Sunday, November 4, 2012 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Big Read News

THE

Flood Relief Camps: The sharp practices

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News

Clinton pushes hard for Obama As president banks on him for swing states

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www.nationalmirroronline.net

Vol. 2 No. 47

N150

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Terror attacks

Police target Borno, Yobe politicians P. 6

Senators placed on discreet surveillance ‘We won’t relent in crackdown on terror group until...’ Terrorists kill 4, raze council secretariat, fire service office

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President Goodluck Jonathan (middle) flanked by Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State (right); representative of the Amanyanabo of Kalabari Kingdom, HRH Disrael Gbobo Bob-Manuel (left) and others after a meeting of the President with Rivers State Government and leaders of Kalabari Kingdom in respect of the Soku oil wells at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: STATE HOUSE

Oil well dispute: Jonathan meets Kalabari elders, denies taking sides P. 48

Thugs attack ex-governor Fayose’s car P. 50

P. 9 Fashion We’ll implement White designer, Remi Paper on Ribadu, other reports –Alison-Madueke Lagos dies at 51

... as Group flays call for her sack P. 6

Disquiet as Lagos takes over Ogun border communities

P. 7

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

What’s new Interview

Seven Days TALKING POINT OF THE PAST WEEK NOVEMBER 4, 2012

Adamawa PDP, NWC at war over council poll Applause

‘Most guys marry actresses not for genuine love but fame’

nouncement to the public and the whole world that one of the commanders of the Boko Haram sect, Shuaibu Bama, was arrested in his house. Zanna had listed the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Attorney General of the Federation and Lt. Col. Sagir Musa as co-defendants.

Jonathan vows to recover stolen subsidy funds

Ifeoma Anyiam, an actress, a mother and wife is one of the screen divas who have paid their due in Nollywood having been there for over a decade. She says in this interview that the strength of her marriage lies in the fact that she is married to a man who understands her.

Wellness

Embattled Senator Ahmad Zannah representing Borno Central Senatorial District on Wednesday approached an Abuja High Court with a lawsuit seeking an order compelling the Federal Government to pay him N5 billion damages over the psychological trauma he suffered from alleged malicious an-

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday vowed to recover funds stolen by marketers from the petroleum subsidy scheme. He also warned that corrupt officials and fraudsters would not be spared, stressing that culprits would be severely punished to serve as a deterrent to others. Jonathan gave the warning in Abuja at the launch of a book entitled, “Reforming the unreformable” written by the Minister of Finance and

Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala. The President said that government was taking measures to recover stolen funds from those who defrauded it in the petroleum subsidy scheme. President Jonathan, who was represented by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, said his administration was committed to various sectoral reforms aimed at creating jobs for the unemployed youths.

Ajimobi’s wife denies arrest by London police Peptic ulcer: Symptoms, causes and treatment –Experts Medical experts say ulcer of the stomach usually comes with a sharp pain that makes the sufferers very uncomfortable and sick. It comes with excruciating pain and stomach upset.

The wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs. Florence Abiola Ajimobi, on Tuesday denied claims of her arrest by the Metropolitan Police in London for money laundering. Mrs. Ajimobi who spoke in a telephone interview with newsmen said the story of her arrest was both shocking and surprising. A social media had run a story

of the alleged arrest of the governor’s wife for laundering N500 million. But Mrs. Ajimobi told newsmen that she was never invited nor arrested by the Met Police on any charge. “I have never been invited by the police. I don’t know where they got the information from. I don’t know what they are talking about. It is all lies,” she said.

showed that 17 vessels laden with 520,053 metric tonnes of the product were either discharging or about to berth at various oil terminals within Lagos. A ship called Handy Tanker Marvel discharged 82,000 metric tonnes of petrol at the Single Buoy Mooring while another vessel, Admiral L, discharged 28,000 metric tonnes at the Atlas Cove Jetty. Another ship, Cape Velton, laden with 22,000 metric tonnes of petrol, discharged at Bulk Oil Plant terminal.

Rowland Okorie

MD/CEO, EQUITY CONCEPTS ENTERTAINMENT

MON

Zanna sues FG for N5bn damages

Fuel scarcity in parts of the country may soon disappear as 17 shiploads of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, arrived at the Lagos port. Long queues of vehicles have persisted in most filling stations across the country, including Lagos and Abuja, with many of them raising petrol price from the recommended N97 per litre to between N110 and N120. Details of vessels at the Lagos Pilotage District released by the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA,

WED TUE

17 ships arrive Lagos with 520,053 tonnes of fuel

Before I come to work on Monday, a lot of things would have started going on in my mind from home. I don’t come and sit in the office throughout the whole day. I call it my meeting day. I attend up to four meetings on Mondays with my clients. Apart from meetings, I also make calls and try to meet up with appointments. On Tuesday, I must carry my laptop for presentations, especially for my clients. I try to follow up with the meetings of Monday and Tuesday. I also try to meet up with some things I started within the past weeks or things I started in the course of the week.

THU

Politics

Investigation Departments, CIDs, in Abuja, the IG said the force would stop the rein of terror in the country. He, however, appealed to Nigerians with evidence to avail the police of such, stressing that the Police required evidence to nail anyone linked to terrorists while urging Nigerians to avoid passing irrational judgement on people on the strength of yet-to-be proven allegations.

ical Company, WRPC. The NNPC made this announcement in a statement by its acting Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division, Fidel Pepple. Mr. Pepple said the NNPC also promoted some staff while others were re-deployed.

My work is light, hence I dress casual to work. I go out there, try to catch some fun, drink one or two bottles of beer and hang out with friends. Later in the evening, I try to summarise whatever I have been doing since Monday. On this day, some clients prefer to meet with me because it gives them enough time to finish their office work. Thursday is like having more free time to spend with clients, fans and friends.

FRI

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, has vowed to bring to book anyone found to be a sponsor of terrorist activities in the country. He also said the force would not sweep any of such cases under the proverbial ‘Nigerian carpet’, adding that already three senators were being closely watched. Speaking at a conference of sectional heads of police zonal and state Criminal

The management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, on Monday approved the appointment of Ian Udoh as the new Managing Director for the Port Harcourt Refining Company, PHRC, and Paul Obelley as the MD of the Warri Refining and Petrochem-

I start my weekend on this fifth working day. I sometimes attend parties, wedding ceremonies of friends and clients. I can also hang out with friends and try to know the latest things in town. I try to get more information with regard to what would happen on weekend.

SAT

State police not solution to insecurity problems –Prof Adeniran

Port Harcourt, Warri refineries get new MDs

Saturday is my laundry day. In the morning before my breakfast, I make sure the house is tidy. I also cook to store in my freezer, as a bachelor. If it falls on the environmental day, I also try to tend my flowers in my house. Later in the afternoon, if there is any event, I would attend.

SUN

Boko Haram: 3 senators under security watch –IG

On Sunday, there will always be one event or the other to attend. That comes after Sunday service. It is a must that on Sunday I must go to Triumphant Forward Assembly, which is my church. *By Adaeze Amos (0802 301 2293)

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

THE

Big Read SUNDAY SPECIAL INVESTIGATION

November 4, 2012

Life in a relief camp

Children in one of the nation’s relief camps

Flood Relief Camps: The sharp practices It appears greedy individuals are taking advantage of the recent flood disaster across the country as the camps in the various neighbourhoods have become conduit to milk the disadvantaged poor and further drive them into destitution. In other civilised climes, the devastating floods that swept away people’s houses, farms and other valuables would have been enough reason to empathise with the victims. But, not in Nigeria where many, it seems, have lost the milk of human kindness. Our correspondents, Sebastine Ebhuomhan (Benin), Charles Okeke (Onitsha), Emma Gbemudu (Yenagoa), Chris Njoku (Owerri), and Henry Iyorkase (Makurdi) tell the pathetic stories of the displaced people

s the impact of flood disaster that ravaged coastal communities in parts of Nigeria begin to wane, many of the victims housed in camps scattered across the major cities of the country are not happy. They are complaining that despite turning “refugees” in their own country, officials who are supposed to take care of their needs have been shortchanging them. Aside from that, some of the victims are not also happy that their camps are crowded; they equally complain of diversion of relief materials meant to cushion their suffering. In other civilised climes, the devastating floods that swept away houses, farms and other valuables would have been enough reason to empathize with the victims. But,

not in Nigeria; where many, it appears, have lost the milk of human kindness. There seem to be a thread of common denominator in all the camps across the country. The victims looked dejected and abandoned. This has forced them to continue with appeals, sometimes, protests as the only weapons for their voices to be heard. They have been telling their sorry tales; stories of agonies. From inadequate medication to supplies of fake drugs, food and security also appear to be highly essential in the camps. Yet, there are sharp practices allegedly being perpetrated by some officials saddled with the task of taking care of the victims. But, the deluge of complaints has not stopped more public-spirited organisations, groups and individuals

‘CAMP LEADERS FAVOUR THEIR FRIENDS’

from donating more relief materials to the camps. In Otuocha, Onitsha and Ogbaru camps in Anambra State, for instance, officials of government were openly accused of mismanaging the relief items donated to them by government agencies, international organisations, groups as well as individuals. They do not only indict the camp officials for hording items like detergents and foodstuffs, it is alleged that the officials stock away beddings, and accommodation shared to favour relations and friends of the officials and government appointees. The situation is the same in Umuoba Anam Primary School, St Augustine Catholic Church, Umuoba Anam and Father Joseph Memorial Secondary School, Aguleri as most victims slammed the camp officials for shortchanging them. They blamed the officials for not doing their jobs creditably. Many of the victims looked disturbed as they tell the story of their pitiable plight and recount experiences in the camp that has become their abode when our correspondent visited. They scampered for little things like Klin detergents and complained that they were being given only cooked foods. One of the victims, Mrs Ivude from Umueze Anam, alleged that the essential items were shared on the basis of man-know-man and the balance sold off by those in charge. “They are using the relief materials to make friends,” she further alleged. Similarly, a health official working at the Umuoba Anam camp, who was seconded from Anambra West local government council, Joseph Okafor, appears to corroborate the story from the camps when he described the situation as appalling. He alleges that the camp officials were cornering everything for themselves and their friends. According to Okafor,” the camp leaders, about four here, are not feeding the distressed victims well in spite of the fact that there are enough food for everyone. Government is providing everything, but the camp leaders are messing up things here.” One of the displaced persons, Uduoma Madukolu from Anam also said that feeding has been a problem for them as the foods and the foams supplied to the camp were not getting to the victims. She equally alleged that the drugs, except for the children, are being sold outside the camps. At the camps in Ogbaru and Onitsha, particularly at the New Bethel Primary School camp, victims complain of scarcity of mattresses, mats and blankets. Incidentally, the coordinator of the camps in Umuoba Anam and President-General of the town union, Stan Nwata, told our correspondent that the allegations are false. “We are still feeding them twice daily and accommodation is partially okay. We distributed foams, mats and mosquito nets free of charge to them,” Nwata said. Another member of the committee in charge of the camp at Father Joseph School, Hilary Nkesi, also denied the allegations. He rather blamed victims living outside the camps for causing problems by insisting that the food and other relief items should be given to them in the same manner as CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

NO DIVERSION OF RELIEF MATERIALS – ISOPADEC MD

The Big Read

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NEMA officials supplying relief items

Women cooking at one of the relief camps in Lokoja, Kogi State

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 those in the camps. In spite of the denials by officials in the Anambra camps, three serving commissioners and other government functionaries in Bayelsa State were allegedly being linked with sharp practices in the distribution of relief materials in the various flood relief camps in the state. Already, a Senior Special Assistant to the governor on non-indigenes, Chinedu Mbah, has been suspended from office by Governor Seriake Dickson, for allegedly creating an illegal non-indigene camp for flood victims at Community Secondary School, Kpansia, and Yenagoa. There have also been allegations of diversion of food items and sleeping foams by response committee members and some camp officials. These had given the displaced persons a nightmare at the various camps. However, some concerned citizens in the state have attributed these lapses to poor supervision by government. Interestingly, the governor is said to have directed the immediate closure of the illegal camps, thus relocating the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to the Sports Complex and Bishop Dimieri Grammar School camps, all in the state capital. Ubah was alleged to have created a separate relief camp for non-indigenes of the state at Community Secondary School, Kpansia, which eventually did not go down well with the state chief executive. The governor, on discovering this, constituted a panel headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Edmund Allison-Oguru, to investigate the issues and the role played by Mbah on the creation of a separate flood relief camp for non-indigenes of the state. The Senior Special Assistant on Security to the governor, Boma Sperrow-Jack, is the Secretary of the panel. Governor Dickson promised, while inaugurating the panel that, “we shall investigate all that transpired in the camps, which gave rise to series of complaints and unnecessary confusion, especially as it relates to the creation of illegal relief camp and other sharp practices reported.” But, in spite of the governor’s warning, diversion of relief materials among committee members, who are top government officials, appears to be on the

Madam Flora lamenting the victims’ fate at Igbogene camp, Bayelsa State

‘Camp leaders favour their friends’ increase. About three weeks ago, President Goodluck Jonathan’s planned visit to some major relief camps in Yenagoa was stopped at the eleventh hour as the victims reportedly planned a protest to welcome the President. The displaced persons had complained of diversion and starvation, in spite of the huge sums spent by government to procure relief materials. Two top government officials had immediately stormed the camp to pacify the aggrieved victims, but they refused to shift their grounds. Sensing danger, the largest camp was skipped as the President only visited the victims at the Sports Complex. Corporate organisations such as Daewoo, Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Chevron Nigeria Limited, churches, groups and public spirited individuals have been complementing government efforts to ameliorate the plights of at least 30,000 flood victims in the state. It was learnt that an ex-militant leader in Rivers State, Ateke Tom, donated a lorry load of bags of rice, beans, garri, palm oil, sleeping foams and other items to the displaced victims. In an interview with our correspondent, the co-ordinator of Igbogene relief camp, Gesiye Ekadi, said almost 500 persons were accommodated there, noting that their challenges include inadequate relief materials and problems of flooding owing to continuous rainfall in the camp. Daniel Paul, a 65-year-old victim says he has been sleeping on the bare floor in the camp because he was not given a mattress. Paul also lamented lack of food to eat. “My body is paining me because I sleep on the ground without foam. There is no food here, we are really suffering. We learnt government brings foodstuff every time, but we don’t know where it is going to. Flood submerged my home; now, I use canoe to access my home,” he said. Another victim, Nengi Victor, a 22-yearold student of the University of Maiduguri, said their Azikoro home in Yenagoa was submerged by the flood and that he lost his books and other valuables. “Our problem here is money; a lot of us here don’t have money to meet miscellaneous

expenses,” Victor noted. For, Roseline Seketi, 40, from Igbomotoru, her concern is about cooked foods. “The cooked items were not always enough when served; Camp officials are using magomago, which prompted us to resolve to be sharing the raw foodstuff. Sometimes, we get three cups of rice, half paint rubber of garri, among others. Most of us have stoves here, which we use to cook our foods. We are not given pure water. We drink from the borehole water, which is not well treated. They sell a sachet of pure water for N20 each. Sometimes, government brings seven bags of pure for over 3,000 persons from my local government,” Seketi said. Yet, an aged woman, Flora Engma, has a different story to tell. She narrated how she lost N500, 000 worth of bags of foodstuff in her shop at Azikoro, Yenagoa. According to Engma, a native of Brass, she had travelled on a business trip when the flood came and submerged her home. “Though, government, individuals and churches are trying their best by giving us relief materials; unfortunately, these items are diverted by camp officials. That is our worry. Camp co-ordinator of the various local governments colludes with other officials to divert these items. To make ends meet, I now cook and sell food (Mama-put) in the camp. Even the sleeping items brought here were diverted. Since I came into this camp, I’ve been sleeping on bare floor,” Engma said. When contacted, former State Secretary of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Alagoa Morris, urges government to punish officials engaged in the diversion of relief materials meant for displaced persons. He said: “The Nigerian factor has continued to haunt and corrupt us. This is regrettable and unacceptable. I had complained earlier that Governor Dickson should constitute a flood responsive committee, including civil society groups and non-governmental organisations; they are critical stakeholders in the state. It means, it was deliberately done to make politicians and those in government enrich themselves at the expense of the suffering flood victims.” According to Morris, the diversion of

relief materials was also done by government officials to displaced persons in the communities. “Yet, government is shamelessly taking names of victims, just to use the figures to justify the amount of monies received from the federal government and that which was appropriated by the state government. A situation where a two-yearold child line up with a 10-year-old for a little biscuit as breakfast and where people in the camps are denied food and sleeping materials among other needs, is definitely not the best,” Morris, who is also the State Project Officer of the Environmental Rights Action (ERA), said, adding that the state government should be challenged to render accounts of how funds were spent on the flood victims at the end of the day. “So, we need to see those diverting relief materials arrested and prosecuted, no matter how highly placed,” the rights activist further said. The fact that both politicians and businessmen have cashed in on the misfortune of the unfortunate flood disaster to enrich themselves at the detriment of the people seem obvious also in Imo State. The victims in the Imo camps have consistently maintained that despite the constant media reports of relief materials given on their behalf by donors and interventionist agencies, they are yet to feel the impact of such gestures as their sufferings have continued unabated. A case at hand was the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) relief materials that sparked off controversies in the state as it was allegedly hijacked by politicians and members of the ruling party in the state. Although, the officials of the commission have insisted that the materials were given to the victims through the flood management committee set up by the state Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. Investigations, however, revealed that some of the communities, such as Egbuoma that was not affected by the flood, was in the list of the displaced communities. It was also gathered that the relief materials such as rice, beans, groundnut oil and mattresses donated by some agencies were stock-piled in private homes while CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

The Big Read

Sunday, November 4, 2012

No diversion of relief materials –ISOPADEC MD Dr Henry Uzor-Okafor is the Managing Director of Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC) and Secretary of the Committee set up by the Imo State Government to handle the distribution of relief materials to flood victims. He tells our correspondent, Chris Njoku, what he says is the correct situation in the camps. How would you react to the allegations of fraud in flood relief camps? I want to say we did not delegate anybody to distribute items; I personally distributed the materials to the affected communities. I packed all the relief materials in the houses of traditional rulers in the communities, at that time there was no camp. I now said I was not going to do anything with any politician. I said it openly that I would not deal with any political group because the flood never knew political parties. I decided to deal with the town unions and traditional rulers simply because they know better the individuals whose houses were affected. In situations like this that demands urgency, what you need to do at the point in time is to take such action; you don’t have to say you want to start accreditation, which might take two years to complete. If you give the relief materials to politicians they would say go and call APGA or PDP people. That was the kind of politics my friend from the federal house was playing. So, how was the relief materials distributed? Oguta community got 50 percent because they are worse hit by the flood while Abasanu in Ohaji/Egbema got 50 percent; we shared to other communities according to the level of destruction.

The issue of the federal government N400 million fund has been generating bad blood. As the secretary of the relief committee, what assurance are you giving the people that fairness and justice would be the watchword; if eventually the state gets the fund? I must be very honest with you. The truth of the matter is that we have taken proactive measures already. I am looking at immediate and long-term mitigation or mitigating plan of the situation, N400 million for me is a peanut but we appreciate the Federal Government for bringing it. But, we are looking beyond N400million. I am aware that some political parties have started writing names, taking photograph of their party members so that when the money comes, they will use their hands to share it. The point is that in Imo State, federal government lacks the capacity and capability to do the distribution. We are working out other modalities on how to raise more funds because we are no longer talking about flooded buildings; we are talking about possibility that by January, February there may be famine. So, we must ensure that Ohaji/ Egbema Oguta as a food basket of Imo State, the farmers whose farmlands have been destroyed by the flood are given some money to go and start farming; not necessarily for their personal aggrandizement but for the purpose of making food available for Imo people.

Uzor-Okafor

There seems to be a looming clash when you visited Oguta. What really happened? The day I was to visit Oguta, there was security report that the PDP went to Oguta with some few bags of rice to tell the people that the state government don’t have them at heart. But, when they heard that we were coming with mattresses, rice and mosquito nets, they quickly arranged some thugs, tasking them to make sure that they prevented ISOPADEC and state government from getting to Oguta. That was why I mobilised adequate security of soldiers and policemen to the ravaged areas.

We are yet to feel impact of govt intervention –Imo victims CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 those affected by the flood walk about dejected and hungry. According to a victim, Ibeachulam Chisa from Mmohu village in Egbema Local Government Area, “the people they left the materials in their care are using the items with their families without those of us who were affected, partaking in the relief materials. I am only just hearing that relief materials are given to displaced people; I am one of the people whose houses were destroyed, yet, I have not seen one grain of rice not to talk of mattress.” At Oguta Local Government Areas, it was the same complaint as some of the affected victims said they decided to return to their homes because help was far from them. One of the serious problems facing the displaced persons in the communities is the issue of camps. A visit to the Oguta local government on Wednesday revealed that some of the displaced people, who have commenced repairs of their homes in areas where the flood had dried up, gave up when no temporary camps were provided. Following this reason, most of the people who came with relief materials returned home without dropping them. This was the situation two weeks ago when the Leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MOSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, paid a visit to Oguta. Incidentally, he had to return home with his lorry load of relief materials because it was difficult for him to locate the displaced persons. Governor Okorocha also visited the ravaged flood community of Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area, but could not locate the camps of the displaced persons in that neighbourhood. Speaking on why things have turned out in that manner, the governor said, “Igbo man is a proud person, who does not like people to see him as a beggar or person that has no home.”

NKST flood victims’ camp, Benue State

However, when contacted, Luke Chukwu, who represents Ohaji/Egbema state constituency, said that four camps have been approved for the victims by the Imo State Assembly and the construction would commence soon in the two affected local government areas. For Hon. Gerald Irona, who represents Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta/Oru West Federal Constituency of Imo State in the House of Representatives, the actions of the officials are deplorable and deceitful. He said agencies such as State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission that should serve as stop gap when incident such as the flood happens, are the ones being insensitive to the people’s plight. He cited the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC) example, which he blamed for its alleged insensitivity to the problems of the oil producing communities in the state. Also in Benue State, some affected persons were believed not to have been captured on the list among other internally displaced people. Investigations by Sunday Mirror revealed, however, that the Benue State Emergency and Management Agency (BSEMA), has commenced issuing out forms of claims to would-be beneficiaries

in the funds so far released by the Federal Government. Interestingly, government officials are also laying claims of having lost huge farmlands of mostly rice and other produce as a result of the floods. A source at government house in Makurdi told Sunday Mirror that Governor Gabriel Suswam lost three hectares of rice farm situated at different locations as well as those of some commissioners in his cabinet. The implication of this statement is the fact that government officials will be compensated from the largesse given by the Federal Government to ameliorate the plight of the hapless victims. With this situation, the real victims are afraid that they may be shortchanged at the end of the day and have called for justice in the distribution of the funds and other relief materials. Sources at the various camps disclosed that the victims so far captured were about 5,000. But, the executive secretary of BSEMA, Adikpo Agbatse, is disputing such a figure, saying that a realistic figure should conservatively be hovering around 19,000. In Edo State, the Permanent Secretary, First Lady’s Office and Chairman of Edo State Committee on Relief for Displaced

Persons, Hajia Maimunatu Momodu, denied the alleged diversion of relief materials in the camps. Momodu claimed she personally supervised the distribution of materials last Tuesday in Skills Acquisition Center Camp in Fugar. “You know, even in a family it is difficult for you to say you can satisfy everybody 100 percent. But people should know that in a situation like this, you don’t expect the same conditions you have when you are in your own houses. I have seen a couple of them. When you give them some things, as soon as you turn your back they suddenly start to complain. I have told them not to use their situation to raise false alarm. I don’t think that that will be the best for us. And those people that make noise a lot are the same people that are not really affected. Some of them just take the advantage that the camp is within their area and then they just go there and they are the ones raising issues that are not on ground,” she said. The Deputy Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly and lawmaker representing Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State, Hon. Festus Ebea, appears to be corroborating her assertion when he said, “I have personally visited the flood victims a number of times and monitored the distribution of food, water, medical and other supplies at the Illushi Camp, which incidentally is in my constituency. I can tell you honestly and categorically that those complaining that they are not being captured are not telling the truth.” Incidentally, Mallam Oseni Mohammed, who was among those who initially complained about the condition in the camps, told our correspondent in Fugar camp that the condition has improved. He thanked the federal, state and local governments as well as organisations and individuals that have identified with displaced persons.

NEWS

Sunday November 4, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Terrorism: Police target Borno, Yobe politicians OMEIZA AJAYI

ew days after the disclosure by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar that three senators who have been linked with the sponsorship of terrorist activities in the country were under “close watch”, Sunday Mirror investigations have now revealed more. It was gathered yesterday that the IGP may have indeed detailed some undercover operatives to be on the trail of some top flight politicians in Borno and Yobe States. Among them, it was learnt, are a former governor who was also an ex- senator and two other senators, who have now been given what a police source described as “a closed marking”. The trio are former Governor of Borno State, and

ex-senator, Ali Modu Sheriff; Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume and Senator Ahmed Zanna. They are all from Borno State and have in recent times accused one another of laying the foundation for the formation of the Boko Haram Islamist sect. Sources also said that the Police dragnet has been extended to neighbouring Yobe State, where some top politicians have also been fingered in the sponsorship of the insurgents. At a conference of sectional heads of zonal and state Criminal Investigation Departments, CIDs, of the Nigerian Police in Abuja on Wednesday, the IGP had said the force was doing so much to put an end to the reign of terror in the country, but appealed to Nigerians with any shred of evidence to avail the police of such. “We are doing so much

about it and looking for evidences. Please anyone who has evidences should give us because you cannot take anyone to court without evidence. “So, these people(senators) are under watch. There must be a preponderance of evidence. Things do not just happen out of the blues. There is no imaginary evidence”, he stated. Barely a year ago, Mr Ndume was arrested by operatives of Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Service (DSS) on suspicion of being a financier of the Boko Haram sect. Ndume who has since been charged to court, was indicted when an alleged spokesperson of the radical Islamic sect, also in SSS custody, Ali Konduga, reportedly named him as a major sponsor of the terrorist ac-

tivities of the group. However, another twist was added to the drama recently when a suspected kingpin of the sect, Mohammed Shuaibu Bama who had earlier been declared wanted by the SSS was reportedly arrested in the home of Mr Zanna in Maiduguri. His arrest prompted the SSS to invite the Senator for thorough questioning. Zanna who is reportedly still under the close watch of the security service also indicted Ali Modu Sherrif whom he defeated in the last general elections, claiming that Bama was rounded up in the house of the ex-governor. The SSS is reportedly “waiting for the right signal” before extending an invitation to Mr Sherrif who is at present the Board of Trustees BOT Chairman of the opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP.

Also on Thursday, spokesman of the Boko Haram sect, Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdulazeez, who doubles as the second-in-command (Amir) to their leader, Imam Abubakar Shekau, in a teleconference with journalists in Maiduguri, had among other demands requested the prompt arrest and prosecution of the former Borno State governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, as one of the group’s condition for a ceasefire. Sunday Mirror investigations also revealed that given the new clues, detectives may have extended their searchlight on some other leaders in the axis, especially certain politicians from Borno and Yobe states who security sources say have been “guests” of the secret police in the past. “You can be rest assured that since the statement by the IG and even before then, detec-

tives have been on the trail of certain people in the region. This is not to say that we will not also beam our searchlight on people from other parts of the country who may have been beneficiaries of the sect’s activities. We are doing our work and I hope Mba (the Force Public Relations Officer) will keep you guys (journalists) updated soon, but for now, we are doing our work”, said a police source who also attended Wednesday’s conference with the IGP in Abuja. When reminded that few hours after the conference, the sect had given conditions for a ceasefire, the police source said detectives will continue to do their jobs while “I believe the Joint Taskforce will continue its crackdown until there is a contrary directive from the president to ceasefire”.

We ‘ll implement White Paper on Suntai’s aides flown Ribadu report, others —Alison-Madueke to Germany T

he Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, says that the Federal Government will implement the White Paper on the reports of the task forces set up on the petroleum industry. The minister gave the assurance in Abuja at the weekend during the presentation of the reports of three task forces to President Goodluck Jonathan. She said that the implementation of the reports would commence as soon as the President approved it. The task forces are the Special Task Force on Corporate Governance and Controls in NNPC and other parastatal agencies of the petroleum ministry, the Special Task Force on National Refineries and the Special Task Force on Petroleum Revenue. The minister’s assurance came as a Non Governmental Organisation, Association of Good Governance and Probity in Nigeria disagreed with Labour and other civil society organisations for blaming the rots in the nation’s oil sector on the Minister, pointing out that the whole mess in that sector preceded President Goodluck Jonathan and Madueke. The group therefore described the call for the sack of the Petroleum Resources minister as uncalled for and diversionary. The group wondered what Labour and opposition stand to gain by the call for sack of the minister es-

•As group flays call for her sack

MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

R-L: Former Commissioner for Enviroment, Dr. Muiz Banire; Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), Ikeja Chapter, Prince Adesegun Oyefusi and Registrar/ Chief Executive, Mr. Maurice Lakanu during the 10th Year Anniversary and Award Ceremony of NIM at DeRenaissance Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos on Friday.

pecially when it is the same minister that set up the Mallam Nuhu Ribadu panel in the first place to clean up the Augean stable of corruption in the oil industry. Exonerating the minister from the rot in the nation’s oil sector, spokesman for the group, Mr. Daniel Agada said Labour and other civil society groups have failed to point out clearly the failings of Mrs. Allison Madueke, noting that those blaming her for the rot in the nation’s oil sector have ulterior motives. “Their actions could be described as giving a dog a bad name so as hang it. If not, what connection has Ribadu’s Report on corruption in the oil sector has to do with the calling for resignation and prosecution of the Petroleum Minister. You are calling on someone

you’ve not found guilty of any offence to resign and face prosecution, just because a task force came up with a report that has not passed through due process. She said she did not have the discretionary power to award oil blocks. Why do we not give her the benefit of doubt until all investigations have been concluded they asked,” Agada querried . It would be recalled that a report by Reuters, an overseas news portal last Tuesday , had said a total of $183m(N28.73bn) in signature bonuses paid by oil companies to the federation was missing. The report further alleged that three of the oil licenses were awarded since the current minister, Alison-Madueke, came into office in 2010. It further

revealed that three oil majors; Shell, Total and Eni, made bumper profits from cut-price gas, while oil ministers handed out licenses at their own discretion. Even if this was not illegal, the report however said the process did not follow best practice of using open bids. Reuters, citing the Ribadu report had alleged that international oil traders sometimes buy crude without formal contracts, adding that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation had short-changed the Nigerian treasury of billions over the last 10 years by selling crude oil and gas to itself below market rates. Speaking on the reports,``Once considered and approved by Mr CONTINUED ON PAGE Page 7

hree aides to Taraba State Governor, Danbaba Suntai, who were receiving medical attention at National Hospital, Abuja, following the injuries they sustained with the Governor in his Cessna 208, 5N-BMJ Jet that crashed in Yola, Adamawa State, last Thursday have finally been flown abroad. They are Dasat Iliya,Tino Dangana and Joel Dan, Aide De Camp (ADC), Chief Security Officer (CSO)and Chief Detail to the Governor respectively. The aides, who spent six days at the hospital, were airborne aboard an air ambulance, a MED EVAC aircraft, Challenger 601 with registration number D-BUSY at about 9.06am to meet Suntai in Germany. Delay in visa processing was said to be responsible for the lateness in flying the three aides out of the country. However, Iliya, who is confirmed to be critically wounded, was the only one initially booked for the journey earlier on Thursday. Governor Suntai had earlier been flown to Germany, last Saturday, after spending less than a day at the hospital. Prior to the period, all had been taken to Specialist Hospital, Yola, Adamawa state shortly after the disaster. His aides arrived Nation-

al Hospital, a day after he was taken out of the hospital as result of what many believed to be his critical health condition. He was bandaged from the head to the toe upon arrival at the hospital. Security operatives ensured journalists, who had stormed the hospital upon getting the hint of his imminent arrival in Abuja were prevented from getting close to him. He was visited by President Goodluck Jonathan shortly after. Briefing reporters, after he spent about four minutes at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where Suntai was being attended to by senior medical personnel, Jonathan said: “First and foremost, we have to thank God for what has happened. Plane crash is not something you can just wave off. We are quite happy that the Governor is still stable and feeling well. The doctors are working very hard on him. I believe God’s willing; he will soon come out of it. But, he is still in the hospital; no doubt about that…. Being a Governor, people are worried; they want to know his state of health.” It would be noted that prominent Nigerians, including human rights activists Femi Falana, had called on government to take the injured aides of the Governor abroad as it was done for the Governor in order to ensure equality of the rights of all concerned.

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News

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Disquiet as Lagos takes over Ogun border communities •Lagos needs them for agric -Ogun Govt K AYODE FASUA

gun State Government at the weekend came under attacks for handing over some border communities in the state to Lagos State. Locals claimed the handover was carried out without due consultation with them. The action, it was observed, had sent jitters into some landlords with plots of land without approved plans, as they expressed concerns that once the Lagos State Government takes over, their buildings would be demolished. To that extent, an Ogunbased human rights group, The Masses Rights Movement of Nigeria (MRMN) has taken up the locals’ case, asking the Ogun State Government to rescind the action, as “the land of the

people cannot be sold or leased without the owners and residents of those areas, who are the primary stakeholders, being carried along”. In a recent agreement between Lagos Governor, Babatunde Fashola, and his Ogun counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, 500 hectares of land in Egua community of Yewa Local Government area of Ogun State were leased to Lagos State. It was also gathered that the leasing extended to Okearo, a densely populated area in the locality. Both states have justified the land transfer with explanation that Lagos needed the land for agricultural pursuits. In the same vein, the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of Iju Water Works

•It’s anti-people, inconsiderate, says group

area of Ogun had been handed over to Lagos, according to a communiqué issued by both Fashola and Amosun, a copy of which was obtained by Sunday Mirror. The communiqué, however, stated that regarding 15 other communities under dispute between the two states, joint boundary resolutions have been found, and that the deputy governors of the respective states will flag off the joint signposting of the boundaries that had been agreed on. The areas include Iragbo, Agbara, River Ilo, Iroko Village, Isheri, Emuren, Ojodu, Akute and Ajuwon. Others are Mojoda, Ogijo, Agbado, Alagbole, Iju and Ilogbo Eremi. The communiqué added that reconnaissance (a mode of survey) of Adiyan Water

Works land area, also an Ogun community on the Lagos border, would soon be determined. Both Ogun and Lagos states are being governed by Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) whose cardinal objectives include a “regional integration of the Southwest”. But MRMN in a statement yesterday by its Coordinating SecretaryGeneral, Comrade Mark Adebayo, accused the governments of both states of trivialising the rights, welfare, and destiny of residents in the traded areas, in the name of party camaraderie. “Our own concern is about the welfare and the right of ownership of the mass of the people to be permanently affected by this action. First, all the places earmarked for sale

or lease to Lagos are residential areas, heavily populated by people who have built houses on these lands. Secondly, there are communities who have owned these areas for centuries. No matter how laudable this deal may be, if it does not take into cognisance the welfare and the right of ownership of the people affected by this deal, then that deal is anti-people, inconsiderate and wicked.” The group added, “As at now, there is no evidence that the Ogun State Government engaged those directly affected by this deal in meaningful dialogue before the two governments perfected the deal. “We hereby call on the two state governments to stop forthwith any decision, action or deal between them that will negatively impact on the people

of the two states. All actions on this matter must be put on hold until all the communities affected are adequately engaged in an open and transparent process that will ensure that the will of the people prevails.” But in her reaction, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications to Governor Amosun, Mrs Funmi Wakama, said, “Ogun State government did not sell land to Lagos State government with respect to Egua and Okearo areas of Ota Local Government. What Lagos has in Egua is a leasehold. The land is leased to Lagos for agricultural purposes. There are conditions attached to the Egua land lease, which include hiring of locals from these communities.”

CNPP rejects Ribadu’s task force report …Asks Jonathan to reconstitute fresh panel

A ZA MSUE KADUNA

ormer governor of old Kaduna State and Chairman, Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa, yesterday rejected the report of the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force headed by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. Alhaji Musa, however, asked President Goodluck Jonathan to urgently disband the committee and set up a capable investigation team that would do the job for Nigerians. It would be recalled that chairman of the 20-member task force and former Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu, openly disagreed bitterly with his deputy and former Head of Service of the Federation, Steve Oronsaye’s, remark that the process adopted during its assignment was flawed during the presentation of the report

to President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday. While Oronsanye said the report ought to be rejected, as the recommendations were not agreed and accepted by all members, Ribadu disagreed, accusing him of not participating in the deliberations for the better part of the period the committee worked, as he was busy lobbying to be appointed into the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation,

NNPC. Speaking in a telephone interview with Sunday Mirror, Alhaji Musa, while describing the report as a mess, said the remark by President Jonathan after the drama failed below expectation. “The whole committee should be disbanded and new people should be appointed by the president to do a fresh job. The report is a big mess because it lacks credibility. Nigerians will not accept that report,” he said.

L-T: Secretary, Defence Headquarters Skills Acquisition Training Programme, Col. Ishaku Nuhu; Representative of GOC, 3 Div, Col. Minemu Abel and representative of the Chief of Defence Staff and Chairman of the Skills Acquisition Programme, Brig-Gen. David Shaljaba, at the Defence Headquarters skill acquisition trainPHOTO: NAN ing programme for wives and wards of military personnel in Jos on Friday.

Minister seeks private sector cooperation in attainment of MDGs

inister of Health, Prof. Oyebuchi Chukwu, yesterday reiterated the need for the private sector to contribute to the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Chukwu spoke in Abuja at the 16th Annual General meeting of the Guild of Medical Directors (GMD), Abuja chapter. The Guild of Medical Directors is a body of private medical doctors. The minister said there

had been an increased recognition of the role of the private sector in the attainment of MDGs. ``This has been demonstrated by many partnerships between the United Nations (UN), its agencies and the organised private sector,’’ he said. Chukwu said the Federal Government had embarked on reforms of the health sector with the aim of improving the health status of Nigerians through the development of a sustainable

healthcare delivery system. ``A core component of the ministry’s current focus is to mobilise and harness all resources across both public and private sectors for the benefit of the populace. ``These efforts are geared towards attaining the Millennium Development Goals and other national health targets,” he said. The minister said the MDGs were intended to bring together developing

We’ll implement White Paper on Ribadu report, others —Alison-Madueke CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 the reports. Alison-Madueke said President and the Federal Executive Council, it that that task forces were is my determination to en- set up to bring sanity, efficiency and transparency to sure the full implementation the oil and gas industry, in of the White Paper on the the lead-up to the passage reports of these task forces. of the Petroleum Industry She stressed that the Bill (PIB). The minister stressed ministry had already set up a unit to ensure full compli- that she did not interfere with the assignment of the ance with the provisions of

task forces. She expressed optimism that recommendations in the report would signal a new beginning for the oil and gas sector. However, Alison-Madueke called on the National Assembly to speedily pass the PIB so as to give legislative backing to the drive to transform the oil and gas

sector. ``We urge the National Assembly to pass the new PIB into law as quickly as possible so as to give the necessary legislative backing to our transformation efforts in the oil and gas industry,’’ she said. She pledged that the government would con-

and developed countries in partnership to reduce poverty, ensure gender equality, combat environmental degradation and ensure improved access to social services. He said this would help to ensure good education, maternal healthcare, safe drinking water, sanitation, fight against HIV and AIDS and other diseases. Chukwu said the Federal Government was poised to achieve the target, adding that it had formulated

policies and strategies that would speed up the process of achieving the target. He decried the low level of private sector contribution to healthcare delivery, adding that the sector was not taking advantage of its public-private partnership policy. Chairman, GMD Abuja Chapter, Dr Edward Philips, assured that the body would not rest on its oars in ensuring that the Federal Government achieved the MDG targets

tinue with the reform of the oil and gas industry in order to reduce waste, inefficiency and corruption. Alison-Madueke said that the measure would go a long way to facilitate the transition of NNPC and its parastatal agencies to a post-PIB milieu. Mr Dotun Sulaiman, chaired the Task Force

on Corporate Governance and Controls, while Malam Nuhu Ribadu and Mr Kalu Idika Kalu headed the task forces on petroleum revenue and national refineries respectively. The task forces were inaugurated in February by Alison-Madueke, with a view to transforming the country’s oil and gas sector.

News

Sunday November 4, 2012

Clinton pushes hard for Obama

US Election update

...as President banks on him to clinch swing states

Obama ahead Romney F orty-eight hours to the U.S. election, President Barack Obama is enjoying a slight lead ahead of Republican Mitt Romney in key states that have the capacity to determine the outcome of the all-important election.

