Washington D C, United States of America ”, the Reps noted with dismay the country ’s absence at such all important international event that would benefit the country.

It has also resolved to probe the processes and sale of all aspects of power assets in Nigeria by the Bureau of Public Enterprise, BPE. Accordingly, it approved the constitution of an Ad-Hoc Committee for this purpose, to determine if there were malpractices and misconduct in the exercise, and also whether appropriate value was for money and determine if any person breached the rules and the law.

The decision followed a motion brought by Chike Okafor, on the need to investigate the alleged non-transparent and fraudulent sale of power assets by the BPE. The lawmaker noted that the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN had since been disengaged from generation, distribution and transmission of electricity in line with the privatization policy in the power sector.

Already, the Ad-hoc Committee on the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS recruitment stampede led by House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, had commenced probe and urged the NIS and ministry of Interior to deploy all those issued employment letter under the presidential directives.

The constitution of Ad-hoc Committees on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Public Safety and National Security to undertake a fresh probe into the failure of the ZTE Corporation to install Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in Abuja and Lagos state, followed a motion brought by Hon Adekoya Abdul-Majid and Hon Abiodun Faleke calling “for the Reactivation/Installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras in Abuja, State Capitals and Major Cities and Investigation of the Failure of ZTE Corporation to Complete the Contract of Installing the Cameras in Abuja and Lagos ”.

The non-release of funds to finance projects in the Federal Medical Centres, FMC, Nguru, Yobe state, which has led to the present distressed state of the hospiCONT ’D ON PAGE 54

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Opinion

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Uncensored U nc

Sheriff S Folarin

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

E

mbracing the armistice of the surrendering generals of the erstwhile ‘Republic of Biafra’, and reabsorbing some of them in the Nigerian military while welcoming back the former ‘Biafrans’ into their home, Nigeria, General Yakubu Gowon in January, 1970 declared, “the so-called rising sun of Biafra has set for ever”. The sovereign state of Biafra under the watch of Colonel (Biafran General) Odumegwu Ojukwu had been flattened and recovered for the Nigerian State. The loss of Biafra was at a huge cost. Chinua Achebe in his controversial but highly revealing “There was a Country” claimed that an estimated 3 million people of Eastern Nigeria, mostly children and women were killed in the tragic Civil War. According to accounts, those that died of starvation and ill-health arising from the blockade by Nigeria, which blocked all Biafran access to food, water, drug and other local and international supplies alone, outnumbered soldiers and civilians killed in realtime battles.

Going by a school of thought, from the way the Nigerian side prosecuted the war against the Igbos and people of Biafra, the massacre could have gone down as one of the worst acts of genocide in history. Overzealous war leaders, including Murtala Mohammed and Benjamin Adekunle were said to have believed more in soft civilian (women and children) targets to

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The ‘Biafra’ self-determination quest weaken the psyche and poise of the enemy and flatten them out for a quicker end to the war.

However, the other school of thought holds that war allows for any kind of unmitigated disaster or fatalities, and that the Biafra tragedy in which about two or three million people lost their lives was just a manifestation of that fact.

Biafra, against all expectations lasted for 30 months, showing the resolve of the people to part ways with their brethren in Nigeria. The general belief was that the development in May 1967 was a mere uprising led by a group of ambitious Igbo leaders with Ojukwu, who was in the middle of the fray being the prime suspect.

Response to the “uprising” was initially considered a police action until the Biafrans pushed the war to the Nigerian side and even shocked the entire world when Ojukwu’s forces invaded the Midwest region (comprising today’s Edo and Delta states), sending the Governor David Ejoorled administration packing. The resolute stance to defend “fatherland” changed the attitude of the Nigerians to the war and indeed opened everyone’s eye to the fact that the quest for Biafra was real.

Forty five years after that war however, a section of the Igbo people still seeks the Republic of Biafra, claiming that the Nigerian State had been unfair to the Igbo group in terms of distribution or allocation of national values, including power, resources, revenue and development.

This group has cried foul too many times about the integration process of the Igbo people since the end of the Civil War, alleging that the obvious lack of trust for them has led to political marginalization by which the Igbo have never gotten near the seat of power and have continued to play second-fiddle roles in a federal government led by either a Northerner or a Westerner. They have also seen the extent of the falsetto of Nigeria nationhood in which every other major ethnic group would feel more comfortable with someone from a minor Ijaw group to produce a president of the country, while taking the goal

post farther and farther away from the Igbo man.

The agitations were initially latent and when they became manifest, they were ragtag and uncoordinated. But Uwazuruike’s Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) provided some mobilization and cohesion, although the philosophical and intellectual base was superficial and hollow. But as time went on, the movement gained support of the rich and educated, home and abroad and probably of some powerful politicians and former statesmen that might have been giving the cause a boost from underground. This could be gleaned from the resurrection of the Biafran pound (which this author had physically seen being accepted as a means of exchange along West African coastline and which he had discussed severally on this platform), the return of the Biafran “sunrise” flag and of course the Biafran radio, which had been a thorn in the Nigerian government’s flesh.

There is no doubt about the fact that the Igbo people have always wanted to be a separate nation. Under the UN Charter, which recognizes the cause and agitations of belligerents and promotes the peaceable approach to self-determination of a distinct group of people within geo-political and sovereign entities, they are free and have the right to do so. Eritrea, South Sudan, Western Sahara and several European examples attest to this principle. They all gained self-determination under the careful watch of the UN. The Biafrans can be independent too.

But how should this be done and whether it is necessary at this juncture are the serious matters for Nigeria, Biafra separatists and the world to consider. Under the circumstances of 1966-1967, the Igbos had every reason-legitimately- to leave a Nigeria that did not want them again, that prized the cutting down of officers and men of the Nigerian Army of Igbo extraction in the barracks; that cherished mass murders of Igbo traders, civil servants, pregnant women and children, including those fleeing to Igboland for safety; a Nigeria that had become so resentful of an average Igbo

man because of his loudness and arrogance. The Igbo were no longer trusted and this could be as a result of their bragging rights, as they were some of the most educated, industrious and successful people in the newly independent country. They died in their thousands in a wave of violence that culminated in the infamous pogroms in the North and in the orgy of well-orchestrated killings in the Southwestern military barracks led by those that would later become Nigeria’s Head of State.

If the Igbos had genuine cause to secede in 1967, could they be justified today? There are no more pogroms. Igbos live in every part of Nigeria and are successful wherever they are. They own properties, estates and big businesses in places far away from their land. They control significant portion of the formal and informal economies of Lagos, where they even enjoy such rare privileges of becoming commissioners and state house of assembly members. An average Igbo man owns land in the Southwest and North without harassment or molestation (with the reverse being the thinnest of possibility) and many Igbo people have served their fatherland meritoriously, having been given equal opportunities to occupy exalted office of Vice-President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senate President, Minister of the Federal Republic, Central Bank Governor, Ambassadors, and so forth. At this rate, the marginalization and conspiracy theories cannot be comprehended. If an Igbo man has not become president after Nnamdi Azikiwe, who was in actual fact Nigeria’s first president (although ceremonial), it is simply because of demographics and in democracy, numbers count more than anything else. The Igbos have not really presented a strong candidate since the Second Republic and they have not, in truth and fairness, presented a very united front.

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

Lagos failing? 0f course not!

NIYI ANIBABA

I

t cannot be said of a man who has vowed that his watch would witness the rule and execution of brilliant ideas; that the state he is governing is no longer vibrant, that that state is failing. That would be far from the truth and reality.

To claim Lagos is failing under Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is to deny not only the empiricism of the success recorded so far but also to repudiate the firmness of the template upon which he is giving shape to the future.

Failure can’t also be ascribed to a man who made Lagos sail unscathed through a period of financial turbulence when he was the Accountant-General at a time the behemoth called the Federal Government had withheld the economic lifeline of the state.

But on account of the recent rash of robberies in Lagos, the sporadic gang wars in Mushin and Oshodi as well as the return of traffic snarls on the major roads of the megacity, critics are warning that Lagos might be sliding under Ambode. This is an unacceptable verdict. Indeed it is an unrealistic assessment even as it is a harsh conclusion unreflective of what is on the ground.

What we behold really is a man armed with a gear preparing to land the state into the future.

Ambode, by the reckoning of astute observers, is laying the foundation for an edifice that promises to house a beneficial future.

In a very short period (five months out of a potential 96-month tenure allowed by the constitution), he has posted a sterling performing that has seen the power of ideas at work.

The point is that Ambode is now wielding more enormous powers and operating with wider latitude supported by the vote of the majority

in Lagos. These are weapons that are enabling him to work and achieve better than he did as the Accountant-General. In addition to other resources, they are capital requirements needed to add quality to governance, needed to add quality to the lives of the citizens you are governing and above all to “make life simpler and happier for our people” as Ambode himself put it on May 29, 2015 when he was sworn in as the Governor of Lagos.

He has gone ahead to kick start the great project of radicalizing governance in quite noticeable ways. One of such is that he has brought back from the precipice of death hundreds of senior citizens and their kinsmen and women numbering more hundreds. The governor gave out N11b to pay their pensions and gratuities. This is unprecedented! He is reviving the pay-as-you-go system which was discontinued in 2007. His goal is to return to that plan by August 2016.

The accountant that Ambode is, he is quietly reordering government priorities by cutting down the cost of running the machinery of administration inorder to free funds for social and economic renewal. This fiscal policy will enable him save N3b monthly in that area alone aside the huge income from the internally generated revenue and what the central government in Abuja would be putting on the table.

It is injudicious to say a man who has fixed in five months the notorious Ayobo-Ipaja Road has failed. It had been an eyesore for the past eight years, embarrassing successive governments and the citizens year in year out.

Ambode has also given a hint of how he hopes to run an administration oiled by compassion for the people. I think what he meant by the concept of “compassionate government” he spoke of on May 29 is what he has demonstrated many times over. He will relate with the people directly, not

bureaucratically as it were. Their joy will be his joy. Their pain will be his pain.

In other words, his won’t be an abstract administration. He won’t be a distant and inaccessible governor. Which is why as he headed for the office once, a lady in the throes of anguish during a road accident found Ambode as one of those pulling her out; a poor woman with multiple births whose husband had run away from home was pleasantly surprised to observe the refreshing hand of Ambode bringing back the fleeing spouse; motorists used to seeing their governor only on a high horse rubbed their eyes feverishly to confirm they were not under illusion when they sighted a sweating Ambode in the mad gridlock along Oshodi-Apapa expressway as he sought a solution to the nightmare experienced on that route. Certainly this is not a failed governor who does not understand the pains of the citizens. And early in October 2015, the governor announced a gigantic program to light up some 67 communities in Lagos state. Under the plan, nocommunity will be without electricity by the end of December 2015. No other administration in the country has embarked on a scheme this ambitious. It captures the whole state at a go. I must also comment at the dramatic speed that attended this development. Ambode disclosed the plan on Tuesday October 6, 2015 at the maiden Town Hall Meeting at Ayobo-Ipaja. By Thursday October 8, 2015 only two days after, he had concluded the plans to start the project! Talk of passion! Talk of commitment!

Now consider the benefits of electrifying the landscape of a mega polis occupied by more than 20 million citizens: criminals will no longer operate under the cover of darkness, thus enhancing security and safety of lives and business; artisans and small scale business operators can function with no worries over losses arising from lack of

power; much money used to buy fuel for their businesses will be saved for reinvestment in other ventures; these will boost citizens earning capacity; thousands of jobs will be created through contracts for this ground-breaking electrification project.

All these activities on the part of Ambode represent an agenda to secure Lagos state in the present and launch it into the future.

Now there is some loose talk about Ambode not having a firm grip on the management of the traffic situation in the state on account of laws apparently attaching a human face to harsh traffic laws. For instance, critics have fussed about his statement that he wants to use technology in arresting those who contravene the law, instead of resorting to harassment or forcibly taking over people’s vehicles. Ambode has also asked Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) to treat motorists and street traders in a civil manner.

Of course, this aspect of the philosophy of compassionate government can be tempered with an application of the stick to discipline those who abuse the governor’s leniency and offer of a carrot. Which is why as I write this, the government has begun an intensive campaign against traffic misconduct. The Governor’s Monitoring Team (GMT) has swung into action whipping those in the habit of driving against traffic, plying the BRT lane, and those disobeying traffic lights. The governor has also instituted 24/7 communication channels by which the operatives of GMT can be reached for prompt response to security and traffic breaches.

Can you identify the man wheeling this vision with failure? No way!

Anibaba, an economist, wrote in from Gbagada, Lagos State

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15

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Man in the News Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, new INEC boss

Set for gargantuan task of electoral umpire AYO ESAN

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resident Muhammadu Buhari last Wednesday named Professor Mahmood Yakubu as the new Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, chairman. Until the appointment of Yakubu, INEC was being presided over by an interim chairman, Mrs Amina Zakari.

Political watchers believe that the appointment of Yakubu and six other national commissioners by Buhari has saved the gubernatorial elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states scheduled for It would be recalled that the former INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, and six national commissioners left the commission on June 30, at the end of their five-year tenure, having been sworn into office on June 30, 2010 by former president Goodluck Jonathan.

Section 159 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), expressly stipulates that not less than one-third of the total number of members shall form a quorum during a meeting, while INEC comprises 12 national commissioners and 37 Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

Meanwhile, the tenure of Mrs Zakari was renewed for another five years as a national commissioner.

Yakubu ’s appointment was announced after an emergency meeting of the National Council of State (NCS), presided over by the president, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

The meeting, which was the first NCS meeting to be convened by the present administration, was attended by former Nigerian leaders, including General Yakubu Gowon, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan and General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Former presidents Shehu Shagari, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan were, however, absent.

A human rights activist and Executive Chairman, Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ), Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman, has urged the newly appointed INEC boss to improve on the success recorded by his predecessor in office, during the 2015 general elections and also, to correct the failure discovered during the last elections where under-aged children were allowed to cast votes in some parts of the country.

Comrade Sulaiman however observed that Nigerians expected that the new INEC helmsman would have emerged from the South-West because no indigene of the region had been appointed to head the commission in the last three decades, arguing that the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Bayelsa and

Kogi states would be the litmus test for the new boss.

Reacting to the appointment of Yakubu by Buhari through a signed statement a copy of which was made available to newsmen in Lagos on Thursday, the CHRSJ boss urged the university teacher to bring his wealth of his experience to bear on his new task. He however advised the President against the appointment of controversial Ambassador Rufus Akeju as State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in future because of the credibility of the commission.

The rights activist also enjoined Yakubu to solicit the total support of the stakeholders in the electoral process in the country as soon as he assumes office, by conveying a meeting of all stakeholders.

Speaking further on the forthcoming governorship election in Bayelsa and Kogi, Sulaiman therefore urged the don to ensure that free, fair, credible, trans-

parency and acceptable elections were conducted in the affected states by creating a level playing field for the candidates that would participate in the elections so as to repose the confidence of Nigerians at home and abroad in the electoral commission.

Yakubu was born in Bauchi in 1962.

He had his early education at Kobi Primary School from where he proceeded to the Teachers ’ college, Toro. He later moved on to University of Sokoto (now Usmanu Danfodiyo University) where he graduated with a first-class degree in History, a feat which has remained unrivalled and unbroken till date as the first person from the North to have obtained a first-class in that discipline.

He later gained admission into the University of Oxford, England where he bagged a Doctor of Philosophy degree with specialisation in Nigerian History in 1991.

He was a recipient of the Bauchi State Government scholarship to study at both Cambridge and Oxford universities in England and his outstanding intellectual artistry at Cambridge further earned him the scholarship of the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust.

Mahmud was a three time-time winner of the Overseas Research Student (ORS) Award by the London-based Committee of Vice-Chancellors of United Kingdom (UK) Universities. He was also a proud recipient of the competitive Commonwealth Scholarship by the Association of Commonwealth Universities tenable at the University of Oxford.

He was a member of the very dynamic Oby Ezekwesili Educational Transformation team which received plaudits from Nigerians for their far-reaching recommendations for the turn-around of the fortunes of education in the country.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

16

Wellness YOUR HEALTH AND HEALTH RELATED ISSUES October 25, 2015

Key facts about Leptospirosis TITILOPE MORAKINYO

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eptospirosis is a life threatening bacterial disease which affects humans and animals. It is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira, while in human it can cause a wide range of symptoms, some of which may be mistaken for other diseases.

However, infected persons may have no symptoms at all; those with pneumonia, young children under five, and elderly individuals are more likely to suffer from the disease.

Without treatment, leptospirosis can lead to kidney damage, meningitis such as the inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord, liver failure, respiratory distress and even death.

Leptrospirosis exists globally, but is more common in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. The bacterium thrives in hot and humid environments The bacteria are spread through the urine of infected animals, which can get into water or soil and can survive there for weeks to months. Different kinds of wild and domestic animals which include cattle, pigs, horses, dogs and rodents, when infected may have no symptoms of the disease but could continue to excrete the bacteria into the environment continually or every once in a while for a few months up to several years.

The disease is of two main types such as mild leptospirosis where the patient experiences muscle pains, chills and possibly a headache. The other severe leptospirosis, which can be life-threatening, has the risk of organ failure, internal hemorrhaging and occurs when the bacterium infects the kidneys, liver and other major organs.

According to the World Health Organisation, WHO, approximately 10 million people are believed to be afflicted with leptospirosis annually.

In an interview with Sunday Mirror, Dr

Dolu Arinola, a medical practitioner with Divine Will Hospital, Isolo Lagos explains more about leptrospirosis.

“It is an uncommon bacterial infection and commonly transmitted from animals to humans when people with unhealed breaks in the skin, come into contact with water or soil that has been contaminated with animal urine. The bacterium can also enter the body through the eyes or mucous membranes.

“Leptospira bacteria can be found in fresh water that has been contaminated by animal urine. The infection occurs in warmer climates but it is not spread from person to person, except in very rare cases.

It occasionally spreads through sexual intercourse, breast milk, or from a mother to her unborn child, ” he revealed.

On the risk factors, he said it is common in occupational exposure jobs such as those of farmers, ranchers, slaughterhouse workers, trappers, veterinarians, loggers, sewer workers, rice field workers, and military personnel. Also are recreational activ-

HEALTH NEWS

A New MSF emergency project for Maiduguri

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octors without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) have been working at Umaru Shehu Hospital in Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria ’s Borno State, since September 28. The hospital, which treats patients referred from smaller health facilities, also provides care to people wounded during attacks.

At the hospital, an MSF doctor and nurse provide support and relief to Ministry of Health teams working night and day in the 11-bed

emergency room. Between September 28 and October 3, 134 patients were admitted to the department for emergency medical and surgical care.

On October 1, MSF staff and the hospital ’s teams treated 20 patients (including six children and 11 women) wounded during yet another wave of Boko Haram suicide bombings in Maiduguri. Three were in critical condition and, regrettably, one has died. The other patients are either

still in the hospital in stable condition or have been discharged.

Resuscitation kits and essential medicines donated by MSF are already in use, and the operating theater has been refitted and equipped with supplies. A mass casualty plan has been prepared, and the nurses and doctors who recently joined the team have been trained on how to implement it; other MSF staff and hospital employees will also receive training.

ities such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and trail biking in warm areas. Household exposure pet dogs, domesticated livestock, rainwater catchment systems, and infected rodents also are risk factors. The disease has also been associated with swimming, wading, kayaking and rafting in contaminated lakes and rivers.

“As such, it is a recreational hazard for

campers or those who participate in outdoor sports. The risk is likely greater for those who participate in these activities in tropical or temperate climates.

“Contact with urine, water, food contaminated or other body fluids can also cause the ailment, ” the doctor explained.

However, the bacteria can enter the body through the skin or mucous membranes (eyes, nose or mouth), especially if the skin is broken from a cut or scratch. Drinking contaminated water can also cause infection, ” he added.

Signs and symptoms of leptospirosis, he said, include high fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, vomiting, jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and rashes.

About the treatment, Dr Arinola said, “It is treated with antibiotics, such as doxycycline or penicillin, which should be given early in the course of the disease. Intravenous antibiotics may be required for persons with more severe symptoms. Persons with symptoms suggestive of leptospirosis should contact a health care provider. ” He said the risk of contracting the ailment can be greatly reduced by not swimming or wading in water that might be contaminated with animal urine, or eliminating contact with potentially infected animals.

“Avoid areas of stagnant water, especially in tropical climates. If you are exposed to a high risk area, taking doxycycline or amoxicillin may decrease your risk of developing this disease. Protective clothing or footwear should be worn by those exposed to contaminated water or soil because of their job or recreational activities, ” the medic emphasised.

Residents of Abuja get cancer screening

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n Abuja, dozens of medical personnel, NGOs, cancer patients, government agencies, officials and representatives of corporate organisations, decked in pink or a touch of pink gathered at the Wuse Market to mark the day with free screening and talks on cancer.

All over the world, October is the breast cancer awareness month and the 5th day in the month is the Go Pink Day. Pink is the official colour for cancer as red is for HIV/AIDS.

Many people benefited from the screening for cancer and other medical tests conducted on the day.

Among them was Electronic products dealer, John Uche, who said: “They made an announcement in market about today ’s event, so I told myself that I have to attend to get screened for cancer. ” For Uche, he made the right decision as prevention is better than cure. “I know that some people suffer from breast cancer, cancer

inside the brain and even inside their stomach. I don ’t want to be among those that come down with the disease and this is why I came here to check today if I am free of cancer ” he explained.

While Uche and others queued to be screened, about 20 minutes drive from Wuse Market, many cancer patients staged a peaceful protest at the National Hospital over the hospital ’s inability to keep up with their treatment due to the state of its radiography machine.

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

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

On Buhari and the ‘unhappy ’ students

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ecently a research focusing on the ecently, psychological state of Nigerian students was conducted by Dr Oludayo Tade and Mr. Bankole Michael, two lecturers in the Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan. Tagged: ‘Social construction of happiness among Nigerian students ’, the research affirms that Nigerian students are not happy with President Muhammadu Buhari over the performance of the economy. Bothering the students are the general problem of epileptic power supply; poor political leadership; pervasive corruption; and unpaid salaries of public servants. For the resolution of the lacuna, Mr. President is advised to fix power and poor road network; prosecute past corrupt leaders; equip the tertiary educational institutions and adequately fund the health sector. And, of course, the most fundamental, heal the economy.

This newspaper dares say that the research finding upholds the general perception among discerning Nigerians and even the most gullible that all is not well with Nigeria. The economic indicators and some social fundamentals lend credence to this. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report for first quarter of 2015 showed that Nigeria ’s unemployment rate increased to 7.5 per cent in the first quarter of the year compared to 6.4 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2014. In 2011, the National Population Commission put at 51.18 million the number of jobless and underemployed Nigerians; the figure could have been higher by now.

That over 700,000 youths besieged the six venues of the March 2014 test organised by the Nigeria Immigration Service in pursuit of just 4,556 vacancies underlines the seriousness of the problem.

This untoward scenario was shared by the World Bank in its recent Economic Report on Nigeria, when it noted that “job creation in Nigeria has been inadequate to keep pace with the expanding working age population ”. It is little wonder that the country is presently ranked among the least developed nations, going by reports of the United Nations Human Development Index. Both the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) link high unemployment with poverty, youth restiveness,

WHILE ADMITTING THAT PRESIDENT BUHARI IS NOT THE SOURCE OF THE PREVAILING SOCIOECONOMIC HICCUPS IN THE

COUNTRY, HE HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE ECONOMY AND ALL OTHER SOCIOPOLITICAL CHALLENGES FACED

BY THE NATION AS THE NEW MAN ON THE HOT SEAT gangsterism, kidnapping and disease.

All these, and more like thuggery, are currently rampant in Nigeria.

For the first time in many decades, the scary but palpable failure of governments in the country became public knowledge when salary obligations to public servants could not be met. A largely communalistic state with closely knit filial bonds, and a governmental system that is defined more by abdication of responsibilities and uncanny escapism on the part of the political leaderships, the multiplier effects of unpaid salaries in Nigeria are left to imagination. And for the largely dependent students, depriving the financial succor from their parents and guardians would both leave them in foul mood and turn them against the government.

While admitting that President Buhari is not the source of the prevailing socioeconomic hiccups in the country, he has the responsibility to fix the economy and all other sociopolitical challenges faced by the nation as the new man on the hot seat. Admittedly, the anti-corruption drive of the administration remains its most acknowl-

edged resolve to fix the decadence in the Nigerian state in the new spirit of change.

So far, the government has faltered in the articulation of the necessary economic recovery blueprint of the nation beyond the treasury single account template recently unveiled to block leakages in the system.

The challenge before Buhari is gargantuan, so are the expectations of Nigerians.

One thing is clear: in addressing these challenges Nigerians would not accommodate excuses. So, the President and his team should roll up their sleeves and get to work. Creative thinking rather than reliance on native wisdom is the magic wand.

An intellectualised leadership paradigm will rely on new economic as well as social models, because the models of the past never took us to the Promised Land. Fortunately, the Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who as chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC) and thus conversant with the nation ’s challenges and the imperative for urgent remedial actions, has responsibility for the economy.

The Vice-President has said the choices before the nation are tough ones. He made the disclosure at the 21st Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG). Nigerians will embrace and support productive tough choices. The Alhaji Shehu Shagari administration (October 1979-December 1983) introduced austerity measures in 1981; General Ibrahim Babangida came with the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP); Nigerians swallowed these bitter pills with nothing to show for it. We urge the new administration to come up with tough home grown workable choices, which like the labour pains of a pregnant woman, would come with joy after delivery.

Strategic to the success of the economic plan of the Buhari administration is the diversification of the economy. Nigeria is under the oil curse, hence the unproductive utilisation of the oil resources. We need a break with the past by comprehensively developing the agricultural sector to service the manufacturing sector.

Such synergy is currently lacking. And of course, more action is needed in the solid minerals sector for the nation to reap bountifully from its value chain.

History beckons on President Buhari.

The months ahead are a testy period for him.

Reminiscences OCTOBER 25 IN HISTORY 1917: Bolsheviks gain power in Russia The October revolution when Bolsheviks gained power from the provisional government and is celebrated on the 25th October due to the capture of the Winter Palace, Petrograd (the seat of the Provisional government) on this day in history.

1933: U.S. - Roosevelt gold buying policy launched The Roosevelt gold buying policy was inaugurated with the government paying $31.36 per ounce, 27 cents higher than quotations on the London Gold Exchange.

1935: 2,000 die in Haiti hurricane A major hurricane strikes Haiti leaving more than 2,000 people dead and many thousands homeless and hungry.

1944: Japan deploys suicide bombers against U.S. The Japanese deploy kamikaze suicide bombers against American warships for the first time during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle in history between the Imperial Japanese Navy and the U.S. Third and U.S. Seventh Fleets.

1950: China increases army strength The Chinese Communists announced that they have increased their army strength to more than 10 million men to free 3,000,000 Tibetans from imperialist aggression.

1952: Mousetrap opens In London ’s West End The Mousetrap a murder mystery play by Agatha Christie opens in London ’s West End at the New Ambassadors Theatre. The play has now run a record-breaking 23,074 performances and is running at St Martin ’s Theatre.

1955: U.S. cracks down on stimulants A crackdown on the sale and use of stimulants often called “Bennies ” “Golf Balls ” or “Co_Pilots ” in the trucking industry is occurring in many states, the truckers use them to stay awake on long journeys.

1964: Zambia gains independence Zambia formerly Northern Rhodesia the home of the Victoria Falls becomes the ninth African state to gain independence from British rule. The new president of the country is Kenneth Kaunda from the United National Independence Party.

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

EDIFYING GOD Sunday, October 25, 2015

Reason for sufferingg lack , says Pastor Muokaa 24

The sadness of God 42

QUOTE This means our ability to give or the giving grace, determines the level to which we experience supernatural blessings in our lives. However, it is important to note that we do not need to flow in abundance to give; all we need is a giving heart.

Bishop David Oyedepo

Don’t DDon on’t n bew bew you you yo oourself uurse urself rrse se f thro self th th disobed disobedie disobedi e e warns a s Pro Po Olorunt OOl Oloruntimil loruntimil orunnti i

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Role of fasting in Christendom

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Vineyard

News CAPAC celebrates anniversary

Celebration

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he evening revival session of Christ Abundant Apostolic Church (Ibudo Agbara) which began on October 24, 2015 to mark the church’s 20th anniversary thanksgiving service, will continue with night vigil, medical check-up and praise worship night from October 26-30, and ends with thanksgiving service on Sunday, November 1 at 35/36 Ezeobi Street, Alapere, Ketu/Agboyi Local Council, Lagos State.

Speaking on the programme, the General Overseer and host, Dr. David Olorunleye revealed the celebration is all about thanksgiving to God Almighty for the miracles He has been performing in the fold. Quoting Heb. 13:8, he added that God is immortal, still alive, and able to do all things exceedingly well in the lives of attendees.

Prophet Funso Akande, President of Baba Abiye of Mt. Ede, Osun State, and a host of others are expected to minister on the occasion while Dare Melody and others will minister in song.

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Hundreds benefit from Manna Prayer Mountain’s free medicare

LVHDM holds convention

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head of its 2015 women convention, The Living Vine Healing and Deliverance Ministry, a.k.a. Pool of Bethesda will be holding a five day programme starting from Wednesday, October 28 to Sunday, November 1, 2015.

The programme tagged “The confident woman will be held at Prestige Gardens, Fasasi Street, Olodi Apapa, Lagos.

While inviting all to be part of the programme, the General Overseer and host, Prophet Ikenna Mbiere assured that the Almighty God is waiting to turn the life of attendees around.

“Come and have a life-time experience; be part of this great event of the women of excellence which will be feature salvation, healing, deliverance inspired message from the great women of God. Fruit of the womb, miracles, sign and wonders and much more shall be the portion of all who attend”, he assured.

RCCG Jesus Pavilion holds N30m fundraiser

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cores of Christian faithful will today join the congregation of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Jesus Pavilion Parish (New Joy Area) as it celebrates it 2015 church anniversary and launching of a building fund.

The event with the theme “It good to build for the Lord” is billed to start with a service at 9 am at current church auditorium, 46 Cole Street, Ijaiye Ijokoro, Lagos.

It will feature presentations by guest speakers and members of the church as well as a special fundraising luncheon targeted at raising at least N30 million for the construction of a new church auditorium.

The Area Pastor, RCCG New Joy Area, Pastor Gabriel Akande, called on invitees and friends of the church to donate generously towards the erection of befitting edifice to the glory of God.

Bishop Dr. Chris Kwakpovwe and his wife.

VICTOR UDOH

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ood health is an essential commodity the world over; nations desire it for its people, both for its sake and nation-building.

Nothing works without good health. And as the adage goes, health is wealth.

Though Nigeria boasts good hospitals and even has a scheme, National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, to aid access to healthcare, many Nigerians are still disenfranchised.

Moreover, even enrollees of the scheme are denied total healthcare, as the scheme does not cover diseases such as diabetes, ulcer, hypertension and other major killer ailments.

In its determination to address this challenge and complement government in providing quality healthcare delivery, the Manna Women International fellowship, the women arm of Manna Prayer Mountain, recently decided to embark on an elaborate free medical care in Lagos.

The one-day medical initiative that took place on October 17 was organised with the support of Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company, SNEPCo, at Mopol Barracks’ field, Ogudu Ori-Oke, Lagos.

Drawing hundreds of people from the immediate and outlying communities, the initiative’s offerings ranged from free medical check-up, presentation of drugs, check and treatment of typhoid, high blood pressure, and checks for sugar level and malaria.

Leader of the women fellowship and AGO, Manna Prayer Mountain Rev Dr F. Ejiro Kwakpovwe, said the free medical programme was part of activities to mark the annual women fellowship convention, and aimed at reaching out to the underprivileged.

“This free medical check-up is being done with the aim of reaching out to the underprivileged; those women that don’t take their health seriously, either because they don’t have the knowledge, the fund or willpower.

Participants awaiting free medical check.

By reaching out to their physical health, we would also be able to reach out to their spiritual need,’’ she stated.

Mrs Kwakpovwe, who was represented by the President, Manna Women Fellowship, Deaconess Uche Dibia, quickly reminded: “Health is wealth; if they are dead we can’t reach them. And we want them healthy, physically and spiritually.”

Representative of Shell Nigeria, Lagos, Mr Enobong Sunday Amiang, said collaborating with the church and its women arm was a necessary; part of its corporate social responsibility, CSR, and contribute its quota towards ensuring that the poor have access to quality healthcare delivery.

Amiang, who is also a medical laboratory scientist with the company, said it was particularly targeting silent killer diseases which Nigerians most times are not aware about.

According to him, “we are targeting silent killers; if we can pick up even a single case of diabetes, high blood pressure and the like, our day is made. Aside check ups and treatments, we are here to also educate people on what to do should they find themselves as victims of these diseases. What we can handle here, we handle; or refer them to their doctors if need be.’’

While commenting on the good turnout of the programme, the shell official said the scope of the checks included a full lipid profile checks to check fats which he noted could block the heart with resultant increase in blood pressure. ‘’We are also checking for glucose in the blood. High glucose/sugar rate in the blood might result in diabetes. We also check body pressure, body mass index and advise people if one is also over weight. BP should be aobut 120/80 but if greater than 140/90, we refer the person to a medical officer.”

Earlier, in a sermon to welcome the gathering, Bishop Dr. Chris Kwakpovwe, while opening the programme with prayer to welcome the crowd that ran into their hundreds, ser-

mon from girls with lantern.