The lead, according to polls and early votes, is marginal unlike four years ago when Obama was ahead of Republican John McCain. Romney, former Massachusetts governor is pushing a momentum to close

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

the gap as Americans cast their votes on Tuesday. Already, almost 25 million people have voted in 34 states and the District of Columbia. As a rule, no votes will be counted until Election Day, November 6. So far, in several battleground states of Florida, Iowa, Nevada, North Carolina and Ohio which could decide the election, Democratic voters have outnumbered Republicans if the trend is sustained.

ormer President Bill Clinton has turned to a chief campaigner for the Barack Obama re-election bid.

In the last few days, Clinton has been moving round the battleground states, delivering speeches more than Obama himself. At every stop, Clinton praises Obama. Just Friday, the 66-yearold former president made five stops in Florida, all to campaign for Obama where he criticised Mitt Romney’s tax-cut plans in Palm Bay.

“I don’t understand how people like me could sleep at night taking another tax cut, and taking it away from you,” he said. “That is what Mr. Romney wants to repeal.” “I am the only living former president that ever gave you a budget surplus,” he said in Palm Bay. In return, Obama praises Clinton in Ohio stop on Friday. “For eight years we had a president who shared our beliefs, and his name was Bill Clinton,” Obama said. “His economic plan

asked the wealthiest Americans to pay a little more so we could reduce our deficit and invest in the skills and ideas of our people.” Romney opposed that plan, Obama said, and his math “was just as bad back then as it was today.” Clinton campaigned for Obama on Thursday in Wisconsin and Ohio. Earlier in the week he was in Iowa, Colorado, Minnesota and New Hampshire. In Green Bay, Wisconsin, Clinton spoke on why

Vote for love, not revenge –Romney

President speaks to a boisterous crowd outside Columbus, Ohio

aced with a tight race in his re-election bid and spending more time away from home, President Barack Obama is still a ‘real dad’ who cares about his family.

This was the submission of his wife, Mitchelle. “Our check-in is really about the kids. He wants to know what did we talk about at dinner? How is Sasha doing? What happened at basketball? Did Malia win her game?” she said in a broadcast interview during the week. “I am always astounded when I read in the paper or I talk to some advisers and I find out what he’s actually dealt with in any given day. When we sit down to dinner, you know, he lets that all go for that moment,” she said. “He is there for me. He is there for Sasha and Malia. And he’s there as a dad.” Mitchelle said her husband goes out of his way to make sure his family’s experience in public life is as easy as possible. Asked how she believes the president will return the support and sacrifice she has provided once they leave

wo major planks upon which the November 6 U.S. election will be decided are jobs and economy.

For President Barack Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney, they both got new evidence to bolster their arguments yesterday as economic report showing more job creation and an uptick in unemployment. The Labour Department reported that U.S. employers added 171,000 jobs in October and that hiring

the White House, Obama said her husband already shows his encouragement by giving her discretion in her campaigns to fight childhood obesity and improve the lives of military families. “When we leave here, I want to continue working on those issues. But who knows? You never know what the future holds,” she said. “And who knows what life will look like in another five years when this is over? And I know that whatever I do, he’ll be right there with me, as he always has been.” A week earlier during a roundtable interview, First Lady revealed that her daughters have little interest in their father’s re-election campaign or his political life. “They are so far removed from this world. They don’t ask about the election. They don’t care,” she said at the time. The first daughters have traveled to extraordinary places throughout the world and met global leaders such as Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, the Queen of England and others very few get to mingle with.

President Obama in Ohio

Mitt Romney

Giuliani calls on President to resign F ormer Mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani, has called for the resignation of Barack Obama for “incompetence” over unemployment rate and the Libya consulate attacks.

Giuliani spoke at a major campaign event for Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan in Ohio at the weekend. “He should resign! He told us he would resign if he did this poorly,” Giuliani said. “He lied. He has been a disaster. The worst president for our economy in our lifetime. He doesn’t want a second term. He wants a second chance, because he screwed it up the first time.”

“They tried to humiliate him because of that. You know something, if Governor Romney can have the success for America that he had for Bain Capital, Thank God! Our people would be working again,” Giuliani said, referencing Romney’s former private equity firm. The former mayor, a top surrogate for Romney’s campaign, argued the violence would not have happened if Sen. John McCain had won the presidential election in 2008. “Maybe if we had a president who was paying attention, we wouldn’t be going through all this

investigation of what’s being covered up about Libya,” he said. He told the audience they have a chance to “right that wrong” by removing the president from office. “You know that what happened in Libya is the result, at least, of incompetence,” he said. Giuliani placed the responsibility squarely on the Ohio audience to make the change in the Oval Office. “You know what stands in his way? You know what’s going to stop him? Ohio! You’re going to do it,” he said.

Romney hits President over job report •We’re making real progress, says Obama

was stronger over the previous two months than first thought. The unemployment rate inched up to 7.9 per cent from 7.8 per cent in September because the workforce grew. The report painted a picture of a job market that is gradually gaining momentum.

the economy is better than many think. The only reason the Obama-Romney race is close, he said, “is because Americans are impatient on things not made before yesterday, and they don’t understand why the economy is not totally hunky-dory again.” Clinton also joined Obama yesterday for a rally in Virginia. He is also expected to grace the Sunday (today’s) campaign in New Hampshire, North Carolina and Minnesota. No state underscores the importance of Clinton.

Obama is facing voters with the highest unemployment rate of any incumbent since Franklin Roosevelt. As a political marker, the report gives Romney a data point to attack. Republican candidate has dismissed the Job Report for October, insisting that the economy is still at standstill.

Romney in a statement released yesterday following the October unemployment report said: “Today’s increase in the unemployment rate is a sad reminder that the economy is at a virtual standstill. The jobless rate is higher than it was when President Obama took office, and there are still 23 million Americans

struggling for work. “On Tuesday, America will make a choice between stagnation and prosperity. For four years, President Obama’s policies have crushed America’s middle class. For four years, President Obama has told us that things are getting better and that we’re making progress. For too many American

epublican Mitt Romney yesterday urged Americans to vote for love, not revenge. He stated this on Saturday morning in New Hampshire. President Obama had at a campaign event in Ohio on Friday urged voters to head to the polls, saying, “Voting is the best revenge.” Romney said that the President’s remark “surprised a lot of people.” “Speaking to an audience, he said, you know voting is the best revenge,” said Romney. “He told his supporters, voting for revenge. Vote for revenge? Let me tell you what I’d like to tell you: Vote for love of country,” he said. “It is time we lead America to a better place.” Romney’s campaign also released an ad titled “Revenge or Love of Country” that asked viewers, “On Tuesday, what will be your reason for voting?” “Thank you, New Hampshire!” Romney shouted to the crowd, gathered on the tarmac in front of his campaign plane. “New Hampshire got me the Republican nomination, and New Hampshire is going to get me the White House!” families, those words ring hollow. “We can do better. We can have real economic growth, create millions of good-paying jobs, and give middle-class families the security and opportunity they deserve. When I’m president, I’m going to make real changes that lead to a real recovery, so that the next four years are better than the last.” President Obama has hailed the job growth but declaring “we’ve got more work to do.”

SM Extra

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STORIES THAT TOUCH YOU NOVEMBER 4, 2012

Suicide bomb attack in the eyes of teenagers

I saw a small space and I started running, says 7-year-old survivor For the worshippers and neighborhood of St. Rita’s Catholic Church, Unguwan Yero Malali, within Kaduna metropolis, the Sunday, October 28 suicide bomb attack on the church will take long to forget. Aza Msue, in Kaduna reports that the trauma of that dastardly act still torments residents and survivors alike.

Elvis Duniya, 7-year-old boy who survived the attack

he St. Rita’s Catholic Church and the entire Christian community in Malali, in Kaduna city are yet to recover from the trauma of the killing of eight of their parishioners through suicide bombing on Sunday, October 28. Over 145 others were also reportedly injured in the explosion that rocked the church during the Sunday morning mass. To worshippers who survived the coordinated suicide attack, it was bizarre, like a television movie. The bloody attack came unexpected. On that fateful black Sunday, the worshippers were about to receive the Holy Communion. No sooner had Rev. Fr. Bonni Michael Bazza, the officiating priest, raised his hands to bless the bread and wine than the suicide bomber in a Honda CRV Jeep, filled with explosives, rammed through the fence into the church at about 8.46 a.m. Rev.Fr. Bazza, who sustained major injuries along with other parishioners, was taken to hospital for medical at-

tention. The attack occurred just a few weeks after Dogon Dawa in Birnin Gwari council area of the state witnessed a bloody massacre in which 27 people were slaughtered by unknown gunmen. One of the survivors of the deadly bombing, sevenyear-old Elvis Duniya, in a solemn voice, told Sunday Mirror at St. Gerald’s Catholic Hospital, Kakuri that he would never abandon the St. Rita’s Church despite the attack. Young Duniya, a primary four pupil of the Federal Government College staff school, Malali, added that nobody will stop him from serving his God in heaven. Duniya narrated how it all happened: “That day I went to church with six of my sisters and brothers. We sat at the children’s section of the church. Suddenly we saw the car broke into the Church near the Choir and the Altar. The whole Church was covered with dust and there was heavy sound everywhere. I saw a small space and started running with blood all over my body. It was one police

LAMENTATION OF VICTIMS OF ARRESTS WITHOUT TRIAL

‘We were thrown into prison for crimes we Lucky Momoh and Nathaniel Lucas are victims of police arrest. They were accused of crimes they alleged they never committed and thrown into prison, without trial. For Momoh, Adaeze Amos reports that he had been in prison without trial for over four years. Patience John was sent to prison over the tragic death of her lover.

he tale of Lucky Momoh and Nathaniel Lucas is pathetic, if not pitiable. Both men are victims of crimes they claim they know nothing about. The police arrested them and bundled them into prison where they languished without trial. If Momoh had known that his visit to his mother would land him in prison for four years, he presumably would have changed his mind from embarking on that journey. But, he had no premonition that his trip from Auchi to Lagos would deny him his freedom. Unlucky Lucky left his hometown in Auchi in Edo State to visit his mother at Agbede Odugbose, a community somewhere in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State. He was arrested by policemen who were raiding that particular neighborhood in search of robbers who had tormented the community. They alleged that he was one of the armed robbers that had robbed some areas in Ogijo the previous night. That was the beginning of the young man’s four-year sojourn in prison. He was arrested, detained and charged to court. Momoh recalls, “When I saw my mother, I was happy to see her in good health but I never knew that the devil was preparing to rob me my joy and freedom the next day. That night, I had my dinner and slept. It never occurred to me that was the last I would eat my mother’s food until after four years. In the morning of the next day when I stepped out to buy something within the neighbourhood, I was arrested by some policemen who told me that armed robbers attacked some houses in the neighbourhood and that I was a suspect. I was shocked to my bone. I tried to explain to them that I didn’t know about the incident, that I only came into town the previous evening to see my mother, but

my explanations fell on deaf ears.” He was taken to Ikoyi prison. When he was thrown into prison, he thought it would be all over in a matter of days since he felt he was innocent of the crime. That was not to be. “It didn’t occur to me that I would stay that long because I was innocent. I started counting days because I thought I would be released soon after their investigations. I continued counting days until I lost count. Why my own case was pathetic was that my mother didn’t know where I was for four years. I was being punished for a crime that I didn’t commit,” he bemoaned. Momoh regained freedom in August. He never knew how it happened “I didn’t know. I never had anybody that could help me regain my freedom. But God brought Stephen and Solomon Foundation which was founded by Chief Giwa-Amu, a legal practitioner and a human right activist, my way. May God bless and keep them. But for that foundation, I would have still been suffering in prison. I thank God I’m out. Freedom is sweet,” he said. Nathaniel Lucas’ case is similar. He was visiting Lagos for the first time from Nasarawa State. He was arrested and taken to court. He spent over two years in prison without trial. Lucas was short of words as he refused to comment on his prison condition for the fear of being taken back to Ikoyi Prison. The story of Patience John who hails from Cross River State is indeed touchy. Hers was that of romance gone sour. She was alleged to have caused the death of her boyfriend. What happened between Patience and her late boyfriend whom she refused to disclose his name for the fear of being attacked by the guy’s friends was a fight. Be-

fore the fight, all was rosy between them. They were the lovey-dovey fellows. When the relationship became sour, Patience called it quits but the lover-boy refused to let go. That eventually led to a fracas between them. The boy went to Patience’s beer shop and fought her. In the course of the second fight, he allegedly fell and got stabbed with a broken fluorescent tube with sharp edges. He died as a result of injuries sustained. That was the beginning of Patience’s five years sojourn in Kirikiri Prison. According to Patience, “There was no way I wouldn’t have called it quit with him because he was beating me black and blue at the slightest provocation. He had inflicted serious wounds on my neck and on my shoulder which left indelible marks,” she said, pointing at her left shoulder. “When the beating was getting too much, I had to call it quits but he refused to let go and started threatening to

Released inmate, Patience John with a counsel (left) of Stephen and Solomon Foundation

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SM Extra

Sunday, November 4, 2012

‘I didn’t know where I was until the following day’ man and road safety people who saw me on the road and picked me to this place. I don’t know the people but they wore black uniforms. I went to church with my brothers and sisters, Miracle, Stella and my other four uncles. My father didn’t go there that day. He went to St. Monica’s Catholic Churc, Malali. Two of my uncles were affected. My brother, Miracle, was taken to 44 Army Hospital, Kaduna. I will still go back to the church if they repair it,” he said. Another victim, 10-year-old Kelvin Johnson, whose left ear was affected in the incidence, told Sunday Mirror that it was God that saved them from death. Johnson, a Primary 4 pupil at Local Government Education Authority, LGEA, school, Malali, Kaduna said he no longer hears from the ear owing to the shock of the blast. “I went to church with my mother on that day. I heard noise like an accident. I didn’t know where I was until Monday. I discovered that I lay down on the hospital bed. My mother too sustained injuries on her right hand. I cannot hear well with my left ear. I don’t know who brought me here. My mother is here with me but my father went out to bring food for us. The church is close to our house; I will go there again,” he told our correspondent. Sunday Mirror gathered that Rev. Fr. Bazza who was admitted at Multi Clinic, Malali may be transferred to a tertiary hospital for further check-up. Rev. Fr. Mark of St Matthew’s catholic Parish, Tele-

vision Village, Kaduna, however, told our correspondent that his colleague was now in stable condition “On Wednesday, we had a meeting of Reverend Fathers. After the gathering, we all moved there to see him. We saw him in a more stable condition. He responded to treatment very fast and we are seriously praying for his quick recovery. May the Almighty God heal the victims. We prayed for the nation too because our country needs prayers for stability,” he said. However, when Sunday Mirror later visited some hospitals, most of the victims were discharged.

Rev. Medouwa (right) presenting food items and other consumable to the less privileged at the weekend

Freebies, laughter for the orphans

Kelvin Johnson, another survivor of the attack

never committed’ kill me. He told me he belonged to a campus cult at the University of Ilorin where he was rusticated because of his involvement in cult activities. He boasted to me that he was the one that had the audacity to tell me off and not me.” Patience thought he was just bluffing. “I thought he was joking, I never knew he was serious because he actually came to the beer parlour where I was working as the manager a few days later in a different style. That day he was ready to fight to finish. But what saved the situation was my boss who intervened. He left promis-

as glorious songs of praise by the church choir permeated the background. Before main refreshment was shared, Master Obiorah Medouwa, son of the host pastor, had or these orphans, a rollicking Christmas is some encouraging words for the visitors. assured. This is because last Sunday, they “There is something special in you that will went home with large chunks of food items, make the world regard you. No matter how poor, clothes, foot wears and other goodies, courtesy neglected or downtrodden you are, you have of the Pentecostal Cannanland Church, Lagos. what it takes to be at the top.” The church, with headquarters at Ajao Estate He assured the kids that they were not just to Lagos, had chosen to put smiling faces on the inadd to the number of people living on the surmates of two orphanage homes, as part of activface of the earth but “you are wonderfully made ities marking this year’s Laughter Programme to fulfil God’s divine purposes. of the church. According to young Obiorah, Moses, Lord JeAnd luck brought the orphans to the sus and the current President of America programme of laughter after their were not born with silver spoons, but Homes- Arrows of God Orphaneach got to the top of their divine callage, Obadore and Hephzibah ing. Homes, lbereko in Lagos- were To get to the top, showing kindchosen for the freebies. ness to other people, having faith According to Nick Mein God and one’s self and obedidouwa, it is customary for ence to God and elders were key the Pentecostal Cannanland factors, Obiorah counselled. Church to gather people toThe food was then served and gether, for one week, to celeveryone had more than enough ebrate what has come to stay to eat and drink. Pastor Medouwa as a programme of laughter. later presented the supplies to the “It is a time when heaven coordinators of Arrow of God and intervenes in the affairs of men. Hephziba Homes, Miss Chiamaka At this time every year, the Lord Okonkwo and Miss Eka Konsir, respecvisits His church to bless His people tively . He assured them that the church would abundantly,” Pastor Nick Medouwa, Medouwa always be ready to make more provisions for Founder of the Church, explained. the homes. He added, “God said to me, ‘Every year, The coordinators thanked the church for its celebrate it and I will come down to bless the generosity and prayed that God Almighty would people; and we have had stunning testimonies reward the church immensely. as many barren women got their babies; the sick Pastor Medouwa explained that the whole were healed and some who were poor got open essence of the church was care for one another, doors after Laughter. especially for the needy . “Today, we also want to touch the lives of orJesus, he said, he went about preaching the phans and approached two orphanage homes to gospel, healing the sick and helping people in bring their inmates so that we can show them difficult situations. love, play with them, encourage them and give He, as such, urged affluent members of the them some food items, clothes, and to tell them public to look back and assist the less-privileged that they may not have parents but God will alin the society, rather than showing off wealth. ways provide for them,” Pastor Medouwa said. “Government should help the poor by creatThe children were treated to a warm weling jobs, giving scholarship and establishing come. Members and workers, led by Pastor vocational centres, where these people acquire and Pastor Mrs. Nick Medouwa, ushered their requisite skills and empowered. esteemed visitors into a tastefully furnished au“Rather than build mansions, living in glass ditorium. houses and having fleet of cars everywhere, I From that moment, it was fun galore for the think it time for wealthy men in our society to visiting orphans as they shared assorted canlook back. dies, iced cream and fruit Juice, along with the “Because, I have discovered that one cannot children of Pentecostal Cannanland Church. really have peace and happiness if the people The rain of gifts items such as slippers, school around are not happy,” he said. bags, caps and other personal effects continued

TAI ANYANWU

ing to show up next time when nobody would be in the shop with me. That was when it dawned on me that he was indeed ready to kill me.” While in prison, I learnt how to make beads, knitting and sew. Enismos School teachers were coming to teach us in the prison and when I graduated, they gave me a certificate. Apart from that, it was while in prison that I registered for GCE which I wrote this October. I’m not ready to have a boyfriend or to love again because I have learnt my lesson. I’m now 30. I got to the prison when I was 25.”

Lucky Momoh (left) with Nathaniel Lucas (right). Standing between them is Chief A. G. Giwa-Amu

Photo news

Sunday November 4, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Late Bimbo Odukoya’s daughter, Toluwani weds heartthrob

he wedding between Toluwani Caroline Odukoya and Olumide Michael Ijogun took place yesterday at the Fountain of Life Church, Ilupeju, Lagos. Reception followed immediately at the Haven Event Centre, GRA, Lagos. Toluwani is the daughter of Pastor Taiwo and late Bimbo Odukoya.

General Overseer, Reedemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E. A. Adeboye blessing the couple.

L-R: Former Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Pastor Ibrahim Abashi and Pastor Femi Odumabo. Father of the Bride, Pastor Odukoya (right) leading Toluwani down the isle.

Olumide and Toluwani. Bridal train. L-R Pastor Nomthi and Taiwo Odukoya, mother of the groom, Mrs. Sola Ijogun, the couple, Pastor Lara Adesanya and Father of the groom Mr. Siji Ijogun.

Best Man, Tolu Ijogun (left) and Bride’s Maid, Tobi Odukoya.

L-R: Pastor Adeboye, Pastor Wilson Badejo, former General Overseer of the Four Square Gospel church and Pastor Lara Adesanya.

Former Lagos State Deputy governor, Mrs. Sarah Sosan Lagos Governor’s wife, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola; Olumide and Toluwani; Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi.

Pastor Ituah Ighodalo (left) and former Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Leke Pitan.

L-R: Pastor Lara Adesanya, Pastor Nomthi Odukoya, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, the couple, Toluwani and Olumide,Pastor E. A. Adeboye, Bshop Mike Okonkwo and his wife, Bishop Peace.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Interview ENCOUNTER WITH A NEWS MAKER NOVEMBER 4, 2012

State police not solution to insecurity problems â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Prof Adeniran

Adeniran

Professor Tunde Adeniran is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a former Minister of Education. In this interview with Ayo Esan, he speaks about sundry issues as they affect democracy in Nigeria, the PDP and the country in general. Excerpts: We have had uninterrupted democratic rule in the past 13 years. How would you assess the unbroken chain? We are still learning the ropes. We know where we should be. Efforts are being made to get us on the track so that we will be able to get to where we ought to get to as far as democracy is concerned. It is not a photo finish affair. The process is on. There are certain things that we need to get right so that we will be able to get to the real destination of genuine democracy and it is my personal belief that if everybody will show genuine understanding, sufficient commitment and be ready to make the necessary sacrifices, we will be able to get there. Democracy does not profit from being self-seeking, being self-serving by practitioners of democratic system. It re-

quires service to the people; it calls for genuine patriotism, serious focus and commitment to that goal. It could challenge us in terms of individual conveniences but whatever it takes must be given for us to get to where we have to get to. It does not address the individual preferences. What it takes and requires is the collective commitment and concern to the good of the generality of the people so that their will would be met and be done at any given time, rather than the desires of individual public office seekers. Do you think there are clear-cut ideologies guiding our politics? That is part of the problem; we have what one could regard as ideological vacuity. You have parties without a di-

rect focus. We have parties whose goals and objectives are too fluid to be identified in terms of strict ideological commitment. Unless you have a focus, a goal anchored by principled commitment to a vision of society, you will not be able to stay on track. Unless the goal is identified based on a particular vision, then you believe in nothing. You have to have a clear set of goals and these goals must be anchored on certain fundamental ideological basis. So once this is lacking, then there is a problem. Most of the parties now mouth all kinds of goals, objectives and you can hardly place them as far as ideology is concerned. I believe that very soon, with the unfolding scenario, people will become more concerned and more challenged by the need to get focused in terms of ideology. Right now anything goes because that ideological commitment is not there. Our political parties are also being accused of lacking in internal democracy, especially in the way they pick their candidates for election. What is your view on this? CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

Interview

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘We need good governance, not state creation’

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 It is sad, very unfortunate. Internal democracy is what really prepares the ground for meaningful democracy at the larger level. If you throw up candidates that do not come out of a democratic process, internal party democratic process, they are not likely to be committed to democracy in the larger society. They want to do anything and everything to acquire powers and to stay in power simply because of the process that threw them up. It is not something that they value because they got in through a process of imposition or some procedural manipulations. Whereas if there is sufficient internal democracy and things are done according to the principle of democracy within the various political parties, then of course, those who go through that process will know that there is this value they should hold highly. Internal democracy propels democracy as a way of life. It fuels that dynamics and ultimately it makes it an enjoyable enterprise. You cannot have a house built on a shaky or false foundation and expect it to stand; problems will be there. During the last convention of your party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), you aspired to the office of the National Secretary. Most of you in the race were forced to step down to pave the way for an anointed candidate. Some elders of the party, we learnt, had to prostrate for you to step down. After labouring so much campaigning all over the country, how do you feel with that development? I wasn’t part of the party leadership that took the decision for some people to step down. The only aspect of it that I am aware of is that I had to withdraw because I realised that at a point it was necessary to do so, so as not to further heat up the tension that was within the party. I felt that if one was prepared having done a blueprint for restructuring of the party, working with the national chairman and other members of the National Working Committee, a very extensive and what I can regard as solid home work was done and it then appeared as if one may not be able to have that opportunity, I felt it was necessary at that time to withdraw. It wasn’t a goal that I set for myself for personal fulfilment. I wanted to serve the nation through the party and because I thought that if we are restructuring, it should start with the party itself. I also felt that if we moved in at that time, people will be able to know that people can actually get things right and that this country will definitely get it right. Party organisation and management are very central to the sustenance of democracy.

PDP recently celebrated its 14 years of existence. As one of the founding fathers, do you think the party has lived up to the dream for which it was founded, and what is the future of the PDP in Nigerian politics? I believe that one thing about the PDP is that it was a vision, an idea, whose time came at that time, the coming together, a rainbow coalition under one uniting umbrella. I believe the goals of the PDP, its mission is realisable. Because of the nature of PDP, it has been possible for this country to have this period of democracy. The party is large enough and strong to be able to continue to move Nigeria forward. The challenges are still there because we have elements within the party who are not as committed as they should be. We still need to face that challenge of encouraging people to be committed to democratic principles and be involved in democratic practices. Unless and until that is done, we will not be able to get to where we are going. When you also look at PDP as a student of politics and society, I realised that so far, it is still the closest to the ideal in terms of democratic practices. The other parties are worse when you talk of internal party democracy, when you talk of real commitment to the goal of democracy. I believe that the challenge that we face is to move towards the ideal to get things right, to do things right and also serve as a model to other parties. We can do more, we can do better and we have a president who believes very much in the rule of law, democratic processes and practices. We have a lot of work to do at the states’ level. Of course, once we get it right there it will also affect what happens at the local government level. PDP was controlling the South-West between 2003 and 2007 when it lost some of the states. In 2011, it lost the

Adeniran

‘PEOPLE TALK GLIBLY ABOUT STATE POLICE BUT THEY DO

NOT KNOW THE RAMIFICATIONS.

STATE POLICE HAS TO EMERGE THROUGH THE CONTENTS OF

TRUE FEDERALISM AND WE STILL HAVE SOME DISTANCE TO COVER TO GET TO THAT STAGE’

remaining ones. What effort is the party making to reclaim the South-West? It is quite visible. We need to do the right things and we are learning from the mistakes of the past. We believe that there are no two ways about it. There are three things we have to do. We have to go back to the basics, by knowing that there is no way to get things right than do things right. Number two is that we have to be united. Once we do things right and are all united, the final thing that we need is hard work. With those three, what will cap it up is the grace of God, and we are there. In fact, I see a situation in which once we do things right and we move in the right direction, many people who are in the other parties will come and join us. This is because they know that the future is very bright for the PDP in the South-West. The country has been battling the problem of insecurity, with the bombing in the North becoming a regular occurrence. What is the way out? A number of things have to be done. I believe it is important for our security agents to work harder. They are doing a lot; it is only those who have some basic knowledge of internal security that will appreciate what our security agencies are doing. They need to be more alert and proactive. With that, I think that area of internal terrorism would be curtailed and taken care of. Some of the other aspects of insecurity can also be seen as tied to large scale unemployment. I believe more should be done by government and the private sector in the area of youth employment. An enabling environment should be created. Many people have the wrong notion that government should be the sole employer of labour. It is the private sector that drives the economy anywhere and, in our own situation, with our own nature of the economy, our own ideological orientation as a country, we are what you can regard as a capitalist country, even though it is crude capitalism that we practise.

The other thing that I also believe should be done is serious re-orientation of our people. Nigerians are not learning the trade the way they should simply because many people believe in quick money. They believe in making money without working for the money. A lot of reorientation will have to be done. Some people also believe the solution to the present insecurity is the creation of state police. What is your view on this? State police is a desirable goal but we have to get things right first. Those calling for it are doing so for personal goals. Structurally, we cannot sustain the state police. There is so much to be done before we can get to that level. You see what is going on right now when some outfits are created in some places, they become instruments for harassing people. I believe in state police but a number of things have to be put in place before it can be established. Constitutionally, we are a federation, but we do not have true federalism as of now. We cannot just pick one element, it has to be a total package before it can be meaningful. People talk glibly about state police but they do not know the ramifications. State police has to emerge through the contents of true federalism and we still have some distance to cover to get to that stage. Among the issues being looked at by the Constitution Review Committee is the creation of more states. Do you think we need more states? My position is very clear on state creation. You will continue to have agitation for more states until every community, perhaps, becomes a state in Nigeria. This is because people see public office and the visible benefits which is unfortunate. With the economy that we have now it doesn’t make sense talking of more states. What we should be talking of now is good governance and selflessness on the part of leaders of those states. The way some governors run their states as personal empires will make people to agitate for their states. They are agitating for states because of neglect. They are also agitating for states because naturally we don’t have true federalism. When we have it and some responsibilities are imposed on states, many will keep shut. A situation in which you gather resources at the national level and distribute to states is not true federalism. Whether a state produces or does not, they know that there is an allocation that is coming. That allocation comes and the governor handles it the way he pleases. So many people will be agitating for state creation so that they can be governors and play the roles the governors are playing.

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Politics PROVIDING FRESH PERSPECTIVES TO ISSUES NOVEMBER 4, 2012

SINCE WE HAVE A NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IN PLACE, THERE IS NO NEED FOR ANY NATIONAL CONFERENCE. I BELIEVE THAT THE NATIONAL Staggering election is good ASSEMBLY IS REPRESENTING ALL THE SECTORS OF THE COUNTRY. –DR MAHMUD NDAGI but expensive –Aduwo P 40

Wada behind the crisis in Kogi State Assembly –Hon. Salihu P. 16, 41, 50

Briefly Afe Babalola faults National Assembly on constitution amendment

Legal icon, Chief Afe Babalola yesterday disagreed with the National Assembly (NASS) on the process of amending the Nigerian Constitution, saying the problem with the constitution cannot be solved by “mere amendments”. The National Assembly is currently carrying out steps toward amending the constitution, which became operational in 1999. Babalola said in a lecture in Abeokuta that, “In Nigeria such a move will need a total restructuring of the framework of the country so as to make the centre and political offices less attractive. “This can only be done through the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference and not through piecemeal amendments to the Federal Constitution which is de facto a unitary constitution. “Whichever way one looks at it, the issue is the lopsidedness of the constitution which cannot be cured by mere amendment.” Babalola’s lecture was entitled, “Leadership Challenges: Sub-Saharan Black Africa”, as part of activities to mark the 40th anniversary of Abeokuta Club. He said it was in the interest of the nation that all impediments toward the convocation of the conference were put aside and a legal framework put in place to bring it to reality. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) expressed optimism that the convocation of the conference would bring to an end issues that had to do with development, growth and nationhood. He said leaders and interest groups from all parts of the country were also in support of the conference to move the country forward.

Adamawa PDP, NWC at war over council poll OWOLABI ADENUSI YOLA

he Adamawa State Independent Electoral Commission (ASIEC) has fixed this month for the conduct of election into local government areas in the state. The election will feature Chairmanship and Councillorship positions. All the political parties that have indicated interest in the contest had already conducted their primaries where candidates emerged and the list of candidates have been forwarded to ASIEC for documentation. But it seem the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP)in the state which is a major participant in the polls is yet to put its house in order for the election as there are power tussle among its stakeholders and this is sending a dangerous signal to the mind of some of its teeming faithful. Political observers in the state said that if the warring actors in the party fail to look for amicable step to address the ugly trend it would likely have a side effect that might affect the political fortune of the party in the local council election and other future elections. They are also of the belief that the political wrangling in the ruling party can be described as a symbol of a house that is in disarray. Sunday Mirror findings revealed that few weeks to the said elections, the state PDP has been embroiled in a leadership tussle which is presently tearing its stakeholders apart while permutation and ma-

noeuvring has become the order of the day. It was also learnt that each of the camps have employed warfront tactics to outsmart each other in order to produce the standard-bearers for the polls, contrary to the fact that the process of candidature emergence for election is enshrined in the party’s constitution. Sunday Mirror gathered that Adamawa State Chapter of the ruling PDP has been embroiled in many controversies. For instance, the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar returning to the party from the Action Congress (AC) was issued a fake membership card, a scandal allegedly perpetrated by a factional leader of the party in the state, Chief Meden Teneke. Adamawa is also on record as the only PDP -control state in the country to be led by a link man in person of professor Jibril Aminu who single-handedly edged out the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the PDP, during a re-validation exercise carried out by the party during the former President Olusegun Obasanjo administration. The party is currently embroiled in another leadership tussle as to who is really in control of the party structure at the grass roots and this has pitched the party leadership against one another. The national chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and the governor of the state, Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako who is believed to be the leader of the party in the state are poised for war over the outcome of the result of the party primary. Political observers have described the unfolding events in the party as a clash of interest among the stakeholders of the party.

Investigation by Sunday Mirror revealed that the leadership of the party in Adamawa state under Minjiyawa Kugama, first officially wrote a letter dated 4th August 2011, to the National Organizing Secretary of the PDP through the Acting National chairman of the party to inform him about their readiness to conduct party primaries for local government election in the state before the Supreme Court ruling which terminated the tenure of five governors in which Adamawa state was among. According to the letter signed by the state chairman of the party, Alhaji Kugama and addressed to the PDP National Secretariat, party primaries for this election will take place between August 25 and September 6, 2011. “The state chapter requests that you provide 100 chairmanship and 500 Councillorship nomination forms for sales to interest card carrying financial members of the party. We further request that you endorse the decision of the State Chapter to conduct nomination of Council Chairmen through direct or indirect primaries as appropriate to the LGA in which all the card carrying members of all the Local Government Area will participate,” the PDP National Secretariat demanded. In a response to the letter through another letter dated 30 September and signed by the Acting National Chairman of the party in the state titled, “Re: Local Government Council Elections In Adamawa State. “We refer to your letter dated 21st September, 2011 on the above subject matter. The following bank information is for CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

Babalola

Boko Haram shouldn’t dictate pace of peace talks –Opadokun General Secretary of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Mr Ayo Opadokun, at the weekend urged the Federal Government not to allow the Boko Haram group to dictate the pace of peace talks. He gave the advice in Lagos during the 11th Annual Leadership Lecture and Role Model Awards, organised by Leadership Watch, a non-governmental organisation. Opadokun said that the demand by Boko Haram for peace talks in Saudi Arabia, among other demands, “is a curious demand” and an attempt by the “tail to wag the head”. The NADECO scribe noted that it was a “total absurdity” for a violent group, which had caused a lot of mayhem in the country, to dictate to Nigerians, urging the Federal Government to live up to expectations. Opadokun, who was the chairman on the occasion, said that even though he did not disapprove of dialogue with the group, such talks should be held on the right terms and conditions. “The government must tread softly,” he cautioned. He said that if the government acceded to the demands of Boko Haram, it could serve as a precedent which could propel other aggrieved groups to employ the same tactics.

Politics

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wada behind the crisis in Kogi State A Hon. Saidu Akawu Salihu is the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Public Enlightenment in the Kogi state House of Assembly. In this interview with Abuja Bureau Chief Iseoluwa Ige, Assistant Editor Obiora Ifoh and Marcus Fatunmole, he gives a synopsis of the crisis in the state and insists that Gov. Wada should be held accountable for the impasse in the state. Excerpts. What is the genesis of the crisis in Kogi State House of Assembly? On August 30, the House met in a full session and decided to embark on budget appraisal; that is the general appraisal of the 2012 budget. We were expecting that in the next few weeks, the new budget for 2013 would be coming up. So, we resolved in the whole House to embark on budget appraisal. And, because of the nature of our Assembly complex, we do Committee work right in the hallowed Chamber; we don’t have Committee rooms. We had to suspend plenary to be able to embark on the general budget appraisal. Of course, the time table was drawn for us to resume on the 18th of October. So, effectively from that 30th of August, we adjourned plenary. The various Committees would be calling the various MDAs to come to the House and analyse their budgets and we adjourned till 18th. On the 16th, two days to resumption, 12 members went and broke into the House with a fake mace and dragged the Clerk and sat and purportedly impeached the Speaker. 12 members out of 25 went into that place illegally. Article Four of the House Rule states very clearly the condition upon which a House can be recalled. And the condition is this: “That the Speaker has the discretion to call the House based on consultation with the majority and the minority leaders. Either of the two can suggest to the Speaker based on an emergency to recall the House. Upon consideration, the Speaker will recall the House. No other authority under our House Rule can reconvene the House. Anybody or group that does that is illegal, null and void. So, by the House Rule itself, that sitting is illegal; the house was not properly reconvened. We have 25 members and the constitutional provision for removing a Speaker is that it has to be twothird. Not only two-third on claim, not only two-third on paper, two-third must vote on the floor of the House before a Speaker or Deputy Speaker can be effectively removed. This did not happen because they didn’t have that figure. And, even to remove other Principal Officers, they need simple majority. This did not happen because they didn’t have the simple majority. Simple majority of the House must be 13. They didn’t even

meet the simple majority, let alone the twothird. So, their action is null and void. Now, this is our position that we are not quarreling with members who are thinking of removing the leadership; it must be done constitutionally. It must be done in line with the House Rules and regulation. Section 92 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, states what must be the composition of the House of Assembly that before a Speaker or Deputy Speaker could be removed, that there must be a vote on the floor of the House. They must satisfy two-third majority before they can effectively remove the Speaker. So, for us, the action in Kogi state is illegal, it is unconstitutional and it is ultra vires. As far as we are concerned, those dissident legislators have erred on the side of the law. Our call is on the agencies concerned, particularly the security agencies to ensure that enabling environment is created for us to function as legislators of Kogi state Assembly. What is happening in Kogi state today is that these 12 members have the backing of the Executive and I have every reason to believe so. One, on the day they sat on the (October), 16 they were said to have come in a bus straight from Government House. 12 of them came to the Assembly in a Government House bus. And immediately they finished, they left back to report at Government House. The reception accorded them by the Governor was shown on the national television. He gave them instant recognition and gave them a Hilux jeep. They started parading themselves around as the new leadership of the House. Our expectation is that as the leader of the state, as the leader of the party with the majority in the House, and more fundamentally, as the Chief Security Officer of the state, we expected him to call a truce between members of the House. If 12 people appeared before you and claimed to have sacked a leadership, he is very much aware of the nature of the House; we have been visiting him, all the 25 of us. We expect that he would have called them to order or would have inquired. Instead, he gave them instant recognition; he gave them money to be going about the area.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 you to remit funds collected for nomination/Expression of interest forms sold for local Government Council elections in your state which you mentioned in your letter as N53,307,750.00 (fifty three million naira only. Name of Bank; Oceanic Bank Plc, NEXIM. Acct No; 0050912198. Sort Code: 056080197 and the money was acknowledge to be received on 7th October 2011.” The national secretariat of the PDP on 31 May 2012 through a letter signed by Onwe S. Onwe, the Deputy National Secretary of the party to Adamawa State chairman of the party said, “the attention of the National Secretariat of our Great Party has been drawn to the forthcoming Local Government Election in Adamawa State and your plan to conduct primaries for the said elections I wish to draw your attention to the provision of section 50(1)(2)(7)and(8)of the PDP constitution (Article17(1)(2)(c)(F) of the PDP constitution 2009) to the effect that it is the National Executive Committee of the party that has the power to arrange for the conduct of primaries and submit the party’s nominees for all elections into public offices. Accordingly, you are advised to urgently liaise with the of-

Hon. Salihu

A number of issues where raised why the speaker must go, can you take them one by one as alleged? I will be taking them for the purpose of enlightening the public. If not for that purpose, we have no reason going into that; because what is important to us is that members can at any point in time change their leadership. But, they must change it according to the law of the land; that is the rule of law. They alleged that the leadership as symbolised by Abdullahi Bello, the Speaker, is insensitive to the plight of Kogites. One, that there was an attack on Deeper Life church in Okenne and he didn’t show any concern; that the leadership did not show any concern. This is a blatant lie. When this incident happened, Abdullahi Bello was performing Umrah (Hajj) in Mecca. Even from there, (Mecca), he was on top of the situation, calling all the security agencies and making useful suggestions. On the day he arrived, he summoned one or two of us, I particularly as Chairman, House Committee on Information, he called me and we visited all the security agencies, particularly the Army Commandant to help in commiserating and sympathizing with the families of those two soldiers

that died in Okenne and to offer useful sug on how to finally contain the situation. We that with an Executive Session with all the m in attendance including all the security Kogi state. They came to the House of Ass fact, it was a very thorough session. We shar we cross-checked notes on how the incident nailed once and for all. On that occasion, t Commissioner publicly acknowledged the r Speaker in helping them to combat the situ fact, he said of all public functionaries, all po in Kogi state, the Speaker was the only one sympathized with them, that had collabora them by way of useful suggestion on how to problem. So, wherein lies the claim that the was insensitive? Secondly, the complaint on the flood that flood happened in Kogi, the leadership was to respond, this again is a white lie. When appened in Kogi state for some of us from governments that were affected, we even m sonal donations. I am from Kogi Koton Ka government, my area was also affected. I m

Adamawa PDP, NWC bicker over fice of the National Organizing Secretary for arrangements to screen and conduct primaries for Councillorship and chairmanship aspirants. On August 15, 2012, a press statement was issued by Adamawa State Independent Electoral Commission, signed by one Florence E. Zakari. The statement read, “It is hereby notified for general information that Elections will be held throughout the 21 local governments in Adamawa State in November 2012. The exact date will be notified in due course. Registered political parties wishing to field candidates are hereby directed to embark on electioneering campaigns as from 1st September, 2012 to carry out primary elections and to submit names of their aspirants to this commission on or before 8th October 2012,for necessary documentation. Thereby the commission will arrange for the mandatory screening of all aspirants. The Adamawa state PDP in order to meet up with the state independent electoral commission guideline wrote to the na-

tional leadership of the party and conducted the said party primaries for interested aspirants As a result of the concluded local government chairmanship and Councillorship primary elections conducted by the party, the names of those who were successful were presented as candidates and submitted to the state independent electoral commission. However, the national secretariat of the party said it has cancelled the outcome of the said primaries. The National Working Committee of the party, said it also dissolved the state working committee led by Kugama for what it described as violation of due process. It added that the primaries was conducted without the express permission of the NWC of the party. The National Working Committee of PDP said it had rendering the action and the conduct of the primaries ineffective and therefore appointed caretaker committee to conduct fresh primaries for the party pending the reconstitution of a new state working committee of the party.