The bishop, who was represented by the resident pastor, Daniel Egbo, said healthy body equals healthy soul equals heaven. Said while earthly doctors treat our bodily ailment we readily neglect the care of our soul that is the jurisdiction of God, which the medical outreach is meant to correct.

Stress it is useless carrying empty lantern (without oil/fuel) for as we care for our body we also have to prepare our souls to meet with God.” A beneficiary who had her blood checked for certain ailment, Mrs. Perpetual Iloagu, while commending the organisers for the free medical initiative, expressed happiness at being a part of the programme. Iloagu, who is a resident of the area, also called for support from corporate organisation, other bodies and individuals so it could be carried out more frequently.

Another participant, Mr Victor Joe, was elated at being checked for various diseases as well as receiving free marriage counselling.

While the various checks and counselling went on, the participants were also advised on how to live healthy lifestyles.

Addressing participants, some medical officers urged them to follow the principles of healthy living, sleep on hard mattress to avoid back ache among other counsel. For instance, they were taught to eat balanced meals.

“Don’t eat eba (garri) morning, afternoon and night. Even semo, I know majority of you like it, eat it sparingly, say a handful. They were also told not to toy with such spices as garlic and onion in their meals, “they are antioxidant and good for your health.”

Apart being treated to food and drinks, in the spirit of World Food Day that is marked every October 16, each participant went home smiling after being provided with a free copy of the ministry’s daily devotional, Our Daily Manna, ODM, for their spiritual upkeep.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

From the Pulpit 21

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Forward on your knees!

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e can only move as far and as fast as our knees would carry us!

A “knee-mail” is more effective than an email. He who kneels to God can stand up to anything. On your knees, you are taller than trees! Heaven is brought close through prayer. This is the way to breathe the air of heaven instead of the foul air around you. There is no better way to practice the presence of God than through prayer and meditation.

Prayerlessness is pride! If you realize the gravity of Jesus’ words: “without me you can do nothing” (John 15:5); we would never try to go it alone. Experience cannot replace effectual fervent prayers. We mess things up with the arm of flesh.

Our past successes stand in the way of future glory.

It is pride and presumption to move without direct orders from the throne room of the universe. A pilot who ignores the control tower is bound to crash or cause air mishap for other planes.

We do not see beyond our noses! The true picture and motives are often hidden from the most perceptive among us.

Prayer is our way of depending on the hand that moves the world. Praying says:

“I surrender!”

Do not stubbornly refuse to bow your will to God. Humble yourself before Him. Pride goes before destruction, but humility precedes honor. George Mueller, a saintly evangelist and educationist in Europe over a century ago, cared for 10,024 orphans in his life and established 117 schools which offered Christian education to over 120,000 children, many of them being orphans.

He was asked for the secret of his successes; and he retorted: “there was a day when I died, utterly died; died to George Muller, his opinions, preferences, tastes, and will-died to the world, its approval or censure-died to the approval or blame even of my brethren and friends-and since then I have studied only to show myself approved unto God.” Have your successes made you overly arrogant and confident of your abilities?

Are you neglecting or taking little account of your weaknesses? Do you now see yourself as above and beyond the frailties of common people? Are you beginning to believe that you have become indispensible in your organization or congregation?

You cannot be farther from the truth! Only God is irreplaceable! Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled. Those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Prayer is more about listening as it is asking. God has something to say: listen!

God will show you, in prayer, areas of your weaknesses. If you listen and cooperate, God will operate on you to power those areas through more prayers. Billy Graham confessed: “the Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, ‘O God, forgive me,’ or ‘Help me.’” If you refuse to listen, then “your sin will find you out” (Num 32:23)! Keep your eyes on Jesus. Someone advised: “If I look at myself, I am depressed. If I look at those around me, I am often disappointed. If I look at my circumstances, I am discouraged. But if I look at Jesus, I am constantly, consistently, and eternally fulfilled!”

Kenneth Copeland taught: “Fear tolerated is faith contaminated.” Fear is the opposite of faith. Faith is believing the unbelievable and acting on it. Without faith no one can please God (Heb 11:6). Fear displeases God. Fearful people displease God. There is so much that God wants to do for us, but they have been cut short by fear! We are living below God’s expectation of us because fear has incapacitated and dilapidated us. We have become dwarfs when our spiritual genetic make-up is that of giants. It is time to face your fears and banish your fears in the name of Jesus!

In the spring of 1921, a small group of British soldiers patrolling the Sinai Peninsula became completely lost in a terrible sandstorm. Wandering in the

blistering desert, they soon ran out of water. Facing death from thirst, they decided to dig in the sand, hoping to create a well. Fruitless effort it seems? One soldier remembered the biblical passage where Moses struck the desert rock for water for the Israelites in that same Sinai Desert. He soon found a limestone rock nearby and began striking it with a ledge.

Miraculously, a dribble of clear, sweet water came out from the face of the rock. This soft limestone was covering a hidden spring. The water kept the soldiers alive until they were rescued.

I challenge you to move forward in prayers. Depend on the Holy Ghost.

He wants to show you more than academic research can unearth. He wants to lead you to unique breakthroughs. He wants to show you hidden treasures. Let not fear hold you back.

There is a heaven to win and a hell to shun! Multitudes are waiting to benefit from the effects of your trust in the Holy Spirit and prayers. May the Lord depend on you! Amen.

Tunde Ojewole, Ph.D., is the University Pastor and Associate VicePresident for Spiritual Life, Babcock University. Get a copy of his recent book, GOD’S FOOTPRINTS. For enquiries: ojewolea@babcock. edu.ng; 08058299434/08060376577.

News

Bishop Odetoyinbo confirms Catholic faithful in Church of Transfiguration

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o fewer than eighty catholic faithfuls who are parishioners of Catholic Church of Transfiguration Arepo, (CCTA) in Ogun State were last Sunday given the sacrament of confirmation by the Bishop of Abeokuta Diocese, Most Rev. Peter Kayode Odetoyinbo in a spirit-filled Confirmation Mass and Thanksgiving.

The lucky faithfuls were conferred with the sacrament after passing through rigorous chatecheism training and tests before the arrival of the Bishop who was on a canonical visit to the Parish.

Administering the sacrament on the parishioners at a well attended mass, Most Rev. Peter Kayode Odetoyinbo, urged the parishioners to change from their old ways as the sacrament being conferred on them requires them to live the rest of their lives as worthy followers and apostles of Christ.

According to His Lordship, “You are now confirmed as a worthy ambassador of Christ, your attitude, conduct and behavior must henceforth be Christ-like. You are also to be at the vanguard of evangelism, winning souls for Christ”, Odetoyinbo charged.

Earlier in his homily, His Lordship who quoted extensively from the Holy Bible, Mathew chapter 18, verse 18 – 20 urged the faithfuls to go out like the apostles and preach the word of God. His words “As newly confirmed, you should go out as missionaries of God and evangelize. You should participate actively in church activities by belonging to the various Christian societies. You should allow your faith to be more deeply rooted as you are now soldiers of Christ”.

He stated that participating more actively in all the church activities by the faithfuls is one of the many ways to allow the Church of God to remain alive and grow from strength to strength.

Lamenting the crisis and challenges being faced by Christians in the Northern part of the country, where insurgency has become a threat to daily human existence, Odetoyinbo observed that Christians in the South West and other areas where there are no cases of insurgency have no cause to be unsteady in their faith.

He specifically expressed his sympathy and prayers for all Christians facing persecution because of their faith, adding that God Almighty will continue to strengthen them and grant them freedom from their persecutors.

The Bishop who expressed joy and glad-

ness at the spiritual and physical development of Catholic Church of Transfiguration Arepo, commended the Parish Priest, Rev. Father Charles Soyombo for a job well done as he equally praised all parishioners for living as a community of God’s people.

He noted that his three-day visitation has enabled him to see how cordially the parishioners live as members of the family of Christ. He urged them to continue to live together as happy and united family of Christ, saying that is the way the church wants them to live.

In his own remarks, Father Charles Soyombo expressed joy and happiness towards the administration of the sacrament of confirmation by His Lordship, Rev. Peter Odetoyinbo.

He stated; “We thank God and His Lordship for this visit. We now have eighty

Parish Priest, Catholic Church of Transfiguration, Arepo, Rev. Father Charles Soyombo (middle) and the faithful who received the Sacrament of Confirmation during Bishop Odetoyinbo’s canonical visit at Arepo, Ogun State last weekend.

newly confirmed faithfuls. Now, we have a better equipped Christians in Arepo who have become soldiers of Christ”.

He stated that it was a thing of great joy to have this great number of people conferred with the sacrament of confirmation, urging the faithfuls to use the new gift of confirmation very well by using their faith in fighting on the side of Christ.

He expressed appreciation to the Bishop for finding time out of His busy schedule in visiting the Parish, adding that the entire Parish and the Parishioners are hugely indebted to the Bishop for granting them an audience.

Commenting further on the import of the visit, Rev. Father Charles Soyombo said the visit offered the Bishop the unique opportunity to know and acquaint himself with the Parishioners who also had the opportunity to interact with the august visitor as they were able to deepen their faith while enhancing their spiritual growth.

The Bishop had during the visit toured the two out out-stations in the Parish, namely – Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Isheri, where he consecrated the proposed church land, and Catholic Church of Resurrection, Warewa. The Bishop also set aside an evening to have a dinner with all the parishioners in a convivial setting at CCTA premises. The visit was however climaxed with the administering of sacrament of confirmation during a Holy Mass/Thanksgiving. It was indeed a great occasion which was witnessed by large turnout of Catholic faithfuls within Arepo and its environs.

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Role of fasting in

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ue to its prevalence as a required rite among several churches in Christendom, many people have been asking questions as to the place of fasting in Christianity.

Fasting is abstinence from food for a fixed period of time. It implies the taming of passions such that one denies oneself things that give pleasure and comfort even if such are lawful.

The Old Testament records some examples of fasting to avert national calamity and these include Second Chronicles 20:1-4, 15-17, 20, 24-30 which gives account of what the Israelites did when they were threatened with destruction by the Moabite, Ammonites and other gentile nations. The Holy writ states that the King at that time, Jehoshaphat feared and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout Judah. After the fast, the outcome of that battle was that the enemies of the people of Israel were routed by the Lord’s angel and the Jews only came to gather the spoils.

By the time of Jesus Christ, fasting, as an important adjunct to prayer, was a pretty well established custom among the Jews.

However, formalism and empty traditionalism had become associated with it. Fasting had been stripped of its essence and this was evident in Luke 18:9-14 at Christ’s telling indictment of the self-righteous, holierthan-thou Pharisee, who was not justified in the sight of God in spite of the fact that he claimed to fast twice a week.

Going by Jesus’ condemnation of the Pharisee for making a show of his holy status and the fact that He (Jesus) also fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, this means that fasting is still an authentic rite in Christendom, but in this present time, this practice has become highly controversial because several Churches, in their quest for instant healing or miracles, have evolved various types of fasting for their adherents because they believe since it is a command from God, that it is compulsory that Christians should fast to endear God to intervene in unfavourable situations in their lives.

That fasting is not ruled out in the Christian era is evident in the gospel of Matthew 17:14-21, from the case of the deaf and dumb spirit, which Jesus Christ cast out of a Jewish boy. Earlier his own disciples had tried to oust the devil from the boy but failed; but at Jesus’ command the deaf and dumb spirit left the boy. Intrigued by it all, the disciples asked why they could not cast the deaf and dumb spirit out. Christ answered, that the power to perform such miracle can only come forth by nothing, but prayer and fasting. This clearly gives the understanding that under certain desperate situation, one could fast.

According to the Director of Studies, United Bible University, Professor Kunle Macaulay, though the act does not save anybody, fasting remains one of the practices which Christians engage in to draw closer to God as it makes them sober and allows them to concentrate on spiritual things, as well as keeps them away from evil indulgences.

“Fasting is one of the Christian prac-

Though the scripture records the person of God and Jesus Christ condemning the disposition of some people during fasting, the practice still remains a prevalent spiritual discipline among Christians. ODINAKA URUAKPA speaks to clerics to throw more light on the place of fasting in Christianity. tices that include prayer and hospitality.

Fasting is one of those things that Christians do normally; it doesn’t save anybody, rather it brings people closer to God. When you fast, you are a little bit sober and there is a lot of concentration; then you avoid contamination with evil things or sin to put it in the right perspective. I won’t say it is commanded by God or He instructed that we should fast, I think anything that can bring us closer to God in whichever way; we can use to do so. If my fasting would bring me closer to God, then I would fast every day. If prayer is going to bring me closer to God, I would pray almost every minute; so, it is not about command, but belief in the efficacy of such practice.

Some people say that without fasting and prayer, you cannot perform miracle. I think it is not true because what God needs is your spirit, your faith and your ability to keep yourself clean away from Satan or from sin; which is most important. You can be fasting and at the same time inside you can be committing sin. What is important here is your ability to maintain holiness, he explained.

When asked if it is right for clerics recommended fasting for people to go to them for counseling, Macaulay said: “To some extent, it is very good; it is one of the skills or method developed by Christian leaders, when people come with their problems, you want to bring them closer to God; then

THAT FASTING IS NOT RULED OUT IN THE

CHRISTIAN ERA IS EVIDENT IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 17:14-21, FROM THE CASE OF THE DEAF AND DUMB SPIRIT, WHICH JESUS CHRIST CAST OUT OF A JEWISH BOY. EARLIER HIS OWN DISCIPLES HAD TRIED TO OUST THE DEVIL FROM

THE BOY BUT FAILED; BUT AT

JESUS’ COMMAND THE DEAF AND DUMB SPIRIT LEFT THE BOY.

you tell them to go on fasting. This not only brings them closer to God, but also makes them sober in a way that they will realize coming closer to God would help them to solve their problem. Fasting is a skill which many pastors use for their adherents spiritual wellbeing. They could recommend seven days fasting, but that doesn’t mean fasting for seven days will solve your problem; God decides when to solve the problem of a man, and again, solving the problem would also depend on your faith; God would consider how much faith and trust you have in Him.” On how people can discern on their own that fasting could actually be a solution to their problems, the theologian said: “It depends on the level of a person’s spirituality.

Some people don’t even know all these things until they are told. For instance, if you are a

good Christian, you know you should make out time to fast at least once a week or twice in a month; you should also set out a time of fifteen to thirty minutes to pray daily. These are the things Christians do normally without problem. Fasting is not all about problem solving; God is not a solver of problems alone, He is a God that brings joy, prosperity, happiness, comfort to people; so we shouldn’t see Him as problem solver. Though He solves problems, no doubt about that, but the fact is that when you are close to God, you would hardly have problems. As a Christian, you should learn how to pray and fast normally.

Like I said earlier, for those who go to Christian counselors; these counselors set a standard for them by recommending a period of time for them to fast because they want the adherent to be sober and get closer to God.

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Sunday, October 25, 2015

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Christendom Fasting is not compulsory, but like I also said; it is just one of those things that Christians do. What is compulsory in the life of a Christian is living a holy and pure life; that is what God expects of us and not fasting. Of what use is your fasting when your words, thoughts and actions are not pure.”

Citing the example of Jesus Christ and his disciples, Pastor Paul Anyamele of Ascension Pentecostal Church, Lagos, nted that fasting is a rite that has been in existence from the Bible days, which has an appointed and fixed time in which it should be carried out.

“We are informed in Mark 2:18-20 that when the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus Christ to find out why they (John’s disciples) and the Pharisees fasted, but Jesus’ disciples did not fast. Jesus said to them, “Can the children of the bride chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?’ He added, “As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.’ The point Jesus was making to his disciples whom he referred to as the children of the bride chamber was that since He (the bridegroom) was with them to cater for their spiritual well-being, as opposed to the disciples of John whose master was then in prison at the time, there was no compelling need for them to fast or to afflict themselves in any way. Christ would not give to his disciples, duties they could not bear as they, being new in their calling, were not used to such religious austerities as fasting. Moreover, God is a God of order. There is time for everything”, he explained.

Anyamele further explained that just as the disciples fasted when they were thrown into sorrow Christians resort to fasting when they are confronted with problems and unfavourable situations because they believe it is a good way to draw closer to God as well as get solutions to their problems.

“Indeed after Christ’s crucifixion, as recorded in Mark 16:10, the disciples mourned and wept, they fasted when the Lord was taken away from them as He had earlier predicted. Just like the disciples, we Christians of this present day undergo fasting when we are confronted with one problem or the other as we believe it to be a way to draw closer to God and get our problems solved. However, no matter how deeply one may afflict his soul, no matter how extensive the fasting, it will be ineffective if it is not based on the truth, the fear of God and the practice of righteousness. The Jews made an error of judgment by believing that because they fasted often they would be in favour with God and be blessed by Him. Many professed Christians have fallen into this error of turning the solemn, private act of fasting into a mere ritual or formalism. Some even pay other people to fast for them according to the number of days some so-called visionaries, pastors, prophets and prophetesses that abound these days prescribe”, he revealed.

For Pastor Clement Peters of Salvation Love Assembly, Surulere, fasting is a vol-

IT IS WRONG FOR A PASTOR OR ANYONE FOR THAT MATTER, TO CLAIM THAT GOD COMMANDED THEM TO FAST. FASTING IS A VOLUNTARY ACT OF SELFDENIAL OR SACRIFICE BY A TROUBLED INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP OF PERSONS. untary act of self-denial or sacrifice by a troubled individual or group of persons. He added that it is wrong for someone in fasting on behalf of another; therefore, anyone who chooses to fast should do so at their own personal volition.

“It is wrong for a pastor or anyone for that matter, to claim that God commanded them to fast. Fasting is a voluntary act of self-denial or sacrifice by a troubled individual or group of persons. It is ridiculous, therefore, for someone to engage in fasting on behalf of another as is the practice these days. The scripture in Philippians 2:12; Ezekiel 18:4, 20; Galatians 6:4, 5; Ezekiel 14:12-20 and a host of others would educate us more on this. With regard to the period of time one should fast, some individuals have been known to fast for upwards of 40 days, apparently in imitation of Moses and the Lord Jesus Christ who neither took food nor water during their fast. Others fast for fewer days.

“Though a person’s need and desperation should influence the length of the fast, but Christians should guide their affairs with discretion. It is indiscreet to fast for days on end especially in this time of grace.

We can also look up Proverbs 2:10 and Psalm 112:5 for more understanding on this.

Like the Israelites, some people have turned the solemn rite of fasting into mere formality; they fasted and afflict their souls, but at the same time revel in iniquity. We must realize that just like He had no regard for

the prayers and fasting of the Israelites as stated in Isaiah 58:3-5, God would disregard the prayers and fasting of those who claim to fast and yet indulge in sin or personal righteousness in order to get the praise of men”, he pointed out.

Peter noted that contrary to Christ’s injunction that fasting should be a quiet, sober and private affair, many churches make such a flourish about fasting that special dates and holidays are set aside for them.

“Fasting has been robbed of its essence in order to attract the attention of the world and for the individuals involved to be hailed by men as righteous. The way some churches make such a flourish about fasting and set special dates and holidays for them is same as what the Pharisees did in time past.

As Jesus Christ said, such already have their reward, which is the admiration they get from those unlearned in the scriptures and nothing more. The fast required by God is not so much the abstinence from food as the doing of righteousness at all times. He made this clear in Isaiah 58:6-9.

“It is clear is that importance is no longer attached to fasting as a rite; the paramount thing is for Christians to have the fear of God and righteousness. We are told in Psalm 106:3 that the fasting that is more acceptable to God and which is in the sight of God of great prize is the practice of righteousness at all times. Thus a Christian can be having his normal three square meals

a day and yet be fasting, that is giving himself to righteousness. Such a one must deny himself of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life to meet up the Lord’s requirement. This is the fasting that is required of every faithful Christian in these last days”, he emphasised.

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From the

Pulpit Sunday October 25, 2015

Reason for suffering lack , says Pastor Muoka General Overseer of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministry, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, in this piece, explains why people suffer lack. Excerpts:

S

o many believers are suffering lack today because they are working in isolation with the word of God and disobedient to the word of God and as a result they suffer lack. Sometimes, unbelievers who are ignorantly practising godly principle of increase are better than them which ought not to be so. If one disobeys God’s principle - whether believer or unbeliever- that person will be under curse and it is always horrible when one disobeys God because that person will be placed under heavy yoke of poverty, sicknesses, diseases, lack and hindrances.

Proverbs 10: 4-5 says: “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. 5 ¶ He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame”.

The general law of increase in God’s moral government is: be industrious and have plenty, or be lazy and be in poverty and remain in want. God has ordered in the course of His providence that he who will not work shall not eat. And He blesses the work of those that are industrious.

Those who deal with a slack hand, who are careless in godly principle of increase and never mind which end goes foremost, nor ever set their hands vigorously to their work or stick to it; those who deal with a deceitful hand will, in the end, impoverish themselves, not only by bringing the curse of God on what they have, but by forfeiting their reputation with men.

Those who are diligent and honest, who are careful about their affairs, and who do what their hands find to do, and do it with all their might, in a fair and honourable way, will have increase in all their endeavours. This is true in the affairs of our souls as well as in our worldly affairs. Slothfulness and hypocrisy lead to spiritual poverty, but those who are fervent in labour and spirit, serving the Lord, are likely to be rich in n faith and rich in good works.

Proverbs 20: 4 says: “The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing”.

Those that will not plough in seedt i m e cannot

expect to reap in harvest and therefore they must beg their bread with astonishment when the diligent are bringing home their sheaves with joy. He that will not submit to the labour of ploughing must submit to the shame of begging. They shall beg in harvest, and yet have nothing for they deserve to be starved. Those that would not provide oil in their vessels begged when the bridegroom came, and were denied.

An idle soul, one that is idle in the affairs of his soul, that takes no care or pains to work out his salvation, that do not observe God’s principles, shall perish for want of that which is necessary to the life and happiness of the soul.

Deut. 28: 15-22 says: “But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:16.

Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field. 17. Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store.

18. Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks

of thy sheep. 19. Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out. 20. The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me. 21.

The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it. 22. The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and w i t h an ex-

treme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish”.

If we do not keep God’s commandments, we will not only come short of the blessing promised, but we will lay ourselves under the curse, which is as comprehensive as of all misery as the blessing is of all happiness. The extent and power of this curse is that wherever the sinner goes, the curse of God follows him; wherever he is, it will rest upon him. Whatever he has is under a curse. All his enjoyments are made bitter; he cannot take any true comfort in them, for the wrath of God mixes itself with them. So it is good that we obey the word of o God for in that we shall be blessed. The only way to escape from this kind of suffering or o problem is to obey the word of God. Deut. 28: 1- 14 says: “And it shall come to t pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto unt the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe observ and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations nation of the earth: 2. And all these blessings shal shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. 3. Blessed shalt thou be in the th city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. field 4. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the frui fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, an and the flocks of thy sheep. 5. Blessed shall b be thy basket and thy store. 6. Blessed shalt shal thou be when thou comest in, and blessed blesse shalt thou be when thou goest out. 7. The Th LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise ris up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one on way, and flee before thee seven ways. 8. Th The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall shal bless thee in the lan land which the th

PASSION

A Lifestyle Maga Magazine zine

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Sunday, October 25, 2015

APPLAUSE

‘Without husband, I cope well with my kids’ >>2 >>27 27

I cherish looking sexy but decent -Rachael Aniah >>26

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Passion

Sunday, October 25, 2015

I cherish looking sexy but decent –Rachael Aniah When did you start acting?

I started appearing ppearing on the screen in 2013 but I was as always on stage acting every now w and then while growing up. I have always loved movies and so was eager to be partt of how it all comes together. er.

What movies have you starred in?

I have starred red in movies such as ‘RenunciaRenunciation’, ‘Ighene’, ’, ‘My fate’, ‘Bloomsberry y Hotel’ and some TV series such uch as ‘Girls’ quarters’, ‘Desperate esperate housewives’ and ‘What What are friends for?’ The most st recent is ‘Do Good’.

Which was more challenging?

‘Ighene’ was more challenging as the character was being g buried alive,, so she cursed d and screamed ed while she was being covered with sand. By the he time I was done, ne, I had sand in my eyes, mouth and, of course, my hair.

Which of the movies brought you into nto the limelight?

‘Do good’ brought me stardom.. Playing the role of Afiok and having to speak ak in Akwa Ibom accent brought me much attention. on.

Having studied d Accounting, why did you ou choose acting as a career? reer?

I chose thiss career because I quite enjoy what I do and I’m eager ager to have more experience. nce.

What thrills you ou most in what you do?

What thrills ills me most is having ng the opportunity off experiencing what it is like to be someone e else and showcasing it to the world.

Who do you aspire to be like in the movie world?

I just want to be a great actress.

If acting nude e or semi nude w would meaning add mean ning to a role, movie rol le, would you be a able to do it?

I can w e a r

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Renowned actress Rachael Aniah says that much as she craves to look sexy, she nonetheless strives to be decent.

This Accounting graduate of University of Calabar also tells ADAEZE AMOS in this interview that stardom cannot stop her marriage because both are two worlds apart, among other issues.

With-

out fashion, how do you think the world would have looked like?

Without fashion, I gues guesss we put would be people that just pu ut on u clothes to cover our nakedness naked dn ness not minding the style, colour, co ollour, design or accessories.

Can you define your style?

I just love what looks good on me and suits the kind of body frame I have.

What

skimpy clothes if it’s part of a char-acter that I have e to play but not nude.

What has acting ttaken from you?

It’s gradually taking in ng away my privacy.

What Wh hat lesson has life taught tau ught you?

P Perseverance.

When n you u want to achieve e something, trying som mething, keep tryin g until even n when you fail unti il you h hit your goal.

What’s s your philosophy of life?

You reap what you sow, therefore there efore sow wisely.

Tell u us about your love life.

Who W ho is that guy rocking y your love boat?

I would like to keep p that to myself.

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

Just taking pictures and announcing who I am to his friends.

fashion items form a larger part of your wardrobe?

Earrings and shoes.

In fact, I can do without any accessory but earrings? I feel incomplete when I dress up without adorning them.

What part of your body do you consider sexy?

I like to show my y legs particularly but if we really want to flaunt all our good sides, I’m sure we would be constantly naked..

So, I want to try my best to be e sexy and still decent.

Why do some celebrities not concon nsider marriage important?

Stardom cannot replace marm riage because those are two o different worlds. What happens most m with times is that stardom comes w wiith a relationbusy life that interferes in rela attionmoment ship and marriage. So, the mom ment m manage someone is unable to cope or ma an nage because both, it becomes a problem bec ca ause both require maximum attention, espee cially when you marry someone who w Personcan’t cope with your schedule. Per rsonsomeday, ally, I would love to get married som me eday, down stardom or not. And I will settle d do own ready when a guy in a shining armor is rea ad dy to come and whisk me away. future Would you oblige your husband in futu re e if he insists you should quit acting?

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Well, I hope I don’t find ho myself in such a dilemma because acting is what wha I love doing.

If I quit, let it be my decision. But if it comes between me and t my m marriage, I may cut down a bit, but if he makes me quit, then I hope he is ready to cope with an unhappy wife.

What Wha are your regrets?

The only regret I o have is not n starting my screen acting at the time ac I fully developed interd est. But again, there is time for everything, fo and that tha time was for school.

When you h had heartbreak, what did you d do to kill the pains?

I sulked and cried my eyes out for a few d days until there were no tears tear left to shed. I just resumed resum my regular activity to help take my mind min off it.

Applause

Sunday, October 25, 2015

27

‘Without husband, I cope well with my kids’ P

opular movie actress, Iyabo Ojo, who was inspired by Bimbo Akintola, to the movie world, has been excelling in the Yoruba movie genre.

She has starred in over 200 movies which she produced herself.

“I have starred in over 200 movies. They include ‘Botife’, ‘Bofe Boko’, ‘Ololufe’, ‘Agogo Ide’, ‘Igbako Esan’, ‘Eromi, Oga’, and ‘Iyan Ogunodun’.

Others are ‘Wole Akudaye’, ‘Omo Gomina, Arinzo’, ‘Silence’, ‘Beyond Disability’ and ‘Black Valentine’.

“These are the ones I can remember off hand. Apart from ‘Oga’, all the movies I mentioned here were produced by me,” she said Aside from acting, she has a foundation which caters for the needy in the society.

“My foundation is a non-governmental organisation for kids with disability.

Such kids need all the love and support one can think of. I love helping children with challenges. It’s an all-female organisation, owned by me and my friends. We render all the support from the depths of our hearts and that’s what makes the organisation unique. We also support the aged, especially those in old people’s homes,” she disclosed.

How does this mother of two, who is also a beauty therapist, cope blending these tasks together?

“I cope well. I’m an organised fellow, so I always plan my schedule well. Another thing that helps me tremendously is that I have able hands and good workers who help me,” she explained.

She took to beauty and spa business because of her desire to look more beautiful.

“It’s because I love fashion and beauty. They both go hand-in-hand. I also

love taking care of myself and enjoy relaxing. I know body massaging is the best way to relieve my body. So, I decided to invest in it. Having seen it’s another thing I’m passionate about. I have all the right equipment and products in my spa,” she said.

Iyabo has been popular in showbiz over the years without relenting. What is her staying power?

“My staying power is God, because with Him on my side, I can never go wrong. I’m also very hard working and ambitious. The willingness to always explore my new ideas to the world and step up my game plans has also added to my staying power. I am humble, a giver, I have strong belief in myself, work hard and I have strong faith in God. All these have made me relevant in the business world,” she emphasised.

Iyabo is glad to be a mother. She savours the joy of motherhood.

“From the first day I had my first child in 1999, to when I had my second child in 2001, I have always known the joy of motherhood is something you can never truly explain. The feeling on the inside is the greatest in the world,” she said.

What has she been doing right to maintain her shape and waistline?

“I don’t eat much but I eat right and take enough fruits and water,” she said.

She speaks about lessons life has taught her.

“Life has taught me to always believe in myself, to be humble and good to others and never to lose hope in life. I always allow God to fight my battles. Life has also taught me that it’s necessary to take very good care of my kids because they are all I have got. And the last lesson is to help those I can and live to be

happy. I don’t live to please the society, but I try to please myself first. My guiding principle of life is to be myself, be original, humble and be a giver,” she said.

To those whose marriage is not working, just as hers that didn’t work, but have decided to stay put because of what people would say, she counsels.

“It’s your choice to make. It’s either you choose to remain in it to please the society and end up being miserable and sad or find a new path and live happily.

The choice is yours but just remember that no one, not even the society would help to take care of your kids when you die. So, the battle is yours and yours only. It’s your right to be happy. I’m coping very fine without husband. Whenever God says it’s time again for me to remarry, so be it,” the movie star said.

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Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday, October 25, 2015

GROWING UP Once upon a time with

Aunty Titi

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

ANIMAL FACTS The Boy and the Apple Tree

V

The spider

• All spiders have 8 legs. They arthropods.

• Spiders spin webs that they use to catch food. They have glands that make silk.

• They are the largest order of Arachnids.

• They are 7th in the world when it comes to diversity among their populations.

• Antarctica is the only continent in the world where you can ’t find spiders.

• Most spiders don ’t live in the bodies of water, only a few species. They are able to live in all other types of habitat.

• They don ’t have antenna which is what separates them from insects.

• There has only been one species identified as vegetarian the rest are all predators: Bagheera kiplingi.

• Most spiders feature 4 sets of eyes.

The pattern of how they are arranged though will depend on the species.

• In some species, males are often much

smaller than the females in size.

• The number of eggs a female delivers can be up to 3,000.

• Arachnophobia is the fear of Spiders.

It is one of the most common fears in the world. It affects approximately 10% of men and 50% of women.

• The largest spider is the Giant Bird Eating Spider and the Huntsman spider is the world ’s largest spider by leg-span.

• The smallest spider is the Patu digua endemic to Colombia.

• The strongest material in the world is considered the silk that Spiders create.

• Humans continue to pollute the environment due to toxins from insecticides to kill Spiders.

• The blood of a Spider is light blue in color.

• Spiders are near sided so they aren ’t able to see items that are far away from them.

• Very few people die or become seriously ill from Spider bites.

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

ery long ago, there lived a huge apple tree offering tasty apples to the people. A little boy became close friend to the apple tree. The boy used to play with the tree by, climb the branches, sleep under the shadow, pluck apples, etc. Every day he visited the tree, and ate apples. The apple tree was so kind to the boy and enjoyed spending time with the little boy.

The boy joined school and did not spend time with the apple tree. After several months the boy came to the apple tree. The tree was so happy to see the boy and asked him to play with it.

The boy said, he is not a little one to play with the trees. But he had another request to the tree.

The tree asked what you want. The boy said, he need toys to play and but his parents has no sufficient money to buy toys for him.

The replied, ‘Dear boy, I did not have any money to buy toys for you, but you can pick the apples and sell it, get money and buy the toys you need. ’ The apple tree was eagerly waiting to see the boy return. The boy went happily after plucking apples, but never returned for several years.

The tree was so sad and it did not produce any apples then.

After almost 10 years, the boy returned to the apple tree as a youngster. The apple tree immediately recognized the boy and was happy to see him. The tree asked him to play again.

The boy said, ‘I ’m sorry I don ’t have time to play with you as I have to work.

We are building new home and need some wood for it. Can you please help me?

The apple tree replied, ‘Oh my dear boy, please cut my branches and get the needed quantity of wood, as much as you want. ’ The boy started to cut the branches of the tree and left the place. After several years, the boy returned as a middle aged man to the tree. The tree, which was waiting for years to see the boy, was quite delighted.

The apple tree asked, ‘Can you play with me now? ’ The boy, who is now an aged man replied, ‘I ’m old now and I want to relax myself from heavy work. I need a boat to sail to various places. Can you help me? ’ The apple tree replied, ‘Oh my dear boy, I don ’t have a boat for you, but you can cut my trunk and make a boat. ’ The man cut the trunk of the tree and made the boat. He happily sailed to various places but never returned to the tree again, which now has only the roots!

After two decades, the boy returned to tree as an old man.

The tree recognized him and told, ‘Oh my dear boy, now I have nothing to give to you! ’ The old man said, ‘I just need rest, just give me a place ’ The apple tree, ‘Come on my dear, take rest in my roots! Good old roots are the best place to have peace and rest! ’

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

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29

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Dude Style

I wear what fits me -Atawewe How was your growing up?

Growing up was not easy for me. You know growing wing up from a mere child and becoming a man n are stages in life that are not easy to manage.. I must commend my parents because they did a great job.

You have been singing Fuji music for long.

What at has been your staying power?

Being a famous artiste or celebrity in Nigeria, the role is not just what you can work out in a day. It requires a lot of energy and experience. e. One has to put in whatever one has to be successful, cessful, not trusting in human being or being in haste, but believing in God. Tell us about your educational background.

I had my primary and secondary education in Edo State. At a point I had to halt, but I later went nt back to continue.

How w do you feel sitting as a star in the same class ss with some other people?

I feel okay because I am a human being like e any other person. Nobody is superior; the only y person that is superior in the whole universe se is the Almighty God. Whoever you are, whatever atever you do or aspire to in life, you have to mingle with people. If you can’t mingle, you cannot not be a good celebrity because you were once e like them before becoming what you are.

As a popular Yoruba artiste, who is your major rivall in Fuji music?

I can never say I have no rival. What I believe e is that in any business there must be rivalry ry issue. Nobody has ever crossed my path and d said he rivals me, but we can have businesss rivalry.

What at motivated you to embrace Fuji music?

I took from my father. He is a dramatist and d he equally writes songs. So, what at I do is more like e a legacy

Award-winning Ambassador Sulaiman Adio aka Atawewe, is king of Fuji music worldwide. He tells VICTOR UDOH in this interview about his passion for Fuji music and what stands him out as an artiste. Excerpts: tistes, you have not been involved in any scandal. What is the secret?

It is all about the packaging, the management and self-discipline. Wherever you find me, it is the management, we have division of labour. Everyone has his or her role.

How do you manage your female fans?

With God all things are possible.

What about your wife, how do you relate with her?

I have been doing this before I got married and started raising my family. I appreciate them for their support and understanding; they have always been there for me and on my part, I am a responsible father.

What was your experience like when you came into Fuji?

I had good experience because with God all things are possible.

Looking at what passed on to me. out in the polday, what’s From indications, it appears your fans are advice to somewhat difficult to manage. How do you governcope? ment?

In the entertainment industry, if you are a I think singer and pulls a crowd, to manage and con- t h i n g s trol people is not easy. You study your fans and are relaonce you give them what they want, you won’t t i v e l y have any problem. However, everything about okay with the entertainment industry is changed now. Ev- government. eryone wants to be a musician. For example, a As we can look at me won’t give me away as a musician if there is I don’t tell anyone I am one. Even the way I do things; the packaging, initiatives, talking about Fuji, obviously everything has changed.

Hence we have a changed crowd; and fans are now very calm.

Looking at the music industry today, artistes such as Pasuma are going into Hip-hop, what plans have you in the next five years for the Fuji industry?

I have my plans but I wouldn’t want to disclose it for now, because of fear of ideas being stolen.

But I will bring change to the genre.

Compared to most ar-

victorudoh804@yahoo.com 07067124302

is playing ity toyour

new trait of self-examination; even the President has submitted himself to checks. So who would not be examined? Everyone is expected to declare what he or she has got.

What is your dress culture when going on stage?

I don’t believe in names, I believe in what fits me.

What is that fashion item you can never be caught in?

I don’t really like mentioning fashion items; I only wear what fits me. Whatever I put on that is okay on me is my style.

What is your philosophy of life?

My philosophy is that whatever you aspire to be, pursue that dream; listen to people’s advice, take from it and your own together and see how you are going to deliver to people.

Who is your mentor? y God Almighty and KSA (King Sunny Ade).

Why KSA? He is my godfather from the cradle; cradl they call him king of world beat.

the see, a

the new As a celebrity, what’s your advice for th generation?

Learn from me through my music musi style, what you hear about me; listen to my music gain from because there is no way you won’t gai it.

What should your fans expect from you? yo They should be expecting worldwide, commonsensical and well-packaged video. do you Where d yourself see yo in five years?

I will b e greater e than this. th Apart Apar from music, music what else do you do?

I don’t d do any other thing because of beca the demand of music. mu How do you feel receiving receivin the best Fuji Artiste honour hono Nite Out by the Nigeria Media Nit Award?

I feel very happy to collect this award. I know it is not n my power, but the help of God which grateful to all singled me out. I am gratefu my fans for their support, especially esp continued supmy family for their continue port. I also thank organisers of this award for nominating me as one of the best. What I have to tell my fans is that they should keep believing in me as my best b t is i yett to t come.

&

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Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Weddings Engagements CELEBRATING THE JOY IN MARITAL BLISS

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

You can call this line 08050324794

Sunday, October 25, 2015

We ’re destined to be together –Couple BABIES OF THE WEEK Eric Ogbonna

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or the families of Mr. and Mrs. Okorogri and Dr. and Mrs. Edeme, their joy knew no bounds recently as they witnessed the holy matrimony of their son and daughter.

But it was the fulfilment of divine establishment, for the newly wedded couple, Tega and Linda Okorogri, as the serene town of Kwale, the administrative headquarters of Ndokwa West Local Government area of Delta State was agog in funfair.

It was indeed pomp for former Miss Linda Edeme who hails from there.

The groom, Tega, from the an-

cient town of Evwreni, Ughelli North Local Government area of the state, first met his lovebird, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Edeme, a mogul and grassroots politician from Umusadege-Ogbe Town, Ndokwa West through a friend ’s younger sister in Warri.

According to the couple, ever since, their love had blossomed.

They described it as a destined marriage by God, thus it was officially time to settle down together.

The groom told Sunday Mirror that, “I met Linda in 2006 in Warri while visiting my friend who lives down the street, whose

younger sister was a friend to Linda. As destiny would have it, she also visited her friend that day; and since then it has been ‘love ’! ” Beautiful Linda said she could not resist Tega whom she showered encomium of being tender and caring. According to her, it was never a mistake they were going to spend the rest of their lives together as husband and wife.

The court wedding was done at the Council Registry in Kwale, Delta State while the traditional marriage held two days earlier amid the gathering of both families, friends and well-wishers.

NYSC gave me my wife –Patrick

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ric Ogbonna was born to the family of Pascal and Daniela Ogbonna at Alpha and Omega Maternity Centre, Ojudu Berger, Lagos. He weighed 3kg.

His mother, Daniela, explained that during her pregnancy, she was always craving for food, especially during her second trimester. Daniela further explained that she had to move in with her mother during her last trimester for proper care, since her mother is a midwife more so as this was her first pregnancy.

She described her body

changes as more of swollen feet and face, and occasional heartburn.

When asked what she loves about her son, Daniela said “everything … I am still trying to get used to being a mother now, so I really love everything about my son. ’ ’ As to the choice of name, Daniela explained that it was her husband ’s idea as he wanted an English name for their son.

Eric, she added, was the name they eventually agreed on of all the English names they came up with.

Adegboyega Balogun

P

atrick Akpan and Taiwo Ipinlaye who were joined in matrimony, at the Apostolic Church in Jakande, Ajah, Lagos first met at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Taraba State.

The couple told Sunday Mirror that their relationship happened like magic.

Patrick said as the platoon leader of Taiwo ’s group, she was one of the people who made things difficult for him.

“If I asked my platoon to pay any fee or that we are to assemble somewhere, Taiwo was one of the people who would counter me by asking, why? For this, we never got along. But as God would have it, our paths crossed again, as we were posted to the same local government after we left the camp.

“Since she spoke Hausa fluently, she helped me with bridging the language barrier which would have been

an issue for me. From there, our friendship began and we started dating a year after. NYSC gave me my wife, ” the groom said.

Taiwo, on the other hand, described her husband as people-oriented.

“He always wants to help out one way or the other and make sure everyone is comfortable. This was one quality I admired in him, ’ ’ she said.

Concerning the planning of their wedding, the bride told Sunday Mir-

ror that everything went well.

“We knew our budget and wanted to have a wedding we both love. So with the help of God, friends and families, it was a success, ” she explained.

The wedding witnessed an array of guests dressed in lovely attires.

Patrick and Taiwo are accountants by profession. While Taiwo is a member of staff of a new generation bank, Patrick works in a printing press.

A

degboyega Balogun was born into the family of Chief and Mrs. Balogun at First Inland Hospital. He weighed 3.35kg at birth.

His mother, Mrs. Balogun, who is a nurse by profession, told Sunday Mirror that her pregnancy period was smooth and without surprises because she knew what pregnancy entails.

Speaking on her body changes, she said she only had swollen face, especially her nose and this started from the sev-

enth month.

Concerning the choice of name for her baby, the mother explained that they did not have problems with that since the baby was of royal lineage.

“The name Adegboyega means ‘Crown exalts the chieftaincy ”, she said.

Mrs. Balogun further disclosed that her son is the first male child of her husband, hence they would expect so much from him. Both parents wish that their son becomes a lawyer when he grows up.

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Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

What to wear …‌to a society wedding Sunday, October 25, 2015

ADAEZE AMOS

S

ociety weddings are events where style aficionados showcase their dress sense, styles and swag. Little wonder red carpets of such weddings usually sizzle.

So, if you are getting prepared for this and you are wondering how to design your print fabrics you already have in your wardrobe, this page would simplify it for you.

Check out what Mercy Aigbe, an actress, wore on such an event and take a cue from her. All you need do is to take this page along and show your designer to make something similar for you.

Perfect Cut

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African Look Look gorgeous in high-quality attires ADAEZE AMOS

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f you have not observed that well-tailored African attires with high-quality accessories ories can make you look gorgeous, then check You too can k out the ladies on this page. Yo n spice your African look with well tied headdresses, and choice dresses, colourful beads a ce shoes that blend with your clutch bags.

Therefore, if you step out y u must step looking gortoday g e o u s to oday for that event, to slip into try y sllip an African attire. at tire.

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Don’t allow

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Perfect Cut

w motherhood take away your panache!

ADAEZE AMOS

I

t’s nice to keep doing what yo you are good in, dressing well the way y you are accustomed to before knocking. your husband came knockin Marriage and motherhood should not rob you of that. Remember ber that being fashionable is a lifestyle, so don’t change from tthat.

Good a thing, there are dress dresses for every shape and size, so don’t think because you have added weight and therefore lose inter interest in fashion. Strive to look good; it’s t’s imperative.

Check out these style devote devotees on this page. They are all married ed mothers who are still flying the fashion flag higher. They w won’t let motherhood take away theirr panache.

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Sunday, October 25, 2015

L Put life into your relationship OVE

TALK

R

with Yemisi

Adeniran

elationships these days are gradually turning into the regular home movies that we watch. Many that claim to be married today are mere co-tenants while those who say they are in some love relationships are plainly deceiving themselves. In short, those who are expected to be lovers are now actors, pretending that all is well, suffering in silence. That should not be the case.

So, if you are in a relationship that ’s in some trouble, it might be useful to ask yourself some relevant questions: What do you each want out of the relationship?

Do you still enjoy your life together? Are you ready to sacrifice time and energy to make your relationship work again? Do you still love each other? Your answers should help you pin-point the extent of the problem and whether or not you both have the energy and the will to improve things.

Let ’s look at some common causes of relationship difficulties and ways to tackle them.

Stop the blame game: When things are going badly, couples tend to ask which of them is to blame. This question isn ’t helpful. It ’s better by far for both partners to accept that they share joint responsibility for the relationship and to agree that when they are having problems they should work at them together.

Find time to work on your relationship: In today ’s busy, modern world, you need to find time for each other. This is not easy if you both have hectic careers and become even more difficult when you have children.

But if you have established that you both have a will to make things better, you might find it helpful to look at your joint schedules and find some extra time when you can be together. If you don ’t find time, improvement will be slow or non-existent. But if you can make time to talk and to be together, you may well overcome your difficulties.

Change the way you communicate: Frequently, cou-

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ples stop making efforts with each other. They may even insult each other or take each other for granted. Suppose the door bell rings. One partner may yell at the other: ‘Get that will you? ’ It doesn ’t take much effort to add the word ‘please ’ or to ask in a different way, such as: ‘Would you mind answering the door? ’ This may sound a small point, but when couples bellow demands at each other, it sounds abrasive and disrespectful. When aggression becomes a habit, it can seriously damage the romance in a relationship. The key thing here is to work at continuing to show each other the respect that you did when you first met.

Make an effort for each other: Lack of respect can also be shown in appearances. It ’s sad that couples often stop making efforts with how they look. A small thing like changing work clothes for something brighter for dinner – and the woman putting on some make-up and the man having a shave – can transform a routine evening into more of an occasion.

Have an evening out: Try to have one evening out per week, just the two of you. If you have children this is more difficult to arrange, but, with efforts, it ’s usually not impossible. And when you have this ‘date ’, do avoid talking about your offspring or work.

Socialise as a couple: Another good thing to do is to make sure that you get some friends round on a regular basis, even if it ’s just for a takeaway or supper round the kitchen table.

You ’ll have a good laugh, and if these friends have known you since the beginning of your relationship, it will remind you of happier days and you ’ll feel younger and more carefree.

Pursue a joint hobby: It is common for people to want to exercise or go to an evening class or join a choir – but often this causes friction in the relationship because it ’s clear that as a couple the man and woman don ’t see enough of each other as it is. A solution to this is to take up an interest that both of you can do. So, have a think about table tennis, chess, ludo or some other games.

This kind of joint activity often livens up a relationship and can offer stimulus and fun to both parties.

Sexual solutions and love products for adults

H

i. You are doing a good job at Zee Virtual Media with these products especially for those that aid medical conditions and not just for pleasure. I need something to delay my ejaculation a lot longer in order to satisfy my wife. I also need something that can make my erections last longer and harder. I have read from your articles about supplements like Rhino 7, Boss Rhino and Man Up Now. Please what is difference between them?

Are they taken together and do they have side effects? And what is the dosage? Also are there side effects of G Female supplement for women? My wife has a 7 month old baby. Thanks – Charles There are two main categories of performance enhancing supplements. The first category does the basics such as giving you a strong erection if your erection is a bit soft or if you are one of those that lose their erections half way into intercourse.

They also give you the stamina and quick erections to have sex several times within minutes. This is vital because many people complain of not being able to have sex more than once in a night. For people like this, they are usually too tired and just cannot get a second erection fast enough to have sex minutes after the first one. So this first category will give you strong erections, stamina and the quick recovery to regain a strong erection minutes after ejaculating so you can have sex again. The supplements that are able to do these three things are Man Up Now, Stiff Nights, Maxidus, Magic Mike, Max Stamina and Sex Voltz. They also have varying strengths that range from 450 mg to 900mg so depending on your body type and tolerance level, we determine what to recommend for you.

The second category of performance enhancers does a lot more for you. In addition to giving you strong erections and

the ability to have sex multiple times, they also control premature ejaculation to enable you last longer, enlarge the penis in length and thickness and some of them also thicken and increase semen quantity. Examples of this second category of erection enhancers are Boss Rhino Gold (1500mg), Power Zen Gold (1200mg) and Rhino 7 (1200mg). As you can see, they have a higher grammage than the first category because they do more and last longer in your system. The first category of supplements will last between one to three days in your system on just one capsule.

So they are taken one to two capsules every two to three days. The second category lasts between three days to one week on one capsule. For these ones, you cannot take more than one capsule every three days. They are very powerful. So for what you have complained about, I will recommend a supplement from the second category simply because you also complained of premature ejaculation. So go for Boss Rhino Gold or Power Zen Gold. Always drink lots of water when taking aphrodisiacs in general and also eat and rest well. That way you will avoid having the occasional mild head ache. Sometimes we combine some of these aphrodisiacs but only with supplements like Volume Pills that basically increase semen volume and sexual enjoyment. They are all sold with clear instructions on how to use – Uche For your wife, yes she can take the G Female Supplement without problems.

I hope she is no longer breast feeding because whatever a woman takes gets to her child also. But yes G Female Supplement will help her regain her sexual appetite, help her perform very very well and have sex long into the night if that is what you both plan to do. G Female Supplement also helps women lubricate well before and

during intercourse, so if she is taking it, there will be no complaints of dryness and pain – Uche I read so much about these performance enhancing supplements. I don ’t have any erectile dysfunction problems but when I took Libigrow, I had the best sex of my life for days. I swear I could have satisfied five women in one night – Tunde Yes the supplements are that powerful and that is why many people are taking them even when they are not suffering from erectile dysfunction – Uche I got your mail a few weeks ago so I ordered the Ovo k5 Rabbit and Luxe G Thrusting Plush Rabbit.

All I can say is money well spent.

Quality gives you quality fun too - Marcia And that is it for today.

Adults in need of these treat-

ments/novelties can call 08171912551, 08027901621 or 07086754515 for help or visit www.zeevirtualmedia.com Zee Virtual Media delivers all over Nigeria.

For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com- Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

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

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

Stop premature ejaculation with Forever Yours Cream or Gladiator Cream.

For painful intercourse use Mood Sensitive Lubricant or Colt Lubricant.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Sunday, October 25, 2015

Pregnancy Talk

Naughtiest Thing

with

The naughtiest thing I ’ve ever done

Adaeze Amos

Rekiya Yusuf

߾ࠆ߾ࠀࠁ߾߿ࠀࠀࠇࠁ ߶ࠡࠛࠡ ࠝࠜࠚࠧ߷

All you should know about inverted nipples V eronica has been worried because her nipples became inverted now that she is pregnant.

The inversion became obvious at her seventh month and she had been highly worried. She had asked herself continually if she would be able to breastfeed her new baby when she put to bed.

Another pregnant mum, Eunice, said she too had a similar problem in her first pregnancy and in the second, she is observing the same thing about her nipples.

“I had to use breast sucker to pull out milk from my breasts each time I wanted to breastfeed. I wouldn ’t want this to recur in my second baby. Now I ’m already noticing the sign because my nipples are tucked in and I ’m in my seventh month. What should I do? ” An inverted nipple (occasionally invaginated nipple) according to medics is a condition where the nipple, instead of pointing outward, is retracted into the breast. In some cases, the nipple will be temporarily protruded if stimulated, but in others, the inversion remains, regardless of stimulus.

Women and men can have this condition.

You don ’t need to do anything to toughen up your nipples for breastfeeding.

Nonetheless, you can start preparing yourself for breastfeeding.

You should be noticing some small pimple-like protrusions around the areola, the darker area around the nipple. These are called Montgomery ’s glands, and they secrete oil that fights bacteria, lubricates and softens the skin, and adjusts the pH balance. Avoid washing the nipples with soap, as it removes this beneficial oil and may dry the tissue, causing it to crack — a daily rinsing with warm water is all that ’s necessary.

Next, have a board-certified lactation consultant (BCLC) examine your breasts to check for flat, inverted, or dimpled nipples and for any other type of condition you may be concerned with, such as a previous breast surgery or injury. Flat or inverted nipples don ’t spell breastfeeding failure — it ’s just

that your nipples are of a different shape. But if they concern you, a breastfeeding device can help to bring the nipples outward.

For flat or inverted nipples, some mothers have found that wearing breast shells daily during the third trimester loosens or breaks the adhesions that cause the nipple to stay flat or go inward. You can find out more about breastfeeding with flat, inverted, and dimpled nipples from your midwife.

dark area around the nipple) about an inch behind your nipple. If the nipple does not become erect, then it is considered to be flat. If the nipple retracts, or becomes concave, it is considered to be inverted. It should be noted, too, that true inverted or flat nipples will not become erect when stimulated or exposed to cold. If the nipple becomes erect during the “pinch ” test, it is not truly inverted and does not need any special treatment.

How to know your nipples are flat or inverted Just looking at the breast often won ’t tell you the answer.

Instead, you can determine whether or not your nipples are flat or inverted by doing a “pinch ” test. Gently compress your areola (the

Different types of inverted and flat nipples Dimpled: Only part of the nipple protrudes. The nipple can be pulled out but does not stay that way.

Unilateral: Only one breast has an inverted or flat nipple.

Inverted: There are different possible degrees of nipple inversion. The lesser degree of inversion is classified as slight. A baby with a normal suck will likely have no problems with bringing a slightly inverted nipple out, although a premature baby or one with a weak suck might have difficulty at first. Moderate to severe inversion means that the nipple retracts deeply when the areola is compressed, to a level even with or underneath the areola.

A nipple with moderate to severe inversion might make latching-on and breastfeeding difficult, but treatment and deep latch techniques can help. Treatment to stretch out the nipple might be helpful, especially during pregnancy.

If the inverted nipple is only discovered after birth, treatment will still be useful, but good positioning and latch-on are most important.

Treatments for flat or inverted nipples, and techniques to make latching easier Although opinions and experiences vary, many women have found treatments for inverted or flat nipples helpful and many breastfeeding experts continue to recommend them. Breastfeeding experts disagree on whether pregnant women should be screened for flat or inverted nipples and whether treatments to draw out the nipple should be routinely recommended. For example, the British Royal College of Midwives says that hormonal changes during pregnancy and childbirth cause many mothers ’ nipples to protrude naturally. Although treating flat and inverted nipples during pregnancy is debated, if your newborn is having difficulty latching on to a flat or inverted nipple you may find some or all of the following helpful.

‘I used to steal my older sister ’s panties ’

T

he naughtiest thing I have ever done happened when I was in high school. That was when I started admiring myself in good panties but I didn ’t have enough money to buy. Or should I say the ones my mother used to buy for me were not the types I really like.

But my older sister ’s panties were far better than mine. So, what I used to do then was to steal theirs. The brand new ones they bought would always end up with me.

I was enjoying it because I used to feel cool in such panties. And I was always eager to wear them

to school. I never cared how troubled she looked when she was looking for her stolen panties. At times, I used to help her look for them. Hence, she never suspected me.

But one faithful day, she found out it was me.

Guess what my sister did out of anger? She came to my class during lunch break and commanded me to take off the pant. I was embarrassed beyond myself. I begged her but she didn ’t listen to me.

Anyway we ended up in the staff room where she reported the matter. I was punished.

causes the nipple itself to protrude through the hole.

Breast shells may be worn during pregnancy to take advantage of the natural increase of the elasticity of a woman ’s skin by applying gentle but steady pressure to stretch the underlying adhesions (connective tissue) and draw out the nipple. After birth, they can be worn for about a half an hour before feedings to draw out the nipple. They should not be worn at night, and the milk collected while wearing them should not be saved.

loosen the adhesions at the base of the nipple, and can be used during pregnancy as well as after the birth. Place a thumb on each side of the base of the nipple -- directly at the base of the nipple, not at the edge of the areola. Push in firmly against your breast tissue while at the same time pulling your thumbs away from each other. This will stretch out the nipple and loosen the tightness at the base of the nipple, which will make it move up and outward. Repeat this exercise twice a day, working up to five times a day, moving the thumbs around the base of the nipple.

Breast shells Breast shells may help draw out flat or inverted nipples. Breast shells are in two pieces and are made out of plastic. The inner piece has a hole that fits over the nipple.

The pressure on the tis- Hoffman technique sue around the nipple This procedure may help

36

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Porridge beans

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Chateau Pichon wine

or many wine lovers, Chateau Pichon Lalande is one of the best examples of Bordeaux wine from Pauillac. Sensuous textures, deep concentrated layers of ripe fruit and a perfume filled with earth, tobacco and cassis are what you’ll find in Pichon Lalande.

The first mention of what is now called Chateau Pichon Lalande discusses the creation of the Bordeaux wine property by Pierre de Mazure de Rauzan. Pierre de Mazure de Rauzan is responsible for forming many of what are now widely considered the top Bordeaux wine producing properties today!

The vineyards Pichon Lalande earned its name years later when Therse, the daughter of the founder received the estate as a dowry when she married Jacques de Pichon Longueville. Jacques de Pichon Longueville was not only famous for his efforts as a chateau owner, he was also elected as the first President of the Bordeaux Parliament.

During the 18th century the wine-growing

H I

ere is how to make yet another simple Nigerian food (Porridge beans), one of the different Nigerian bean recipes.

Porridge beans in Nigeria is often cooked alongside yam or plantain. t could serve both as lunch and dinner.

This particular recipe is very popular in the southern and eastern parts of Nigeria. The Igbo tribe of Nigeria is very familiar with this recipe so if you want to make porridge beans the exact way an Igbo woman would like to make it, here is your best guide.

Ingredients 3 to 4 cups of beans Red oil (10cl) About 5 to 10 balls of tomatoes (cut to bits) 2 balls of onions Vegetable (optional) Potash (very small, about half baby spoon, but optional) Crayfish (1 cup blend) Seasoning cubes Salt and pepper to taste How to prepare beans recipe

Select the beans to remove impurities (sand, stones) then parboil for about 5 to 10 minutes, wash and start cooking with just water.

At this point most people tend to add a little bit of potash to hasten the process but it is highly not advisable.

I add about two balls of sliced onions at this point (after boiling for about 10 minutes alone), this has shown to serve the same purpose as potash, although with a slightly slower impact.

Boil until it is soft for consumption or at least 95 per cent done, you can check by taking some on your cooking spoon and pressing against the spoon, it takes about one hour or a little more to cook beans if you are doing it the natural way (without potash). Add the blended crayfish, palm oil, seasoning cubes, salt and pepper.

Add a little water if necessary.

Sprinkle the sliced tomatoes/onions and vegetables on the top and cover to cook for 10 to 15 minutes and you have delicious bean porridge. Add tomatoes and vegetable to porridge beans because they are both a good source of vitamins and also serves for decoration purposes.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

influence at Pichon Lalande was definitely feminine. Perhaps that explains part of the wines sensuous qualities. Pichon Lalande was essentially managed by three women: Therese de Rauzan, Germaine de Lajus and Marie Branda de Terrefort. These Pichon Longueville baronesses took care of the vineyard up to the French Revolution.

Baron Joseph de Pichon Longueville succeeded his mother taking over Pichon Lalande when he was only 19. He was 90 years old when he died, having witnessed during his long reign three revolutions, five kings, two republics and an empire. Much of the credit belongs to him for his efforts to see Pichon Lalande earn its Second Growth designation in the 1855 Classification.

What happened next changed the landscape of the Medoc forever. On the eve of his death in 1850, Baron Joseph de Pichon Longueville divided the property between his five children. Wanting to be fair to everyone, his two sons received two fifths of the vineyard and the wine-making facilities; his three daughters, the other three fifths.

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37

Sunday, October 25, 2015

YOUNG FASHION

Splendid party wears for boys

FAIRY PUZZLE

On Young Fashion today, there are several outfits you can wear at a party. The focus is however on what boys can wear to any party. Enjoy the Look Book below.

Party wear 1

TONGUE TWISTER Party wear 2

RIDDLES

Party wear 3

WHO INVENTED WHAT? George Nissen produced Trampoline at age 16

W

hile watching a traveling circus in 1930, a 16-year-old Iowa boy named George Nissen thought that it would be cool if performers could bounce back up in the air and continue their tricks.

While in the University of Iowa ’s gymnastics team four years later,

he and his coach practiced the fun contraption, which he later named “trampoline, ” after the Spanish word for diving board.

Now 75 years later, the trampoline provides endless backyard fun for millions around the world.

How much ground would a groundhog hog, if a groundhog could hog ground?

A groundhog would hog all the ground he could hog, if a

Q. What has to be broken before you can use it?

A. An egg.

Q. What has a neck but no head?

A. A bottle.

Q. What gets wetter as it dries?

A. A towel.

Q. What goes up and doesn ’t come back down?

A. Your age.

Q. What belongs to you but is used more by others?

A. Your name.

Q. Everyone has it and no one can lose it, what is it?

A. A shadow.

JOKE

BRAIN TEASERS

There were two fathers and two sons on a boat fishing. They each caught a fish, but only three fish where caught. How can this be so?

Answer: There was a grandfather, his son and his son ’s son in the boat.

To whom do all men take off their hats?

Answer: The barber.

DID YOU KNOW? Earth is referred to as the blue planet • • • • •

You cannot break an egg with your palm?

Except your food is mixed with saliva, you can ’t taste it.

An ostrich ’s eye is bigger than its brain.

No two corn flakes look the same.

Birds need gravity to swallow their food.

Bill and Tom stole a bag of mangoes from their neighbour ’s compound and decided to go to a quiet place to share the loot. Bill then suggested that they go to the nearby cemetery.

As they were jumping the big gate to enter the cemetery, two mangoes fell out of the bag behind the gate but they didn ’t bother to pick them since they had enough in the bag.

Few minutes later a drunkard on his way from a local bar passed near the cemetery gate and heard a voice: “One for me, one for you, one for me... ” Immediately his eyes became clear and he ran as fast as he

could to the local church and fortunately, he met the priest.

“Father, father, please come with me, come and witness God and Satan sharing corpse at the cemetery. ” The father was shocked, however, they both ran back to the cemetery gate and the voice continued: “One for me, one for you, one for me, one for you, one for me, one for you... ” Suddenly the voice stops counting and Bill says: “Hey, What about the two at the gate? ” The priest and the drunkard took to their heels shouting, “We are not dead yet... we are not dead yet... we are not dead yet... ”

38

Movies & Music

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

Flavour, Diamond Platnumz, to perform at “Bet Experience Africa”

Glo’s DwP contestants fight to avoid eviction

T

C

hree-time Grammy Award nominated international R&B, soul and pop singer, actress and television personality, Tamar Braxton will join fellow R&B sensations Maxwell and Raphael Saadiq on the line-up for the BET Experience Africa. The three R&B superstars will perform during the gala concert alongside two of Africa’s top artistes, Diamond Platnumz at the BET Experience Africa, a spectacular global celebration of urban culture, music and lifestyle from entertainment channel BET. The inaugural BET Experience Africa will take place at the Ticketpro Dome, Johannesburg on Saturday 12 December 2015.

From a backing singer to a leading recording artist, actress, talk show host and reality television personality, Tamar Braxton became a star. She recently competed the 21st season of Dancing with the Stars and last month released the latest solo single “Catfish” along with the album Calling all Lovers. A further single, “Angels & Demons”, has just been released and this month The Braxtons, including Toni, Tamar, Traci, Trina and Townada, are releasing new material entitled Braxton Family Christmas.

Flavour

New Ms Olokun emerges

I

xxxxx

Ms Olokun

Ebuka

t was fun and glamour over the weekend as beautiful 20-year-old Miss Abuja, Onayemi Olamide, emerged the winner of the 2015 edition of Miss Olokun Beauty Pageant held at the respected R&A City Hotel, Ikeja in Lagos.

Other contestants, Miss Oduneye Olamide came first runner-up and Miss Folushola Amos the second runner-up.

The road to the official crowning of Miss Olokun 2015 has all along been demanding, with over 14 female finalists drafted for the pageant, undergoing rigorous training and tutorials on various aspects of etiquette and showmanship for the grand finale.

Host for the colourful grand-finale was comedian Openteeth and Samo Baba, who both held the audience enthralled with rib cracking jokes to lighten up the event.

The official judges for the night included Mr. Segun Ajiboye, Pastor Tosin Fagbemi, Seun Aransiola, Kemi Afolabi and Abigail John (Pink Lady).

On hand for the Special Guest appearance for the event was award-winning Yoruba gospel musician, Lanre Teribe, who also thrilled the audience with some of his hit tracks.

Entertainment for the night was provided by various artistes, namely TM Naija, Minjin, Indomix Teedees and Doyinsola and several other upcoming stars.

According to the chief promoter of Miss Olokun Beauty Pageant, Chief Otunba Gani Adams, the 2015 pageant is the latest edition of the show that has been on for 13 years, adding that it has improved greatly.

He added that the emergence of the winners were solely the choice of the judges and widely accepted.

“The fashion show you experienced today is part of the fun injected into the pageant to ensure no is bored. Moreover, you will see that everybody was happy with the decision of the judges after they gave their final verdict. We don’t influence our judges; we allow them to pick the best based on their performances.

ontestants on the dance reality show Dance with Peter Reality, sponsored by next generation network, Globacom, will readily attest to the fact that the party has wound down. All the 26 contestants have started feeling the heat of eviction as no one is quite clear who would take the eviction hammer.

Sequel to the eviction of Manasseh, Ricky, Fearless and Captain Z from the show, the remaining 26 contestants shook off the fever and warmed to the business of the day. This is however not without the usual questions in their minds: can I make it and what if I am next?

Grouped into six, the contestants had the task to display those daring dance stunts in P Square’s videos spanning the years of his musical stardom.

Each of the groups was availed the opportunity to pick scrolled papers to determine which song it would perform.