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Sunday, November 4, 2012

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

MD/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

BOLAJI TUNJI

SUNDAY EDITOR

DOZIE OKEBALAMA

COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD

ADESOYE ADEKOYA

CONTROLLER, PRODUCTION

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ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF

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SM, STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT

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FRANK OBOH

HEAD, GRAPHICS

Lingering burden of fuel subsidy budgeting

ix months after the Federal Government, FG, made public its resolve to plug leakages in the management of fuel subsidy funds, it still appears the dubious regime which encourages large scale theft of public funds is still thriving. It is apparent that the beneficiaries of the unlawful subsidies have resorted to employing blackmail and other intrigues to arm-twist the government into permitting the payment of subsidy for petroleum products not supplied. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Ngozi OkonjoIweala, a few days ago, dropped hints that the government was under pressure when she dismissed calls for a supplementary budget to offset the virtually depleted Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) budget of N888 billion for 2012. She reportedly stated while in Tokyo, Japan that “we have not exhausted the fund and there may not be the need for a supplementary budget”. Following eight days of massive national protests that greeted the sudden January 2012 hike in the pump price of fuel from N65 to N140 per litre in what the FG christened partial deregulation, President Goodluck Jonathan had promised to clean up the rot in oil subsidy management. The contention of the public then was that consumers were not benefiting from the purported subsidy, as kerosene has never sold at the official subsidised price of N50 per litre, but between N170 then and N140 now. Therefore, what the FG was subsidising was official corruption. The public impression was subsequently confirmed by the ensuing House of Representatives’ investigation which uncovered that statutory petroleum

industry regulatory agencies coordinated by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources overshot roughly fourfold, without parliamentary approval, the initial N250 billion budget provision for subsidies in 2011 by recklessly spending over N1 trillion. President Jonathan thereafter vowed to clean up the Augean Stable. But it would seem doing just that has remained impossible. Out of the N888 billion approved for petroleum subsidies in the 2012 budget, N451 billion had already been spent on 2011 backlog payments, an indication that settling arrears of 2011 could wipe out the entire 2012 PSF vote if adequate precautions are not taken by the FG. About N232 billion was earmarked for paying the 2011 subsidy arrears out of the N888 billion PSF budget for 2012. Regrettably, the debt has been mounting, a situation that compelled the finance ministry to halt further payments. “This is clearly not sustainable and the ministry has a responsibility to ensure that the lapses that may have led to this unhealthy situation are not repeated”, the ministry had said in a statement last May. That was the month Okonjo-Iweala stopped further payments of subsidies’ backlog until investigations were concluded to verify claims by the Nigerian

is still deeply involved in a bribery scandal to cover up alleged subsidy fraud by his firm, Zenon Oil and Gas. Seven months after the subsidy management investigations, the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and NNPC are still supplying contradictory figures of domestic fuel consumption ranging from 33 million to 59 million litres per day. But petroleum ministry officials said the figures dished out by PPPRA and NNPC were unreliable. Yet, the accurate figure of consumption is absolutely necessary to guide budgetary plans and, perhaps most importantly, to compute actual quantity on which genuine subsidies should be paid. Worse still are the contradictory official figures of daily fuel production by the nation’s ailing four domestic refineries and the actual quantity of daily crude oil allocation to the NNPC, estimated about 15 years ago to be 445,000 barrels per day, and what happens to the surplus since all domestic refineries are almost redundant. The continued absence of vital statistics in the oil industry appears a deliberate ploy by pathologically dishonest bureaucrats to perpetuate fraud for eternity in the industry. It has lingered because of the FG’s high degree of tolerance for the ineptitude

National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which accounts for most fuel importation and subsidy claims; as well as other marketing companies. Charged with the verification of the claims was a presidential committee headed by Access Bank chief executive, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, and the Economic Management Team, of which a member, Chief Femi Otedola,

and corrupt exploits of top public officials in the sector. Only unwavering and steely determination by the Jonathan government would compel the heads of the nation’s oil sector regulatory agencies to provide reliable statistics on the sector. The FG should insist on the vital statistics or risk losing its campaign to rid the oil sector of corruption.

Reminiscences NOVEMBER 4 IN HISTORY 1922: Egypt - King Tutankhamen’s tomb discovered British Archaeologist, Howard Carter, and his workmen discovered a step leading to the tomb of King Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. 1944: Dewey flays Roosevelt over WW2 Governor Thomas Dewey criticised President Franklin Roosevelt as the reason why the Second World War was prolonged. Dewey stated that the war had continued on as a result of Roosevelt’s “confused incompetence”. 1955: Selassie celebrates silver jubilee Emperor Haile Selassie celebrated his silver jubilee, and introduced a more liberal constitution in Ethiopia. 1958: Pope John XXIII emerges 262nd pontiff Pope John XXIII, the son of a poor Italian farmer, was crowned 262nd pontiff of the Catholic Church on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica with 200,000 spectators watching from St Peter’s Square in a four-hour ceremony. 1980: Reagan wins US presidency with a landslide Former Hollywood actor and Republican Ronald Reagan won the US presidential elections, beating Democrat, Jimmy Carter, with a huge majority. 1995: Israeli Rabin assassinated Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin of Israel was assassinated. It was believed that the man responsible for the death of Rabin was affiliated from a right wing group. This man was also said to have been from Herziliya. Rabin was hit in the back, shoulder and side. 2008: Obama wins US presidential election The Democratic Party did well on the national level, with increased majorities in both houses of Congress and won the Presidency. Barack Obama won the United States election as the Democratic Party nominee. The incumbent Vice-President, Dick Cheney, did not run for the office. The presidential election that year was the first since 1928 in which neither an incumbent president nor an incumbent vice-president was a candidate.

Opinion

Sunday November 4, 2012

Uncensored U nc

Sheriff S Folarin

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

he reported incident of seizure and destruction of about 3, 000 motorbikes by the Raji Fashola-led government of Lagos State hit us like a superstorm. What was startling about the development was not the seizure of the motorcycles. Seizure and arrest of users are expected as part of the enforcement of the ban on the riding of commercial motorbikes in certain places of Lagos State. One would expect that after the signing into law on August 2, of the new Lagos Traffic Law, which included the controlled use and specifications of routes for “okada”, there was bound to be the application and enforcement of such rules, particularly going by the rich and strong legal background of Fashola, the state Governor. What was shocking however, was the destruction of the motorbikes. According to the reports, overzealous traffic law enforcement agencies, spearheaded by the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences Unit, on the orders of the Governor, took the impounded motorbikes to a dumpsite and destroyed them. The destroyers ensured that all of the motorcycles were reduced to a complete state of disrepair so as to render them permanently unusable. The carcasses were reportedly exported to a recycling plant. Not one of the machines was spared. The damaged motorcycles are estimated at N321m, and the number of bikes involved implies that 3, 000 or more families have

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The excesses of the Fashola ‘Lagos Traffic Law’

been denied their means of livelihood. Experts and concerned professionals have even averred that this act was capable of rendering 3, 000 families impoverished in the process, and that the situation could snowball into an aggravated security problem in the state if the jobless ‘okada’ riders resort to crime in the desperate bid to survive, or desperation to recoup their losses, or frustration arising from hopelessness in an attempt to offset the debt they may have incurred by the loss of the motorcycles. Aside the economic scenarios created above, there is also a moral import of the act. 3, 000 motorcycles is a huge number in a city where hustling is the spirit and principle of survival. The‘okada’ riders have been banned from 475 major roads and bridges; Section 11 of the Traffic Law restricts them to only the local routes such as intra-community streets and minor roads. Only motorcycle of 200 CC engine capacity and above are permitted to ply the prohibited routes. By implication, any motorcycle below such capacity, including those of courier companies and media houses cannot ply the 475 routes. The question is when will the law enforcers determine which motorcycles have the 200 CC capacity? Just by sighting them or by stopping to check each of the hundreds of motorbikes that ply those routes every minute? There cannot be fairness in that process. Moreover, what happens to the hordes of commuters who always try to beat the hopeless traffic situations in the state to meet up with crucial appointments, job resumption hours, and attend to life-saving conditions? One is wont to think that Fashola may have forgotten the Lagos he left behind five years ago after walking into the Aluasa and Marina Paradises. Another moral question is whether the Fashola administration considered the perspective that any law made for man should have a human face. If there are any good intentions in the Lagos Traffic Law as it affects

‘okada’ in Lagos-and I strongly believe that the government has good intentions-then, the Fashola law enforcers must reason and behave decently by treating the ‘okada’ men like human beings. May be they need some exposure to the western system of enforcing laws where even the hardest of criminals is treated like a king from arrest to conviction by law enforcement officers. The brash, crude, rude, banal and destructive ways of Lagos State officials, including LASTMA and KAI do not send the right signals about good governance and certainly do not project the Fashola administration in a good light. The law enforcers need refinement, while an acceptable approach by the government would have been to allow the courier and media riders to ply any of the routes since they are not commercial riders that carry passengers. Another acceptable manner would be to seize the commercial motorcycles and fine the motorcyclists who flout the rules. If this is persistent, no ‘okada’ rider would want to repeatedly lose his daily hard-earned peanuts to arrests, seizures and fines. That is an effective deterrent measure. This is what Fashola and his crew must understand: laws are made to, and are more effective when they serve the purpose of deterrence, correction and refinement; not when they brutalize or dehumanize. One cannot however dismiss wholesale, the traffic law as it affects ‘okada’. The Lagos State Government obviously meant well for the people. ‘Okada’ accidents occur every day in Lagos and other parts of the country. The unschooled riders crudely negotiate bends and culverts and engage in maneuverings on highways like invincible men. They sometimes speed like pilots in the air and most often engage in speed contests with fast-moving cars. Their crash has left many innocent passengers dead or fatally injured. It is estimated that 513 fatal accidents captured by the state government in the last two years have been caused by ‘okada’. These scenes occur every other day. I have

driven past too many of such unpleasant sights even in most recent times. I practically use any opportunity I have to discourage persons from patronizing ‘okada’, no matter the circumstance. Trailers, articulated trucks and even sleek cars have had to crush ‘okada’ riders and passengers because of reckless riding or a little slip on the road. Too many times, one has had to apply breaks suddenly because of the carelessness of commercial motorcyclists. Aside the accident cases and the wanton disregard for traffic rules, there is also the trend whereby robberies, ritual kidnaps and terrorist strikes are facilitated by ‘okada’riders. The first two cases are commonplace in Lagos, while terrorist strikes are the stock-in-trade of ‘okada’ riders in the Northeastern part of Nigeria. If Fashola bans ‘okada’for these reasons alone, to stop or prevent their occurrence in Lagos, he is justified. Very justified. But resorting to intimidation, arrest, seizure, destruction of the bikes, is over the top. It is jungle justice. Government can have all ‘okada’ operators digitally registered and closely monitored in the process to prevent their being used for criminal activities or reckless riding. Government should also step up its technological capacity by installing close-circuit televisions along the roads and strategic places, or even in the routes alone to follow up on rule violation, crime and recklessness perpetrated by the motorcyclists. If the vociferation against backwardness and promises of the State Governor to transform Lagos into a leading and decent megacity are not another political gimmick, then the state is long overdue for CCTVs to monitor crimes and lawlessness and not the anachronistic and antediluvian recourse to brute force all the time by the overzealous law enforcement officers. •Dr. Folarin teaches Politics and Inernational Relations at Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State.

Disconnect in reasoning on Oyo N50bn bond FESTUS ADEDAYO

here is no doubt that the years of military dictatorship and the bitter facts of the African historical past have sidled into the lexicon and thought process of Nigerians. The troika of the people, government and the governed are not blameless in this regard. While governments see themselves as reincarnation of the African kings and kingdoms that can do no wrong, the governed and the people in general problematize the art of governance, erecting a buffer between them and the government which they elected; or purportedly elected. This results in the ‘we’ and ‘them’ division where government is the ‘them’ and the people the ‘we’. The ‘we’ don’t trust the‘them’ as the former implicates the latter in the stagnation of its development. In the ensuing warfare between the ‘we’ and the ‘them’, a lot of weapons are utilized, some fair and some foul. Because the ‘them’ is not part of the ‘we’, it is sought to be brought down viciously with a combination of outright falsehood, inflated untruth and what, in common parlance, is called roforofo. Mr. Ayodele Adigun has traversed the two divides of ‘we’ and ‘them.’ Being a former Director of Budget and Planning, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, among other ministries, Commissioner for Special Duties and Secretary to the Oyo State Government under Senator Rashidi Ladoja, before his current out-of-office situation which, to expolitical appointees, is called political Siberia,

he can speak for both divides with oracular certainty. So when he wrote the Disconnect in Oyo N50 Billion Bond (The Guardian on Sunday, October 28, 2012, Tribune, October 31, 2012), because he holds ‘Gold Card’ membership of the ‘we’ and ‘them’ divides, he was expected to have brought to bear his accumulated acumen, experience and dispassionate understanding of the peculiar turfs of the two divides. But, alas, as this piece seeks to state presently, the unpleasant incubus of his present occupation with the ‘them’ has wiped off the essential ingredient of objectivity required of him. The piece began with a pretension to objectivity, however. As someone who had served as top civil servant in Oyo State and having been saddled with the responsibility of fiscal policy management, preparation and implementation of budget and financial appropriations, he said, he had ample reasons to disagree with the N50 billion bond which the Oyo State House of Assembly recently authorized the state government to collect. Which is a legitimate dissent. But when the piece went into the details of the dissention, you could not but pity a state that lifted such a character to the highest echelon of power in the past. Like a deadly blow, the reality would hit you as to why Oyo State had stagnated for this long and why a state of firsts suddenly relapsed into coma. When a man who had risen that high parades such abysmal mischief and flaunts it with candour, you needed not look far for a testament to the stasis of Oyo State. The piece betrayed the credentials paraded by its

supposed author, forcing any financial analyst to wonder if Disconnect in Oyo N50 Billion Bond was actually authored by a road-side hate-hawker who needed to affix the name and credentials of the Adigun to his venomous ware. But, for the sake of argument, let us address its content. At a very early stage of the piece, ‘Adigun’ unfurled his ignorance and inability to distinguish between a loan and bond. This naivety envelopes the piece. The write-up is so ridiculously awash with unbridled ignorance and arrogance that the first thing to do is educate the author about the points of divergence of the two financial instruments. First, a bond can only be collected at the capital market while a loan is got through the bank. The Federal Government, through Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), guarantees it and peers its searchlight into the purpose of the bond which requires finical long-term process and financial plan. Thus, if your reason for bond is too jejune, the federal government refuses to guarantee it. There is a fixed rate for bond as against a loan that fluctuates and the former must be used for development purpose and thus cannot be diverted from the stated purpose. This is why it takes a longer time to repay a bond than loan. The tragedy of loans is that being a short-term instrument, it is mostly used for long-term projects. In the case of Oyo, the reasons for procuring the bond are for the urban mass transit plan of government; development of agricultural silos of 10,000 metric tonnes in each of the three senatorial districts as Oke Ogun is the food

basket of the state, construction of a 108-km Ibadan Circular Road, building of a canning/ agro-processing factory, housing estate and others. But, to the‘Adiguns’, this is balderdash as this will trump up ‘that boy’ as the Oyo messiah. Lest I forget, is it mischief or ignorance that made ‘Adigun’ say Olagunsoye Oyinlola in Osun State took bond when the whole world knows that what he took was a loan? Now, to the second prong of ‘Adigun’s diatribe. In one breath, he acknowledges that there is a “validity of the extremely bad position of decadence (sic) of infrastructure” in Oyo State but failed to posit that this was an inheritance bequeathed by apparently short-sighted Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administrations of the state in the last nine years. Adigun starred prominently as engine room of this systemic rot, especially as Secretary to the State Government. To the constituency where ‘Adigun’ belongs, you could murder the god of truth and replace it with the goddess of absolute falsehood; no one drags you by the nape of your trousers to account for your paradiddles. The Ajimobi government’s massive infrastructural intervention in Oyo State, in the face of acute inherited rot, is the sing-song of the people of the state. Right now, over 200 roads, being constructed by the government in the last 17 months, are in various stages of completion. They are verifiable and government has published the addresses of all of them. •Dr. Adedayo is Special Adviser (Media) to the Oyo State Governor.

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Applause LIFESTYLE, FASHION & ENTERTAINMENT NOVEMBER 4,, 2012

‘Most guys marry actresses not for genuine love but fame’ Ifeoma Anyiam, an actress, a mother and wife is one of the screen divas who have paid their due in Nollywood having been there for over a decade. She tells Adaeze Amos in this interview that the strength of her marriage lies in the fact that she is married to a man who understands her.

For how long have you been in the acting world? I actually started acting 12 years ago but I took a short break to raise my baby boy.

‘The Girl is Mine’, ‘I Have a Dream’, ‘Woman on Top’, ‘Who Laughs Last’, ‘Colours of Many Emotion’, and so many others I may not remember now.

How has life been in the movie industry? There are numerous challenges, especially when you are coming up as a greenhorn in the industry. You will not find it easy because you have some people who would take advantage of you by giving you what is not supposed to be with regard to your professional fees. They know you are trying to come up. When you go to location to shoot, you won’t be given a comfortable room to sleep in a hotel; they would tell you to go home that they did not make adequate arrangements for you. Those are some of the challenges you face while trying to grow in the industry. But for those who have paid their due, like me, it’s no longer like that. In all, it has been good.

How do you combine motherhood, marriage and acting so that none suffers? Since I got married, I had not really been on location because I travelled out of the country. I wasn’t doing movie at those times. I stopped because my baby was tender and he needed all the motherly attention from me. I will soon bounce back.

What did you study in the university? I earned a degree in Theatre Arts from the Lagos State University although I had a diploma in Radio and TV Communication first.

How do you feel about some of your colleagues who are having difficulties in their marriage? It makes me feel bad. What I would say to my colleagues is that before they get married, they should try and study the person that wants to marry them. I know that most of these guys don’t even really want to settle down. Some of them while watching our movies see somebody like their role model and would say, ‘if I see this lady and I’m able to say hi to her and she responds, I would just marry her’. It’s not about love per se. It’s about the excitement. If they meet an actress and they say hi to her and she responds and one thing leads to the other and the actress agrees to date them or to go on a date with them, within two or three months, you see them proposing marriage. It’s not because he genuinely loves the girl but just because he is excited to be with such a person. By the time they get married and the chips are down, they start seeing faults and problems. Take for instance, a man who is dating an actress who smokes. To him it meant nothing while they were dating

Can you recall your most challenging role? I would say that all the roles I had actually been given were challenging in their own way. However, my most challenging would be ‘Child of Destiny’ because it’s an emotional story. I played the character of Ola who cried all the way through the movie. It’s very challenging and emotional. She was an orphan yet she had parents. They (parents) abandoned her. It’s a very touchy story. At times, I would even forget that I was acting and cried all the way. Apart from Child of Destiny, what other movies have you featured in? I also did ‘Girls’ Hostel’. The movie is about campus lifestyle. I had also featured in ‘Havoc’, ‘Opportunity’,

Does your husband frown at your acting career? No, he doesn’t; he encourages me. Are you happy in your marriage? Yes, I’m happily married.

‘I WILL NEVER GET MARRIED; MARRIAGE IS A CAGE’

because he was excited to be with her. All of a sudden he gets married to her and he begins to question why she smokes. But you met her smoking? One thing then leads to the other and before you know it, there is a problem. But these were the things you saw and you gave a blind eye. The excitement now is no more. You are now beginning to see clearly. This is the kind of thing that leads to divorce. What attributes should they look out for in order not to fall into wrong hands? I won’t be talking to my colleagues alone. I would be talking to women in general. If you are dating a guy, don’t be carried away by the moment. First of all, you need to know the kind of person he is. You need to find out if he is an understanding person…whether he is selfish. If he is a selfish person, then you shouldn’t be with such a person because he is thinking about is himself. But if he understands you and your shortcomings without complaining, then I think that is the guy for you. What does marriage mean to you? Marriage has to do with a lot of respect. It is not enslavement. It is supposed to be fun between a man and his wife. It should be you-help-me and I-help-you kind of relationship. A man shouldn’t really sit down and expect the wife to do everything for him. He should be able to appreciate his wife, especially when she is struggling to ensure she pleases him. Say thank you if need be. That goes a long way. Most of our men don’t even know how to say thank you to their wives. Some don’t even have simple courtesy. They feel everything a woman does is their right. When you appreciate your wife for what she does for you, you will see her doing more. Can you imagine that some men find it difficult to say sorry to their wives, because of ego? If you want to do that ego CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

‘I CAN’T BE CAUGHT IN BIKINI, EVEN AT POOLSIDE’

Applause

Sunday, November 4, 2012

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; d e i r r a m t e g r e v e n l l i w ‘I ’ e g a c a s i e g a i marr Black but beautiful Nancy Inyang is the current Miss Akwa Ibom, Lagos. She sees marriage as bondage. Her worst fear is to be divorced, a reason for which she has decided never to get married. Nancy also tells Adaeze Amos that she had never tried bleaching or toning her complexion because black is beautiful. You are so black; have you ever tried toning up? I have never given it a thought before. I love my complexion. It pays to be dark honestly because it is easier to maintain. Also, black is indeed beautiful. Some women suffer ill-treatment in the hands of their men; what’s your advice to them? I pity them. I’m a woman and it is true. I’m not married but that saddens me. My advice to such women is that they should keep on praying. I know it would only take God’s intervention before they can wriggle out of such difficulty. I think that is all I can say to them. Considering the high rate of divorce now, do you nurse the fear of getting married? Yes, I do. In fact, that is my worst fear for now. I don’t even think I would get married. I don’t like what is going on in so many homes or so many marriages in Nigeria. Many divorcees everywhere; divorce has robbed most women their joy. I don’t think I would give room for that in my life. Honestly, I don’t think I would get married; I don’t even like marriage. It’s all about caging a woman. I think that is all marriage is all about to me. But you are from a home where your father and mother are married? Yes, but ‘a beg’, I won’t try that. Because my mum is married, doesn’t mean I should follow her footsteps. Believe me, gone are those days you have to look at the background. What matters most is my life. I’m not ready to suffer any disdain in a man’s house. I rather just remain single and mingle. Yeah, that is me. So, you wouldn’t mind having children out of wedlock? What is wrong with that? I can have one or two kids on my own, take adequate care and raise them well, that is what matters. I can be happy without getting married. So many women who are even married are not happy in their marital homes. Thousands of ladies out there who are not married are happy with themselves. What is paramount is being able to retain your joy at the end of the day.

‘Stardom has taken my privacy! I was no longer myself at a point’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 thing, do it in your office, probably to your staff and not to your wife who knows every bit of you. What have you been doing right to keep your marriage? Nothing! Maybe I’m just lucky I met someone who understands me and I understand him. I think that is what I’m doing right. What has stardom taken from you? My privacy. I was no longer myself at a point. There are places you would love to go but you can’t. I’m now living my life for people, I mean, it’s not easy. People expect you to smile at all times even when you are not happy. Even when you manage to put on a smile; they would ask why is she smiling? Can you reach out to up-and-coming actresses with regard to fame? I want to tell them not to be carried away by fame. There are a lot of things with stardom especially our ladies. Just be yourself. When you are famous, you won’t really be yourself as such but try and maintain your cool. Have you observed that some of your colleagues are arrogant? Yes, I have noticed it and that is what comes with stardom if you don’t control it. The younger actresses should learn to respect their elders. I mean those of them that have paid their due in the industry. They should learn to be friendly and humble. Honestly, it pays to be humble.

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Cocktail Whispers

Stories by Olumide Segun-Oduntan

0818 941 8761 e-mail: lumidezy@yahoo.com

NOVEMBER 4, 2012

It’s a baby girl for Lara George and hubby

Chidinma finds love Have you seen Chindinma Ekile lately? Well, if you have not seen the celebrated winner of MTN Project Fame recently, then let’s tell you that that there is currently a wonderful glow radiating around her. And before you start wondering why Chidinma is glowing radiantly at the moment, it will interest you to know that the sensational singer has found love. Yes, Chidinma Ekile is currently in a hot romance with Soundcity presenter, Adams Ibrahim. Cocktail Whispers learnt that Chidinma and Adams met in the course of their job and they have been dating for some time now.

A few months ago readers of this column were informed that celebrated music diva, Lara George was about to be a mother again. Well, the better news now is that the former Kush member has given birth to a bouncing baby girl. Yes, the big bold and beautiful songstress and her husband have welcomed the birth of their second child which occurred a few days ago in the United States of America. Just in case you are not aware, Lara George has thrilled gospel music fans over the years with her soul inspiring hits like ‘Ijoba Orun’ and ‘Ko Le Baje’ among others. Those who have followed her brand of music will agree that she has really exhibited her unique performing talents. Now that she is a mother again, there is no doubt that the very talented music star will continue to dish out more hits for her fans. Well, at least, when she was on the nine months course, she did not stop spending time in the studios.

Council chair and Sallah gift wahala The current Chairman of Agboyi/ Ketu Local Government Area in Lagos State, Mr. Obafemi Durosinmi, is not likely to be a happy man at the moment. This is because many people in Ketu are not happy with him. According to the gist, the workers of Ketu Local Government are very angry with Durosinmi and from all indications, they are determined to get back what he had taken from them. Cocktail Whispers learnt that Lagos State Government made some money available to all local government chairmen in the state which they were to disburse to their staff members as Sallah gift. However, trouble started in Agboyi/ Ketu Local Government area when Durosinmi failed to give to his workers what they believed to be rightly theirs. It was gathered that the situation in the council now is such that the angry workers have decided to protest the wrong done them by their chairman. The workers have therefore decided to confront Durosinmi by putting up graffiti on the walls of the secretariat that calls him uncomplimentary names and asking what has become of their Sallah gift.

2face Idibia acquires multi million Naira homes If the gist made available to Cocktail Whispers is to be believed, then these are certainly exciting times for one of Africa’s most celebrated musicians, 2face Idibia. This is because the hugely talented artiste and his wife and kids are likely to be moving to a new house soon. According to the latest feelers reaching Cocktail Whispers, the popular music star has recently acquired two properties in some highbrow areas of Lagos. It was gathered that 2face Idibia acquired the properties from Haven Homes just a couple of days ago. It was also learnt that 2face’s new homes cost him a lot of millions of naira. And can you guess who the first person to be excited about the star’s new acquisition? Of course, his wife, Annie Macaulay.

Movies & Music

Stories by Olumide Segun-Oduntan

08189418761 e-mail: lumidezy@yahoo.com

Benin City is next as Nigerian Idol train bids Owerri farewell As the Idols train glided purposefully first to Abuja and then Port Harcourt, aspiring voices in Owerri waited for a chance to be auditioned for the spot of the next Nigerian Idol. Though Saturday, October 20, 2012 began with heavy rainfall, this did not stop the young and talented from flooding Imo Concorde hotel, the audition venue. “I got to realize that the Nigerian Idol Owerri audition was on my birthday and I saw it as a sign from God to go ahead and fulfill my dreams because music is all I have ever dreamt about,” said Moses Babalola, one of the contestants from Benin City. Jennifer Eke, a physically challenged contestant, added that “music has helped me through my challenge and there is no better way to demonstrate my love for music except through the Idol platform.” As usual, lead sponsor, Etisalat, was on hand to ease the tension and entertain the hopefuls. There was music and comedy led by Kay Switch who performed his hit song, ‘Sister Caro’, Wizboy who performed his song, ‘Onwusagie and Infinity’ and Obiwon, who performed his new single, Up-and-coming act, Nasirl (Ayala Nasiru) has revealed that his dream is to fea‘Father’ as ture Wizkid and 2face on his debut album which is currently in the works. well as his The act, whose third video, Expensive, should hit airwaves anytime soon opened all time hit up on why he wants to work with both artistes. song, ‘Obi “2face is a legend. He has made his mark and is still very relevant in the industry Mu O’. while Wizkid represents the new generation of artistes. I think they are both very big artistes and I’d love to work with them on my album project,” 21 year-old Nasirl said. The act also opened up on his brand new video which should drop any time soon. “My new video, Expensive should hit the airwaves any time soon. Expensive is the story around us. It does not really mean you must have all the money in the world. It’s more a state of the mind thing. If you treat yourself like you’re expensive, then, people will relate with you on that level but if you present yourself cheap, you will become cheap automatically; that’s the message behind Expensive. The video was shot by Moe Musa. I am signed unto Legend Entertainment Records run by Ade.” When is his debut album dropping? “Not yet. I am still working on the album. We have six songs. I follow the trend in the industry. I am coming out with something very different.” The act also disclosed that late Afro beat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti is his inspiration: “The root of my music is Fela. He is the main inspiration; I draw a lot from Afro beat and the rest comes from fusion. I also have a lot of respect for Ray Charles; he is such a great vocal powerhouse. I sample his voice on my tracks. I also have a lot of respect for Timberland.”

Nasirl drops Expensive video

Says ‘My dream is to feature 2face and Wizkid’

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nigeria’s Got Talent ma semi-final rounds

The excitement continued last weekend as the talent hunts show tagged ‘N ent’ stormed Lagos with an exciting seventh episode that also served as the semi-final rounds. After whittling down the contestants to 50 acts from across the countr were made to battle it out this weekend for a chance to be declared Nig ented and to also walk away with the grand prize of N10 million. The first on stage was Impulse Group from Port Harcourt. Intent o audience with voice and style, their rendition of ‘Kiss Your Hand wholesome approval of the judges. Climaxx Group followed with an ing dance performance. Adding a distinctly contemporary touch to the night was from Ibadan, who performed one of Nigeria’s all time hit rap urrection’. Easily stealing the show, the judges described a and talented”. The DNA dance crew from Benin City also displayed a fa mance which Dan Foster described as a dance that coul match up the American standard. Another very entertaining act was Bariyu Yusuf, With his dog puppeteer companion, Yusuf cracked hearts. Vicky Mark, a singer from Benin City almo audience to tears with the national anthem, the ‘Ad hand with their comic act, Udezeagwua Ezedi, Abuja, John Uket, another singer and Michael Enugu, also added glamour to the occasion. The semi-final round continues in a few ers still have the power to vote and save contestants weekly. Hosted by Andre Blaze, the judges are radio host Dan Foster, actor Kat entertainment entrepreneur, Yi Airtel-sponsored first season o Talent began to air on 16th year and will run until Dec The Nigeria’s Got T worldwide, which is i has produced ma The current Miss Peace Nigeria, Ify Concepta has formers in the revealed the reason she decided to start up her own years includin beauty pageant despite her being a beauty queen at the anca Ryan moment. Talent’s 2 Speaking recently on the development, Ify said, “I start- of Susan ed my pageant because I wanted to offer the female child this albu more opportunities. I feel most pageants haven’t been able p a g e to hit the nail on the head as far as the empowerment of eant is the female gender is concerned. the empower“A beauty pageant should be able to do more to you as a ment of the Af lady than just making you famous because there is more rican girl child w to life than just being famous. You should add more to has been at the your society and leave the crown with fulfillment that you of countless abus touched lives’’, she said. glect in the socie Ify Concepta is the founder of the much talked about Face To partake of Peace Africa Beauty Pageant, a pageant presently owned Peace Africa by Blu-Moon Imaginationz, a media and film production should be betwe outfit in Abuja jointly-founded by Ify and Emmanuel Eyaba. course several p Ify is not a greenhorn in the pageant business as she was the winner (Fac one-time runner up for Miss Imo and Miss Tourism. home with $10,00 The Face of Peace Africa Pageant is a platform to cele- contract with Bl brate peace in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. One of the aims ty routine with B

I want to offer the female child more opportunities –Miss Peace Nigeria

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There are evil, demonic powers in the land –Okoh

Praise Worship E-mail:richardeghaghe@yahoo.com

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EDIFYING GOD

November 4, 2012

FG to churches, others

Render your accounts or face sanctions •It can’t work, say Pentecostal pastors from January 1, 2014, he added. The roadmap, Sunday Mirror learnt, empowered the FRSN to enforce the law. This implies that any church which fails to comply with the directive would face sanctions. Obazee said, “Compliance is mandatory and non-compliance will be dealt with appropriately. If you perform noncharitable activities within a charity body and you don’t pay tax on them, the Inland Revenue will descend on your organisation. That begins from 2013. “If your corporate governance is faulted, the Financial Reporting Council will come and close down your church because the Financial Reporting Council is empowered to keep guiding corporate governance for both private and public interest groups in Nigeria.” The D-G contended that the directive should be seen as an issue of accountability. “And I dare say the members of not-for-profit organisations should be eager to see

TAI ANYANWU

ome January 2013, churches and other notfor-profit organisations that fail to comply with a Federal Government’s directive that they should render reports of their financial dealings, will face penalties. The Director-General, Financial Reporting Standards of Nigeria (FRSN), Jim Obazee, made the disclosure at an exclusive interview with Sunday Mirror, after a public enlightenment campaign held at Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. The Federal Government had on July 28, 2010, approved a national roadmap adopted by International Financial Reporting Standards in Nigeria. According to the D-G, listed and significant public interest entities should start reporting, using International financial Reporting Standards from January 1, 2012. All other public interest entities, which include charity, will commence theirs from January 1, 2013, while small and medium-size entities should commence theirs CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

enowned prophet and General Overseer of the Inri Evangelical Spiritual Ministry, Primate Babatunde Elija Ayodele, has revealed that President Barrack Obama will win the November 6 US presidential election, but with slim margin. The prophet also said that there is the need for Obama to organise a special prayer session with members of his cabinet and campaign team to enjoy more of the divine favour of God. His words: “The election is

Senior Pastor Dickson Akinnawo of Power of Faith Redeemed Church, Ketu, Lagos has said the bane of peaceful coexistence in Nigeria is failure to live righteous life by the majority of the citizens. He spoke at the weekend during the annual anniversary and thanksgiving service of the church. Speaking at the event with the theme, Let God Arise, he explained that “for as long as people fail to lead holy living and maintain righteousness, the results will always be strife, violence and all negative events”. In his own remarks at the programme, Pastor James Bamgboye, the General Overseer of the Church of Miracle Evangelical Ministry, Ketu, called on the leadership of this country to remember the masses who voted them into power, adding, “They should provide basic amenities for the enjoyment of the populace, such as electricity and potable water, etc.”

Lamb of God Bible Church International Incorporated, Dominion Chapel, will conclude its annual Breakthrough Life Convention/Family Thanksgiving Service today. The programme is scheduled to hold at No. 3 Oterubi Ogidan Street, Weigh Bridge Bus Stop, Owode-Onirin, Lagos. The theme of the programme is “Discover the God-given potential”. Speaking at the event, the General Overseer, of the church who is chief host, Rev. (Dr.) Samson Onyekuma Iweagwu, said that the programme was aimed at revealing the hidden God-given abundant potential in the lives of His children. Contributing, the Parish Minister, Pastor Richard Ovbiebo, said, “it is an annual prayer and fasting, vigil session which spanned four weeks with God in control”.

Sunday Mirror/Babcock University Bible Quiz: Winners of Sept 21, 2012 •Linda Idakwo (07031835288)

Oritsejafor, CAN President

not going to be an easy ride or a landslide victory for him but he (Obama) will still win with a slim margin. It is going to be 5149 kind of victory; very tight.” Speaking in an exclusive interview with Sunday Mirror at the headquarters of the church in Oke-Affa, Lagos, the clergyman also hinted that a lot of dangers lay ahead of Nigeria’s 2015 general elections while the former Ghanaian’s President wife, Mrs. Rawlings will have a lot of issues to contend with in the Ghanaian election. He also prophesied that there would be political crisis in Kenya.

‘Embrace righteousness, holy life’

Lamb of God rounds off programme

US election: Obama’ll win with slim margin –Prophet RICHARD EGHAGHE

Briefly

According to the seer, there is the critical need for Nigerians to observe two weeks’ fasting and prayer “from the very first day of the first month of 2013, to avert imminent dangers looming ahead for the country in the year.” He also advised President Goodluck Jonathan to “take special interest in his presidential jet against technical itch. “If the government of Nigeria ignores the word of God, there will be danger ahead for the country. So, God has told me that we should set aside the first two weeks of 2013, that is 1st to 14th of January next year to fast and pray for

DAY LORD’S CHOSEN CELEBRATED WOMEN

the country, irrespective of your colour, religion, ethnicity or what have you, for the government to get it right. This is because most happenings go beyond the government’s understanding.” He said it was regrettable that government had chosen to “ignore the words of true prophets, preferring to listen to government-appointed and fake prophets. “There are lots of hidden agenda toward 2015 election and only God will save the country. The government should not dialogue with Boko Haram because it will berate the government,” he also advised.

• Musa Katai (08033979916) • Paul Unuavworho (08034378721) • 08034064818 • 08061372336 • Current and past winners can collect their prizes from the office of the Editor, Sunday Mirror, 151/161 Broad Street, Lagos anytime from Monday to Friday. Participants should always indicate their names when sending their entries.

QUOTE

The growth which resulted from change is painful during its early stage, but joyous, satisfactory and fulfilling in its secondary course.

HOW TO BE FREE FROM THE BURDEN OF GUILT

Bishop Kingsley Enakirerhi

Praise & Worship

Nigeria needs God’s prophets to attain glory, says Primate Ayodele RICHARD EGHAGHE

Predictions that have come to pass:

I predicted the challenge President Jonathan would face in dealing with the oil cabal and the attendant fuel problem the country would face this year. (Page 89). If those in authority had paid listening ears to my warnings in my book, a lot could have been avoided. I do these things because it is convenient and God sent me to do it. Moreover, I am comfortable and blessed by what God is using me to do. If it is not comfortable for me, I won’t be doing it. In my capacity as a prophet, God has given me what I want. “Let me tell you; petroleum is going to sell officially for N120 and the price of kerosene will also rise. The price of bread, the so-called staple food for the common man is going to soar, above the reach of the ordinary man. I can see inflation and famine in the land by 2013. We see and say these things but what are the government and people doing about it? Nothing. They allow it to happen. The warning on the killing in higher institution in Adamawa State is on page 47; the shake-up in UNICEF is on Page 35.

Render your accounts or face sanctions CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

enowned Nigerian seer, Primate Babatunde Elijah Ayodele, of the Inri Evangelical Spiritual Ministry, with headquarters at Oke-Afa, Lagos, has come against some Nigerian prophets, particularly those that parade the corridors of government, describing them as spiritually myopic. He maintained that most happenings around the country could have been avoided if government had given listening ears to true prophesies by the truly ordained and anointed prophets of God. He lamented that the country’s leaders and people in government are often led astray “by their trusted, self-professed prophets and pastors”. Reviewing the many prophesies in his annual prophetic book series titled, “Warnings To The Nation,” which had come to pass, Primate Ayodele noted, “when some pastors who lacked the spiritual foresight or are blind-folded spiritually, come to the government with their abracadabra, they will say, ‘Never! Don’t follow those warnings by the prophet.” The people concerned will ostensibly close their eyes and ears to the true prophets. “Some others would say, ‘don’t mind him. He is a noise maker’. Whereas, they are the noise makers who lacked the spiritual know-how. Most of these things happen because there is no unity in Christianity. That is why things are taken for granted in this country, just like that. Even the leadership of the Christian umbrella body in Nigeria doesn’t have the spiritual eyes to see beyond their noses and advise the government spiritually. “Not until there is unity among Christians, people will continue to go astray and strange things will continue to happen in this country”, he said. He also stressed that what the prophets of old did in the Bible is to warn government (kings), the people or a person ahead of a negative foresee. “This is what God has ordained me to do and that is why I started the annual publication of the prophetic book after my return from a 42-day fasting and prayer in the wilderness,” he expatiated.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sunday November 4, 2012

Primate Ayodele

The train mishap that happened about three months ago in Ikeja is among the many prophesies that have also come true in this book. It is on page 19. The litigation by the Okada riders association against the Lagos State Government is also in Page 78 of this book. It is a good thing for the Lagos government to ban Okada from major roads in Lagos because when you weigh the consequence of the havoc being wreaked by commercial motor bikes on major roads, they are deadly. We saw it coming since April 2012. The government knows what to do in order to ameliorate the effect of the ban on Okada riders and commuters.”