While the first group (Nekky, Miracle, Bobby Blankson and Kelvin) performed one of PSquare’s earliest hits, “Senorita”, the audience and the judges could not resist the youthful energy which the group exuded as they received a resounding ovation from everyone.

Another group labelled, “Get Squared” which comprised MX, Tom Tom, Neon, Amazing Amy and Prince danced to the song, ‘Get Squared.’ The judges were not just blown away by their performance, but excited Peter so much that he summarized: “The energy was missing for me. It was a fair performance though; nice try.”

Team “Roll It”, made up of Tjark, Yemi, L’Dee, and G-Xtreme, performed the hit-song, Roll It. As far as Paul was concerned, the synergy was missing as he was not impressed by their attempts, Paul said, “I noticed that at the beginning, you were showing energy, but later, you lost the energy and you were losing concentration.” For dance wizard, Kaffy, the team would have had a much more robust assessment due to their creative approach to their performance as she said, “I’ll give it up to you for creativity. But Paul is right; you need to keep your energy from the beginning to the end. And that’s one thing P-Square is known for: precision and energy.”

Flexx appeared unprepared to suffer fools gladly as he very bluntly declared that he was not impressed. “I’m sorry but you didn’t really bring it on for me; the energy was missing. You have to bring your A-game because we’ll judge you with PSquare’s standards.”

For Team “Alingo” (T-rubber, C-fly, MOD, Teejay), it was a standing ovation as theirs was such a lovely performance that all the judges attested to by the time they were through. ; Paul was so impressed that he even stood on his seat to applaud them.

“These guys are just doing two things at the same time: Alingo and Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Where did you come from?” Paul asked rhetorically. Peter added, “Everything you did was so on point. C-Fly, you’re a revelation on Dance With Peter. In fact, I regret not shooting this video in the way you guys just performed it.”

When it was their turn, Team “Personally” performed the song that remains the most viewed music video by any African artiste. Mannaseh, Smiley, Paulette and Weezy who make up the team corporately and “personally” thrilled the audience and convinced the judges that the party is over. “Are you sure you’re a lady?” Paul asked the only girl in the team, Paulette. “You guys had the same energy from the beginning to the end.”

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Movies & Music

Sunday, October 25, 2015

39

Iyanya, Naeto C, Ali Baba thrill Nigerians with Yudala

S

aturday, 17th of October may not be forgotten too soon in the lives of thousands of Nigerians, who trooped to the National Stadium, Surulere to experience a new concept in Fitness, Wellness and Wealth Creation powered by YUDALA, Nigeria’s first true composite online and offline retail chain. Tagged Gyming with the Stars, the event also witnessed the unveiling of YUBOSS, an entrepreneurship scheme targeted at jobs and wealth creation for Nigerians in partnership with foremost financial institution, Access Bank Plc. and telecommunications giants, Airtel.

The well-attended programme, which kicked off by 7am saw the deployment of multi-digital concert equipment supplied by New Concept Media Group, which lent much tempo and hype to the event. First on the cards was work-out and light jogging sessions with music anchored by certified fitness instructors and ace comedian Ali Baba who doubled as compere and held the crowd spell-bound with his rib-cracking jokes for over 65 minutes. In addition, A-list artistes Iyanya and Naeto C demonstrated on stage their capacity as music superstars for over 90 minutes, delivering electrifying performances that had the crowded screaming for more.

Emmanuel

Olamide and Phyno

Guinness #madeofblack party train moves to Port Harcourt and Benin

L Iyanya

Emmanuel Ikubese set to launch Project RAW he 2014 Mr Mr. Ni Nige g ri r a an a d firstt ru runnerr up Mr. M W rld,, Emmanuel Ikubese iss set Wo et for or the t la aun unch ch of hiss pet projectt entitled d Resp pect A Woma man, n, RAW AW, wh whic ich h is scheduled e to o laun nch under th the e Em Emma manu nuel el Iku kube b se initiat a iv ve, projject j RA AW would kick off wit ith h a pr pre e-launch eventt th hat will include a charity y foo otb tbal alll co competition.

The project, which has seen the e model cum m actor, travelling and meeting individual a s, is expe ected to launch on the 28th h and 29th of Nov o emb ber at the prestigious Ibru Gardens, Victoria Is I land, Lagos.

While taking up the challenge to becom me a voice and tool in speaking out against violen nce o women on om m as we ell as speaking for abused wo omen, Ik kub ubese e ssa ays y men are to see women as d delic te ca e and d imp mpor ortant being. ort A co Ac c rd r in ng to him, “The Project RAW is a dome esttic vio io ole ence awareness camp m aign. The ac cronym m RAW W st s ands for Respect A Woman, I belie eve no man will ever hit his Mot oth herr because of Respect. If such Respect ctt can be ap applied in Relatiionship ps/Marriages th this i wil is illl significantly redu uce the rate of Domesttic ic vio iolence in our society.

‘My vision is to see ee Men e make th thiis pledge e to Respect A Woman and ap appl ply pl y th hem m in th t eir Re elationships. For Wom men en in su such ch vio iole lentt Relatiionle ships it’s high time e the ey Ru R n Aw Away ay y from this t deadly act ct.. The Proje ect R. ect ec R.A. A.W’ W’ss go oal a is to to inf n orrming vi v cttims that they y are are no ar nott al alon one e and d that th it’s never too late for the em to take ak ke a sttand an nd ag ag inst agai this injustice”.

ast weekend, the Guinness made of black train berthed in Benin after delivering amazing experiences to consumers in Enugu, Lagos and Port Harcourt. In its continuous bid to discover and celebrate some of Nigeria’s unsung heroes, the Guinness team has travelled across different cities in Nigeria for an exceptional celebration of outstanding Made of Black Heroes.

The Port-Harcourt party, which held at Cubana lounge hosted the heroes to a special evening which saw a large turnout of fans and Guinness lovers who trooped out en masse to celebrate their city winners following several weeks of nomination.

It was a unique style of celebration in Port Harcourt as the Made of Black ambassadors; Olamide and Phyno took to the streets to pay surprise visits to the Made of Black Heroes in their neighbourhoods. After the visit, the heroes joined Olamide and Phyno in a live radio interview on popular Wazobia FM to share their inspiring stories.

The event was hosted by Akas Baba and he held the audience enthralled throughout the show ensur-

ing that everyone had a swell time as they were treated to rib cracking jokes. There were also performances from up and coming acts, Mr. Profit, Ak P and several other celebrities and media personalities.

Just when everybody thought the event was over, Olamide and Phyno turned up the tempo of the party with a heroic Made of Black performance and a superb delivery of their hit tracks which left the guests spellbound and asking for more as they sang along.

The Port Harcourt heroes are Goodluck Uchendu, a philanthropist, who has given a lot to his society, Kenny Oziri aka Mr. Wet Paint, Imotar, ID Robert, Kingsley Nnah, Ufuoma Egbamuno, DJ Deeflex, Eng Billy Eugene, Adekunle Tijani and Stanley Sylvester. Their unique stories are a clear demonstration of the black attitude i.e. Ufuoma, stands out for his numerous contribution to sport journalism in Port Harcourt.

Though physically challenged, he has defied all odds by doing his job excellently as an O.A.P, sports caster and news editor. We believe he is truly Made of Black.

African artistes shut down Dallas for AFRIMMA

S

aturday, October 10 witnessed another inventory of African musical journey, with the Diasporan African Music Magazine Awards, AFRIMMA, holding sway at the historic Black Academy of Arts and Letters in Dallas, Texas, United States.

The Cowboy City had hosted Africa to one of the few celebrity events that make the annual calendar Texas, and as echoed by veteran South African artiste, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, who did more than thrill audience with her classics at the awards show, “Thank you AFRIMMA for bringing Africa to America.”

There is no gainsaying that in just two years, AFRIMMA has become another rallying point for African artistes, artiste managers, label owners and fans of African music from around the world, who converge on the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolis. From the Westin to Sheraton and the popular Wyndham Dallas Suit and other hotels where guests were housed in the Central Park area, it was an invasion by the glitz of Africa and its stars. The scenario took a notch higher as the celebrities were conveyed in head-turning limousines to the event venue where the ovation became loudest. The red carpet was a sight to behold. And as one artiste performed after another, the crowd went into frenzy, setting the mood for the awards proper.

Yet, at intervals, the thrill of musical performances, great choreography and comedy continued.

Adding verve to the show was cohosts, Nigeria’s Basketmouth and Uganda’s comedy queen, Anne Kansiime.

From Dallas-based Nigerian acts, Las Gidi and Big A Entertainment signee, Teddy A to Senegalese Carlou D who mesmerised the audience with his vocal strength and traditional flavored hiphop tune, to the incredible performances

by Yemi Alade, AKA, Kcee, Bracket and evergreen songstress, Yvonne Chaka Chaka who, after presenting the Legendary Award to Youssou Ndour, who was unavoidably absent, started off with her new song, a tribute to the legendary Nelson Mandela it was full all the way.

Basket mouth

40

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Lessons of Life TRUE LIFE STORY ON MATTERS OF THE HEART

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

My husband is now interested in his son ’s mother

I ’m Abdul from Kano state. I ’m 26 years old and a medical student of Bayero University kano. I ’m sexy and romantic. I want a sexy, busty and romantic lady for a serious relationship. 08096642795.

Theo and Philomena were best of friends before they became husband and wife.

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

“

Though he was my friend, I didn ’t know I would end up marrying him because I did so when I had no interest in marriage. I hated the idea of settling down at the time I did because my two elder sisters ’ marriage didn ’t work. My parents were heartbroken when their union crashed.

They had three of us, all girls and when the first two suitors came, they accepted them wholeheartedly and looked up to them as sons they never had. But when my most eldest sister came home crying, that her husband had thrown her out of the house and travelled out of the country with their two children, we were puzzled.

It wasn ’t long when my immediate elder sister ’s followed. She dumped her marriage when she discovered that Rex her husband already had a wife and three children, who were residing in Ghana. My sister said she wasn ’t cut out to be anyone ’s second wife, ” she recalled.

Consequently, when Theo came to marry Philomena, she wasn ’t ready to accept him. She was scared as she didn ’t want her parents to die early.

“Mama was ill when my two sisters came home. She started having high blood pressure and was placed on regular drugs.

She looked pale and frail. We all thought that mama wouldn ’t make it until Theo who was just my friend was allowed to visit the family and started praying for her.

Ours is a family that goes to church only three times in a year - on Christmas day, Easter and cross over night - which was a vigil to cross over into the new year. My father believed it was only necessary to be upright before God and men. He would remind us to always keep our hands clean.

To avoid committing abortion, that it was murder before God, never take things that were not ours, that God frowned at that. The 10 Commandments in the Bible, he used to teach us at home. We strove to abide by them. We didn ’t know that wasn ’t enough to keep all the problems of life at bay until mama fell ill and Theo started visiting us. He would counsel the family about the efficacy of prayers, but my dad who wouldn ’t listen because he felt Theo was too young to counsel him. And then he would pray for us, especially for mama.

From his prayers, my mother became stronger and all of us joined him in his church. We never missed Sunday service and mid-week prayers, ” she remembered.

“When Theo asked to marry me, I hushed him. I reminded him of my two sisters ’ case and that I wouldn ’t want to add to the predicament of my family. He only told me that he would be praying for God to reveal His mind concerning our marriage.

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A model

He suggested taking three of us (my two sisters and I) to special prayers and deliverance. We never knew that normal people could go for deliverance, we thought it was only mentally retarded women that were meant for that until we got to the deliverance ground. We prayed some acidic prayers and backed them up with three days dry fasting which helped to reveal a lot of things concerning my family to us. Two weeks after our deliverance, Edwin, my elder sister ’s husband who threw her out and travelled to Australia with their two children, came home begging her to take her back. She went back with him. Then my immediate elder sister, who came home because Rex her husband already had a wife and children intensified her prayers. She had some prayer leaflets which were given to her.

She prayed them in the wee hours of the night. As a result of Theo ’s standing in my family, my father advised me to look into his marriage proposal, that I shouldn ’t be scared to accept him. Aside from my father ’s advice, his constant visits made me develop a soft spot for him. I agreed to marry him, ” she said.

Theo and Philomena were living in Lagos where her parents lived.

“My parents were also residing in Lagos but they never visited us. As the last born of the family, they still see me as a child and didn ’t want to disturb me and my husband. That was an idea I loved too. Mama said she would come when my first baby arrived. We waited continually for the pregnancy.

Nothing clicked. Mama became worried and invited me home. I showed her the fertility drugs which my doctor placed me on and she encouraged me to be taking them. She asked if my husband had started being worried. I told her it was my mother-

in-law and his sisters that had started being uncomfortable with my situation. One day his younger sister visited and I asked the girl to boil some rice because I had already prepared the stew and she refused to cook. She rather told me to man my kitchen, after all I wasn ’t pregnant yet and that I had no excuse for not

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

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

NOTICE: Please note that we don ’t do personal connections outside this column. Calls to connect privately are not allowed. Just send an SMS or email and we ’ll get your request published. The request is published on first come first served basis. Thank you!

being able to cook. My husband warned her sternly when warning that any more of that, she would be sent out of our house.

“Mama, Theo is not seeing it as my problem alone but ours. But the person not helping matters is his mum. She would call, first thing in the morning of every new year, to remind him that all her friends ’ sons now had grand children. And she would ask what had been stopping us. Each time Theo was confronted with such questions, he would hang up. That ’s the way things have been with me but Mama, honestly, I ’m beginning to be worried too. This is my eighth year in marriage and I have nothing to show for it. Mama, who did I offend, ” Philomena sobbed.

On the tenth year of their marriage, Theo came home with shocking news which destabilised his wife.

“Philomena (my wife), I had a phone call from someone I didn ’t expect. In fact, she travelled home and met my mother who called me on her own phone but handed it over to my strange caller. When I heard her voice, it rang

a bell. I recognised her. She was a sister to one of my mother ’s tenants. They were living in our rented house. She used to sneak into my room and that very act landed her in an unwanted pregnancy. I denied it when she told me for the fear of being rejected by my father.

She was taken to her village by her brother and that was the last I saw her. It wasn ’t long when her brother packed out. Now, she called to say that she had the baby eventually, a male child, ” he said, his face expressionless.

“When he said that, I knew my world had ended. My heart sank and the first person I thought it wise to call was my mother, my number one confidant. But when I picked up my phone, Theo guessed what I was about to do and hushed me: ‘Please don ’t tell your mother this now, you know how frail she is already. Allow her be, we will sort out this ’.

“Instantly, I dropped my phone and sank into the soft cushion in my living room and sobbed endlessly, ” Philomena bewailed.

•To be continued

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

From the Pulpit

Sunday, October 25, 2015

41

Don’t bewitch yourself through disobedience, warns Prophet Oloruntimilehin A t times when a person wants to hit good luck, the physical problem of that person would delay him or her. The problem is not from family. I have mentioned severally that people should not always attribute their problems to their families. In any person’s problem, family accounts for 2 percent (1% each for father’s side and mother’s side), 8% is from friends and principalities of the world.

Some people are created and have the nature to always perpetrate evil by being destructive and they do not see anything good in other people being successful or progressing in life. All their concern is to destroy and cause downfall of people. It is their nature and not a sin to them.

These people account for 8% while the individual accounts for 90% of his or her problems. For instance, the day the person was to be obedient and was not; when he or she was not supposed to eat and drink much but he or she did and several other acts or behaviour that led to the person’s problem.

Imagine a man known to me; six years ago, he was not taking alcohol, not womanizing, always behaving in a Godly manner.

He loved his wife dearly and the wife loved him too. Some time ago, he fell sick and was brought to me because he believed God could heal him through me. I felt he was not supposed to be sick seriously because his life style was modest and Godly. He was so generous to me and i decided to take care of him but the sickness was persisting.

On a particular day, I decided to pray for him to get well. The spirit of God told me to ask him what he did in the past. In fact, God did not reveal to me his past deed. At times, God would not reveal anything about an individual but when something is so tight, he would firstly reveal it to His prophets. The Bible says in Amos 3 verse 7, “Surely the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servant the prophets”.

General Overseer of Omnipotence Mission of God, Prophet Joshua Daramola Oloruntimilehin, in this admonition, warns people on the dangers posed by their actions.Excerpts:

She thought God or the principalities of When the man understood my question this world were responsible for her predicaabout his past, immediately he recalled all ment. Some people who are ignorant of her his past deeds. In fact, he was one time a self-inflicted problem would be sympathetic heavy drunkard to the extent that he was with her. Also, imagine a person that utters uncontrollable, falling into gutter, a serious 200 words and 199 out of the words are lies. womanizer. He had three wives and they The same person now goes about looking for had children for him. He was a drug addict contracts. He will not get any because people and marijuana smoker. A lot of his wives’ who are awarding the contracts will also tell friends were his concubines. He divorced the person lies. all his wives when he became a born-again A lot of people bewitch themselves person and married his present wife. It is through disobedience. For inmy fervent prayer that people should not stance, a man bewitch tch themselves in the name Jesus, Amen. n. People were being sympathetic to him without knowing the atrocities he had committed mitted in the past. His sickness was the fruit ruit he was reaping from the atrocities he sowed wed in the past.

The he Bible tells us in Luke 6 verse 44, “For every tree is known by its own fruit.

For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush”. ”. Brethren, the point is that the consequence ence of the man’s past deeds was the sickness ness that befell him. The man had destroyed ed 90 percent of the glory in his life through ugh his past deeds.

Similarly milarly, a pretty woman recently confessed d to me that she had terminated 16 pregnancies. nancies. Luckily, she got a good man as a husband and has been seeking ing for the fruit of the womb for the six years. She had created the problem lem for herself elf i.e.

90% of her Prophet Oloruntimilehin problem. lem.

‘Reason for suffering lack’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24 LORD thy God giveth thee. 9. The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways. 10.

And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee. 11. And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee 12. The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. 13. And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them”.

The above verses are self explanatory.

As we do the word of God, all these blessings shall be before us and overtake us, everything we put our hands shall be blessed.

If you want to be blessed, if you want to

be free from poverty, lack, suffering, etc, you must obey the totality of the word of God. You should endeavour to read and study the word of God. Do not say you don’t know it, or you do not know what the word of God says concerning what you are supposed to do. You should seek and read the word of God, listen to the teachings in order to know what God says about anything and prepare to do it.

Isaiah 34: 16-17 says: “Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them 17. And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein.”

The passage says, ‘seek ye out’ that is you must seek after it. Do not say you don’t know the word of God or you don’t know where to find it. The injunction here is that you should look for it, read it because whatever that God says must surely come to pass whether you know about it or not.

If you seek and obey the word of God on every matter, I am assuring you God will bless you in every area of your life in Jesus name.

1Chron. 28: 8 says: “Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of

the LORD, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever”.

It says ‘keep and seek’ for all the commandment of God. Never you say you don’t know where to find it. The Bible says ‘look for it’ ‘search for it’ and read it for therein lies your blessing. Beloved, let us make sure we seek, read and obey the word of God so that it shall be well with us because it is only God that can crown our efforts or give increase to every labour we engage ourselves. If God did not give us increase, no matter how we laboured, we will not be blessed. So, if God is the one to give you increase, you must know what His will is and what He says concerning what you are doing so as to attract reward of your labour.

1Cor. 3: 5-7 says: “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase”.

I want to let you know that God is the one that increases our labour and because of that we must obey Him, do His will and as we labour and sow, God will increase us in abundance in Jesus name.

came to me and the spirit of God revealed that he was seen in handcuff. Later, he told me that he was contemplating to undertake drug-trafficking business to Europe and informed me that this was to be the last time he would do such thing. In fact, I warned him seriously but he disobeyed the voice of God and His prophet and met his waterloo.

Recently, he called me from prison in Europe lamenting and begging for forgiveness of sin. Who is to be blamed for his problem? It is the disobedient person. Some mothers always complain that their children are not doing well, not knowing they are the cause(s) of their children not doing well. They are into extra-marital affairs and they keep concubines. They are spiritually destroying the foundation of their children which is a part of reproductive organ of a woman by allowing different kinds of semen to get into this part of the body. Some of these concubines are having bad luck or already bewitched. Invariably, the children cannot make it. Therefore, there is no married woman that lives this way that the children make it in life. There are a lot of self-inflicted problems that require people concerned to reflect on the evils or ungodly things they have done so that they can start begging and appealing to God to. After reflection, commune with God to reform your life so that you can start experiencing better and pleasant life.

•For more enquiries call: 08023020108, 08058110288; facebook.com/pastoroloruntimilehin

Psalms 75: 6-7 says: “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. 7. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another”.

I want you to understand that God is the one that promotes and crowns our efforts.

And because of that we must ensure we know His will, obey His word and commandment and as we do, we shall be free from lack, suffering and diseases in Jesus name.

So as a result of lack of knowledge of what the will of God is, many people are suffering, many people are being destroyed and that is why we must make sure we know and do it.

Hos. 4: 6 says: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children”.

If you do not know what you are supposed to do and go ahead to do contrary thing, lack and destruction will become your portion.

When you say you do not know the word of God and thus will not do it, the Lord will not exonerate you from the punishment, His word must come to pass regardless of what you think or know. But if you go seeking what the Lord says in a particular thing and do it, He will bless you in Jesus name.

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From the Pulpit Learn with Kunle

Macaulay

B

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

ible has been seen as the Word of God given to man to guide and control human life. Many people fall a prey to the scientific and technological world just because they do not know much about what the Bible says to human situations. One of the reasons why people fail in life is their lack of interest in and knowledge of the Bible. The Bible is not just the history of Israel and the story of the beginning of Christian church but it includes promises of God that are not only begging for theological answers and non-technical explanations but looking forward to their fulfillment. Unfortunately, many Christian leaders turn the thoughts of their followers away from what the Bible has to say to information about how their ministry can satisfy the needs of the masses or communities of the world.

I have always been saying that people should read the Bible intelligently with the help of Holy Spirit for both human and spiritual growth. The advancement in technology has not decreased the spiritual value of the Word of God or the power of God in Christianity. There is no doubt that the whole field of biblical studies has been changing rapidly due to the explosion of knowledge but all the same the message of the Bible does not change. It is the story of our life – the creation of man and the plan of God to save him.

God would not have been known by man if he had not revealed himself. Scientists and philosophers do not believe in the existence of God that cannot be empirically or scientifically proved. Modern psychology dismissed religion as an illu-

Desti Destiny Hour with Pastor Femi

Lanre-Oke

T

he product of a dog is a dog; that of a goat is a goat; the offspring of a lion is a lion and that of an eagle cannot be a chicken. So also, the son of God is most definitely a god. The life of redemption we are called into is an over comer’s life, a life that lives in the reality of the victory Jesus obtained on the cross of Calvary. We have been called to a life that should continually make mess of the devil and put him and his cohorts to shame.

In Ephesians 1, the bible makes us to understand that Jesus was raised by God and He is presently seated at the right hand of God far above principalities and powers, so also in Ephesians 2:6, the bible makes us understand that we are seated with Christ meaning we are also far above principalities and powers. John 1:12, we know that as many as received Him to them he gave power to become the sons of God. I have come here today to ensure that by the Holy Spirit you are roused out of the spiritual slumber that has taken you, to ensure that you realize and begin to process the giant in you. Deuteronomy

Sunday, October 25, 2015

The sadness of God sion and it began to lead religion. Some Christian leaders see God as a person having eyes, ears, hands and legs. They use anthropomorphic language to describe God but God is not a man. He is a person but “Spiritual Person” without hands and legs, eyes and ears. He is Spirit. Anthropomorphism is defined as the use of human characteristic to describe non-human realities. God is described as though he were human or possessed human qualities. Anthropomorphism is definitely inevitable in religious language because the ultimate reality is viewed in terms of historical actions and personal relationships. Anthropomorphisms are used in Gen 1:1 – 11, here God is portrayed as a man who walks in the garden and talks to people. He makes clothes for the people Gen 2-3. He closes the door of the Ark Gen. 7:16 and smells Noah’s sacrifice Gen 8:21. He is also portrayed as having hands Ex. 15:7; feet. Ps. 18:9, eyes Ps. 34:15, ears Number 11:18, a finger Ex 31:18, a mouth Deut. 8:3, he is called a King Ps. 47, a judge Gen. 18:25 and a shepherd Ezek. 34.

My main concern today specially is the feeling of God towards people. When God’s attributes are described as human emotions, this is called “anthropopathism”. In Hosea 11 God is described as a father who is broken hearted over his wayward son Israel. “God loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” Jn. 3:16. That is an expression of his feeling. God can also express his sadness especially when we disappoint him. When the first man and woman disappointed God by obeying Satan instead of God in the Garden of Eden, God expressed his sadness and unhappiness by cursing Satan, the man and the woman and the ground because

of the sin of the people. Some people said that God repented or regretted creating a man. God cannot repent or regret creating a man because he is God but what man did cause him sadness because he is God that has feelings. He can be made happy or sad depending on the behavior of people. God willfully and sadly confused the language of people at Shinar and the Bible said that he “scattered them from there over all the earth….. ‘’Gen. 11:8.

Many times, the actions or reactions of God to human behavior confirm that he is sad or not happy. When Pharaoh the King of Egypt took the wife of Abram to his palace, God did not see it as a thing of joy or action that will glorify his name. I am sure that he was very unhappy, so the Bible said, “….The Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai” Gen 12:17.

Today, God does not spare anything that will not glorify his name. He is happy when people worship him in spirit and in truth but saddened when his “people” turn back from him and become disloyal. The kindness and the severity of God is always seen in his dealings with nations of the world and individuals. God has been very severe toward Israel in the fall of Jerusalem, the wanderings among the nations, the horrors of Hitler’s prison camps and communistic anti-semitism. God’s severity toward Nigeria was the presence of a government that ruled for sixteen years and brought untold suffering to the masses of the nation.

One of the saddest things in the church in Nigeria is the pretention of Christian leaders and their followers that every leader claims to have temporal power to do anything without God. God has given the church in Nigeria great spiritual gifts and he has been gracious toward the na-

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tion called Nigeria. Our spiritual leaders thought that the earthly power is worth having, they therefore seek and preach the powers of wealth and succumb to the authority of human government in deviance of God’s rules, hence, they lose the spiritual power. People hear exhortations, commandments, prescriptions every time but nobody teaches them the practical aspects of Christianity. Today we can see clearly the discrepancy between the ideal preached in our churches and the actual behavior of Christians. There is opportunity or shall I call it the grace of God for those who are ready to return to the Word of God as the only source of their power and see God blessing them again in his wonderful grace.

Nigerians should not forget easily the suffering of the sixteen years from the last government as God is now moving us into the period when economic of the country will be revived, security will be improved, life will be more comfortable and peaceful, so we must remain faithful to God. The domination of the last government for sixteen years must be seen as the effect of the sadness of God because of the sins of Nigerians. God is not happy with the present church in Nigeria because of its leadership. Many people who know Bible and the will of God will agree with me that church in Nigeria no matter its denomination is not only selfish but insist on church dogma and human programmes that do not glorify God. Church leaders and Christian experts must explore the Bible and bring the truth for application.

•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

Empowerment for the God kind of life (1) 4:24 – For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, Deut 9:3 as a consuming fire, he shall destroy them, Hebrews 12:29 – for our God is a consuming fire. Like I said earlier, the son of God is a god; therefore if your father in heaven is a consuming fire, then you are a consuming fire – nothing can consume you. No sin, no habit, no court case shall consume you in Jesus name.

Hebrews 1:7; and of the angels he said, who makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire, so you are a flame of fire. Joel 2 from verse 1 talks about the end time army and their strength, the bible makes mention of a fire that devours before them so no evil can withstand them, the bible says nothing shall escape them, the bible says the appearance of them is as the appearance of horses. They are like a strong people set in battle array.

You are a part of this army nothing stops you.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge - Hosea 4:6, the reason why we are still in bondage is because we have not gotten a deep revelation of the things written concerning us in the word of God. The day you get it is the day your life turns around. We live in a country where evil is prevalent from the peak to the grass root but like the army in Joel 2, we shall take this land for Jesus.

In the book of Acts alone, where we have the empowerment of the Apostles; the word

“bold” came up nine (9) times. They prayed and spoke boldly in the name of Jesus and they took their time for Jesus not allowing any form of intimidation to stop them from fulfilling destiny. Proverbs 28:1, the righteous is called to live a life of boldness, a life of empowerment for exploits, a life that stands out shining in the midst of darkness. As a son of God , you cannot afford to live less or you stand the risk of becoming a bastard.

How do we contact boldness?

1.

Have an understanding of your heritage – scriptures says Jesus found what was written concerning Him in the books Hebrews 10:7 and that was why He entered the tabernacle and read the scriptures with boldness in the book of Luke 4:18. He looked at the people with boldness having the understanding of what was written concerning Him, he spoke with boldness and shortly after signs and wonders accompanied the word of God and the word of authority coming out of Him. Have an understanding of what your heritage is as a child of God, Ephesians 1:17-19 speaks about the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God so that among other things, we will know what is the hope of his calling, the riches of the glory of his inheritance to us and the exceeding greatness of his power to us who believe. Until, you understand by the breath of the Holy Spirit what God has written concerning your life and

what salvation entitles you to, you cannot life an empowered life, you cannot live like God; you cannot carry a consuming fire like your father.

We shall continue from here next week by the grace of God, until then be an over comer and remember your father is the Most High so you cannot live anywhere else but on high.

However if you are not born again, you cannot access this empowerment we speak of. If you have not surrendered your life to Jesus, 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.

Now you can enjoy and experience true healing of the soul. Please locate a bible believing church and share you new-birth experience with the church leaders.

•For further prayer & counseling, Please contact: Pastor Femi Lanre-Oke, Jesus Praise Evangelical Ministries International, Plot A22 Power Crescent, Arab road, Kubwa. Abuja, +2348030752799, +2348053695097, Email: femi_lanre01@yahoo.co.uk

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Sunday, October 25, 2015

Marital Counseling Guilde with Bishop Steve

“

P

Adesoji Paseda

ersonality, Major problem in marriage.

Text: Prov. 24: 2-6 “Through wisdom is an house builder: and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. For by wise counsel thou shall make thy war and in multitude of counselors there is safety”.

INTRODUCTION: I discovered that no wife or husband is bad if you have knowledge about your spouse. The one outside there may be bad but that which you have taken is good as long as you did not marry in deceit. God is a perfect God. He does not make any mistake.

You would not take what he has not given you. That your spouse is from Him. Learn to please your creator with what He has given to you and let people learn something good from your Marriage.

What are these personalities?

1.

Melancholy Personality: He is a perfectionist, he does things methodically, Very passive, He has no friend, think and operate alone. He is a man who does not want disturbance. You disturb him if you talk many times. You don’t know when they are happy.

2.

Phlegmatic Personality : These people are calm and reasonable. They tend not to offend anybody or get upset. They are apathetic and very cold blooded. They step in trouble and not minding what anybody says about them. They are easy going people. They don’t want people to push them and do things at their tempo.

3.

Sanguine Personality: He is animated, absurd, bright, buoyant, confidant, hope-

Scriptures That Changed Me with

EV. OLUWAROTIMI

I

PETER

want to sheer the secret of the change of my life and ministry with the people out there, please I want you to patiently read this write up, and the Lord will use it to change your life also, amen. Change is what everybody needs but it is not how and where people are looking for it, God the creator of heaven and earth is the secret of change, without him any other sources its counterfeit, but God will not need to come down from heaven to cause a change in anybody’s life, he has to deposit the change into the pages of the scriptures, it will now take your responsibility to dig deep into the scriptures and found out your change, the people of this generation are very lazy, they want to start picking stars on the ground, if possible they want God to spoon feed them but not ready to accept responsibility, please before I move further I want the reader of this message to note that: this message is not for anyone who is not born again, a canal man

cannot understand the things of the spirit, may the Lord bless u as you

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Marriage doctor

ful, talking, singing and happy people. He is a friend to all an enemy to none. He wants to solve every man’s problem and left his own untouched. He is not bordered about yesterday’s problem. He is fearless and optimism for tomorrow.

4.

Choleric Personality: He is wrathful, angry, indignant, vexed, determined, confidant and aggressive. He has leadership tendency, dominate group and ready to lead and rule the whole world. He would not rest until he finishes all. He is a ruff driver. He drives men like cars and doesn’t want things to be dragged on the floor and hate slow motion.

What do you think will happen if a Choleric wife marries a Phlegmatic husband? A ruff driver wanting to drive a man of slow motion. Or a Sanguine husband marries a Choleric wife. A man who doesn’t think about yesterday’s problem marrying a woman who doesn’t want to leave any work undone. A woman who thinks about yesterday to amend mistakes.

What will happen if Melancholy husband marries a Sanguine?. A woman who will be singing when the man will be thinking about his plans. Or Melancholy wife with a Choleric man. The woman will say I don’t want to go out today and the man will say we must finish the work today. Don’t you think it will be easy if both the husband and wife are of the same Personality? Melancholy marrying Melancholy?. I want you to know that, it will still affect their unionism. Or Phlegmatic man marrying The same. Their children will suffer it and their progress will be delayed.

Then What Do We Do? (a) Make God the number one in your home (b) Complement each other’s personality and give thanks for what it has given (c) Both of you should be your character and display fruit of the spirit ( Gal.22: 23 ) (d) See what you have as a bone of bone and one that came from you (e) Learn adjustment for your integrity

sake (f) Determine to make your marriage a model (g) Study to know your spouse and key yourself into what you discovered (h) Know that your spouse is not the worst. Those you see doing great are the people accepted what God gave to them and build up themselves (i) Know that marriage is a School.

What do you meet in the school?

keep reading, There are several types of scriptures that can change any individual; everything God created has ability to change, there two basic types of changes that are commonly happen to a man (positive and negative change)You need to know where you are, what you want, and where you are going.

These scriptures were given to me by the Holy Spirit and I work toward them and they are really the secret of my change, I know where I was and where I am now, all by the mystery of these scriptures, I pray for every reader of this writeup that the same God that changed me will change you, Amen.

Rev 5:1-5 (And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the book, and to lose the seals thereof ?

3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

5 And one of the elders saint unto me, weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda,

6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which the seven Spirits of God are sent forth into all the earth.

7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odor, which are the prayers of saints.

9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou waste slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth).

Before I got these revelations I have been praying for years for a change of life and of my ministry but thank God it was revealed and works, Now let look at Rev 8v5-6, and another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer and there was given to him much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all saint upon the golden alter which was before the throne, And the smoke of the incense,

The school called marriage Everyone who has entered and wants to enter into marriage should know that: • Marriage is the only school where you get the certificate before you start • Only the school you will never graduate • A school without a break or free period • Only a school where no one is allowed to drop out • A school you will have to attend everyday of our life • A school where there is no sick leave or holiday • A school founded by God : a.

On the foundation of love b.

The walls are made out of trust c.

The door made out of acceptance d.

The window made out of understanding e.

The furniture made out of blessing f.

The roof made out of Faith • Be reminded that you are just a student not the principal • God is the principal • Even in the time of storms, don’t be unwise and run outside • Keep in mind that, this school is the safest place to be • Never go to sleep before completing your assignment for the day • Never forget the c-word-communication

• Communicate with your classmate ( spouse ) and with the principal ( God ) • If you found out something in your classmate ( Spouse ) that you do not appreciate remember your classmate is just a student too not a graduate • God is not finished with him/ her yet • So take it as a challenge and work on it together • Do not forget to study the Holy book ( the main text book of this school ) • Start each day with a sacred assembly and end it the same • Sometimes, you may feel not attending classes, yet you have to • When tempted to quit, find courage and continue • Some tests and exams may be tough but remember the principal knows how much you can bear and yet it is a school better than any other • It is one of the best schools on earth, joy; peace and happiness accompany each lesson of the day.

• Different subject are offered in this school, yet LOVE is the major subject • After all years of theorizing about it, now you have a good thing, but of love is the greatest of them all • Marriage is a place of love, so love your spouse • More grace from God the Lord our father. Amen We shall be meeting every Sunday on the ‘’ MARRIAGE DOCTOR ‘’. Marriage needs knowledge which in latter produce wisdom.

Marriage is a delicate issue that needs every lecture. (Tim. 2: 5) Meet you next week……..

•For Fellowship, Prayer and Counseling Contact: BISHOP STEVE ADESOJI PASEDA FAITH REDEMPTION BIBLE CHURCH INC Beside Dec.3, Block Industry.

Adjacent Seekers Group of Schools Idanre Garage, Oke Aro Akure, Ondo Sta te 08035742361, 08022484888 and 08104414180

Scriptures that changed me (1)

which came with the prayers of the saint, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.

And the angel took the censer, and filled with fire of the alter, and cast it into the earth, and there were voices, and thundering, and an earthquake.

Now let us look at the two bible passages or probably digest it and let us compare what the verses are saying, is all about the secret of prayers that have changed me and that can change any life.

In summary of the two bible passages it is talking to us about an angel that is standing beside the alter holding a golden cup and somebody sitting on the throne, and the angel is representing everybody on the earth before God, I mean everybody on earth has an angel that represent him or her in heaven, everybody who has given his or her life to Christ is been represented by this angel, and this angel will stand with a golden cup in his hands, and stand before God. Continued from next week EV. OLUWAROTIMI PETER, (General Overseer), CHAPEL OF THE REALITY OF HIS POWER, 40 Olafisoye Street, Off Sholagbade, Oshinle, P.O. Box 2031, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.

Tel: +234 803 365 67977

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From the Pulpit

T The voice o of wisdom

with Dr. David

Oyedepo

E

very redeemed child of God is ordained a blessing to his/her world and not a burden.

However, it is revelation of the truth from scriptures that determines our placements in life. This is because nothing defines a future like scriptural mentality. Remember, no one arrives at a future he/she cannot see.

Therefore, when we catch a glimpse of our picture in redemption from scriptures, we are guaranteed supernatural change of levels. In other words, it is the revelation of our worth in redemption that defines our dignity in the Kingdom (Galatians 3:13-14).

One of such scriptural pictures is the understanding that we are redeemed to walk in the Abrahamic order of blessings. It is written: And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:29; see also 13-14).

“The Promise” in the above scripture refers to the covenant God made with Abraham when He (God) said: …Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3).

That means by redemption, we are ordained to walk in the realm of supernatural blessings via our Abrahamic connection. However, it is not enough to know that we are redeemed to partake of the Abrahamic blessings; we must know what it takes to access same.

Therefore, let us examine some Biblical keys that guarantee our access to the Abrahamic order of supernatural blessings.

Covenant Practice: This is our launching pad to a world of supernatural blessings. This

Sunday, October 25, 2015

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Provoking the Abrahamic Order of Blessings! order of blessings cannot be calculated from the natural perspective because God is the source. It is written: But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day (Deuteronomy 8:18). However, we must understand that God’s covenant for supernatural blessings anchors on the mystery of “seedtime and harvest” which also means “giving and receiving”. The Bible says: While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease (Genesis 8:22).

This means our ability to give or the giving grace, determines the level to which we experience supernatural blessings in our lives. However, it is important to note that we do not need to flow in abundance to give; all we need is a giving heart.

For instance, there are people who may lack abundance of resources but possess a giving heart. As a result, God blesses them in order for them to be a blessing to others.

Therefore, a giving heart is what engenders the blessedness of the covenant in our lives.

Remember, we are blessed to be a blessing to all the families of the earth. Therefore, let us not limit God (Genesis 12:3).

Let’s recognize that the giving covenant has two main channels among others, which include: o Tithing: This is the principal aspect of the giving covenant and the core requirement for any redeemed child of God to walk in the realms of supernatural blessings. Tithing means giving ten percent of all our earnings, gifts, etc, to God. It is also our “covenant acknowledgement receipt” for God’s blessings, which qualifies us for more. The Bible says: Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it (Malachi 3:10; see also Leviticus 27:30-32).

That means until we engage the mystery of tithing, God will neither open the windows of heaven nor pour out blessings on our lives and endeavours. However, when God opens them, no devil can close them.

Again, we understand from scriptures that all our covenant fathers were tithers. For instance, Abraham was a committed tither and the Bible says that if we are Abraham’s seed, then we must do the works of Abraham.

If Abraham engaged the mystery of tithing to access the realms of supernatural blessings, then we must do same to experience similar results (Genesis 14:19-20; 24:1).

Jacob and Isaac were tithers and they were offspring of Abraham.

This makes us to know that the Abrahamic lineage to which we belong, is a tithing one (Genesis 28: 20-22; Galatians 4:28).

Erroneously, many believe that they pay their tithe to the church or their pastor. It is important to know that when we pay our tithes, we engage in a heavenly transaction with Jesus Christ. \The Bible says: And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth (Hebrews 7:8). Our tithes are simply covenant keys that open the windows of heaven for us to walk in the realms of supernatural blessings on earth.

Sacrifice: The Bible says: When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him (Psalms 126:1-6).

“Precious seed” in the above scripture connotes sacrifice. That means when we give our sacrifices when called for or as we are instructed by God, we are automatically launched into our dream-lands. However, note that if we offer sacrifices but do not pay

our tithes, our returns are vulnerable to the devourer (Malachi 3: 10-11).

Promoting the interests of God’s Kingdom: It is important to know that God’s blessings in our lives must have Kingdom priority on the earth and that is where our tithes, first fruits, and other forms of giving come in. It is a ‘God first’ mentality in the distribution of our wealth that guarantees the continuous flow of supernatural blessings in our lives.

Remember, we are blessed by God, first to promote His interest and that of His Kingdom (Deuteronomy 8:18; Haggai 1:3-10; Zechariah 1:17; Genesis 12:1-3; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; Matthew 6:20, 33; Proverbs 3:9-10).

In addition, it is important to know that we are redeemed to be a blessing to our world.

However, covenant practices as gleaned from scriptures are the gateways to it and tithing is the anchor law of that covenant. This is because it does not only grant us access to the blessings, but also secures them.

Therefore, as you engage in covenant practices, I see every financial stress in your life terminated in Jesus’ name!

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

Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the Living God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour.

Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!” For further reading, please get my books: Operating In The Supernatural, Commanding The Supernatural and Walking In The Miraculous.

I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have five services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:35 a.m., 9:10 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 12:20 p.m. respectively.

I know this teaching has blessed you.

Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 7747546-8; or E-mail: feedback@ lfcww.org

There is need to wipe out corruption

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ow the earth was Corrupt in God’s Sight and was full of Violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways.” Gen 6:11-13.

What is corruption? It is the act of corruption or impairing integrity Virtue or moral principles the state of being corrupted or debased; loss of purity or integrity; depravity wickedness; impurity; bribery.

You will agree with me that corruption is as old as the world itself. Corruption is also ubiquitous it is prevalent in every section of the society be it private or public until and unless this ubiquitous called corruption is trained and or wipe out in the family, church and the nation the chance of development will be a mirage.

Corruption emanates always from the top which is coupled by the followership that is why it is considered can regroup and it is difficult or impossible to tame it. When the nation of Israel left the Egypt on it way to the promised land it was the Levites who were changed with the responsibility of managing the tabernacle and alter that engaged in getting married to foreign woman can tarry to the injection herded down to them (Ezra 9:1-2) Various ways are devised to perpetuate corruption one of such is false weight. A motorist goes to the filling station to buy fuel he pay for 10 litre but seven litres or less is dispensed. A bag of cement or flour that is supposed to contain 50 kg as its contort in most cases had less than 49 kilo.

A false balance is abomination to the lord; but

a just weight is his eyesight. Proverbs 11-1.

Inferior quality material is sold as superior quality at a premium price In essence there is no Value for such good purchased. The effect of this malpractice to the buyer is repeated purchased there by leaving no room for him to purchase another good considered basic to his life. The fool hath said in his heart there is no god. They are corrupt they have done abominable work there is none that does good. Psalm 14-1 There is no gain saying the fact that expensive cost of administration by the government which othing for other social service has leave little or nothing till causing unmold hard ship caused and is still to the public. King Solomon in order to uoyant life, increased finance his buoyant y, which led the peotax at impunity ple to rebelled against Rehoboam ad for red chon on when their plead aced on them it was the burden placed hat led to the split of that rebellion that to two; Northern kinghis kingdom into hern kingdom.(1 kings dom and Southern 12:1-24) nt of salary to workers Late payment ng effect on both the workhas demoralizing ciety at large. The worker ers and the society eir children nor pay their can not feed their ich may force them school free which ome may abanto take bribe. Some don their duty post to wok for something else to ving do thereby leaving

the job undone which is not healthy for the nation. “For the woman is worthy of his bread.

(Matthew 10:10, 2 Timothy 2:6)” Greed is the insatiable appetite to amass riches, and in the process, all sort of untoward act is employed to meet the morbid ambition For the greed people God advice that man should eat of the sweat of his labour is ignored (Gen 3:19) The scripture counsel in Hebrew 13:5 that man should be satisfied with what he has.

It is a known fact that in Nigeria of today justice goes to the highest bidder God insists on fair treatment of both the petitioned and defends failure which may bring disaffection to the victim and may force him to use extra judicial power to get justice. Surely oppression makes a wise man mad; a gift destroys the heart. Ecclesiastes 7:7(Exodus 23:8) What then is solution to this despicable problem everybody must agree that he is and can not b e Primate I.O Oyelowo

exonerated from this monster called corruption? There is an adage that says that: the acknowledgement of one fault is the beginning of improvement All and sundry must agree that the deplorable situation in Nigeria must stop forth with. Why should ye be stricken any more?

Ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick and the whole heart faint.’’(Isaiah; 1:5; 1:6-7) Everybody must be ready and resolved that there must be a positive change in our beloved country, church and respective families. (Isaiah 1:16-19) If there is going to be corrupt free society the move has to come from the leadership. Leadership is the foundation upon which a virile society, church is built on.

The foundation of the church was built on the confession of Peter. (Matthew 16:18-19; 1Cor 3:10-11, Psalm 11:12) Asa had the Courage to dethrone his mother as the Queen because of her Idolatory. (2 Chronicles 15:16) The nation cannot rise above its leader, ditto for the church. The current leadership in Nigeria should hold the monster (corruption) by the horn with a view to dismantle it. (Hagai 2:22) Corruption is the Kingdom of the heathen in the Country which must be pulled down. Till then, Shalom!

•You can contact us at: The Word of Life, Agbo Igbala Ti Kristi Aladura Church 70 Patey street Lagos State. Tel: 07040517413

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From the Pulpit

Sunday, October 25, 2015

45

Faithfulness and its rewards “…for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently [faithfully] seek him (Hebrew 11:6).

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o anything that we do in life, there is always a reward which may come in this world or the next world. God will never be unrighteous to deny us of our reward. He promised to give us rewards on earth and in age to come (see Mark 10:2830). God’s is not a Father Christmas; He rewards us according to our faithfulness unto what He has committed into our hands.

Faithfulness is doing what you are expected to do with a loyal heart to who has committed such an assignment into your hands. God is faithful [remaining true] to his word and he is expecting us to be faithful to all he has committed into our hands (2 Timothy 2:13 – If we believe not, yet he [God] abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself). When you understand what it means to be faithful and you do your work with God with a faithful heart; you cannot be hindered in life. Faithfulness is the anchor of every reward in life.

Faithfulness can also be described as the diligent service unto God. When you are faithful, you become fruitful (productive) in everything you do for God (see Mathew 25:21). In Hebrews 3:1-2, “wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house”. Jesus and Moses were considered faithful unto God in various assignments committed into their hands. You cannot be considered faithful when you are not responsible towards a particular task. We are doing things today without faithfulness because God is not in our heart. We

The Bride’s voice with Pastor Moses

F

Alu

ornicators are confessing it even as they continue in their fornication. Fraudsters and cocaine pushers are saying it and they continue in their iniquity. And while their pastor is ‘blessing’ them, they will be shouting and saying, ‘That is my pastor! Ride on! This man can talk’. They are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God!

The power they deny is that power that has the capacity to turn a sinner to a saint, yet they have a form of godliness. So they don’t want you to preach any message on holiness but only messages that will make them prosper in their evil. How can you say you are a Christian and there is nothing to confirm any change in your life? Who were you before and who are you now? Nothing to confirm! I was a fornicator like most of you but that power of the Cross of Jesus Christ worked in me and I am changed. That Jesus I met stopped me from fornicating. He stopped me from other vices. But you have decided to add more iniquitous acts after ‘meeting’ Jesus. Yet you are a worker in the church. Daily, you go for Bible study. And when they look at you, they don’t see you perm your hair; your skirt touches the ground, your scarf covers your ears and as you are walking on the road, people see a form of godliness but you are noting but an ‘electric fish’. It is when people come to you and touch you that they will know who you are. Touch her and you will be shocked at what he/she will display. Apostle Paul says we should turn away from such people.

Verse 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gull-

Bishop Opayinka

have an appointed time and we are living an appointed life, when we understand this, we will become faithful.

There are many areas of our life where God is expecting us to be faithful. When the Lord is talking about faithfulness, it’s not only in your spiritual service unto him alone but in several other areas of our life. The areas God is expecting us to be faithful include the following: 1. Our spiritual service: your service unto God includes your area of calling and what you are doing in your local assembly to promote the kingdom of God. Whatsoever you are doing in the house of God, you are expected to be loyal unto God. “And Moses verily was faithful in his entire house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after” (Hebrews 3:5).

In Mathew 24:45-51, the bible is talking about two servants in which one is faithful and the other not faithful. When the Lord finds faithfulness in everything you do then he blesses you. We are having unfaithful people in the society today, and that give the enemy opportunity into their life. Our days are being cut-off because of unfaithfulness. Moses suffered all that we are suffering but still remained faith-

ful. We must not depart from faithfulness; our faithfulness must be everyday.

Let’s make up our mind and become faithful to God because his word is true. We should work on ourselves every day and find out where we are wrong and make necessary correction.

2. Our marriage: God is expecting us to be faithful in our marriage. He wants partners to be faithful to one another. Faithfulness to your responsibilities as a husband or wife is required by God. Many are not having good homes today because they are not faithful. If you are fulfilling the term of your agreement then you are faithful. “This is another thing you do: you flood the altar of the LORD with tears, weeping and wailing because he no longer pays attention to your offering nor takes pleasure in it from your hand. Yet you ask, ‘for what reason?’ Because the LORD acts as a witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you were unfaithful to her, your partner, the wife of your covenant”(Malachi 2: 1314) We can clearly see from this scripture that the Lord demands faithfulness from us in our marriage. Unfaithfulness in your marriage can rubbish your service before the Lord.

3. Civic responsibility: the Lord is expecting us to be faithful in your service to the public (Luke 16:12). As a civil servant, business owners or in any other service you are being paid to do; should be done with all faithfulness as to the Lord. “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye service, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Colossians 3:22-23) (See also Ephesians 6: 4-8) 4. Our finance: God demands faithfulness in the way we use our financial resources. Being faithfulness in your finance entails giving God

what you are supposed to give unto him from what he has provided for you. Remember that no one can receive anything unless it has been given to them from heaven. Be faithful in your tithe, offering, vow and any other financial obligations as may be required from you by the Lord.

5. Our time: Be faithful to the Lord in the way you use your time. The essence of your existence is quantified by the quality of things you invest your time. Invest quality time in the things that matter (things that bring glory and honour to the Lord). Don’t spend your in worldly pleasure that has no eternal value.

Rewards of faithfulness Every act of faithfulness comes with its own reward. When you are faithful to God in a particular area of your life, you will receive the blessings (rewards) meant for the faithful in such area of life. When the Lord finds us faithful, the following experience will part of our life.

Few among so many rewards of faithfulness are: • The Lord will make us master over everything (Mathew 24:45 and Luke 12:42) • The blessing of the Lord shall be upon our home (marriage) • Lifting from the Lord • Your business will receive blessings from the Lord See you next week as we journey to the throne together. Bishop Joshua KolawoleOpayinka is the presiding Bishop of Glorious Tabernacle International located Behind Ondo State Cultural Centre, Akure, Ondo State capital. Share your testimonies and prayer points with me at: O8060297831 joshuakolawoleo@yahoo. com

Homosexuality: An abomination (7) ible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts.

You can read on and on but my emphasis is where the Bible calls homosexuality an abomination. What is an abomination? Abomination here is anything that God hates and has preserved it for fire; anything God hates and has packaged it for fire. The Bible from the Old Testament to the New Testament condemns it.

Lev. 20:13 `If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.

Lev. 18:22 `You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. The Bible is saying here, the way you have sex with a woman. Don’t do so with a man! It is an abomination. To lie down here is sexual intercourse.

Verse 23-25. Nor shall you mate with any beast, to defile yourself with it. Nor shall any woman stand before a beast to mate with it. It is perversion.

24. `Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you.

25. `For the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants.

These are the things all those nations Israel subdued were doing that the Lord had to punish them. In the same vein, the world is into homosexuality and it has caught up with the church. But one day, the Lord will drive all of them away and bring the bride to live on earth.

But before he does this, he would have gone with his own in the rapture. It was the same thing he did in Canaan land. He was reminding Israel why they should not be caught in all those vices having driven out those people from the land because of those vices.

Mal. 3:6 “For I am the Lord, I do not change;

therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob” What God hated yesterday, he still hates today.

Verse 25 `For the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants.

I believe it with all of my heart that the abominations going on are the reasons for all the evil that have befallen the world- Tsunamis, earthquakes, tornados, etc. The earth is reacting to the evils. The sea is roaring.

Strange fires everywhere! The United States of America with all her technology is the worst hit especially with the fires destroying villages, towns and cities. But for us, it is a warning of the impending fire that will soon come. It is only a foretaste of what is coming.

Verse 26 `You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, either any of your own nation or any stranger who sojourns among you’ Go to Chapter 19:27 and 28 `You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall you disfigure the edges of your beard.

28. `You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.

No punk haircuts. Some pastors do this.

Some shape the beards like he-goats. God hates this. God hates tattoo. You look at some ‘Christian’ channels and you see some pastors coming to preach and all over their bodies is tattoo. So-called Christian musicians have tattoo all over their bodies with punk hair styles. They display everything the Bible is against.

Genesis 18 and 19 show us that before God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, he confirmed all the abominations he has heard. In

a whole city, he was going to destroy everybody and Abraham was pleading for them.

Abraham pleaded with God asking that if 50 righteous people are found, would God still destroy the city? God said he will not destroy the city if he can find 50 righteous people.

This exchange continued until Abraham got to even 10 people. At the end, how many people escaped from those cities? They were initially 4 (Lot, two of his children and his wife who later turned to a pillar of salt) Angels were sent to destroy the city and the men of that city saw them as beautiful.

The Bible says they rushed to the house of Lot to have sex with them. Homosexuals! Lot came out to plead with them to spare the men; that he was ready to give them his daughters that were virgins.

These were strangers that Lot did not know. He received them and was ready to sacrifice the happiness of his daughters. But the men of the city refused and they were pushing to bring down the door.

The angels dragged Lot into the house, locked the door and then blinded the men.

From this encounter, the angels were able to confirm what they had heard about the city.

It was then they instructed Lot to quickly leave the city with his children because they were going to destroy the city with fire. It is from this city we got the word sodomy. It was because of homosexuals and other abominations that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. And he is the same, he changeth not.

Why do you think homosexuals of this age will not be burned by fire?

•Pastor Moses Alu; The Bride Assembly, Odofin Park Estate, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Ijesha Bus stop 08033524903 : Email: pastormosesalu@yahoo.com

From the Pulpit

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Chapel of Holiness and Testimony with Pastor K. I.

Bona Continued from last week

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he enviness, the jealousy and the greed on Joseph was generated by the demons of polygamy, known as Babels. The spirits of mixture and confusion. I may not know the magnitude of hatred, wickedness and jealousy in your father’s house, which has actually frustrated, the love harmony and peace of the entire family. It only shows the works of the wickedness of the demons of polygamy. Each polygamous family has been infected by it. Following the story of Joseph’s family, we observed that in conclusion, the brethren of Joseph sold him out of jealousy and envy to Isheamelites merchants who carried Joseph to Egypt.

They did that to ensure his dreams never would come true. However as God may have it, they did not know that by selling him, they helped providence to direct him to the very place where his star would shine.

In other words, they sent him to the very place where God had ordained, he would be established.

Beloveth in the Lord, are you from a polygamous foundation? Are you experiencing such hatred, enviness, jealousy and or wickedness from other of your father’s sons and daughters. Has anyone of them offended you? And you want to revenge or are you the one offending them? Please have a re-think, it is not your fault, and neither their fault, just that these set of demonic beings called “the Babels manipulates the existence of the entire family. Seek the face of God in prayer and counselling, then extend a hand of fellowship to every other of your father’s sons and daughters in the love of Christ. It will amaze you, how God will intervene and restore back, the peace, harmony, trust and confidence of the entire household.

The problem of polygamy in david’s family Perhaps the most distressing and disturbing thing about the demons of polygamy is the dust of confusion and mix-up they throws in every family that has their foundation. Their presence has caused a lot of havoc, destructions and different degrees of wickedness, in many families.

Majority of the young men and women from polygamous foundations have had their destinies trunked and ship wrecked, because of various forms of charms and enchantments used in their father’s house. It is not very common to find polygamous homes living on absolute peace and harmony. Even those who claim they observe such air of harmonious living, within them, you still find some elements of hatred gossips, enviness, greediness, and or animousity. Devil does not have peace in his nature. Being that he has no peace, when he was in heaven, the home of peace, he broke up the peace there. In as much as heaven

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

The mystery of polygamy (3) could not accommodate his nature, she rejected him and threw him down to the earth.

Today, ninety-eight percent of all the family crisis, ethic crisis, terrorisms, civil wars, and international wars are all caused by devil. Marriage of more than one wife is an invitation of trouble in one’s life.

There is a man that married, his first wife they were living very happily. She gave birth to seven children for him; four boys, three girls. The man and his wife were doing business together, their business was progressing with brighter hope every day. Suddenly, for reasons known to the man he decided to bring in a second wife. Many people advised him against it but he would not heed to their advice. Much to the dislike of the first wife, however being that she and her children could not stop her husband.

He eventually married a second wife. From the first day, the second woman entered into the family trouble started. Today, this trouble has so drained everything the man had.

The second wife has only one female child for the man. She believed it was the first wife who closed her womb from not having a male child.

She decided to engage in fetish consultation. As I am writing this story, the entire fire has finally broken down, the first son of the man died mysteriously the second son followed.

The business of the man folded up, he began selling all his properties. The three, daughters of the first wife has reached the age of marriage no suitor came. These daughters started living unholy life. They were being manipulated by the powers of spell, bewitchment and enchantment caused by the second wife. I only share this brief story, for you to understand the true picture of polygamous demons. Are things happening within your own mother’s house, that defile your explanations? Could be that the entire household of your mother is under power of spell caused by the wickedness and greediness in polygamy. That is why I strong believe that those from polygamous origin need serious deliverance attention.

You see, this is the basic reason why we always cry out to everyone privileged to hear our voice, to start with deliverance exercise.

The story of David family is a pathetic one.

David had many wives. Then, one of the sons of David named Ammon, became infactuated in love to Tamar, his sister. From another wife of David. That Tamar was a sister to Absalom, both of them were of the same mother. Following the advice of his friend Jonadab, Ammon laid down, pretending to be sick. When his father David came to see how he faired, he requested that his sister Tamar, being his sister from another wife of David, should be permitted by his father to prepare meat for him.

His father gladly permitted Tamar, when she finished preparing the cake for Ammon, and brought it to him in his chamber, Ammon decided to lay with her forcefully. 2nd Samuel 13:11-14 “And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with

me, my sister. 12 And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly. And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel.

Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.

Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.” I call on everyone to read and observe what we are saying. The question is, was it true love Ammon had for Tamar? If it was true love that generated the hot feelings he had for her, how could he have suddenly turned to hate her more cruelly than the love he had originally had for her.

2nd Samuel 13:15-17 “Then Ammon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Ammon said unto her, Arise, be gone. And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her. Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.” How can you reconcile this?

In Romans 7:19-24 “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” From this scripture Ammon was controlled by another spirit, the spirit entered into Ammon to use him for the mission. After accomplishing the mission, the spirit left. Thus, the Ammon that raped, his sister was not the Ammon that threw her out of his house.

This conclude our point. There would not have been any other demon that would have manipulated Ammon to doing what he did, if not the Babels. One of the Babel’s made use of Ammon to destroy the future and glory of Tamar. It was when that demon left Ammon that he came to his original sense. Having understood what he did, he hated himself and hated Tamar for allowing him to have folled himself. Being filled with hatred, and resentment he threw her out. I told you, earlier in this teaching that the demons of polygamy are the demons of excessive lust, fornication, adultery, rape and every other acts of sexual abuse.

It is important to note that, greater evil and havoc took place in David’s family after this.

The Bible told us that after two good year, Absalom revenging the abuse of Ammon on his sister Tamar killed Ammon.

He ran away and later re-surfaced to usurp the throne of his father. He broke the loyalty of

the people to their king David, and made them believe him. The kingdom was divided, many soldiers became loyals to Absalom. King David avoiding war and great bloodshed in Jerusalem abdicated the throne for his son Absalom. Who quickly occupied the throne and defiled all his father’s concubines openly. The great question is would king David had gone all through these shameful challenges in his family if he had married only but one wife. The answer is no. Though God was with him then, and he had many wives.

God however allowed, and watched him pay for what he bought. There is always a price, you must pay, if you decide to go polygamous. Whatever challenges you are going through now as a result of polygamy is the price you should pay. Every other one who is a victim of polygamy suffers the same consequences, just as Ammon, Joseph, Absalom and Tamar suffered. But Joseph, did not end up as others did, because he resorted to God. Exactly what you should do now. Take refuge in God. Do not just be a Christian or a mere church member. Got born again, and cultivate the fear of God in you, through the Holy Spirit. This was what helped Joseph, to please God, and he earned God’s respect and honour. Then, go through deliverance exercise that would help destroy and blot out all the evil schemes of the wicked powers of polygamy and his human agents on you. Remain blessed as we continue next week.

Prayer point In the name of Jesus, I break every power of spell casted upon me, causing setback in my marriage, business, career and general life endeavour.

Testimonies Arrow of death and paralysis casted out A day after having exchange of words with my landlord, I noticed that I was having pains at one side of my body. The pains keep increasing I called my brother and told him. He asked me to go to pharmacy to buy drugs. I went and explained to them the level of pains I was having. I was given drugs.

After taking the drugs, the pains increased I discovered I was loosing strength and could not move either right hand and right leg. The night which followed that day, it was only God who made me survive it. My brother decided to take me to the hospital. That morning, my spirit told me to call the man of God. When he picked the call, he prayed for me and told me to move my legs, and my hands. Immediately the pains disappeared. That Sunday I came to church from that day till today I have never had the pains again, praise the Lord!

Sis. Joy ADDRESS: Pastor Kingson I. Bona General Overseer Chapel of Holiness and Testimonies Ministries No. 6, David Egbetuyi street, Fagbile Estate, Ijegun-Ikotun, Lagos 08023404926, 08038206508 Website – wwwchapelofholiness.org

News

Bishop urges sponsors to ensure children become good Christians

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he Bishop of the Diocese of Ohaji-Egbema, Rt. Rev. Chidi Oparaojiaku has urged the God-parents of newly baptisd children to ensure that these children grow up to become good Christians.

Oparaojiaku made this remark recently during the baptism and dedication service of Master Chibuike Emperor-Iwuala son to the former Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Imo State Barr Emperor Iwuala at the Bishop’s Chapel St. Peter’s Cathedral Church Umuokanne Ohaji Imo State.

The cleric observed that it was because of

irresponsibility of God-parents on the children they sponsor during baptism that make critics condemn infant baptism. He however, enjoined all who take responsibilities of sponsoring children during baptism to pray, care and monitor the lives of their God-Children until the children are confirmed.

Promising to make sure that the child was brought up in the Christian, way one of the God-parents, Mr. Samuelson Iwuoha said that it was a great honour to him taking up the responsibility of sponsoring the child as a God-parent.

Two airlines to airlift Nigerian Christian pilgrims

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wo airlines have been earmarked to airlift Nigerian Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land in Israel this year despite the security concerns.

The two carriers are Atlas Jet of Turkey and Airfirst of Nigeria.

The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), John Kennedy Okpara, who confirmed this said he had earlier signed the contracts with the two airlines for the airlift.

Atlas Jet had already started its operations while Airfirst would begin by October 26th, 2015. According to Okpara, up to 25, 000 Christian Pilgrims would be airlifted in this year’s exercise, the highest number over the years.

Meanwhile, Special Adviser to the former Minister of Aviation in charge of the Aerotroplis Programme, Dr. Daniel has said the new National Civil Aviation Policy 2013, which was ushered in during the last administration, paved the way for private sector participation in the aviation sector and facilitated the registration of Airfirst as a domestic carrier.

He said under the Aerotropolis programme, an airport developer has acquired significant lands in a few states to develop cargo facilities and enhance non-aeronautical revenues in the airports designated as cargo terminals in Nigeria and would collaborate with Airfirst to airlift perishable cargo to international markets.

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Endtime Revelation with Bishop Bernard

Ojemeni (JP)

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he next item in God’s endtime programme after the judgment of nations is the 1000 years reign of Jesus Christ on the renovated earth. You could recall that the earth would be so much devastated by the great tribulation prior to the judgement of nations. And so by supernatural power the earth would be renovated to be conducive for the government of Jesus Christ.

The saints will reign with Christ in the millennium and they will rule the nations with rod of iron. They will be in the glorified body while their subjects will still be in the flesh, in the human form. You can recall that during the transfiguration, Elijah, Moses and Jesus Christ were transfigured into the gloried body and Peter, James and John beheld them. Peter even suggested that they should even remain there because of the beauty of the glorified body and the scene they found themselves.

I hear some people saying we have entered the new millennium which by their calculation is now into 15 years – 2015. That at the end of 2000 A.D., the new millennium commenced and it is now 15 years into the new millennium.

Their assertion is not correct because the new millennium will be after the 6000 years man’s earth lease which will elapsed in 2040 A.D. To arrive at 2040 A.D. as the end of the 6,000 years, we took into consideration the change in the Bible or Jewish calendar of 360 days in a year to the Gregorian calendar of 365¼ days including the leap year in a year. Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 A.D. changed the Bible or Jewish

From the Pulpit

Sunday, October 25, 2015

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The millennial reign of Christ Bishop Bernard Chukwuma Mbamalu Ojemeni, General Superintendent of Endtime Believers’ Ministry Inc, in this piece, gives an insight into God’s judgement of nations. Excerpts: calendar of 360 days in a year to 365¼ days in a year. This change pushed the year 2000 A.D. to 2007 A.D. And because the calculation of the last year 2000 did not start from A.D 1 from the birth of Jesus Christ, rather it started from A.D. 33 at the time of crucifixion of Jesus Christ, that is why the 2040 A.D. is the end of the last 2000 years that will complete the 6,000 years man’s earth lease. Remember in my previous write-up I told you that the 6,000 years man’s earth lease is divided into 3 segments of 2,000 years each.