Nations Cup

“Before, Nigeria went into the Nations Cup, we came out with the forecast that the Super Eagles will qualify for South Africa but they will not lift the cup. We need to pray, work hard, train hard, involve the right caliber of people for Nigeria to win, otherwise, they will end up in the third position. So, we need prayers to survive the storm; we need prayers to sustain the heat, we need a lot of prayers to move the country forward.”

Flooding

“Before this issue of flooding across the country, there was a paper here (PM News of July 15, 2011; captioned ‘Primate Ayodele Warns On Mysterious Flooding’). If you go through it, you will discover that I was very specific on flooding but the issue is that government people don’t listen to the words of God. They berate the words of God and that is why you see certain things happening which ordinarily could have been avoided or guided against. Again, before the Bar Beach flooding, we alerted the nation on Page 20 of the book that there will be bar beach surge and it is still going to happen in no distant time. The govern-

ment may have been making effort but I am telling you, so many things that happen in this world are more of spiritual. “We predicted precisely that there will be flooding in Bayelsa (Page 53). We predicted the latest bomb blast in Kaduna. We did not predict that all the service chiefs would be removed, we said some service chiefs will be changed: Precisely, the Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Air Staff. It is in this book, “Warnings To The Nation” and copies are still available here in the church or in any of our branches. We are not saying these things to make money, but to serve as a guide and warning to the government and people. “After all, nobody can rob God or influence Him with money. The Bible says, ‘seek ye first the kingdom of God and every other thing will be added unto you’. The Bible didn’t say we should seek worldly things and every other thing will be added unto you.”

Budget controversy:

“The budget issue is still going to cause problems. All these noises that the House of Representatives is making with the President had earlier been published in my book, and sent to the House since last year. Only God knows if they went through it because God is the head of any government. I don’t want anybody to look at me or my colour or like me, before listening to me or the message of God through me. I believe prayer is the answer, the master key. God has revealed to me that the budget is still going to cause major controversy between the House of Representatives and the Senate and by extension, the Presidency, because the government does not know exactly what they want. That is why we need prayers. Government needs to move ahead of time. What I am disclosing to you now is more than security report. The government has to take the issue of the budget very seriously,” he declared

their entities comply with the rules; because non-compliance with the law of the land will definitely lead to appropriate penalty.” Meanwhile, various reactions have trailed the new policy, from churches. While the orthodox churches that have commented on the directive welcome the development, few Pentecostal churches said that churches should not render accounts to anybody or government. Reverend Emmanuel Udo of the Presbyterian Church, Lekki agreed that churches should spearhead the pursuit for accountability. “This is because we preach righteousness, holiness and we don’t have any hidden agenda. In the Presbyterian Church, we do a review of past year’s financial transactions of our church. We do so to set the minds of people in order, knowing very well that all the money was judiciously used. Let the directive, therefore, not become an issue. On the other hand, Pastor Nick Medouwa of Pentecostal Cannanland Church sees no problem provided government would play its own part. He pointed out that in America, churches show financial reports to the government because church issue receipts to tithe payers and other donors. The USA government in turn reimburses 50 percent of such income to church donors. Pastor Medouwa explained that if the same could be done here, the church can render their accounts to the government. “If government has no part to play, then I don’t think it has the right to ask about how churches spend its money,” he quipped. •See full interview on P31

Community donates land to Omnipotence Church TAI ANYANWU

ive communities in Ondo State recently embraced Omnipotence Mission of God and have extended invitation to the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Joshua Oloruntimilehin, to establish branches of the church in the area. Speaking after the inaugural service of the church in Ajagba community, Pastor Oloruntimilehin said that he was grateful that God had already put His stamp of approval on the church and had given him favour in the land. Sunday Mirror learnt that five other neighbouring communities, including Okitipupa, Igbotu and Ikoya, have also asked the church to come and open branches in their area, promising to provide land for the church. Commenting on the large turn-out at the inaugural service, the servant of God explained that he was overwhelmed. “It is so surprising that the opening service attracted full attendance which included five monarchs in the communities,” he noted. “The Ahaba of Ajagba, Oba Thomas Adetayo, was at the inaugural service; three other Obas from okitipupa, Igbotu and Ikoya also graced the event”.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Praise & Worship

Sunday November 4, 2012

There are evil, demonic powers in the land –Okoh The Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), His Grace Nicholas Okoh, speaks about some national issues and the importance of the forthcoming Divine Common Wealth Conference (DIVCCON) holding in Abuja from November 5 to November 10, 2012, aimed at entrenching sound biblical teaching for quality lifestyle. Excerpts:

vited. But we want only those who agree within the orthodoxy of the scriptures to come, because we don’t want the conference to be controversial. So if you don’t accept what we believe, do not come. We are all aware that some people are trying to introduce same sex marriage as alternative kind of marriage. But for us, there is nothing like this in the Bible. What the Bible recognized is a marriage between a man and a woman. A man and a woman should raise a family not a same sex couple. This is God’s own arrangement. Any other things some people are promoting don’t tally with God’s arrangement. We are not on their side. What message do you want people to take home from the conference? Our message is that Christian should stand up for right teaching of the word because this is what leads to right living. The idea of some people bastardising the position of the Bible on what a family is shouldn’t be condoned. So we should contend for the orthodoxy of our faith. By the time someone is saying a man should marry a man or a woman should marry a woman, he/she is radicalizing the idea of marriage. And this is contrary to our understanding of marriage as outlined in the Bible. Those opposed to the law against same sex marriage said it is an infringement of human rights? What about God’s rights? He created the world and put us here, he told us how we should marry but you chose your own way. You can live your life the way you wish to, but you must respect the law of the land. We in the Church will not fight anyone who has chosen to live their lives the way they understand. But our position is that we will never support same sex marriage. We will continue to make our point strongly that same sex marriage is ungodly and you cannot find any word in the Bible to back this kind of marriage.

Primate Okoh

What is the significance of the forthcoming Divine Common Wealth Conference (DIVICCON)? In 2008, the Church of Nigeria and some other bishops who strongly believed in the orthodoxy of the scriptures went to Jerusalem instead of Lambert. Over a thousand delegates made of Bishops, their wives, priests, youths and other members of the Church. They affirmed very strongly what we called the Jerusalem declaration. So Divine Common Wealth Conference (DIVCON) is an off-shoot of Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON). What we are having now is the second edition of DIVCON.

So the aim of the conference is to bring together people of like minds, people who believe strongly in the orthodoxy of the scriptures. It is the coming together of those who believe that the scriptures should not rule our faith but our habits, that is, how we practice our faith. We understand commonwealth to be the Christian faith that we believe in. The theme for this year’s conference is: ‘Contending For The Faith’. The theme for this year’s conference is taken from the book of Jude. Who are those expected for the conference? Yes! People of all denomination are in-

What step is the church taking on those affected by the recent flood across country? The church would like to ask the government on what it is doing to salvage the situation because the government is sovereign. Even the Church is under the jurisdiction of government. People pay tax to the government so we should know what they are doing about this situation. When it is time to share government allocation, the Church doesn’t get any money. Rather, it is shared among the federal, state and the local councils. This makes it important for us to ask them how they are handling the situation. But this is not to say the Anglican Church isn’t doing anything to help those affected by the flood and the menace of Boko Haram. We have divided the Church into three sections, the South East, South West and the north. The contributions from these zones will be sent to a central purse from which we will do what we can to assist our people. Are you satisfied with the measures taken so far by the government on the matter? I think that the federal government has reacted well, but giving out funds and raising a committee to raise more funds. But you and I know that in Nigeria the problem isn’t about policies, the challenge comes with how it is implemented. I tend to agree with what some groups have said. They argue that government should give them whatever it wants to give them directly. This is not the time to award contracts. So

government should not just set-up a committee, it has to monitor the committee in order for them to treat this matter with a sense of urgency. The situation is really bad so there is no time for contractors to bid, and then sign the contract before they get to work. Some of them might even have to give 30 percent of the contract sum to those who awarded the contract, and then they are left with funds that will be inadequate. This is humanitarian situation which nobody should see as an opportunity for profiteering. We have to understand that flooding is fast becoming a global challenge with countries like America, Australia, China and other countries. Having said this Nigeria has to find a solution to this problem because since I was born, I have never seen this level of flooding. Climate change is a reality that government must wake up to. There is need for long term planning, Nigeria as a country cannot afford to fold its arms and watch as flooding destroys our economy. The flood disaster has destroyed the source of livelihood of thousands of people. The federal government pledged to stop the importation of rice by 2014. But now how do they stop the importation when you have nothing to eat due to the destruction of farm land by the flood. If government doesn’t tackle the issue of flooding, hunger will take over the land and prices of food stuff will go higher than what the poor can afford. What about the controversy trailing the release of the fund, what is your take on that? I have heard some groups advocate that the federal government gives them the funds for their rehabilitation and I understand where they stand. The situation is so bad that we need to help those affected quickly. The church is doing what it can to help. On the part of government, this is not the time to go through the long process of awarding contracts only for some of the contractors to add a percentage to those who will give them the contract before it takes a long time to execute the contract. On Aluu and Mubi killings, what is your reaction? There is so much wickedness in the land. Let’s assume those students stole the cell phones and lap tops as being claimed by those who killed them, is it enough to set a human being on fire? This is a case of wickedness and sadism by those who set them on fire and watched them burn to death; I think there is evil in the land with demonic powers oppressing the people. I was in Yola, when I heard about the story of what happened in Mubi with the slitting of people’s throats and the shooting of those who tried to rescue them. There is indeed evil in the land and government should tame these wild people with law. The law can control these evil people. What will you say about the effect of Boko Haram activities on Christianity? The situation is unfair to Christians in the north. Almost all the Christians in the north have been driven away. Meanwhile northern Muslims in the south practice their religion in the south without any hindrance. Live is all about give and take, for some people to deprive other groups of their privileges calls for a rethink. The northern leaders should speak to their people just like leaders in the south ensure that their people do what is right. It is only fair that the northerners reciprocate the gesture of southerners.

Praise & Worship

ohn 4: 17 states, “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world”. As we stated last week, the love of God is one of the greatest keys to have access to His power; when you have the power of God in you, you can overcome the wicked. The wicked in the context of this message is referring to the devil and his agents. I mean, people that he has recruited around the world to torment the children of God with all sorts of afflictions and disaster. We stated last week that the flood disaster which took place in Nigeria recently in which many lives were lost, lots of properties and farm produce destroyed, displacing people and leaving them stranded and helpless, were all caused by the wicked. We need the power of the Almighty God to stop the plans and further disaster to individuals, nations and even the world at large. That is why we have come up with the topic ‘How to overcome the wicked II.’ This will do us a lot of good, if we read and put them into practice in order to influence change in our lives and nation. These people involved in these disasters never planned for it because they never knew the plans of the devil until it came to pass. It is you and I that God will use to restore them and our nation back to normalcy; for this reason, the message of love is coming to you so that we can overcome the wicked in unity. For our love to be seen as perfect, it means that we are God’s friend and have been obedient to His commands by loving Him and our neighbours as ourselves. How can a man say he loves God whom he has not seen and hate his neighbour? In John 15: 17, “These things I command you that you love one another”. Human beings are representative of God because God created us in His own image and likeness; that is why in the book of Matthew 25:40, the Bible says “…inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” A perfect love stands in for you on the Day of Judgment because it justifies you as being faultless, it means you have done everything necessary to show love and have completed the commandment by practically showing love. The act of love will help us to stand boldly on the day of judgment, and win for us the crown of glory in heaven and also be in the kingdom prepared for us from the beginning of the world. It will also open the doors of success and prosperity while on earth. A person who claims to be righteous and has not shown any practical example of love to a fellow man has failed in his act of righteousness; remember that righteousness is living right, being obedient. When you have not shown love to people around you as commanded, it means that you have disobeyed. It is only the wicked that disobeys God and works contrary to God’s command because they derive pleasures in oppressing the righteous. The wicked always wants God’s children to be in pain even with their riches, making them suffer all kinds of ill-health and incurable diseases due to their ignorance and disobedience to their Creator. The enemy uses evil weapons against them most times. But the good news about this is that God is here for you now to destroy the works of the devil; the enemies that had caused you so much pain over the years are destroyed in Jesus’ name. In our last week’s message, we considered some ways to stop the wicked; ways like humility, giving to the poor, prayers and praises. Additional methods to the afore-mentioned ways of stopping the wicked are: • Love. Mk. 12:30-31 • Having covenant with God. Psa. 50:5

Sunday November 4, 2012

How to overcome the wicked, by Pastor Okereke In continuation of his series of lectures on the topic, ‘How to overcome the wicked’, General Overseer of Global Success Ministry, Pastor (Dr.) Chima Okereke, lists ways to conquer the wicked one, the devil. Excerpts are presented by Richard Eghaghe:

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negative powers from your foundation influencing your life style. These foundational powers are used seriously by the wicked to destroy the life of people with great destinies; because the people concerned are ignorant of it. It is only when God intervenes that a stronger power can destroy and disconnect you from the powers of evil foundation. These foundational powers are so bad that the wicked ones will go to any extent to discover the areas from which they can attack an individual, using such powers. During a deliverance service in our ministry, a demon that was living inside a lady confessed that they used to attack the lady through her blood as that is the only way she was connected to them, i.e her family marine foundational powers. Sometimes, these foundations are laid before you were born and sometimes it may be after your birth that the foundations were laid; but you may not understand the consequences of it until you get to a certain level in life where such evil foundation will begin to manifest its wicked powers. If such evil foundations are not destroyed by the Almighty God who owns all power, the end might be disastrous. In Psalm 62:11 “God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God”, so I pray for you that any foundational powers holding you from attaining your desired positions and results in all ramification of your life, this day shall be destroyed in Jesus’ Name. I will refer you to this book written by me for explicit understanding of the gravity of foundational powers and why it must be destroyed to stop the continuous oppressions of the wicked. The book is titled ‘Breaking the covenants of yesterday.’ I have good news for someone; in that name that is above every other name, let every evil foundation in your life be broken in Jesus’ name.

Obedience Pastor Okereke

• Destroying the foundational powers. Psa. 11:3 • Obedience to God. Deut. 28:1-13 Love (Mark 12:30-31): God the Almighty loved us first. In the beginning of creation, He made us in His own image after His likeness, He did not only stop there, He gave us dominion over all He created on earth in Genesis 1:26 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth”. Even when man disobeyed Him and was sent out of the Garden of Eden, He still showed mercy out of the love He has for us and sent His only begotten son, Jesus Christ to die for our salvation. In John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”. God loves us so much that Jesus suffered and died just to redeem us. Why then should we not show Him love; by keeping to His commands? In John 13:34 “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another”. I pray that as you read this message today, God will grant you the Spirit of love that will begin to reign in your family, world and especially amongst all Nigerians in Jesus’ Name.

Having Covenant With God

(Psalm 50:5): Every covenant goes with sacrifice, sacrifice of service to the Almighty God. In the above scripture, the Bible says, “Gather my Saints together unto me: those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” Although many people enter into covenant with God as a re-

sult of a particular situation or challenge they are facing; and when God intervenes in that situation; they forget to fulfill their own part of the covenant. That is why you see some people after; they have been delivered for a while; another affliction comes back upon them. Most times it is because they were careless with the covenant they had with God before He intervened in their case. Inside a true covenant lies sacrifice, that is, no matter the situation or circumstances surrounding you, you are still working for God, rendering to Him genuine service, supporting His work with your strength, time, money and all He has blessed you with to ensure that God’s good news keep spreading; and all souls will be saved, helping and caring for people around you out of love. God loves His children that comes to Him in covenant, covenant by sacrifice. Where covenant exists, there is always divine intervention. Abraham had a covenant with God, despite his state in life at that time, he continued in his service to God steadfastly and his later end was blessed. I pray for you, that as you enter into a covenant with God this day, irrespective of the manipulation of the wicked upon your life, the fire of God will consume your oppressors in Jesus’ Name.

Destroying The Foundational Powers

(Psalms 11:3): “If the foundation be destroyed, what can the righteous do”? Do you know that there are powers from the foundation of your background fighting negatively in the lives of a men and women in this continent? You may see yourself doing things that when in your normal state of mind you don’t want to do them, but you see yourself doing them as a result of the

(Deut. 28:1-13): God loves obedient people. When you are obedient to His commandments, He makes you His friend automatically and as such He will reveal to you all you needed to know because you are no longer regarded as servants but His friends. In John 15: 14 “Ye are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you”. Obedience to the word of God is the first, then to your parents, elders, authorities and also to your spiritual fathers and mothers because God uses them to speak spiritual things into your life. If you go through your Bible, you will see that all that obeyed God reaped the fruit of their obedience; for example, Abraham was instructed by God to offer his son, Isaac, and without questioning God, he went ahead with God’s instruction and at the end of the day, a ram was provided in replacement of Isaac for the sacrifice. Challenge yourself today that beginning from this moment, you will be obedient to God’s commandments and to His teachings. I believe God is using me to speak to someone now and as you hearken unto His voice, you shall overcome the wicked and it shall be well with you in Jesus’ name I pray that the Spirit of Love will wax stronger in you and for God to also grant you understanding that an act of love can cause the door of heaven to open; for you the blessings of God shall reign upon you in Jesus’ name. Love you all. •For enquires about the book: “Breaking the Covenant of Yesterday”, and counseling, please send text messages only through the following numbers: 08067802407, 07038638984, for prompt attention. Or come in person to Global Success Ministries (GSM), Plot 34 Global Success Street, by Festac Link Bridge, Amuwo-Odofin,

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Praise & Worship

Sunday November 4, 2012

Avoid abominable things Things that connect you to God’s covenant, by Pastor Bamidele to avoid calamity, by

Pastor Oloruntimilehin

Founder of Omnipotence Mission of God, Pastor Joshua Daramola Oloruntimilehin, in a revival message given recently warned that people should be wary of doing abominable things and disobeying laws, to avoid calamity. Excerpts of the exhortation are brought by Tai Anyanwu.

ome people have eaten abominable things and violated certain laws. Committing abominable things and violating laws have brought calamities upon many people, today. Though abomination and violation of laws differ, they both attract dangerous consequences. A family of believers in Jesus Christ may come from a root where eating of draw soup, ogbono, is forbidden. The family abides by God’s laws but in eating the soup that is forbidden by their root, family law is violated. When problems and calamities begin to befall the believing family, they will start to complain aloud, to the extent of challenging God that they have been serving diligently and then, question why they should face problems. But they are unaware that the cause of their predicament is the soup they are eating. They are not vigilant enough to know that it is an abomination. Recently, a woman of 46 years old came to see me to seek for solution to her problem. She had had seventeen pregnancies and none of them survived. The spirit of God revealed that she had been eating an abominable food and that was the cause of her problem. I advised her to investigate thoroughly what food her family prohibits. Later, she found that it is moinmoin. She told me that she was fond of eating it. She told me that it was her great grand-father that forbade his children from eating the food. What was the reason? Her great grandfather’s male twins died when a tree that was being cut down in the bush by a man fell on them Upon return to the village, the man failed to break the news for the fear that the father of the twins would kill him. A search by the villagers led to the place where their bodies were found. Her father became aware of the cause and the person responsible for the death of his twins, through

a dream and some native doctors also confirmed it. He decided to avenge the death of his two kids. While searching for the killer, he met a woman, a native doctor, who was aware of the case and was hiding the killer in preparation for a sacrifice to the gods intended to make the bereaved father of the twin have a change of mind. This woman started pleading, appealing and pacifying the man, offering him food and hot drink which were meant for sacrifice, including kolanut. Then, the twins’ father ate and drank. Later, the woman made him realise that he could not avenge the death of his children because he had eaten and drunk the sacrifice meant for atonement of the offence the killer of his twins committed, and that the sacrifice had been accepted. She brought out the killer from the hideout. Immediately, the father of the deceased twins shouted angrily and vowed that never in this world would any of his children eat moinmoin. Sequel to the above, I told the woman to desist from eating the abominable, if she wants to have children. Brethren, people must be wary and careful about abominable things. Do not be fast to be angry or utter wrong words. Be slow in getting angry and uttering wrong words. The Bible mentioned abominable things in the book of Deuteronomy 14 verse 11-21. Do not eat anything that is already dead. Do not cook a young goat.” Many people do not know what abominations that they have done and they are affecting their lives adversely. In the Bible, Samson had an abomination that no razor should be used on his head. Judges 12 verse 5-7. “No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines…” If you want to cancel abomination in your life, you must seriously have Jesus Christ

There is a catalyst that shapes the limit of a man’s destiny. It is called favour; but your access to favour is determined by dedication to the things of God. Pastor Lai Bamidele of Christ Glorious End-Time Evangelical Ministries explains more in these excerpts presented by Tai Anyanwu:

in you; otherwise, you will always be under the influence of the abomination. Many servants of God had preached against women wearing men’s clothing, that the law of God forbids it but a lot of women today disregard this law. They always believe that it is civilization that brought about the idea. Deuteronomy 22 verse 5: “A woman must not wear men’s clothing, nor a man wear women clothing, for the Lord your God detest anyone who does this.” This is the same thing for men putting on earrings. A child of God and a follower of Jesus Christ must not violate the laws of God. Husbands should not encourage their wives and children to violate what God forbids, so as to avoid the consequences that come as a result of violation. Let people be wary of abomination and violation of laws.

Pastor Oloruntimilehin

•For counseling, contact Pastor Oloruntimilehin Joshua Daramola (JP), founder of Omnipotence Mission of God, on 08023002834.

a greater work because he labored more than others. But listen; it is not in labour but it is in grace. When God’s grace came upon Paul, he overtook all the ones that were ahead of him. When favour is in place, there is room for overtaking. In the book of Luke 1:28 -30, the Bible records how favour turned away impossibility to possibility. The Bible says, “And Mary found favour before God.” If you look at Exodus 3:21, the children of Israel found favour in the sight of their enemies. That is said earlier that favour is an expression of God’s love for a man. Not until you are committed to the things of God, you cannot contact God’s favour. It was Paul’s commitment that made him overtake those ones who had gone far ahead before he began the ministry for Jesus. Your total commitment to kingdom service is what qualifies you to the covenant of favour of God. If you look at the book of Hebrew 4:16, “Let us therefore come humbly onto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Grace there means favour. Esther found favour in the eyes of King Ahazarus. If you look at the book of 2 Samuel 9:1-13, Mephiboshet who was a in the land of incommunicado in Lodiba; the Bible analysed that he was in the wilderness where nobody could access him. But when God’s grace fell on Mephiboshet, David the king in the palace became restless over Mophiboshet. I believe God that there is someone reading my message today; that no matter the wilderness experience you are passing through or the enemy has thrown you into, the grace of God will locate you today, in the name of Jesus. It says Mephiboshet ate on the same table with the king when favour was in place. If you look at the Bible’s book of Judges 11:1-6, 11, the Bible emphasises about the man called Jephta. He was denied of his father’s inheritance because he was born by a harlot. They chased him out of his father’s house because of the inheritance of his father. But when God’s favour connected him, when the grace of favour was released upon Jephta, the same people that chased him away went back looking for him, begging him to come and be their ruler. The Bible mentioned the qualifications of Jephta, that he was a mighty man of valour. He was the son of a harlot and he was thrown out of the father’s house because he was born by a strange woman. He was thrown out and disgraced. He told the elders of Gilead, “Did you not expel and hate me?” But when God’s favour or grace came upon Jephta, those that chased him away were begging him to come and be their head. There is someone that they have looked down on today; they saw you as a man that has no future but after today, as the grace of God is bestowed upon your life, those ones that chased you away will beg you to return, in the name of Jesus.

avour is an expression of God’s love for man. Until you are committed to the things of God, you cannot be connected to God’s favour. Covenant is an agreement between man and God. And there is a Biblical illustration of the word ‘covenant’ in the book of Psalms, 105: 8-9. “He has remembered His covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generation. Which covenant he made with Abraham and His oath unto Isaac; and confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law and to Israel for an everlasting covenant?” So covenant is an agreement between two parties, exactly between God and man. God is a covenant-keeping God; He is not a covenant-breaking God. It is men that break covenant. Covenant has no regard for your situation. No matter the situation you are passing through, once you enter into a covenant with God, you must fulfil your own part. Covenant is what God is doing when you fulfil your part of the agreement you had with Him. God’s favour is what defines a man’s destiny. It is the favour of God that designs the destiny of man. If you look at the book of Genesis 6:8, the Bible says, “And Noah found grace in the sight of the Lord. Grace there means favour. A man that enjoys God’s grace is a man that is favoured. So when it comes to the issue of favour or grace, it has nothing to do with your qualification. It has nothing to do with your status; it has nothing to do with your position. God can release the grace of favour to the life of any one He chooses to. Favour is the one that determines the limitation of a man’s destiny. If you look at the book of 1Corrinthians 15:10-11, you will find, “But by the grace of God I am what I am; and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain, but I labour more abundantly than them all; yet not I but the grace of God which was with me.” The Bible is talking about Apostle Paul there. He came after the disciples of Jesus but he overtook them all. He did

Pastor Bamidele

•For counselling contact: pst_lai@ yahoo.com, phone08074484415, 08027502864 and 08161285586

Praise & Worship

Sunday November 4, 2012

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Day Lord’s Chosen celebrated women A celebration of women by women of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries was held last week, to the admiration of the General Overseer, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, and other anointed men of God. The event held at the one kilometre-expanse auditorium at the Chosen Revival grounds’ headquarters by Ijesha Bus Stop, Lagos. The theme of the programme was, ‘Woman, thou hast found favour with God’. Richard Eghaghe was there and he reports:

a cross section of women at the crusade.

Pastor Muoka

here is nothing that thrills women most than the celebration of women by women and this time, it was done with fanfare. All the women that participated in the one-day crusade, mostly attracted from the Lord’s Chosen Women Ministry, paraded and conducted themselves as the most favoured. Of course, they were doing justice to their ministry, by stating the glorious things which they were commissioned to, that is, to be the divine door from which every mankind comes to the world. Consequent upon that, they are specially favoured by the Almighty God. The favour of God has greater benefit than any natural inheritance one could receive, and the women had cause to count their blessings and name them one by one, as the Bible says. According to the General Overseer of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, who at the meeting, the favour of God is God’s ability, God’s empowerment, anointing, power and above all, God’s involvement in someone’s affairs, which thus makes life easier and more productive

L-R: Wife of the General Overseer of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries, Pastor Joy Muoka; Mrs Benedine Obiorah, and the General Women Leader of the Church, Mrs Angela Anele, at a one day crusade in Lagos.

with favourable conditions, which gives the favoured promotions and the blessings the person could never naturally expect. According to the man of God, the favour in a woman’s life gives her an edge over men, thus she reigns in a man’s world. As a consequence to this favour, she is given attention before men wherever she goes and she is allowed to have her way in many occasions and her choice in life is our pleasure to fulfil. Continuing, Pastor Muoka said, “This is the time, the set time for God to favour women. How do you know this? By understanding that favour is part of your redemptive package purchased by the finished work of Christ and it is just the nature of your loving, heavenly Father to lavish His favour upon you. When things are tough, when things are difficult, when things seem impossible and there’s no way out, the favour will prevail for you”. Quoting from the Book of Luke 1: 26- 37, “28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was

troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God” Pastor Muoka assured the participants that because they came to the program they will never again lack the favour of God. “Today shall be the beginning of a new leaf of life in your life. People who have been making mockery of your God and asking the evidence of serving Him will see His favour in your life after the crusade” He said. Speaking further, the cleric said that a lot of women are ignorant of the favour of God upon their lives and as a result are suffering because they don’t know what belong to them. However he said that God has designed the program to open their eyes and see what their rights from God are. The place of women in the Lord since the creation of the world has been wonderful and glorious and no man can stand against that. 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”. Knowledge of what belongs to you will help you posses your possession. Before the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, she didn’t know that she was highly favoured but the moment it was announced to her, there was a positive change in her life. She became a blessed person and people began to call her blessed. “So also today” Pastor Muoka reiterated, “women, I am announcing to you that you have favour with God. Starting from today, everybody shall call you blessed, for you have found favour with God” Ge 2:18 says, “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him” After the creation of man God saw that it was not good for him to be alone despite he has everything at his disposal. So He created a woman to be his help mate. And till date a man without a woman is incomplete until he found his help mate. All the greatest men that were born on earth were born by women, including all the rich, the wise, inventors and etc. The greatest Pastor was born by a woman. The Presidents of all the nations, Kings of kingdoms and Governors of states and counties have somebody they call mummy which means they were born by women. Gen. 3: 20 says, “And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living” There was nobody born into the world that is not born by a woman. When it was time for our Lord Jesus to manifest in the world, He came through a virgin. This is a special favour. No matter what a man is, he came through a woman. But before Mary was favoured, she was a virgin and living according to the tenet of the Scripture for without holiness no eye shall see the Lord or have favour from the Lord. If you are a woman and want to receive the favour of God you must be born again. If you were into sin, you must repent, confess your sin and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Saviour so you can have favour. The favour of God is a divine law that must actualise its cause whenever and wherever it is merited. The favour of God when obtained has the potential of changing every negative aspect in your life. When you are in a difficult situation the favour of God will work for you and bring you out. Even in a worst situation, when you have the most insurmountable difficulties in your life and you are living right, if you set your hope wholly, completely, unchangeably on the favour of God, you will be an overcomer. 2 Cor 12:9, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me”. When life goes tough and things just couldn’t work, you will find that the favour of God will strengthen you mentally, emotionally and spiritually to keep your faith in God’s promises so you can see this same favour bringing forth what was promised. With the grace of God, as this scripture tells us, you will see the strength and the power of God more powerfully when you have no strength, and have no reason to believe that things are going to change. This is the time for the favour of God to work for you most effectively. Just throw yourself on the mercy and the grace of God that has never failed anyone. God does not withhold any good thing, including His favour to those who deserve it and keeping His commandment.

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Praise & Worship

Sunday November 4, 2012

If God be for us, nothing can stop you, says Pastor Adeboye General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, continues with his sermon entitled: ‘Unstoppable Generation’ delivered at the Holy Ghost Service held at the Redemption Camp grounds, Mowe, Ogun State. Richatd Eghaghe brings you the extracts:

f God be for us; witches, wizards, herbalists, whatever you want to call them, cannot stop you. Why? Because Isaiah 54: 16 tells us that God is the maker of even those who are called wasters; He said herbalist, I made them, witches, I made them, wizards, I made them. The Bible says by Him were all things made and there was nothing made that was not made by him. In Isaiah 54:17, He says, therefore, there is no weapon formed against you that shall prosper. So let the herbalist go and gather his leaves and his roots and combine them together and say by this particular charm I hereby say so and so and they shall not reach their goal. This is because the Lord will tell the leaves; don’t function. He will tell the earth reduce to nothing. Ask the elders; ask those who are old enough to tell you. They will tell you that from time to time herbalists would say our leaves had slept in the farm, meaning they have become ineffective. Every charm prepared to stop you shall become ineffective.

Numbers 23: 23 says there is no enchantment against Jacob; you can’t begin to chant incantation or divination against the child of God and expect it will work. I remember one occasion when someone said he was in confrontation with secret society and they begin to chant their incantations and he said to them: ‘Go ahead, when you are tired let me know because when incantations get to the original owner, they begin to go back into history. On a certain day, ogun went somewhere, did this; sango went somewhere, did that; when they have finished he said: ‘I want you to know that in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God and the word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory as the only begotten son of the Father. He is full of grace and truth and that word, His name is JESUS. All your incantations are swallowed by just one name JESUS’. There was a king in Ogun State. Some people felt that he had been ruling for too long and that he is a Christian; he has given his life to Jesus Christ, he is calling himself the son of Adeboye. They said the best thing to do to him is let’s kill him. Now they tried, they went to Cotonou to bring a juju man to come and do all kinds of charms to kill the man because the cook for the king happened to come from that place. By the time the juju man tried everything he knew, he confessed, ‘Tell that your ‘Oga’ that the God that he is serving, let him keep on serving him, because he has reduced all my charms to nothing’. Every charm against you shall be neutralised tonight in Jesus’ name. I am telling you a true story; some of you probably know the king I am talking about. They said ‘if the juju will not work, we know who will do the job. We know from our tradition that this particular king must not see a masquerade. They knew the normal route he will take, they went and arranged for masquerades chanting their incantation and he looked at them and said ‘you are wasting your time because greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world’. Is there anybody here who knows that He is living in him? Let me hear you shout halleluiah to the Almighty God. So, if God is for us, curses, sins, evil covenant cannot stop us because the Bible says in Numbers 23: 8: ‘How can I curse he

whom God has not cursed?’ If somebody says he is touching his mouth on whatever and pronouncing a curse on you, he is wasting his time. Nobody can curse somebody that God has not cursed. The Bible says in Isaiah 28: 15 -18, ‘any evil covenant entered on your behalf will not stand. He said he will annul all of them. Many of us, unknown to us when we were young, we were covenanted to one demon or the other. Many of our parents did it out of ignorance. They did it because if they do that they will be able to protect you from other demons. But the problem is that many at times when you grow up, you can’t get free. What was supposed to be for good may end up becoming for evil. I have good news for you; every evil covenant made on your behalf is destroyed tonight in Jesus’ name. Some of you may be too young to remember the story of this lady; I was visiting a church in Yaba, Lagos several years ago. Before then, this lady had come to me. She was one of my students at the University of Lagos. She said Daddy, I have found a young man who wants to marry me. I said ‘congratulations’. She said ‘No!’ That is where the problem is. She said because her father told her he had covenanted her to mammy water and that if she ever got married she would die and if she didn’t die on the day of marriage, mammy water will kill the boy. She said this boy has come now, I have a feeling it is the will of God; I don’t want to say yes to him because I don’t want mammy water to kill him. What do I do? I laughed. I know the one who created mammy water, I know the controller of mammy water and I prayed a simple prayer in the name of Jesus and said ‘forget mammy water, go ahead’. Two years later, I was in a church in Yaba, Lagos and this young lady came to me carrying a baby in her hands. She asked: ‘Do you remember me?’ I said of cause, how can I forget a mammy water girl? I asked: ‘Where is your husband?’ She pointed to a very handsome young man. Every covenant between you and any mammy water, every covenant between you and any idol, every covenant between you and any secret society, I cancel today in Jesus’ name. In Matthew 15: 13, it is written: Every plant my father has not planted shall be rooted up; every curse shall be rooted up, every covenant shall be rooted up, every evil blockage shall be rooted in Jesus’ name. If God be for us, even the devil himself, cannot stop us. Revelation 12: 11 tells us that they overcame by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony. We already have the blood of the lamb, there is power mighty in the blood and I can assure you the devil cannot handle the blood of Jesus. I can tell you several testimonies. Maybe I’ll just tell you one of them. A man belongs to a secret society and the wife happens to be a Christian. They discovered that money was missing in the house, both the wives money and the husband’s were missing, I mean the money just disappearing. The husband thought it’s the wife that stole the money and the wife was wondering: ‘If you give me money for housekeeping, why are you stealing it again’. One day they confronted each other, because they will put the money where nobody can see it. They kept on changing location and the money kept on disappearing.

Pastor Adeboye

The sister (the wife) came and said, we have a problem in our house, we will deal with it with the blood. From now henceforth when you want to keep your money, you will say I cover you with the blood. From that day onward not a kobo got miss-

ing. There is a power in the blood of Jesus Christ that the devil cannot tamper with, and I decree tonight in the name that is above every other name, that that blood will speak for you.

Briefly

Adeboye holds special prayer for the Police today General Overseer (G.O.) of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, will hold a special prayer with members of the Nigeria Police today. According to the Spokesman of the G.O., Pastor Goke Aniyeloye, the event will hold at the Headquarters’ Church of the RCCG, Throne of Grace Parish, Ebute-Metta, Lagos, with a view to finding solution to the lingering security challenges facing the country. He disclosed that the prayer session, tagged, ‘I Will Defend This Nation’ had become necessary for spiritual intervention in solving the problems of security challenges in the country. He cited Psalms 127 of the scripture which says, “Except the LORD builds the house, they labour in vain that built it: except the LORD keeps the city, the watchman waketh but in vain”. According to the cleric, security is no doubt one of the country’s major chal-

lenges and noted that bomb blasts, kidnapping, murder, armed robbery, etc, are rife. “There is the need for spiritual intervention in solving the problems. We need the intervention of God in this matter. He is our help in times of trouble. This is why Pastor Adeboye has called for a special prayer session with the police.” He explained that it had become vital to pray, especially for the Nigeria Police because “they are the security operatives that are entrusted with maintaining law and order in the society. “They are closer to the populace than any of the security operatives or agencies in the country. Judging from the look of things, it is only the police that are entrusted by government with combating crime and other evil occurrences in the society. That is why the G.O., in his spiritual wisdom, has decided that maybe the first outfit to pray with on the security of the nation should be the Nigeria Police.

Praise & Worship

Sunday November 4, 2012

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Your light must shine, by Pastor Chidi Pastor Chidi Anthony of Ki Kings in Christ Power Ministries itemises the qualities true Christians brought by Tai Anyanwu: must manifest. Excerpts b Do not amass ill-gotten wealth, giv give to the needy When an employee demands extra pay to t do a job he or she was hired to do, that staff member membe is indulging in a form of stealing. When you collec collect extra payment from duties for which you clients to discharge your official d you have made yourself are being paid by your employer, y a thief by means of extortion. The good book enjoins God’s people not to steal. with words so as to make Some people manipulate others wi them to give out hard earned money, to the detriment of their one’s self through such victims. It is a terrible thing to enrich o reckoning, offenders will dubious means. Because, on the day of re pay dearly for it; when all things will be laid bare before God. Let all who steal in any form or manner steal ste no more. The advice is that a Christian should engage himself in a gainful activities (labour) so that he can fend for himself, support the work him of the gospel and help those in need. We do not labour to amass wealth for ourselves. We labour that we oursel may support those in need. It is not by crook, n but by truth. Did you ever read about Dorcas, the r woman of God who w supported and took care of widows, widows in the early church? She was brought broug back to life because the widows she had helped wept s sorely and prevailed on Peter to do pre something to save Dorcas’ life, when the cold hand of death momentarily reached for her he life. Dorcas’ good goo works and kindness spoke for her; through the intervention of the widows, the anointing on wi the life of Apostle Peter was stirred Ap up. Dorcas was miraculously brought back to life. There was also the wealthy woman that supported Prophet Elisha’s suppo ministry; another widow catered for anot the sustenance and supplied Prophet Elijah food. So also were some women who followed and ministered to the a needs of Lord Jesus Christ while He was on earth. These heroes of faith are Th worthy of emulation. emul

Pastor Chidi

Let your words bless not damage b The mouth or the tongue of the Christian is sacred sacr and should not emit error. The Bible Bibll asks a question: can sweet water and an n bitter water proceed out of the same e fountain? Of course not! Christians are not n permitted to tell lies, deceive or to t curse people. There are things we should not say or contribute to when people are saying sayii it. Some Christians open their mouths moutt to curse the government of the country in which they live. cou u Funny enough, they pray for their leaders in the morning mornii yet curse or say bad things against tthem in the afternoon. The question is; iss how can the prayers work? Think about it. This is a deadly ab b syndrome that sets any society backwards. We mustt use our mouth to talk the kingdom talks. talk k There are three ways a Christian th h should use hiss mouth. Firstly, our mouth must be used to chart the course u of our lives to where and what we dew sire to be in life. life e Speak words that are faith-filled over your life and that of others, expecting th things to change to their h advantage. Secondly Secondll , use your mouth to say things that will edify (build up) lives and bring them outt of the mired clay of despair and death. Let L your words be salted destroy people’s emotion with grace. Do not de e with your words. Do not stir sinful thoughts you say. Do not kill in people’s mind by what w life or demoralise any lif fe with your mouth. Let blessing; an encouragement your words be a bless s

and a strength producing elements to them that listen to you. We have been called by God in Christ Jesus to be a blessing to the sons of men just like Jesus was when he walked on earth. Thirdly, we should open our mouth in worship of God. Let us sing unto Him songs of praise, which is the sacrifice of life. Our words should carry divine potency that will propel men to put their faith strongly on the Lord Jesus. Jesus used his words well. He calmed the storm by a word of command. He spoke to a tree that refused to bear fruit and it died from the roots. He spoke words of grace and preached the gospel of the kingdom of God. The early disciples took after his manner, and in Antioch, they were called Christians, meaning the prototype of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus has given today’s Christians an example and we should follow his steps. Be sensitive, don’t antagonise the Holy Spirit of God When A Christian defies or ignores the voice of the Holy Spirit, he/she runs the risk of making the Spirit of God angry. When a child of God goes ahead to live or do things to satisfy selfish desires, that Christian is insensitive to the dictates of God’s expressed will. If the Christian is more interested in following the multitude rather than following the Holy Spirit directives, he makes the spirit angry. God said in the book of Genesis that his spirit shall no longer strive with man, for he is mortal. So, do not strive with the spirit of God, always listen to him and be obedient to His Voice that it may go well with you. Another way to grieve the Holy Spirit is by ascribing to the devil anything God performs through the power of His Spirit. The Jews said that Jesus was casting out devils by the spirit of Beelzebub. This is blasphemous to God’s Spirit. Many Christians today are experts at criticising other men of God who are making more impacts than them. They are usually deceived by what they hear from people or the deceitfulness of their own heart and they are turned into critics. In fact, many social critics are not successful in life. They open their mouth to criticise, they could even use pen to criticise or use any form of media to smear people’s image, but for themselves, but they make little or no impact. To approach life from the standpoint of destructive criticism is an offence against the Holy Spirit. And it is destructive for anyone who indulges in criticism. Why not leave everybody to God and face your own. A servant has no right to run another servant down; all servants are accountable to a given master – leave it to God. He alone is the righteous Judge. Be kind to everybody Jesus demonstrated through his kindness and tender heartedness an overcoming lifestyle which Christians should emulate. When one’s heart is tender, it can consider others and even become empathetic to people in a dilemma. Many Christians have not allowed God’s word and His Spirit to soften their hearts. That is the reason for all the hatred, bitterness, rancour, clamour, malice and all the revenge we see even in the Christian circles today. It ought not to be so. Christians are different from the rest of the masses. We are meant to love, show some kindness and be tender hearted to all who come in contact with us. This is a practical Christian living – an exhibition of the Christlike life in you human spirit. Kindness is more than a mere emotional display of concern. Kindness has to be practical and sacrificing. It mostly goes with giving and deep care for others in manners that will put smiles on the faces of the recipients. God is so kind that He gave His son. Jesus was so kind that he healed the sick and gave food to the hungry. This is a practical Christian attitude. The Bible says, as it is within you; let us do good to all, especially those of the household of God. The moment you come to Christ, the family of God becomes your bonafide household. Show kindness to those of the household of God. In the early church, the Bible says that none of them lacked anything because distribution was made as everyone had need. People had donated willingly and cheerfully to put smiles on the faces of those who had not. In fact, the Apostle James in James 1:26-27 has something beautiful to say on this regard: “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his own tongue, but decieveth his own heart, this man’s religious is in vain.” As a Christian, your tongue can either make or mar you in life. Tame your own mouth and use it for the good of man and the kingdom of God. “Pure religion and undefiled before God is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” The Apostle Paul took time and outlines point by point the qualities that must be imbibed in order to live a true Christian life. Though written to the church in Ephesius, it is meant for the Christian of all ages and generation.