From Adam to Abraham at the time of sacrificing Isaac so to say.

Though from our calculations, it was a little above 2000 years. However, the surplus was taken care of in the second segment – 2000 years making a total of 4000 years at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the Cross in 33 A.D. And so the last segment 2000 years began from A.D. 33 and will end in A.D. 2040 having taken into consideration of the 7 years which the change in the Bible calendar by Pope Gregory brought about.

So what am I saying? I am saying that we have not yet entered into the new millennium.

The new millennium will be after 2040 A.D. For now it is correct for somebody to say over 2000 years Jesus Christ was born or came into this world because from birth A.D. 1 – 2007 A.D. is exactly 2000 years. It is actually over by 8 years since we are now in 2015 A.D. But it is wrong to say over 2000 years Jesus was crucified on the Cross. This is because we still have 25 years more to complete the last 2000 years in 2040 A.D. It is after 2040 A.D. you can say it is over 2000 years Jesus Christ was crucified on the Cross of Calvary. And I strongly believe that since that will be the end of the 6th millennium from Adam, that 2041 begins the new millennium

which will be when Jesus Christ and His saints will reign on earth. Exodus 20:11 God did His creative work in 6 days and rested on the 7th day.

The number 6 in God’s numerology stands for man, work and influence of Satan. Since God worked for 6 days and rested on the 7th day so will man work for 6,000 years man’s earth lease and will rest in the new millennium, the next 1000 years after 2040 A.D. It is going to be the golden age of the earth. Satan will not be there to cause havoc.

It is going to be a time the earth will witness a regime of righteousness, peace, love and tranquility. A system that is devoid of corruption and social vices. It is going to be heaven on earth. It is going to be 1000 years of Jesus Christ reign to rid the earth of all rebellion. Please, make sure you will be among those who will be in the millennial kingdom by totally surrendering your life to Jesus Christ and live a holy life.

Why I need to make this clarifications concerning timing is because I hear people saying since they were born they have been hearing preachers saying over 2000 years ago Jesus Christ died on the Cross, and uptill date they are still hearing it. Some of them are over 50 years and it is like the over 2000 years is just a phrase that even preachers yet unborn can be using in their preaching. Some say since they were born they have been hearing Jesus is coming soon. How soon is it? To them it is like the soon we are talking about can be thousands of years to come. That is why God has raised us as the children of Issachar of this endtime generation to guide the people of God, more especially preachers on the choice of word while preaching or praying. It baffles me to hear many pastors praying saying every evil spirit that is fight-

ing against your progress, fall and die, or die by fire. Or I bind you evil spirit and cast you into the abyss.

All these things are wrong. Spirits do not die and the abyss is not yet open for them to enter. Let us be informed and choose our words rightly to avoid causing confusion before unbelievers. When we speak let them know, we know what we are saying. And so it is right to say for nearly 2000 years, Jesus was crucified on the Cross. And also it is right now to say for over 2000 years Jesus was born or came into this world. The passages which speak about the millennial reign of Jesus Christ include – Revelation 20:4 “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”

Jerusalem will be the capital of the millennial kingdom. That is why Isaiah 65:18-19 have this to say “ But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.”

•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

Moving from insignificance to significance Prophet Lai Bamidele, General Overseer of Christ Glorious End-time Evangelical Church, Abule-Egba, Lagos, in this sermon, teaches about solving problems. Excerpts:

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he word moving from insignificance to significance means moving from disgrace to Grace. Also, we can as well term it to mean moving from shame to fame.

Let me begin by saying that the birth of Jesus is a typical example of a man that came from nowhere but ended up somewhere.

The bible recorded that Jesus was born in a manger i.e. he was born like a prisoner but he rose up to be a savior of the world. Jesus was born like a man in Abject poverty, but he rose up to be a man with a seamless cloth. I will like to encourage every believer that there is no one that cannot be great if only you can work for it.

Remember the adage that says “what you desire is what you become in life”. There are someone wisdom secrets we need to learn in respect of the rise of Jesus from the grass to Grace. In every journey of success in life there are certain things that need be done for you to succeed.

I sat down to actually analysed how a man that came to the world could be so humble that he was born in a Manger, then as Christians we have no reason to be proud in life. He was not born in the hospital, he was not born with a golden spoon but he rose up to become the savior of the world.

Where you are born is not a determinant factor of what you can become in life. That you came from a poor background is not a license for you to end up poor. Your decisions and desire determines your position on earth. You can be a product of mistake but you are not a mistake.

No matter how you have come, you can make it from a nobody to somebody.

Listen to me you might not have the power to change your past but you have the power to

determine your present and future. It is obvious that your background maybe below average, but God wants you to move to higher ground.

Don’t bother yourself about your past or the back, all you need is that you try and reach for the top. Where you came from does not have anything to do with what you can become in life as long as you can bury your pride, and you are humble before men and God. Please celebrate the funeral of pride in all your dealings in life.

In the book of Ezekiel 28:12 - 19, the bible emphasised on how Lucifer was created with beauty and Glory, he was perfect in all his ways until iniquity was found in him. The iniquity that was found in him was the sin of pride.

When you are proud you will drown as stated in the book of Isaiah 14:12-13 “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of morning!

How art thou cast down to the ground which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God, I will sit also above the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.

These thoughts were running in the heart of Lucifer, he has not even executed it. Stop exercising proud thought in your heart, and do not act in pride. What you think in your heart speaks volumes of whom you are on earth. God judges us from our inside not from our outside.

Your outward appearance can be humble while pride is in your inward mind. Pride does not bring up but pride bring a man down. Every proud and arrogant man is an abomination to God. The bible says God hates the pride and he gives Grace to the humble. Humility is the hallmark of life. “No matter the gifts, potentials, positions, talents or experience you have, you

must still be humble. When you are proud God will withdraw his coverage over you. When you are proud you will withdraw his Grace of favour over you. A man with a humble heart will rise from nothing to something, but a proud man will fall from Grace to Grass.

People naturally fall from Grace to Grass, because of the way they handle God’s business and even their relationship with God. The humble will rise from Grass to Grace while the pride will fall from Grace to Grass. Never allow your success or achievement in life drive you away from God’s presence. Pride has brought evil to people’s life. It is better you destroy pride before it destroy you.

Another typical example of an arrogant man that rose from insignificance to significance is Herold. Herold even went as far as given himself the tag of what we called HEROLD THEE GREAT. Only God is great. Herold becomes the symbol of satanic forces.

It is has been discovered that in most cases that people are humble when they have nothing but when you become something you end up becoming like an Herod. In the book of Act 12:2122 the bible says “And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne and made an oration unto them and the people gave a shout, saying, it is the voice of a god, and not a man”.

The bible recorded that Herod arrayed himself of royal apparel. Herod must have thought in his heart that he is God. Every priviledged position that God has placed you, you must be careful. Every Grace or gift given to you by God is not for you to see yourself as if nobody is like you, see it as a priviledge. The moment you begin to see yourself as if nobody is like you or

Bamidele

can do it like you, not only will God replace you he will even raise up someone that will do better than you have ever done it before. It is better you deal with the devil of pride when you are nothing, because by the time you rise up to the top you may not be able to deal with the pride.

Get this clear “It is not difficult to rise to the top but it is the difficult to remain in top”. One of the key weapon that the devil use to bring a man down from his top position is pride.

Herold the King fell from Grace to Grass because he was listening to the ovation of men.

When men celebrate you it is an avenue to destroy you when you are carried away by their ovation but when you are celebrated by God, the whole world will celebrate you. It is your anointing that will take you to the top, but it is your character that will sustain you on top.

When King herold was speaking, his people exalted him as God, you must be careful when people give you an unusual ovation, you must watch out when people hail you, that may bring about your downfall.

No matter the position you have been placed by priviledge, you must be careful. See it that God placed you there and if you misuse the position he will replace you within a second.

•For counselling, contact: Pst_lai@yahoo.com.

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From the Pulpit

Let’s go

BIBLE with Favour

Tioluwani

Email: letsgobible@gmail.com

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https://letsgobible.wordpress.com

he Youth of the church had a very wonderful time last Sunday, it was really a lovely time before the Lord. However during their programme that had an interactive session where they asked some questions. I have decided to pick on one of it and to answer it according to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

The question is: What age is appropriate to start dating?

So as to be more specific, because the question looked so broad, One of our mothers asked the question, as to what exactly they meant by their own “dating”?

And it was explained to be the appropriate time to enter into a relationship which hopefully will result into marriage.

Many took to 18 years of age while only few picked 20-21years.

I will want to answer the question by looking at the story of Esther. Bringing out some points, for clear understanding.

1. God has a special plan for your life.

Esther was placed in a royal position, not by chance, but for a purpose. Even though her uncle was working in the government house ( you can’t compare the wages of the security guard in the president house with that of a personal house or even a bank), meaning that her uncle wasn’t a wretched man, also for him to have been able to standup against Haman, he wasn’t a beggar, but Esther kept herself, was fully obedient to her uncle and waited for the right time of God. Many like her at the refugee camp would have looked for a way out by putting their integrity on the ground for money or for make believe family house

Sunday Mirror Sunday, October 25, 2015 www.nationalmirroronline.net

Time to start praying not home.

Proverbs 16:9, “In his heart a man plan’s his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”

God didn’t make a mistake where He has you today. I think we spend too long in our life trying to figure out where God wants us to be or wishing we were somewhere else, instead of just allowing God to do something with our life where we are, while waiting for more to come. It is not for us to determine the age. Even, lt’s not really about the age, it is about God, how well you know Him to be able to decode your own set time by Him. Your life has been planned for, get to know the details by getting to know the one that did the planning.

2. Sometimes you will have to go against common sense, against what others advise, even against what you want to do in order to follow God’s plan Common sense says you are a fool if by 18 you are yet to test or be tested. If not you will not be able to fit in or even flow when you are in the midst of your colleagues.

But for you to get it right you must do it right, by not following what common sense is saying but what God’s Spirit is communicating. Some get into it early, some late.

Any one standing for or with God is usually alone. It looks as if you are taking a risk of which no one is ready to help you out of it, since you are not dancing to their tune.

Esther would have to approach the king, though she didn’t have the permission to do so.

This could have meant certain and sudden death for her, since it was even against the law to approach the king. Esther’s response: “If I perish, I perish!”

The best things in life often come with the greatest risks. The degree of difficulty is not an indication that God is not in it.

In fact, the opposite would be closer to truth. He has promised He will never leave you or forsake you. Be focus, He will lead you right, follow His words not the words of the world tha leads to disappointments and disgrace.

3. The time to discover God’s plan is now.

Esther 4:14, “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”

Esther 4:16, “Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will “Who knows?” It’s a question. They weren’t sure. They knew she was in the position as queen.

She had opportunity to see the king.

They knew God wanted to save the people. They knew for whatever reason Esther had been made aware of the plan.

But did they know for sure what Esther was supposed to do? Apparently not!

Yes, your parents, your friends, mates all know that you are getting of age and you are supposed to get into a relationship, they are even afraid you getting too late however they don’t know how and when the Lord had purpose that to be, thereby coming up with their own head thinking and environmental situation plan.

For you, it’s high time you start PRAYING. It is only when you ask that you will receive. Esther asked and she didn’t perish. Many because they fail to take time to ask and also take time to wait for God’s response jump into it

and perish. No wonder we have high rates of Single parents and high rates of abortion. Psalms 27:14, “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”

4. Trusting in God completely brings great rewards.

In every province and in every city, wherever the edict of the king went, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them. (Esther 8:17) Esther saved a nation. Her obedience saved God’s people from destruction!

The reward for obedience was even better than expected. Esther went before the king prepared for the worst case scenario… she got the very best! Many people became followers of God! The people were inspired by the faith of one woman and one man that everything changed in that nation.

It will always prove profitable in the long run to obey God. When others see us living in radical obedience—obedience that makes no sense—they’ll want some of what we have. The world around you is looking for answers, trying to figure out how to make life work. We may not have all the answers, but we know about a God who does.

When was the last time you asked, God what do You want to do through my life? When do you want me to start? With whom?

Don’t go before your creator.

•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

What God’s presence can do Miracle Arena with Bishop

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Theo Ugochukwu

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

David knew this principle; he knew it doesn’t matter what came his way, no matter how rough the road may be, including death, as long as God was with him. Exodus 33:13-14 says “And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will ac-

complish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever”.

The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace, and the Lord said to Moses, why do you cry to me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward”. How? Why? Because my presence is with you.

Each time God sent His people out, each time He asked them to do anything, God will always give them the assurance of His presence.

The presence of God upon your life breaks every satanic protocol. I was pulled out from the debris of my Montero Jeep that a trailer scattered beyond repair. That morning like a trance I saw dead bodies scattered all around me, I called my family and we all prayed, two hours later. I received a distress call from a woman who came back from London the previous night and lost her eldest son of about 17years.

The following morning, on the way with my wife to answer that call, we were involved in a ghastly accident, that till today how my wife and I were pulled out remained a mystery. The presence of God in your life can close the grave and also can burn the coffin the enemies actually bought for you.

Just last August, Sunday 16th, I prophesied to the church that somebody travelling on the 18th would have an accident, which we prayed against. That Sunday I received an invitation for a conference in Benin city and it fell on the 18th of August.

But it just came to my mind on the night of 17th that I will be honouring the invitation to the conference at Benin on the same 18th God spoke to me concerning accident. So I had to summon my family and we prayed over it. Behold, on the way to Benin, my driver fell asleep while driving and swerved to the other lane, within a speed of light, another vehicle rammed into us.

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

God’s presence keeps you safe from the plans of the enemies. Anytime David wanted to go out to war, he will say “God shall I go? Will you go with me? And God will say, “I will go with you”. Anytime God said, He is not go-

ing; there is nothing you can do about it.

When the children of Israel were about to go to the land of Canaan, God was angry with them because they doubted Him and Moses said to them. “You are no longer going to posses to land, you are going to be in this place for 40 years”.

They said no, let us go now and posses the land and they left without the presence of God, what happened when God said, “I am not going with you”.

And as soon as they left, the Amorites descended on them and destroyed them even though they were in the wilderness with the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire Numbers 14:42-45.

It doesn’t matter the array of battles before you, if the abiding presence of God is with you, then you are more than conqueror. Amen.

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

Email: bishopgracemiracle@ ymail.com

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Business FRESH BUSINESS NEWS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Sunday, October 25, 2015

Nicon Insurance, microfinance banks sign pact on risk management CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

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ll appears set for the NICON Insurance Limited to bail out micro finance banks and their customers with a synergy formed at the weekend the National Association of Microfinance Banks, NAMB. Both NICON Insurance Limited and NAMB say the partnership aims at working together to better protect the interest of over six million customers of the 940 micro finance banks operating in the country.

The National President of NAMB, Mr. Valentine Whensu, at a pre National Executive Council, NEC) meeting, ahead of the association’s 5th Annual General Meeting (AGM), said the microfinance sub sector has recorded no less than N80 billion as bad debts over the last few years.

Whensu, however expressed optimism that the relationship with Nicon Insurance would reduce to the barest minimum issue of bad debt, as the synergy will give NAMB the expertise to conduct proper background checks on prospective borrowers before giving out loans, adding that in the event of default going forward NICON would pay.

“Put together, in this

...as bad microfinance loans hit N80bn

industry, in Lagos alone about two, three years ago, we have over N40 billion of our micro finance money outside that is on default.

But because of the introduction of credit reporting, credit checks, anybody that gives you loan now will conduct a credit check on

you, so it further reduces.

But if you look at the country as whole it is not less than between N70 and N80 billion.

“But let me quickly remind you again that the reason for the synergy or relationship between NAMB and NICON. One

of the things that this relationship between us and NICON is going to give us is that before you collect loan you must have been insured for the basic things which are like your health, so that in the event that the unexpected happens to the person who has the loan we

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and their customers.

According to the NICON boss, the partnership is going to mitigate the bad loans by increasing the banks’ risk management capabilities using insurance, adding that NICON already have the backing from some international reinsurance companies who provide these reinsurance products for the less privileged that are basically the customers of the micro finance banks.

States rake in N707.86bn from IGR sources in 2014 •Lagos accounts for 39% of revenue TOLA AKINMUTIMI

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he National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, yesterday put the Internally Generated Rev-

enue, IGR, of 23 states at about N707.86 billion last year, with Lagos State raking in about N276.16 billion or 39 per cent of the revenue accruals.

In the report which was jointly produced by the Na-

tional Bureau of Statistics / Joint Tax Board/State Boards of Internal Revenue, the IGR covered include, Pay As You Earn,( PAYE), Direct Assessment , Road Taxes and Other Revenue.

A breakdown of tax collections on value basis showed that Lagos State topped the

L-R: Otunba.(Mrs.) Adebola Osibogun; Mrs. Abiodun Opeifa; Group Managing Director, Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo and wife Bolanle; representative of the first lady Lagos State, Mrs. Azeezat Tijani; Executive Director, Legal and Corporate Service, Abimbola Izu; representative of Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Rakiya Zubairu and Group Head, Retail Banking, Nkolika Okoli, during the official launch of Skye PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN Pearl Initiative in Lagos, at the weekend.

Solar, key to democratising access to power, says El-Rufai

he governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir ElRufai, yesterday in London said that the application of solar technology in the provision of electricity in Nigeria would democratise power access to the rural poor.

Reacting to the solar power agreement signed between Nigeria and the United Kingdom in London on Thursday El-Rufaí the agreement was an opportunity for the country to acquire the latest technology in the sector.

The governor had accompanied the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to the

have a place where we can get our money back” he said.

Speaking while presenting a paper entitled ‘ Microinsurance as a microfinance Products; A synergy for Safety’ the Managing Director, Mr. Bayode Samuel, said the organisation came up with the idea after conducting a thorough home work on how best to work with micro finance banks to protect both the operators

agreement signing ceremony at the Facebook headquarters.

“This is a great opportunity for Nigeria to leapfrog from where we are to the latest state-of-the-art technology to provide electricity to the poor.

“Many people think that the only way to get electricity to everyone is through building huge power stations with transmission lines and distribution infrastructure.

“But in the last three to four years there has been advancement in solar technology that has made it possible to democratise electricity in a way that you would have

your own power plant in your own home to serve your needs instead of connecting to a centralised network.’’

The governor noted that the initiative, to be supported by the British government, would take electricity to the poorest parts of Nigeria without necessarily building transmission and distribution lines.

“I think it is a great step just as we leapfrogged from having half a million land lines to 150 million mobile phones.

“There is an opportunity here to leapfrog from having centralised power stations and transmission

lines to 60 million Nigerians having electricity that they generate from solar in their own homes and paying for it on a pay-as-you-go basis.

“It is a great initiative and if we are able to follow it through we will be able to take electricity to the poorest parts of Nigeria without having to do huge investments that we have sank in NEPA and PHCN without results,’’ the governor added According to him, the gains will be seen almost immediately as ``in Kaduna we are already funding the use of solar power in 40 primary healthcare centres.

list with N276.16 billion) followed by Rivers State with IGR accruals totaling N89.11 billion while Delta State grossed N42.82 billion; Enugu collected N19.25 billion and Ogun State raked in N17.50 billion during the year under review.

Others’ revenue profiles indicated that Oyo State came fifth with N16.31 billion collection; Akwa Ibom, N15.68 billion; Kaduna, N12.78 billion; Bayelsa, N10.96 billion and Anambra, N10.45 billion.

Also, Osun State raked in N8.51 billion compared to Benue’s N8.28 billion; and Plateau, which closely trailed Bauchi with same amount of N8.28 billion. Imo State generated N8.12 billion; Kogi, N6.57 billion); and Katsina, N6.22 billion.

A further analysis of the

raked in IGRs by the subnational governments as reported by the NBS indicated that Niger State grossed N5.74 billion while Sokoto collected N5.62 billion.

Bauchi collected N4.85 billion; Nasarawa, N4.09 billion; Kebbi, N3.83 billion; Ekiti, N3.46 billion and Zamfara, with the least IGR of N3.15 billion during the year.

The report showed that Abia generated N12.37 billion while Adamawa and Borno states raked in N4 N4.99 billion and N2.76 billion respectively.

Others and their IGR profiles are, Cross River, N15.74bn; Ebonyi, N11.03 billion; Edo, N17.02 billion; Kano, N13.66 billion; Ondo, N11.72 billion; Taraba, N3.80 billion and Yobe, N3.07 billion.

Economist urges CBN to create awareness on N220bn MSMEs fund

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n Economist, Dr Alex Ademola, has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to embark on public awareness on its N220 billion fund for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs. Ademola, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lokoja on Saturday, said that the fund was set aside for the development of MSMEs. According to him, the call is necessary as most Nigerians are not aware of the fund or how to access it.

Ademola, a lecturer in the Department of Economics, Federal University, Lokoja, said the CBN must take it

upon itself to sensitise the general public, especially the entrepreneurs on the availability of the fund and its accessibility.

He reiterated that majority of farmers, artisans, traders and other entrepreneurs, who were supposed to be the main beneficiaries of the fund were ignorant of the facility.

The lecturer, therefore, urged the CBN and other stakeholders to intensify a sensitisation campaign on the fund across the federation particularly in the rural areas. The economist noted that the fund would go a long way to alleviate the suffering of the populace and create employment opportunities for the teeming youths.

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Sunday October 25, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

UniJos lecturers give reasons for strike JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

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niversity of Jos lecturers under the auspices of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, have given reasons why they proceeded on a “total, comprehensive and indefinite ” strike.

The strike, which commenced last Thursday has paralysed the entire academic activities in the institution.

Unijos branch Chairman of ASUU, Dr Christopher Piwune, while addressing journalists at

the weekend said the university management was deliberately shying away from its responsibilities and has severally reneged on the promises it had repeatedly made to the union to rectify many irregularities surrounding payment of entitlements meant for its members.

Piwune, who was flanked by the secretary of the union, Dr Diran Ademiju-Bepo, recalled that the trouble started shortly after the six month ASUU nation-wide strike in June 2013; the federal government released money for

staff ’s welfare and NEEDS assessment, but this money was misappropriated by the university.

He said the university went ahead to disburse the fund arbitrarily to academic and non-academic staff with about 300 members of his union not getting paid.

“We have had several meetings with the management of the university on the issues; the university said some of our members were over paid and started deducting from their salaries, and even got to the point that members ’

salaries were being overdeducted, yet the university was not paying those that were short-changed ”, he stressed.

ASUU also observed that the university has refused to pay postgraduate entitlements to its members that have supervised Masters and PhD students with over 100 applications still waiting to be attended to. Adding that all effort made in this regard has not yielded desired results.

The union also lamented the salary disparity between its members and

academic staff of other federal universities, adding that Unijos management keeps complaining that there was no money.

According to him, “We have held series of meetings with the management of the university, and have had to call our zonal executives to intervene on our behalf, but each time the university promised to correct the anomalies, it only reneged when the agreed time reached. We have written 13 letters within the last six months to the administration over these issues, and we have met with them over five times.

We have written two letters to the Pro-chancellor and Chairman of council, but he has not made time to see us. ” He said members became tired with deductions left, right and centre and decided to commence strike.

In its reaction, the management of the university said it got the letter informing it of the indefinite strike, but added that that ASUU did not state the reason it was embarking on the strike action.

The management, in a statement signed by the Registrar of the university, Mr. Jilli-Dandam, however agreed that the lecturers have been dialoguing on two issues with it; the disbursement of Earned Academic Allowance and the payment of Postgraduate Supervision Allowance.

The statement added that, “Council had set up a Technical Committee, headed by a former ASUU Chairman to resolve this lingering issue. Council also directed the implementation of the report believing that it will put to rest, the issue of disbursement of Earned Academic Allowance.

Don advocates direct allocation to local govts HENRY IYORKASE MAKURDI

L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Dayo Mobereola; FRSC Corps Marshal, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi; Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Mr. Folarin Coker and Head Media Relations and Strategy, FRSC, Bisi Kazeem, during a collaborative meeting with the commissioners in Lagos, recently.

Nigeria to implement ECOWAS protocol on axle load control –Oyeyemi

C

orps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi has assured that Nigeria will work for the implementation of the policy, not only in the country, but other members of the West African sub-region.

According to Head, Media Relations and Strategy, FRSC, Mr. Bisi Kazeem, Oyeyemi, who is also the Chairman of the National Committee on the implementation of the ECOWAS policy on axle load control,

stated this during the stakeholders ’ meeting in Abuja.

According to the Corps Marshal, Nigeria as a signatory to the protocol on axle load control as enacted by ECOWAS must ensure that conducive environment for its implementation was created in the country to properly address issues of overloading both within and across the sub-regional roads.

“Nigeria is one of the signatories to the ECOWAS protocol on the imple-

mentation of the policy on axle load control. We must therefore make concerted efforts to ensure that the policy is effectively enforced in the country, ” he stated.

The Corps Marshal expressed dismay that the West African roads are being negatively affected by the menace of overloading, which hamper effective road safety campaigns, saying that all hands must be on the deck to ensure the reversal of the trend. “It is our collective responsibility

to rise up to these challenges in order to protect not only the life span of the vehicles plying the roads, but the durability of the roads which are threatened by such negative practices, ” he stated.

While commending the ECOWAS for making the issues of axle load control a priority, Oyeyemi appealed to the stakeholders to do all they can to ensure that the policy is effectively implemented in all the member countries of ECOWAS.

A

lecturer with the Department of Biological Sciences of the Federal University of Agriculture, in Makurdi, Dr. Smart Tersagh Ichor, has advocated the scrapping of state/local government joint accounts.

Ichor made the case for separation of the accounts at the weekend in Makurdi, while speaking with Sunday Mirror, stressing that local government councils in the country must be self reliant in order to carry out projects towards enhancing the well being of its citizens at the grassroots.

He expressed disappointment at the inability of most of the council chairmen who were more interested in siphoning public funds instead of embarking on meaningful projects to effect better living condition for their

people.

Ichor further explained that if the councils are made autonomous financially, there would be checks and balances where all eyes would be on its leaders to improve the well being of the people and consequently ensure quality development and that funds allocated to them are being spent judiciously.

According to him, a situation where the citizens are at the receiving end while the civil servants feed fat at their detriment is not in the best interest of anyone, stressing that the impact of their services is not felt when citizens wallow in abject poverty.

Describing the rate of corruption at the third tier of governance as appalling, he insisted that something had to be done urgently to mitigate the situation or else the local government system would collapse.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday, October 25, 2015

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Politics

Sunday October 25, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

INEC, police set for Kogi, Bayelsa elections AYO ESAN

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ith the two major gubernatorial elections in Kogi and Bayelsa very close, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and the Nigeria Police have expressed their readiness for the election.

Until last week Wednesday when INEC got a substantive Chairman, political analysts have doubted the holding of elections in the two states.

The arguments have been on the legality of INEC as was then constituted to successfully conduct the two elections without violating certain provisions of the constitution.

The composition of INEC before last week Wednesday deprived it of the statutory quorum necessary to be in place before certain important and sensitive policy-decisions could be taken.

Section 159(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, stipulates that Commissions, such as INEC, must have a quorum of one third of its members to take certain top-level management decisions.

Specifically, that section states that; “the quorum for a meeting of any of the bodies established by section 153 of this Constitution shall be not less than onethird of the total number of members of that body at the date of the meeting ”.

The Commission is made up of a Chairman, and 12 other National Commissioners.

By the said constitutional provision, one-third of 13 is, very arguably, five, or thereabout. But, since this is not a journey into the mathematical discourse, we can conveniently take five for the purpose of this write up.

So prior to last Wednesday, there were only two national commissioners in INEC, that is, the acting chairperson, Amina Bala Zakari and Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku.

However, the constitutional crisis was averted when President Muhammadu Buhari, last Wednesday, raised hopes of the conduct of the governorship polls in Kogi and Bayelsa states. The elections are scheduled for November 21 and December 5 respectively, following the appointment of a new chairman for the INEC, Professor Mahmud Yakubu, and six national commissioners.

The new appointments were seen as a deliberate move by the president to douse rising public apprehension that the elections appeared threatened, owing to lack of quorum at INEC headquarters, because of the exit of most of national commissioners at the expiration of their tenure, coupled with the interim chairmanship of Mrs. Amina Zakari.

There had been outrage over the appointment of Zakari on two grounds — that she hails from the same state with the president and that her tenure as national commissioner had expired in July.

The new INEC helmsman hails from Bauchi State, while the tenure of Mrs. Zakari was renewed for another five years as a national commissioner.

Yakubu ’s appointment followed an

Dickson

Wada

AS PART OF ITS PREPARATIONS, THE COM¬MISSION RECENTLY DISCLOSED THAT IT HAS ISSUED LETTERS OF ACCREDITATION

TO 50 ORGANISATIONS THAT WILL MONITOR

THE ELECTIONS IN BOTH STATES, EXPLAINING THAT IT COMPRISES 43 LOCAL, SEVEN FOREIGN OBSERVERS emergency meeting of the National Council of State (NCS), presided over by the president, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

The meeting, which was the first NCS meeting to be convened by the present administration, was attended by former Nigerian leaders, including General Yakubu Gowon, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan and General Abdusalami Abubakar.

Former presidents Shehu Shagari, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan were, however, absent.

Buhari also named new federal electoral commissioners to fill the vacancy created by the expiration of the tenure of some federal commissioners some months ago.

Thus with the new helmsman in place, INEC is expected to consolidate on its earlier preparation for the election in the two states.

Before now INEC as part of the preparation has successfully concluded the update of the voters Register and distri¬bution of the Permanent Voters Cards, PVC to the electorates in the two states,.

National Commissioner, Ambassa¬dor Lawrence Nwuruku, who recently gave

the assurance of INEC ’s readiness recently also confirmed that there are sufficient Smart Card Readers for the elections, warning the candi¬dates to concentrate more on educating their supporters instead of planning to engage in electoral malpractice.

With the deadline for submission of list of candidates, CF002, and personal details, CF001, for the positions of Governor and Deputy Governor sched¬uled for November 21 and December 5 for Kogi and Bayelsa States respective¬ly, the Commissioner further reassured of their readiness to surmount the little challenge of procurement of the pend¬ing non-sensitive electoral materials this week.

Also as part of its preparations, the Com¬mission recently disclosed that it has issued letters of accreditation to 50 organisations that will monitor the elections in both States, explaining that it comprises 43 local, seven foreign observers.

Among the accredited foreign observers are the British High Commis-sion, the United States Embassy, Abuja, the European Union, the African Union and the International Republican In¬stitute as well as National Democratic Institute

and the International Founda¬tion for Electoral System.

It was gathered that every measure needed to organise a good election has been put in by the electoral umpire.

Also various political parties that are involved in the elections have intensified their campaigns which have remained peaceful in the two states.

The campaigns have been fiercer between the two major political parties, the All Progressive Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. On its part, the Nigeria Police said it is adequately prepared to ensure hitch-free elections in the two states.

Giving the assurance to Nigerians on the readiness of the police for the elections was no less a person than the Inspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase.

Arase said his of¬ficers and men are battle ready for the forthcoming gubernato¬rial elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States.

He said he has per¬fected plans to deploy additional manpower for the elections which will hold in November and December respectively.

Force Public Relations Officer, Ms Olabisi Kola¬wole said the action of Mr. Arase would ensure crime – free election in both States.

“The Police leadership has also directed the de¬ployment of Federal Spe-cial Anti-Robbery Squad, FSARS to compliment the Safer Highway Patrol to ensure proper policing of the length and breadth of the nation ’s highway ”, she stated.

While briefing mem¬bers of the Police Man¬agement Team in his of¬fice, the IGP noted that these measures have become imperative to en¬sure proper monitoring of activities leading to a hitch-fee election.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Sunday October 25, 2015

53

r new INEC boss

Zaka ari

The tribunal which sat on the election petitions from Akwa Ibom only recently delivered its judgment calling for a re-run in 18 out of 31 local government areas in Akwa Ibom state. This has to be done before the end of January next year.

Postponing the Kogi, Bayelsa polls Before Yakubu ’s appointment along with four national commissioners, only Zakari and one national commissioner, Lawrence Nwuruku were

on ground.

Section 159(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, stipulates that Commissions, such as INEC, must have a quorum of one third of its members to take certain top-level management decisions.

Several critical decisions were taken with regards to the conduct of both elections.

Specifically, that section states that; “the quorum for a meeting of any of the bodies established by section 153 of this Constitution shall be not less than one-third of the total number of members of that body at the date of the meeting ”.

Sunday Mirror had last weekend raised the alarm that the commission was heading for a constitutional crisis in its preparation for the conduct of the gubernatorial polls. Hours later, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana raised the same issue and even cited a judicial precedent.

However, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state who had consistently faulted the appointment of Amina Zakari as INEC Acting Chairperson on the grounds of its illegality also lent his voice to the debate.

According to him, all processes leading to the conduct of the Kogi and Bayelsa States governorship election must start afresh.

Obviously, the new INEC boss has to work with the commission ’s legal unit as well as with its consortium of senior lawyers to deliberate on the way to go so that INEC would not waste money embarking on certain processes that may be nullified

tomorrow by a court of law.