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Sunday November 4, 2012

Praise & Worship

‘From 2013, churches, mosques must render their accounts to govt’ On July 28, 2010, the Federal Government announced its intention to compel public interest, non-profit-making entities to account for their stewardship, at least to win the trust of various donors, in compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Some of the not-for-profit entities listed include churches, mosques, Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs), political parties and so on. With this in view, the government set up the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN), which has the mandate to begin enlightenment programme on the subject and to enforce the laws. With effect from 2013, churches and other not-for-profit organisations that contravene the laws would be penalised, says Jim Osayende Obazee, Director-General of the FRCN, in an interview with Tai Anyanwu. Excerpts: Could you tell us what has happened here today? Today we have commenced the enlightenment programme on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for not-for-profit organisations. We are talking to non-governmental organisations; we are talking to churches; we are talking to mosques; we are talking to political parties and those who derive benefits for use of their members and they are not supposed to make profits by them. We are talking to them on how they will report their financial transactions and events so that their members and their stakeholders can know their standing for useful accountability.

Obazee

What has informed the sensitisation and what is the objective? Nigerian government, on July 28, 2010, approved a national roadmap to the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards in Nigeria. In the roadmap, it was approved that listed and significant public interest entities should start reporting, using International Financial Reporting Standards from January 1, 2012. All other public interest entities, which include charity, will commence theirs from January 1, 2013. Small and medium-size entities should commence theirs from January 1, 2014. Now quoted companies and listed companies and significant, public interest companies have stated their reports, this year. The next set of people that are to commence is the other public interest entities which include charity, nonprofit organisations; they are to start reporting next year. So, we have already started the enlightenment campaign for them to know that they need to correct their reporting format. If they have accounting issues, they need to discuss them now; If they have fears, areas of weakness that they want us to support them in the accounting and reporting, which they need to bring to our understanding, so that we can deal with such issues before we move into 2013. We have also used the opportunity to tell them that if they have no charitable activities, they will need to report them separately, because, non-charitable activities are supposed to be taxed. They are taxable activities; so, they are supposed to be separately reported. But they will now bring them in as a segment, reporting input like a consolidated account for the members, so that those ones can have a full picture of how they have operated. If you listened carefully, we have informed them that if a church is running a school for instance, and the church is charging fees as if it is a commercial engagement, the church ordinarily is supposed to register the school as a separate entity. But if it has mixed

the school with the church, fine; it should have its financial statement aside, so that the income derivable from there can be subject to tax. Whereas the one that is within the charity itself should still be non-profit body but reported correctly to the membership, because there are donors and donor organisations that also need to rely on such financial statements for meaningful decision making. Let me digress a little; are you also a pastor and heading a parish as someone hinted? Yes, I am a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG); but not on full- time basis. I am a Zonal Pastor; I head the zone. Have you discussed this issue of asking the church of God to publish their financial dealings for public consumption with some of your co-labourers in the vineyard and what reactions did you get? Oh, definitely. They received it with gladness because one, the members want to know what the leaders of the church do with the money that they are collecting. They want to be able to see a plain record to rely on. And I believe that the church is working on it seriously. They are currently asking the churches to put their accounts together, so that they can be able to have a holistic view of what the issue is. Have you at any time met with any resistance in the cause of this crusade? Obviously; the resistance is misguided. It is like ‘oh, the government wants to tax churches.’ But from the discussion we heard in this programme, they are happy about it; those that were resisting before have changed their minds, because they now understand that ‘Oh this is an issue of credibility, this is the issue of governance, this the issue of openness, this is the issue disclosure, this is the issue of making people to understand what you do and then relate with you from that point of view.’ I think the mindset is changing. The issue had been a matter of communication and the gap between what government intends to do and what it is meant to be. The enlightenment will help bridge the gap between government’s intention and the expected outcome. What have you to say to those who could not attend the enlightenment workshop? Well, they should please know that government has commenced the awareness. And in 2013, public-interest entities which include not-for-profit organisations are required by the government to begin to account through International Accounting Reporting Standards. But in the interim, they will have to apply the provisions of Statement of Accounting Standards Number 32, on accounts that are not for profit. If they have queries, they can meet with us, the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria. Now, what will happen to any public interest entity that fails to comply with the prescribed accounting standards after 2013? Compliance is mandatory and non-compliance will be dealt with appropriately. For instance, if you have non-charitable activities within charity and you don’t pay the tax, the Inland Revenue will foreclose your organisation. That is, beginning from 2013. If your corporate governance is faulted, the Financial Reporting Council will come and close down that your church because the Financial Reporting Council is empowered to keep guiding of corporate governance for both private and public interest groups in Nigeria. So, it is an issue of accountability and I dare say the members of Not-ForProfit organisations should be eager to see their entities complying with the rules; because non-compliance with the law of the land will definitely lead to appropriate penalty. It is contained in our law. We gave everybody that attended this programme today a copy of our law. Those that did not attend can go and download it on our website www.financialreporting council.gob.ng

Praise & Worship

Sunday November 4, 2012

Tomorrow must wait

Text Only: 08037188392

Divine Message with Special Apostle James

Akinadewo E-mail: molailatugrow@hotmail.com

eavens are shouting Halleluyah. Welcome on board. What a wonderful present in His presence. We value you for your messages and testimonies – soul inspiring and positively mind blowing. To God be the glory.

Praying during the week, Heaven spoke to me that tomorrow can wait for you if you use your day well. You may ask; how is that possible? Know that our God is the Almighty of possibilities and as you use the day thrust into your hands very well, Heaven will change the course of history and make tomorrow to wait, embrace you according to your instructions following divine unction flowing from your being and this informed our teaching today – Tomorrow must wait.

The lord’s prayer

“After this manner therefore pray ye, our father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread…” (Mathew 6 verses 9-11) Your day is like your daily bread, once you miss it, it is gone. Those who plan, watch, strategise, network, pray, focus, never distracted, determined and make positive moves in their day always have tomorrow at their beck and call because the next day will have no choice than to listen to a world changer with divine mandate

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catapulting a generation to limit breakers. We are not speaking of the bread on your table at home but the spiritual bread for your generation. The aura given to you from heaven, when if properly tapped, will make you to stand out in your generation.

This day

This day is that day when you are fulfilling your potentials, when your purpose speak volumes, when you chart your own course in history, when people will ask – what wisdom is this (Jesus Christ as case study), when you turn a bush into a city, when you turn a dunghill into a market and when nations stand in awe of God’s glory in your life. Know this for sure, if you are on the right course, tomorrow must wait until you fulfill your day. If you use your day well, tomorrow must wait for you.

Divine word

“Then speak Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon, and thou, moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of Heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.” (Joshua 10 verses 12-14) Sun and moon obeyed Joshua because he operated in his ‘day’.You can’t be in your day and forces of nature disobey you. In your day, everything under the sun is at alert, waiting for instructions because you are operating with the King of Glory.

“Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in.” (Psalm 24 verse 7). Everything including moon and stars lifted up their heads in the ‘day’ of Joshua, obeying his instructions because he was on the right track with God and tomorrow waited for him. Joshua commanded moon to stand still and sun to stay declaring that tomorrow will not come until he has finished God’s business in his hands. If it had taken six months for Joshua and his people to finish that battle, it would have remained that way. Another day will not come and tomorrow would have waited till eternity expecting another instruction from Joshua before it could manifest. What a man with divine and prophetic unction. God gave him his day and he operated powerfully with it. Are you the Joshua of your generation? Search within, without, in your soul and examine yourself now, you can’t be in your day and still be day dreaming.

Capsule One

Simply Africa’s most influential businessman in his day, this man of means with deep purse and sports philanthropist, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola made indelible marks in his lifetime and was crowned pillar of sports in Africa. With investments in over 102 countries, a story was told how he made history in America which is still a reference point in that country till today. An American airline about taking off from New York to Carlifonia was told that Chief Abiola just left Nigeria for the United States of America and will be on that aircraft to Carlifonia that day as it is the last flight from New York. The flight with other passengers was de-

layed until his arrival to the consternation of all asking why they were kept waiting because of somebody – that somebody is not a nobody, it was a man operating in his day and tomorrow waited for him.

Capsule Two

God’s general with divine bombshell, Saint Moses Orimolade Tunolase, mightily used by God in his ‘day’ caused a revival in the palace of Queen of England and the result of that divine visitation led to the registration and honour of the church by the colonial masters of the old Great Britain. A member of the Royal Palace in London was down with sickness that defied medical treatment and owing to Prophet Orimolade’s exploits in Africa and beyond, he was contacted and he prayed in Nigeria and the sick was healed in London. Alarmed at the miracle, the Queen said this must be a divine church and the church which Prophet Orimolade founded, The Cherubim and Seraphim organization worldwide with the registered name, Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim was given global registration and recognition with commonwealth seal in the United Kingdom and Prophet Orimolade was greatly honoured. Records of this great feat are in the archives today. Prophet Orimolade was a mighty man of God in his ‘day’ and tomorrow waited for him. The church has spread to the whole world and true worshippers are increasing daily. Remember, sun and moon will not come down until you finish your assignment. Grab your day now and tomorrow shall wait for you.

Nigeria has a great future.

Change from your sinful ways. Jesus loves you. It is well.

Akpabio didn’t sponsor me to promote Akpabioism –Pastor Bassey Akpabioism, a new ideology deriving from the name of Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio, has begun to attract attention in recent times. Of importance is the fact that the foundation of a multi-purpose centre, Akpabioism Centre, is to be laid at the end of this month through the zeal of Pastor James Bassey, at Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital. Bassey in an encounter with Deputy Editor, Kayode Fasua recently, explained his motive, denying accusations that he is being sponsored by the governor. Excerpts: What is your reaction to recent media attacks on Akpabioism as being sponsored by Governor Akpabio? As an ordained man of God, I don’t compromise the order by our Lord Jesus Christ that we should spread the gospel, which means good news, to all parts of the world. In a way too, Akpabioism means good news; and by God’s grace, I am proud to be the engine-house of the vehicle for its propagation all over the world. I am immensely elated that Akpabioism is finally creaping into the consciousness of Nigerians everywhere in the country; I am particularly happy that even those initially opposed to my efforts at entrenching this ideology are beginning to see that something good is happening in Akwa-Ibom State and the governor is doing a good work. I don’t want to join issues with my brothers who don’t want to agree that after all, Nazareth can produce something great. I am working on Akpabioism so that in the next two or three years every household in Nigeria will be discussing it. Let me tell them that something good has come out of our own Nazareth. They don’t know that everybody cannot hate an achiever. Governor Godswill Akpabio represents the face of change. And, he has brought happiness, joy and massive infrastructural development

to the Akwa Ibom State. I would not be supporting it if the governor has not been performing. The governor is a man that is celebrated across the world. He has received more awards in the last few years than any governor in Nigeria. We are happy we are doing what we are doing. Akpabioism is my private initiative. It has no link with the governor, Except that the thinking revolves around the personality of the governor. Whatever is the opinion of anyone on Akpabioism, people know that finally, Akwa Ibom State has arrived Is the novelty match lined out as part of this year’s annual programme part of the way you intend to take Akpabioism to all parts of Nigeria? Of course, we all know that sport, especially football, is a unifying factor in our nation. Beside this, as youth development is a cardinal philosophy of Governor Akpabio, football is an appropriate medium through which this can be achieved. I am convinced that the youths of the state need good mentorship and bringing these stars of Nigerian football to play in Uyo has the capability of redirecting the aggression and energies of the teeming youths in the state into positive and productive ventures. As a matter of fact, the novelty match which

will feature the governor, top government in the state, some other state governors and more than 20 ex-Eagles will be first of its kind in Nigeria both in essence and concrete terms How do you respond to the claim that the governor using you conversely to propagate Akpabioism? The governor is not using me; I have not even seen the governor on this issue. I created and developed Akpabioism. It is my baby, my thinking. I am proud to be the one pioneering this concept. I am not promoting Akpabioism because of politics. Akpabioism is for posterity; it is all about responsible and responsive leadership. I think another explanation for the reason this idea is being attacked, is that so many people are not happy because it is not their own original thinking. They felt it should be one of these big boys or great people in the academics doing it, but it does not matter. Rome was not built in a day. Let me reiterate that I am promoting the concept because of the strength the governor has given to the people of Akwa-Ibom state; Akpabio has transformed people’s thinking and redefined leadership; Of course, this is very thing his opponents do not want to hear. Is it because

Pastor Bassey

somebody from the minority ethnic group is doing this, is the reason they are not happy?

What about the allegation that you have been given N100m to embark on the project? The people making the allegation do not know me and do not understand what I am doing; One hundred million naira for what? The foundation of Akpabioism Centre is going to cost us several millions. I have been a businessman since 1991. I was the youngest contractor to Central Bank of Nigeria. I registered my three companies in 1993. Bascon, my company, has properties in Lekki. Those properties we are going to sell to build the centre. Governor Akpabio has not given me anything and we will not ask for money.

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Praise & Worship 33

Sunday November 4, 2012

How to be free from the burden of guilt Christian Relationship with Taiwo

Odubiyi

E-mail: info@pastortaiwoodubiyi.org.uk

Of recent, I fell into sexual sin, twice. The first time it happened, I asked God for forgiveness and promised not to repeat it but I didn’t keep my word. Now I’m feeling very bad, bitter and broken. It will definitely not happen again as I’ve learnt my lesson. I have asked God for mercy again but I don’t feel forgiven. Please Pastor Taiwo, I need your help and advice. (A lady) Quite a number of people are struggling with guilt. There are those who don’t think they can ever be forgiven by God while some others know God does forgive and they have asked for forgiveness but don’t feel forgiven, like the lady who sent the above message to me. In my novel ‘Shadows from the past’, Mary asked Eva, “Can God ever forgive me?” “What exactly have you done?” Eva wanted to know. “Well, I have not honoured my body. I have been messing around and committed abortions, but I am ready to change and live for God.” Eva told her, “God will forgive you. It doesn’t matter what you have done or where you have been, Jesus died to save you from your sin and its consequences if you are ready to accept what He is offering you.” Mary looked as if she did not quite believe, which Eva noticed. Eva added, “The

question is not if God will forgive you, the question is whether or not you are ready to believe what God says and accept His forgiveness. You will also have to follow Him.” ... Months later, Mary was sharing her testimony with someone and she said, “I found it difficult to forgive myself for some time but I heard God speak to my spirit that my sins have been forgiven and that He has forgotten about them.” (Excerpts from Shadows from the past)

sue is whether or not we will turn to Him and accept His help. We need to know and believe that God will do what He has promised to do which is to forgive us every time we ask Him to. He is a merciful God. He answers prayers and will forgive but because we have His Spirit in us, we should not live in sin for He hates sin. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (1John 3:9)

Sin will destroy us and our relationship with God. When we do wrong or commit sin, we should immediately confess to God and ask for mercy, He will forgive us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1John 1:9) How many times can we go to Him and He will forgive? As many times as we do wrong. In Matthew 18, Jesus taught Peter to forgive his brother every time his brother offended him and asked for forgiveness. Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. (Matthew 18:21,22) If God wants us to forgive people every time they offend us, would He not be willing to forgive us every time we ask Him for forgiveness? As Eva told Mary, forgiveness by God is not the issue; the is-

Two kinds of guilt There are two kinds of guilt. There’s one that makes a person who has committed sin go before God for mercy. This kind of guilt is from the Holy Spirit and results in freedom, joy and spiritual growth. The second kind of guilt makes a person want to stay away from God’s presence. He or she feels condemned, hopeless and harassed by negative thoughts. This guilt is from satan and results in destruction of relationship with God, purpose and life.

How to break free The kind of guilt the lady who sent the message is struggling with, which I am addressing here, is the second kind which is from Satan, to destroy a Christian’s confidence in his or her walk with God. Satan makes some people think that for some reasons, God is still not happy with them, and is not willing to forgive them. They have asked for forgiveness

WE NEED TO KNOW AND BELIEVE THAT GOD WILL DO WHAT HE HAS PROMISED TO DO WHICH IS TO FORGIVE US EVERY TIME WE ASK HIM

but don’t feel forgiven. This is contrary to the word and the will of God. The Bible tells us that God is willing, not only to forgive but to heal as well. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.”Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. (Matthew 8:2,3) Believe God’s words concerning you. If you have asked Him to forgive you, believe He has. You don’t need to feel forgiven, you just need to accept and believe it. Don’t think about how you have failed again anymore. Just thank God for His mercy. Realise what satan is trying to do to you and stop him. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Don’t listen to him. Sing and thank God for His mercy instead.

Scriptures to meditate on to overcome •Who isa God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:18, 19) •The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. (Psalm 145:8) •There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1) •In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. (Ephesians 1:7)

The power of change Shepherd Life with Bishop Kingsley

Enakirerhi

hat will happen when a man has been occupied by an ecclesiastical power of God; when the Supernatural absorbs the ordinary man? Take a break and ponder about it. If God really dwells in you what do you think will happen? If an armed robber is indwelt by the Supernatural power of God, if a prostitute is possessed by the power of God, what do you think will happen? If all leaders are full of the Spirit of God? Change of course will take place. This week, I want to bring to you, ‘The Power of Change’. Pure gold in its natural state is unattractive. Until you subject it to some certain high temperature, it will remain unattractive and less beneficial to humanity. There is a supernatural force that institutes change in the life of a man. As we shall see later, this force is the comparative high temperature that can transfer human in his natural state to his spirit-filled state.

The wheel of change, though slow, is inevitable. Trees grow every day, humans change from young to old every day, yet the gradual change is not noticeable. Therefore, for a change to be sustained in any system, it must observe its natural law of occurrence. This change must be from the very core of your being. Any change that comes from a willing heart is progressive and matures into perfection. For a Christian, the growth in us is painfully slow sometimes, but it does take place. A Christian has a standard for change. When this change is noticed, it is called spiritual growth. This growth which resulted from change is painful during its early stage, but joyous, satisfactory and fulfilling in its secondary course. In Galatians 5:22-23, the indefatigable follower of Christ Apostle Paul added: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control ……” (NKJ) The personality of the Holy Spirit is the transforming force that institutes change in the life of a Christian. When the Holy Spirit comes upon a man, it will not make him grow fatter, neither will it make him shed his skin or change his colour. No! It does not instigate physical change.

The Holy Spirit operates in your inside. He divides and penetrates your deepest man. He takes possession of the fabrics of your soul. He takes hold of your emotions and possesses it. That is the Holy Spirit for you. “If any man is in Christ...” In another vein, if any man receives the Holy Spirit, if any man crucifies the flesh with its passions and desires “… he is a new creature”. That is, he will manifest the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Then, change has taken place and growth has set in. God carefully packaged these nine effective tools for Christian change in such a way that when absorbed will bring total turnaround. This is the scale to measure every Christian standard. By nature, human being is jealous, by natural standard we all are selfish. We are engrossed by fear and anxiety. When we are angry we tend to scatter everywhere. We are greedy and insatiable; revelries and drunkenness is our watch word. This is exactly what we are, when all these atrocities are found in you, then people can call you by their compound names: thief, robber, murderer, fornicator, wizard, embezzler, corrupt politician, womanizer, witch, greedy man, liar, adulterer, etc.

But when the Holy Spirit comes, He will dwell in you and establish a reformation centre in your soul. He will transform hatred to love, anxiety to joy, wrath to peace, selfishness to kindness, fear to faith, drunkenness, murderer, anger to self control. This transformation process is sometimes painful as you all will be forced to live aside the pleasure of sin. Irrespective of the weakness of your temperament, the Holy Spirit will strengthen you. When all these things occur, then we can boldly say that change has taken place in the life of a Christian. This is the power of change! Though it is not the scope of this excerpt to expatiate on the subject of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, we should understand that it takes living in its fruits to experience the desired change. “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” Gal. 5:25 You must deliberately express love, you must willingly choose to be joyful in the presence of hardship. You must from your heart exercise self-control in the abundance of pleasure. Sharing from the sufferings and pains of another man should be done without complaint. These are the fruits of a changed man and its power is from the strength of the indwelling Holy Spirit of God. Shalom!

Praise & Worship

Sunday, November 4, 2012

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The cosmic conflict (i)

Footprints with Dr. Tunde

Ojewole Email: ojewolea@babcockuni.edu.ng Phone: 08058299434

ur world is beset with untold natural disasters in virtually all the time zones of the world. Tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, health hazards, religious fundamentalism, ethnic cleansing, and countless evil surmising litter our world. Sudden attacks devastate many homes leaving their dreams of success shattered. Sickness and death are ugly realities that stalk our loved ones and myriads of people are despondent. Why all these sufferings? Most people are quick to lay the blame for all human suffering on God. We ask: “why me Lord?” I guess, we mean: “why not another person or family?” Insurance companies traditionally label natural disasters as “act of God.” God is painted as an angry deity, blood-thirsty and absent-minded. The Bible portrays God as a God of love who acted to protect and save humans even before they came into existence. When suffering and death entered the world, God did not just stand on the sidelines and watch the devastation. He revealed a plan to save humans – a plan which is in full operation today. God’s footsteps can be traced throughout history so we may see for ourselves what He offered to save us. The Bible describes a time of blissful existence with not sign of sin and decay in Genesis 1-2. The gateway of sin ushered in human suffering and decay on planet earth (Gen 3). Sin is lawlessness. It is an intruder for whose presence cannot be justified. It is the outworking of a principle at war with the law of love, the foundation of the God’s government. The originator of sin is Lucifer, anointed as a guardian cherub (Ezek 28:14). Prophet Isaiah describes him: “how you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn” (Isa 14:12). Lucifer said in

Holy Inquiry with Pastor Paul

Nkirukah E-mail: pstpaul11@yahoo.com

Dear pastor, The Bible says that it is written that Jesus was to be betrayed, and killed; that probably meant it wasn’t Judas’ fault to have betrayed him, since it had been written. My question now is; since it is written, and Judas committed the act, did he (Judas) go to heaven or hell? Obioma, from Abuja. Dear reader, Though your question looks very ancient and sensitive, with the word of God, the answer will be very much available for you. Remember that when the word of God says that one of you shall betray me, it did not mention anybody’s name, which means it can be anybody. Secondly, let’s

his heart: “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” Lucifer coveted the honor which the Father had bestowed upon Jesus Christ. Lucifer allowed jealousy of Christ to prevail. The exaltation of self awakened forebodings of evil in his mind and he dishonored God, his Maker. Pride nourished the desire for supremacy. He aspired to be equal with God. Unfortunately, Lucifer diffused this discontent among the other angels in heaven. “With mysterious secrecy, concealing his real purpose under an appearance of reverence for God, he endeavored to excite dissatisfaction concerning the laws that governed heavenly beings, intimating that they imposed unnecessary restraint.” Lucifer urged the heavenly angels to obey the dictates of their own will and secure liberty for themselves that they might attain a higher existence. Despite Lucifer’s incitement of discontent, was God bore long with Lucifer. He was not degraded from his exalted station immediately as God offered him pardon on condition of repentance and submission. However, pride prevented Lucifer from submitting to God’s supremacy. This is how the great controversy between God and Satan, Light and darkness, Truth and error, Christ and the devil began. This is the ultimate cosmic conflict! Satan misrepresented God’s words, disseminating direct falsehood. It was

his policy to perplex people with subtle arguments concerning the purposes of God. Everything simple he shrouded in mystery, and by artful perversion cast doubt upon the plainest statements of God. God’s wisdom allowed Lucifer’s disaffection ripen into active revolt so that his evil his plans might be fully developed, that their true nature might be seen by all. The whole universe must see the deceiver unmasked. The true character of the usurper must be understood by all. He must have time to manifest himself by his wicked works. While Satan can employ all manner of lies, flattery, deceit, and misrepresentation, in His dealing with sin, God could employ only righteousness and truth. Why did God not destroy Lucifer despite his rebellion? Infinite Wisdom did not destroy Satan. The allegiance of God’s creatures must rest upon a conviction of His justice. The inhabitants of heaven and of other worlds could not then have understood the justice and mercy of God in the destruction of Satan. Had he been immediately blotted from existence, they would have served God from fear rather than from love. The influence of the deceiver would not have been fully destroyed, nor the spirit of rebellion eradicated. For the good of the universe through ceaseless ages Satan must more fully develop, that his charges against the divine government might be seen in their true light by all created beings. Satan’s rebellion was to be to the universe a testimony to the terrible results of sin. His rule would show the fruit of setting aside the divine authority. The history of this

Answer these questions and win a prize 1.

Whose new name is Israel? In a phrase, define Israel with scriptural evidence.

Name both the child born and the dumb parent who spoke on the day the baby was named.

Name the beasts Peter saw in a vision while praying at the roof top and supply the scripture.

•Please, be informed that the first correct entry via text message wins the prize. See next week’s column for answers to the quiz. Send your answers with your names to 08054238905. Gifts: courtesy Babcock University.

terrible experiment of rebellion was to be a perpetual safeguard to all holy intelligences to save them from sin and its punishment. God finally banished Satan, the archrebel and his evil cohorts from heaven. “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Rev 12:7-9). The cosmic conflict is now headquartered on planet earth since Adam and Eve listened and obeyed him (Gen 3). The battle is to gain control over the hearts and minds of human beings. Every onslaught of the devil is to win your loyalty and get you to deny your faith in God. Satan is to be blamed for every calamity human beings experience. Satan caused all disasters and blames God. Every time you blame God you support Satan’s thesis! Satan leads people to justify themselves and seek the sympathy of others in their sin. Instead of correcting their errors, they excite indignation against the reprover, as if he were the cause of difficulty. But you need not be despaired, God has made adequate plan to redeem humans from sin through the death of Jesus on the cross. Jesus is God’s love personified! Give Jesus the full control of your life now. In the battle that is raging, you are on the winning side with Him. •Tunde Ojewole, Ph.D., is the University Pastor and Associate Vice-President for Spiritual Life, Babcock University. For enquiries: ojewolea@babcock.edu.n

Answers to October 28, 2012 Quiz 1.

Disciple whom he loved (John)John 19:26,27

Hermon

Peter – Matthew 26:74,75

Did Judas go to heaven or hell? take a closer look at the reasons Judas betrayed Jesus: which is borne out of greed, love for money, which is the root of all evil, and envy- see Matthew 27 : 18 which reads: “For he knew that for envy, they had delivered him.” You know that these three things are sins before God. However, let’s carefully examine the scriptures below for a better understanding. Matthew 26: 20-24 reads; Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. 21; As they did eat, he said, verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 22; And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? 23; And he answered and said, he that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me, 24; The son of man goeth as it is written of him, but woe unto that man by whom the son of man is betrayed. It had been good for that man if he had not been born. According to the scriptures or statement in verse 24 above, Jesus said woe unto that man whom the son of man is betrayed. Was that not a curse? If yes, what makes you feel that what Judas did was not a sin?

Nevertheless, maybe what Judas did couldn’t have been a sin because it was written, or because the Bible says he later repented after Jesus was apprehended. But something else happened again. Let’s quickly take a look at the scriptures below for a good observation. Matthew 27 : 1 – 5 which reads; “When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death, 2; And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor, 3; Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4; Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, what is that to us, see thou to that, 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. Like I said earlier, maybe Judas could have been forgiven and could not have gone to hell, that is, if he is in hell, we cannot confirm yet until the Bible says so. But he committed another strange thing that

is a very big sin before God and man, by hanging himself. Now, you will agree with me that when someone takes his life by himself, the person has committed murder, because there is no difference between he who killed somebody and the person who hanged himself; so long as life has been taken, it is the same thing. It does not matter whether you are the one or someone else; you have killed and you remain a killer. My dear, I want to say by human perspective, if a killer cannot enter into the kingdom of God without repenting, that means that Judas may be in hell, because I have never come to across anywhere in the Bible where Judas repented after hanging himself; of course, he cannot repent in the grave; can he? The reason I am putting it under probability is that God said he does see the way we see, neither does he judge the way we judge, but by his word, I believe that Judas may be in hell, but I am not judging. However, I will advise that you forget whether Judas is in hell or heaven, but begin to think about where you will be on the last day. Where? Heaven or hell? That is what you have to be concerned with.

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Movies & Music

Sunday, November 4, 2012

The Coliseum relaunches Wednesday live gig

akes

Nigeria’s Got Talbeginning of the

Olayemi John songs ‘The resas “so original

Niteshift Coliseum, one of Nigeria’s leading entertainment events venue, is repackaging with the re-introduction of its popular every Wednesday live gig. The weekly gig that was suspended early this year for appraisals will be making its return on 7th November, 2012 and every other Wednesday, with a new band consisting of versatile younger instrumentalists and vocalists. Ken Calebs-Olumese, the Guv’nor of the club, said the hangout, renowned for first-class entertainment, decided to reintroduce the weekly event in order to satisfy the yearning of the club’s patrons who complained on the dwindling mid-week night life. He said with the reputation already built by the club as the pacesetter in the area of live music, the weekly gig has been revamped and it will now feature the best in Nigeria’s music scene performing as guest artistes and DJs. according to him, on the inaugural Wednesday, the club will unveil the new band that will share the stage with some popular hip-hop artistes. The show will be a four-hour fun-filled event with live music running from 8pm to 12am. Afterwards, guests DJs Shina and Solex of Rainbow 94.1FM will take over the proper disco session. Olumese noted that in conformity with the trending contemporary culture, the club’s ambience has changed, while a special VVIP lounge has been opened at the upper section of the club for the club’s special patrons and senior members. Tipped as being one of the biggest nights in the music

D’banj, Wizkid to light up MTV Europe Music Awards 2012

ry, seven of them geria’s most tal-

n charming the ’ won them the n equally amaz-

Sunny Neji set to roll out two new singles

industry, this year’s MTV Europe Music Award will showcase talents from the US, Europe, Asia and Africa. This year’s awards will be hosted by supermodel and businesswoman, Heidi Klum. For the second time in a row, the awards are taking place in Frankfurt at the Festhalle. M&M gathered that the aim is to build on the popularity of last year’s show in Belfast, which attracted 23 million viewers on all platforms as well as 158 million votes worldwide. Interestingly, Africa’s hottest contemporary artistes are also in the frame for a Europe Music Award as Sarkodie, Camp Mulla, Wizkid, Mi Casa and D’Banj will be fighting it out for a slot in the Worldwide Act category. In this category, artistes will compete against their peers from India and the Middle East. To see who wins, tune into DStv on Sunday, November 11, 2012.

The man who has been tagged Nigeria’s Luther Vandross because of his track records in waxing soul-moving love songs, Sunny Neji, is back on the scene a year after releasing his widely accepted album, ‘Timeless’. the puppeteer. The highlife singer is gearing up to release two singles: ‘Finally’ and d ribs and won ‘Sido’ in coming weeks. ost brought the Mr. Fantastik, as he is fondly called, came into public consciousness dult Babies’ on in 1997 and immediately became a nation-wide success with the release a singer from of his hit track, ‘Mr. Fantastik’. l, a dancer from Many thought he would be another one-hit-wonder but he proved them wrong with the release of hits after hits. ‘Face me’, ‘Tolo Tolo’, days and view‘Ojoro’ and ‘Abosede’ that further established his credibility in the intheir favourite dustry. In 2003, Sunny Neji’s love song, ‘Oruka’ became a national weds for the season ding song of sort and broke ethnic and generational barriers. The te Henshaw and song puts him in a pedestal where no love song has reached several Yibo Koko. The years after. of Nigeria’s Got In 2011, Sunny Neji surprised everyone with another album September this titled: ‘Timeless’ with hit tracks such as ‘Lovey Dovey’ which feacember. tured fast rising act, Jodie of ‘Kuchi Kuchi’ fame with the video Talent franchise shot in India by a top Indian music video director. The video in its sixth year, also featured a top Bollywood actress. The album also has any notable per‘Awarawa’ (ourselves) where he featured popular rapper, Jhlast couple of Entertainment powerhouse, Koga has once again ibo, Fragrance on ‘Bad as I Bad’ and Kiki on ‘No be Oyinbo’. ng Diversity, Bireiterated its commitment in staging the best musical The singer is back in the music clime with yet another and Britain’s Got concert of 2012 by emphasizing the duration with which song, ‘Finally’ which he has tipped to outshine his previ2009 1st runner up the headlining acts of the concert would perform on the night. ous ‘wedding and national anthem’, ‘Oruka’. The artiste Boyle, whose debut As associated with most musical concerts, the headlining arrecently celebrated his birthday in the city of Ibadan, um became the fasttistes only perform on stage for a few minutes, a characteristic that Oyo State, with the less privileged. est selling UK debut won’t feature at this year’s concert as the artistes would be performing It would be recalled that the singer made history album of all time, for at least 45 minutes at this year’s music concert. last year as the first Highlife crooner to sell his selling over The music concert, which is scheduled to hold on Friday, November 30, fmusic album for N1, 000 each, a move that furthree million 2012 at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, will attract several headwho ther cemented his credibility as a very viable copies in lining artistes such as Koko Master, Dbanj, African Queen Crooner, 2face Idibia, centre and reliable brand. the U.S. Afro-beat sensation, Femi Kuti and Afro Juju Maestro, ses and neThe singer spoke on his new singles: Sir Shina Peters with the presenter of the Big Friday Show, ety. “Sibo’ is a coinage that suggests ‘take Basket Mouth anchoring the concert. in the Face of it easy’, let’s be friends that we ought The music concert will also feature exclusive performances from Pageant, females to be. It means let us take it easy the cool DJ Jimmy Jatt and DJ Neptune, disc jockeys who are on top of een ages 18- 25. And of with each other; we are begintheir class. M&M learnt that in a bid to make the concert a memorable one, prizes awaits the winners; ning to appreciate each the organisers are working tirelessly to achieve this aim. ce of peace Africa 2012) will go other as human The producer of the concert, Omoh Talabi, a face behind many successful con00, brand new car, one year movie beings again. certs in Nigeria has a few words to say about this year’s concert: “I chose to work on lu-moon Imaginationz, one year beauthis concert because Top10 Mics is now a viable brand. Bold & Beautiful, a trip to Gambia.

antastic perford compete and

DJs Jimmy Jatt, Neptune join Top Mics train

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Why do men find it difficult to forgive a cheating partner?

ometime ago, a lot of social media sites buzzed with the gory pictures of a man who paraded his wife naked round Festac town in Lagos because she cheated on him. According to the story that came with it, he caught her in the very act of adultery and decided she was the scum of the universe and deserves to be publicly disgraced. He stripped her and forcefully dragged her round town amidst boos and woos from the cheering crowd that gathered to witness the ignominy of a fallen woman. This man made the wife he spent dowry on a spectacle of shame as people shared and posted the pictures of her nakedness on their Facebook walls and blogs. When a man is bitten by a dog it is not considered as news but when a man bites a dog it becomes newsworthy. This is the same treatment the story of a cheating wife receives round the globe. People accept the news of a man cheating on his wife as a normal occurrence but cry blue murder when a woman cheats on her husband. Is it that the rule changes when a woman is involved or is it the modus operandi that is accepted because it’s a man’s world after all? In fact, a guy arrogantly told me that a man who does not cheat on his wife is not a full blooded man! According to his hypothesis, ‘’how can a man enjoy eating only Egusi soup for the rest of his life? He also needs to taste Vegetable and Ogbono soup once in a while because variety is the spice of life.’’ I took him up on his theory and quizzed why the same supposition should not be meted on women since God did not create the women’s taste bud differently; after all what is good for the goose is equally good for the gander. He vehemently disagreed and even spits profanities and punishment for any woman that ventures into such acts. This is the kind of reaction that usually greets the subject of wives cheating their husbands. You see men raising their voices and giving suggestions what they will do if they find out their wife is cheating on them; yet they go about cheating their wives with other women without batting an eyelid. Why is this so I wonder? From what I gathered from the male folk, the reason they find it difficult to forgive a cheating wife has to do with the male ego and pride. Men have possessive traits that make them to want to protect what they term their territory. Men hate sharing with a passion!

To him, it is incomprehensible to forgive a cheating wife especially when he provides for her needs and also performs his conjugal rights with much gusto. A man also feels it is a heavy slight on his manhood if he discovers that his wife preferred sleeping with another man while still married to him. He will immediately believe she no longer finds him attractive or his prowess in bed is not good enough for her and for that reason she is more or less termed a prostitute. It is such thoughts and imaginations running through his head that makes the man find it difficult to forgive his wife of infidelity. The questions usually asked include: was he better than me in bed? How long has the affair been going on? Is she in love with her new lover? Was she sleeping with both of us at the same time? Such questions make the man’s blood to boil with anger, jealousy and total resentment of the woman. They just find it extremely difficult to get over their feelings of jealousy and betrayal than it is for the woman. Ladies most times understand that men fall into temptation and lust. Often it is merely for sex and not for companionship and so can forgive a cheating husband if he promises to end the affair and cut off communication with the other woman. On the other hand, men believe women are emotional beings and so can only have an affair if they are emotionally involved with the other man and not just for sex and so find it difficult to accommodate such behavior. Forgiveness is indeed a hard nut for most men to crack especially when it comes to the issue of infidelity. Yes, she did a dastardly thing by cheating on you with her colleague in the office or with an old flame; yet that should not make you to throw away years of happiness and bonding you have established with this woman over the years. Nobody is above making a mistake including you. If she shows remorse for what she did and begs for forgiveness, please find it in your heart to do so. To err is human to forgive is divine. I would call a man who forgives his wife of infidelity a REAL MAN. This type of forgiveness basically brings some meaning into the vow “I will love her in good & BAD times. Divorce is not the key!!! Rather, forgive her and work things out with your partner to bring healing to your marriage and bridge the gap such emotional upheaval would have wrecked on your marriage.

I am Soso, 30 years old, a graduate and working. I am from Rivers State. I require a lady for marriage –08098441207. I am Akeem, 27 years old, from Lagos State. I want a lady from Lagos for a serious relationship –08132688413, AkeemKola33@yahoo.com My name is Stanley. I live in Lagos and need working-class lady for a serious relationship –08039323944. Kenneth is my name; I am 28 years old and live in Lagos. I need a workingclass of between 23 and 28 years old for a serious relationship that will lead to marriage –08096757145. I am FM, 38 years old and a Christian. I am from Ogun State. I am slim and tall. I live and work in Lagos. I need a working-class lady, between 28 and 35 years old, preferably a nurse, for a relationship –08098663362. My name is Bayo Adeleke. I am from Osun State. I am 42 years old, 5.7ft tall. I need a serious, responsible and hard working lady as partner and lover that can lead to marriage –08166705101. Barnabas is my name. I am 26 years old and need a girl of 24 years old to be my true love. I live in lagos –07062230193.

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A Fashionista’s

World NOVEMBER 4, 2012

‘I can’t be caught in bikini, even at poolside’ Adetilewa Adesanya’s strict upbringing automatically shaped the way she dresses today. This graduate of History and Diplomatic Studies of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye revealed to Angela Davies in this chat that although her fashion statement is looking good at all times, she is old-fashioned. What did you study? I studied History and Diplomatic Studies at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State. How was growing up for you? Growing up was quite tough because I didn’t grow up with my parents. I grew up with a disciplinarian, but today I have come to appreciate all the things she did for me. When I was growing up, I felt she was being wicked. The truth is that if she was still alive, I wouldn’t mind to go back to her on my knees just to say ‘thank you for training me’. Her strict training shaped me into the wonderful woman I have become today. Define your fashion statement My fashion statement is looking good at all times. What kind of outfits do you love to wear? I love well designed natives, dinner gowns and jeans. But the most important thing is that I wear clothes that I feel comfortable in. If you have to flaunt any part of your body, where will that be? I am an old fashioned person so I wouldn’t like to flaunt any part of my body. What’s your impression about ladies, including married women, who wear clothes that reveal vital parts of their body? When I see such ladies I get irritated. If I am irritated as a woman, I wonder how the men would feel. It is not decent for any woman to reveal any vital parts of her body. A woman can wear any type of outfit without exposing any part and still look decent and appreciated. I think we need to go back to our culture and teach women how to dress properly. What is that fashion item you cannot do without as a woman? I wear jeans most of the time so I cannot do without my jeans. What is that fashion item you can never be caught wearing as a woman? I can never be caught wearing bikini even at the poolside or the beach because it is revealing. Who is your fashion role model? Nike Oshinowo. I admire her so

much. I think she is in her forties yet she looks young. Each time I look at her, I tell myself that when I get to her age I would want to be like her. Do you love jewellery? Yes I do. However, I have preference for beads. What is your greatest fear in life? I am scared of just any kind of water, be it swimming pool, river or beach. That is because there is always this hunch that if I get into the water I will get drowned. At a point, I was learning how to swim but I had to stop. Do you follow fashion? No I don’t. I wear what suits me and what I feel comfortable in. If you keep following fashion, fashion will leave you behind because it will get to a point when you cannot meet up with it. What do you not like about fashion in Nigeria? That is when I see women wear clothes that reveal vital parts like bump short, mini, transparent tops displaying their bras. Some wear these outfits even to events and I must say it is an eyesore. How do you keep fit? I do aerobics every morning for 30 minutes and I try as much as possible to watch what I eat. How would you describe the African woman? The African woman is beautiful, strong, enduring, and is of good character. How do you love your make-up? I love it light. However, I can do without make-up. What are your hobbies? I love reading novels, watching movies and cooking. What is your philosophy of life? Be nice to people because you don’t know where you will meet them tomorrow. What puts you off people? Dishonesty. If you have to change anything about yourself, what would that be? I love everything about myself. How would you describe yourself? I am simple, caring and loving.

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Lessons of Life

ANGELA DAVIES lessonsoflife2@yahoo.com 08023342083

TRUE LIFE STORY ON MATTERS OF THE HEART NOVEMBER 4, 2012

‘Help, my husband has discovered I was impregnated by a fake prophet!’ Unable to become pregnant for her beloved husband, Elliot, Harmony made love to a false prophet who impregnated her. Elliot discovered later and refused to admit paternity of the child. Now he dismisses Harmony from his home amid anger and sobbing.

hat Monday morning, immediately Elliot left for the office, the ‘servant of God’ showed up. We started with praise and worship; after which he prayed on the fruits and asked me to eat them. Once I was done with the fruits, he started caressing my body; he eventually ended up making love to me. This ritual continued for the whole five days after which I didn’t see him again. The next month, I discovered that I was pregnant. When I told Elliot, he was so excited. He warned me to be careful. In fact, he got a house help so that I will not stress myself throughout the pregnancy. He also bought for me a new car and got me a driver. He became more loving than ever. At weekends, he would follow me to the hospital for my antenatal. I must confess, we were happier than ever. I finally gave birth to a bouncing baby girl and before I got home from the hospital, Elliot had decorated the baby’s room in colours of pink and white. It was so beautiful. A few weeks later, I noticed that the baby did not really look like me or Elliot. A few people who came to visit me also observed this. I gave the excuse that she was still too young to have the semblance of me or her father, but deep down in my heart, I knew I was just saying it to soothe my guilt. However, I got the shocker of my life two months later. I was at home with my mother-in-law that fateful afternoon when we heard a knock on the door. I rushed to open it. Behold I saw a young man dressed in jeans and T-shirt. “Good

afternoon ma, this letter is for you,” he said. “Thank you but who is it from?” I asked. “I was only asked to deliver it to you madam. Have a good afternoon,” he emphasised. He handed over the letter and left immediately. “Who could have sent this letter?” I murmured. I went straight to the bedroom, tore the envelope it open and I could not believe what was written in the letter. It read: Dear Madam, How is my baby doing? Do you know you are the biggest fool I have ever met? I’m not a real prophet as you think. I am just an undergraduate who lives four houses away looking for fun. I heard about your plight of looking for a child so I decided to pretend to be a prophet and it worked perfectly. Please take good care of our baby. I got a scholarship to study abroad and I will be leaving tonight. It’s a pity I don’t even know your name but I enjoyed all our moments together while it lasted. Just to let you know that I don’t need the baby but I hope you will tell your husband the truth some day so that he will know how stupid his wife is. I am the false prophet who actually delivered the letter. Have a nice life. I hid the letter and tried to pretend that nothing was wrong. Somehow, Elliot saw the letter and asked me about the true paternity of the baby. I tried all I could to make him believe that he was the father of our baby but it was obvious that he was not convinced. He insisted and carried out a DNA test on the baby. The result clearly showed that he was not the father of my baby. He quietly asked me to leave his house and warned that the child must not bear his surname. I pleaded with him that I did it for us but all pleas fell on deaf ears. For the

first time, I saw my husband shed tears like a woman as he watched me leave the house. I went back to my father’s house. The child bears my father’s name because I don’t even know the name of the fake prophet. It’s been almost two years since I left Elliot’s house and I am still asking him and his family for forgiveness. Elliot, I loved you so much that I wanted

to give you a child by all means; I wanted you to be happy. I know what I did was totally wrong but I did it out of desperation to give you a child. Elliot, please forgive me. I don’t know what else to do.

Concluded

Please send your advice to the phone number or e-mail address above. No calls, please.

RESPONSES

Re: ‘Who do I marry, Ossai or Niran?’ I am of the opinion that neither Ossai nor Niran is ideal to be your husband. Niran humiliated and rejected you when you cunningly told him you were pregnant for him. Ossai disappointed you when you caught him sleeping with two girls in his house. I would advise you to pray to God for forgiveness and also ask Him to direct your husband to you. Good luck. Patrick Adiasor, Surulere -08033452087. Ossai and Niran are both impostors within the speculated four months period. You can really get another true love. Just tell all your reliable and married elders and pen pals and I can bet with you that if you are not too choosy or materialistic, you will soon get to your promised land. To me, both of them are birds of a feather. If you forget them, they will soon realise their foolhardiness and later reconcile once you are happily married. However, you have to fast once in a while and be prayerful. –08025368030. I will advise you to marry Ossai. He loves you more. He is

also better than Niran who denied you at a crucial time (a test failed). Ossai has true respect for you by dismissing those ladies sharply. Just pray, be focused and patient. Apeji Onesi, Lagos –08060504740. My advice is that you should quit both relationships if you want to live long and have a happy home. God will bring another man that will love you more than your imagination. For your parents, plead with them to give you more time. Forget about Ossai and Niran, they are fake. –08032972228. Just go ahead and marry Ossai because what happened is common with men and it’s normal. In fact, he did that to love you more, believe me. Tom, Abuja –08167361561. My candid advice is that you should not marry any of them as they have failed woefully irrespective of your parents’ ultimatum to marry within four months. It is just a threat that

does not hold water. You need to pray and fast for God to give you your own husband. Titi, Lagos –08061615188. My advice is to go back to your first true love, Niran. –08033588900. If you think you want to forgive any of the guys, you should go for Niran. I guess he loves you but it seems you do not trust him anymore but you can build the trust again. Ossai is not an option at all. –08134570328. This is a trying period for you. I want to advise that you should not bow to pressure from your parents because they will not be there when it will start. Marriage is different from boyfriend issue. You are lucky you didn’t discover all after your marriage. Distance yourself from these two irresponsible men and focus on God and He will order your step. Ogbonna Iwuagwu, Awka –08037437911.

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Opinion

Sunday November 4, 2012

Of Obi’s APGA and Mimiko’s LP

nambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, attracts as one with the mien of a lamb. But it is somewhat gratifying as it is befuddling, the manner this governor of the gateway to Eastern Nigeria embodies an Alice’s Wonderland that turns a reality show. In the realm of perceptive rationalisation, his is the picturesque of the sheep family taming the lions and sending jitters into other carnivores. In that hue, the gnomes and other fearsome apparitions of the wood have also been technically exorcised. He was no more than a dark horse who came to the public glare on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and gave the 2003 governorship election a shot, at a time the administration of Chinwoke Mbadinuju was a burden to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party. Wrenched by the criminalities and restiveness of that era, the PDP, still wanting to control Anambra, gave its soul to non-blinking political godfathers, who dressed up Chris Ngige to be governor. Of renown is Chris Uba, a perceived godfather to Ngige. Musing on the Anambra conundrum of the period, prolific writer, Dare Babarinsa had remarked that it could only happen in Anambra State, that a godfather is younger than his godson. The denouement of series of political abracadabra through election rigging, sheer brigandage and criminal gamboling of the era was that, Ngige, who rode on the back of the tiger to power soon found himself in the grip of its claws. He

was captured and detained by his political godfathers who saw him as trying to play Judas over a gentleman’s agreement, on how to mutually share the resources of Anambra State. But for providence, Ngige would have been killed; however, those who brought him to power, in the heat of rage, went to testify in court that they actually rigged for him, thus yielding the state to the coming of APGA’s Obi. This Obi’s sojourn in power and the entire capsule of his political career would probably require three volumes of a thousand page biography, or more. Sneers of bookmakers who saw Obi’s APGA as a flash in the pan soon petered out as he secured another term in office. Remarkably, Obi’s historic pass was his interesting and success-yielding inquest at the Supreme Court, after a lower court had restored him to power, following his phantom impeachment by egregious lawmakers. Through his fecund counsel, Femi Falana, he was able to convince the Supreme Court that his four-year term was yet to expire. Thus, the election of Andy Uba to succeed him as governor was naturally rendered otiose, null and void. With such alluring background, Obi has thus become a beautiful bride to nationally-inclined political parties seeking alliance ahead of 2015. Though APGA in Anambra State and indeed the entire South-East where it is domiciled has been enmeshed in various crises, even at a time its patriarch, Dim

Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the Eze Gburugburu of Igboland, was still alive, the party in the main lives to endure. Barring the gale of defections and smiling betrayals that characterise the nature of politics in the South-East, the APGA still holds its own in Anambra and Imo States. The story of Obi’s political magic in the boat of APGA thus grants rue to the outcome of the recent governorship election in Ondo State, which the incumbent, Governor Segun Mimiko of the Labour Party won. The LP is known as alive only in Ondo State, apparently because Mimiko is its life-wire. Mimiko, considering how he moved from Alliance for Democracy to the PDP and then to clean up a rusty Labour Party and still secure a governorship victory with it, comes particularly as an enigma. That Mimiko won the October 20 poll has never generated so much contention, because the opposition played the game like tyros. While the Ondo PDP continued its dogfight made popular by age-long factionalisation till the election day, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) attempted to use populist appeal to fill the gap of absent grassroots structure. Besides, the choice of a newcomer, Rotimi Akeredolu, as its governorship candidate, greatly infuriated the other long-suffering contestants, who, out of bellicosity, openly or technically sabotaged the ACN campaigns. They thus made a literary beauty of sideline taunts that the ACN national leader, Asiwaju

Kayode Fasua

kayodefasua@nationalmirroronline.net (08034101207; SMS only, pls)

Bola Tinubu, has a predilection for imposing candidates on his party. That, perhaps, should serve as a lesson to the ACN. But for how long will Mimiko’s LP survive in the lone range of Ondo’s political cubicle, when indications showed that while the last governorship campaigns lasted, the PDP-led administration of President Goodluck Jonathan was seen as a night-time coquette in a political romance that ultimately resonated in the victory of the governor? Throughout the campaign period, the PDP candidate, Olusola Oke, amused political observers with the way he ran helter-skelter, looking for funds to prosecute his campaigns; a tell-tale sign that he was deliberately orphaned by his party. Speculations remain that Obi’s APGA will soon make solemn its romance with the PDP; meaning that, the latter will soon swallow the former. Same has also been bandied for Mimiko’s LP. Whatever be the case, it is an indication that it strains to stay in isolation, however successful you are.

Ondo polls: Implications for the Yoruba nation IDOWU AJANAKU

he last may not have been heard of the October 20,2012 gubernatorial polls in Ondo state that saw the incumbent governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko re-elected for another four years. Now that the dust raised by the euphoria of the Pyrrhic victory is gradually settling down, the undercurrent waves of what really transpired immediately before, during and after the polls are surging to the fore. But more importantly, are the implications these would have on both the much-promoted socio-economic integration of the South-West geo-political zone as well as the Yoruba nation. For those who care to take a more critical and unbiased look at the outcome of the polls, particularly the Asiwaju Tinubu - loathing, reactionary forces in Yoruba politics, it is not yet time to sing Uhuru song. The reasons may not be so obvious but the facts are as real as the wavy lines on our palms. For instance, going by available voting figures, Mimiko, who won with 57 per cent of the votes back in 2007 while pitched against an incumbent governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, (who had then spent four years) this time around was able to garner a meager 41.2 per cent. The combined votes for the governorship candidates from the two major opposition parties, ACN and PDP outnumbered that of Mimiko! The implication of this trend is that in actual sense, majority of voters in Ondo State wanted him out of Government House. They also apparently voted in favour of regional integration. This is not too surprising, considering the glaring fact that contrary to the welloiled Mimiko’s propaganda machinery, the facts on ground point to the dismal performance of a governor who could not provide the basic needs of the electorate. That is,

in the critical areas of infrastructural development, employment generation, and the provision of educational facilities. No thanks to the comatose industrial sector that could not generate a single job. Even the much hyped Abiye Mother and Child Care centre, lacking in basic drugs and medical facilities could not be replicated across the two other Senatorial Districts. And the Dome, promised as the first of its kind in the African continent to galvanise tourism is now doomed. In truth and honesty therefore, Mimiko’s victory is more as a function of the gadabout game he has cleverly played with the ruling PDP hierarchy than as a result of any meaningful achievements on ground. Recent events point to the fact that he has succeeded in using the Labour Party, LP as a mask to mesmerize and hoodwink his supporters while in actual fact he is PDP at heart. There is ample empirical evidence on ground to lend support to this claim. Amongst the PDP politicians of SouthWest extraction who brokered the deal for Mimiko to win at all costs in order to pave way for the acclaimed PDP rigging machinery to resurrect in the South-West come 2015 are Senator Iyiola Omisore, Taoreed Adedioja, and General Tunji Olurin. They were the matchmakers in the marriage of convenience between Mimiko and President Goodluck Jonathan, to grease the latter’s political ambition come 2015. That may explain the curious twists and turns that characterized the Ondo governorship polls. Unlike what transpired in the neigbouring Edo State months ago, where the soldiers and policemen posted to ensure adequate security and prevent violence were some five to ten metres from each polling booth, most of them deployed to Ondo state were withdrawn from the rural areas. Instead, they were redeployed to the major cities of Akure, Ondo and

particularly Owo where the ACN candidate, Barrister Rotimi Akeredolu hails from. There was complete militarization of that town, in a political shenanigan aimed at intimidating the voters. It should be noted, that about 60 per cent of the voters in the state reside in the rural areas. Indeed, the electoral intrigue was such that, the security personnel deployed to such rigging spots on Thursday were summarily withdrawn on Friday night-on the eve of the election-and sent to the cities. Impeccable sources attest to the claim that the ’order came from above. Yet, there are more burning questions. Why were the 11,000 policemen drafted to the state were all camped in the barracks? Why were those sent to man the polling booths only females? Was it not for them to be intimidated by LP thugs to carry out their nefarious activities of rigging in favour of their master? All these happened in places such as Idanre, Okitipupa, Igbo tako, Ipele, Ofosun. There were reports of ACN agents forced to sign the collated results with bloodthirsty cutlasses and guns pointed right at their necks. The answer to these queries should also interest Nigerians, as we inch closer to the 2015 polls, by the day. They should wonder how in Akure South LGA, where 29,000 voters were accredited Mimiko, the Labour Party candidate, polled 49,200 votes! Where did the additional 20,200 voters emerge from? It was a similar pattern of number of votes cast in Ondo, Idanre, Ose as well as some other LGAs. This is no doubt, political abracadabra of the crudest kind. To lay credence to the insinuation that some powers that be were hands in globe with those to collate the results, teleguiding their every move, barely three hours after Mimiko was declared the winner the PDP aparachitck made up of Olu Agbi, Segun Adegoke, were at the Government

House to congratulate Mimiko. This was at a time, their candidate, Oke was crying foul over what he too described as a fraudulent electoral process! Similarly, the first traditional ruler the governor visited was none other than the anti-Yoruba element who, to the shock and outrage of his people declared support for the unpardonable annulment of the June 12 presidential election in 1993 by the famed IBB. Now that Ebenezer Babatope and former Ogun state governor, Gbenga Daniel, (who could not win his state for his party) have visited Mimiko with the PDP helmsmen from Osun, Ekiti and Lagos in tow, it should be clear to observers that the same reactionary forces who betrayed the Yoruba cause during the Abacha era are regrouping, all for self-serving reasons. If Mimko has been basking in the honeymoon of electoral fraud for three and half years without much opposition, while subtly spreading the rumour that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was angling for Ondo state all for the oil money, now is the time to prove that he merits all the accolades received so far. If ACN could rattle him so effectively within three months, now is the time to face the reality. He may have enjoyed the tacit support of Ayo Adebanjo from Ijebu,Pastor Tunde Bakare from Ogun sate and Yinka Odumakin from Osun States that are controlled effectively by the ACN, but when the chpis are down it his performance that counts. Truth is, that in the entire South West today, no politician has the clout, the character and charisma of Asiwaju Bola Ahmad Tinubu to reposition the zone in the face of the obvious political marginalization of the Yoruba race.In the fullness of time,they will know who their true leaders are. •Ajanaku is Director, Media & Publicity, ACN, Ondo State

Politics

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Staggering election is good but expensive –Aduwo Mr. Olufemi Aduwo, a fiery activist and National Coordinator of Rights Monitoring Group (RMG), is one of the versatile election observers with many national and international experiences in observing of elections. In this interview with Temitope Ogunbanke, he believes the security agencies, government, politicians, the electorate and the media have a role to play toward a credible, free and fair election in Nigeria. He also bares his view on the call for the introduction of electronic voting system and reduction of political parties, among other issues. You are one of those who observed the recent Ondo State governorship election, what is your perception of the election? There is no election that is 100 per cent perfect free and fair anywhere in the world. There are certain ingredients and parameters you need to observe and access in an election and if all these things are there then you can then give a credit that the election is free, acceptable and credible. But the truth is that the Ondo State governorship election is a great improvement of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under Prof. Attahiru Jega. The election was credible and it was not a surprise to keen watchers of Ondo State. The Ondo governorship election was the most credible, free and fair election conducted under Jega. What is your view about mass deployment of security to state during election period considering the deployment of about 18,000 security personnel for the recent Ondo State governorship election? The deployment of more security personnel should be a plus for President Goodluck Jonathan, who wants a credible election and who doesn’t want anybody to die in Ondo State during the election. The number of polling units in Ondo State is 3,007 and by law we suppose to have at least a police or civil defence officer per one polling unit. But before the election there were a lot of overheating statements, blackmailing and allegations, especially from the opposition parties that somebody had brought guns into the state, so it made the government to be worried. So, for government not to be taken unaware they prepared very well for the election. And if some people think that the election was over secured, I think it is a plus on the part of government who doesn’t want the election to be under secured so that people will not come and hijack electoral materials and ballot boxes. It is a welcome development only that for me staggering elections is very expensive considering the number of INEC staff and security personnel deployed to state where election takes place. I believe if it is a general election there is no way about 11,000 policemen and army would have been deployed to Ondo State alone. Talking about cost of conducting elections, how do you think cost of conducting elections can be reduced in Nigeria? If you are talking about credible election, the security agencies, government, politicians, the electorate and the media have a role to play. We are all stakeholders. It is not only INEC that make election to be credible, so we all have a role to play. In 2010, I was in United Kingdom as one

of the observers and during the election there was no police. The electoral law allows a presiding officer when he close to carry the ballot box and travel more than 10 kilometres because of the trust that he cannot tamper with the election result. I think with the level we find ourselves, we may get there but I think it will take a long period because Nigerians politicians don’t want to be a bad loser. What is your take on the call for electronic voting system? We started hearing about e-voting since 2009. I was part of the team that follows INEC for the last US election and I was also in Ghana during the last Ghana presidential election. During the US election, with level of technology in US, it is not all the states in the country that operate e-voting. During the voters registration exercise we heard that most of the INEC machine broke down. If we are talking about e-voting, it means that electricity must work. Nigeria is a country whereby opposition can just meet with the PHCN officials to tamper with electricity or destroy it. How many minute will it take to register a voter? We may start it as an experiment by using it in urban areas and if the electronic voting works in the urban areas maybe it will reduce some tension. The level of illiteracy also matters because somebody must be able to read and write before he can use e-voting. So we cannot just venture into a kind of venture because we want to spend or save money. We should first of all see the sustainability of the project and how we can make it work effectively. As an election observer with many years of experience, do you foresee Nigeria having a nationwide credible election like the June 12, 1993 presidential election, which has been adjudged as the most credible, free and fair election in Nigeria’s political history? Democracy itself has its own inbuilt crisis. The largest democracy in the world is India and they have the most credible voting pattern; credible, free and fair but every time you see the kind of high profiler killings that follows, not because of rigging. The Ghandi family had nearly wiped out of the surface in India because democracy has its own inbuilt crisis. Even America and Britain with all their technology and many years of democracy still have some little flops during their elections. During Nigeria general election, a lot of people that vote in the North are child voters. We have a real problem in the North where a child of 10 years usually votes during election. Even though he votes right by law he shouldn’t have voted. I think what we do is about attitude, which we need to change

Aduwo

and that will take a lot of time. We need to change our political awareness, voters’ awareness and education, and many other things. Most of the problems we have in Nigeria have to do with lack of internal democracy in the party; the way a candidate emerged. Somebody spent N5billion and if he lost an election, even when he genuinely lost the election, he will still want to make noise that he won because politicians have seen election in Nigeria as a big business. Politics to some politicians is no longer a service rendering but a big project where you invest money. A former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, said that politics is a big business that people invest money. So I think the problem with credible election in Nigeria is about attitude and I think with time things will change for better. Why do you think many people see politics as a big business and not an avenue to render service to the people? In a country why poverty is very high tendency is there not to have a perfect democracy. When the level of poverty is high the tendency is there not to have a perfect democracy because the ingredient of democracy development is that when you have a credible or stable government for years, what you are going to get is development as people witness in Europe and America. But in countries where there is poor level of development, there may not be transparency in the election process. We need to do a lot of things to reduce the level of poverty in the country. For example in America you cannot give somebody $2,000 to come and vote for you. Though $2,000 is a big money he will dare to do that because the law is which he must obey. Take for instance in Nigeria, the law says you cannot spend up to N1billion but to be a governor in Nigeria today, it cost about N10-N15billion. So we make a law which we don’t respect; we are law breakers in Nigeria. So, it will take time for us to get it right because our own democracy is still a developing democracy. It is a democracy of about 14 years, it is still a baby democracy and by the time we keep on learning little by little, I think things will change. If people that are credible are involves in politics and there is internal democracy; the way

a party candidate emerge then we would have credible election. The beauty of democracy is the spirit of choice and the people should be allows to make their choice. Based on the poor performance of many political parties during election period many people have been calling for drastic reduction in the number of political parties. Do you support the call for reduction of political parties? We don’t need reduction of political parties. In the First Republic, people thought we have only three political parties; AG (Action Group), NCNC (National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons) and NPC (Northern People’s Congress), but we have more than 100 political parties but many of them did not contest in the election. Many of the political parties went into alliance with the major political parties. For example, today in America, the Green Party know that they can never win the presidential election but they will collaborate with a political party, which they think will project their idea on environment, green issues and other things. If we have people who are disciplined and a party is formed on the basis of issues and manifestoes that are germaine and very reasonable, political party can freely go into partnership and collaboration with another political party, not necessarily that every party must field a candidate during elections. During the 2011 presidential election, Labour Party and All Peoples Grand Alliance (APGA) did not field candidate, they adopted President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Some of those that contested in last general elections did so just to increase their Curriculum Vitae to include, a former governorship aspirant and a former presidential aspirant and so on. But when you put the number of candidates in an election into consideration, it cost INEC a lot of money and confusion. As time goes on, people will learn that there is nothing that stops a political party from going into an alliance with another party if they believe they have the same ideology and manifestoes. I believe it is not necessary that all political parties must contest during election.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Assembly –Hon. Salihu

ggestions e followed members chiefs in sembly. In red ideas, t could be the Police role of the uation. In oliticians e that had ated with o solve the e Speaker

when the nowhere the flood the local made perarfe local made some

personal donations. The majority leader, his name is Yinusa Yakubu, he made donation in his local government, the man from Ajaokuta, Hon. Samson, made donation in his local government, including even one of the dissidents, Atule from Ibaji. The Speaker visited the Adamkolo town. And, these people still want to draw us against the public to say we didn’t show enough concern. Of course, I told you we suspended plenary, so there couldn’t have been a House resolution on the issue. But, I as Chairman, Committee on Information on behalf of the House, we issued a statement and in that statement, we tried to identify those who have commiserated with us as a state, the federal government, even the state and the local governments including individual philanthropists that have come to Kogi state to sympathize with us and the victims. We acknowledged their roles and we went ahead to promise the state government that immediately we resume the Plenary, we were prepared to approve a Supplementary Budget for the state. We knew that within the 2012 budget, this was not captured. It was an unforeseen natural disaster. We pledged that we were going to give accelerated passage to the supplementary budget so that the state could have the capacity to cope with the magnitude of the crisis. When we resumed on the 18th, it was the first motion we took. We made true our pledge and we called on the state that: “submit a supplement budget so that we can approve for you urgently so that you can cope with this situation.” Of course as legislators, we have limited capacity to confront this problem; but what we can do we have done. We now begin to imagine where is the insensitivity they are talking about? The third thing they said was that the President visited and the Speaker was nowhere during the President’s visit. On that day the President visited Kogi, I want you to check, the Senate organized a Public Hearing here in Abuja on Constitutional Amendment and the Speaker was part of the delegation of Conference of Speakers to present the position of the states’ Houses of Assembly. But, then, nobody even formally sent invitation to any of us as members of the state House of Assembly or the Speaker as head of the Parliament to say that we were even informed formally, no. If that was the case, if the Speaker were in the state, he would have still attended. And honestly, they should replay the clip of that visit; none of these renegade members was there. I challenge them, they should replay the tape of that visit; none of them was there. But, in all these, what is playing now is that these are issues that are highly emotional – the issue of the dead, the issue of the flood. They are trying to set us in collision course with the President. They are appealing to the sentiment of the people so that the public can say these are new set of people; this is a new leadership they think is promising. They do this so that the public can move away from the illegality that is, from probing into the illegality or otherwise of their action. It is playing to the gallery. There is also the issue of financial impropriety? In all the allegations, I have not even heard that. And, they can’t say that. Let me tell you for purposes of enlightening the public. The House as it is today is inadequately funded. We have a monthly budgetary provision of N98 million, but what comes to us is N41million. After salaries and allowances of both members and staff, we barely have enough to run the house. So, you find electricians, plumbers coming to us to ask for their money. We are owing them money. So, where is the money to misappropri-

council poll

Investigation by Sunday Mirror revealed that the state chapter of the party communicated to the National Secretariat of the party on plan to conduct the primary based on directive issue and signed by Alhaji Garama Bawa for the National Director of Administration of the party. The letter reads” I am directed to inform you that it has come to the notice of the National Headquarters of our great party, the PDP that approved channel of communication for official matters especially complaints are not being addressed to the appropriate quarters. For example, complaints and official reports from the state chapter of the party and sometimes even from the Local Government Chapter have been directly addressed to the National Secretary without recourse to the Zonal and State Offices respectively.” The Adamawa State Working Committee of the PDP, (SWC), led by Alhaji Umaru Mijinyawa Kugama and eight others, also approached Yola High Court and filed an exparte motion to challenge and restrain the National Working Committee, (NWC) from carrying out the dissolution of the State

ate? We have seven requests before this Governor since he came in; we told them to please improve our monthly allocation so that we can cope with even the little basic things to run an office. We have not been given. So, where will he get the money to misappropriate? I am saying this as a matter of public record; you can cross-check. We have N98 million as monthly provision; only N41 million is getting to us. After salary and allowances, no more money is left. Is there any major problem between the leadership of the House and the Executive? Not major, but I can draw three conjectures. One, on January 27, the Supreme Court dissolved the tenure of five Governors of which Kogi was affected and directed that the Speaker should be sworn in. As a matter of fact, our own Speaker withheld that information as it was getting embarrassing. The Inspector General of Police, the Director General of State Security Service (SSS) started mounting pressure. He now called all of us and said ok, for us not to prevaricate and Kogi is thrown into crisis, all of us, individually, we spoke that he should step forward and be sworn in. We went to the Chief Justice (CJ). When we were in CJ’s chamber, he addressed us on the position of the law and also the order he got from the Supreme Court. The general consensus was the law should take its course. In fact, one of the renegade legislators was the only one that spoke that the law should take its course. And, he was sworn in. but, it has been apparent since then that this never get off the mind of the Governor because there was serious confusion as to “here is a Governor that has won an election, here is an order from the Supreme Court that created some sense of confusion. But when the pressure became so much from the Supreme Court, the IG of Police, the DG of SSS, all the paraphernalia of office was given to the Speaker to be sworn in. He was left with no option but to be sworn in. And, when it appeared that Abuja had reversed itself by way of withdrawing these security details, we all collectively withdrew back to our legislative duties. We called the Speaker (and told him) that it is the end of the matter. Since they had taken all these details around you, it means the central has withdrawn its position. And, we went back and started our legislative duties. Since then, we have attended very promptly all Executive Bill, all issues relating to executive coming to us; may be on budget; we gave it accelerated passage. In fact, we spent one day to screen all the Commissioners. We had to sit late to about 6pm. Why did we do this? We felt the Government had wasted so much time before submitting the list and we didn’t need to waste much time again so that the government could deliver on its promises. We did this in the spirit of mutual cooperation and for the general progress of the state. Since then, we have been operating from our own Chamber as an independent arm of government. But, mutually, we have been cooperating with one another. The second issue that I can draw conjecture on is that the Executive woke up one day and appointed Liaison Officers for the 21 local governments. Of course, this is unconstitutional. In Kogi state today, there is subsisting court judgment by the state High Court judge delivered by the CJ of the state that any form of government other than an elected council (representatives) in the local council is illegal. And, that is the position of the constitution. We drew the attention of the Executive by the unanimous resolution which 25 of us signed that the Executive has erred and advised that the executive should think of con-

Working Committee until the determination of the exparte motion by the court. The presiding Judge and the Chief Justice Adamawa State, Justice Bobboi Umar after hearing the prayers of the petitioners through their counsel, Barrister Ayo Akam and John Ochagwu, granted that the first and second defendants, the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and the National Working Committee (NWC), and the Care taker Committee are restrained from carrying out any official duties on behalf of the party, pending the determination of the exparte motion. Justice Umar also restrained PDP, Bamanga Tukur and the caretaker committee members from parading themselves as Executives Officers of PDP in the state in whatever capacity pending the hearing of the substantive suit. Justice Umar, however, directed the parties involved to observe the status-quo ante pending the determination of the exparte motion. The Judge while adjourning the case to November 2012,ordered that the court processes should be served on the respondents together with the order of the court. The counsel to the plaintiffs while filing the case had prayed the court to restrain the NWC, national chairman of

ducting election instead of Liaison Officers. The third conjecture I want to draw, I told you on August 30th, we resolved as a House and drew a time-table to embark on budget appraisal. This was a unanimous decision. Somehow, the Executive got it wrongly as if it was like a witch-hunt or ploy to embarrass the Executive. We said no, it was part of our duty and it is done annually so that we can prepare for the incoming budget. Except for these three conjectures, I call them conjecture because from our own perspective, it is not an offence. In all we have done, we have done them in the interest of the state. We have done them as an independent arm of government that has a duty under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Except for these, we have not had anything to quarrel about. For the purpose of clarification, is there anywhere in that judgmentof the Supreme Court, any portion of that judgement, where it was said that the Speaker should take over? Of course, no; it was the consequential order to all the states. Even by the spirit of the constitution, it is the Speaker that steps in and this one, we got an order from the Attorney General of the Federation. The Supreme Court never authorized the Speaker to take over. It was after the judgment that the Attorney General directed the Speaker to take over. In consequence of that order by the AGF, I told you the IG, DG, SSS and all the security paraphernalia directed the Speaker to step in and be (Acting Governor). We can imply from all these that he was to assume the authority as a Governor. It is clear from what you have said that you are really on the path of the rule of law, are you taking any step for now to bring sanity into the system. We have been able to take our case to well-meaning individuals and organizations, that is, stakeholders we think can appeal to everybody to behave in accordance with the provision of the constitution. And one of such is the National Assembly. We went to the National Assembly and the House of Representatives responded by moving a motion on the floor of the house setting up an Ad-hoc Committee. The Ad-hoc Committee visited us in Kogi state and of course they saw us in the Chamber and clearly they were able to establish that 13 people affirming their loyalty to the leadership of the House under the Speaker, Abdullahi Bello. The other renegades that said they had removed him, only three of them appeared. When they were challenged to show evidence of the 17 they gave here, they couldn’t, even up till today. They had claimed they had 17 signatures. Here we are physically, you could count 13. If you remove 13 from 25, you have 12. Even in that 12, they couldn’t come, only three came. One of them, the leader of the group, one Gabriel Daudu from Magongo, he alleged that there were some people who signed for them but had crossed over to us. The Committee urged him to mention them. He mentioned one Hon. Yusuf Lawal from Adavi. That man denied ever signing anything for him. He said maybe he was dreaming of another Lawal different from his. So, you can see clearly that these people never had the figure they are claiming. But, aside the National Assembly, we have also reached the National Secretariat of our party, the PDP because two-third of the membership of the House are PDP. We have written the Federal Ministry of Justice and have made representation to individuals who can appeal and call the gang of these dissidents to order; so that we can have peace and development in Kogi state, so that everybody can do its work without molestation or harassment. On the 17th, at 2am, the police went to the house of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 50

the party and the care taker committee from performing any official function on behalf of state executive. The plaintiff averred that the national working committee (NWC) had contravened some sections of the party constitution even as they were elected for tenure of four years. The counsel to the dissolved SWC, Barrister Ayo Akam, argued that NWC had fragrantly contravened certain provisions of the constitution of the party and the Nigerian constitution as the said dissolved committee was not given fair hearing before its dissolution. In the substantive case, the SWC had prayed the court to maintain the status quo because the committee was elected into office for the tenure of four years which had not expired, adding that the committee came into office on March 30, 2012. Its counsel, Barrister Ayo Akam and John Ochagwu, sought that the first and second defendants, the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and the National Working Committee (NWC), and the Caretaker Committee be restrained from carrying out any official duties on behalf of the party, pending the determination of the exparte motion. CONTINUED ON PAGE 50

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Sunday, November 4, 2012

GROWING UP with

Aunty Angela growingup5@yahoo.com

JOKES

I discovered Australia

A geography teacher was teaching her pupils how to locate countries on a map. Later this conversation followed between the teacher and Cindy, a pupil. Teacher: “Cindy, can you find me Australia on the map please? Cindy: “There it is, ma,” she said smiling Teacher: “Now, Cindy, can you tell me who discovered Australia? Cindy: “I did.”

Hello children, I want to believe that your week was wonderful at school. This week, we have lots of interesting and educative articles for your relaxation. Have a great week ahead. People sleep in church

Children and law

Laws protecting children in Nigeria Right to freedom of movement Section 41 The Constitution also ensures this right except where the child is in conflict with the law. However, under the administration of juvenile justice, the child is not liable to capital punishment or life imprisonment for offence committed by him. Where the child is under the age of 12 years, he/she is not criminally responsible for any act or omission. Right to private and family life: Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees and protects the privacy of the child, his/her home, correspondence, telephone conver-

Sport Quiz

he was a Nigerian athlete born Dec 5, 1968. She attended Mississippi State University, MSU, from 1987-1992 and graduated with a degree in Education. She was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1998 after she became the first person in school history to win an Olympic medal. In her college years at MSU, she made All-American honours several times in the 100, 200 and 400 meters. She has won a number of national championships, including a gold medal in 1996 in the 400 metres, gold in the 200 metres and 400 metres in 1998, and gold again in 1999 and 2001 in the 400 metres. At the 1987 All Africa Games in Kenya, she won the silver medal in the 200 metres. In 1995 at the Zimbabwe Games, she won the silver in the 400 metres, and at the 1999 Games in South Africa, she won a gold medal in the 400 metres. At the 1996 Summer Olympics, she won a bronze medal in the 400 metres, in a personal best and African record of 49.10, which is currently the 12th fastest of all time. Exceeding her expectation, she became the first Nigerian to win two medals in the same Olympics, a silver and a bronze at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Question Who is this athlete?

sations and telegraph communications. Right to freedom from discrimination The constitution in Sec. 42 (2) stipulates that no child shall be discriminated against due to the circumstances of his birth. Cinematography Act of 1990 protects the child from exposure to indecent and obscene materials, publication and films. Tobacco and Alcohol advertisement decrees/act forbid the use of children in the advertisement of cigarette and alcoholic beverages.

A Sunday school teacher asked her little children as they were on the way to church service, “Why is it necessary to be quiet in church?” One bright little girl replied, “Because people are sleeping.”

RIDDLES

I am purple, yellow, red, and green The King cannot reach me and neither can the Queen. I show my colours after the rain And only when the sun comes out again What am I? Answer: A rainbow I love your dog and ride on his back I travel for miles but don’t leave a track. What am I? Answer: A Flea You serve me but you can never eat me. What am I? Answer: A tennis ball

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

IT’S STORY TIME … The Fox and the Crow

he Fox once saw the Crow fly over with a piece of cheese in her beak. “I want that cheese,” thought the Fox. When the Crow landed upon a branch of a tree, the Fox sat down beneath the tree and said, “Good day, Mistress Crow. How well you are looking! How bright your eyes! How glossy your feathers!” The Crow was pleased because she loves to be flattered. “I am sure your voice is even more beautiful than your feathers,” added the Fox. “Won’t you sing a song for me, Queen of Birds?” the Fox asked. The Crow was so pleased she could hardly sit still. She lifted her head high, closed her eyes and opened her beak to sing, CAW-CAW-C-CAW-W-W. Unfortunately, the moment she opened her mouth, the piece of cheese fell to the ground, right in front of the Fox. “Thank you Mistress Crow. That will do because that was all I wanted – your cheese. In exchange for your cheese, I will give you a piece of advice for the future: do not trust flatterers.” Moral: Do not trust flatterers. It is also wrong to deceive people for your own selfish gain.

WHO INVENTED WHAT…?