Amending the 2010 Electoral Act This is going to be one of the greatest headaches of the new INEC chief. Having to work with the Electoral Act 2010 is like giving a man a vast land to clear with obsolete equipment. INEC had continued to make several representations to the National Assembly but their cries were not exactly heeded.

Aside calling for an improved welfare for its staff to get them more committed, the need to incorporate technology into Nigeria ’s electoral process is a request that did not also see the light of day. For instance, electronic voting would have greatly enhanced the fidelity or integrity of the last general elections, even as greater use of such technology would lead to a drastic reduction in election-related litigations.

The hitches with the PVC, SCR There were unresolved issues over the deployment of Permanent Voter Cards and the Smart Card Readers. At first, voter education with regards to the introduction of this new technology was either low or inappropriately designed and disseminated.

Then, even electoral officers flouted the guidelines on their usage as in some cases they just made a resort to the use of manual registers without necessarily satisfying the conditions for such a switch. All the problems associated with this novel technology has to be resolved before the Kogi and Bayelsa elections.

Delimitation of constituencies and creation of polling units These were two things that INEC should

: Bark without the bite ANALYSTS BELIEVED THAT AMAECHI ’S PERFORMANCE AT THE SCREENING EXERCISE

WAS CLEARLY BELOW AVERAGE, AND PUTS HIM MILES AWAY FROM THE LIKES OF FASHOLA AND FAYEMI

Akpa abio o

mittee had just been laid and what should follow according to the procedures of the senate was to make the report available to all the senators before debate on it would commence, stating that, “The report has been laid according to procedure. This is a confirmation hearing. We are glad you said you would not

ask the nominee a question. We could as well ask the former Speaker to take a bow and go. My responsibility is to market him here. ” The leader was to incur the anger of his colleagues when he pointed towards the PDP senators and continued, “You people. ” Ndume ’s remarks were immediately greeted with protestations, from the PDP senators who queried, “Who are you people? You have to withdraw that language, ” the PDP senators insisted, leading to the intervention of Saraki who eventually apologised on behalf of Ndume and stating that the statement had been withdrawn.

It was gathered that what played out on the floor of the senate during the eventual screening, was the manifestation of what took place during the about one hour exclusive (closed-door) session, which preceded the screening exercise.

The issue of how to proceed with the

Amaechi case dominated the closed door session.

It was gathered that all efforts by the senators to come to a compromise on how to proceed with the Amaechi case came to naught, as senators from both sides of the divide stuck to their guns, and could not compromise their positions.

It was consequently resolved by the Senate President who presided at the exclusive session to take the matter to the floor of the senate and seek its resolution in the public glare.

Indeed, the issue of how to deal with the Amaechi case nearly set an irreconcilable gulf within the senate. Even though none of the lawmakers was willing to voice it out publicly, there was an aggregate of opinion among the senators that the inclusion of Amaechi among the ministerial nominees by the President was politically tactless and incorrect in view of the negative perception about the former governor, particularly

have done before the last general elections.

However, the issue generated so much controversy that INEC feared could jeopardize the conduct of the general elections.

Unfortunately, constituency delineation is something that has to be done on a regular basis as prescribed by the relevant laws.

Is he going to revisit the issue of the creation of additional 30,000 polling units, with the north still having over 21, 000 of the units as initially planned by Prof. Attahiru Jega, his predecessor?

Aside these, there are other challenges which the new INEC boss may have to contend with. He will have to work with few Resident Electoral Commissioners RECs as more than half of them have already served out their terms. Fortunately for him, the next general election is still over three years away and before then hopefully, the vacancies would have been filled.

The good news is that he will be working with six national commissioners for now.

In effect, he will never have to go through a situation where most of the national commissioners will retire the same day, leaving him with just one or two to carry on with the onerous task of leading INEC. Although, Prof. Yakubu comes to the job with an intimidating resume, there have been series of attack on President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing him.

The most virulent of the attacks came from the Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, who said the appointment of Prof.

Yakubu as INEC chairman merely attests to the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari is a sectional leader. on issue off alleged i ll d mismanagement i t off Rivers State resources, as well as his unguarded utterances and conducts during the last general election.

But having successfully circumvented the senate rules through the aid of his backers in the senate and found himself on the floor of the senate for screening, political pundits were of the opinion that the former governor should have seized the moment as his two other colleagues like Babatunde Raji Fashola and Dr. Kayode Fayemi did the week before, to market and make very good showing of himself, which Amaechi woefully failed to do.

In fact, analysts believed that Amaechi ’s performance at the screening exercise was clearly below average, and puts him miles away from the likes of Fashola and Fayemi.

The general expectation was that Amaechi should have used the occasion of the screening to shame his detractors and prove his traducers wrong. Unfortunately, he did not do that; instead he used the opportunity to reinforce the unfortunate perception that he is an unrepentant fighter; no matter for what course.

Unfortunately too, the APC lawmakers who posed the questions to Amaechi did not help the matters either. It was very obvious that most of the remarks and questions raised were aimed at buoying up the image of the candidate, even though they remarks spoke to falsehood.

What Nigerians were regaled with by the lawmakers were questions, which sounded very childish and amateurish CONTINUED ON PAGE 54

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Politics

Sunday October 25, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Reps ’ House of probes turns heat on MDAs, oil sector CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

tal, would also be probed.

Hon Sidi Yakubu, had brought a motion on the matter before the House under the Order of the day, titled ” Distressed state of the Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, Yobe state. ” Yakubu in the motion raised the concern that the inability of the Federal Ministry of Finance to release funds in the past five years has crippled the operations of the hospital in Yobe state, thereby defeating the set objective of its establishment.

An investigation into implementation of the land swap policy initiated by the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Bala Mohammed, with a view to ascertaining alleged infringements in the policy had also been ordered.

The Land Swap policy, a land based financing of infrastructure development, involves the granting of land to competent real estate developers who will in turn provide infrastructure, such as good roads, electricity, portable water, storm water drainage, sewer lines and communication dots to the residents, without any financial or technical demand to the government. Proceeds from the investment are to be shared in a ratio of 60 per cent to 40 per cent between the investor and the Administration respectively.

The resolution to investigate the implementation of the policy was fallout of a motion, brought by Abubakar Yunusa Ahmed, who expressed dismay that most infrastructural based projects in the FCT have been abandoned, even after the administration initiated them and made adequate provisions for such in its budgets.

According to him, the immediate past administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan allegedly approved variation in the contract values of some of the projects without due process, and that in a bid to source funds as additional revenue, the FCTA “embarked on a land swap policy in which green lands were granted to estate developers to build roads, install electricity, potable water, drainages and

Mo oham mmed d

Obi

THE ALLEGED CONTRACT INFLATION FOR THE MAMBILLA MULTI-PURPOSE DAM AND HYDROELECTRIC POWER PROJECT FOLLOWED A MOTION BROUGHT UNDER THE ORDER OF

THE DAY TO THE PLENARY BY HON AUSTIN

CHUKWUKERE

sewage lines. ” The probe of the non-oil sector followed the concern that well over two trillion naira was alleged to have been lost by the federal government as a result of fraudulent activities of the officials of the non-oil revenue earning agencies.

The probe followed a motion brought under the House Order of the Day by Hon Namdas Abdulrazak.

The legislator had noted to the House that as a result of the drop in oil prices, revenues realized from the oil sector was no longer sufficient to cater for the budgetary needs of the country.

For the AMCON probe, Hon Gabriel Onyenweife, had approached the House with a motion titled, “undue accumulation of debts and alleged fraudulent sale of Banks by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON ”, brought under the House Order of the Day. He noted to the House that AMCON was established by AMCON Act 2010, to strengthen the Bank of Industry in response to the global economic downturn and weak corporate practice that was prevalent in the Nigerian banking industry at that time.

He noted also that AMCON has accu-

mulated a debt profile of over five trillion naira as against the mandate of a debt profile of N800billion as a ceiling, noting that it had exceeded its debt ceiling by N4.2trillion.

The alleged contract inflation for the Mambilla Multi-purpose dam and hydroelectric power project followed a motion brought under the order of the day to the plenary by Hon Austin Chukwukere.

The lawmaker had noted to the House that in order to promote economic growth through power generation, the federal government initiated various reforms in the power sector which included privatization of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, creation of the Mambilla MultiPurpose Dam, the Hydroelectric Power Project and management of the Donga River to generate 3050 Megawatts of electricity to the national grid.

He said that the sum of six billion, one hundred and nine million, seven hundred and twenty nine thousand, six hundred and nine dollars, was. Estimated for the power project out of which the federal government would provide 15 per cent, while the remaining sum would be provided by the contractor.

Perhaps in line with the body language of the executive arm to fight corruption or the perceived ills in the various sector of the economy that need sanitisation, bringing probe motions have become like serious competition among the Reps.

Nigerians have witnessed previous Houses carry out probes like the controversial power. It was clear in the long run that there were more to the probes as allegations and counterallegations of bribery and corruption smeared the committees.

Although the Reps are coming with vigour for rigorous probe, what one is worried about now is the underlining motives.

Are they really coming with the motions to sanitise the system and help the anti-corruption war? Only time shall reveal all the intentions.

Ministerial screening: Bark without the bite CONTINUED FROM PAGE 53

to say the least.

Except perhaps for Senator Gbenga Ashafa, who was very poignant in his question, when he confronted Amaechi with the allegation of his alleged indictment by the Justice George Omereji ’s Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the Rivers State Government to investigate Amaechi ’s administration.

Unfortunately too, in a desperate bid to protect one of their own, a highly experienced and highly placed senator and leader like Ali Ndume embarked on a journey that ended up portraying the red chamber as a lawless institution.

In his bid to provide justification for breaching the rules and procedures of the senate in favour of Amaechi, Ndume posited that it would be the pleasure

of the APC senators if the PDP senators withdrew their participation in the screening exercise, the candidate could be asked to now and go since Amaechi was once a speaker of a House of Assembly.

Ndume ’s remarks here is so regrettable, particularly since it is the same senate that set the ground rule that only former members of the National Assembly would be entitled to the special privilege of bow and go. For the avoidance of doubts, it was the senate ad hoc committee chairman on media and publicity, Dino Melaye who told Nigerians that only former National Assembly lawmakers are entitled to the special privilege.

Melaye explained that the senate came to that decision because section 147(6), which set the standards for aspiring ministers provides that such would-be minis-

ters must first be qualified to stand election into the House of Representatives.

Again, Ndume gaffed when he argued that the screening of Amaechi could go on irrespective of the fact that the senate was yet to debate and adopt the report on the former governor ’s investigation.

In fact, the report of the investigation committee recommended the suspension of Amaechi ’s screening in accordance with order 53(5) of the senate standing rules, which prohibits the consideration of any matter that is pending before a law court, if in the opinion of the Senate President, it is considered sub-judice.

Indeed, the action of the APC senators, who were obviously privy of this recommendation by the committee was to deliberately circumvent the rules of the senate, which they unfortunately

succeeded in doing.

The action of the Senate President who deliberately overlooked such an infraction by encouraging the commencement of the screening exercise is no less condemnable.

It was obvious that the APC senators were guided in the screening exercise by any motive other than patriotism. Their actions and conducts were aimed at protecting selfish and party interests, even when such interests ran counter national interest.

What has happened so far in the senate, with regards to the current screening of the ministers shows that exactly nothing has changed in the red chamber.

Instead, the low standards and lack of seriousness that characterised the exercise in the past have been elevated to ridiculously high levels.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politic News

Sunday, October 25, 2015

55

‘Mass defection to APC is immoral ’ whoever will emerge, whoever will have an aspiration to be governor on what you think you would have done differently. That is a conversation that I will like to have and I look forward to when the campaign starts. An issue based peaceful and robust, engaging intellectual conversation campaigns. I enjoin all of you who believe in the Restoration, the changes that we have brought about physically, and in terms of the culture of the place, to turn out en masse when the time comes to give your support. But thank you very much and in your own homes continue to pray for us.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

affiliation to a political party so a number of them say they are going or have gone. These same people before the cock crowed three times like Peter did in the bible, some of them were as close to Jesus like Peter to the former president, all decamped. All I know is that power comes from God but as leader of PDP in Bayelsa we remain open to all those members who for one reason or the other are thinking of crossing to the other side as it is a wrong move. I interact with all of them. With the way our president left office I believe the election is not about me because if I were to be contesting election in America with all I have achieved there will not even be a campaign. The way our former president left office, I believe the next election is not about me or PDP. It is about the dignity and pride of Ijaw nation, a people who have been humiliated at the federal level like this because they say we are few and our people who should hold the home base are the ones jumping ship. I do not have any problems even with the leader of the opposition party in the state, the former governor. He is my friend and brother but his politics is what I disagree with.

But his own case is even understandable because he was there as part of the formation of the APC for whatever personal reasons. But people who stayed with us till we did elections should know APC does not need them. Where were they when APC was battling to get votes and register their party to secure votes for their president? They think because we have lost, the Ijaw nation should be humiliated and they are not going quietly. They are the ones that are talking but the good news is that the ordinary people of Ijaw nation will rise up and say no to this display of greed of the highest order where people cannot subordinate their own personal greed for position at the federal level for the common good .

Campaigns are underway in the state.

What message are you sending out this time around?

My dear people of Bayelsa, we have all embarked on a journey, a life changing journey. For the past three years, we have moved into a very crucial phase a phase where the fate of the future and the destiny of our people will be decided. Not by anybody in Lagos, not by anybody in Abuja but by you the people.

You are aware of what we ’ve been doing.

I am not saying that we have been able to take our state to where we want it to be. No. That is not something you can do in three years or even in four years or even in eight years. Building of a state just like nation building is work in progress. What we owe you is a clear vision and we have demonstrated that. What we owe you is commitment and courage to do what is right for our people. We have demonstrated that. Now we need your support. We need your understanding as you have always displayed. We have made our state to be one of the safest.

I need to work with you and urge you again to continue to collaborate with the security agencies to ensure that even the

Dickson

OUR STATE DOES NOT OWE SALARIES, DOES NOT OWE PENSIONS. BUT THE RECENT DOWNTURN IN THE ECONOMY HAS SLOWED US DOWN IN THE EXECUTION OF SOME OF OUR LIFE CHANGING PROJECTS recent cases of breaches of peace that is kidnapping and so on will be no more associated with our dear state. That ’s not good for our image, is not good for our economy and is not good moving forward. You have seen the massive developments that we have been able to bring even in spite of the high wage bill, in spite of the debt burden that we inherited. From inheriting a state that was heavily indebted, it has become one of the least indebted. Our state does not owe salaries, does not owe pensions. But the recent downturn in the economy has slowed us down in the execution of some of our life changing projects. But these projects must continue and that means that we need support from you for stability and to consolidate what we started.

I have been consulting. I want to thank all NGOs for all their support across the length and breadth of our state. I want to thank youth groups and women groups, thank the elders. When the campaign starts, youth groups and women groups, elders, leaders of communities, and all of you, I want to again utilize that opportunity to be with you all. I call for understanding and support. I want to also

talk to those who feel that things should be done differently. I will look forward to a debate with them. Those who are in the other party, I urge to play the game according to the rules. Let ’s not slander one another, let ’s not malign one another, let ’s not propagate falsehood and blackmail propaganda. We are brothers whether we are contestants against one another or not. We must work together to develop and build a better and prosperous Bayelsa. I enjoin you all to even within your own parties try your best to make the contest peaceful as I have within the past three years or so never molested anybody who disagreed with me. With enormous powers of government, we have never harassed anybody for holding a contrary view or for saying something that my government or I disagree with. You have seen the barrage of criticism most if it for me unwarranted, unjustified, most of it unfair but as political leaders you must develop thick skin even to those who disagree with us and those who oppose us. That someone is not agreeing with me or not supporting me does not make him my enemy. I like decent arguments. I like to engage with

When you inaugurated the volunteer scheme, the opposition accused you of trying to raise a force that would help you rig the election, how do you see this and what plans do you have to create jobs for the youth apart from the volunteer scheme?

We are talking to our youths on the various ways we can work with them for security, for wealth creation. You talked about job creation. In all these things we are doing, you must have two things in place. First security, before you can even think of creating jobs. Creation of jobs is not to tell the civil service commission to employ people because there is a limit to what the state can afford, and what the state government needs in terms of manpower. It is the private sector that can help us engage people and create jobs. That is why I keep talking of security and development and then prosperity. Then there is infrastructure.

A company that wants to spend billions wants a road to where they can site their factory, they want to have power. Now we are working to build an airport. You can imagine the jobs that will be created as a result because businessmen will now be able to fly to Bayelsa and set up businesses.

You must have security, stability in government, infrastructure. That is why we are building roads, the airport e.t.c.

You can imagine what Lagos or PortHarcourt would have been without the seaports and airports. Here we just had one rural place that became a state. I will see that we will get to Agge, now we are battling to get to Ekeremor. By November or December this year by the grace of God sand filling will be completed.

Creating jobs is not about giving handouts to people who come to Government House. That is the mentality some of our people have and that is wrong. When the deep seaport is done, importers and exporters will be there, customs people and agencies will be there and land prices will go up. Infrastructural development fights poverty. Now prices of land have gone up on the road to Oporoma since we opened it. That is the impact of development on the economy so job creation is a critical issue but you must first have security, the infrastructure to back it and government policies for partnership with the private sector. Agriculture is one clear way that we will use but you must have the infrastructure that will attract businessmen that will come and put down their money who also have the skills to manage enterprises.

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Politics News

Sunday October 25, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

APC condoles with Borno, Adawama States over deadly attacks STORIES BY AYO ESAN

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he All Progressives Congress, APC has condoled with the government and people of Borno and Adamawa States over the deadly attacks that left many dead and injured in the two states this weekend.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said while even the loss of one life is too much to bear, the government and people of the states should take solace in the fact that the attacks will not endure, because of the stepped up campaign by the nation ’s

gallant soldiers. ‘ ’The spike in the attacks in recent times is a direct reflection of the huge successes by the military in flushing the Boko Haram terrorists out of their strongholds and putting them on the run. With no fortress to call their own any more, having being smoked out of Sambisa Forest and re-

moved from their ‘caliphates ’, they have resorted to these cowardly attacks aimed at soft targets. ‘ ’But grim as the situation may seem at the moment, these cowardly attacks will taper off sooner than later, because suicide bombings are not sustainable, and because of the unrelenting campaign by our mili-

tary, ’ ’ it said.

APC said having realized that it is doomed, Boko Haram has now dispersed into the population, hence the need for all citizens, especially in the worst-hit areas, to be extra vigilant. ‘ ’It used to be that Boko Haram terrorists will easily slip across the border to neighbouring

countries after carrying out deadly and spectacular attacks in Nigeria.

Now, they have not only lost their ability to carry out spectacular attacks, they are also unable to slip across the border, after being increasingly hemmed in by regional forces. Their days are numbered. Boko Haram is domed, ’ ’ the party said.

Sylva picks running mate, inaugurates campaign ofce OSAHON JULIUS YENAGOA

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L-R: Chairman, APC, Osun State, Prince Gbenga Famodun; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Registrar, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde; former Kano State Governor, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso and former Osun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Sunday Akere, during the 2nd Education Summit, at Igbajo Polytechnic, Igbajo, recently.

You goofed on Saraki, lawyer tells online medium

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news story by an online portal, Sahara Reporters, that Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court Lagos, nearly granted an injunction to stop the trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki ’s before the Code of Conduct Tribunal without notice to defendants in the suit, has been described as a falsehood and malicious publication.

In a statement issued yesterday by Saraki ’s counsel, Prince Ajibola Oluyede, who is also the founding principal of TRLPLAW, said the action was meant to preserve Senator Saraki ’s fundamental rights to a fair hearing, to be presumed innocent until proved guilty and to liberty.

According to Oluyede, his decision to file the application was to seek remedies connected with the politically-motivated arraignment of Senator Saraki before the CCT and expose further plan to utilize the respondents in the suit to draw up charges against Senator Saraki and arraign him before a Lagos State High Court.

The respondents in the suit comprised of the

Attorney General of the Federation, the EFCC, the ICPC, the Inspector General of Police, the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal, their chairmen and a member of the CCT. Oluyede said, “Contrary to the falsehood in that report, the action was filed on the 30th of September 2015 with Suit No. FHC/L/ CS/1507/2015 and was not assigned until the 19th of October 2015 to Justice Buba.

“At no point did the judge indicate any interest in granting/inclination to grant an order to “stop Saraki ’s trial before the CCT ” as alleged by the false story in Sahara Reporters online portal ”, he said However, in its report on the proceeding of the hearing, Sahara Reporters claimed that there was a legal plot to grant an injunction ordering the Code of Conduct Tribunal to stop Senator ’s Saraki ’s trial, but for the ‘intervention ’ of an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC lawyer.

According to Oluyede, the assignment of the case to Justice Buba, two weeks after the processes were

filed, was as a result of a protest letter he wrote to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, dated the 14th of October 2015, where he complained about the delay in assigning the case to a judge.

“When the matter was first called up in open court, on Thursday 22nd October 2015, for the hearing of an ex-parte application seeking, inter alia, an order for leave to serve the processes outside Lagos.

The Judge observed that the respondents were all outside Lagos and wondered whether his court was the appropriate forum for hearing of the matter.

As the day was fast spent at the time, he therefore adjourned to Friday 23rdof October 2015 in order that counsel may address him on the question whether he had jurisdiction to hear the application. ” The legal practitioner explained further that, “I was personally in court to move the application on Thursday 22nd October and whilst I was responding to the judge ’s question, a junior EFCC Lawyer, one Rotimi Oyedepo who was in court for a different case attempted to stand up to make

some remarks to the judge, which I disallowed.

“However, when the matter was called, again in open court, on Friday 23rd of October, this same lawyer announced his appearance for the EFCC and having been granted audience by the Judge made some remarks.

The judge had already listened to submissions from Applicant ’s counsel about whether he had jurisdiction to hear the matter but had not ruled.

“Therefore, when Mr. Oyedepo again intervened, the court only proceeded to grant the prayer of the Applicant for leave to serve the Originating Processes on the Respondents (including EFCC) so that they might be put on notice and heard on the question of the court ’s jurisdiction to hear the action, before the court would deliver a ruling on that issue. ” While defending the integrity of the judiciary, Oluyede added that, “Indeed, Justice Buba is reputed to be fearless, just, hardworking and very knowledgeable of the law.

He is the sort of Judge that cannot be intimidated by the bully tactics employed by some EFCC counsel. ”

head the much anticipated Bayelsa state gubernatorial poll scheduled to hold on the 5th of December, the flagbearer of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Chief Timipre Sylva at weekend presented Elder Wilberforce Agiri to the party as his running mate for the December 5 Governorship election in the State.

Sylva also officially opened his campaign office and inaugurated his campaign team headed by Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Ministerial nominees recently cleared by the Senate and awaiting confirmation.

The former governor while inaugurating the campaign committee at the new campaign office, said though the people of the State have shown total support for the APC, the

party and its members will work hard to ensure victory during the General election.

Sylva expressed confidence in the ability of the Campaign Committee led

by Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and other directors of the campaign team to deliver on their mandate.

In his remarks, the Director General of the Sylva/Igiri campaign organisation, said they would visit every ward to preach the change gospel of APC to Bayelsans and bring victory to the party.

“We will ensure that APC wins 99 per cent of the votes so that on December 6,2015 Sylva and Igiri will be sworn-in as governor and deputy governor ”, he said.

Lokpobiri described the Sylva/Igiri ticket as the Noah ’s Ark, saying it was big enough to accommodate all the good people of the state.

Group slamsw Buhari over appointment of INEC boss OSAHON JULIUS YENAGOA

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concerned group of political leaders and professional from the South-South geo-political region have slammed President Muhammad Buhari, over his appointment of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, saying the appointment was biased and an act of nepotism.

Coming under the aegis of the Voice of the South-South (VSS), the group said though President Muhammad Buhari has the prerogative power

to appoint a Chairman for the electoral umpire, the appointment of Mahmood Yakubu, they insisted show bias, moral corruption and nepotism against the existing geo-political zones.

The Group in a statement issued yesterday in Yenagoa by the State Chairman, Barr. Alex Dumbo, stated that past administrations of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan conducted free, fair and credible elections due to their considerations for other regions and zero tolerance to nepotism, “but the action of President Muhammad Buhari show a profound case of nepotism and moral corruption. ”

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SMExtra

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WITH OBASOLUYI TELEWA 07033840936 EMAIL: BAZO_TELEWA@YAHOO.COM

STORIES THAT TOUCH YOU SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2015

OBASOLUYI TELEWA

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ednesday October 21,2015, looked like another joyful day in the lives of the occupants of a three - storey building located on 87, Odunfa Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, until tragedy stuck at 9.00am when the defective building went down in a jiffy.

The collapsed building had among its occupants an 82 year old woman, Alhaja Misturat Amodu, who was rescued alive with sustained injuries on her thigh and other parts of her body. Other five occupants were also lucky to be rescued alive.

Many others were trapped in the process.

Sadly enough, the rescued octogenarian died at the Lagos Island General Hospital a few hours after she was rescued from the collapsed building.

Sunday Mirror learnt that efforts made by doctors to save her life from the injury she sustained on her thigh and other parts of her body proved abortive.

Confirming the death, her daughter Alhaja Fatimah and her husband, Alhaji Tajudeen Ishola said the deceased died at 5.00pm that fateful day.

Tajudeen stated that the octogenarian regained consciousness, demanded for water and died some minutes later. ”We were preparing to do the x-ray on her thigh when everything changed and she died at 5.00pm.She was well taken care of at the hospital ”, he disclosed.

When Sunday Mirror visited the scene, the combine team of police, Army, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NDCSC, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, federal and state fire service, Lagos State Building Control Agency, LSBCA, Lagos Safety Commission were on ground to manage the situation.

Narrating their experience that dreadful moment to our correspondent, residents in the area said they trooped out to the area to assist in rescue operation when it became dawned on them that the once marked three- storey building in the area popularly referred to as ‘civilian barracks ’ had collapsed. According to them, the building went down at 9.00am, leaving only the occupants on the third floor to escape being trapped. According to them, the Lagos state government had marked the structure for demolition with eviction notice served the occupants who did not heed persistent warnings of imminent danger before it collapsed on Wednesday.

Also speaking, Segun Adetutu , a resident, he said, “We were standing outside our house when we heard a loud sound and people started running towards number 87, Odunfa. On getting there the building that was earlier marked for demolition by the state government had collapsed and many people were trapped inside “, he maintained.

On why the building collapsed, the

Lagos collapsed building:

Fear grips residents over imminent demolition

Sympathisers at the scene of a recent building collapse in Lagos.

General Manager, LSBCA, Shola Aderibigbe, while speaking with journalists confirmed that the building was marked for integrity test and 14 days ultimatum served the residents, saying lack of compliance on safety directives caused the eventual collapse.

“The ultimatum had expired before the day the building went down. We asked them to conduct Structural Stability Test, SST, and they agreed .We were still waiting for them to conduct the test before the building collapsed. ” Also speaking, the General Manager of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Micheal Akindele, stated that the quick intervention of his men and other security agencies made it possible for the six persons to be alive shortly after the incidence happened.

As rescue agencies intensify efforts to clear the rubbles at weekend, many of the occupants have been bemoaning their plights. They lamented that the property lost was in millions, insisting that they could not remove anything when the building went down.

Fatimah Ishola, apart from losing her mother, she also lost property worth millions of naira. “I have lost all I have. In fact, my friend gave me the clothes on me. My jewelry, international passport, several documents including my daughter ’s certificate have been lost to the disaster ”, she lamented.

Another occupant of the building who gave his name as Saidi Balogun, a dealer in clothes and wrist watches also lamented how he lost his property and money in the disaster without

trace. According to him, “before the incidence, I kept N480,000 in my cupboard but I could not find it. I also had 46 wristwatches in the house but I could only locate six out of it all. Probably miscreants must have dealt a big blow on us during the rescue operation ”, he lamented.

Following the collapse of a three-storey building on 87,Odunfa Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, the Lagos state government has weilded the big stick on some rickety buildings in the area to avoid further tragedy .

The state government has decided to seal 15 structurally defective buildings in the community to avoid further loss of life and property.

As the occupants of the collapsed building rue their losses and relatives of the old woman who lost her life in the three storey building mourn the demise of their loved one, fears are rife that more rickety houses in the traditional Isale-Eko would take their turn sooner than later. This is because the Isale Eko landscape and other high density squalid neighbourhoods are littered with cramped houses.

Apart from cramped buildings which adorn the landscape, making accessibility to the area very difficult, the area is noted for high crime rate. In fact, it is the home of miscreants popularly called Area Boys or Alaye by Lagosians.

In this regard, residents who craved anonymity have also called on the Lagos State Urban Renewal Authority, LASURA, which was carved out of a parastatal in the Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning in 1991, to improve the living conditions in blighted areas through upgrading and empowerment of the community, to try to give Isale Eko a facelift.

Worried by the state of the structure at Odunfa, Lagos State Government has sealed15 structures in the community.

The buildings were sealed by the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, and Lagos State Safety Commission.

Speaking on the development in an interview at the scene of the collapsed building, General Manager of Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Fouad Oki, stated that the government had so far sealed 15 houses.

He said that, “All we are saying is that we want to know the structural integrity of these buildings. If the materials laboratory result shows that the building are okay, we will open the sealed buildings, if it states otherwise, we will direct the owners of the structures to pull them down and build a better house. We will do everything to ensure that residents live safe. The action is not punitive but corrective.

Oki, however, warned the occupants of the sealed buildings not to break the deal. If they break the government seal, the law of the state will be applied. The test doesn ’t take time before it is concluded ’ ’, he warned.

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North

Sunday October 25, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Boko Haram: Troops destroy additional 20 camps in Borno UBONG UKPONG ABUJA

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roops of the Nigerian Army have destroyed additional Boko Haram camps and dislodged insurgents from more towns in Borno State.

The Army had a few weeks ago said that it had cleared all known Boko Haram camps in the North-East.

However, the Direc-

tor of Army Public Relations, DAPR, Colonel Sani Usman, yesterday said that in continuation of efforts to defeat Boko Haram terrorists, troops of 5 Brigade Nigerian Army made tremendous gains by destroying these camps and dislodging the terrorists.

He said the formation was able to comprehensively destroy all Boko Haram camps and enclaves at

the border towns of Kerenowa and Chikun Gudu as well as their contiguous villages in Borno State.

During the ongoing operation, Usman said that troops discovered and destroyed over 20 well fortified terrorist camps in the general area of Kerenowa.

The camps, he added, included some at the gateway to Kerenowa, Gumada and Dogon Gida.

In addition, he said the

troops had also discovered that to evade aerial reconnaissance and bombardment, the terrorists have dug twin tunnels to conceal their facilities and routes in and out of the camp.

“Among their discoveries were training areas equipped with instructional and training materials that include wooden guns, among others.

“The troops have also

cleared Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) along the road linking Marte, New Marte and Kerenowa.

“It is apparent that the Boko Haram terrorists lacked the will to fight as they are in obvious disarray, abandoning their camps fleeing and leaving behind vehicles, solar panels used to power devices, food and other logistics, beddings, various IED making devices, cables and

cords.

“The advancing troops ’ morale remains very high and they exude confidence and zeal to destroy all known Boko Haram camps along their axis of advance.

“We still reiterate our call for citizens to remain confident in the ability of our troops to eliminate all remaining vestiges of the terrorists before the year runs out in line with Presidential directives.

Mosque bombings: Shettima summons emergency meeting with imams INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

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L –R: Senator Yusuf A. Yusuf with Taraba State APC Chairman, Alhaji Hassan Ardo, Congratulating Sen. Yusuf on his victory at the State Electoral Tribunal judgement in Taraba State, recently.

Two female suicide bombers kill three Borno villagers INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

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wo suspected Boko Haram female suicide bombers attacked Dala Yadzaram village of Borno State by detonating Improvised Explosive Devices strapped to their bodies killing three people and wounding of nine others early yesterday morning.

One of the suspects, according to Ibrahim Musa, a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), was how-

ever; arrested by the vigilante youth and handed over to the military for interrogation and investigations.

Dala Yadzaram is farming and herding community, 15 kilometres west of Maiduguri, the state capital.

“The villagers were shocked and terrified, when they woke up with a bomb blast that rocked the entire village square and market; and some of people run for safety into various directions, while others scampered for

safety into the nearby farmlands and bushes, before we rushed to the village to evacuate the bodies and injured ones to hospital, ” said Musa yesterday in Maiduguri in a telephone interview.

He said three people died on the spot, as their body parts had to be gathered into polythene bags for identifications before burials.

“I counted a total number of nine villagers that sustained various injuries in their limbs and the blast shocks

Bailout fund: Kogi ’ll not compromise it rights WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

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ogi State Government has vowed not to compromise its rights in the country even in the face of persecution by the APC governorship candidate.

The state government ’s position is coming as a reaction to statements credited to the APC gubernatorial candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu, and his running mate at a campaign rally that they

have prevailed on President Buhari to order the stoppage of the release of the bailout funds to the state.

This was contained in statement signed by the Chief Communications Manager to the Governor, Mr Phrank Shaibu, who however called on President Buhari as leader for all, not to be swayed by the antics of a desperate politician “who is nothing but the author and finisher of the woes of civil servants in Kogi State ”.