Walter Diemer conceived

alter Diemer was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was working as an accountant at Fleer in 1926 when the company’s president sought to cut costs by making their own gum base. The company’s founder, Frank Henry Fleer, had previously made a batch of bubble gum in 1906 which he called “Blibber Blubber”, but it was too sticky and easily broke. Although an accountant by trade, Diemer liked to experiment with gum recipes in his spare time. In doing so, he accidentally stumbled upon a unique recipe. The gum was pink because it was the only food colouring in the factory, which is the reason most gum today is pink. Compared to standard chewing gum, the gum was less sticky, would not stick to the face, and yet stretched more easily. Diemer saw the possibilities, and using a salt water taffy wrapping machine, wrapped 100 pieces of his creation to test market in a local mom-and-pop candy store. Priced at one penny a piece, the gum sold out in one day. Fleer began marketing the new gum as “Dubble

Children, you can send your contributions and pictures through t growingup5@yahoo.com or call telephone number: 0805

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Growing Up

Sunday, November 4, 2012

TONGUE TWISTER

MAZE Please help the little girl get to her cloth.

Betty Botter bought some butter, “But,” she said, “this butter’s bitter. If I bake this bitter butter, It will make my batter bitter. But a bit of better butter That would make my batter better.” So she bought a bit of butter, Better than her bitter butter, And she baked it in her batter, And the batter was not bitter. So ‘twas better Betty Botter Bought a bit of better butter.

DID YOU KNOW?

BRAIN TEASERS The George Washington Bridge is the A boy fell from a 100-foot ladder but did not get hurt. Why? Answer: He fell from the bottom step.

d the Bubble Gum Bubble” and Diemer himself taught salesmen to blow bubbles. This helped them to demonstrate how Dubble Bubble differed from all other chewing gums. At a penny a piece, sales of Dubble Bubble surpassed US$ 1.5 million in the first year. Diemer did not patent his invention and competition soon arose as bubble gum became a popular and inexpensive treat during the Great Depression. Walter Diemer never received royalties for his invention but he did not mind. Walter oversaw the construction of bubble gum plants in Philadelphia and Barcelona, Spain, and travelled around the world marketing the gum. He stayed with Fleer for decades, eventually reaching the position of senior vice president as well as a member of the Board of Directors of Fleer Corporation. He retired in 1970, and remained on the board for 15 more years. He died of congestive heart failure, a few days after his 94th birthday. He was born on January 5, 1904 and he died on January 9, 1998.

this email address 5 198 0588

Billy can throw a ball as hard as he can and it always comes back to him. Nothing and no one touches the ball except Billy. Why does the ball come back? Answer: Billy is throwing the ball straight up in the air.

world’s busiest motor vehicle bridge

eorge Washington Bridge, GWB, in New York, USA is a suspension bridge spanning the Hudson River, connecting New York City to New Jersey. It is the busiest bridge in the world in terms of vehicle traffic with a total of 14 lanes. The speed limit of travel on the

QUOTE Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one. –Malcolm S. Forbes

POP

bridge is 45 mph (70 km/h). The GWB has the greatest vehicular capacity of any bridge in the world, carrying approximately 106 million vehicles per year, making it the world’s busiest motor vehicle bridge, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wellness YOUR HEALTH AND HEALTH RELATED ISSUES NOVEMBER 4, 2012

Peptic ulcer: Symptoms, causes and treatment –Experts

A woman suffering from stomach ulcer

VANESSA OKWARA

edical experts say ulcer of the stomach usually comes with a sharp pain that makes the sufferers very uncomfortable and sick. It comes with excruciating pain and stomach upset that have landed many in hospitals and emergency rooms; where they come seeking for solution that can help ease the unbearable pain they are passing through. Various medical journals have described peptic ulcer as sores in the lining of the stomach or duodenum. They classified this type of ulcer according to the particular area the ailment is prevalent. A peptic ulcer of the stomach is called a gastric ulcer of the duodenum, a duodenal ulcer; and of the esophagus, an esophageal ulcer. Peptic ulcers occur when the lining of these organs is corroded by the acidic digestive juice known as peptic juices and secreted by the cells of the stomach. For years now, we erroneously believed that stomach ulcers are caused by eating too much of spicy foods such as pepper but scientific discoveries have proved this to be far from the truth. In 1982, two Australian scientists, Robin Warren and Barry J. Marshall rediscovered Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that lives in the stomach as a causative factor for ulcer. In their original paper, Warren and Marshall contended that most gastric ulcers and gastritis were caused by colonisation with this bacterium, not by stress or spicy

food as had been assumed before. These discoveries have helped medical experts to debunk some of the myths surrounding the causes of stomach ulcers. Contrary to popular belief, alcohol, coffee, kolas, spicy foods, and caffeine have no proven role in ulcer formation. Similarly, there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that life stresses or personality types contribute to ulcer disease. A Gastroenterologist practising in Lagos, Dr Emmanuel Eberechi, buttressed this point in an interview with Sunday Mirror. “For years, everyone including those in the medical world believed that stomach ulcers are caused by something you ate or influenced by an outside condition like stress or lack of food until the bacteria causing it was discovered. The name of the bacteria is Helicobacter pylori. It is a bacterium that lives in the stomach lining of the affected individual eaten into the stomach walls. Peptic ulcers happen when the acids that help you digest food damage the walls of the stomach or duodenum. Another cause is the long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Stress and spicy foods do not cause ulcers, but can make them worse if you already have the sickness,’’ he said Similarly, medical experts believed that excess acid was the major cause of ulcer disease. Accordingly, the emphasis of treatment was on neutralising and inhibiting the secretion of stomach acid. While acid is still considered necessary for the formation of ulcers, the two most important initiating causes of ulcers are infection of the stomach by “Helicobacter pyloricus” (H. pylori) and chronic use of anti-inflammatory medications, commonly referred to as NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Experts also cited cigarette smoking as an important cause of ulcer formation as well as failure of ulcer treatment. Dr Eberechi warns, “Cigarette smoking not only causes ulcers, but it also increases the risk of complications from the ailment such as bleeding, stomach obstruction and perforation. Cigarette smoking also is a leading cause of failure of treatment for ulcers.’’ Experts say the following are considered things that can raise your risk for peptic ulcers: • Drinking too much alcohol. • Regular use of aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). • Smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco. • Being very ill, such as being on a breathing machine. • Having radiation treatments. How does ulcer form in the stomach? Dr. Eberechi explains: “Normally, the lining of the stomach and small intestines is protected against the irritating acids produced

Identifying abdominal pain for peptic ulcer

Helicobacter-pylori bacteria that causes pepetic ulcer

Facts Peptic ulcers are sores in the lining of the stomach or duodenum. A bacterium called Helicobacter pylori living in the stomach linings and the long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen are the leading causes of stomach ulcers. Stress and spicy foods do not cause ulcers, but can make them worse if you already have the sickness A burning stomach pain is the most common symptom of peptic ulcer. in your stomach. If this protective lining stops working correctly and the lining breaks down, it results in an inflammation known as gastritis or an ulcer. Most ulcers occur in the first layer of the inner lining. A hole that goes all the way through the stomach or duodenum is called a CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

HEALTH NEWS Cardiologist blames patients for increase in heart diseases A consultant cardiologist, Dr Folasade Daniels, said recently that late presentation of heart diseases by patients was responsible for the high rate of the disease in the country. Dr Daniels told newsmen in Lagos that most

patients visited the hospitals late when not much doctors could do to remedy their situations. She decried the uneven spread of cardiologists and surgeons to treat serious conditions like holes in the heart across the country and

called for the training of more of such professionals to meet the needs of patients. The cardiologist said that even where there were enough professionals, there were still inadequate facilities to attend to such patients.

‘Marburg haemorrhagic fever kills 9 in Uganda’ The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that nine deaths have been recorded in Uganda in 18 cases of Marburg Haemorrhagic fever outbreak in the country. The outbreak was declared by the Ministry of Health in Uganda recently. According to the update, the casualties, including a health

worker, were reported from five districts namely Kabale, in south-western Uganda, Kampala (the capital city), Ibanda, Mbarara and Kabarole. WHO said the case fatality rate is 50 per cent. Meanwhile, neighbouring countries have been contacted to strengthen cross border

surveillance and preparedness to prevent cross border spread of the outbreak. Marburg hemorrhagic fever is a rare, severe type of hemorrhagic fever which affects both humans and non-human primates. It is caused by a genetically unique animalborne RNA virus of the filovirus family.

Wellness

Know your organs The salivary glands produce the clear liquid that is released into the mouth (saliva, or spit). There are three pairs of major salivary glands and many minor glands. Saliva lubricates the mouth and starts the breakdown of chewed food. It is made up of water, enzymes, mucin and protein. Saliva is produced in and secreted from salivary glands. The basic secretory units of salivary glands are clusters of cells called acini. These cells secrete a fluid that contains water, electrolytes, mucus and enzymes, all of which flow out of the acinus into collecting ducts. Small collecting ducts within salivary glands lead into larger ducts, eventually forming a single large duct that empties into the oral cavity. Most animals and humans have three major pairs of salivary glands that differ in the type of secretion they produce: • T h e parotid is the largest salivary gland and is situated below the ear. The saliva is released through an opening called the parotid duct which enters the mouth on the inside of the cheek next to the upper molar teeth. There is one on each side. • The submandibular salivary gland is situated under the mandible (lower jaw bone) and releases saliva just underneath the front of the tongue, behind the front teeth. There is one on each side. • The sublingual salivary glands are situated under the tongue and release saliva from many small openings (ducts) under the tongue. These pair of salivary glands sits next to each other under the tongue. Secretion of saliva is under control of the autonomic nervous system, which controls both the volume and type of saliva secreted. In addition to these glands, there are hundreds of tiny glands called minor salivary glands located

Sunday, November 4, 2012

The salivary gland in the lips, inner cheek area (buccal mucosa) and extensively in other linings of the mouth and throat. Salivary glands produce the saliva used to moisten your mouth, initiate digestion, and help protect teeth from decay. Potent stimuli for increased salivation include the presence of food or irritating substances in the mouth, and thoughts of or the smell of food. Knowing that salivation is controlled by the brain will also help explain why many psychic stimuli also induce excessive salivation - for example, why some dogs salivate all over the house when it’s thundering. Actually, saliva serves many roles, some of which are important to all species and others to only a few: • Lubrication and binding: the mucus in saliva is extremely effective in binding masticated food into a slippery bolus that (usually) slides easily through the oesophagus without inflicting damage to the mucosa. Saliva also coats the oral cavity and oesophagus, and food basically never directly touches the epithelial cells of those tissues. • Solubilises dry food: in order to be tasted, the molecules in food must be solubilised. • Oral hygiene: The oral cavity is almost constantly flushed with saliva, which floats away food debris and keeps the mouth relatively clean. Flow of saliva diminishes considerably during sleep, allow populations of bacteria to build up in the mouth - the result is dragon breath in the morning. Saliva also contains lysozyme, an enzyme that lyses many bacteria and prevents overgrowth of oral microbial populations. • Initiates starch digestion: in most species, the serous acinar cells secrete an alpha-amylase which can begin to digest dietary starch into maltose. Amylase does not occur in the saliva of carnivores or cattle.. Some of the abnormalities and problems associated with salivary glands include: obstruction, inflammation, infection and tumours of the gland.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Your

BONE Health Angular deformities of the knees with Dr. Olatunji Idowu

In some extremities, the bowing resolves through remodelling (46,50), but in others, the focal pathologic changes in the proximal medial tibia growth plate cause clinical varus to progress (Blount disease). The chronic growth disturbance results in the osteochondrosis of the medial proximal tibial physis and adjacent epiphysis and metaphysis as described by Blount (46,52,55,67,77,80,81). Inevitably, the proximal medial tibia fails to grow normally, and tibia vara of variable severity develops. This results in extremity shortening and intraarticular depression of the medial tibial condyle. Pathoanatomy and Radiographic Features In 1952, LangenskiÃ¶ld identified six distinct radiographic stages of development of the proximal tibia depicting the natural progression of untreated infantile Blount disease (69) (Fig. 28.9). The stage and the age at which it occurs has prognostic significance (50,52,53,69,71). In stages I and II, the irregular metaphyseal ossification changes are often indistinguishable from physiologic bowing. These changes may be reversible. Clear-cut stage I or stage II changes of Blount disease are typically not apparent until the

patient is years of age. Stage III shows definite deformity in the proximal tibial physis, often with some fragmentation. Stage IV lesions can be associated with early bar formation across the deformed physis, as it assumes a vertical orientation (50,53). These physeal bars are often difficult to detect. There is profound disruption of the physeal cartilage and abnormal growth in the adjacent bone as stage V develops, usually in children older than 8 years. Eventually this process results in severe depression of the articular surface and stage VI disease (47). In North America, advanced stages often occur at a much younger age than Langensk reported. All of Langensk patients were whites from Finland, whereas in the United States, a high proportion of patients with infantile Blount disease are African American. The greater severity of disease may also be attributed to a higher proportion of overweight children in North America. These children tend to show more rapid progression with more severe, irreversible changes at an earlier age than their European counterparts. Stage IV changes are seen in 4- to 5-year-old children in the United States compared to 7- to 8-year-old children in Finland.

If you have any problem or question about your musculoskeletal system (bones, joints and muscles) do send me a mail at tunjiidowu@live.com for advice. Meanwhile, your comments and feedback on the issues discussed are highly welcomed.

‘Peptic ulcer pain can be felt anywhere between your belly’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 45 perforation. A perforation is a medical emergency. Please do not allow your ulcer to get to the level where it becomes an emergency. Ulcer has stages of development.” When you notice the first few symptoms, please visit the hospital and get it treated, he advised Dr Eberechi described ulcer symptoms as being variable. “The pain can differ from person to person. Many ulcer patients experience minimal indigestion, abdominal discomfort that occurs after meals or no discomfort at all. The pain may come and go for a few days or weeks; it may bother you more when your stomach is empty or usually goes away after you eat. Some complain of upper abdominal burning or hunger pain one to three hours after meals or in the middle of the night. Ulcers often come and go spontaneously without the individual ever knowing that they are present unless a serious complication like bleeding or perforation occurs. “All the same, a burning stomach pain is the most common symptom of peptic ulcer. You may feel the pain anywhere between your belly button and breastbone,” said

the expert. Other symptoms include: • Feeling of fullness - unable to drink much fluid. • Hunger and an empty feeling in the stomach, often 1 - 3 hours after a meal. • Mild nausea (vomiting may relieve this symptom). • Pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen. • Upper abdominal pain that wakes you up at night. • Weight loss. • Poor appetite. • Bloating. • Burping. • Vomiting. • Feeling sick up to your stomach. Even if your symptoms are mild, you may still have peptic ulcers. It is important you should see your doctor at this early stage of the disease to get it examined. Peptic ulcers can get worse if they are not treated. In the treatment of stomach ulcers, emphasis should be laid more on curing the disease than merely alleviating the pain usually associated with it. Dr Eberechi said

“many people use to think that drinking milk helped peptic ulcers heal. But doctors know now that while milk may make ulcers feel better briefly, it also increases stomach acid. Too much stomach acid makes ulcers worse. Taking Antacids which suppress existing acid in the stomach helps to ease the pain. However, the neutralising action of these agents is shortlived, and frequent dosing is required. Treatment of ulcers should involve antibiotic combinations along with stomach acid suppression to eradicate H. pylori, eliminating precipitating factors such as NSAIDs. Eradication of H. pylori prevents the return of ulcers which is a major problem with all other ulcer treatment options. Elimination of this bacterium also may decrease the risk of developing gastric cancer in the future. Check with your doctor before taking antacids while your ulcers are healing.’’ Peptic ulcers tend to come back if untreated. If you follow your doctor’s treatment instructions and take all of your medications as directed, the H. pylori infection will likely be cured and you’ll be much less likely to get another ulcer, the expert stated.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business FRESH BUSINESS NEWS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS November 4, 2012

Achieving economic growth via fiscal discipline

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Owolabi, ICAN boss

CHIJIOKE OKORONKWO

olicy analysts claim that one of the factors inhibiting Nigeria’s economic growth over the years is the lack of transparency, accountability and fiscal discipline in the dayto-day governance.

They argue that the country can never attain any meaningful development if drastic measures are not adopted to reposition the national economy via appropriate and translucent accounting standards. The experts, nonetheless, stress that developing nations are mostly prone to challenges emanating from fiscal indiscipline, as the world gradually recovers from the global financial crunch. Observers, however, insist that fiscal discipline is very vital to the development of all the countries of the world, stressing the need to evolve schemes aimed at managing the countries’ resources prudently. At the recent 42nd Annual Accountants Conference, Mr Adedoyin Owolabi, the President of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), called on government at all levels to address issues relating to the rising cost of governance, which had taken a heavy toll on the economy. ``Nigeria requires strong institutions that will make development and regulatory environment conducive to effective operation of economic development and democratic process that is consistent with good governance. ``The task of building such strong institutions must start today for the benefit of tomorrow. ``We must take those painful but neces-

sary decisions that will lead us to where we desire to be as a nation by the year 2020. As leaders, we need to think outside the box and act strategically,’’ he said. Owolabi said that Nigeria could still achieve a remarkable infrastructural development with the available resources, if projects were properly evaluated and monitored. In his speech, President Goodluck Jonathan commended ICAN for its contributions toward efforts to set up the Nigerian Accounting Standards Board (NASB) in 1982. He said that the Board later metamorphosed to the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC) in 2011, in attestation of his administration’s commitment to promoting best practices in financial reporting. Represented by the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr Niyi Otunla , the president noted that abandonment of development planning and inadequate performance benchmarks for public officers had posed great challenges to Nigeria’s development. He, nonetheless, expressed his government’s determination, through pragmatic policies, to tackle these development challenges headlong. ``Our aim is to re-institutionalise development planning, place greater premium on capital allocation in annual budgets and deliberately set performance benchmarks for public officers, so that the citizens, on whose behalf they hold office, can objectively assess their performance,’’ he said. Jonathan stressed that his administration was creating an enabling environment for the country’s growth through fiscal,

OIL WELL DISPUTE: I’M NOT TAKING SIDES

monetary and legislative initiatives for private-sector investments in telecommunications, wholesale and retail trade, tourism and entertainment, manufacturing, building and construction. ``I would like to assure you all that financial prudence, discipline, transparency and value for money will continue to guide the implementation of these initiatives `` We will not sacrifice accountability on the altar of political or economic expediency,’’ he vowed. Jonathan, nonetheless, urged ICAN members to take up the challenges of fostering Nigeria’s economic transformation and social rebirth with their creative expertise as professionals. He urged them to strengthen the institute’s public sector department, stressing that his administration was rebuilding enduring institutions around its Public Financial Management Reforms programme. ``Through high fiscal discipline, we have not only brought down the fiscal deficit, we have also enhanced the predictability of public expenditures,’’ he added. Jonathan said that his government had initiated some measures to promote the country’s financial management system and accountability. According to him, these include the new Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), improved Cash Management System through Treasury Single Account (TSA) as well as other non-financial reforms. The president noted that these reforms had created a big challenge for the capac-

ity building of financial experts within and outside the civil service, expressing the hope that ICAN would provide invaluable support for the initiatives. All the same, economic experts contend that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are pivotal to the growth and progression of the economy of any country. In the light the above, the conference’s participants harped on the need to give priority attention to the development of SMEs in Nigeria. Mr Vernon Soare, the Executive Director of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW), urged Nigeria to empower its domestic entrepreneurs, saying that this was one of the factors behind the economic growth of developed countries. `` It is good for foreigners to invest in a nation but domestic investors should also be encouraged. ``Small-scale enterprises should be made to grow in all spheres of the country’s economy and as for the shareholders, they need to be aware of the ups and downs of the stock exchange market,’’ Soare added. Sharing similar sentiments, Mr Oscar Onyema, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), expressed the need to empower shareholders and domestic investors to enable them to make appreciable impact in the running of their companies. He stressed the need for the creation of an avenue that would allow shareholders to have a voice in the companies’ management, adding the shareholders’ views ought to be respected in management issues. ``Shareholders own the company; so they should have the right to be informed on what is going on in the organisation,’’ he added. Besides, Onyema called on the government to empower domestic investors, especially those who owned small-scale enterprises, to strengthen them for the capital market. ``So much emphasis is being placed on foreign investors but the truth is that ‘charity begins at home’; the Federal Government should work more on empowering homegrown investors,’’ he said. Onyema underscored the need to strengthen the country’s SMEs to meet international standards, adding that the NSE had already taken the initiative in that regard. ``The NSE has introduced a forum to assist SMEs to adopt the International Financial Reporting Standards method and to get access to legal backing to grow their business,’’ he said. Mr Sunny Nwosu, the National Coordinator of the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), however, bemoaned the lackadaisical attitude of courts when entertaining cases filed against companies. ``Right now, we have several cases in court where we have sued companies but some of the courts are not responding well to the lawsuits. ``There is a policy somersault in this country; this has to be checked, particularly to promote the shareholders’ interests,’’ he said. •Okoronkwo is of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

IGNITING YOUR POWER FOR MULTIPLICATION

Business

Property Watch •For Lagos area as at Friday Nov. 2, 2012 A. Building materials Cement: Dangote Cement per bag of 50 kg.......N1,800 Burham Cement per bag of 50kg.......N1,800 Elephant Cement…………………N1,800 Sandcrete blocks 6 inches sandcrete block ..........N130 9 inches sandcrete block ..........N150 Sand Sand per tipper load .......... N12,000 Sharp sand (double) ..........N22,000 Gravel (single) ...................N18,000 Gravel (double) ..................N23,000 Granite ...............................N120,000 Reinforcement 8mm(153) pieces per ton (N125,000 10mm (153) pieces per ton .......... N135,000 12mm ............................................N161,000 16mm ........................................N172,000 20mm (53) pieces ....................N122,000

Sunday November 4, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oil well dispute: I’m not taking sides, Jonathan tells Kalabari elders ROTIMI FADEYI

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday met with River State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as well as monarchs and elders of the Kalabari Kingdom at the Presidential Villa over the contentious oil wells in dispute with Bayelsa State Government. Amaechi along with Kalabari monarchs and elders had alleged that there were plans to cede the five oil wells in Soku and Elem-Sangna to Bayelsa with the connivance of the Presidency.

Following this allegations, the monarchs and elders took to the streets of Abuja where they staged a peaceful protest, Monday, last week. But not pleased that his name was dragged into the issue, Jonathan decided to invite Amaechi and the Kalabari monarchs to a meeting to express his mind on the issue. At the end of the closed door meeting which lasted for about two hours, spokesman of the Kalabari monarchs, His Royal Highness, Disrel Gbobo Bob Manuel II, Amanayabo of Abunneme, who represented the Amanayabo of Kalabari in an interview with State House

correspondents, said that they were happy with the invitation of the President to a meeting with a view to looking at the possibility of resolving the matter. He disclosed that Jonathan assured them at the meeting that he was not taking sides in the dispute. “Mr. President has told us clearly that he is not taking sides and we believe him.” Bob-Manuel added, “We came here on the invitation of Mr. President. It was a very cordial meeting. We were happy that he called us with a view to looking at the possibility of resolving the situation. It was friendly and a family meeting”

Ireland to improve ties with Nigeria

Wood Timber (hard) 1x1x12 ..........N1,000 Timber (hard) 2x2x12 ..........N600 Timber (hard) 2x4x12 ..........N700 Soft wood 2x2x12 ..........N250 2x3x12 ..........N300 Plywood 3x3x6-----------------N3,500 2x4x8-----------------N2,400 Roofing Sheet Corrugated iron sheet per bundle ...N10,000 Asbestos 4x8 per piece ..................N1,600 Asbestos (solo) ............................N1,100 B. Landed property Focus area: Lagos Mainland 1. Four bedroom detached house with BQ at Omole Phase 11, Kosofe -----N40m Estimated price in 5 years------------N60m 2. 800 square metres at block 47 at Isheri North Estate, Lagos ---------- N6m Estimated price in 5 years----------N15m 3. 6 bedroom wing of duplex plus BQ at Adeniyi Jones off Opebi, Lagos------- N55m Estimated price in 5 years------------N100m 4. A land measuring 5.081 square metre at Ajasa, Ipaja, Lagos------------------------------N25m Estimated price in 5 years---------N50m 5. 2 nos bungalows on 800 square metres along Oba Akran, Lagos----------------N150m Estimated price in 5 years----------N250m 6. 1.12 acres of land with uncompleted building at Marwa Road, Satellite Town, Lagos---------------------------------------------------N1,5bn Estimated price in 5 years------------------N2bn 7. Uncompleted block of flats at Isheri -Osun, Lagos--------------------------------------------------N15m Estimated price in 5 years-------N20m 8. Four bedroom duplex at Gbagada------N18m Estimated price in 5 years-----------N30m 9. 8 nos of 3bedroom flats with BQ at Surulere, Lagos---------------------------------N80m Estimated price in 5 years----------N100m 10. A detached house at Oke Ira, Ogba, Lagos--------------------------------------------------N22m Estimated price in 5 years---------N35m •Compiled by Dayo Ayeyemi, E-mail: dayoayeyemi@yahoo.com

“The situation, as you know, is bordering on boundary issue. We felt that certain delineation ought not to be done. We have made it expressly clear to Mr. President and to the press. And, he has promised that the matter will be looked into. And, we verily believed it will be looked into.” On the allegation that Amaechi was orchestrating the protest, Bob-Manuel said it would be wrong to make such an allegation, as it had nothing to do with the state governor, stressing that the Kalabari people were not well treated and decided to come out and state their minds.

L-R: Mr. Enyi Odigbo, Chairman Casers Group and the 2011 Marketing Edge Brand Personality of the Year, Arc. Toyin Gbede; Marketing Director, Nigerite and Mr. John Ajayi, Publisher/CEO, Marketing Edge, at Marketing Edge Brand Personality of the Year Award, at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, recently.

NSE seeks construction of Mambilla, Katsina-Ala hydropower dams

he Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) at the weekend urged government to hasten the design and construction of Mambilla and Katsina-Ala hydropower dams as a measure to control floods in the areas. Alhaji Mustapha Shehu, President of NSE, made the position of the society known in Asaba, while addressing newsmen. Shehu said that the objective of the briefing was to put forward the position of the society on the recent flooding in the country and offer lasting solution to the phenomenon. He said hastening the design and construction of the 2,600MW Mambilla and the 60MW Katsina-Ala hydropower dams would also produce electricity and provide flood control on River Benue from Cameroon. Shehu, represented by the Vice-President of NSE, Chief Otis Anyeaji, advised that dams already studied should be reviewed, relocated and implemented downstream of Lokoja and upstream or downstream of Onitsha in Anambra.

He recommended that the Federal Government should pursue the installation of four new hydro-turbines in the available pits in Kainji as the machines in Kainji dam had outlived their design lives. Shehu said that since the civil works had already been completed, the installation would lead to more economic flood control on the River Niger. The NSE president further recommended that government should hasten the dredging of River Niger and River Benue, the Kainji Lake reservoir which had never been dredged since 1964 as well as kainji and Jebba dams. He stressed that the dams should be dredged to design levels and thereafter be dredged every five years, while the dredged out-stands from the dams and rivers should be evacuated from the vicinity to safe locations. He also said an appropriate river bank protection should be immediately developed that would also result to the development of other economic activities, such as fishing and

tourism. He further called for adequate resources to be committed to the maintenance of dams in the country so as to preserve a safe operational state of the nation’s dam so as to avoid future failure of dams. He also called for a joint conference on harmonising and sharing hydrological data and warning system for appropriate emergency response with all the relevant agencies and Cameroon. Shehu said the current flooding of communities on the banks of River Niger and River Benue had shown how vulnerable the country was to the impact of natural disasters. He said the severity of the flood was as a result of the panic release of large amounts of water from Lagdo dam, which caused an unusual rise in the water level along the course of River Benue. He said most of the Benue and Niger courses lacked curtailment structures and hence unprotected and resulted to the water becoming uncontrollable and over-running the banks.

Hope of improving trade and business relationships between Nigeria and Ireland has been rekindled. The Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Fay, accompanied by his wife, Deldra and son, Neil stated this at the weekend when he paid a courtesy visit on Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio at Governor’s Office, Uyo. Fay, who acknowledged the inadequate trade and business relationships between his country and Nigeria, pledged the Irish Government’s determination to forge a stronger relationship in this direction. He hinted that his country was keen to develop links with Akwa Ibom, saying that he was looking forward to visiting again to strengthen the ties. The ambassador commended the governor on his development strides, noting, ‘’It is an example of what development is all about’’. Fay, who thanked Akwa Ibom people for conferring ‘’Obong Uforo Akwa Ibom’’ chieftaincy title on him, assured of bring their expertise to the development of the state. Governor Akpabio congratulaterd him on the conferment of a chieftaincy title by the traditional rulers in the state, pointing out that the honour was for the progress and development of the state. Akpabio stated that he was burning with the desire to assist in the development of the state and lauded his effort to liaise with European Union to bring business to Nigeria. The governor also promised to engage the expertise of an Irish company, P.W. Group led by Joe Odiscol in some construction works in the state.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Personal Finance

Sunday November 4, 2012

Igniting your power for multiplication Business Inspirati with Lanre

Oyetade

NMMA Capital Market Award Winner 2004, 2005 E-mail: lanreoyetade@gmail.com, 08039428648

fter coming in contact with the above passage for the umpteenth time, I sought clarification and I was made to understand that the expression ‘to bless’ means ‘to empower’, ‘to enable’ or ‘to anoint’. And by virtue of this blessing by God, the power and ability to be fruitful and to multiply has already been deposited in each and every one of us. In other words, as a human being born of Adam, God has already empowered you for multiplication, for fruitfulness and for dominion. This confers each human with a potential or ability for increase and multiplication.

More to it than potential

However, there is more to successful achievement than the mere possession of this ability, of this potential. Power in itself means ability to perform but we need more than the mere possession of this ability. It is up to each and every one of us to learn how to activate and ignite this power and use it to attain whatever our object is in life. How we may ignite such potential, such latent power, in us is the subject of today’s article.

Activating the power

You ask yourself, ‘how does one, for instance, ignite and release the power resident in a matchstick to produce fire?’ The answer is of course obvious: You simply strike it against a matchbox or against a

Money Consult Your money questions Y t answered E-mail: lanreoyetade@gmail.com, 08039428648

AND GOD BLESSED THEM, AND GOD SAID UNTO THEM, BE FRUITFUL, AND MULTIPLY, AND REPLENISH THE EARTH, AND SUBDUE IT. –GEN 1:28(A) rough edge as the case may be. Without this, you cannot release the firepower in the match. So there is a to-do in order to attain this object. And then again you ask yourself, ‘how does one activate the power to withdraw money from a current account he owns? Obvious answer: By appending your signature to the cheque leaf. Once again, there is a to-do. So also do you need to do some obvious things to release the multiplication power already deposited in you by the Creator. Today I will treat the first of these, which is obedience.

Obedience as a condition for manifesting power

Obedience is the most principal of the conditions for activating or manifesting the power already in each of us for multiplication and successful achievement. Other words synonymous with obedience include compliance, agreement, submission, respect, deference and conformity. So obedience to what? And I say obedience to the laws and principles of success as expounded variously by the Master over 2,000 years ago. Obedience to these principles will assure you of your object – success in any area you so desire. They will work for you, in spite of your station in life, because they are principle and thus will work for anyone whether he is white or black, tall or short, born into plenty or into poverty, of any religion or calling and that is what makes them principles. Your obedience to, submission to and agreement with these age-proven principles will command the very forces of the universe to work in your bidding and cause the Infinite Intelligence

have is an equivalent of a first degree, it will admit you into its exams.

Students desire to invest

Dear Lanre, I am a student and I need advice on how to invest N20,000. Thanks. Alagbe Isaac, Ogbomoso, 08051020956.

Dear Lanre, I appreciate your work; it is quite informative. Thanks. Is it advisable to have accounts with CSCS via two different brokers? Longus, Ore, 08037082193.

Dear Alagbe, Please get in touch with a stockbroker in your area to assist you in this venture (in the case that you desire to invest in shares). However, in the event that you find it difficult to locate a stockbroker, you can get in touch with me again for assistance.

Dear Longus, While it does occur in many cases, the fact is that you do not need multiple CSCS accounts even when you use more than one stockbroker. What you need to do is that once you have a CSCS account, you should quote it for all subsequent dealings in the market, no matter how many brokers you use.

Dear Lanre, I am a graduate awaiting a call-up letter for the NYSC programme. How do I invest with N100,000? Lekan, 08053666920.

Do I need multiple CSCS accounts?

CIS: Any alternative to B.Sc/HND?

Dear Lanre, I don’t mean to disturb you. Please sorry sir. Is there any other qualification equivalent to HND/B.Sc that one can use in applying for the CIS exam? Please reply through your column on Sunday. Thanks. Salaudeen Idris Ayodeji, 08029321481. Dear Salaudeen, You are not disturbing me at all, as I am here to serve you. The Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) stipulates that only holders of a first degree or its equivalent can write its qualifying exams. I guess if you can convince the CIS that what you

Dear Lekan, Please see my response to the question immediately above yours. In addition, you may wish to obtain some ideas on business ownership by procuring the book, ‘66 businesses you can start and run on your own’ by Ladi Olatunji.

Where do I send my work?

Dear Lanre, Thanks so much for your immense contributions. Please what can you contribute to my task? I have been dreaming on how to write research work for some years now and I actually started writing and have 10 topics now on the things people are facing daily in their activities but I do not know where to send the research works. Also research work on geophysical/environmental phys-

to bring into contact with you the very circumstances that will assure you of success. Two of such principles are those of industry and frugality.

Industry and frugality

As simple as they may sound, industry (i.e. hard and smart work) and frugality (i.e. practicing economy in your spending patterns) are the very pillars that hold up the towers of sustainable wealth creation. These principles were recognised and expounded by Benjamin Franklin of the US as far back as 1758. They simply posit that you should neither waste time nor money. If you can assuredly work hard and smart and practice prudence in your spending, savings and investment patterns, then it is just a matter of time before you become truly financially independent. You only need to keep digging long and straight enough at a legitimate cause and you will surely hit gold.

Add these too!

Add persistence and perseverance to the twin principles of industry and frugality and no storm on earth is strong enough to blow you off the track of successful achievement. And for peace of mind, add integrity to the course and you can be certain you will be truly gratified at the end of you earthly sojourn. Think about it! P.S: Contrary to what I thought last week, I have had to continue writing this column at the behest of the Editor of this title, even while on a transitional leave.

ics. Thanks. Adebimpe Tope, 08038780220. Dear Tope, Please send me a sample of your work (to lanreoyetade@gmail.com) so I can evaluate it and give you my opinion. I have also published your letter in the event that an interested party comes across it.

Concerning stock sales price

Dear Lanre, Greetings. Sorry I’ve to trouble you. I asked my broker to dispose off a specified number of shares from my CSCS. He did but the sale price in the Trade Alert sent to me was far less than what the share was said to have been traded for that particular day as reported in all the dailies. Can this be so? V.O. Benin. Dear V.O., Yes, there can be a disparity between the newspaper price and the Trade Alert price of shares sold or bought. What is reported by the papers is like an average. The Trade Alert price is the final authority. Moreover, the Trade Alert price is generated by the system of the market self-regulators, i.e. the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

I need financial support

Dear Lanre, I saw your column in one edition of the Sunday Mirror. I would like to be self-employed and I need some financial support to turn my talent/skill into reality. Femi Ogundeji, OOU, 08052642921. Dear Femi, I have published your letter in the event that it may attract attention and requisite support for you. Best wishes.

Wealth Nuggets ‘Top 10’ Eagles don’t flock- you have to find them one at a time –H. Ross Perot Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected –Stephen Jobs A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd –John C. Maxwell Congealed thinking is the forerunner of failure; make sure you are always receptive to new ideas –George Crane When the rate of change outside an organisation is faster than the rate of change within, then its end is near –Jack Welch He who aims at nothing will get it –Les Brown Why some do not succeed after all is said and done, is that more is said than done –Anonymous Without buy-in, the bestcrafted plan will fail –Biodun Adedipe There is nothing that man can imagine to do that he can’t achieve; if he is hungry enough for it –Anonymous A man who has to be convinced to act before he acts is not a man of action –Georges Clemenceau

Politics

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Adamawa PDP, NWC at war over council poll CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41 After the court had restrained the caretaker committee set up by the NWC, the PDP in Adamawa State also shunned the court’s directive saying that it would carry out its responsibility in a transparent manner before the expiration date of three months. The committee which was saddled with the reconstitution of the new State Working Committee, SWC, also assured the PDP faithful in the state of fairness, justice and re constitution of an all-embracing executive for the state. The committee made its stand known barely 24 hours after the recent Yola High Court ruling restraining the National Working Committee from tampering with the party structure in the state led by Minjiyawa Kugama. Despite the move by leadership of the party in the state, Governor Murtala Nyako, who personally visited the national secretariat of the party appealed to the national leadership of the party not to dissolve the state exco for peace to reign in the Adamawa PDP. However, the Chairman of the caretaker committee, Ambassador Umar Damagun, at a press conference last weekend disclosed that the mandate of the committee would include reconciliation of the foundation members of the party, reconstitute a new State Working Committee, and canvass for more membership, adding that the committee would not be distracted to achieve

the goal for which it was established. According to Ambassador Damagun, Adamawa has the biggest heritage of having very strong foundation members of high repute, in the party and who made their marks in the political scene at the formation of the PDP at the national level. He lamented that a number of such key figures were aggrieved with the way and manner the affairs of the party were being run in the state without recourse to the hierarchy of the party at the national level. The caretaker chairman therefore charged all stakeholders of the party to cooperate with his committee towards the assignment which required the support of all and sundry. The caretaker committee, which has Barrister Dahiru Shehu,Sam Zadok,Alhaji Sago Mohammed,Alhaji Adamu Waziri,Capt.Altine Umar, Mr. Emmanuel Sandu, Mr. Eli Gamaliel Luka, said the NWC had dissolved the former SWC because it had erred by not respecting the constituted national leadership of the party. “As a disciplined political party, the NWC dissolved the SWC as disciplinary measure and for them to internalize the ideals of the party,” said Ambassador Damagun. According to him, the dissolution was informed by the need for every member to subject himself to the PDP constitution and that his committee was given three months in which to address the challenges in the party in the state.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Fayose escapes attack, driver assaulted ABIODUN NEJO ADO-EKITI

ormer Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, yesterday escaped death by a whisker, as assailants descended on his car, in a bid to attack him. The former governor was fortunate not to be in the car when it was attacked between IlupejuEkiti and Ire-Ekiti. Fayose’s driver, Mr Nathaniel Saliu, was, however, attacked by the unknown assailants. Saliu told journalists on telephone last evening that the incident happened between 11 am and 12 pm,

while he was coming from Abuja to Ado-Ekiti. Fayose, who was said to have travelled to Abuja for a political meeting, sent his driver back to Ado-Ekiti. The driver said he was coming from Abuja where he had gone to drop Fayose at the Airport. According to him, when he got to Ilupeju on his way to Ire-Ekiti, he noticed that his jeep with registration number ADC 11 AY (Abuja) was being trailed by one white Hilux van with about six occupants. He said that the van overtook his car and obstructed him at a bad spot on the road, following which four hefty men came

SOUTH WEST

down from the vehicle and started beating him as they persistently asked him, ‘Where is Fayose?’ The driver said that the men left him on discovering that the former governor was not in the car. He said that he, on arrival at Ado Ekiti, reported the matter at OkeIla Police Station in the state’s capital. In his reaction, Fayose, who condemned the act, described it as an attempt on his life. He called on the police and other security operatives to rise up to the challenge, before the situation got out of hands.

‘We have not ruled out legal option’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41

Speaker and withdrew his security detail. 2am, very ungodly, like a coup plot. Of course, that sent message to all of us in that camp that we don’t have security on our side. So, we have also written to the IG of police on this, that for us to do our work, we need security. And, of course, this is the state we are facing in Kogi. The security is taking side and has been literally compromised. Here we are. We made visitation to the IG of police, 13 of us, with a letter that what these guys are claiming wouldn’t have been valid, removing the principal officers because these are the 13 of us present. And, that sitting of the House was illegal because they didn’t follow the House rule to reconvene the House. So, you can’t build something on nothing. Abnitio, that thing is illegal. We made all these points. So, when the security details were removed in the night, we now discovered it was compromised. We have written to SSS, the National Assembly and the party including the Federal Ministry of Justice. Of course, to support the fact the rule of law is on trial in Kogi state, that democracy is being bastardized in Kogi state, we needed people of goodwill, eminent Nigerians and organizations to talk to the senses of all concerned people so that we can have sanity. Did you explore any court action? Having involved the Na-

tional Assembly, we decided to slow down on any legal action because at the end of it, it is still one state, one people; we have one House and we have been one government. But, of course if all these appeals fail, because the constitution is on trial, because the rule of law is being trampled upon, of course, we would have no other place to go than the court to help us interpret the situation and give us the rightful orders for people to go back to their senses.

Now that the legislature is embroiled with indirect involvement of the executive, how do you think the crisis will impact on entire governance and the common man, especially the flood victims in the state? Of course, you don’t even have to ask the question. Governance is brought to a halt because you can’t continue with 11 or so legislators and think you are comfortable. We were expecting that by next month, the budget would come. You can’t go and present budget in that kind of circumstance. Even if there is pretence to say things are going on, we know that things are not going on very well in Kogi state. The earlier this matter is resolved on the side of constitutionality and the rule of law, the better for everybody; and the better for Kogites generally, because governance will suffer in circumstances like this. Let us look at the issue of Abuja politicians assisting the home politicians and the interpretation of what

is happening in Kogi state. Today It’s like the 13 of you are being solely supported by the Abuja politicians, including the AttorneyGeneral against the state government? I beg to disagree very seriously. I am not aware of the Attorney-General having issue with the Governor. I am not aware of Abuja politicians having issues with the Governor. But, let us be very clear on the position of the constitution. Section 11 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria gives the National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives, to mediate in circumstances like this. What circumstances? We have not ruled out Legal option to resolve the impasse. A circumstance that a House is factionalized, a House that is in crisis of leadership, a House that is really trampling on the constitution by reconvening a House illegally; A House that will claim to have removed a Speaker with less than simple majority, of course, they cannot open their eyes and see the rape on the constitution continue. This is a situation whereby the hand of the Executive is seen in this. I painted a scenario for you where the Governor received these people, recognized them and gave them a vehicle. If the Chief Security Officer is in support of this kind of group, it behoves on us to nationalize the matter because that is the head of government at the state.

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (left), receiving the Award of Chief Host from the President of Abeokuta Club, Professor Afolabi Soyode, during the 40th anniversary and award-giving ceremony of the club, in Abeokuta, yesterday

Bode George tasks Nigerians on nation-building OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU AND TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

ormer Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, yesterday called on all Nigerians to work toward the sustainability of Nigerian democracy by joining hands with the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration in solving the myriads of problems facing the country. Delivering his speech titled, “The Search for Collective Sacrifice,” at the First

Herbert Macaulay Annual Lecture series in Lagos yesterday, George appealed to public office holders to see public office as an avenue to serve the people and therefore they stop inflicting pains on the people who elected them. The PDP chieftain also appealed to eminent Nigerians to work with the Federal Government for positive change in the country, adding that everybody must be ready to pay the necessary sacrifice toward the transformation of Nigeria. His words: “As a good patriot, I stand firmly with President Goodluck Jonathan as he grapples with the difficult challenges of

governing a highly complex society like our own. He is daily confronted with all the twists and turns of managing the affairs of a nation with a very tasking balancing act. He cannot satisfy everyone. “Every patriot must stand with him in this difficult period of our national life. I wish him God’s guidance and the sherpherding presence of Heaven as he struggles with ensuring equity and fairness in our land. It is a formidable assignment. He cannot be perfect. Voices would still be raised in disagreement. But I am convinced that he means well for this nation.”

Ekiti LG workers call off strike

ocal government workers in Ekiti State are to resume work on Monday following the resolution of the differences that led to the two-month strike embarked upon by workers and the decision of the State Government to immediately effect payment of the minimum wage and the Consolidated Salary for Health Workers (CONHESS) which were their major demands. Addressing a press con-

ference in Ado-Ekiti, the State Commissioner for Labour, Productivity and Human Capital Development, Mr. Wole Adewumi, said the decision of the state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, to resolve all issues connected with the implementation of the new minimum wage of N19,320 and the biometric data capture is immediate. Consequent upon this, the commissioner sai, the local government workers are to resume work on to-

morrow to revalidate their bank account details for immediate payment of the minimum wage. Health workers are also to enjoy the CONHESS package. While speaking on the various verification exercises carried out by Government, Adewumi said the first physical verification exercise reported that there are 19,258 personnel in the 16 local government areas.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NORTH CENTRAL

Police arrest terror Outbreak of rice blast gang in Plateau reported in Kaduna

JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

he Police yesterday paraded three suspected criminals alleged to be a killer gang terrorising residence of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State. The suspects were arrested with various arms including three locally made pistols, 32 cartridges and two life ammunition of 2.9mm caliber. Parading the suspects at the Plateau State police headquarters in Jos yesterday, Police Public relation officer (PPRO) DSP Abuh Emmanuel said, “Some

residence of Butura-Gida ward of Bokkos LGA contacted the police divisional office in Bokkos Division using distress lines made available to them. “The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Bokkos division, ASP Joshua Shinto, responded promptly to the distress calls by leading a detachment of operatives to the scene. “Though the suspects had fled the scene, the police detectives were able to trace them to their hide out and arrested one of them, Hussein Aliyu. Police said they were able to trace the hide out

of the suspects through the blood stain of one of them, who mistakenly shot himself while trying to shoot one of the victims. “The arrested suspect led the police to arrest two other members of the gang, Seidu Aliyu and Haruna Aliyu. The prime suspect with gunshot wounds is receiving treatment at Plateau specialist hospital under tight security.” The police spokesman assured people of the state, especially residence of Bokkos LGA of adequate protection and encourages citizens to go about their normal business without fear.

Kwara communities pledge peaceful co-existence

he people of Offa and Erin-Ile communities in Kwara State have pledged their commitment to live in peace with each other. The Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Esuwoye, and the Elerin of Erin-Ile, Oba Ganiyu Olusokun, gave the pledge during their meeting with the state’s Deputy Governor, Mr Peter Kisira, in Ilorin on Friday. The traditional rulers pledged to promote peace-

ful coexistence between the two communities, while ensuring that their subjects would not be allowed to take the law into their hands under any guise whatsoever. Esuwoye stressed that the cordial relationship existing between him and Olusokun was an evidence of their collective resolve to promote good neighbourliness. He said the people of the two communities had

taken a cue from this cordial interpersonal relationship and would continue to maintain peace in the area. Similarly, Olusokun said that the people of Erin-Ile were very eager to promote and preserve peace in the neighbourhood. The traditional ruler pledged that he would strive to ensure that the harmonious relationship existing between the two communities was sustained.

Clan affirms support for embattled ex-chairman AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST KANO

Zonal News

Sunday November 4, 2012

he National Leadership of Eziogu clan of Ebiraland has affirmed their support for the embattled former chairman of Okene Local Government area of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar Karaku, picked up by the security agents in the

wake of Church killing in Okene in August. A communiqué issued at the end of its delegates meeting in Kano signed by the President General of the Group, Alhaji Zubairu Abdullah and copy made available to our correspondent in Kano, while condemning the tragic killings of Christian worshippers and two soldiers in the vola-

tile city, however, described current attempt to rope the former council boss as “politically motivated” The statement noted that some mischief makers and fortune seekers have turned the unfortunate incident to avenue of settling glaring political scores with perceived opponents exploiting government instrument to perpetuate cruelty.

L-R: Deputy Corps Marshall, Planning, Research & Statistics, Mr. Omidiji Adeyemi; Deputy Corps Marshall, Operations, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi; Minister of Works, Arch. Mike Onolomemen and Corps Marshall, Federal Road Safety Commission, Mr. Osita Chidoka, during the formal handing over of 16 patrol vehicles to FRSC by the Federal Road Development Programme in conjunction with the World Bank in Abuja, at the weekend.

he Kaduna State Government on Saturday expressed concern on the reported outbreak of a rice disease, known as rice blast, in some parts of the state. Officials of the Kaduna Agricultural Development Project (KADP) are already expressing fear that the infection, caused by the bacteria, Magnaporthe grisea, would affect the annual projected rice yield in the state. KADP’s Media officer, Malam Shehu Aliyu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna that the outbreak had been reported in Birnin-Gwari and Maigana farming zones of the state. ``This is where the crop is cultivated in commercial quantity and the disease is

currently causing rust on rice leaves.’’ Aliyu said extension service workers had been deployed to the areas to take samples for laboratory analysis to ascertain the extent of the outbreak and the total areas affected. He said the outbreak in addition to the recent flood disaster may likely affect the projected rice yield of the state during the current harvest. The media officer said the `State Area Yield Survey’ on rice is put at three metric tonnes per hectre, with farmers cultivating an average of 300,000 hectares per year. Aliyu said the state also produce an average of one million metric tonnes of rice including 75,000 metric

NORTH WEST

tonnes cultivated through irrigation. He appealed to rice farmers not to panic, assuring that the state government had taken steps to ascertain the cause of the outbreak in order to control its spread. Rice blast is a debilitating disease which affects all the rice-growing regions of the world, causing losses of up to 30 per cent of the global rice harvest. The symptoms of the disease include lesions on all parts of the plant, including leaves, leaf collar, necks, panicles, pedicels and seeds. NAN reports that the affected farms are located in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Chikun, Kubau and Kudan local government areas.

L-R: Deputy Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Rear Adm. Duke Osuofa, Chairman, Jaji Community Forum, Alhaji Balarabe Jaji and Chief Entrepreneural Development Officer, National Directorate of Employment, Mr. Samuel Ella, at the graduation of 2012 skills acquisition training programme for dependants of armed forces personnel in Jaji, Kaduna State, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Dangote’s 2000 drivers training scheme kicks off A ZA MSUE, K ADUNA

he Dangote Graduate Drivers Training Scheme (DGDTS), which targets to train 2000 graduates from varying disciplines in Nigeria to become professional trailer and truck drivers has been kicked off at the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria, Kaduna State. The Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Prof. Mustapha Abdullahi, who performed the flagging off ceremony, described the Scheme as not only apt, but timely in view of the rate of unemployment. Represented by the Director, Consultancy Services, Dr Ahmed Ibrahim Doko, Prof. Abdullahi com-

mended the Dangote Group for designing the Scheme, which he hoped would create opportunities for young graduates in the country to develop careers in transport and logistics. He called on well spirited Nigerians and private companies to support government in providing employment to the teeming Nigerian graduates. The don said that the road transport sub-sector had been dominated by touts, illiterates and school dropouts over the years, adding that ‘’the entrance of highly educated people will no doubt bring the much desired sanity on the Nigerian highways.’’ Director General/Chief Executive of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria,

Alhaji Aminu Musa Yusuf, explained that the programme would be delivered in batches of one hundred (100) participants per batch on quarterly basis over a four-year period. The scheme, he said, is expected to end by 2016. Yusuf also said the trainee drivers would be taught using theoretical and practical approaches “The practical components would include simulation and test track driving among other things before exposing the trainee truck drivers to highway driving. Agencies such as the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and the Federal Vehicle Inspection Officers would also bring their expertise to bear on the scheme to ensure successful execution,” he added.

Zonal News

SOUTH EAST

Sunday November 4, 2012

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Onwuka bent on Biafra A’Ibom female Dep declaration

•We are battle ready, say Police CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

head of the threat by a separatist group, Biafra Zionist Movement (BZM), to declare a sovereign state of Biafra across South-East states tomorrow, the Imo State Police Command has said that it is ready to repel any form of uprising that will constitute threat to public peace and order. The group which is currently having a running battle with the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), over the November 5 date, has maintained that the leader of MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, had wasted much time in pushing for

speedy recognition of the sovereign state of Biafra. The leader of the group, Benjamin Onwuka, who had condemned the nonviolent approach adopted by MASSOB in the struggle, said that Biafra might not be recognised if they had to adopt the approach of Uwazurike. With the stance of the splinter group, there is fear being expressed by some people over the security situation in the South-East, especially Imo State, on November 5. However, reacting yesterday, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Vitalis Onugu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), assured that the command was committed to its constitutional role of protecting the

lives and property of people living in the state. Onugu warned that the police would deal ruthlessly with any person or group of persons trying to disrupt public peace in the state, adding that the command was battle ready to smash any such attempt. His words: “Let me warn that the Police will deal ruthlessly with any group seen to be fomenting trouble in any part of the state and on that day anyone caught trying to undermine public peace will be made to face the full force of the law”. Also reacting, the Director of Information for MASSOB, Uchenna Madu, has described the threat as unrealistic and desperate effort by the leader of BZM to attract cheap popularity.

SOUTH SOUTH

Governor sworn in A

new deputy governor was yesterday sworn-in in Akwa Ibom State. She is Lady Valerie Ebe, who came as the first female deputy governor in the state. Ebe succeeds Mr. Nsima Ekere, who resigned his position on Wednesday. Her nomination was confirmed on Friday by Akwa Ibom House of Assembly as the new Deputy Governor based on an official letter sent to the house by Governor Akpabio. Governor Godswill Akpabio, speaking after his new deputy’s swearing-in yesterday, said, ‘’Though gender was not a consideration in her appointment, a section of the public would definitely see her as being at the vanguard of our faith for more women participa-

tion in our governance. “By her appointment, we now have a triumvirate of women in key positions, like the Chief Judge, Head of Civil and one Deputy Governor. Akwa Ibom is definitely leading the revolution for gender equality in our country’’. He also remarked, ‘’The swearing-in of Her Honour, Lady (Barr.) Valerie Ebe as the new Deputy Governor of our dear state is historic. She is the first woman in the 25-year history of our dear state to occupy such a position. The burden of being the first is that her performance and achievements will either break new ceilings for women or close the ceilings against them. She cannot afford to fail’’. The governor recalled

that Lady Ebe had served the state with honour and distinction, noting, ‘’Her core values had been integrity, enthusiasm and great skills. I enjoin her to bring these attributes to her new office and see herself as a servant, indigene and friend of all of Akwa Ibom State. She should cease to think of her local government area because this appointment confers on her the citizenship of all 31 local government areas in our state’’. While congratulating Lady Ebe on her appointment and subsequent swearing-in, Akpabio expressed the hope that she would put up an outstanding performance in the office, bring deep experience and a strong set of skills to this high office of public trust.

Ebonyi Judiciary generates N19.7m T he Ebonyi State Judiciary generated N19.7million during the 2011/ 12 legal year, Justice Alloy Nwankwo, the Chief Judge of the state said this in Abakaliki at the weekend. Nwankwo made the fact known at the opening ceremony of the 2012/ 13 legal year. He said although revenue collection was an ancillary function of the judiciary, it was noteworthy to mention that the judiciary recorded increased revenue through fines and fees. ``The total revenue generated by the High Court within the period was N15.5 million, Customary Court of Appeal, N357, 000, Customary Court, N1.5 million, and Magistrates’ Court,

N2.3 million,” he said. The judge said the State High Court disposed of 9,236 cases, while the Customary Court of Appeal disposed of 2,185 cases. He also said that the Magistrates’ Court disposed of 7, 925 cases and the Customary Court disposed of 5,461 cases during the year. ``Cases currently pending before the High Court are 13, 342, Customary Court of Appeal, 4,932, Magistrates’ Court, 12, 231, and Customary Court, 10, 073,” Nwankwo said. He said that three new High Court judges were appointed in the state during the period and named them as Justice Christopher Eze, Justice Chinyere Ken-Eze

and Justice Patrick Chima. ``Five new magistrates were also appointed within the period under the Chief Magistrate 1 and 2 cadres,’’ he said. The Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association, Abakaliki Branch, Chief Eziaku Eze, commended the government for implementing Section 5 (v) of the Ebonyi Customary Court Law (CAP.47), Laws of Ebonyi State, 2009. ``The implementation led to the appointment of 60 lawyers as chairmen of the various customary courts in the state. ``It also resulted in the reduction of unemployment among young lawyers in the state,” he said.

Commissioner of Police, Delta State, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba (2nd right), inspecting recovered arms and ammunition in Asaba on Thursday. PHOTO: NAN

Philanthropist donates to Delta flood victims AMOUR UDEMUDE ASABA

he Delta State camps for the internally displaced persons following the ravaging flood have continued to experience influx of donations from spirited individuals, NGOs, corporate organizations, among others. Presenting a trailer-load of relief materials yesterday at the St. Patrick’s College camp, Asaba, Chairman and Chief Executive

Officer of Grand Hotels and Resort, Asaba, Chief Sunny Odogwu said he was pained by the natural disaster. Odogwu who was represented by his cousin, Victor Isiche, sympathised with the flood victims, adding that he would continue from time to time to evaluate the situation in order to render assistance to the people. While commending the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and the Federal Government for

all their efforts in managing the relief operation, the philanthropist stated, “I have personally visited the camps first hand for on-the-sport-assessment of the whole situation.” Odogwu, who described the entire situation as pathetic and sorrowful, said this was the time the victims needed assistance, and called on spirited individuals, NGOs and corporate organizations to assist in whatever way they could.

Uduaghan tasks church on leadership search

Governor Okorocha (right) receiving the water filter donated to the state government for the flood victims by Senator Osita Izunaso (middle), while the chairman, Flood Committee and Commissioner for Health, Dr. Obi Njoku (left) watches.

overnor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State in Abuja at the weekend, called on the Church to lead the search for leaders with integrity for Nigeria. Uduaghan, represented by Mrs. Gloria Okolugbo, the Commissioner in-charge of Multilateral Relations, made the call at the opening of a two-

day national conference of Christian Council of Nigeria. Uduaghan said leadership and integrity were essential for the growth of society and urged the Church to show direction in the search for good leaders. He urged participants in the conference to come up with suggestions that

could be used to steer the direction of leadership in the country positively. The Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, President, Christian Council of Nigeria, Enugu Chapter, advised the Church to get involved in politics and governance for the society to make meaningful progress.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nestle Milo Football Clinic ends in Lagos P. 54

Sport

NSF: Onwuachi tips Lagos boxers for glory P. 54

KEEPING YOU ABREAST OF SPORTING NEWS November 4, 2012

Sambo storms Lagos, hoists sports festival flag IFEANYI EDUZOR

Robin van Persie (right) shoots past Arsenal’s Thomas Vermaelen to score the opening goal at Old Trafford yesterday.

RVP on target as Red Devils shoot down Gunners

obin van Persie struck inside three minutes against his former club as Manchester United eased to a comfortable 2-1 victory over 10-man Arsenal at Old Trafford yesterday. The prolific Dutchman was taunted throughout by visiting fans but reminded them of his talents in the opening moments in a Premier League contest United dominated from the beginning. England midfielder Jack Wilshere made only his second appearance for the Gunners after missing more than a year with injury. The sight of Van Persie in their ranks will have hurt, and the Arsenal fans made clear from the moment his name was first read out what they now thought of their former hero. Van Persie’s eight-year stint

in north London culminated in last season’s magnificent 37-goal campaign but he was cheered when he scored in the opening minute. It was his 10th goal for United in 13 games but he avoided antagonising Arsenal supporters further by deciding not to celebrate. Conceding so early may have led to some anxiety in the Arsenal camp after their 8-2 capitulation in the corresponding fixture last season. United may not have threatened a repeat of that scoreline but they continued to control the game and the best response the visitors could initially muster was a wayward long-range drive from Santos. Van Persie went close again as he raced onto a defence-slitting pass by Rooney but Mannone saved well.

Mancini shrugs off Pep talk P. 55

Arsenal did show some positive intent with Aaron Ramsey, the only starting member of their side who played in last year’s thrashing, reaching the byline but David de Gea pushed away his cross. United were close to doubling their lead again after another Vermaelen error early in the second half allowed Van Persie to break but Antonio Valencia could not turn in his low ball. The Spaniard felt the award was harsh and he could argue he was protecting his face but it did not matter as Rooney dragged the resulting spot-kick wide. Arsenal continued to lack a spark but Olivier Giroud almost provided one after a neat touch beat Rio Ferdinand and gave him a shooting chance but he could only hit the side-netting from a tight angle. Van Persie was booked after

a late challenge on Sagna but was back in more familiar position just after the hour as he was picked out by a fine cross by Ashley Young, but Mannone got a vital hand to his low shot. Arsenal could not hold out much longer and from a short corner routine Rooney crossed for Evra and the Frenchman planted a firm header inside the post to score United’s second goal. The Gunners’ agonies grew as Wilshere, booked in the first half and fortunate to escape a second yellow card for a bad tackle on Van Persie, was penalised for one bad tackle too many, this time on Evra, and saw red. United played out the closing moments with little alarm until Cazorla netted a fine consolation goal for Arsenal from the edge of the box to end the game 2-1 in favour of Manchester United.

Why I’m perfect in penalties –Balotelli

ice President, Namadi Sambo, was in Lagos yesterday to hoist the flag for the 18th edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF) holding in Lagos from November 27 to December 9. In his address at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, the Vice President described the flag hoisting ceremony that precedes the sports festival as an innovation by the National Sports Commission (NSC) which has greatly helped in creating awareness about the event. According to him, the ceremony apart from heralding the kick off of the highest sporting event in the country also helps in mobilizing support from various governors towards ensuring that their states participate in the festival. He noted that because of the seriousness the present administration attaches to sports, the Federal Government will fully implement the recommendations of the technical committee of the recently concluded sports retreat in Abuja. In his speech at the occasion, the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, declared that the state is ready to host the best sports festival in the history of the country and promised that all athletes and officials would be treated to the best of Lagos hospitality throughout the duration of the festival. Also speaking, the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Dr. Patrick Ekeji described the flag hoisting ceremony as a significant innovation by the commission aimed at improving on the festival. He revealed that the flag hoisting ceremony started at the last festival hosted by Rivers State, which is aimed at achieving the transformation agenda of the present administration.

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (right) watches as Vice President Namadi Sambo (second from left) hoists the festival flag yesterday in Lagos.

Reading targets Arshavin P. 55

P. 55

Sport

Sunday November 4, 2012

Knockout IFEANYI Eduzor with

08055829770 ifeduz24@yahoo.com

NSF: Onwuachi tips Lagos boxers for glory A veteran boxing coach, Paul Onwuachi, has expressed confidence in boxers from Lagos State to dominate the boxing event at the forthcoming National Sports Festival holding in the state. Onwuachi, popularly known as “White Horse” among boxing fans told our correspondent that with the abundant talents in the state and the experiences garnered by the pugilists during the Lagos State monthly “Boxing Hall of Fame” has prepared the boxers ad-

equately for the festival. “There is no doubt that Lagos State boxers would have an advantage over their contemporaries from other states of the country because of the exposure they have had during the Lagos State monthly boxing hall of fame and the quality of coaches that abound in the state,” he stated. He added that although the state is targeting at least ten gold medals at the games in the event, but they could win in more medals if the pugilists are well motivated.

Lagos State boxer, Lukman Lawal (left) in action for Nigeria against Ihab Almatbouli of Jordan at the London 2012 Olympics.

WBA strips Geale of title

he World Boxing Association (WBA) has announced that Daniel Geale will be stripped of his “Super Champion” status and named Gennady Golovkin as the “sole WBA middleweight champion”. Geale won the WBA “Super Champion” title when he unified the WBA and IBF titles by winning a decision over Felix Sturm in Oberhausen, Germa-

ny, on September 1, 2012. In a statement in Jakarta, Indonesia where the body is having its 91st annual convention, President of WBA, Gilberto Mendoza said the boxing body took the decision because the former champion declined an offer to defend the title against Golovkin, instead decided to fight Anthony Mundine in January, 2013.

Daniel Geale (right) squares up with Felix Sturm for the unification of the WBA and IBF titles last September. Geale has now been stripped of the WBA title.

Akanbi rues poaching in sports festival acts must be discouraged if roprietor of First Class the country wants to achieve Boxing Academy, P the objectives of the festival. Ijanikin, Lagos, Mustapha Akanbi, says that concerted efforts should be made by the National Sports Commission (NSC) to discourage poaching of boxers at the forthcoming National Sports Festival in Lagos. According to him, many states that cannot boast of a single boxing ring are now enticing some pugilists with mouth-watering offers to ensure they represent them at the festival; noting that such

“It is unfortunate that many states are now involved in poaching of boxers to represent them at the forthcoming sports festival tagged “Eko 2012”. “Most of these states do not have boxing coaches neither do they have boxing rings and are only interested in poaching pugilists trained by others which is inimical to the aims and objectives of the National Sports Festival,” Akanbi said with a tinge of regret.

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nestle Milo Football Clinic ends in Lagos

NSF: Surulere council boss cautions motorists

ANDREW EKEJIUBA

IFEANYI EDUZOR

he 3rd edition of Nestle Milo Football Clinic ended yesterday in Lagos with the company restating its commitment to grassroots development of football in the country. In her address at the Campus Square Mini Stadium, Lagos, Mrs Funmi Osineye, Brand Manager-Milo, said the country will benefit immensely from the products of the soccer clinic. “As the leading, nutrition, health and wellness company, Nestle is committed to the development of grassroots sports in Nigeria through our numerous sports championships platforms- Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship, Milo U-13 Africa Football Championship and the Milo Football Clinic which is currently organised in conjunction

L-R: Managing Director, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Mr. Martin Woolnough, Coordinator, Milo Football Clinic, Mr. Peter Rufai and Mr. Paulo Cardoso, Expatriate, during the 3rd Milo Football Clinic in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: BAYOOR EWUOSO

with Peter Rufai and some FIFA certified European football experts. “The aim of the Milo Football Clinic is not only to coach the children with world class football skills, but also to equip and teach them key life-values learnt from sports, like determination, discipline, confidence and team work. These are skills required

for them to succeed in the game of life,” she said. She further revealed that the clinic is open to pupils between the ages of 9-13 years and the theme for this year’s edition is “Let’s build champions.” In the novelty match played during the event, Team Rufai defeated Team Cardoso 5-4 on penalties after a pulsating 1-1 draw.

SPDC restates commitment ACCW 2012: My team will to football development ANDREW EKEJIUBA

he Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) has restated its commitment in sustaining the sponsorship of NNPC/Shell Cup meant for football competitions among schools in the country. The company’s Communications Production Services Manager, Peter Ademu-Eteh made this disclosure in the speech he delivered on behalf of Mr. Tony Attah, SPDC’s Vice President, Safety, Environment, Sustainable Development and Communications, in a well attended press conference in Lagos to flag off the 2013 edition of the competition. He said the competition which is in its 15th edition is a national inter school football competition that provides the

platform for all students to demonstrate their skills, with a chance to be snapped up by national team coaches into age-grade teams. “Sustaining the sponsorship of this championship is a demonstration of our commitment to youth grassroots football development in Nigeria,” he said. He also revealed that some years ago, secondary school students were dropping out of school to pursue careers in football and this necessitated the company to arrest the trend by proving through successful hosting of the NNPC/Shell Cup that football and education can go hand-in-hand. Ademu-Eteh further unveiled the calendar of the competition which begins with the state finals on December 1-2, 2012, while the national final holds on February 27, 2013 in Lagos.

Peter Ademu-Eteh (3rd from the left) with President of the Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF) Mallam Ibrahim Mohammad (2nd from right) and Chief Segun Odegbami (right) at the press conference in Lagos.

bounce back —Erinfolami

SAYO OGUNDEJI

fter his team’s poor outing at the just concluded Africa Club Championship for Women in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, coach of First Deepwater Basketball Club of Lagos, Lateef Erinfolami, says he feels disappointed over his team’s performance, but expressed confidence in the players to bounce back stronger. Erinfolami led his young side to a third place finish during the 2011 edition here in Lagos but failed to build on that success despite emerging the Nigerian champions, few weeks earlier. But the former international however drew many positives from the tournament, insisting his players have learnt a lot from the continental championship. “The players have been fantastic both on and off the court and I believe they have learnt a lot of lessons from this championship and we are returning to this tournament next year with a muchimproved side,” he said.

he Chairman of Surulere Local Government Area of Lagos State Hon. Tajudeen Ajide Yusuf has warned that stringent measures would be taken against any motorist or motorcyclist caught violating the new traffic laws enacted by the Lagos State Government as the 18th National Sports Festival, tagged “Eko 2012” approaches. He read the riot act in his key note address at a meeting he held with the stakeholders namely; commercial bus drivers, tricycle operators and motorcyclists (okada riders) in Surulere, Itire-Ikate and Coker-Aguda Local Government to intimate them about the new traffic laws in the state. According to him any motorists caught disobeying traffic laws in the sports city during and after the festival would be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others. The council boss further pointed out that it had come to the notice of the Government that some people are driving against the traffic without regard to other road users and advised that such should stop. Also speaking, Pa Odunsi, one of the advisers to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) leader advised other road users to always observe Zebra Crossings on the roads as it is done in other countries. In her address, the former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly and now Women Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Hon. Toun Adediran, also appealed to road users to obey the new traffic laws so that the Government would achieve its set objectives.

Hon. Tajudeen Ajide Yusuf

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EURO BRIEFS

Why I’m perfect in penalties –Balotelli

ario Balotelli has revealed the secret behind his 100 percent penalty record for Manchester City. The eccentric Italian striker believes his mental strength allows him to win the psychological battle against the opposing goalkeeper.

Balotelli

Sport

Sunday November 4, 2012

Mancini shrugs off Pep talk M anchester City boss Roberto Mancini is unconcerned over speculation linking former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola with a move to the Etihad Stadium. The Spanish boss, who left Barca at the end of last season following a glittering four-year spell at the club, has been linked with a move to the reigning Premier League champions. Mancini is already working alongside two former Barcelona men in new director of football Txiki Begiristain and chief executive Ferran Soriano, but he shrugged off speculation Guardiola could follow. “I am very happy. He has a lot

of experience with a top club like Barca. If we did well in the last two years, I think we can do better in the future. “If people write that Txiki is here and maybe next year Guardiola will arrive or another manager, this is not my problem. I’m here, I want to continue to work well because I think we are ready to improve and build a stronger team,” Mancini said. He also insists he will retain control over City’s signings despite Begiristain’s appointment. The Spaniard, who formerly held the same role at Barcelona, joined City last weekend, with the club announcing his role would include supporting the manager

in player recruitment. But the City boss expects Begiristain to fulfil the same role football administrator Brian Marwood has in previous transfer windows of completing the deals once targets have been identified. “I want to decide which players we take, this is normal for every manager. I worked with Brian for three years, he was sporting director, I think Txiki will do the same job. “I have my job and Txiki will have his job. I don’t want to go to talk with other teams to buy players, this is not my job. Like every sporting director, he will talk with me before buying players,” Mancini concluded.

Mancini

Turan dreading Falcao’s departure

Adriano in nightclub tirade

lamengo striker Adriano was caught up in more controversy this week when a video of him giving a speech at a nightclub was posted online. The video appeared just hours after the club’s director of football, Zinho, confirmed the former Inter Milan man would not be back at training until after the weekend.

Ajax expects Alderweireld stay

oby Alderweireld is reported to be a January transfer target for Tottenham, but Ajax will be demanding a ‘super fee’. The reigning Eredivisie champions are reluctant to see another product of their famed academy system head for the exits midway through the season.

Alderweireld

PREMIERSHIP TABLE TEAM

PTS

1. Man Utd

2. Chelsea

3. Man City

4. Everton

5. Tottenham

6. Arsenal

7. Fulham

8. West Ham

9. West Brom

10. Newcastle

-2

11. Swansea

12. Wigan

-5

13. Liverpool

-2

14. Norwich

-10

15. Stoke

-2

16. Sunderland

-3

17. Aston Villa

-6

18. Reading

-6

19. Southampton

-12

20. QPR

-11

Arshavin

Reading targets Arshavin

rsenal forward Andrey Arshavin is one of a number of players being considered by Reading ahead of the winter transfer window. The Royals have made a slow start to life back in the Premier League and are still awaiting their first win of the season. No-one at the Madejski Stadium was under any illusions as to how difficult the 2012/13 campaign was going to be, but they appreciate that there is plenty of room for improvement. The opening of the January window will allow them to dip back into the market and bring in players that could play a significant role in their efforts to preserve their top-flight status. Owner Anton Zingarevich will be the man in charge of the purse strings, and he will be making money available. He admits to having already drawn up a list of possible targets, with Arshavin among those to have caught his eye. The Russia international has endured a frustrating time at the Emirates of late and could be tempted to make a fresh start at a club that can promise him regular first-team football.

tletico Madrid midfielder Arda Turan says Radamel Falcao would leave a sizeable gap behind if he was to leave the club anytime soon. The Colombian departed Porto for the Spanish capital last year in a 40-million-euro deal. In his debut season he fired the side to fifth place in La Liga and Europa League glory. He has maintained his goalscoring form this term with 13 strikes in

nine matches to date but his long-term commitment to the Vicente Calderon appears clouded, as big clubs circle the prolific striker. “It would be difficult if Falcao left,” Turan said. “(Falcao is) very humble, not selfish and has the respect of everyone.” Turan then spoke about Atletico’s intentions to win a trophy by the end of the season, and also moved to deny reports coming from Turkey that

Allegri explains Milan team changes

mbattled AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has defended the tactical and personnel switches that have been criticised by club owner Silvio Berlusconi. Seven-time European champion Milan finished Serie A runner-up last season but currently sits a lowly 12th, 17 points behind leader and champions Juventus. Allegri lost the spine of his squad during the off-season, including Zlatan Ibra-

himovic and Thiago Silva to Paris Saint-Germain. Although he has made several signings, Milan is a pale shadow of the side that the Italian coach led to the scudetto in his first season in charge in 2010-2011. Consequently, Allegri has been making almost weekly changes as injured players, such as Brazilians Alexandre Pato and Robinho, return and new signings like Nigel De Jong and Bojan Krkic are given their opportunity to make an im-

Pique tips Atletico for title chase B

Pique

he wants to leave Spain in favour of a return to his homeland. “The favourites for La Liga are Barca and Madrid,” he said. “Trying to break them up is difficult but we want to be in contention for titles. “I have no plans to return to Turkey. I want to play at Atletico for a long time. I’m happy with this team. If I was not well here, I would have the option of going to another club,” he said.

arcelona defender Gerard Pique says Atletico Madrid can challenge for the Liga title thanks to their star striker Radamel Falcao. Atletico are jointsecond in the Spanish top flight alongside Barca after winning eight of their first nine fixtures. Spain international Pique has acknowledged the strong form shown

by Diego Simeone’s team and expects them to maintain their title challenge for the remainder of the campaign. “Atletico can win the league. “Falcao’s team are very much in the reckoning,” Pique said. He also backed team-mate Lionel Messi to win the 2012 Ballon d’Or ahead of Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

Fabregas

Fabregas eyes Xavi’s role

esc Fabregas says he sees himself as a po-

pression. Against Palermo, Allegri switched tactical formations several times as he sought to overhaul a 2-0 deficit. His tinkering ultimately worked, as Stephan El Shaarawy scored late in the game to pull the scores level but he awoke to news that an unimpressed Berlusconi had called club CEO Adriano Galliani to register his concern. Allegri, however, says he will stick to his game plan. tential heir to Xavi Hernandez at Barcelona when the midfielder hangs up his boots. Fabregas, 25, operated in central midfield during his time at Arsenal but has played a variety of roles at Camp Nou since his transfer from Arsenal in 2011. He was also experimented as an auxiliary centre forward during Spain’s success at Euro 2012, but Fabregas hopes one day to take over from Xavi for both club and country.

$26 Vol. 2 No. 47

Sunday, November 4, 2012

www.nationalmirroronline.net

N150

N I G E R I A

I N

F I G U R E S

N6.6

bn, sum the anti-corrupbn, amount the Secretarytion network’s Executive General of the West African Power Pool, Amadou Diallo, said the Directive, Dino Melaye, alleged as sub-region required to fix the electric- phantom contracts scam by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. ity inter-connectivity.

Fuss about Ribadu Report on petroleum revenue

Back Page

Comment

E-mail: nwaunah@yahoo.com Unah is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Lagos

with Jim Unah

ast Friday, President Goodluck Jonathan received the comprehensive report of the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force headed by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; which had leaked to the press a week earlier following allegations of possible doctoring by some characters and interests in the petroleum subsidy regime who might be adversely affected by the brutal facts exhumed by that committee report. In addition to the Ribadu committee report, there were two other reports by two other Petroleum committees received by the President simultaneously. While one of the committee reports, chaired by Mr. Dotun Sulaiman, is about corporate governance code to ensure full transparency, accountability and global best practices in the operations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its cognate agencies in the petroleum business; the other, jointly headed by Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu and Mallam Yusuf Ali, was tasked to conduct a high-powered assessment of the four national refineries and fashioning out ways and means of revamping them and ensuring that they attained

optimum capacity production and commercial viability. So it was that President Jonathan received three reports on petroleum issues last Friday, underscoring both the importance and centrality of petroleum to the nation’s economy, and the level of inefficiency and corruption that have vitiated the activities of the NNPC - the major public corporate player in the oil industry. But none of the three reports has generated so much fuse and public interest as the Nuhu Ribadu Committee report on oil revenue and subsidy related matters. Apart from alleged spirited efforts by interested persons to do a cover up of some sort with the report through the different processes it was billed to pass through before getting to the Presidency; which then warranted the purported leakage and the attendant public excitement, the submission of the Ribadu report on Friday was almost marred by fisticuffs between the committee members. Indeed, the altercation between the Ribadu Committee members on Friday at the Presidency was not only a show of shame, it lends further credence to the allegations making the rounds that there is a huge plot to contrive a cover up in the Petroleum Revenue Report. Deputy Chairman to Nuhu Ribadu in the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force, Mr. Steve Orosanye, is reported to have protested, as the report was being submitted by the Chairman to the Minister of Petroleum Resources to hand over to the President, that he was not part of the Ribadu report - a protest that was supported

by another member of the committee, Mr. Bernard Oti, who claimed that the right procedures were not followed from start to finish of the committee work. The revelation that followed from Ribadu was equally startling. Not only that the two protesting characters in the Ribadu Committee (Orosanye and Oti) played truancy throughout the sitting of the committee, they had actually become board member and director of the NNPC, respectively; a situation that had compromised their capacity to be honest and truthful members of the subsidy scam investigating task force. Where would their input into the committee work come from if they did not attend the committee meetings? Why would their input matter, anyway, when they were already dining and wining with the NNPC that had been indicted in the subsidy payment fraud? Does this not lend credence to the allegation that certain persons were being planted somewhere to doctor the final report of the Ribadu Committee? In my view, by accepting appointments in the NNPC during the life of the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force, both Steve Orosanye and Bernard Oti had disqualified themselves from being credible members of the task force; having been rendered incapable of discharging their functions in the Ribadu Committee without fear or favour. Instead of rising in protest of the harshness of the committee report, they should bury their heads in shame. They are the sort of people who

AWC: Ikhana eyes win against Ivory Coast

alcons’ manager, Kadiri Ikhana said his wards will emerge leaders of Group B at the ongoing AWC in Equatorial Guinea. The Nigerians will tackle Cote d’Ivoire today at the Estadio de Malabo in the group’s last game. The Cup holders lead the pack on six points against their opponents’ three points same as Cameroon. The Falcons need a point against the Cote d’Ivoire to emerge group winners. Ikhana said his wards will go for an outright victory against their West African foes even with their foot rooted in the semi-finals.

“The Super Falcons want to finish as group winners. A draw will give us the top spot but we’re going all out for an emphatic win. We want a 100% record, that’s what is on our minds right now. “Our opponents, Cote d’Ivoire, are an aggressive side especially in the attack. They’re a strong opposition and we have to be on top of our game to defeat them,” he said. Both sides have arrived Malabo for the final Group B clash today. The Nigerians were greeted on arrival at Malabo Airport aboard Ceiba flight by appreciating Nigerian fans bearing

make the fishing out and punishing of offenders of the law impossible. They are the type of people who are often recruited to nurture and sustain a culture of corruption and impunity in the country. How could someone ever hope to serve as both the regulator and the regulated? NNPC does not have an incontrovertible record of the crude that is lifted in this country by the oil majors. It does not have a clear record of the quantity of refined petrol that it imports into the country. It does not know the quantity of PMS consumed daily in the country. Its operations are crude, haphazard, inefficient, arbitrary, fraudulent and largely corrupt. How could its board members and directors be part of a special task force intended to uncover its inefficiencies and corruption? This is where whoever drafted Orosanye and Oti to serve on the board of the NNPC from a special task force on petroleum revenue committed a monumental blunder. From their reactions to the full report of the Ribadu Committee, it could be easily alleged that they had been recruited and paid to make a mess of the report failure which they had publicly gone berserk. President Jonathan should work with and implement the full report of the Ribadu Committee, because Nigerians have confidence in it. He should not be deterred by the desperate attempts of clowns in the oil industry to leave the subsidy scam culprits that nearly rubbished his government in January unpunished. Nigerians are watching and waiting

PREMIERSHIP RESULTS Manchester Utd 2-1 Arsenal Fulham 2-2 Everton Norwich City 1-0 Stoke Sunderland 0-1 Aston Villa Swansea 1-1 Chelsea Tottenham 0-1 Wigan Athletic West Ham 0-0 Manchester City

PREMIERSHIP FIXTURES Today’s Matches Ikhana

their national Flag. The fans assisted with the team’s luggage en route to their abode, Hotel Tropicana.

QPR v Reading 13:30 Liverpool v Newcastle 16:00 Monday, November 5, 2012 West Brom v Southampton 20:00

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