“The Kogi State Government is of the firm view that the bailout fund is only a loan and not a presidential benevolence. This matter is not a personality contest between Governor Idris Wada and the APC-led government. It is strictly about constitutionalism and the rule of law. While the state government will always accord the highest respect to the exalted office of the President, it will not compromise a principled stand

that rocked the farming community yesterday morning. They had never had any attack until the bomb that exploded and cause these havoc to lives and property, ” Musa said.

Authorities of the state ’s Specialists Hospital, also confirmed that the rescue teams of National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and the police brought in five blast victims to the Accident & Emergency Unit of the hospital.

on the rights of its citizens in the Nigerian federation, especially when it is being machinated by some desperate politicians from Kogi State for selfish reasons, ” Shaibu stressed.

He called on President Buhari to as a matter of exigency order the release of the said funds so that the state could meet its obligations to its workers and emphasised that the eyes of the world are on Nigeria as far as the case was concerned.

overnor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has summoned an emergency meeting for today with all imams, ulamas and Islamic scholars in Maiduguri and its environs to brainstorm on how to provide adequate security for mosques in the state.

This, according to Shettima became imperative following the series of suicide attacks on mosques which had claimed 100 lives and dozens injured mostly worshippers in the last one month.

Shettima disclosed this yesterdaywhen President Muhammad Buhari represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir David Lawal led six -member team to pay condolence visit to Governor Shettima and the families of those who lost their beloved ones in the sustained suicide attacks.

The governor, who expressed optimism that the activities of Boko Haram

will soon come to an end, said his administration has started rebuilding the communities recently liberated by the military.

He thanked President Buhari for his commitment towards tackling the menace of insurgents in the north east sub region.

Earlier in his address, the SGF said, they were in Borno on behalf of the president to commiserate with government and the people of the state over the unfortunate suicide attacks in places of worship.

“We are here to sympathize with you over the renewed suicide attacks, particularly the bombings of Central Mosque in Jambutu, Adamawa state and the one in Maiduguri on the same day (Friday).

“Mr. President therefore asked me to urge you to be security conscious. Everybody is a General and Infantry, this war need our collective effort, because fighting terrorism should not be left in the hands of our security agencies alone ”. The SGF stated.

Tribunal upholds Kogi assembly member ’s election WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

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ogi State National and State Assemblies Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Lokoja has affirmed the election of the All Progressives Congress candidate, Mohammed Zakare Osewu representing Koton-Karfe/Kogi constituency at state Assembly.

The Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Usman AbdulKareem, has taken the APC candidate who won the election before the tribunal, urging it to declare him the winner of

the April 11 state House of Assembly poll.

While reading his judgement yesterday, Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Akintan Osadebe, stated that PDP had no candidate in the election, while the law has not recognised PDP candidate in the said election.

He explained that the judgement of FCT High Court against the candidature of Usman Abulkareem was even enough to disqualify him from participating in the election, adding that PDP had no candidate in the April 11 election.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South

Sunday October 25, 2015

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Yoruba leaders frown at diminishing use of language, culture ABOLAJI ADEBAYO

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oruba leaders and stakeholders across the South-West have frowned at the level of retrogression of Yoruba language and culture among other major languages in the country.

Speaking at the Yoruba Day organised by Radio Nigeria, Bond FM 92.9 with the theme, ‘Your language, your culture, your identity ’, the Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Community Development, Mr. Jafar Sanuth, said it was

regrettable that while other languages such as Igbo and Hausa withstood the gale of Civilisation, Yoruba has been eroded by the same civilisation.

Sanuth, who was represented by the Director, Media and Public Relations in the ministry, Mrs. Bisi Olufiwa, put the blame on the parents for neglecting their duty of teaching their children their language.

He said: “Many of us, especially the Yoruba are guilty of neglecting our language and culture due to civilisation. We don ’t teach our children our

language any longer and this has been affecting us in many ways. ” The Director, Lagos Operations of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, Mr. Emeka Odikpo, said the Yoruba leaders and stakeholders have great work to do in order to redeem the glory of the language, which has been fading away. He said Radio Nigeria had put the Yoruba Day programme in place as one of the efforts towards reviving the Yoruba language and culture.

The Osolo of Isolo, Oba Kabir Adelaja, said

that the Yoruba obas had long been deliberating on how to organise such programme among the Yoruba until it was finally organised by Radio Nigeria, Bond FM. He said that lack of love and harmony, especially supremacy tussle had contributed to the backwardness of the Yoruba language and culture.

Adelaja, who noted that the Yoruba among the other ethnic groups in Nigeria, have done away with their culture, adding that it was a shame that Yoruba children living

among the Yoruba didn ’t know how to greet and respect the elders.

He therefore appealed to all Yoruba leaders to support the programme, while calling for love and respect as well as agreement with the leaders among the Yoruba.

Also speaking, the General Manager of Bond FM, Alhaja Serifat Ahmed, said the radio station, known for its protection and promotion of Nigerian languages and culture, initiated the programme in order to further canvass for the revival of the in-

digenous languages.

She explained that the radio had organised such programme for the other two major languages - Igbo and Hausa.

She advised parents to always teach their children their language and culture in order not to kill the language.

Ahmed, who was given meritorious award by the staff members of Bond FM for her job and good management, promised to work harder for the development of not only the station but Radio Nigeria as a whole.

We are not cutting workers ’ salaries, says Osun govt BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

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L-R: Speaker, State House of Assembly, Hon. Kombowei Benson; Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah and Governor Seriake Dickson, during a meeting with community leaders and CDC chairmen at Government House, Yenagoa, recently.

Police to prosecute Enugu Rep for fraud EMMANUEL EZEH ENUGU

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tate Intelligence Bureau of Enugu State Police Command says it has established a case of forgery reported against the member representing Igboeze South/ Nsukka Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Patrick Asadu. It therefore claimed that it had forwarded its finding to the Department of Public Prosecution for appropriate legal advice.

This was contained in the Police Investigation Report with reference number CB:4099/ENS/ SIB/V.1/143 dated October 19, 2015 copies of which were made available to newsmen in Enugu. The report was signed by DSP Iwara Ibiang, Officer incharge of Special Intelli-

gence Bureau, SIB. According to the report, the case of forgery was reported through a written petition dated May 11, 2015, and addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State by one Engr.

Ikechukwu Ugwuegede “m ” of No. 7 Ogbolu Street GRA Enugu against one Hon. Patrick Asadu of No. 26 Dennis Osadebe Crescent, Apo Abuja and the matter was referred to SIB for investigation.

In the petition, Engr.

Ugwuegede, who was the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, House of Representatives candidate for Igboeze South/Nsukka federal constituency, alleged that on December 6, 2014 he contested the PDP primaries for Igboeze South/ Nsukka Federal Constituency with Hon. Asadu.

The petitioner said he

was declared winner after the primary election at Igboeze South/Nsukka Federal Constituency having scored the highest number of votes cast and was issued a result sheet form with serial number 0000324. That Hon Pat Asadu (allegedly) forged the same result sheet form with the same serial Number 0000324 and tendered it at the Federal High Court Abuja claiming it was issued to him by the PDP National Headquarters Abuja. ” The police officer said t in the course of the investigation, they were able to confirm from the evidence of the Returning Officer of PDP produced by the petitioner “the authenticity of the result sheet Number 0000324 presented by the PDP National Headquarters declaring

him (Ugwuegede) as the winner.

The investigators also said that the “affidavit deposed to by Adewale Oladipo, the National Secretary of PDP refuting the result presented by Hon. Asadu further showwed the questionability of the result sheet presented by Hon. Asadu. ” According to the investigation report which was copied to both Ugwuegede and Asadu, “The Forensic analysis shows that there was discrepancies on the signatures of Professor Adewale Oladipo, the National Secretary of PDP, Ahmadu Adamu Mu ’azu, the National Secretary PDP(sic), (Chairman), Uchenna Ogbodo and Oluedo Ephraim, the electoral and returning officers of PDP primary election. ”

he Osun State Government yesterday declared there was no attempt at reducing the salaries of its workers or sacking them. It explained that it was only embarking on a number of measures to keep the state ’s head above the stormy economic waters.

Ths state government told the Peoples Democratic Party to “bury its head in shame for being the architect of the various belttightening measures which must be put in place at the moment to ensure continued survival of the country. ” In a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, yesterday, the

government said: “If the PDP thought it made any news out of the removal of the between 25 per cent to 35 per cent overtime allowance of staff of some government agencies, it must be living in a fool ’s paradise.

“If not mischief, how does that translate to cutting of salaries and retrenchment of workers? This is because there is no measure being taken that is not an outcome of rigorous deliberations with workers and other critical stakeholders, ” the government said.

It also told Nigerians to ask the PDP the basis of its unfounded allegations and other tantrums, adding that in no way will the party be excused from the economic woes the country now faces for which the All Progressives Congress government at all levels is working hard to fix.

Gunmen abduct council vice chairman in Delta ELO OGWARA WARRI

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ome yet-to-be identified gunmen have allegedly abducted Daniel Oweikeye, the vice chairman of Patani local council in Delta State.

Sunday Mirror gathered that the kidnappers amid gunshots invaded the Angoloma residence of the vice chairman at about 2 a.m. on Thursday and fled by a speedboat into the creeks.

Confirming the development, councillor representing Ekise Ward 7, Daniel Ekiyor, stated that the abduction of the vice chairman showed the rising trend

of kidnapping within Patani and its environs.

“Despite the 10 p.m. to 6a.m. curfew in Patani, which has been in place since May, these gunmen have continued to carry out their operations unabated with the abduction of Oweikeye being the fourth reported case of kidnapping in the area in the past six months.

“Though the military are on ground to checkmate the activities of these gunmen who invade the town through the creeks, the porous level of security in the hinterland calls for concern as these are the entry and exit points used by the gunmen, ” Ekiyor stressed.

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Sigurdsson: We thought qualification was impossible P. 62

KEEPING YOU ABREAST OF SPORTING NEWS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2015

Hayatou: Fifa’s stand-in man at the top I

n many ways, this was probably the news that Cameroon’s Issa Hayatou privately dreaded.

Some 111 years on from its founding, Fifa is now being technically run by an African for the first time - news which should of course be welcomed on the continent.

But the acting Fifa president could never be accused of courting the media, preferring instead to make his distance as large as possible.

Now though, a man who is far happier in the backrooms of power has been thrust into the limelight.

For the next 90 days, while Sepp Blatter is suspended, he will be centre stage - and he may well find the spotlight more heated than ever.

Following Blatter’s suspension by Fifa’s Ethics Committee, the long-standing Confederation of African Football president has taken interim control of world football’s governing body in his capacity as its most senior vice-president.

Born in northern Cameroon, Hayatou is the son of a local sultan and comes from a family of politicians - his brother was once the country’s prime

minister.

Like Blatter, Hayatou is an arch politician - capable of reacting to the challenges coming his way with alacrity and skill.

A sportsman in his youth, he has hugely expanded the traditional family field of influence - not just covering Cameroon, but first Africa, and now the world.

For the record, he has been a Fifa vice-president since 1992, an Executive Committee member since 1990, and he has been running African football since 1988.

Some have questioned the way Issa Hayatou dealt with the attack of Togo’s national football team during the Africa Cup of Nations in 2010 The way in which Caf reacted to the gun attack on the Togo team at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations makes for a good insight into Hayatou’s mind.

He refused to reveal the actions that Caf took to address the crisis - flying a plane to the area that night to deal with the situation on the

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Allardyce to decide on Obasi this week P. 61

ground - because he didn’t believe it was relevant for the public to know. In the vacuum of information, accusations against Caf ’s handling abounded.

But then, as Tunde Adelakun - who has been working on an authorised biography of Hayatou states, the latter is the son of a local ruler who was never once questioned in his official life.

“He is heir apparent to the throne of Garoua, and that tradition of not having to answer questions has followed him into football governance,” said Adelakun.

But social media is already raising some of the accusations levelled at Hayatou in the past - all of which he has denied.

Chief among these is his reprimand by the International Olympic Committee in 2011 over the nature of a payment he received from the defunct sports marketing company ISL between 1989 and 1999.

According to the IOC, Hayatou admitted receiving a payment but denied any corruption, saying the money was a gift for his confederation.

Then there were the allegations, heard by British MPs at a culture, media and sport committee in the House of Commons in 2011, that Hayatou had taken bribes related to Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid, which he again denied.

But in other areas Issa Hayatou has been praised - especially his work to boost women’s football in Africa Earlier this year, he also oversaw controversial changes to the body’s rules on age limits so that he can continue his role.

Caf officials used to have to relinquish power once they turned 70 - but that was changed this April when every member association voted to scrap the rule.

It means that Hayatou, now 69, can reapply for office when his current term ends in 2017.

The rule change follows success in recent years in adapting the statutes to limit potential opponents to Hayatou’s rule.

But the question many are already asking is, does Hayatou have the strength to carry on?

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Allardyce to decide on Obasi this week

S

underland manager Sam Allardyce has said he will decide whether or not to give Nigeria forward Chinedu Obasi a contract in the new week.

Obasi, who is currently a free agent after being released by German Bundesliga side Schalke in the summer, has spent time training with ‘The Black Cats’ first-team squad in an attempt to persuade Allardyce to sign him.

“He’s been injured with a broken shin, and that had taken a long time for him to recover, and he spent some rehab time in America,” said Allardyce.

“His agent got hold of me and said he was worth looking at based on his CV, which looked pretty good, so we’ll make a judgement early next week.”

Allardyce outlined a desire to improve his squad when he agreed to replace Dick Advocaat

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Knockout with

IFEANYI Eduzor

08055829770 ifeduz24@yahoo.com

I’m ready for Cotto- Canelo

M

Obasi

at the struggling EPL club.

With 24 of their 25 Premier League squad places filled, Sunder-

land have space to accommodate one free agent before the January transfer window opens.

exican boxing legend, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez says he will do all he can to ensure he defeats WBC middleweight champion, Miguel Cotto when they meet in Las Vegas on November ,21.

His comments came in the same week that Cotto’s esteemed trainer Freddie Roach, claimed that the Golden Boy promoted fighter ‘wasn’t the most dedicated’ and that Cotto would be the man more prepared to dig deep on the night to pull out the win, especially if the two get dragged into some

classic trench warfare.

“I will do whatever it takes. I’m ready to give whatever it takes in the ring to win this fight. I will go in there and give the best to make sure that my hands are raised on November 21st,” Canelo said to fighthype.com, outright rejecting Roach’s assertions about his heart and dedication.

“Cotto’s a great fighter who has done a lot for the sport and they are big fights between Mexico and Puerto Rico, so it’s a big fight for me,” he said to fighthype. com. ” but I’m preparing very hard so I’ll have my hand raised on that day.”

Chile 2015: Nigeria lost to a better team –Amuneke

N

igeria U17 team coach, Emmanuel Amuneke has stated his team were not at their best and Croatia deserved their 2-1 win in a final group game of the 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile.

But despite the loss, Nigeria finished top of Group A with six points from three matches with Croatia runners-up on five points for both teams to automatically progress to

the next stage.

Amuneke said his team have to play more as a team going forward.

“My players wanted to win, but we were not the best tonight. The Croats have asked us many problems. They prevented us from playing our game and deserved to win,” he said.

“My players are very talented, but still have room for improvement collectively.”

Action recorded at the third edition of GOtv boxing night

Lagos agog for GOtv boxing night

B Amuneke

Sharks FC commiserates with Qacopome’s family IFEANYI EDUZOR

T

he management and players of Sharks FC have expressed shock over the demise of one of its safest hands in the history of the club, Raymond Qacopome.

The Ghanaian goalie who donned the colours of the Blue Angels in the eighties was at that time the emotional talked about foreign goal keeper except for his kinsman, Edward Ansar who played for defunct Leventis United and Iwuanyawu Nationale now Heartland fc.

Sharks’ assistant coach, Sunny Iseokhoema who played briefly with Qacopome in 1988 before went back to his country after a tight contest for the number one shirt of the club with Idah Petersham, described the Ghanaian import as a very easy going person who likes eating kete, a Ghanaian delicacy.

“I heard of the demise of Raymond Qacopome on a radio program and truly I was cold to my marrow because he was one of the best, if not the best foreign goalkeepers in the eighties except for Edward Ansar who was more popular because he played for the defunct Leventis United and Iwuanyawu Nationale”.

“Though I didn’t play in the team for long before he left for his native Ghana, Qacopome was a calm person and committed to Sharks pursuit for glory for the brief time”. Iseokhoema said “Qacopome was a different goalkeeper rather than deny younger goalies a place in the team he encouraged them to train hard so as to give him a fight for his shirt”.

“I think the late Qacopome was a role model to the likes of Idah Peterside and victor Hilary as the former went ahead to take over from him at a tender age”.

He said General Manager of the club, Okey Kpaluku who never had the opportunity of working with the Ghanaian import before he left Nigeria for his native Ghana said Qacopome will always have a place in the history of the team because available records show that he was dedicated to his duty and always a delight to watch in the colours of Sharks.

oxing fans will today at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, be treated to another feast of boxing at the fourth edition of the GOtv Boxing Night; a six-fight professional boxing event that has successfully rebooted public interest in the sport as well as banished the long wait that boxers had to endure between fights.

Just as it was at the last edition, the best boxer of the night will go home with N1million and the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy.

The first winner of the prize, Olaide “Fijaborn” Fijabi, has a chance to further cement his reputation as one of the best boxers in the country when he takes on Saheed “Happy Boy” Olayiwola in an eight-round national light welterweight challenge bout. Fijabi, whose rapidfire punching has made him a darling of boxing fans around the country, has already vowed to win the prize again. But he may have to contend with the caliber of boxers featuring at the tourney. The duo of Nigeria’s Isaac “Grenade” Ekpo, a former Commonwealth Super Middleweight champion, and Burkina Faso’s Jules Kabore have the profile to thwart Fijabi’s bid for another big pay day when they clash in an international challenge contest; the main bout at

the event.

Ekpo, an ex-Olympian, is rated eighth in the world. His Burkinabe opponent has a record that suggests he is no soft touch. Of his seven fights, he won four by knockout, two by unanimous decision and one by points, a record Ekpo considers as having no relevance to today’s duel. “I will make him see hell before knocking him out in the fourth round,” boasted the Nigerian. In another big fight, Nurudeen “Prince” Fatai, national lightweight champion, will take on Ottoh “Joe Boy” Joseph in a challenge contest. Also on the card is Waidi “Skoro” Usman, West African featherweight champion, who is up against Taofik “Taozon” Bisuga.

The fight line-up is completed by the Light Welterweight challenge duel between Stanley “Edo Boy” Eribo and Isiaka “Easy Lion” Yusuf and the sixround Welterweight challenge bout featuring Jamiu “Naval Man” Ajibola and Pelumi “Haggler” Sodubi.

Boxing fans at the venue have a chance to win 50 GOtv decoders, provided by the sponsors, through lucky dips to be held between fights. The first 500 fans to arrive the venue are guaranteed to go home with gifts like high quality T-shirts, ball pens, bags, diaries and water bottles.

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Sunday, October 25, 2015

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

It is without a doubt and any exaggeration to say that the last three years have been the biggest in Iceland’s football history. Within a whisker of reaching their first FIFA World Cup, the well-drilled unit from the north have just spectacularly sealed a place at their first major tournament at UEFA EURO 2016.

Sigurdsson

Arguably their chief protagonist in guiding them to France is Gylfi Sigurdsson, Swansea City’s rampaging-yet-elegant attacking midfielder, who has contributed goals and assists by the bucket-load during this unprecedented stretch of success. So much success in fact that no team has more ranking points per capita in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking top 50, as the Island nation of 330,000 will be the EURO’s smallest ever side to compete at the finals.

FIFA.com got hold of the Icelandic superstar to talk emulating David Beckham, getting a boost from the Brazil 2014 near-miss and his reaction to making history with his nation.

: n o s s d r u g i S t h g u o h t We n o i t a c fi i l qua e l b i s s o p was im FIFA.com: Can you describe the feeling at the end of the Kazakhstan game, having clinched qualification for EURO 2016?

Gylfi Sigurdsson: Not really! It was an unbelievable feeling. We obviously set ourselves a goal before World Cup qualifying, wanting to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. We just missed out in the play-offs and had to set ourselves another goal for the EUROs, which was again to qualify. Of course, after seeing our draw, with the Netherlands, Czech Republic and Turkey all in the same group with us, some of us considered it an impossible target. But then to be able to finish the job off with two games to go is an unbelievable achievement and the feeling that goes with it, to be on our way to the finals, is fantastic.

Have you had a chance to capture a snapshot of the feeling back in Iceland too?

In World Cup qualifying there was a lot of media interest with more people starting to come to games and travelling to away matches. We started seeing the interest in the team was much more than it had been for the last ten to 15 years. Then, in this competition it’s been incredible the support we’ve had, 3,000 came to see the game in the Netherlands – 1 per cent of the nation! That’s unbelievable. To be able to finish it off against Kazakhstan at home made it all the sweeter.

Your run in trying to reach Brazil 2014 caught a lot by surprise, but now do you feel there is a new found respect for Icelandic football?

Yes and probably rightly so. We had a very tough group. Having beaten [the Netherlands] twice is quite a strange feeling for a small nation like us. Of course we want to win the group now, but all the credit we have been getting is probably deserved.

How has the journey been for yourself, having clocked up three goals against the Netherlands in arguably two of the biggest nights in Icelandic football history?

Both the World Cup and EURO qualification have been personally very good, having got those three goals against the Netherlands and a few others. So, personally it has been fantastic but if you look at the whole team as well and the results we have been getting, each and every player has been fantastic during qualifying.

Will you be heading to France with any expectations?

At the moment we want to win the group and ensure we have a higher seeding for when we get there. We will have to see what group we’re in, but there’s hardly any pressure on us go-

ing into the tournament because we’ve achieved a lot so far. I think most of the players will be going there to enjoy the experience, but of course we’ll be trying to qualify from the group and reach the knockout stages. If that’s possible then we’ll take it from there.

In terms of trying to get to Brazil, to have got so close and have fought so hard, what was the reaction to going out in the play-offs? Did it buoy you for this campaign?

I think it did. Of course it was a great chance to get to the World Cup finals and get to Brazil but I think as well as we played throughout the group stages then, and we were one game away against Croatia, we kind of got ahead of ourselves. There was probably a bit of inexperience from the team.

Not having been in that kind of position before, being so close to a major final, the maturity and experience of the Croatian side meant they were able to take advantage of us. That feeling, in the dressing room after the game and being so close to the World Cup finals, spurred us on and that’s been in our minds throughout this competition.

Your prowess from free-kicks was a particular feature of that run, scoring a couple of spectacular efforts. Was that a skill you tried to add to your repertoire early on?

Growing up as I kid I used to watch the Premier League and used to see David Beckham taking those kinds of freekicks, so from a young age I was probably quite lucky to have him on the TV every week. It was something I used to practice when I was in Iceland and just kept doing it after I left. My dad played in Iceland and I think went over to Sweden for a couple of years. He and my brother used to bring me out when I was little, and then of course just watching football [helped me hone my style]. Beckham and Frank Lampard were the ones that I particularly liked watching, and with Lampard scoring so many goals from midfield it was hard not to look up to him.

You’re set to meet Croatia again in the race for Russia 2018. How did you feel when you saw them come out of the hat with you?

Good and bad, of course. They’re a fantastic team, but we’ve played them recently which is good, as we will know what to expect from them. We’re in a very tough group again (joined by Ukraine, Turkey and Finland), which I think is down to the seeding we’ve had over the last few years. So hopefully in the next few competitions it’s going to get easier for the younger boys that are coming through.

I used to see David Beckham taking those kinds of free-kicks, so from a young age I was probably quite lucky to have him on the TV every week.Sigurdsson on where he picked up his dead-ball technique And, off the back of competing in France, do you expect to have even more confidence amongst the team?

I hope so, yeah. The

experience of a major tournament will help us and show us what it’s like to get there. Having got to the European finals we want to make it all the way to the FIFA World Cup and if we get a good start to the group it will set us up nicely.

Both Iceland and Swansea are sides which seem to get the most out of their resources, with the Swans having the best money spent to points gained in the English Premier League last season and Iceland now ranked 23rd. Do you see any similarities between the two?

In a way. The squad and the players are quite similar in the way that all the players are really good friends with no major issues in that kind of area, but the teams kind of play a different kind of football. With Iceland we play 4-4-2, while at Swansea it’s 4-3-3, so I would say it’s more personalitywise, rather than the football the teams play. With Iceland, a good core of the group have been playing together since they were 16 or 17.

With Swansea, your season so far has been a bit up and down. Any ideas as to why?

I think you’re spot on, there’s no denying it. We started really well and then in the last few games we haven’t been getting the results we’ve wanted.

With the standards we’ve set this season and the season before we’re not very happy with our performances and the results we’ve been getting.

We’ve been working hard for the last few weeks and we’re pretty sure that the result is going to come, so when we do turn it around and start getting a few goals things will be back to normal.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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esut Ozil has reached his “golden age” as a footballer, says Arsene Wenger, who on Friday hailed the German playmaker’s recent decisive performance for the red-hot Gunners.

Ozil has grown into his role as Arsenal’s No. 10 since joining from Real Madrid for £42.5 million in September 2013.

The German World Cup winner scored in the 3-0 thrashing of Manchester United and capped a fine display against

Sport

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Bayern with a goal in stoppage time.

“Ozil is 27 now,” Wenger said.

“It is the golden age of a football player, 27 to 31 or 32, the age when you know your job.

“When you are under 25, you think you can last forever. Once you get to 27 you realise it is time to capitalise on what you have learned and efficiency takes a little bit over the playing mood.

“You realise suddenly that it is not only important to play, it is important to win as well.”

Ozil in his ‘golden age,’ says Wenger

City Vs United United must nullify Sterling and De Bruyne’

Ozil

Enrique: Neymar consistently great

B

arcelona coach Luis Enrique has taken the time to praise Neymar ahead of Sunday’s La Liga encounter with Eibar and feels the 23-year-old has consistently been great for the Catalans since joining them from Santos in 2013.

The Brazil international has been in sublime form in the past few weeks, netting four times in the 5-2 win over Rayo Vallecano last Saturday before setting up both of Barca’s goals in their 2-0 Champions League victory against BATE, yet Luis Enrique is not surprised by his recent goalscoring exploits.

“Are we seeing the best Neymar since he joined Barcelona? No, I don’t think so. He has always been a great player for us,” the Barcelona coach said at a news conference.

“He is a very special player, a unique player. He has been great all these years.

W

ayne Rooney has stressed Manchester United must nullify the threat of Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling if they are to get a good result in Sunday’s Premier League derby with Manchester City.

Manuel Pellegrini’s men will have to make do without the services of David Silva and Sergio Aguero due to injury, but Rooney feels they still have plenty of quality up front.

“Nowadays the top teams have such good squads that they can cope with injuries,” the striker told United’s official matchday programme.

Kompany

Neymar

Kompany not untouchable at City

Mourinho

Mourinho: Judge Chelsea at Christmas

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anuel Pellegrini has has dedeclared that Vincent nt KomKo ompany is no longerr a Manchester City untouchable.

Manager Pellegrini admitted dm mit itte ted d he could not contemplate te omitting his captain at the start rtt of the the season, when Kompany h helped elpe el p d City keep five consecutive ve clean sheets.

But he was then sidelined by a calf injury and Pellegrini has opted not to recall the Belgian, instead preferring to pair Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi in the centre of the defence.

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ose Mourinho has urged doubters to hold judgement on his team until Christmas if they are to write off their title challenge.

Chelsea sit 12th in the Premier League table having won three league games all season but head to West Ham after back-to-back clean sheets.

Mourinho believes league standings are always significant but claims the halfway point of

the season will be a truer representation of his side’s quality.

“In every moment you can take notice of the table,” Mourinho said.

“We used to say that half of the championship, end of December, you get a better picture. Everybody will have played 19 matches. Halfway is a good moment to look at the table, but every moment means something.

N I G E R I A

N5bn

-Amount development partners provided in in supporting INEC.

Vol. 5 No.42

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2015 www.nationalmirroronline.net

Comment E-mail:

nwaunah@yahoo.com Jim Unah is Professor of Philosophy, University of Lagos.

with Jim Unah arious options and approaches have been suggested for the Buhari administration’s pet project of ridding the country of corruption. The first option is to revisit all cases of corruption allegations against the immediate past government of Goodluck Jonathan; from allegations of financial improprieties in and unremitted funds by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC; the oil subsidy scam; the pension fraud; crude oil theft with active connivance and collusion of some corrupt naval officers, to mention just a few.

To this option, the publicity machinery of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP; the Jonathan team and apologists, admirers and fervent supporters had retorted that probing corruption allegations is perfectly in order, provided the corruption fighters would be ready to go the whole hog. They insist that all cases of graft involving all past governors and their security votes; the allocation of oil blocks by past military governments; phony contracts on Independent Power Projects, and the fraud perpetrated by military regimes which constructed the edifice of official graft on a rock solid foundation, of which only the one involving the late General Sani Abacha has come into the open, should all be thor-

oughly investigated, if no witch-hunting of a section of the Nigerian state is intended.

Some members of the National Peace Committee that superintended the 2015 general elections had even recently recommended that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan should be exculpated and excused from the Buhari corruption probe for his role in midwife-ing a peaceful transition of power.

Yet many think that this recommendation is frivolous and embarrassing and a wrong approach to the matter considering the avalanche of petitions on corruption allegations which went uninvestigated, and those investigated that went unpunished during the Jonathan tenure.

Another option is for the Buhari corruption fighters to compile a list of investigated corruption cases and all persons alleged to have stolen public funds and put pressure on them to refund such funds to the government treasury by way of plea bargaining. The advantage of this option, it would seem, is that huge quantity of funds would find their way back to the treasury; as provisions of existing laws might be too archaic, protracted and ultimately incapable of retrieving significant proportions of stolen corruption monies.

Whichever option and approach that would be finally adopted, it is unarguable that Nigerians yearn for all public and private persons who have stolen public funds to be brought to justice. But justice could never be served by a selective arraignment, prosecution and indictment of corruption law offenders. It is important that the fight against corruption should be seen to be fair to all, be them old or new, party members or non-party members, in the corruption saga.

N8bn-

The sum Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron, spent on Jetty swimming pool.

In all of this, two critical questions, among others, trouble Nigerians who had watched previous battles against corruption end up in more corruption activities.

The first question is, are the existing laws against corruption to which the military and corrupt legislators had appended their signatures really capable of dealing effectively with the corruption cases of today involving the theft trillions of naira? The second question is whether, in view of the fact that corruption allegations have been directed at highly placed Nigerians and their foreign collaborators, who come from all the regions and zones of the country, is it really possible to be fair to all Nigerians, with the Nigerian state as presently constituted?

President Muhammadu Buhari may have the best of intentions, but with the Nigerian state as presently constituted in terms power structure between the Centre and the federating units, how is he going to clean the Augean Stable without getting thoroughly constipated? Already, the appointment of his kitchen cabinet has pitched the Buhari government against senior citizens from a section of the country who claim that they are being punished for not giving him winning votes in the presidential election that brought him to power.

People are accusing President Buhari already of having a Northern agenda. As he prepares the list of his ministers, members of his political party—the All Progressives Congress, APC, outside the northern zones are frantically paying him midnight visits to ensure that their region is not schemed out of the power equation. All this would have been unnecessary had the

Ujah bags brace in Bremen win ...Ighalo gets two assists S uper Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo, turned provider for Watford as they defeated Stoke City 2-0 at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday, the same day Anthony Ujah scored twice in a 3-1 win for Werder Bremen at Mainz.

Ighalo, who has scored five goals so far this season, provided his first assist for skipper Troy Deeney to put Watford ahead on 43 minutes.

Then in the second half, Ighalo set up Almen Abdi in the 69th minute to put Watford 2-0.

The Nigerian star, Watford’s top scorer this season, also hit the post in an eventful afternoon for him.

F I G U R E S

Beyond the options for the anti-corruption war

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In the 89th minute, Ighalo went into the referee’s book.

He was later replaced by

Adlene Guedioura after an outstanding performance for the Hornets.

ANOTHER OPTION IS FOR THE BUHARI CORRUPTION FIGHTERS TO COMPILE A LIST OF INVESTIGATED CORRUPTION CASES AND ALL PERSONS ALLEGED TO HAVE STOLEN PUBLIC FUNDS AND PUT PRESSURE ON THEM TO REFUND SUCH FUNDS TO THE GOVERNMENT TREASURY

BY WAY OF PLEA BARGAINING.

question of the devolution of power to the federating units been properly resolved.

It would seem that a successful war against official graft is contingent upon a proper redefinition of the structure of the Nigerian state to embrace true federalism.

That is when the full battle against corruption can be taken back to the federating units. As long as Nigerians continue to shield their corrupt kinsmen because they see them as heroes who go to the all-powerful Centre at Abuja to loot their share of the national treasury, so long will the fight against corruption remain an exercise in futility.

But since there is no crime in swimming against the tide, should we not wish the Buhari dispensation a huge success in the anti-graft war?

Premier League Results In the Bundesliga, Ujah ended his scoreless streak to get the better of his compatriot Leon Balogun who started for Mainz and received a 62nd minute yellow card.

Aston Vil a 1 – 2 Swansea Leicester 1 – 0 C/ Palace Norwich 0 – 1 W/ Brom Stoke 0 – 2 Watford W/ Ham 2 – 1 Chelsea Arsenal 2 –1 Everton

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